Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/tag/john-ostlund/)
An ongoing dispute has led to clashes between county commissioners and County Auditor Debby Hernandez, who says commissioners have stripped her office of funding needed to do her job properly. The result, she said, is that large revenue accounts go unaudited, which could hurt taxpayers. (more…) Continue Reading →
As was reported this morning, Denis Pitman appears to have won the race for Yellowstone County Commission, since he was well ahead of incumbent Republican Jim Reno in Tuesday’s election and there was no Democratic candidate. The Gazette also reported that the commissioner job comes with a base salary of about $64,000. That’s not quite right—it’s closer to $68,000—but it’s pretty decent pay in Montana by any measure. However, and I think you will agree, the benefits attached to the job are at a level that most people in the private sector can only dream of. Bill Kennedy, the only Democrat on the commission, recently announced that he will be stepping down Aug. 1 to take a new job as president and CEO of the Montana State University Billings Foundation. Continue Reading →
Jenny Michaelson was one of the lucky ones. She managed to get her dog back after it had been impounded by Yellowstone County. But Michaelson, who lives just west of Billings off Grand Avenue, gives no credit to the county for the return of Nacho, her golden retriever. (more…) Continue Reading →
The company that is proposing to build five oil refineries in Montana and North Dakota — projects that would require funding of $2.5 billion — appears to have very few assets itself. Bloomberg was reporting as of Wednesday afternoon that Quantum Energy Inc.’s market capitalization — the number of outstanding shares times the value of a share — was about $3.8 million. (more…) Continue Reading →
Family, friends and members of the local rodeo community celebrated the accomplishments of two-time world champion team roper Clay Tryan at a reception this week. (more…) Continue Reading →
