In Brief

LOCAL NEWS

Valley County Free Tree Day

1,000 Trees Donated

Thursday, May 13 ws another successful Valley County Free Tree Day. Resilient friends, supporters and volunteers turned out to get in on the action. One thousand seedlings in the five different varieties of trees were handed out, again in record time. A little over two hours depleted the supply. What a great project. Be proud of what you can to beautify the community. Signed, Linda Sibley.

Disaster Assistance for 2021 Livestock Forage Losses

Disaster Assistance for 2021 Livestock Forage Losses in 14 Montana counties including Valley

Livestock producers in 14 Montana counties are eligible to apply for 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass, and forage sorghum.

LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or leased land or fire on federally managed land.

County committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of qualifying drought or if a federal agency prohibits producers from grazing normal permitted livestock on federally managed lands due to qualifying fire.

The following Montana counties have triggered the 2021 LFP drought criteria: Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Phillips, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Valley and Wibaux. Producers must complete a CCC-853 and the required supporting documentation no later than January 31, 2022, for 2021 losses. Before the application may be filed, a current FSA-578 Report of Acreage must be on file as well as all corresponding leases for grazing land that is included on the LFP application.

For additional information about LFP, including eligible livestock and fire criteria, contact the local USDA Service Center and/or visit fsa.usda.gov/mt.

Students Have

Epic Journey

Glasgow & Culbertson JMG/YE students teamed up on Wednesday, May 12th to experience the larger classroom of life.   After both schools competed in The Prospects contest, sponsored by the Montana Chamber of Commerce, they were off to see a successful business today and meet the founders.

As the bus turned onto a gravel road, students were surprised that the successful business we were going to see was down a dirt road. As we pulled into the driveway, the beautiful large barn caught our eyes along with our welcoming committee, Dustin and Susan Harmon, and the family dog.  

Upon entering the home of Wild Calf Coffee, advisors Jill Page & Mary Machart knew this was YE in the works.  Susan shared her expertise in the development of the business before Dustin shared his passion for Entrepreneurship. Advisors were pleased to hear Dustin reinforce many of the ideas taught in YE class as well as explain how they both have degrees, yet are still taking college courses to empower themselves to continue building their business. 

They kindly saved their morning roasting process for the students to see firsthand.  From the large burlap bags that held the beans (Which all experienced that they had NO scent) to pouring them into the roaster, hearing them open and then placed into the machine to be processed to sell.  Topping it off was the opportunity to taste the final product, and adding their own flavors into it as well.  

I believe as the bus headed down that dirt road, students held a new perspective about what it takes to start a small business and the benefits of still living in the middle of 'home'. 

The second leg of the journey took them to Williston State College in Williston, ND.  The group was greeted by local alumni from Medicine Lake.  Now employed at WSC, she graciously introduced two student leaders who each took a group of students to tour the facilities.  Giving High School students the opportunity to see what a college classroom, lab, and more looks like.  From the gym (known as the Well) , the dorms, bookstore, financial offices to their huge recreation facility the ARC, students enjoyed learning the benefits of a Junior College close to home. Two of the Glasgow students on the trip will be attending WSC this fall.  (Jill Page & Mary Machart).

Tester secures funding for Valley County

U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced today that eight counties in Northeast Montana will receive more than $8.5 million in American Rescue Plan funding, which counties can use to plug revenue shortfalls caused by the pandemic and fund critical services that keep cops, firefighters, and other first responders on the beat.

This funding is a part of $1.25 billion secured by Tester for Montana state, county, and local governments in the American Rescue Plan’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Relief Fund. Tester was the only member of the Montana delegation to vote for this legislation. The funding will go to Daniels, Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Valley counties.

“In the past year, counties in Northeast Montana have been forced to coordinate a response to an unprecedented public health crisis, keep kids from falling behind in school, and ensure cops and firefighters stay on the beat with the resources they need to keep Montanans safe,” Tester said. “Montana’s county governments have been on the frontlines of this pandemic from day one, and I’ve heard from county commissioners across the state that budgets are stretched thin. I’m proud to have secured this targeted relief that will help make sure that critical local services remain available while providing relief to Montana taxpayers.”

The funding allocations for Northeast Montana counties are as follows:

• Daniels County $328,263

• Dawson County $1,672,974

• Garfield County $244,352

• McCone County - $323,212

• Richland County - $2,098,356

• Roosevelt County - $2,137,398

• Sheridan County - $642,734

• Valley County - $1,436,586

The $1.25 billion secured by Tester for state and local governments can be used to plug revenue shortfalls accrued during the crisis so localities do not have to cut critical services. The targeted relief can also be used to cover increased expenses associated with the public health response to the virus, including funding local emergency services like police officers and firefighters; securing additional personal protective equipment for first responders; and helping counties shoulder the costs of safely reopening schools, among others.

Fifty-five mayors from small and large towns across Montana, including Sidney Mayor Rick Norby, Glasgow Mayor Becky Erickson, and Scobey Mayor Danne Showers, thanked Tester for his efforts to pass the American Rescue Plan, writing: “This bill is a historic, bold, and unprecedented commitment to provide meaningful aid to Montana’s local governments. For all cities and towns, especially small and rural communities, this emergency aid is a game-changer, as all communities want to be part of the solution to recover from the pandemic and rebuild our economy.”

Montana cities and towns will receive nearly $136 million and counties will receive more than $207 million. This local funding will go directly to localities with populations of 50,000 or more, and for smaller areas, the funds will be disbursed through the state within 30 days. The state has no discretion to alter or withhold the allocated amounts.

Additionally, the state of Montana will receive more than $906 million to respond to the health and economic crisis as well as access to additional funds for capital projects that directly enable work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency.

Montana’s Federally Recognized Tribes will receive funding directly from the Treasury Department later this month.

Over the past year, Tester has held hundreds of meetings with Montana's workers, small business owners, frontline health care workers, educators, Tribes, and local officials to solicit input about what Montanans need to make it through this pandemic. Tester has worked tirelessly since the beginning of this pandemic to provide targeted relief to Montana. He secured $1.25 billion for Montana as a part of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act last year.