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Yellowstone County News
113 Northern Ave. Huntley MT 59037
Phone: 406-348-2649
Fax: 406-348-2302
Email: info@yellowstonecountynews.com
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Yellowstone County News for Week of November 14, 2008.
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Two-car crash on 312 injures two women
Staff Report
SHEPHERD - The drivers of two cars that collided on Highway 312 near Cline Road Sunday afternoon were treated for minor injuries.
The Montana Highway Patrol trooper who investigated the accident said air bags discharged and seat belts were worn in both cars “or the crash would have been a lot worse.”
Trooper Buck O’Neill identified the driver of an eastbound Chevy Impala as Connie McCarty of Huntley.
“She was distracted, tending to her two children and didn’t notice cars in front of her stopping,” said O’Neill. “She swerved into the other traffic lane and hit the westbound Chevy Cobalt.”
Laura Thormahlen was identified as the driver of the other vehicle.
McCarty was cited for careless driving. Alcohol and speed were not a factor in the accident.
Two weeks ago, a Shepherd woman was killed on Highway 312 at the intersection of Shepherd Road when her car was struck on the driver’s side by a pickup truck. Mary (Martinez) Kelly died from blunt force trauma, according to the coroner’s office.
Highway 312 is dangerous because it has so many roads intersecting with it that have blind spots and because there are no shoulders on most of the roadway, according to Trooper O’Neill. Cars also tend to speed along the highway, which is posted at 60 mph.
Huntley Project grateful for donations; more coming
by Sharon Michaels
WORDEN-Cash donations have reached $267,000 and more is coming in each day, reported Huntley Project High School teacher Mark Wandle at the special school board meeting, Nov. 11.
The school has also received computers, labor and books for the library.
In fact, last weekend, Wind River School in Wyoming delivered a pick-up load of books to the school. The school has also received soccer balls, bats, footballs and basketballs.
Thank you cards will be sent just before Thanksgiving and the school is making sure no one will be left out, said Wandle. The school has received extra backpacks and school supplies and part of these will be given to elementary students in Billings to thank them for the generous donations. A bus with Project high school students will deliver these items and thank the students personally.
“This has been a truly humbling experience for me,” said Wandle. “The awesome support has been great and I thank you all.”
Bus driver Judy Van Luchene thanked Superintendent Dave Mahon and the board for the recent increase in wages for emergency drivers. “I’m glad you’re trying to do something, because something needed to be done,” said Van Luchene.
Manager of Transportation Larry Walsh had questioned the board at the last meeting because he had not been notified of the increase in wages and wanted the board to explain the meaning of “emergency” bus drivers.
Mahon had answered his questions in an email, but Walsh still wanted to be on the agenda.
“Our substitute drivers know all the bus routes, where are regular route drivers only know their own. I feel very slighted I wasn’t contacted and I am still upset I was not notified,” said Walsh.
“Were you at the meeting?” asked Mahon.
“No, it was not required that I be at that meeting. I do spend 11 to 12 hours a day at this school. Whatever you tell me to do, I will do,” replied Walsh.
“Our intentions were to help you,” said vice chair Mark Fox.
“Our point was not permanent,” said chairman Mark Jones. “We will continue to explore the situation.”
Trustee Steve Erb asked if the shortage of drivers was because of the fire.
Yes, because of the extra transportation for practice for the students, replied Walsh.
Van Luchene said she had spoke to several people about subbing for the routes and the answer she got was they didn’t want the responsibility because of the recent death of a student in a bus accident.
Community member Linda Rogers said the rumor she had heard in the community was the school hadn’t properly backed the driver involved in the wreck.
“We have a lawyer and also offered a psychologist to assist the driver,” said Mahon.
In other business, the board voted unanimously to hire Zack Medina as business education teacher for the remainder of the school year. Medina
has been student teaching under Mark Branger and has done great job, said Mahon. His student teaching was completed on Nov. 10.
Mahon told the board a consultant from Construction Services Company, John Thomas, had asked for an onsite pre-bid meeting with contractors who would be providing estimates for the remedial work and subsequent replacement with code upgrades. Construction Services Company was authorized by Western States Insurance to help estimate the loss.
The pre-bid meeting would allow the company to get familiarized with the loss and to discuss and answer questions relative to the phases of estimating associated with the loss of the school, said Thomas. Thomas will also introduce three subcontractors to provide initial estimates for mechanical, electrical and plumbing.
Since this would take place on Nov. 18 at 9 a.m., Mahon would ask him to stay and attend the school board meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Community member Rick Rogers asked if the bricks and slab from the burned school had a possibility of being re-used. After discussing the possibility, the general consensus was no engineer would utilize those walls.
Volunteer fireman David Larson asked if the new trailers serving as classrooms for the high school were up to code.
Maintenance manager Scott Gierke assured him the state inspector had checked and they were up to code.
Gierke told the board of the possibility of a 70x130-foot building being brought in and set up as a temporary place for basketball practice to help ease the crunch on transporting the students. Gierke said he would obtain approval from the insurance company this week.
Trustee Larry Peabody asked how long it would take to set up.
Gierke said about 30 days.
“This is a separate part of our insurance policy,” said Mahon. “Therefore, this added expense for school operations does not affect our building.” fund.”
Why school tax bill is higher this year:
TRANSPORTATION COSTS INCREASE
by Robert Nolte
WORDEN - Because school officials “under-levied” for several bus routes, the transportation levy that showed up on this year’s property tax bills for the Huntley Project school district nearly doubled.
When tax notices were sent out Oct. 31, many residents on the Project noticed a large increase in their school taxes over last year’s assessment.
That’s because more money had to be provided for the Huntley Project School transportation fund, which is fed by a “permissive levy.” Such a levy does not have to be approved by voters.
But the increase in the transportation budget from 19.87 mills in 2007-08 to 40.10 mills was approved in August by the school board to make up for half the cost of under-levying. The other half will show up on next year’s tax bills, according to Rita Huck, district clerk.
Also hiking the transportation budget was the rising cost of fuel, a factor that affected school budgets throughout Montana.
There was also an increase in the bus depreciation category of the school budget of 5 mills, from 14.84 to 19.94 mills.
School board chairman Dr. Mark Jones said the district is seeking to add newer buses to its fleet that should cost less in maintenance and at the same time retire some of its older buses that have been costly to maintain.
Huntley Project buses travel hundreds of miles in a school day and make many stops, servicing students in not only Yellowstone County but also in Big Horn and Musselshell counties.
County Treasurer Max Lenington, who provided levy figures for this story, said the Project bus routes are some of the longest in the state.
The board has discussed seat belts for its fleet but Jones said there are two sides to the safety issue. Somebody has to make sure the belts are being used by students and, in the case of a wreck, getting students out of the belts and evacuated is also an issue.
“I am open to looking at the matter,” said Jones. “But the safety issue is not a slam dunk.”
Initial suggestions for facility include $8-9 million budget
WORDEN - Huntley Project School Board Chairman Dr. Mark Jones read a list of recommendations as a starting point for the New Facility Committee. Jones said these are suggestions and can be changed as the committee meets.
Jones recommendations state that the New Facility Committee will:
• Interview and instruct various architectural firms of our need for a school/gym that is appropriate for 350-400 high school students.
These firms should be told to plan on a total budget of $8-9M, with the ability to shell in 20 percent of the space should we have a shortfall.
• Choose 2-4 of these firms to make presentations to the entire board for final decision.
• Give special consideration to local and state firms, especially those who have helped in our time of need. Do this without exclusion of national firms that may have special expertise.
• Form subcommittees and take advantage of local talent to fulfill specific needs.
• Update the board bi-monthly.
• Track expenses.
Jones recommended the committee be given a $3,000 budget to cover travel and meeting expenses.
The point of the budget is not necessarily to limit expense, but simply to keep track, he noted.
His suggestions concluded by stating the board should be able to make a decision by May 1, 2009, on what architect will be selected and the basic design of a new high school.
Feel free to view Yellowstone County News archives.
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