KCTR: We’re Montana’s Own » Newsletter

July 4th Fireworks Shows in and Near Billings

Greg Tillotson — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:15:21 +0000

The celebration of our Nations Independence is closely approaching and once again there will be plenty of ‘rockets’ red glare’ in the skies above Yellowstone County. The question is whether they are legal or not! Over the years your choice for big firework shows has dwindled down to two choices. There are always the local [...]

Little Big Horn

The Breakfast Flakes — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:24:23 +0000

Two re-enactments of the Battle of the Little Bighorn are among many activities planned next week in Hardin, Crow Agency and other nearby places. Crow Native Days runs Tuesday through Sunday, June 18-23, while Little Bighorn Days in Hardin is slated for Wednesday through Sunday. Both celebrations include parades and activities for all ages and both put on re-enactments Friday through Sunday, one hour and about 20 miles apart.

The One Room Schoolhouse

The Breakfast Flakes — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:38:09 +0000

Montana’s one-room schoolhouses are joining a list of the nation’s most endangered historic places along with Houston’s Astrodome stadium and New York’s old Pan Am Worldport Terminal at Kennedy Airport. When they homesteaded in small communities, the first thing that went up was a school,” said Shirley Barrick, who started her teaching career at a [...]

What's Your Reason To Relay?

The Breakfast Flakes — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:15:51 +0000

Billings Relay for life teams are raising funds for their big event coming up July 12. More than 100 teams have signed up for this outstanding fundraiser and it’s not too late to join or even start a team! Please stop by Angry Hanks this Friday at 4pm to for some great BBQ, angry hanks [...]

Fun and Games

The Breakfast Flakes — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:48:19 +0000

Earlier this week Karen from the Big Sky State and Games by to talk about the games scheduled for July 19th thru the July 21st. The games are open to anyone who is fit to participate in any of the 37 sports that are offered. From pickle ball, fencing and other Olympic style sports –competition [...]

Is Coal Under Valued?

The Breakfast Flakes — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:45:05 +0000

Federal and state officials will weigh in this week on a Wyoming company’s application to lease 198 million tons of coal adjacent to a southeastern Montana mine, amid an emerging debate over whether the government is undervaluing the coal from such projects.Cloud Peak Energy is seeking to expand its lease at the Spring Creek Mine near [...]

Community invited to welcome vets home today.

The Breakfast Flakes — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:38:50 +0000

The community is invited to welcome vets home on Monday.

A welcome home celebration for the latest tour of Big Sky Honor Flight WWII veterans is planned for Monday evening.

Anyone in the Billings area who wishes to be a part of the celebration is encouraged to be at Billings Logan Airport before 8:30 p

Montana Most Improved in Higher Education

The Breakfast Flakes — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:49:20 +0000

Montana has shown the most improvement among states in recent years in higher-education graduation rates, in part because of its investment in two-year colleges. According to census data, the number of Montanans with associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees increased by 6 percent from 2008 to 2010, totaling 40 percent of state residents. The rest [...]

Who's Watching the Kids?

The Breakfast Flakes — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:06:07 +0000

A recent legislative audit finds there are at least 64 Montana school bus drivers with criminal records, including two with drunken-driving convictions within three years of the study. In addition, some school districts appear to be taking advantage of a reimbursement policy in which the larger the bus, the higher the payment rate per mile

Stealing from the Lord?

The Breakfast Flakes — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:06:10 +0000

Police in Billings are investigating after surveillance video captured a man stealing about $3,000 in equipment from Hope Center Foursquare CHURCH, including a riding lawn mower, snow blower and some power washers. The Reverend Grove Hull says the man showed up three times on Monday, first unloading a shed and then loading up the riding [...]

It Was A Rounding Error…Really?

The Breakfast Flakes — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:24:12 +0000

Undervalued coal sales have cost the U.S. an estimated $62 million in potential lost revenues in recent years, according to a Tuesday report from federal investigators who recommended broad changes to the government’s coal leasing program to stem further losses.The report from the Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General comes amid rising pressure from [...]

Missoula County attorney speaks to DOJ investigation

The Breakfast Flakes — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:25:32 +0000

The Missoula County attorney says he is willing to scrutinize the way his office handles sexual assault and rape cases, but will not cooperate with a Department of Justice probe he calls politically motivated. Fred Van Valkenburg spoke Monday at a City Club Missoula luncheon and blamed the Missoulian newspaper for unfairly creating a national [...]

Staying Safe

The Breakfast Flakes — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:09:34 +0000

Montana State University Billings officials warned students Wednesday evening of a recent string of sexual assaults against college-age women in Billings. Billings Police Department Chief Rich St. John said in an email that the assaults date to January of this year and that it’s not yet clear if they’re related.MSUB Police Chief Scott Forshee said [...]

A Hero With Heart and Soul

The Breakfast Flakes — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:11:56 +0000

The 34th Annual Heart and Sole Race is set to take place June 15, and the U.S. Army will have a larger presence at the race than ever before. One of those who will be participating in the race is Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor recipient U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Baetz.

Veto!

The Breakfast Flakes — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:12:34 +0000

The mayor of a western Montana town has vetoed the portion of a weapons ordinance passed by the town council banning open and concealed carry in parks. The Ravalli Republic reports in a story on Saturday that Stevensville Mayor Gene Mim Mack says he vetoed that section because he wanted the town council to focus [...]

Defense Department Furloughs

The Breakfast Flakes — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:08:52 +0000

About 800 Montana workers will be affected by the civilian furloughs planned due to automatic budget cuts in the Department of DefenseThe Great Falls Tribune reports 11 furlough days are expected to be taken between July 8 and September 30 at Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana National Guard. Montana workers will lose $3.2 [...]

Jason Aldean Superfan Attends 100th Concert, Gets Surprise From the Singer

Christina Vinson — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:00:08 +0000

Jason Aldean‘s fans are a committed group, but one of them in particular, Holly Hazell, is extremely dedicated to the singer. In fact, she may be his biggest fan, as she recently attended her 100th Aldean show. Unbeknownst to her, the ‘Big Green Tractor’ hitmaker wanted to help her celebrate this monumental feat. At a [...]

Crow Devastation

The Breakfast Flakes — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:39:47 +0000

Heavy rains, resulting in some flooding across southeastern Montana on Thursday and so far – the Crow Indian Reservation has been hit the worst. The BIA and the Crow Tribe DES have been working to prevent problems in the Lodge Grass Area. The two agencies met late Friday afternoon to assess the flooding concerns. Crews [...]

A Mothers Love!

The Breakfast Flakes — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:03:34 +0000

The baby moose looked like it was born that day, small and frail, about 25 pounds. Thanks to two fast-acting anglers on the Big Hole River, the little moose will live another day.

Karen Sciascia, a practicing gynecologist from Pennsylvania who has delivered thousands of human babies, and Twin Bridges river guide Seth McLean, were fishing the Big Hole this week when they encountered a cow moose with a calf

Deeelicious!

The Breakfast Flakes — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:09:42 +0000

For the past 21 years the Strawberry Festival has taken place in Billings, a sure sign of summer! The annual community event is gearing up for year 22 this Saturday morning starting with the public pancake breakfast at 7:30. After that the day is filled with kids’ activities, arts & crafts booths, live entertainment, food [...]