Billings Gazette Style Guide A

BILLINGS GAZETTE STYLE GUIDE A adequate yearly progress — A benchmark of the No Child Left Behind Act that measures schools and school districts. Even though it is referred to as AYP, it is lowercase when spelled out. Use “AYP” in subsequent references. Al Bedoo Shrine Alberta Bair Theater — Use “the ABT” in subsequent references. Albertsons — No apostrophe. Although the corporation is Albertson’s Inc. (with an apostrophe), we will use “Albertsons Inc.” and “Albertsons” in stories about the corporation and company. American Medical Response — Use “AMR” in subsequent references. associate justice — Members of the Montana Supreme Court other than the chief justice are associate justices but are commonly known as justices. In a title before a name, use only “Justice.” In subsequent references, use “the justice” or “Gray.” B Babcock Theatre — But “the theater” in subsequent references. Bear Paw Battlefield — The site south of Chinook where Nez Perce Chief Joseph surrendered to the U.S. Army. It is part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park. Bear Paw Mountains — Not “Bear’s Paw Mountains” as on the state highway map. Beartooth Mountains — The plural is “Beartooths,” not “Bearteeth.” Beartooth Highway — Scenic stretch of U.S. Highway 212 that begins outside Red Lodge at the border of the Custer National Forest and ends near the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park. BFI Recycling — Operates recycling center on Charles Street. BFI Waste Systems — Garbage-collecting business for homes outside the city. Bigfork — One word. BBWA canal — Use initials in first reference. They stand for the Billings Bench Water Association. The BBWA Canal is the largest of the canals serving the Billings area and is commonly, but mistakenly, known as “The Big Ditch.” See “Big Ditch.” Big Ditch — The Big Ditch is shorter than the BBWA Canal. It begins about five miles west of Park City and runs north of Laurel to Shiloh Road and flows south of Poly Drive before ending at Nina Clare Road. Do not call the BBWA Canal the Big Ditch. Big Hole National Battlefield — The site of a battle between Nez Perce and U.S. Army troops in 1877. Located near Wisdom. Bighorn vs. Big Horn — Here is a list of the one-word and two-word usages: One word: Bighorn Basin Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Bighorn Lake Bighorn Mountains Bighorn National Forest Bighorn River bighorn sheep Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Little Bighorn River Bighorn, Mont. Two words: Big Horn County (in Montana and Wyoming) Big Horn, Wyo. Little Big Horn College Big Sky Economic Development Authority — Use “Big Sky EDA” in subsequent references, but never “BSEDA.” Big Sky State Games Billings — Billings has a council-manager form of government adopted in 1977. The correct term for the top appointed official is city administrator. Capitalize when in advance of a name. City Hall is located at 210 North 27th Street and houses the city administrator’s office, the mayor’s office, the city clerk’s office, administrative services, human resources, information technology, parking division and the city attorney’s office. Billings’ — Correct, but “city’s” is better. Instead of “Billings’ latest development,” consider instead “the city’s latest development” or “the latest development in Billings.” Billings Area Chamber of Commerce — Use “the chamber” on subsequent references. Billings Logan International Airport — Its address is 1901 Terminal Circle. Billings-area parks Afflerbaugh Park Edgerton Park Pioneer Park Amend Park Evergreen Park Poly Vista Park Arrowhead Park Founders Park Ponderosa Park Athletic Park Gorham Park Powwow Park Big Sky Park Grandview Park Primrose Park Billings Heights Park Harris Park Rim Point Park Boulder Park Hawthorne Park Riverfront Park Bridle Moon Park Heritage Park Rose Park Burg Park Highland Park Rosebud Park Burlington Park High Sierra Park Sacajawea Park Byron Nelson Park Hillner Park South Park Cameron Park Josephine Park Sahara Park Castle Rock Park Kiwanis/Durland Park Sharon Park Cave Park Lampman Park Sled Park Cedar Park Lillis Park Spring Creek Park Centennial Park Lockwood Park Stewart Park Central Park McKenzie Park Streeter Park Charles Russell Park Millice Park Swords Park Clevenger Park Moose Park Terry Park Clydesdale Park Mystic Park Trails End Park Comanche Park North Park Two Moon Park Community Park Optimist Park Veterans Park Coulson Park Oxbow Park Walsh Park Country Manor Park Palisades Park Westwood Park Dick Logan Park Phipps Park Windsor Park Dokken Park Pike Park Zimmerman Park Eaton Park Pine Hill Billings Business College — Use “the college” in subsequent references. Billings City Council — Use the full name only when clarity is needed; otherwise, City Council (note the capital letters) is fine. Members are Peggie Gaghen and Jim Ronquillo (Ward 1); Larry Brewster and Joy Stevens (Ward 2); Vince Ruegamer and Shoots Veis (Ward 3); Nancy Boyer and Ed Ulledalen (Ward 4); and Richard Clark and Donald Jones (Ward 5). The mayor is Ron Tussing. For the City Council members and the mayor, capitalize their titles before their names. Billings Clinic — Formerly Deaconess Billings Clinic. Its name was changed in October 2005. Billings Education Association — Represents teachers and other educators in School District 2. Use “the BEA” in subsequent references. Billings Fire Department — Marv Jochems is fire chief. Capitalize his title before his name. Billings Gazette — First reference is always “The Billings Gazette.” Subsequent references are “The Gazette.” Billings Heights Water District — In subsequent references, use “the district.” Billings Logan International Airport — Use full name in first reference. Logan International Airport is in Boston. In subsequent references use “the airport.” Billings Mustangs — Baseball team in the Pioneer League. “Mustangs” is fine on first reference. Billings Outlaws — Arena football team in the National Indoor Football League. “Outlaws” is fine on first reference. Billings Police Department — Rich St. John is chief of police. Capitalize his title before his name. Billings Public Schools — For list of schools in Billings, see Schools entry. Billings Studio Theatre — Use “BST” or “the theater” in subsequent references. Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale — Official name of the organization that encompasses the orchestra and the chorale. The two do not always perform together. Use “Billings Symphony Orchestra” or “Billings Symphony Chorale” when writing about performances of each, but use the full name when writing about the organization. Billings urban area — Use this term for what may be known to some as greater Billings. The urban area encompasses areas adjacent to but not incorporated in the city of Billings, including Lockwood. Blackfeet — Always “Blackfeet,” as in The Blackfeet Tribe, the Blackfeet Reservation. When writing about members of the tribe, again use Blackfeet, even when referring to one person. “Blackfoot” is used only for the river near Missoula. Blackfeet Community College — A community college in Browning offering two-year associate degrees, tribal education and education support for the community. blog, Web log — “Web log” is two words. Its shortened, more popular version is “blog,” which is acceptable on first reference. Blue Creek — Creek that runs into the Yellowstone River south of Riverfront Park. Use “the Blue Creek area” when referring to the development and housing near the creek and Blue Creek Road. Blue Creek Bridge — The bridge across Blue Creek on Blue Creek Road south of the South Bridge. See “South Bridge.” BNSF Railway Co. — Its parent company is Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. Use “BNSF” in subsequent references. borrow pit — Use this term for the ditch along roads. It is not “barrow pit.” The correct term comes from the fact that dirt is borrowed from the trench and used for fill. Briarwood Country Club Bresnan Communications — Use “Bresnan” in subsequent references. Buffalo Bill Historical Center — Center in Cody, Wyo., that houses five museums: the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Plains Indian Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, and the Draper Museum of Natural History. Use “BBHC” in subsequent references. buildings — Capitalize specific buildings: the Fratt Building, the Stapleton Building. Bureau of Land Management — Use “the BLM” in subsequent references. Bureau of Reclamation — Use “BuRec” or “the bureau” in subsequent references. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. — Parent company of BNSF Railway Co. bylines — Qualifiers under bylines of Gazette editorial office employees will read: Of The Gazette Staff, including bylines for all editors. Do not use “Of The …” when using stories from other newspapers. For example: By JOHN DOE Missoulian Use the following in bylines for Lee newspapers: Casper Star-Tribune, Independent Record, Ravalli Republic, Montana Standard, Missoulian. C Cam-Plex Carroll College — A private Catholic college in Helena offering four-year undergraduate degrees. Casper College — A community college in Casper, Wyo., offering two-year associate degrees. Central Wyoming College — A community college in Riverton, Wyo., offering two-year associate degrees. Charles M. Bair Family Museum — Located in Martinsdale. Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge — Surrounds Fort Peck Reservoir. On subsequent references, use “the refuge” or “the CMR wildlife refuge,” but not “the CMRNWR.” chief deputy U.S. marshal — In a title before a name, capitalize. Chief Dull Knife College — A community college in Lame Deer

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