SPORTS MONTANA Five Pioneers named Prairie Grouse dance their Region XIII All-Region. Page 9 way into springtime. Page 3 Miles Weekend CitySTAR Edition Friday, April 9, 2021 Miles City, Montana $1.00 National Guard to hold Miles City hosts open house By DERRICK CALHOUN trained in Construction Opera- Star Staff Writer tions located in Billings, Miles canine training City and Culbertson. The ESC The Montana Army Nation- work construction sites for al Guard 260th Engineer Sup- State and Local Projects. port Company (ESC) will be Some things they do hosting a community open include building roadways, air- house tomorrow from 1-3 p.m. strips and foundations for The open house will be held buildings; constructing build- at the Miles City Montana ings and facilities along with Army National Guard building the plumbing and electricity; located at 1020 N. Haynes Ave. evaluating and mitigating At the open house commu- water drainage and with envi- nity members can learn about ronment considerations; per- what the Montana Army forming soldier tasks includ- National Guard can do for the ing weapons, training, military State of Montana; explore the tactics, and warrior skills; armory and different job assisting in State emergencies fields; and see military person- including forest fires, snow nel and equipment in action. removal, floods, tornados; and Boogs BBQ will be serving air mobile capabilities. food, and the first 50 meals (Contact Derrick Cal- will be free. houn at mcsportsreporter@ The ESC is a Horizontal and gmail.com or at 406-234- Vertical Engineer Company 0450.) Stockman Bank ranked one of top-performing community banks By DERRICK CALHOUN without compromising excel- Star Staff Writer lence. I am proud of their flex- ibility and dedication. We have Stockman Bank has been the best team in our 68-year once against ranked in the top- history.” 50 performing community According to a press STAR PHOTOS/Hanna Kambich banks in American by S&P release, S&P Global Market Officer Ryan Ketchum wears a bite jacket and acts as a suspect for Billings Police Officer Dave Firebaugh and partner Dutch to Global Market Intelligence’s Intelligence calculates scores practice bite work in Wibaux Park on Wednesday. 2020 annual rankings. for each bank based on six “We are again honored to metrics, including return and By HANNA KAMBICH be recognized nationally for growth and credit quality to Star Staff Writer exemplary financial perfor- compile their rankings. S&P mance, sound practices and Global is the world’s foremost Miles City was a host to focused management,” said provider of credit rankings, some hard working offi- Bill Coffee, Stockman Bank benchmarks and analytics in cers on Wednesday. CEO in a press release. “Dur- the global and commodity Local K-9 Officer Ryan ing 2020, clearly a challenging markets. Ketchum and his partner year in many ways, our team (Contact Derrick Cal- Max hosted a Montana Law adapted on a moment’s notice, houn at mcsportsreporter@ Enforcement Canine Asso- finding new ways to serve our gmail.com or at 406-234- ciation training yesterday. customers and communities 0450.) All five Billings K-9 Department officers and three Highway Patrol Troopers attended. The Extreme drought continues training was held in multi- ple areas with multiple to creep across the state scenarios. In one scenario, officers By HANNA KAMBICH Northeast corner has been enacted an interstate traf- Star Staff Writer increased to a severe fic stop where one officer drought. and his partner would get Despite the rain, extreme The snowpack levels in out and search the pulled drought is still creeping into the state have changed sig- over car for drugs. the state. nificantly in the last week. They also had a scenario Last week extreme The Smith-Judith- Mus- set up in a lot across from drought occupied Richland selshell is at 91% and the the Eastern Montana Fair- and Roosevelt counties. This Upper Yellowstone is at grounds. There are a hand- Miles City Police Officer Ryan Ketchum and his partner Max search the vehicle for drug packag- week that extreme drought 97%. To the South of Miles ful of cars that Ketchum es in a training exercise in a lot on the west side of town on Wednesday. is now stretching through City, the Tongue is at 99% used as a training area. Wibaux, Dawson, Richland, and Powder is at 107%. The They were treating it as a rounding area for drugs. They also set up a couple pect for Officer Dave Fire- Roosevelt, Sheridan and a Lower Clark Fork, Flathead, compound with suspects They also had areas set of the rooms with drug baugh from Billings and sliver into Daniels counties. Bitterroot, Upper Clark running away after wreck- up in the Montana Veter- paraphernalia in them and his canine Dutch to prac- The Southwest corner of Fork, St. Mary’s, Sun-Teton- ing a vehicle and tossing ans Affairs building. In had officers searching for tice bite work. Custer County is still abnor- Marias, Helena Valley and drug paraphernalia as they one area they had packag- it. (Contact Hanna Kambich mally dry with a majority of Gallatin basins are all at 90 were running. The dogs es taped up with some Finally, Ketchum put on at mcreporter@midrivers. the state still in moderate to 109% snowpack. were training to search the boxes and a couple of them the bite jacket in Wibaux com r 406-234-0450.) drought. However the vehiclesBIG as well as the sur- See “Drought,” page 5 contained drug packages. Park and acted as a sus- BRAND % BRINGING HOME STYLE, QUALITY & VALUE BIG BIG FOR OVER 80 YEARS 25OFF BIG SALE! STOREWIDE** 902 S. Haynes Ave, Miles City PLUS TAKE AN (406) 232-5410 BIG BIG EXTRA 5% OFF FLEXSTEEL! conlins.com Visit our Website at www.milescitystar.com 4 44 4 44 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 – Friday, April 9, 2021 LOCAL / MONTANA Miles City Star Co. Commissioner Calendar will attend Airport FRIDAY nament for adults, register p.m., 1020 N. Haynes Ave. Class (meeting in person nWake Up & Lace Up by 8 a.m. by texting Dee 406-439-8796. through May 27), 8:30 a.m., (WULU) online auction Sutter at 853-5838, 9 a.m. nOpen Alcoholics Anony- Drop-In Center. Informa- No. 2, through Sunday at tournament begins (double mous Unity “ANTSY” tion at Custer County Commission meeting 4 p.m., WULU Facebook elimination), 3108 Leigh- Group, 2 p.m., Convent Extension Office, phone By STAR STAFF Outside of regular com- page for items and bidding ton Blvd. Keepers Community Center 874-3370. missioners’ hours on information. nGrand opening of Swal- (formerly Miles City Acad- nMiles City Soup Kitchen, The Custer County Com- Wednesday, Commissioner nOpen trap shooting, 6 lowtail Photography Studio emy), 1411 Leighton Blvd. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., First missioners will meet during Strouf will attend the Mos- p.m., Spotted Eagle Trap and Store, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 6 n“DEATHHOUSE” haunt- United Methodist Church their regular hours on Tues- quito Control Board meeting Range. N. 9th St. ed house sponsored by the basement, 24 N. 11th St. day, Wednesday and Thurs- in the Extension Office con- n“DEATHHOUSE” haunt- nChildbirth Education Custer County District 234-5013. day next week in the Custer ference room at 5:30 p.m. ed house sponsored by the Class, 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m., High School Key Club, 7-11 nCommunity COVID-19 County Courthouse in Miles On the agenda are approval Custer County District Holy Rosary Healthcare, p.m., Custer Lodge at 3108 testing for direct contacts City. of minutes from the previ- High School Key Club, 2600 Wilson St. Informa- Leighton Blvd. and symptomatic individu- On Monday, at noon, out- ous meeting; claims and 7-11 p.m., Custer Lodge at tion and registration at nClosed Alcoholics Anony- als, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., by Agri- side of regular commission- budget; public comment; 3108 Leighton Blvd. 233-2783. mous (nonsmoking), 8 Sports Complex across ers’ hours, Commissioner unfinished business of nOpen Alcoholics Anony- nSpring Into Hope Con- p.m., main floor of Convent from Spotted Eagle Recre- Jason Strouf will participate chemical inventory/pur- mous Candlelight meet- ference with public mini Keepers Community Center ation Area with entrance in the weekly legislative chase, larvicide purchase ing (nonsmoking), 8 p.m., conference, 9 a.m., The (formerly Miles City Acad- off Pacific Avenue. conference call with Mon- and equipment inventory; Convent Keepers Com- Lighthouse, 3300 Hori- emy), 1411 Leighton Blvd. nSenior Congregate Meals tana Association of Counties new business of hire crew munity Center (formerly zon Pkwy. Information at SUNDAY for anyone 60+ years, 11 (MACo) leadership. At 2 and calibration/clinic April Miles City Academy), 1411 https://thewayhomemt.org/ nWake Up & Lace Up a.m.-noon, 600 Cafe. Take p.m., Commissioner Keith 28; supervisor update — Leighton Blvd. events. (WULU) online auction, out boxes available for Holmlund will attend the overview of program; and nAll newcomers open nAl-Anon, 10 a.m., First through today at 4 p.m., seniors who prefer not to Airport Commission meet- board comment. Alcoholics Anonymous United Methodist Church, WULU Facebook page for eat in the restaurant during ing at the Miles City Air- Also on Wednesday out- (nonsmoking), 8 p.m., 24 N. 11th St. 406-853-5577. items and bidding informa- COVID-19 (may come in port. Commissioner Strouf side of regular commission- Convent Keepers Com- nBingo, 1 p.m., Drop-In tion. and pick up meal or wait will attend the Cemetery ers’ hours, Commissioner munity Center (formerly Center.