Gallatin Media Center

For immediate release: March 8, 2024

Media contact:
Eric Semerad, Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder/Elections Administrator
406-582-3054
eric.semerad@gallatin.mt.gov

Gallatin County Seeking Election Judges for 2024 Primary, General Elections

For immediate release: March 7, 2024 

Media contact:
Jim Simon, Gallatin Solid Waste Management District Manager
406-582-2492
jim.simon@gallatin.mt.gov 

Gallatin County Receives $400k Grant for Food Diversion Efforts 

Gallatin County is the proud recipient of a federal grant that will allow our landfill to work with public and private partners to help reduce food waste in our communities. 

Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Gallatin County a $400,000 grant to help expand composting operations at Logan Landfill to include food wastes and biosolids.  

The Gallatin Solid Waste Management District (GSWMD) owns and operates Gallatin County’s landfill. Last year, over 200,000 tons of waste were landfilled in Logan. Based on national averages and a waste audit, it’s estimated that 35,000 to 40,000 tons of this is compostable waste.  

Through this new project, GSWMD will expand their biosolids compost operation to include food waste and produce compost that can be distributed to local agricultural producers.  

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) operates food banks, food production gardens, Montana’s first and only pay-what-you-can restaurant and food truck, the Warming Center, and public transportation systems in Gallatin County. In its operations, HRDC actively rescues food from grocery stores, farms, and bakeries and feeds the community. Unusable food is either given to animal farmers or composted.  In 2022, HRDC rescued over 730,000 pounds of food.  

This grant will also allow HRDC to expand its food rescue operation to include restaurants and more farms, rescuing an estimated 100,000 additional pounds of food each year.   

“The need for more food in our food banks continues to grow with the high cost of living. It is important now more than ever for us to collect the excess food in our community and distribute it through a meal or our self-choice grocery store,” said Jon Horn, Gallatin Valley Food Bank Operations Manager.  

“This project will allow us to rescue usable food to feed folks in need in our community, compost food and green waste, and create a beneficial product for local residents and farmers, all while diverting the waste from our landfill. This project is a major win for Gallatin County, and we are excited to work with our partners to get this project underway,” said Jim Simon, director of the Gallatin Solid Waste Management District. 

With the grant now in hand, GSWMD is working to develop and build a Covered Aerated Static Pile at Logan Landfill for compositing. They anticipate the site will be ready to start compositing food waste in spring of 2025. 

GSWMD will also be working with HRDC, the Gallatin Conservation District, the Open and Local Coalition, and Prospera Business Network on education, outreach and compost distribution efforts.  

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For immediate release: March 5, 2024 

Media contact:
Audrey Cromwell, Gallatin County Attorney
406-582-3745
audrey.cromwell@gallatin.mt.gov  

Suspect Charged in Connection with Fatal I-90 Crash in Gallatin County

 A man has been charged in connection with a fatal crash that occurred on Interstate 90 in Gallatin County in January.  

On Feb. 27, the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office charged 23-year-old Alexander Norbert Ledoux of Bozeman with Vehicular Homicide While Under the Influence, Fleeing from or Eluding a Peace Officer and 6 counts of Criminal Endangerment.  

Ledoux is charged with killing 22-year-old Laysa Grewell after driving approximately 20 miles in the wrong direction on I-90. Grewell and her fiancé have a 1-year-old child and had recently learned they were expecting a second child. When he crashed into Grewell, LeDoux was travelling approximately 100 MPH with a blood alcohol content of .198. 

Ledoux will make his initial appearance in Gallatin County District Court at 9:30 a.m. on March 28, 2024 before Judge Andrew Breuner. At this hearing, Ledoux will enter a plea to the charges and subsequent hearings will be scheduled.  

Gallatin County Attorney Shannon Foley is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Montana Highway Patrol.  

Here are the affidavit of probable cause and information charging Ledoux. Additional court documents can be found in the Clerk of District Court’s Office at the Law and Justice Center in Bozeman. Case number: DC 24-131D. 

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For immediate release: March 4, 2024

Media contact:
Audrey Cromwell, Gallatin County Attorney
406-582-3745
audrey.cromwell@gallatin.mt.gov

Charging Documents Now Available in Megan Stedman Homicide Investigation

Following up on the below press release sent earlier on March 4, documents related to this case are now available.

• Order Finding Probable Cause
• Affidavit of Probable Cause and Motion in Support of Filing a Complaint
• Arrest Warrant

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, there are numerous local resources:

• Haven’s 24-hour support line – 406-586-4111
• Help Center Sexual Assault Counseling Center 24-hour hotline – 406-586-3333
• Gallatin County Victim Services – 406-582-2075
• Montana State University VOICE Center – 406-994-7069
• National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1-800-799-7233

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ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE

Update on Megan Stedman Homicide Investigation

Please see the following joint press release from Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell and Bonneville County, Idaho Prosecuting Attorney Randy Neal.

Full press release here.

More information will be released soon.

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For immediate release: March 4, 2024

Media contact:
Audrey Cromwell, Gallatin County Attorney
406-582-3745
Audrey.cromwell@gallatin.mt.gov

Update on Megan Stedman Homicide Investigation

Please see the following joint press release from Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell and Bonneville County, Idaho Prosecuting Attorney Randy Neal.

Full press release here.

More information will be released soon.

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On February 28, 2024, at 9:43 am, West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch received a 911 call from a snowmobiler who was recreating with a group of friends when a member of the group crashed their snowmobile in the creek and sustained serious injuries. The caller indicated the injured snowmobiler was in severe pain and on a snowmobile that was still in the creek near Two Top Loop, 4.2 miles south of West Yellowstone, Montana.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers from the West Yellowstone detachment, West Yellowstone Police Department, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the request for aid.  Due to the patient being in the creek and reporting severe injuries, it was determined the best and most efficient way for responders to assist would be through via use of snowmobiles and a specialized snowmobile towed “snowbulance.”  Members from GCSSAR extracted the patient from the creek and packaged them for transport from the location by snowbulance to a staged Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District ambulance. Weather prevented air ambulance from getting to West Yellowstone, so the patient was evacuated to a safe location and handed off during transit to Air Idaho for transport to Eastern Idaho Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the original reporting party for providing emergency responders critical information that allowed the proper resources to be dispatched to ensure a hasty and efficient response from rescue teams. Sheriff Springer would also like to remind backcountry enthusiasts to always have the means to communicate with emergency services, and to always pack enough supplies and clothing in case of unforeseen emergencies in the backcountry.

For Immediate Release: February 22, 2024

Over 75% of e-cigarette users don’t dispose of their devices properly, with a majority of them putting these devices in the trash.  With 26% of youth and 6% of adults in Montana regularly using these products, there is a big risk of harming the environment if this problem is not addressed. In response to this challenge, the Gallatin City-County Health Department has collaborated with Gallatin County Solid Waste Management to establish an e-cigarette disposal program to reduce the number of e-cigarettes that end up in our landfills.

Read the full press release here.

On February 19, 2024, at 6:00 pm Gallatin County Dispatch received a text to 911 from a snowmobiler who advised two people were stuck and unable to provide an exact location. Triangulation of the caller’s cell phone showed it to be in the Sunlight Basin area south of Big Sky.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Section gathered and responded to the Taylor Fork area. One team of four experienced snowmobilers responded to the caller’s location, while another team was positioned to be able to relay emergency responder communications.

Volunteers were finally able to locate the two snowmobilers well after dark. One snowmobiler was found to have had a minor injury to the hand, but they were otherwise in good health. Rescuers attempted to lead the two snowmobilers out to the trailhead, however the conditions were unsafe to continue. Due to poor snow conditions and elevated avalanche danger, the decision was made to bivouac overnight and reassess the situation during daylight hours.

The following morning, after confirming the poor snow conditions avalanche danger, it was determined that a helicopter extraction of all personnel and snowmobiles would be the safest, most expedient course of action. Central Copters was able to insert rescuers into the area and all personnel were transported to a landing zone on Taylor’s Fork Road.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind backcountry enthusiasts to be prepared for changing conditions and have the gear to stay overnight. As always please check the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center for the current Avalanche Forecast for the area you will be recreating in.

For immediate release: February 12, 2024

On February 10, 2024, at 2:34pm, West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch received a 911 call from a snowmobiler who was recreating with a friend when their group was flagged down by a snowmobiler who had sustained serious injuries. The caller indicated the injured snowmobiler was unable to ride their snowmobile out and was in need of immediate medical treatment near Cabin Creek, 17.5 miles north of West Yellowstone, Montana.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers from the West Yellowstone detachment, GCSSAR Big Sky detachment, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District, and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the request for aid. The GCSSAR team members, along with law enforcement, communicated with the initial caller over cell phone to establish critical details leading to how best to serve the injured individual. Due to the remote backcountry location of the victim, it was determined the best and most efficient way for responders to assist would be through utilization of a helicopter. Billings Clinic Medical Flight Team was dispatched to assist with the rescue. Quick-reaction teams from GCSSAR West Yellowstone and Big Sky also responded with snowmobiles and a specialized snowmobile towed ambulance. The victim was air lifted from the remote backcountry location in Cabin Creek to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the passerby snowmobilers whose quick action, effective communication, and GPS capabilities allowed the proper resources to be dispatched to ensure a hasty and efficient response from rescue teams.