Gallatin Media Center

On May 11, 2024, at 8:04 AM, Gallatin County 911 Dispatch was notified of an overdue mountain biker/hiker, likely in the area of Hyalite Canyon who had been expected to return home the previous night.

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputies determined the man had left for a hike at approximately 9:00 AM on May 10th and had not been heard from since. Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue (GCSSAR) was dispatched to conduct a backcountry search and a short time later, the missing hiker’s vehicle was located in Hyalite Canyon.

GCSSAR Command deployed the SAR Communications Team, SAR K-9 Search Teams, SAR Drone Team, and a SAR Helicopter Team to the Hyalite area to search for the hiker. Searchers located possible tracks for the subject around 9:30 AM in the Palisade area of Hyalite Canyon and at 1:18 PM located the missing hiker walking out to the Hyalite Reservoir parking lot.  The hiker had been in the Palisade area when he suffered a fall. With dead cell phone batteries, and unable to walk out that night, the subject built a snow-cave shelter in order to survive a cold night.

GCSSAR conducted a medical evaluation of the hiker and determined he had suffered from cold exposure, possible head and back injuries, and was badly dehydrated. A paramedic unit with American Medical Response was dispatched to the area to transport the hiker to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center for further evaluation.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the hiker for utilizing wilderness survival skills while spending the night in the back country and would like to remind recreationalists to always carry sufficient food, water, cold weather gear and multiple means of communication to contact Search and Rescue if needed.

For immediate release: May 10, 2024

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

Gallatin County Elections Office Mails Absentee Ballots for June 4 Primary  

On Friday, May 10, the Gallatin County Elections Office mailed approximately 56,500 for the June 4 primary election to active registered absentee voters in Gallatin County. Ballots will begin arriving in mailboxes in the following days. 

Four ballots will be included in each envelope. Voters will have a choice to vote either a Democratic, Republican, Libertarian or Green party ballot this upcoming primary election. Voters must choose ONE party ballot to vote and then return just that ballot. Detailed instructions will be provided with ballots – please read them carefully! 

Absentee ballots must be returned by 8 PM on Election Day, Tuesday June 4. They may be returned in the Gallatin County Elections Office during normal business hours, or on Election Day at the Elections Office or any polling place between 7 AM and 8 PM. If you’re returning your ballot by mail, please return in mail no later than May 24 to ensure it arrives on time. Ballots postmarked on or before Election Day but received after Election Day cannot be accepted.  

We urge all absentee voters to promptly return their ballots. With the sheer volume of ballots we handle, this enables us to get to work processing ballots sooner. That helps streamline Election Day operations, including the swift release of results. 

Polling places for in-person voting will also be open on Election Day. Those locations in Gallatin County are:
 

• Bridger Canyon Fire Station – 8081 Bridger Canyon Rd. 
• Gallatin County Fairgrounds – 901 N. Black Ave. in Bozeman 
• Hope Lutheran Church – 5152 W. Graf St. in Bozeman 
• MSU Shroyer Gym – 1 Bobcat Cir. In Bozeman 
• Zoot Enterprises – 555 Zoot Enterprises Ln in Four Corners 
• Povah Community Center – 10 Geyser St. in West Yellowstone 
• Big Sky Water & Sewer District Office – 561 Little Coyote Rd. in Big Sky 
• Gallatin Gateway Community Center – 145 Mill St. in Gallatin Gateway 
• Belgrade Special Events Center – 220 Spooner Rd. in Belgrade
• River Rock Community Center – 101 River Rock Rd. in Belgrade
• Three Forks High School – 212 E. Neal St. in Three Forks 
• Manhattan Christian School – 8000 Churchill Rd. in Churchill 
• Manhattan High School – 200 W. Fulton Ave. in Manhattan 

Due to recent redistricting, you may now be in a different precinct or have a new polling place since the last election. Please visit www.MyVoterPageMT.com to double check your assigned location. 

Late registration for this election began this week. From now through Election Day, new registrations or updates to voter registration must be made IN PERSON at the Gallatin County Elections Office, located on the second floor of the Gallatin County Courthouse (311 W. Main St., Bozeman). 

Check your voter registration status and information at www.MyVoterPageMT.com.  

For questions or more information, contact the Gallatin County Elections Office at 406-582-3060 or gallatin.elections@gallatin.mt.gov, or visit us online at www.GallatinVotes.com.  

 

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For Immediate Release: May 10, 2024

The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently updated their recommendations for breast cancer screenings. The updated guidance recommends starting screening mammograms at age 40 and continuing screening every other year through age 74. The Gallatin City-County Health Department helps eligible residents in Gallatin, Park, and Sweet Grass Counties access free, timely breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic treatment through the Montana Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program.

Read the full press release here. 

May 9, 2024

Bozeman, MT – The recent snow is likely to melt off very quickly in the next day or two due to warm temperatures and the possibility of limited rain.  Widespread flooding is not expected, but we are likely to isolated areas with water causing issues.  This is typically caused by the water being blocked from going where it is supposed to be and going where it is a problem.  Property owners are encouraged to ensure ditches and culverts are clear of debris.  Please check your property and monitor it while the snow melts so issues can be addressed when they start.  Our goal with spring snow events is to keep the water flowing when it melts!

Information on flooding is available at:  https://www.readygallatin.com/community-resources/preparedness-information/flooding-in-gallatin-county/

Keep it Flowing video

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Update 5-8: As of 10:30 pm, the Montana Department of Transportation has opened all lanes of traffic on I90 in the Bozeman Pass. Please continue to drive safely and watch for changing road conditions at MDT’s website at https://www.511mt.net.

Gallatin County, Mont.  5-8-24 8:00 P.M.

The Montana Department of Transportation notified Gallatin County 911 that Chains were required on the Bozeman Pass on Tuesday at 10:48 P.M.

Deteriorating road conditions throughout the night led to multiple vehicles becoming stuck, which prevented the DOT plows from being able to clear the roadway. The Montana Highway Patrol had units on the pass throughout the day. The increase in traffic during the morning commute led to more vehicles becoming stuck and multiple vehicles with mechanical issues.  At noon Wednesday, given the continued blockage and the inability of MHP and DOT to clear the road, the Sheriff’s Office mobilized Deputies and Search and Rescue teams to assist stranded motorists.  Deputies and SAR personnel had to use ATVs to get to the vehicles to distribute food, water and fuel.  It is estimated that several hundred vehicles were stranded on the pass.  No injuries have been reported so far.

Currently traffic is moving east and west slowly and is experiencing intermittent stops.  We anticipate somewhat normal travel in the next few hours but recognize the weather could change that.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind motorists to carry water, food, and blankets in case they become stranded. Sheriff Springer would also like to thank everyone on the roadways for their patience as workers attempt to clear the roadway.  If stranded motorists are having a medical emergency, they should call 911 and Sheriff’s Office personnel will get them the assistance they require.  As the primary resources for Montana Highways, MDT and MHP worked to clear the blockages, the duration and magnitude evolved into a life safety issue at which time local resources were mobilized to attend to the life safety of those stranded on the interstate.  Assisting the Montana highway resources on this event included Gallatin County Emergency Management, Fort Ellis Fire Dept, Bozeman Police Dept and Belgrade Police Dept.

Attached video and photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office

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5-8-24 at 6:49 PM

The Sheriff’s Office will have an opportunity for press interviews at the Search and Rescue Building on Tamarack at 7:30

 

For Immediate Release

5-8-24 2:00 pm: Please be advised, I90 east bound remains closed and traffic is backed up to the 19th Avenue exit ramp. Gallatin County Search and Rescue is enroute to assist in any vehicles stuck.

West bound lanes of I90 through Bozeman Pass are open and traffic is flowing.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, Jordan C. Kirsch of Belgrade was arrested on a federal warrant for Prohibited Person in Possession of firearms and ammunition, a local warrant for Partner or Family Member Assault, and a local warrant for a traffic violation. A Writ of Assistance, commonly referred to as an eviction order, was issued by the Eighteenth Judicial Court on April 9, 2024, ordering the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office to enter and remove Kirsch from the property on Airport Road, east of Belgrade.

Information gathered by the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office indicated Kirsch had fortified the residence and property to prevent the Sheriff’s Office from safely contacting him. Kirsch further indicated through social media that he had no intention of leaving the property in a peaceful manner, verified by his observable fortifications. For the duration of this incident, Kirsch made no actions or statements indicating that he was a threat to the public, however he made numerous credible threats directed at law enforcement.

The Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of several other law enforcement agencies, made continuous efforts to bring the event to a peaceful resolution. For the duration of this event, the Sheriff’s Office had a plan to take Kirsch into custody with the least amount of force necessary while keeping the community safe.

On the morning of May 2, 2024, this plan was executed as Kirsch attempted to leave the property by vehicle and was quickly taken into custody without incident on a traffic stop. The property was secured for further investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank the citizens of Gallatin County for their trust and support during this event, and all assisting agencies for their assistance in bringing this matter to a peaceful resolution.

At approximately 6:00 pm on Saturday April 27^th, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies, Coroner’s and Chaplain along with Montana Highway Patrol and the Clarkston Fire Department responded to a fatal motor vehicle accident near MM 11 on the Clarkston Road north of Logan.

A single vehicle traveling southbound left the roadway and struck a tree, killing both occupants on impact. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 27-year-old Isaac Alexander Smith of Bozeman, formerly from NM.  The passenger was identified as 38-year-old Eamon Torgison of Belgrade, formerly from Polson, MT.  Cause of death for both individuals was blunt force trauma of the chest and pelvis, manner of death was ruled an accident.  The vehicle burned a short time after impact.  Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the accident.

Sheriff Springer wishes to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of both men during this time.