Gallatin Media Center

On February 9, 2024, at 12:12pm, West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a cross-county skier who had encountered a fellow skier who had injured their leg and lost consciousness for an unknown amount of time. The caller indicated that the skier was in need of immediate medical treatment near Jerry’s Journey on the Rendezvous Ski Trail, 2 miles south of West Yellowstone, Montana.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers from the West Yellowstone detachment, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District (HBRFD), and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the request for aid. The GCSSAR team members established due to groomed snow conditions and the injured skier’s location on the Rendezvous Ski Trail, a tracked four-wheeler and a snowmobile response would serve the patient best. GCSSAR members arrived on scene and assisted the patient. The patient was transported from the scene of the accident by a specialized tracked four-wheeler towed ambulance to a waiting HBRFD ambulance for further evaluation. The injured skier declined further medical treatment and was released after being evaluated.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the passerby skiers who provided detailed information pertaining to the location and extent of the skier’s injuries and waited with the injured skier until emergency services arrived on scene. Sheriff Springer would like to remind outdoor recreationists that having the proper equipment to establish location and contact emergency services leads to the quickest and most efficient response from emergency personnel.

 

For immediate release: Feb. 9, 2024

Media contact:
Caitlin Quisenberry, Fairgrounds Director
406-582-3270
caitlin.quisenberry@gallatin.mt.gov 

Gallatin County Fairgrounds Hosting Community Visioning Open House

As a central, multi-purpose space that our community has used to gather for over 100 years, the Gallatin County Fairgrounds is an important cultural destination and asset for our region. In order to continue holding that honored space in the lives of our community, we’re embarking on a community visioning and master planning process to understand how to best update and utilize this space in perpetuity.

Join us for the Gallatin County Fairgrounds community visioning open house on Thursday, Feb. 29. The event will be from 5-7 PM at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds (901 N. Black Ave. in Bozeman) in Exhibit Building 4. Light refreshments will be served!

This is a first step in the planning process and will focus on understanding the public’s diverse perspectives related to existing strengths, challenges and experiences at the fairgrounds, as well as needs and ideas for the future.

Questions? Contact Caitlin Quisenberry, fairgrounds director, at caitlin.quisenberry@gallatin.mt.gov or 406-582-3270.

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 **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office reports on February 7, 2024, the missing medical items from Big Sky Resort were located. A third-party shipping company at the resort for an unrelated event, mistakenly repackaged all the items and transported them to a warehouse in the Gallatin Valley. Due to the repackaging none of the items were observed being moved out of the facility on security cameras. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public and businesses who assisted in bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion.

 **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office received a theft report in Big Sky on February 4^th.  According to the reporting parties between the hours of 3:00 pm February 2^nd and 7:00 am February 3^rd, several Pelican hard cases and cardboard shipping boxes were stolen from the Yellowstone Conference Center in the Big Sky Resort.  The boxes contain specialized medical equipment including ultrasound machines and transducers which have serial numbers and are highly trackable, some of which are shown below.  In addition, medical journal magazines and training equipment were stolen. The Big Sky Resort has been fully cooperating and supporting this active investigation. The Sheriff’s Office is also asking for assistance from anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity during the above hours matching items being taken from the Conference Center or have seen the cases or equipment held or discarded elsewhere.  There is an anonymous reward of $5000.00 for information that leads to the recovery of the items.  Please contact the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office at 406-582-2100, Extension 2 with any information.

On February 4, 2024, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were flagged down by a mother, who informed them that her 12-year-old child had ran away from a local indoor trampoline park in the Four Corners Area. Deputies searched the area before calling Gallatin County Search and Rescue to assist.

While on their way to the area to assist, a Search and Rescue Member spotted a child matching the missing juvenile’s description walking southbound along Highway 191 near Axtell Anceny Road. The Search and Rescue Member stopped and spoke with the child before Deputies arrived on scene and confirmed it was the missing child.

The child was in good health and was given a ride back home and returned to the care of his mother. Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the sharp-eyed Search and Rescue volunteer for locating the child before they could come to harm.

 

 

On February 2, 2024, Gallatin County 911 received a call for an injured paraglider near Big Sky. The paraglider was “speed flying” when they hit a tree, fell roughly 20 feet and sustained a leg injury. A friend of the paraglider was able to call 911 to report the incident, set and splint the injured limb, and relay the patient’s location to emergency responders.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Section responded to assist. It was determined the patient’s location was technically challenging terrain and a helicopter rescue would be the best course of action.

A helicopter rescue team from Central Copters Inc. responded to assist the injured paraglider. A short-haul rescue was performed. The patient was successfully transported to Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the injured paraglider’s friend for their quick action, and points to this incident as a reminder to extreme sport participants of the importance of having a trusted partner or group while engaging in high-risk sports.

For Immediate Release

On January 30, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office provided a press release where 49 road signs from various parts of the county had been stolen.  A Gallatin County citizen saw the press release and came forward with valuable information which ultimately led to the arrest and charge of one  18 year old Bozeman resident.  This investigation continues as deputies follow up on additional leads.  Currently, 46 of the 49 stolen road signs have been recovered from various locations in Gallatin County.  Sheriff Dan Springer thanks the public for their assistance in this case and reiterates, it is the trust and relationship with our community that is often the key to solving many of these cases.

On January 31, 2024, at 10:41am, West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a snowmobiler who was recreating with a friend when one of the snowmobilers sustained injuries as a result of a snowmobile vs tree collision. The caller indicated that his friend was in need of immediate medical treatment near Madison Arm Rd, 4 miles north 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 (HBRFD), and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the request for aid. The GCSSAR team members determined that due to the low snow conditions and the injured snowmobiler’s proximity to the Madison Arm trail, a tracked four-wheeler, side by side UTV, and a snowmobile response would serve the patient best. When GCSSAR members arrived on scene, it was discovered the patient had sustained a serious wrist injury. The patient was transported from the scene of the accident by a specialized tracked four-wheeler towed ambulance to a waiting HBRFD ambulance for further evaluation. The injured snowmobiler was later transported to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center for higher level care.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind winter recreationalists that due to the below average snow fall, please be aware of the dangers arising from changing snow and trail conditions. Sheriff Springer would also like to remind winter recreationalists of the importance of having the ability to reach emergency services when enjoying winter activities.

 

For immediate release: Feb. 1, 2024 

Media contact:
Sean O’Callaghan, Gallatin County Planning Director & Open Lands Coordinator
Sean.ocallaghan@gallatin.mt.gov
406-582-3130 

Application Period Open for Project Funding from the Gallatin County Open Lands Program 

Gallatin County is now accepting applications from projects seeking funding through the county’s Open Lands Program. 

This year, the voter-approved Open Space levy is estimated to bring in over $3.55 million total. While a majority of that money funds conservation projects, such as conservation easements for private landowners, about $887,000 has been earmarked by the Gallatin County Commission for “other eligible projects.” 

Applicants for projects that fall into the “other eligible projects” category are encouraged to apply for this funding from now through March 18. 

These projects must be related to land acquisition, capital improvements, and maintenance projects that support the purpose of the Gallatin County Open Space levy. Applicants must demonstrate how a proposed project is related to the provision of recreation, protection of water quality of streams and rivers, management of growth, or protection of wildlife areas. Projects must provide a tangible and compelling public benefit or provide public access, preferably both. 

Following the application process, the Open Lands Board will score submitted proposal and recommend projects to the Gallatin County Commission for final funding approval. 

Projects funded last year in this category included money for construction of a trail near West Yellowstone, maintenance of the Headwaters Trail System in Three Forks, a river and pond restoration project in Big Sky, land acquisition for Eagle Mount in Bozeman, Gallatin Valley Land Trust’s East-West connector trail project, and wildlife habitat and water quality improvements at the Gallatin County Regional Park. 

“This is a great way that we can collaborate with our community partners,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Jennifer Boyer. “I’m really excited that we continue to get a lot of interest in this funding opportunity and that it’s supporting projects across our county.” 

Eligibility, application instructions and submittal requirements are available online here.  

The maximum award for a project in this round is $100,000. Applicants are limited to public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and property owners’ associations. 

Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on March 18 to the Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development, 311 W. Main St., room 108, Bozeman MT, 59715. 

For questions or more information, contact Sean O’Callaghan at 406-582-3130 or sean.ocallaghan@gallatin.mt.gov. 

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For immediate release: Jan. 30, 2024 

Media contact:
Whitney Bermes, Gallatin County Communications Coordinator
Cell: 406-595-8963
whitney.bermes@gallatin.mt.gov  

 

Voters to Decide on Study of Gallatin County Form of Government 

This June, voters in Gallatin County will get to decide if they’d like to study changing the form of their county government.  

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, Gallatin County Commissioners voted to put a question on the June 4 ballot asking voters if they’d like to establish and fund a study commission to examine Gallatin County government and make recommendations for changes. 

The Montana Constitution requires that every 10 years, each city and county government in the state ask their voters whether they want to undertake a review of their local government.  

If voters agree to establish and fund a study commission, seven citizens will be elected in a nonpartisan election in November to serve. They will be tasked with studying the existing form, powers and delivery of public services of our county government and compare those with other forms of government available under state law. 

If approved, the cost of the study commission would be capped at one half of one mill, which is equivalent to about $360,000. 

The last time voters opted to study Gallatin County government was in 1994. 

“This opportunity afforded by our state constitution is the only chance we as citizens get to take a hard look at the way our local governments operate,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Scott MacFarlane. “Everyone agrees that Gallatin County has many new and different challenges than we had decades ago, and perhaps the tools we use to address those challenges could use an update.” 

Since the local government review election is for cities and counties, voters who live within city/town limits of Bozeman, Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks and West Yellowstone will be presented with the question of whether to hold a local government review election twice (once for the county of residence and once for the city/town of residence.) 

For more information on this process, please see the Montana State University Local Government Center’s website. 

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