Gallatin Media Center

PRESS RELEASE

Big Sky Snowmobile Fatality

On March 21, 2022, at 1:53 pm, Gallatin County 911 received a call for an injured snowmobiler in the McAtee Basin area, south of Big Sky. The caller found the victim unresponsive and immediately started lifesaving efforts. The caller was unable to resuscitate the victim and ultimately had to leave the area for cell service to call for help.

 

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Section and the Heli Team responded and recovered the victim with a helicopter due to the difficult terrain. A Gallatin County Deputy Coroner responded for the investigation.  The victim’s name has not been released at this time.

 

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to pass on his condolences to the family and friends during this difficult time.

PRESS RELEASE

On March 18th, at approximately 9:00 pm, a Gallatin County Deputy initiated a traffic stop for speeding in the area of Frontage Road and Valley Center Spur Road.

As the Deputy approached the vehicle, he heard a gunshot. The driver of the vehicle died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In these circumstances, the policies of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, requires investigators from the State Department of Criminal Investigations to complete the investigation.

The individual was identified as a 42-year-old male from Townsend.

PRESS RELEASE

BUCK RIDGE RESCUE

On March 15, 2022, at 1:58 pm, Gallatin County dispatch received a call for a snowmobiler who wrecked and sustained injuries on Buck Ridge trail, near mile marker 4, south of Big Sky.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Section as well as Canyon Adventures employees were able to stabilize the patient and transport them to the trailhead. The patient was then transferred to a waiting Big Sky Fire Department ambulance and ultimately transported to the Big Sky Medical Center for further evaluation.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind recreationalists to be prepared for unexpected events when enjoying the outdoors, travel in groups, and have some form of communication with you in case something goes wrong.

Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE

SOUTH PLATEAU PATIENT

 

On Monday, March 14, 2022, at 12:54 p.m., the West Yellowstone Police Department received a 911 call from a group of snowmobilers reporting that a member of their group was possibly having a heart attack. GPS coordinates from the call indicated that the group was 11.27 miles south of West Yellowstone.

 

Volunteers from Gallatin County Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, Gallatin Custer National Forest, National Park Service, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire Department and a helicopter from Air Idaho responded to assist with the rescue.

 

Rescuers located the patient who was experiencing stroke-like symptoms. Rescuers loaded the patient into a specialized rescue snowbulance and met the helicopter at a more suitable landing site. The helicopter transported the patient to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for further evaluation.

 

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank the snowmobilers in the group who rendered aid to the snowmobiler while waiting for rescuers to arrive.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE

BUCK RIDGE

On March 13, 2022, at 11:53 a.m. Gallatin County dispatch received a call for an individual who went over the front of their snow bike after hitting a stump. The individual stated they believed they had broken their arm.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Section responded to the Doe Creek Trailhead and deployed with snowmobiles 11.5 miles up the trail. Search and Rescue teams located, stabilized, and transported the patient to the trailhead. The patient was then transported to Big Sky Medical Center for further evaluation.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind recreationalists to have a plan of action in case of unexpected events that can occur in the backcountry.

For immediate release: March 14, 2022

Media contact:
Amanda Hartman
406-582-3270
amanda.hartman@gallatin.mt.gov

The Big Sky Country State Fair is now accepting entries for the various competitive
events taking place in the 2022 Fair. These events range from the much-loved Barnyard Brawl (think Calf
Scramble, Mutton Bustin’, and more!), the hair-raising Bozeman Roundup Ranch Rodeo, and the
traditional competitive exhibits with fun NEW classes!

Open Class Competitions in horticulture, photography, fine arts and quilts – to name a few – are a
mainstay in Fair programming and connect directly to the cultural landscape of the region. The Big Sky
Country State Fair is excited to see these skills passed down through the generations and is proud to be
able to provide a platform where they can be showcased to the public and next generations.

The Big Sky Country State Fair is pleased to offer all new Divisions and Classes this year! Creative Arts
Division has a new High School Related Projects Division and Digital Arts Division for both youth and
adults, new classes include leather and metalwork classes. Culinary Division has a new Healthy Baked
Goods Division, Homemade Beer and Wine Division, with all new themed classes this year! Horticulture
Division added new classes including Kale, Berries, Cilantro, Petunia, Flavored Basil, Themed Classes,
Edible Landscape and Team Container Grown Plants. Photography Division added a NEW Wedding
Photography Division along with a Videography Division! The Big Sky Country State Fair is also taking
Digital Photography entries this year!

Information on all competitions, as well as entry forms, are available at 406StateFair.com. Big Sky
Country State Fair is held Wednesday, July 20 through Sunday, July 24 in Bozeman, MT. The Fair opens
to the public Wednesday, July 20. Tickets and admission packages are available starting Friday, May 27,
2022. Check out 406StateFair.com for continual updated information on entertainment, tickets, and
competitions.

The Big Sky Country State Fair is managed by the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, under direction of
Gallatin County. The first fair – called Inter-State Fair – was held in 1902 and morphed over the years to
its function today. The Fair serves citizens of the Gallatin Valley and regional visitors from agricultural,
urban, rural and tourist backgrounds.

PRESS RELEASE

Little Bear Search

On March 13, 2022, at 4:53pm, Gallatin County Dispatch received a call for a snowmobiler that had not returned home. The snowmobiler said they would be up Little Bear Rd and would return by home by 3pm and would be no later than 4pm. The snowmobiler was alone and had many years of experience in backcountry snowmobiling.

 

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Valley Section responded to the bottom of the road. They deployed three teams of snowmobilers to search for the missing person. 

 

Search and Rescue teams located the snowmobiler at the last known location and discovered they had been stuck for a few hours. Search and Rescue teams escorted the snowmobiler back and conducted a medical assessment. The snowmobiler sustained no injuries. 

 

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind recreationalists that even with experience, conditions could change suddenly, so remember to travel with another person, dress for the ever changing weather, and to bring enough food and water so you are prepared for unexpected situations. 

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

 

 

 

For immediate release: March 10, 2022

Gallatin County voters will be asked to decide on two local-option marijuana taxes as part of this year’s primary election ballot.

On Tuesday, March 8, the Gallatin County Commission unanimously voted to add the following two questions to the June 7 ballot for Gallatin County voters’ consideration:

• A 3% local-option sales tax on all non-medical (recreational) marijuana products sold in Gallatin County.
• A 3% local-option sales tax on all medical marijuana products sold in Gallatin County.

In November 2020, Montana voters passed Initiative Measure 190, which allowed for the operation of various categories of marijuana businesses and taxation of marijuana retail sales in Montana counties in which a majority of voters approved the initiative. The initiative passed in Gallatin County with 65.6% of the vote.

State law does not allow county governments to impose similar taxes on any other product. The state already imposes at 20% tax on recreational marijuana and a 4% percent tax on medical marijuana.

“This is a really unique, brand-new feature in state law and that’s the reason we have this opportunity to even put this question in front of the voters,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown. “We’re not making this decision on behalf of the voters. The voters get to weigh in.”

If voters in an eligible county pass a local-option marijuana tax, 50% of the tax must be retained by the county, 45% apportioned to the cities and towns in the county based on population, and the remaining 5% given to the Montana Department of Revenue to defray state costs associated with the tax.

State law allows counties or cities and towns that receive local-option sales tax revenue for any activity, undertaking or administrative service authorized by law, including costs resulting from the imposition of the tax.

If passed, the local-option taxes would go into effect on Oct. 1, 2022. Gallatin County Commissioners say that, if passed, they will use the county’s portion of the local taxes to fund mental health services.

Other Montana counties that have already asked voters to decide on similar local-option marijuana taxes include Yellowstone, Missoula and Park counties. Lewis and Clark County has opted to also put questions on their June ballot. And Butte-Silver Bow is also considering the ballot questions as well.

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

PRESS RELEASE

TEPEE CREEK LOST SNOWMOBILERS

On Sunday, March 6, 2022, at 5:42 p.m., the West Yellowstone Police Department received a 911 call from a group of snowmobilers who had become turned around and were unable to find their way back onto the trail system. Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone responded to the GPS coordinates received from the 911 call 15.68 miles north of West Yellowstone. A deputy made contact with the snowmobilers and requested they remain stationary and turn off all but one of their cellphones to preserve battery life.

Volunteers located the snowmobilers in good health and escorted them safely back to town.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the snowmobilers for quickly recognizing their need for assistance and subsequently calling for help in a timely fashion. This allowed rescuers to quickly locate and assist them back to town safely.

PRESS RELEASE

TWO TOP SNOWMOBILE CRASH

On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 11:00  a.m., Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone responded to the Two Top trail, 7.8 miles south of West Yellowstone for a snowmobiler who had suffered a leg injury after striking a berm with the snowmobile.

Volunteers located the patient using the GPS coordinates from the 911 call. The snowmobiler was transported back to West Yellowstone before choosing to have a friend transport them to the Big Sky Medical Center for evaluation.

Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.