Gallatin Media Center

For immediate release: Oct. 15, 2024

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a homicide that occurred along Moose Creek Road, near the intersection with Tamphery Creek Road, north of Big Sky.

At 10:07 a.m. on Saturday, October 12, 2024, a caller reported discovering a deceased male in a tent approximately 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road. The caller indicated that the death may have been caused by a bear attack. Units from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Forest Service, Montana Highway Patrol, and Big Sky Fire Department responded to the location.

A Montana FWP agent with expertise in bear attacks responded and did not find any signs of bear activity at the scene. This prompted investigators to treat the case as a homicide. Evidence gathered through an autopsy further indicated that this was a homicide.

The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Dustin Mitchell Kjersem, 35, of Belgrade, Montana.

This incident was a vicious attack, and detectives are working hard to develop and track down leads. A suspect has not been arrested at this time. If you or someone you know was in the area within the past week, and made any observations, please contact the Sheriff’s Office. Also, anyone with game or trail cameras in the area is asked to contact the GCSO Detectives Division at 406-582-2121 or by email at detectives@gallatin.mt.gov.

###

For immediate release: Oct. 10, 2024

Media contact:
Steve Saunders, Gallatin County Weed Board Member
406-580-1027
weeddistrict@gallatin.mt.gov

Gallatin County Weed District Seeks Nominations for Outstanding Noxious Weed Management Award

The Gallatin County Weed District is proud to sponsor the annual Outstanding Noxious Weed Management Award, recognizing local landowners and private land managers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to controlling noxious weeds. This award highlights individuals committed to preserving the health of our landscapes by effectively managing these harmful plants.

Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond in their efforts to control noxious weeds? Nominate them today! Simply fill out the nomination form, or contact the Weed District at (406) 582-3265 or via email at weeddistrict@gallatin.mt.gov.

While nominations are accepted year-round, submissions for the 2025 award must be received by October 31 to be considered.

Submit completed nomination forms via email to weeddistrict@gallatin.mt.gov, by mail, or drop them off in person at our office:

Gallatin County Weed District
903 N. Black Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715 (located at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds).

Help us recognize those who are helping protect our local ecosystem!

###

For immediate release: Oct. 10, 2024 

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

Absentee Ballots for November Federal Election to be Mailed Oct. 11 

** Reporters wanting to get video and/or photos are welcome to the Gallatin County Courthouse on Friday, Oct. 11 at about 7:30 AM. Staff will be loading boxes of ballots into the mail truck in the parking lot, near the Third Avenue entrance.*

On Friday, Oct. 11, the Gallatin County Elections Office will send over 61,000 ballots to active registered absentee voters for the upcoming Nov. 5 federal election. Voters should expect ballots to arrive in their mailboxes in the days following the mailing. 

To preview your ballot and review the races and issues on it, visit MyVoterPageMT.com. 

Important Reminder: Two Sheets for Voting 

Due to the high number of races and ballot measures in this election, most voters will receive two separate ballot sheets. Whether or not you vote on every race or issue, please ensure you return both sheets in your ballot envelope. This will help our Elections Office maintain accurate records and a smooth reconciliation process. 

Return Deadline 

All ballots must be received by 8 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, to be counted. If mailing your ballot, we strongly recommend doing so by Oct. 24 to allow ample time for it to arrive. 

Help Us by Voting Early! 

We encourage voters to return their absentee ballots as soon as possible. This will ensure your vote is counted on time and will also assist our election staff in processing ballots efficiently. 

Ballot Drop-Off Locations 

If you prefer to return your ballot in person, you may do so during regular business hours at the Gallatin County Elections Office, located on the second floor of the Gallatin County Courthouse, 311 W. Main St., Bozeman. Curbside drop-off will be available at the Courthouse on Monday, Nov. 4, and on Election Day. 

You can also drop off your absentee ballot at any polling place on Election Day, from 7 AM to 8 PM. 

In-Person Voting 

For folks wanting to vote in person, polling places will be open from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day. Check the location of your polling place by visiting MyVoterPageMT.com.  

Check Your Voter Status 

We urge all voters to confirm their registration status and review their information by visiting MyVoterPageMT.com. 

Voter Registration 

If you still need to register or update your voter information, you must do so in person at the Gallatin County Elections Office during regular business hours. Registration is open until noon on Monday, Nov. 4, and from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day. 

For more information or assistance, call the Gallatin County Elections Office at 406-582-3060, email gallatin.elections@gallatin.mt.gov, or visit GallatinVotes.com. 

### 

 

 

For immediate release: Oct. 8, 2024

In the early hours of Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Gallatin County Coroner’s Office and the Montana Highway Patrol responded to a fatal motorcycle accident on Interstate 90 near mile marker 317, close to the Trail Creek Road exit.

The motorcyclist, who was the sole individual involved, was transported to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma, and the incident has been ruled accidental.

Sheriff Dan Springer extends his deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends during this difficult time.

###

For immediate release: Oct. 8, 2024 

Media contact:
Patty Howard, Outreach Educator – Gallatin Solid Waste Management District
406-582-2492
patty.howard@gallatin.mt.gov 

 

Annual Fix-It Repair Clinic Returns to Belgrade Community Library on Oct. 11 

Got a lamp that won’t light? A beloved toy with broken parts? A bicycle in need of repair? The Fix-It Repair Clinic has you covered! Bring your small household items and let our expert volunteers help you give them a second life.  

The Gallatin Solid Waste Management District, in partnership with the Belgrade Community Library, is excited to host this annual event designed to save you money and keep perfectly good items out of the landfill.  

Event details: 

• Date: Friday, Oct. 11 

• Time: 3-6 PM 

• Location: Belgrade Community Library, 106 N. Broadway 

Volunteers will be on hand to fix items such as bikes, toys, clothing, small appliances, lamps, and more – free of charge! In past years, this clinic has helped divert nearly 3,000 pounds of items from the Logan Landfill. Don’t miss this opportunity repair and reuse! 

###

Photos courtesy of Gallatin Solid Waste Management District from the 2023 Fix-It Clinic. 

 

For immediate release: Oct. 7, 2024

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

Gallatin County Voters to Decide on Local Option Motor Vehicle Tax Increase This November 

This November, Gallatin County voters will decide on a proposed increase to the local option motor vehicle tax, which is applied when vehicles are registered. The current tax is set at 0.5%, and state law allows for an increase to as much as 0.7%. 

Currently, about 70% of the revenue from this tax supports Gallatin County operations with roughly 30% going to the county’s general fund, 30% going to the public safety fund, and 10 % going to road infrastructure. The remaining 30% of the revenue is distributed to the incorporated cities and towns based on population, allowing them to allocate funds according to their needs.  

Last fiscal year, the tax generated $11.26 million for our communities. If the rate had been 0.7%, an additional $4.5 million could have been collected.  

If approved, all of the county’s portion of the additional revenue from the increase would be dedicated to road infrastructure. 

The increase would ensure that those benefiting from county transportation infrastructure, including out-of-state vehicle registrants, contribute to its upkeep. The additional funds would be invested in safety improvements, capacity expansion, maintaining essential transportation infrastructure Gallatin County residents depend on daily. 

Commissioner Scott MacFarlane emphasized the importance of ensuring out-of-state vehicle registrations contribute fairly to the local transportation infrastructure: “Montana has become a hotspot for out-of-state vehicle registrations because it’s financially advantageous. Many of these vehicles are not regularly used here yet benefit from our services. This modest tax increase helps us capture some of that financial interest and direct it toward the infrastructure our residents rely on.” 

This tax increase would also address Gallatin County’s urgent transportation infrastructure needs, helping to keep pace with rapid development and the growing demands on our transportation system.  

“As Gallatin County continues to grow, it becomes harder for local governments to maintain and improve our transportation infrastructure,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown. “Every bit of additional funding helps us meet these demands and ensure the county roads and bridges our residents rely on are safe and reliable.” 

Key projects prioritized by the county include upgrades to the Alaska Road corridor, improvements to intersections at East Cameron Bridge and East Valley Center roads, the Love Lane and Durston Road intersection, and Cottonwood Road corridor. 

Absentee ballots will be mailed out starting Oct. 11, and must be returned by 8 PM on Election Day, Nov. 5. Voters are reminded that late ballots postmarked by Election Day but received after 8 PM will not be counted. Due to a high volume of races and ballot issues, most Gallatin County voters will receive two separate sheets. It is important to return both sheets to assist the elections office in the reconciliation process. 

In-person voting will be available on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7 AM to 8 PM at polling locations throughout Gallatin County.

For more voting information, visit www.GallatinVotes.com. 

### 

 

On 10/5/24 at 2:08 pm, Gallatin County Dispatch received a 911 call from a hunter just south of the Hidden Lakes complex who reported he was charged by a Grizzly bear and then was forced to climb a tree to find safety.  The hunter reported being charged by a sow grizzly bear with two cubs.  The hunter defended themself by shooting the bear with a pistol before climbing a tree.  The wounded bear remained in the area causing the hunter stay in the tree to wait for help.

A MT Fish Wildlife and Parks helicopter was dispatched to assist the hunter.  Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue teams in Big Sky mobilized and staged at key locations to respond to the hunter’s location if needed.  MT FWP personnel landed near the treed hunter and dispatched the wounded Grizzly.  The hunter was not injured during this encounter and was transported by helicopter to safety.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind hunters to remain observant of their surroundings when hunting big game in Montana’s backcountry.  Carry bear spray and hunt in groups if possible.  Avoid areas where bear sign is present and always have a communication device to call for help if something goes wrong.

 

         

 

For immediate release: October 2, 2024 

Media contact: 

Kirsten Smith, Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition
406-570-0058
ksmith@bloomconsult.org 

 

Community Partners Unite to Launch Youth Behavioral Health Campus Near Bozeman
Partners Raising Money to Complete Project 

Community partners are joining forces to establish a dedicated campus where youth experiencing behavioral health crises can receive safe and effective services close to home. 

HRDC, Gallatin County, and the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) of Billings are spearheading the acquisition and development of a youth behavioral health campus near Bozeman. This initiative focuses on providing crisis and residential services for youth ages 11 to 18 in Gallatin, Park and Madison counties. Phase 1 services will focus on crisis services designed to stabilize and assess youth, provide comprehensive support to them and their families, and connect them with the appropriate services and resources tailored to their needs. Over time, the vision is for the campus to grow in its service provision to support a continuum of high-acuity therapeutic services. 

“Gallatin County stands firmly behind this important project, and we hope that the community will join us to make this dream a reality,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown. “Kids in crisis are too often left without any local treatment options. We must change that status quo. This partnership represents a generational opportunity for our community to invest in local crisis services for our kids.” 

The need for this initiative is pressing. Montana has the highest rate of suicide in the nation, with Gallatin County youth at particularly high risk. 14% of Gallatin County teenagers said they attempted suicide in the past year, and 21% have seriously considered it. In 2023, Bozeman Health’s emergency department treated 276 youth (0 to 17) for behavioral health concerns.  Among them, 105 were discharged to inpatient psychiatric units in Helena, Billings, Idaho Falls, or elsewhere. In the past three years, the Help Center received around 170 mental health crisis calls annually from youth, with about 75% of these callers screening positive for suicidality. 

Our current service system is inadequate to meet the growing need for child and adolescent behavioral health services. Cost-of-living challenges for our workforce in Gallatin County have resulted in the closure of all group homes and a lack of higher-acuity behavioral health services in the region.  

“Our children who face acute mental health challenges often find themselves in treatment environments designed for adults, separated from their families and communities,” said Christina Powell, Help Center CEO. “This campus offers a unique opportunity to create a truly child-centered space for healing, providing a comprehensive range of care and opportunities to reconnect with their vibrant selves.” 

To address this critical issue, the partner organizations seek to raise $5,050,000 to purchase, renovate, and launch programs at the former Bootstrap Ranch north of Bozeman. The 30-acre campus is located at 8977 Dry Creek Road features facilities to serve between eight and 26 children in higher acuity residential services in the first phase. It has space for staff housing, an activity building, gymnasium, cafeteria, commercial kitchen, barn and outbuildings.  

“We are creating transformative solutions to meet a vital need for our community’s kids and families,” said Kirsten Smith, coordinator of the Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition (GBHC). “We can and must do better, and this project is the start. With the right team of leaders, we can make something remarkable possible, but it can only become a reality if donors and partners rally around this vision.” 

YBGR will operate the campus, with HRDC purchasing the property and will transfer it to YBGR once start-up funding is secured. HRDC closed on the property on August 30.  

“HRDC’s community needs assessments consistently highlight mental health services as one of our region’s biggest gaps,” said Heather Grenier, CEO of HRDC. “Youth mental health services are especially lacking. Buying and transferring property is something our organization does well, and it is a way we can help bring this youth campus to life.” 

Gallatin County has committed $1.5 million towards the $3.55 million purchase of the campus. Acquisition costs are estimated to be $250,000, renovation costs are estimated to be $650,000, and start-up programming costs for the first year of operations are estimated at $650,000. Partners are working to raise the remaining, most of which needs to be secured in the next several months.  

To donate to this vital project, visit the HRDC’s website.  

For more information on this and other behavioral health projects in Gallatin County, email Kirsten Smith at ksmith@bloomconsult.org.  

 ###

On September 29, 2024, at 5:12 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue received an agency assist request from the Park County Sheriff’s Office. According to the Park County Sheriff’s Office, two climbers were stranded in technical terrain without the ability to ascend or descend near the summit of Mount Cowen. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office was unable to launch a helicopter due to nightfall setting in. The Park County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Montana National Guard and US Air Force in an attempt to rescue the climbers, as overnight temps were going to dip into the teens.

Due to weather conditions, military assets were unable to complete the mission, and the climbers were forced to bivouac on the face overnight. The next morning the Park County Sheriff’s Office again requested the GCSSAR Heli Team. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Heli Team and Central Helicopters were finally able to respond to the scene and inserted a rescuer by utilizing a short haul technique. Both climbers were put into rescue harnesses and short hauled to safety.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind those seeking outdoor opportunities this time of year to be prepared for any weather conditions including low overnight temperatures. Having the ability to contact help with cellular phones or satellite communication devices greatly increases the speed and efficiency of rescue efforts.

 

 

On September 29, 2024, at 3:43pm, Gallatin County 911 Dispatch was notified of an injured horseback rider on the Porcupine Creek Trail. The injured party had been bucked from a horse and suffered a major hip injury.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office SAR (GCSSAR), Big Sky Team, deployed in side-by-side OHVs to access the patient. Big Sky Fire Department (BSFD) medics teamed with GCSSAR to provide the highest level of medical care available in the backcountry. The patient was assessed, stabilized, transported to the trailhead, and then transferred into a waiting BSFD ambulance. A Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy stepped in to drive the ambulance to Big Sky Medical Center which allowed additional BSFD personnel to provide focused care. At BSMC, the patient was transferred to Life Flight Air Ambulance before ultimately being taken to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center in Bozeman.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank the partner public safety agencies who were quickly able to mobilize and form a team to provide excellent care to the injured party. Sheriff Springer would also like to thank the bystanders who helped provide information and assistance on this call. In Big Sky, no single entity has every necessary resource for an emergency like this; but by quickly combining staff, volunteers, and bystanders, the first responders in Big Sky were able to make sure the injured party received the best medical care possible.