The Billings Free Press

Update for the week of November 10, 2008

Slash Pile Burn
We plan on burning a pile of brush and branches at our staging area on Monday, November 10th. The recent wet weather should make the conditions safe for burning the pile. The area has been thoroughly cleared and one of our water trucks will be standing by during the burn. If weather conditions change or the wind comes up, the burn will be delayed.

Access Interruptions
Loads wider than 12-feet are not permitted on Airport Road between 27th Street and Main Street due to narrow lanes through the construction areas.

Traffic Advisories
The detour on the south side of Airport Road just east of the Black Otter Office Building is complete; excavation for the 10-foot x 10-foot box culvert is underway. We will continue to haul gravel to the new section of roadway along the south side of the existing highway between Edwards Jet Center on the west and the high tension power line crossing on the east. Speeds will be reduced in this area, flaggers will be in place to allow truck crossings, and there will be heavy truck traffic.  Please allow for 15-minute delays.

Bill Strickland
Project Engineer
Riverside Contracting, Inc.

Mr. Terry Fettig is the 2008 recipient of the Jeannette Rankin Peace Award, presented by the Institute for Peace Studies at Rocky Mountain College. He joins such notable past recipients as: U.S. Senator Mike Mansfield; Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen; C.A.I. founder Greg Mortenson; U.N. Ambassador George McGovern; and more outstanding peacemakers who reside in Montana or who have significant ties to the state. For this award, the Institute recognizes dedication to peace at the individual, family, community, national and international levels.

Mr. Fettig was nominated by the entire staff and faculty of St. Francis Primary School in Billings, Montana. He is being honored for his work with AidSpirit Montana and Hope 2 One Life. The focus of his efforts has been improving the lives of children in Africa, many of whom have been left orphaned by the Aids epidemic. These improvements have included critical short term efforts such as life straws, which enable children in Kenya and Uganda to have safe drinking water. They also include long term efforts such as educational opportunities, provided by direct aid and by sponsors in Montana.

Terry’s professional background is in construction. He retired and came to Montana only to un-retire and begin remodeling projects to help fund his trips to Africa. He personally delivers the drinking straws and meets with families receiving the aid and the educational opportunities. He assists with drilling wells and constructing bio-sand filters for schools and surrounding communities. He personally works to raise funds through speaking engagements across Montana.

Terry will join high school / college winners of the Gronhovd Peace Essay Competition on stage at the Alberta Bair Theater on November 14th at 7:30 P.M. as the Institute for Peace Studies strives to bring peace to the headlines across the region. Cost for the evening is $20 for adults and $10 for students through college. Entertainment includes Ronnie Bedford & Friends, who offer outstanding jazz for our enjoyment. This well known group of professional musicians includes: Jeff Troxel on guitar, Craig Olson on alto and tenor sax, Robert Rumbolz on trumpet and flugelhorn, Eric Olson on piano, and Parker Brown on bass. The Chorale, who will travel from Miles City to open our concert that evening, represent the top auditioned choir from the choral program at the Custer County District High School. In the past, they have performed at Carneige Hall and at Ground Zero in N.Y.C.

Donna Healy has an interesting article in the Gazette today about the sister city most Billings residents don’t know they have.

The Travel To Montana website has rated Billings’ C’mon Inn Hotel, the #1 hotel in Billings.

So if you’re looking for a place to stay in the $99.99 up to $209.99 price range and enjoy a nice menu of amenities the C’mon Inn is the place to stay.

The venerable Dr. Mueller weighs in on both Soup and Such locations.

I must admit it is one of my favorite restaurants in Billings and I think everyone should stop by and visit.

Heights: 1414 Main St

Downtown: 2716 3rd Ave N

By a five to four vote the city council vetoes Mayor Tussing’s pick to replace Joy Stevens and the mayor refused to consider the other candidate in the running thus forcing a special election in January.

Just when we thought the election season was going to end November 4th, it starts anew.

Yeah…

The Billings Gazette is reporting that Mayor Tussing will select Angela Cimmino to replace outgoing Joy Stevens on the council.

There is already grumbling from at least one sitting councilperson about the mayor’s selection. The concerns of Mr. Astle about Mrs. Cimmino are similar to what I have heard other people express. If the council decides to reject the mayor’s selection I am curious to see how they plan to resolve the impass.

Depending on your feelings about clowns this may be the happiest or creepiest weekend of the year in Billings.

There is a clown convention at The Crowne Plaza hotel.

Now, if Krusty were to make an appearance I would be down there in a heartbeat!

Carlos Mencia, the comic who people either love or hate, will be performing in Billings this coming Tuesday in the Shrine Auditorium .

Tickets are $39 cash and are available at the Shrine box office during business hours.

Mencia is a comic who can make you laugh or have you squirming in your seat when he bares the prejudices you didn’t think you have. I am one of his fans and I wish I could see him but I have a commitment to be in Nashville, TN next week so i will be forced to miss his show. If anyone can make it to the show I would like to hear about it.

Folks who want to replace Joy Stevens on the city council have submitted their letters of interest and there are a few familiar names and some who are new to me.

Larry Brewster is looking to be reappointed to the council after being defeated by Denis Pitman. Angela Cimmino is looking to become the Bob Kelleher of city council elections. I don’t have the exact number but I think this may be her third or fourth try to get on the council. I have met Ray Tracy once and he seemed to be a reasonable man and even though he is in charge of the Yellowstone County Democratic Party he didn’t strike me as stridently partisan. Mr. Tracy may turn out to be a good councilman if selected. I don’t know anything about Todd Morgan or Ann M. Salisbury so I can’t offer an opinion about them.

The next step is:

Outgoing Ward 2 Councilwoman Joy Stevens’ last meeting will be Oct. 14, and a council subcommittee plans to interview the five candidates before that meeting. The subcommittee will then send a recommendation to Mayor Ron Tussing. The council is likely to confirm the new member by Oct. 27.

I want to thank all of the applicants for stepping forward to serve their city and hope whomever is selected receives the support of their new constituents. Good luck to everyone involved.