Fund Raising Continues to Move Historic Montana School

The historic Lolo School building, the last vestige of the campus that's been a landmark along Highway 93 south of Missoula since 1911, is just about ready for its move to a new home.

The school, with its iconic bell tower, is the only building left after developers decided to demolish everything else on campus to make way for a new residential development.

The family that runs the Holt Heritage Center is aiming to raise $50,000 to save the building and move it to be displayed at their museum around the corner on Lolo Creek Road.

As of yesterday, the campaign on the Holt Family's "Go Fund Me" page had raised just over $20,000, which is tax-deductible.

The school is off the ground now, with a truck attached, but the Holts tell me that's merely to get the building off the foundation, so the developer can proceed.

     They're still working on logistics and permits for the move, and also for the ground conditions to dry out for the operation.

Yellowstone County is investigating a woman's death as a murder

Tragedy in Big Horn County as a missing person search turns into a homicide investigation.

Billings Police confirmed that the body of a thirty-five-year-old woman was discovered earlier Sunday. Officers responded to the initial missing person report around 9:20 in the morning.

Through the course of their investigation, detectives located a vehicle linked to the woman across county lines. They found the woman's body in the car.

While the woman’s identity has not yet been officially released, authorities are now treating the case as a homicide. The investigation is ongoing with assistance from the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, the BIA, and the Montana Highway Patrol.

     📱 Anyone with information is urged to contact Lieutenant Samantha Puckett at the Billings Police Department at 406-869-3928.

Youngster's death now being handled as a possible homicide

Local authorities are investigating the death of a five-year-old boy following a medical emergency north of Whitehall.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies and EMS responded to the scene Friday afternoon. Despite receiving medical aid, the young child passed away.

Following an initial investigation, an adult female was taken into custody on suspected homicide charges. She is currently being held at the Jefferson County Detention Center in Boulder.

The Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation has taken the lead on the case. Officials state there is no ongoing threat to the public, and more details will be released as the legal process moves forward.

Montana's secret to job success

With Montana's unemployment rate showing another solid month in the latest report, Governor Greg Gianforte says much of the credit should go to business owners for investing and creating new jobs.

Montana's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent for the month of February. That figure sits well below the national average, which recently climbed to 4.4 percent.

The Governor says the remarkable run, one of the best in the country, is due largely to a strong business climate.

"In my narrative, it's the entrepreneur that's a hero. They're the ones that are creating these good paying jobs that allow people to, to prosper right here in the state."- Gov. Gianforte

Gianforte says the success is also helped by efforts in his Administration to cut "red tape".

"Montana's one of only 2 states in the country that has had wage growth exceeding inflation over the last 5 years. So what we're doing is working."

Sheehy says the shooting shows need for a new ballroom

Montana Senator Tim Sheehy is calling for a secure "Presidential Ballroom" following last night’s assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Sheehy says the nation’s capital must be able to host the President safely without the threat of political violence. He plans to seek unanimous consent for the construction legislation this week.

Where is Montana's oldest restaurant now?

Now that the legendary Penkin Noodle Parlor is closing, the debate over the "oldest restaurant in Montana" is taking a new turn, and reviving the claim that a Missoula eatery might even be older than the Butte landmark.

Fans of the Double Front Cafe have long argued the business was "older" than Penkin, operating in the same location with it's "double door" entrance since 1909, the same year Penkin was built, with the Noodle Parlor opening in 1911. One point has been the Penkin stayed in the same family ownership.

But there are others who may try to lay claim to the title. The Historic Montana Bar in Miles City is said to have opened in 1908, while The Montana Club in Helena, a popular restaurant and club, started in 1885, although it recently went through some more ownership changes.

And The Oxford, also in Missoula, may have them all beat, tracing its heritage to 1883, although the exact date and location of "The Ox" has also been up for debate.