Interagency Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—May 18, 2015

Media Contacts:  Mariah Leuschen, 406-548-1174; Leona Rodreick, 406-683-3984

 Fire Media Day

Tuesday, May 19th in Billings and Wednesday May 20th in Bozeman

 RSVP REQUESTED

 Who:  Federal, State and Local firefighting managers from the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Yellowstone National Park, Billings and Dillon Bureau of Land Management Field Offices, Montana Department of Natural Resources, the National Weather Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs Crow Agency Fire & Aviation and Gallatin County Emergency Management are working together to host the 2015 Interagency Fire Media Day.

What:  Interagency Media Day focused on the upcoming 2015 Fire Season preparations, including how agencies are getting ready for fire season in May and June, what seasonal predictions look like and what crews are doing to train and prepare for this year’s season.

Two Locations in Billings and Bozeman

When:                                    

• Billings – May 19 at 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Bozeman – May 20 at 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 Where:                                   

• Billings:  Billings Interagency Dispatch Center, Conference Room (1299 Rimtop Drive, Billings, MT)
• Bozeman:  Bozeman Ranger District, Back Conference room (3710 Fallon Street, Bozeman, MT 59718)

 Working Agenda:      

• 9:00     Welcome and Introductions
• 9:10     National Weather Service Seasonal Outlook
• 10:15   Landscape and Agencies, Fire Management
• 10:30   Break
• 10:45   Fire Information, Getting out on the Fireline, One Less Spark Campaign, UAS/Drones
• 11:15   Demo
  • Basic Fire Behavior
  • Firefighting Gear
  • Tools
  • Pack and equipment
  • Shelter
• 12:00   Open Interviews

 Why:  Learn and ask questions about the upcoming fire season, how each agency prepares and works together, along with what reporters need before being escorted on the fire line.

 

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The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is once again receiving numerous complaints from citizens regarding a scam that is occurring within Gallatin County.  The caller informs the person who answers that they have criminal charges pending and to send money for these charges to be stopped.  The Caller ID indicates the phone number is 406-582-2125.  Although this is the number to the Sheriff’s Office, it is a scam.  These phone calls are not originating from our office.  Please do not respond to their requests.  Undersheriff Dan Springer 615 S. 16^th Ave. Bozeman, MT  59715 (406) 582-2125).

On Tuesday, May 12^th, 2015, at approximately 6:12 pm, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Valley Division, and the Ft. Ellis Fire Department responded to a back country search.  Two hikers had set off from the Bear Canyon Trailhead on a planned three mile loop.  The hikers became disoriented and lost their way.

Despite poor cell phone reception the hikers were able to call a family member.  The family member called 911.  The two hikers each had a cell phone, but one cell phone’s battery died and the other was getting very low.  Due to the oncoming darkness and the fact that the hikers were reported to be under dressed for the inclement weather and had no equipment to spend the night outdoors Searchers were growing concerned.

Searchers were able to narrow the probable location of the missing hikers as being on the Goose Creek Road and were searching the area on ATVs.  The hikers were able to get to the Trail Creek Road on their own.  They were cold but otherwise unhurt.  Searchers gave them a ride back to their vehicle at the Bear Canyon Trailhead.

Sheriff Gootkin would like to remind people enjoying the back country to be prepared for rapidly changing inclement weather.  Check the weather report before departing and dress and equip yourself accordingly.  Carry a means of communication and call for help early if you run into trouble.

The Belgrade Village Mobile Home Court is temporarily out of water due to a service line breakage.  The property owner is currently repairing the damage.  Water service is expected to be restored late Thursday or early Friday morning.  In the mean time, drinking water and portable bathroom facilities are being provided by property management.  The City is working closely with the contractor and the Belgrade Village Mobile Home Court to assure that service is restored as soon as possible.   If you have any questions or concerns, please call 388-3764.

Steve Klotz, Director of Public Works

Montana Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run will be coming through Gallatin County in the next couple days.  Please contact Sgt. Jeremy Kopp for any questions at 580-3717 or Sheriff Gootkin.

 

Interagency Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—May 8, 2015

Media Contacts: Mariah Leuschen, 406-548-1174

Leona Rodreick, 406-683-3984

 

Fire Media Day

Bozeman, May 20

 

Who:                                       Federal, State and Local firefighting managers from the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Yellowstone National Park, Billings and Dillon Bureau of Land Management Field Offices, Montana Department of Natural Resources, the National Weather Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs Crow Agency Fire & Aviation and Gallatin County Emergency Management are working together to host the 2015 Interagency Fire Media Day.

 

What:                          Interagency Media Day focused on the upcoming 2015 Fire Season

preparations, including how agencies are getting ready for fire season in

May and June, what seasonal predictions look like and what crews are

doing to train and prepare for this year’s season.

 

 

When:            

Bozeman – May 20 at 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 

Where:           

                        Bozeman: Bozeman Ranger District, Back Conference room

(3710 Fallon Street, Bozeman, MT 59718)

 

Working Agenda:      9:00     Welcome and Introductions

9:10     National Weather Service Seasonal Outlook

10:15   Landscape and Agencies, Fire Management

10:30   Break

10:45   Fire Information, Getting out on the Fireline,
One Less Spark Campaign

UAS/Drones

11:15   Demo – Basic Fire Behavior

Firefighting Gear

Tools

Pack and equipment

Shelter

12:00   Open Interviews

 

Why:              Learn and ask questions about the upcoming fire season, how

each agency prepares and works together, along with what reporters need before being escorted on the fire line.

 

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2015 CLICK IT OR TICKET

Click It or Ticket Campaign Starts May 18th

Law Enforcement Will Show Zero Tolerance

Once again, Local Law Enforcement Agencies (Belgrade Police Dept. Bozeman Police Dept., Manhattan Police Dept., West Yellowstone Police, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and the Montana Highway Patrol) are working together to remind motorists to Click It or Ticket. As part of the national seat belt enforcement campaign, law enforcement agencies around the country will be stepping up enforcement May 18 to 31, just ahead of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

“Every day, unbuckled motorists are losing their lives in motor vehicle crashes,” said Chief E. J. Clark. “As we approach Memorial Day weekend and the summer vacation season, we want to make sure people are doing the one thing that can save them in a crash, buckling up.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half of the 21,132 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2013 were unrestrained. At night from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., that number soared to 59 percent of those killed. That’s why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. Sheriff Brian Gootkin says “In the Gallatin Valley, we are taking positive steps to save lives.”

The Gallatin Valley is located within Highway Patrol District 7. District 7 had 21 citizens killed in traffic crashes 2014.  Of those killed 14 were found to not be wearing their seat belt.

Nationally, almost twice as many males were killed in crashes as compared to females, with lower belt use rates, too. Of the males killed in crashes in 2013, more than half (54%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 41 percent were not buckled up.

“If you ask the family members of those unrestrained people who were killed in crashes, they’ll tell you—they wish their loved ones had buckled up,” added Capt. Mark Wilfore.

The Yellowstone area serves as a destination location for many travelers during Memorial Day weekend. Chief Scott Newell wants everyone to, “Enjoy the beauty of Yellowstone by buckling up and not becoming a statistic.”
Acting Chief Rich McLane believes, “The bottom line is that seat belts save lives. If these enforcement crackdowns get people’s attention, and get them to buckle up, then we’ve done our job.”

We all asked, that you have a safe and memorable holiday season and remember to Click It or Ticket.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.

Poster for download;Memorial Day Press Release

  
(Gallatin County, Mont.) Sheriff Brian Gootkin announced today that the body of 8 year old Madison Veele was recovered 20 miles down stream from the point last seen at about 11:00 AM this morning.   He stated,
“Our hearts go out to the friends and family of the Veele family.”

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all of the volunteers who have assisted in this operation over the past 2 weeks.  Sheriff’s Deputies, search and rescue and other volunteers including aircraft have continued searching since the suspension of large scale operations last Sunday.  Today Sheriff’s  SAR units were on the river with boats and search dogs. #####