Western Art Week rescheduled

From the C.M. Russell Museum: “As promised, Western Art Week has been rescheduled but with a twist. We are proud to announce September 10-12, you will have the opportunity to see three great shows in one great venue! We couldn’t be more excited to team up with The Out West Art Show & Sale and The Great Western Show!

Additional details will be shared Thursday so watch for the video announcement.”

Cascade County City-County Health Department

As of 5:30 p.m. April 1, the state has confirmed one new case in Cascade County: a man in his 60s who traveled out of state, bringing the county’s total to 10 cases.

He is isolated, and the Cascade County City-County Health Department infectious disease team is conducting a confidential contact investigation and will reach out to anyone who may have been exposed, according to CCHD.

Trisha Gardner, county health officer, issued a new local health order reinforcing her previous orders and the governor’s directives requiring people to stay home or self-quarantine if entering Montana from another state or country for non-work related purposes.

“It is important to issue a local order that captures the Governor’s directives and reinforces their importance locally,” said Garnder said in a release.

Her new order incorporates those directives and is available in full here.

If CCHD receives a complaint about an individual or business in violation of the health orders and governor’s directives that CCHD will investigate to verify the situation.

“If there is a legitimate violation of the Order, CCHD will contact the Great Falls Police Department (if within Great Falls city limits) or the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office (if outside Great Falls) to follow up. Violations can result in civil and criminal enforcement,” according to CCHD.

The newest health order doesn’t supplant or replace Gardner’s earlier health orders and they may all be modified, expanded, and/or extended by future orders or by future directives from the governor if those are more stringent than local health orders, according to CCHD.

City of Great Falls

“To ensure the local enforcement of the Governor’s Directives, the City of Great Falls has issued Executive Order 2020-2, which suspends the enforcement of any provisions of the Official Code of the City of Great Falls that are contrary to the Directives. The City Manager’s Executive Order 2020-2 supports the enforcement of the Stay at Home order and provides temporary relief to utility customers during the pandemic.

The city understands that due to business closures, job losses, and altered worked schedules, residents may be struggling to pay their utility bills. While customers are still responsible for payment of utility charges, the city can assist them by not shutting off their utilities for payment delays during the emergency declaration. To allow residents to catch up on their bills, the order provides residents an additional 30 days post the rescission of the State of Emergency order. Executive Order 2020-2 covers all city-operated utility services, including water, sewer, storm drain and sanitation.

‘We know the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of the coronavirus may continue beyond the State of Emergency,’ said City Manager Greg Doyon. ‘The City of Great Falls will continue to seek ways to assist our residents during and after the pandemic.'”

For more information on the city’s protective measures, closures, cancellations, and executive orders, visit the city website or call 406-455-8496.

Great Falls Transit

General Manager Jim Helgeson told The Electric that Great Falls Transit has temporarily suspended paratransit services due to COVID-19.

“When we went to only medical rides only, our ridership decreased to a handful of rides a day. After illness in a driver’s family, we decided to suspend services and observe the emergency lock down directives from the CDC and Governor. All scheduled rides were notified of the closer and Blacked Out Cab is transporting passengers to their medical appointments. Hopefully, this will be short lived.”

KDS Networks

“We are pleased to announce that Konceptio Data Services, LLC (KDS Networks – Hometown Internet Service Provider) has been granted by the FCC an emergency Special Temporary Authority (“STA”) to deploy and operate in U-NII-4 band. This grant of an STA will help KDS Networks to meet the surge in consumer demand for residential fixed broadband services during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are actively working with our equipment vendors on a plan and execution to utilize this temporary band which will result in additional capacity helping meet the increased demand for bandwidth.”

Cascade County Justice Court

Beginning April 1, Cascade County Justice Court is implementing the following procedures due to COVID-19:

• The office is closed to walk-in traffic, the customer service window will be open Monday through Friday 10-11 a.m. and 3-4 p.m.
• If you need an extension on any programs or fines, call 464-6873.
• If service is needed outside the above times, call 454-6873.
• All court filings should be submitted via U.S. mail, or delivered and individual boxes may be picked up Monday through Friday from 10-11 a.m. or 3-4 p.m.

President Trump approves Montana disaster declaration

On March 31, President Trump “declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Montana and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Montana impacted by COVID-19.

Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, named Lee K. dePalo as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further assessments.”

Total cases in Montana

According to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services there are now 217 cases of COVID-19 across the state. One of those cases is counted in Montana though the woman was tested and remains in Maryland.

There have been five deaths from the virus, according to DPHHS.

So far, according to DPHHS, a total of 5,088 tests have been completed as of April 1.

A state tracking map shows the confirmed cases are as follows by county:

• Cascade County: 9 cases
• Gallatin County: 79 cases
• Yellowstone County: 32 cases
• Missoula County: 15 cases
• Lewis and Clark County: 14 cases
• Flathead County: 14 cases
• Silver Bow County: 11 cases
• Madison County: 6 cases
• Toole County: 6 cases
• Lincoln County: 6 cases
• Park County: 5 cases
• Lake County: 4 cases
• Broadwater County: 3 cases
• Deer Lodge County: 3 cases
• Jefferson County: 2 cases
• Ravalli County: 1 case
• Roosevelt County: 1 case
• Hill County: 1 case
• Meagher County: 1 case
• Liberty County: 1 case
• Musselshell County: 1 case
• Carbon County: 1 case