Wednesday Wrap: April 2
This week’s wrap up of local news from the last week.
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City delays decision on pass-through funding for Union Bethel AME church restoration project: City Commissioners again discussed the effort to preserve the historic Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Great Falls during their March 18 meeting. Last summer, the Montana Historical Society was awarded a nearly half-million dollar grant to stabilize and provide safe access to the church. Commissioners said they didn’t want the city to administer the federal grant, but state officials asked if they’d pass through a $20,000 grant to help the church cover design costs to adjust the scope of original project due construction bids that came back higher than estimated.
City considering waiving military usage fees for new indoor pool, which is operating at a deficit since opening: City Commissioners will consider during their April 1 meeting whether to waive facility use fees for training conducted by the Montana Air National Guard and Malmstrom Air Force Base at the city’s indoor aquatic center. The Sheels Aim High Big Sky Aquatics and Recreation Center opened last summer and was funded with $10 million from a U.S. Defense Department grant and a $10 million match from the city.
Carpenter sentenced in fatal interstate crash: A district court judge sentenced Jeremy Carpenter to 20 years with 10 suspended at the Montana State Prison for a felony count of vehicular homicide. The judge credited the 108 days he’s already spent in the Cascade County Adult Detention Center toward his sentence, according to Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki. The sentence was recommended in a plea agreement negotiated by Racki’s office for Carpenter’s guilty plea.
Warmer weather brings open burning, permit map available to public; GFFR responds to three residential fires this week: With warmer weather and calmer winds on March 26, many took the chance to do some burning. County DES Manager Jason McAllister is reminding locals that need to purchase, and activate, burn permits. The story includes a link for the public to see all active burn permits when they’re curious about smoke visible in the area.
2025 Montana State Fair night show lineup released: This year’s Montana State Fair is July 25-Aug. 2. Tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. April 10.
