Business Bites: Bar S for sale; 50 ION procedures at Great Falls Hospital; GFPS Foundation director resigning; new director for Great Falls Rescue Mission; Charlie Cart at the library; Great Falls Theatre Company presents It’s a Wonderful Life; and more
Updated Nov. 25 with additional information from Bar S owners.
Bar S for sale
Bar S is listed for sale for $1.9 million.
Ed Buttrey, one of the owners, said that there are no changes or closures planned in relation to the sale, but he and his fellow owner Mike Tabacco “are just really busy and can’t give the businesses as much attention as we would like.
Buttrey and Tabacco purchased the business in 2023.
Airport tenant
The Banff Rail Company has announced plans to locate their U.S. logistics hub at the Great Falls International Airport, according to the airport.
BRC Aircraft builds sports and experimental aircraft and plans to begin building in Great Falls in the next year, then expand their operation to several buildings at the airport.
The company plans to have about 12 local employees, according to the airport.
Great Falls Hospital
Great Falls Hospital has completed 50 ION robotic-assisted bronchoscopy procedures.
The hospital is the first in the region to use the technology and after introducing it in May, has now completed more procedures than any other ION program in the state.
Great Falls Hospital adds new robot in effort to catch, treat lung cancer earlier
The ION Endoluminal System by Intuitive allows for minimally invasive lung diagnostics as physicians can precisely navigate deep into the lung’s airways to reach small or difficult-to-access nodules and obtain accurate biopsies — often detecting potential cancers earlier than ever before, according to the hospital.
The hospital reached the milestone during November, which is also Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
If you or a loved one is interested in lung cancer screening or have a lung nodule, the Great Falls Clinic is accepting new patients. More information about advanced lung and thoracic care at Great Falls Clinic and
Hospital, is here or call 406-454-2171.
Great Falls Public Schools Foundation director resigning
Stephanie Becker is resigning as director of the Great Falls Public School Foundation in March 2026 after five years in the position.
“I believe now is the right time to proceed with this transition for the foundation,” Becker said in a release. “We have an organizational structure that is not dependent on one single individual but the collective effort of a well-equipped team. We have a high-functioning and passionate board of directors who are ready to usher in the next phase with fresh energy. And, perhaps most importantly, we have the trust of a community who believes in the value of education and supports our mission of enhancing it. I am confident that the future holds great things for this organization and the students and teachers of Great Falls Public Schools.”
GFPS Foundation restructures teacher grant program
The foundation board’s executive committee has begin planning for the transition and will launch a formal search process in the coming weeks.
Jamie Marshall, board chair, thanked Becker for her work and said, “she has positioned the foundation for continued long-term success, and we as the board are committed to ensuring a smooth transition that honors her efforts and initiatives. We are excited about the future of the foundation. This community believes in the power of education, and we as a foundation have experienced tremendous growth because of that community commitment. We look forward to welcoming a new leader who will continue to grow and build on this legacy and truly enhance educational opportunities for generations to come.”
New Great Falls Rescue Mission director
Carrie Matter has been named executive director at the Great Falls Rescue Mission, replacing Jim McCormick in the spring as he retires after five years in the position.
“The Great Falls Rescue Mission and the people we have the privilege of serving every day hold a special place in my heart—they are God’s gift to us,” Matter said in a release. “I am honored to continue serving in this new role alongside an incredible team of dedicated and talented men and women.”
Board President Gary Gratz said in a release that they thank McCormick for his years of service and wish him well in retirement.
“We also thank Carrie for her willingness to step into this position. Her many years with the organization have prepared her to lead us through the demands placed on the mission daily,” he said.
United Way director search
The United Way of Cascade County is currently looking for its next executive director as Gary Owen retires and the two finalists will be interviewed from 5:30-7 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Darkhorse Hall, the lower level of the Celtic Cowboy, 118 1st Ave. S.
The finalists are Lacey Hallett and Kim Skornogoski.
The candidates will be interviewed separately and the United Way board invites attendees to share their thoughts and provide input.
Hors d’oeuvres with cash bar available.
RSVP by email to go@uwccmt.org
It’s A Wonderful Life
The Great Falls Theatre Company is performing It’s A Wonderful Life-The 1947 Lux Radio Theatre in December at the University of Providence Theater, 1301 20th St. .
The showtimes are:
- Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
- Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
- Dec. 13 at 2 p.m.
- Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20 and available on the company’s website here. A limited number of tickets available in person one hour before performance.
The company is presenting a unique adaptation of the holiday classic as a recreation of a historical radio broadcast from March 10, 1947.
Radio adaptations like this were common promotional tools in the 1930s–40s, designed to reach audiences who might not have seen the movie in theaters and to give popular films a “second life” on air.
The heartwarming story that became a Christmas classic is given new life on our stage. All the classic characters of Bedford Falls are here to remind us that “no man is a failure that has friends.”
The production features 16 local actors performing in a “New York studio” using multiple personas and practical sound effects to recreate all the timeless moments from the beloved story.
All performances of this family friendly live performance are held at the University of Providence Theatre.
Run time is about 70 minutes with no intermission.
Great Falls Theatre Company opens Oklahoma! [2023]
Charlie Cart
The Great Falls Public Library is the fourth Montana location to launch a Charlie Cart program through funding from the Great Falls Public Library Foundation.
The Charlie Cart is a mobile, self-contained teaching kitchen that will enable library staff to provide dynamic, hands-on nutrition education that goes far beyond traditional learning.
Great Falls Public Library board selects new director
With the Charlie Cart, the library can now offer community partnership programming and cultural food education experiences, including special culinary components to complement the popular Armchair Traveler Series.
According to the Charlie Cart Project, children who participate in cooking and nutrition programs are more likely to try new foods, understand where their food comes from, and develop confidence in the kitchen –- skills that translate into healthier choices throughout their lives.
The project’s data demonstrates that students in their programs show increased willingness to taste new foods and improved knowledge about nutrition basics.
City, library, foundation officials moving forward with library remodel plans
Founded in 2014 by educator and mom Carolyn Federman, former director of the Edible Schoolyard Project, The Charlie Cart Project is a nationwide nonprofit on a mission to “make hands-on food education accessible everywhere children gather to learn so that kids have the knowledge and confidence to make healthy food choices for life.”
The Charlie Cart Network has grown to include more than 500 member sites at schools, libraries, food banks, health clinics and community organizations nationwide.
The library’s Charlie Cart program will launch in the spring.
Montana Renewables increasing production
Montana Renewables is advancing plans to increase production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel as part of its MaxSAF expansion.
The fuel progresses the decarbonization of air travel, creates significant opportunities for Montana agriculture, and enhances national security through greater energy independence, according to the company.
As part of the project, the company applied for an air quality permit through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, which issued the draft permit, allowing for the increased fuel production.
Calumet, state reach settlement in multiyear tax dispute
“This permit milestone confirms our readiness to move forward with a project that meets rigorous environmental standards. We’re confident in our ability to deliver cleaner fuels with lower emissions while increasing U.S. markets for agricultural products,” Bruce Fleming, CEO, said in a release.
Pages for Pounds
Simms students are putting their school resource officer to the test with the Pages for Power Reading Challenge, a school-wide competition that will end with a live bench-press event at 1 p.m. Nov. 25 in the Simms Gym.
From Nov. 1-24, students in grades 6–12 tracked how many pages they read during school study hall.
Business Bites: Pizza Ranch hiring; Touch-A-Truck; Skate Jam; Windsor Plywood closing
Their totals will determine how much weight and how many reps Cascade County Sheriff’s Deputy Andre Lugo must lift in front of the entire school.
“The students love Deputy Lugo, and when they found out their reading totals could determine how much weight he has to lift… they lit up,” Principal Luke McKinley said in a release. “They’re ready to push him to his limit.”
Lugo says he’s prepared for whatever they send his way.
“I told the students if they read big, I’ll lift big,” Lugo said in a release. “If this challenge gets them reading more and shows them I’m here to support them, then load the bar. I’m ready.”
Reading goals are set at 1,200 pages per grade for middle school and 2,200 pages for high school. Exceeding those goals increases the weight or reps Lugo will perform. Students are tracking progress daily, with hallway displays and classroom updates helping build momentum.
Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said the challenge reflects the kind of positive engagement his office values.
“Deputy Lugo is doing this because he cares about these kids,” Slaughter said. “If a bench press challenge gets them reading more and gives them a positive experience with law enforcement, we’re behind it 100 percent.”
Business Bites: “Does anybody know what’s being built…”
Helena trip grants
The Montana Historical Society is accepting applications for the second wave of its History and Civics Travel Grant program.
Thanks to generous support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, the society has already awarded funding to 46 schools across 23 Montana counties—from Eureka to Hardin—making hands-on history accessible to students throughout the state.
The grants offset travel costs for public, private, and homeschool groups traveling to Helena, enabling students to experience Montana history and civics first-hand at the Montana Heritage Center.
“Connecting Montana students and teachers, particularly those in rural communities, to our shared stories of place, to artifacts, art, and architecture supports the work they do in their classrooms back home,” Darby Bramble, society education officer. “This program makes place-based learning a reality for students who might otherwise not be able to afford the cost of transportation to Helena.”
Funding is available to schools traveling more than 50 miles one way to Helena.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 4 by completing this form.
For questions or for more information on field trips to the Montana Heritage Center and State Capitol, contact Bramble at 406-444-2412 or darby.
The Nutcracker
The World Ballet Company is on its 2025 holiday tour of The Nutcracker, including a Nov. 30 stop at the Mansfield Theater.
A world-class international cast of 40 professional dancers, more than 150 radiant hand-sewn costumes, and richly detailed hand-painted sets create a visual and emotional experience that captures the spirit of the holidays. From
the glittering Christmas Eve party and the epic midnight battle to the Land of Sweets, each scene bursts with beauty, theatricality, and Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score.
“Our goal is to make ballet accessible without compromising its artistry,” company director director Sasha Gorskaya said in a release. “We created this Nutcracker for everyone — from families seeing ballet for the first time to audiences who have loved it all their lives. It’s a world-class experience that celebrates joy, imagination, and togetherness.”
Tickets are available here.
Belt Water Treatment
The $13 million water treatment plant in Belt was recently completed.
In the late 1800’s, several coal mines operated around Belt. Specifically, coal production from the Anaconda Belt Mine peaked in the 1890s before coal production from the mine slowed and the mine closed in 1924.
Permit approved for Belt water treatment plant [2023]
The water treatment plant was constructed on abandoned mine land as part of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s Abandoned Mine Lands Program, which is responsible for the monitoring and reclamation of Montana’s abandoned coal and hard rock mines to bring land back to life. AML staff administer abandoned mine reclamation projects that are funded by federal grants derived from a fee on coal.
Work beginning on water treatment plant on Belt Creek [2021]
In 2019, DEQ received federal approval for the project and construction began in 2023 to address the environmental challenges. For over a century, abandoned coal mines in Belt discharged dissolved metals into Belt Creek. According to DEQ, on an average day, the abandoned coal mines in Belt discharged over two hundred thousand gallons of water which contained over 800 pounds of iron, aluminum, and other dissolved metals.
The acid mine water that historically impacts Belt Creek has very low pH and is high in dissolved metals. The new water treatment facility will remove metals from the water and discharge pH neutral water to Belt Creek. Lime is added to the water during the treatment process to raise the pH and help the metals form into a solid, for removal and disposal.
University of Providence law enforcement tuition incentive
Beginning in the Spring 2026 term, all currently employed Montana law enforcement officers will be eligible to enroll in University of Providence courses at the active military tuition rate of $250 per credit hour.
This incentive applies to all undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs offered by the university and is available to full-time and part-time officers across the state. Many of these programs are also available fully online, providing additional flexibility for working professionals.
Applicants will need to provide proof of active employment and POST certification upon enrollment. Once admitted, the $250 per credit hour rate will remain in effect for the duration of their attendance.
Big Sky Taekwondo
Scott and Darci Miranti have retired from Big Sky Taekwondo, passing the school to Derek and Megan Miller, who plan to continue Big Sky Taekwondo’s tradition of excellence, discipline and community involvement.
Derek, a second-dan black belt and longtime coach, has been part of the instructional team for years. Megan will assist with business operations and student programs as they guide the school into its next chapter.
Big Sky Taekwondo offers classes for youth, teens, and adults at its Great Falls location, focusing on fitness, respect, and personal growth. The Millers plan to honor the strong foundation built by the Mirantis while continuing to provide a welcoming, family-oriented environment for new and returning students.
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