The Great Falls Public Schools board approved a new policy during their Sept. 9 meeting regarding the use of therapy animals in schools. There was no public comment during the meeting. The school board heard the proposed policy on first reading during their Aug. 19 meeting. School officials said there have been some instances over the years where teachers and
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The Cascade City-County Health Department is hosting flu shot clinics this month. Adults age 18 and older can get their immunization from the comfort of their own vehicle at the Drive Through Flu Shot Clinic on Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Montana Expo Park. Whether you have a car, truck, four-wheeler, bike or moped this is an
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Efforts to save the 10th Street Bridge are continuing, but a recently advertised project received no bids. The project to install pre-case concrete railings across the bridge is funded by Preservation Cascade, Inc., a local nonprofit, but the contracting runs through the City of Great Falls. No city funding would be used for the project. The project specifications were advertised
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The proposed regional heritage area now has a name: Big Sky Country National Heritage Area. A local group has been pursuing the Congressional designation since 2015 and this week updated the community on their projects with the feasibility study, themes and projects already in the works within the proposed boundary. If approved, it would be the first heritage area in Montana.
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The Cascade County Planning Board voted 4-3 during their Sept. 10 meeting to recommend approval of the proposed zoning regulation revisions, with the exception of the MU40 district and an amended provision for medical marijuana. After spending about 20 minutes discussing whether to reduce a 1,000 foot setback for medical marijuana to 500 feet, the board realized the proposed revisions
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The Labor Day fire north of Great Falls burned about 16,000 acres, according to Vaughn Fire Chief Jason McAllister. It burned one unoccupied residence and eight outbuildings in the Golden Valley Loop area, according to a release from Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter. According to Slaughter’s release, a deputy made contact with the 911 caller who told the deputy that
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Cascade County Commissioners adopted a budget during a special meeting Sept. 3 and set the tax mill, which is decreasing for county property owners. The total mills being assessed this year is decreasing from last year since the values of mills increased, according to the county budget office. Proposed county budget now available, commission to take action Sept. 3 Property
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For years, local law enforcement has trained on active shooter situation, but for the first time, they trained last week with Great Falls Fire Rescue on getting medical attention to victims quickly and safely. Assistant GFFR Chief Jeremy Jones contacted the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office and Great Falls Police Department to organize the training and develop a response plan so
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Update 7 p.m. Sept. 2: The fire is contained, there are no further evacuations and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, per an email from Sheriff Jesse Slaughter. Due to the grass fire burning near Vinyard Road and eastbound winds, Cascade County deputies are evacuating homes near Vinyard Road. All of Golden Valley Loop is being evacuated, according to
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The Cascade County planning board will consider changes to the county’s zoning regulations at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Family Living Center at Montana Expo Park. The county planning department is proposing substantial changes and the board first began consideration of those changes in February. The staff-initiated revisions would impact all property within the boundaries of Cascade County, except
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