Cascade County has adopted a public safety assessment tool in what they hope is a way to help reduce the county jail population. The jail is designed to hold 365 people, Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said on Friday, when the jail population was 428. Finding solutions: Local efforts for mental health court; mental health police officer; pre-trial and addiction services Overcrowding
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County Commissioners tabled a decision regarding a proposed policy on appointments to the rural fire districts boards that would prohibit volunteer firefighters in those districts from serving on the board that governs their operation. Commissioner Joe Briggs was absent and commissioners said they’d prefer to have all three present for making a decision. Commissioner Jim Larson said he’d received a
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During their Jan. 14 meeting, County Commissioners will consider a policy regarding appointments to the various fire boards in the county. Currently, there is no policy regarding whether staff or volunteer firefighters at those fire departments can be appointed to the boards that govern their operations. That’s a “tremendous problem,” Deputy County Attorney Carey Ann Haight told commissioners during their
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Great Falls Fire Rescue wants to remind those setting off fireworks over the holiday to take the necessary steps and precautions to keep themselves and others safe, as well as the rules regarding fireworks in the city limits. “Our goal at Great Falls Fire Rescue is to educate residents about fire prevention and safety. There is no question about it;
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Updated Jan. 2 Commissioners voted unanimously during their Dec. 17 meeting to approve a $149,750 contract to Copper Creek Construction for plumbing upgrades at three of the city’s fire stations. Great Falls Fire Rescue Chief Steve Hester said that work would begin in a few weeks at Station 4 at 1800 Fox Farm Rd. Hester said the work will require
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UPDATED 10:38 a.m. Dec. 18 The Great Falls Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a triple homicide that occurred in the early morning hours of Dec. 17 in Great Falls. In a Dec. 18 press release, officials named Ricky Lee Gardipee, 41, of Great Falls as the man
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Next week, City Commissioners will consider awarding a $149,750 contract to Copper Creek Construction for plumbing upgrades at three of the city’s fire stations. The need for the project arose in 2017 when city staff were planning kitchen and restroom remodels at some of the fire stations. During the initial states of those remodels, it was discovered that sewer pipes
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After a fire on Saturday, Calumet Montana Refining has resumed full operations, according to a press release. The incident was caused by a pipe fitting leak, according to the refinery, and the leak has been repaired. The affected unit has been restarted, according to the release. Calumet officials said in the release that the fire was minor, but smoke was
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The Montana Department of Justice released information today regarding the Nov. 25 officer involved shooting in Great Falls. At about 3:45 p.m. on Nov. 25, the Montana Department of Corrections Probation and Parole officers and the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force initiated contact with a 42-year-old male probationer under supervision in Great Falls. Earlier that day, a no-bond
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Calumet Montana Refining is conducting an evacuation drill at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 12. The drill is expected to last about one hour. Community members may hear the whistle used in this drill with a series of blasts and one long blast, but should not be alarmed. “This is only a drill exercise and there is no emergency,” according to a Calumet
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