Keep your stomach full of turkey and free from foodborne illness this Thanksgiving holiday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds us all that it’s important to remember the steps to food safety during America’s biggest meal. “While the four steps to food safety — clean, separate, cook and chill — are important every day and at every meal, they are particularly significant

The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, announced by the Biden-Harris Administration during a conference call on Tuesday, Nov. 1, will provide an opportunity for independent producers in Montana to establish a local USDA inspected meat processing facility. The Montana Premium Processing Cooperative is part of the federal program that will invest $73 million in 21 grant projects.

Although the weather in north-central Montana improved from the opening weekend of the general rifle season, the both the number of hunters and game animals passing through FWP’s check station in Augusta remained well below average for the second weekend of the season. Total number of hunters, both successful and unsuccessful, is the lowest count in nearly 30 years and 25 percent below recent

Average gasoline prices in Montana have fallen 3.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.87/g on Monday, Nov. 7, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 615 stations in Montana. Prices in Montana are 16.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 47.3 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has risen 3.4 cents in the last week and stands at $5.32

Roosevelt County reported three active COVID cases as of Friday, Nov. 4. There have been 3,714 total cases in the county. Roosevelt County Health Department hosts COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Wolf Point the first and third Thursdays of the month, and in Culbertson on the fourth Thursday. Clinics for children 5-11 years of age are held every three weeks on Fridays. Call 406-653-6223 for a COVID vaccine

Even as American Prairie continues to be the target of Montana leaders who worry about the land conservation organization that has reintroduced bison herds to parts of central Montana, those same adversaries have stayed mum on the transformation of a downtown block that has become a national visitors’ center and interactive museum dedicated to the state’s last, best prairies. Lewistown prides