The Montana High School Association executive board has announced the selection of Brian Michelotti as the next MHSA executive director. Michelotti will replace Mark Beckman, current executive director, who will retire on June 30, after 25 years of service with the organization. Michelotti will be the fifth executive director in the history of the organization. Michelotti currently serves

Lustre Christian, Frazer and Frontier all competed at the District 3C junior high track meet in Glasgow on Wednesday, May 10. Lustre scored 118 points for second place in the boys’ division and seven points for eighth place in the girls’ division. Frontier accounted for 32 points in the boys’ division and 44 points in the girls’ division. Frazer’s girls scored four points. Leading

Three track athletes from Wolf Point placed for Dickinson State University during the North Star Outdoor Track and Field Championships last week. Jewel Olson finished fourth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:03.34 and sixth in the 200 at 27.84 seconds. She was part of Dickinson’s 400-meter and 1600-meter relay teams that each finished second. Dickinson’s women’s team repeated as conference

Most of Montana’s 76 Wildlife Management Areas opened at noon on May 15. The long winter and heavy snowpack have left a limited area for wildlife to forage. With grizzly bear activity increasing, people visiting WMAs should remain vigilant and practice techniques to avoid surprise encounters. Bears, elk and shed-antler hunters will be sharing the same space. Most animals see, hear and

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., released the following statement celebrating the news that Amtrak will restore daily service to the Empire Builder line across northern Montana beginning May 23: “This announcement is long overdue, and it’s great news for folks living on the Hi-Line who depend on daily Amtrak service to support our state’s rural economies and to stay connected to family and friends.

The Montana Highway Patrol’s Jeff Kent asked the Northern Plains Independent to share a public service announcement in anticipation of Memorial Day. Kent says to expect increased patrols in Roosevelt County as part of a nationwide “Click It or Ticket” mobilization. For many Montanans, Memorial Day weekend kicks off the start of summer travel, culminating with Labor Day weekend.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., stressed the importance for ranchers and consumers of having his two bills passed that address consolidation in the ag industry. The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act will increase transparency in the market and set regional mandatory minimum thresholds for negotiated cattle purchases. Meat Packing Special Investigator Act will put teeth back in