U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., voted to advance major Montana priorities in the bipartisan defense bill, the “National Defense Authorization Act,” including a 2.7 percent pay raise for troops and support for Malmstrom Air Force Base and Montana’s National Guard. “This bipartisan defense bill gives our troops a much-deserved pay raise, supports Malmstrom and the Montana National Guard,

The Montana Association of Counties, a statewide organization of Montana’s 56 counties that helps provide effective county governance to the people of Montana, welcomes commissioner Jason Strouf, Custer County, as its new association president. Through intergovernmental relations, communications, and education, MACo seeks to enhance the operation of Montana’s county governments and the

February The Roosevelt County Commissioners unanimously appointed Frank A. Piocos as the new county attorney on Monday, Feb. 1. Piocos will finish the term of Austin Knudsen, who was elected the state’s new attorney general in November. There was a repeat winner in the Wolf Point Spelling Bee on Thursday, Jan. 29. Griffin Azure, an eighth-grade student, earned the title for the second straight

The Montana Association of Counties, a statewide organization of Montana’s 56 counties that helps provide effective county governance to the people of Montana, welcomes commissioner Jason Strouf, Custer County, as its new association president. Through intergovernmental relations, communications, and education, MACo seeks to enhance the operation of Montana’s county governments and the

A charge against Jason Kust for possession of dangerous drugs has been deferred. A deferred prosecution agreement, approved by district judge David J. Cybulski on Wednesday, Dec. 15, notes that the state has agreed to defer prosecution and to dismiss the charges pending. The state deferred prosecution for a period of 12 months as long as the defendant is a good citizen, obeys all laws and

Hattie Lei Turcotte was sentenced for the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs in district court on Wednesday, Dec. 15. Based on a plea agreement, Judge David Cybulski sentenced Turcotte to a threeyear suspended sentence with the Montana Department of Corrections. She was fined $1,000. She will receive credit for 143 days served in jail. Defense attorney Alli Moulton was a good

A Poplar man accused of stabbing two individuals at a Wolf Point residence admitted to assault charges on Dec. 15, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said on Thursday, Dec. 16. Dewayne C. Shoots Jr., 28, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three

( Publisher’s Note: The following blotter includes the activities of the Wolf Point police and fire departments Dec. 13-19. All those cited or arrested are presumed innocent.) Citations were issued to: December 11 Gage Bostick, 21, male, criminal mischief, date of incident was Nov. 29 on the 200 block of Fourth Avenue South, municipal court. December 16 Robert Lowdog Sr., 44, male,

Several defendants delivered not guilty pleas during their initial appearances in district court before district judge David Cybulski on Wednesday, Dec. 15. In two separate hearings, Amaris Mariscal-Walking Eagle made not guilty pleas to the counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Maximum penalties for the criminal possession of dangerous drugs

A 23-year-old woman was killed on Tuesday, Dec. 14, when she was hit by a train in Wolf Point. The Wolf Point Police Department received notification of the incident at 8:13 p.m. Police were flagged down near the scene by witnesses. Family and friends have identified the victim as Taja Lilley. Her obituary appears on page six of this issue. The woman was struck by a passing freight train