Christian Alexander Perez and Hattie Lei Turcotte each made their initial appearances in district court on Tuesday, March 23. Perez made not guilty pleas for the charges of criminal possession of drugs, a felony, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. His omnibus hearing was set for April 14, and his trial was scheduled for June 17. Defense attorney Sally Kay Hickok

A California man convicted in a methamphetamine distribution ring that supplied pounds of the drug to the Sidney area was sentenced last week to 121 months in prison and five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said. Marc Buetow, 53, of San Diego, Calif., pleaded guilty on Oct. 22, 2020, to possession with intent to distribute meth. U.S. District Judge Susan P.

Christpher Michael Lee Friede, 20, of Culbertson changed his plea to guilty for the charge of witness tampering. He changed his plea in district court on Tuesday, March 23. Maximum penalties for the offense is 10 years in prison, a $50,000 fine or both. A pre-sentencing investigation has been ordered. During the hearing, Friede admitted that he attempted to have a third party talk with an

Amanda Jo Marie Gourneau changed her plea to guilty for the charge of criminal endangerment during a hearing in district court on Tuesday, March 23. Maximum penalties for the offense are 10 years in prison, a $50,000 fine or both. A pre-sentencing investigation was ordered. During the hearing, Gourneau testified that she was driving with someone who she thought was a friend but didn’t

Dear Editor: Did you and other taxpayers of Roosevelt County receive a $1,000 stipend that the county commissioners gave to themselves and all county employees on March 2? I have enclosed a copy of a request for information as to the amount the county received through the CARES Act, Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economics Security Act and other information to try and understand how the commissioners

By Bill Vander Weele Amtrak’s Empire Builder will resume daily service throughout Montana starting in early June, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said during a press conference call last week. The funds come as part of the America Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package. Paul Tuss of Bear Paw Development in Havre said during the call that Amtrak’s 12 stations in Montana

Montana is the only state in the U.S. that has unisex rates for all insurance. A bill in the Legislature seeks to undo that. House Bill 379, sponsored by House Majority Leader Sue Vinton, R-Billings, would allow insurance companies to charge different rates for males and females. The bill passed the House of Representatives 70-28 last month before moving to the Senate Business, Labor and Economic

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., is cosponsoring the “Protect and Serve Act,” to help protect law enforcement officers by creating federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence. “Montana law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every single day to keep our families and communities safe,” said Senator Daines.

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation is offering $1,000 grants to public libraries in Montana to help fund summer youth-reading programs. Libraries can apply now through April 30 at www. townpumpfoundation.com using the Keep Kids Reading application. Grants will be awarded in May 2021. The total grant pool is $60,000. “The Town Pump Charitable Foundation appreciates the critical role