Following a series of train accidents across Montana in the last year including a fatal crash in Bainville during May, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont, is co-sponsoring a bill to improve train safety in rural communities. Tester and Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., introduced their bipartisan Right Track Act Friday, Nov. 20, to bolster train safety in eastern Montana and other rural communities.

( Publisher’s Note: The following blotter includes the activities of the Wolf Point police and fire department Nov. 16-22. All those cited or arrested are presumed innocent.) Citations were issued to: November 16 Carly Tattoo, 26, female, U.S. Highway 2 and First Avenue North, careless driving and speeding - 25 MPH urban, tribal court. Talayne DeMarrias, 28, female, 400 block of

Luke John Scott Sr., 33, of Wolf Point, has been convicted of assaulting and abusing a minor on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. After a threeday trial that started on Nov. 17, in U.S. District Court, the jury found Scott guilty of the charges. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris set sentencing for March 24. Scott faces a maximum sentence of a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison,

Five charges have been filed in district court against Jesse Hank Baker III regarding a high speed motorcycle chase in Roosevelt County in July. Charges include the felony offense of criminal endangerment and the misdemeanor charges of fleeing from or eluding a peace officer, reckless driving, driving without a valid license and driving under the influence of intoxicants, first offense. If

Christopher Spillman has been charged in district court with criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 16. According to court documents, an officer saw a vehicle go through a stop sign on Main Street and Sixth Avenue South in Wolf Point at 4:13 a.m. on Nov. 18.

Fort Peck’s Carl Mann died of accidental drowning Nov. 20 at the Dredge Cuts Trout Pond north of Fort Peck. Sheriff Tom Boyer told area media that Mann was at the pond around 9:40 a.m. with his dog when the dog went out on the ice and fell through. According to Boyer, Mann went after the dog and the ice broke, at which point Mann went into the water. Both Mann and the dog drowned. Mann’s

Khalil Lajuan Lyons, 19, Michigan, made not guilty pleas to two felony charges in district court on Thursday, Nov. 12. Lyons is charged with criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, meth, and criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, oxycodone. For each count, the maximum sentence is 20 years and the maximum fine is $50,000. His omnibus hearing

The growth of Montana’s economy slowed in October after signs of recovery in months prior, according to job figures released Nov. 23. The numbers show that the growth in non-farm payroll employment was 1,200 jobs, the lowest month of recovery since May. There were 470,200 non-farm payroll jobs in the state in October. Approximately 64,300 nonfarm payroll jobs were lost in the state during