More than $260,000 was raised for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ conservation and restoration programs during a wildlife auction held Sept. 25 in Billings. The auction included antlers, horns, hides and skulls that were confiscated by FWP over the last four years. Most of the items came from poaching incidents. Montana statute requires FWP to sell seized items at public auction.

and honoring our trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribes.” Tester has been working diligently to ensure that Montana victims of crime have the resources they need to get back on their feet. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee he has secured a 5 percent Crime Victims Fund setaside for Tribes since 2018. He also helped pass the bipartisan VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims

Opportunity Bank of Montana announced Oct. 1 that it has reached an agreement to acquire First Community Bank, with branches throughout Northeast Montana. At press time, it is unclear how the purchase will affect FCB branches in Culbertson, Wolf Point and elsewhere in Roosevelt County. The transaction is Opportunity’s fourth announced acquisition of a Montana-based bank since 2017. According

Jessica Smith has been charged with criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, a felony, and criminal distribution of dangerous drugs by accountability, a felony. Maximum penalties for the criminal distribution of dangerous drugs charge is 25 years in prison, a $50,000 fine or both. Maximum penalties for the accountability charge are 25 years in prison, a $50,000 fine or both. Court documents