It’s a Sad Day in Belgrade,
Thursday evening May 16, 2013 Belgrade City Manager Joe Menicucci passed away in Billings after being hospitalized for several months.
After serving the City of Polson. Mr. Menicucci relocated to Belgrade in 1990 as City Manger of Belgrade, a position he held for almost 23 years.
His dedication, knowledge, and commitment to this community will be greatly missed.
Our prayers and thoughts are with his family and city staff.
Mayor Russ Nelson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- MAY 16, 2013
Belgrade, MT- The Belgrade Police Department has received information about a scam in which the caller, claiming to be a representative of the Belgrade Police Department, is contacting citizens via telephone and attempting to solicit donations for the police department. The Belgrade Police Department IS NOT soliciting donations for the department and when raising money for charitable organizations, such as the Special Olympics, does not do so by telephone. This is a scam and any funds or personal information given to these callers will not benefit the police department or any other charitable causes. These calls are being placed through VoIP (spoofed telephone numbers) and to date, we have received reports of this activity from as far away as Great Falls, MT.
The Belgrade Police Department would like to urge citizens to use extreme caution when contacted by telephone solicitors. Please do not provide solicitors with any personal, bank account or credit card information. If you have any questions as to the validity of a call, obtain a return telephone number and name from the solicitor, and contact your local law enforcement agency.
Contact: Sgt. Dustin Lensing, Belgrade Police Department, 406-388-4262
Press Release – for Immediate Release
May 17, 2013
Click It or Ticket to Boost Seat Belt Use – Day and Night
2013 High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Begins May 20, 2013
Bozeman, Gallatin County, Montana. As motorists take to the roads this Memorial Day holiday, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Bozeman Police Department are urging everyone to buckle up. Beginning May 20, 2013, law enforcement officials will be out in full force, taking part in the 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization and cracking down on motorists who are not belted.
“As we kick-off the busy summer driving season it’s important that everyone buckles up every time they go out, both day and night – no excuses,” said Captain Dave McManis of the Bozeman Police Department, “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seat belt – Click It or Ticket.”
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. As noted, deaths involving seat belt nonuse are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to NHTSA, 62 percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 during the overnight hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater,” said Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin. “We want everyone to have a safe summer, but it requires an important step on the part of motorists – clicking that seat belt.”
In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA. While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 20 through June 2, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.
For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.
CONTACT:
Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin (406) 582-212
Bozeman Police Dept. Patrol Captain Dave McManis (406)-582-2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MAY 13, 2013
The Gallatin County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim of a single-vehicle accident which occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 11, 2013, as Arrow Flint Seifert, 26, of Manhattan. Seifert died from blunt force trauma of the head. The accident occurred at Mile Marker 8, Highway 205 west of Manhattan. The accident is under investigation by the Montana Highway Patrol.
Press Release
For immediate release:
(For more information contact: Chief Mike Cech, 581-2816 or Assistant Chief Fred Cady 580-2582.)
Monday May 13, 2013
8:00 AM
The Fort Ellis Fire Department responded to a wildland fire along the railroad tracks two miles East of Bozeman this morning. Approximately five acres were burned but no structures were threatened during the 5 AM “working-wildland” call. The suspected cause was faulty equipment on a passing freight train.
Even though the temperature at the time of call was 50 degrees and the humidity 50%, fire officials called the fire behavior “moderate”. Fort Ellis Fire Chief Mike Cech states “This is an indication that even though we are starting to see our spring-time green-up, conditions are still very dry. There doesn’t seem to be any significant moisture in sight and residents need to be very careful when setting fires to clean up debris around their properties.”
The National Weather Service in Billings, MT is predicting critical fire conditions with high winds and hot temperatures for Monday with some cooling but still windy on Tuesday. Severe thunderstorms may result from a frontal passage today.
Gallatin County residents are reminded that they must purchase a burn permit and to check the weather forecast before burning. The Gallatin County burn permit web site is: http://burnpermits.mt.gov.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MAY 10, 2013
The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has recently taken a report of a telephone scam wherein the caller stated that the individual had won a cash prize from Publisher’s Clearinghouse and requested them to send a sum of money to a bank in Mexico City in order to claim the cash “prize.” After this initial call was received, a second call was made to the same number and the caller claimed to be an FBI Special Agent, allegedly calling to verify and legitimize the first call. That call was followed by another call from a person claiming to be Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin also allegedly to provide legitimacy of the first call. The caller ID indicated that call came from 406-582-2100, which, in fact, is the main number to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office. On the surface, this may look legitimate but it is a scam.
Sheriff Gootkin cautions anyone receiving a call similar to this to not fall victim to the scam. If you have legitimately won a prize, you should not have to send money to claim it. Do not give out any of your own personal information such as address, bank information, credit/debit card numbers, social security information, etc. In some cases if you ask the caller for their name and number, they will disconnect the call.
Because of the increasing numbers of these types of telephone scams and similar internet scams, and the multi-jurisdictional (local, state, federal, international) issues associated with them, it is very difficult to narrow the scope of an investigation down to one individual or a group of individuals responsible for the scams. Therefore, Sheriff Gootkin again cautions citizens to use common sense and be vigilant in protecting your personal and financial information
Press Release
May 8, 2013
Gallatin County Coroner
On May 7, 2013, at approximately 6:15 PM, the Deputy Coroner on call was dispatched to Church Avenue in Bozeman. A 13-year-old male had located a deceased male in the Sourdough Creek. The deceased was subsequently identified as 58-year-old Kevin Guptill of Bozeman. Next-of-kin was located and notified early this morning, and the medical examination conducted this afternoon at the crime lab in Missoula has determined the cause of death as drowning.
Montana Law Enforcement Torch Run®
For Immediate Release Contact: Deputy Mike Van Meter 582-2100
Montana Law Enforcement Officers and their friends have hit the streets, highways and byways of Montana. In addition to fulfilling their duties of enforcing speed limits, maintaining order and keeping our state safe, they are fulfilling another type of duty. They are carrying the torch for Special Olympics Montana.
Hundreds will carry the Flame of Hope 2,000 miles to the State Summer Games Opening Ceremonies in Billings. The arrival of the Torch Run on Friday May 10th, 2013 and the Final Leg and lighting of the cauldron on Wednesday May 15th, 2013 will officially begin the games.
Lt. Jack Allen (Great Falls Police Department) the statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run Director stated, “The athlete’s work is inspiring for us and we see it as an honor to help raise awareness and support for Special Olympics Montana.”
The Torch Run has made stops in numerous towns throughout the state including Scobey, Medicine Lake, Kalispell, Billings, Glasgow, Malta, Butte, Boulder, Anaconda, Cut Bank, Havre and Lewistown. The torch will be arriving in Bozeman on Friday May 10th, 2013.
Several law enforcement agencies are participating in the run into Bozeman including the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Gallatin County Detention Center, Bozeman PD, Belgrade PD, Three Forks PD, Gallatin Airport Authority, MSU PD, Fish Wildlife and Parks, Montana Highway Patrol and Montana Army National Guard.
“Once our officers get involved they are hooked,” said Allen. “It’s a mutually satisfying experience where we create special relationships that are genuine and long-term.”
The Torch Run in Montanabegan in 1985. Each year, local Montana Law Enforcement Officers raise several thousand dollars for Special Olympics Montana athletes. In 2008, the Montana LETR raised over $350,000 for local athletes and was awarded 4th highest per capita in the world.
Join us this year as we welcome the Torch Run to Bozeman on Friday May 10th, 2013 and join us again on Wednesday May 15th, 2013 for the Final Leg into Rimrock Auto Arena at Metra Park, Billings to light the cauldron for the opening ceremonies for the state summer games.
Release Number: 130506-01
For Immediate Release
Contact: Patrick Lonergan, 406-582-2350
Learn About Gallatin County’s Weather
Bozeman, MT – The community is encouraged to come join Gallatin County and the National Weather Service on Thursday to learn about weather in our area through the SKYWARN program. The SKYWARN program is designed to teach people about hazardous weather conditions that are common in their area to enhance public recognition of dangerous situations. Individuals who attend SKYWARN training will be taught how to recognize weather events and how to pass what they see onto the National Weather Service, providing valuable eyes on the ground. The information learned is valuable to anyone, regardless of their plans to pass what they see on to the National Weather Service.
SKYWARN Training – Learn about our local weather
May 9th, 6:30-9:30 pm
No Cost – Just Show Up
Gallatin County Coordination Center
219 East Tamarack
Bozeman, MT 59715
Visit skywarn.org for more information on the SKYWARN Program.
Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Bozeman Police Department
Working to Reduce Drunk Driving Crashes, Fatalities
BOZEMAN, MT As party-goers celebrate Cinco de Mayo with sombreros, mariachi music and authentic cuisine, many will also indulge with their favorite margarita or tequila, and then, unfortunately, choose to get behind the wheel. That’s why this year the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Bozeman Police Department are joining with others across the state and nation to encourage everyone to plan ahead this Cinco de Mayo and to never drink and drive.
“With Cinco de Mayo celebrations on the rise across the country, alcohol-impaired crashes, injuries and fatalities will also rise,” said Sheriff Brian Gootkin. “But buzzed driving is drunk driving, and is never safe or acceptable. So folks should plan ahead now to avoid the temptation on the big day.”
From 2007 to 2011, 38 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities that occurred each year around May 5th involved impaired drivers or motorcycle operators with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .08 and above, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
During the 2011 Cinco de Mayo holiday alone, 35 percent of motor vehicle fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .08 and above. A disturbing 80 percent of the alcohol impaired fatalities involved a driver or motorcycle operator with nearly twice the legal limit of .15.
Bozeman PD Captain McManis said that people can still enjoy the holiday and celebrations without putting their lives or the lives of other innocent victims on the line.
“When people start celebrating, they often aren’t thinking of how they will get home from the restaurant or a friend’s house, and they don’t realize how much they’ve had to drink and make a bad choice that ends in tragic consequences,” said Captain McManis. “That’s why we are reminding folks to play it safe and plan ahead.”
Statistics show 31 percent of traffic fatalities in 2011 involved an impaired driver. But death or injury are not the only consequences from impaired driving. When caught and arrested, violators often face jail time, loss of their driver’s license and it could cost up to $10,000 in legal fees, fines, and result in higher insurance rates.
“You should always designate a sober driver before the party begins,” said Sheriff Gootkin. “But, if you don’t plan ahead, and you’ve been drinking, please do not get behind the wheel. There are plenty of other alternatives that will keep you and others safe and out of trouble.”
Party-goers can call a friend or cab, use public transportation. The Late Night Streamline Bus schedule can be found at www.streamlinebus.com/routes-schedulesweekday-serviceweekday-service/latenight-service/
Sheriff Gootkin and Captain McManis said officers will be on the look-out for impaired drivers during Cinco de Mayo, and those who are caught drinking and driving will be arrested.
“We want to make sure that everyone lives to see, and enjoy, Seis de Mayo,” said Gootkin and McManis. “So we’re working hard to remind everyone that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving and to never get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.”
-END-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2013
CONTACT: Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin (406) 582-2125
Bozeman Police Dept. Patrol Captain Dave McManis (406)-582-2000
