New Freestyle Fun at Marshall Mountain in Missoula

For the first time in a couple of decades, organized skiing will be returning to a former Western Montana ski hill, although this time there are no lifts, and plenty of free styling.

Friends of Marshall Mountain announced plans Friday to open the Marshall Mountain Rail Garden, a new terrain park for snowboarding and free skiing on the lower slopes of the ski area, which moved to community ownership 2 years ago. It's been popular for informal activities like cross-country skiing, but nothing has been organized in 20 years.

Organizers say the park is being made possible by a public-private partnership, starting with a $25,000 donation from Engel & Völkers Western Frontier. That will pay for perimeter fencing, rail features, and other improvements, with plans to have the park in operation this winter season.

The features will be located on a portion of the old bunny slope at the park. It will consist of small, medium, and large lines with professionally constructed and maintained features for people of all ages and abilities.

           Local non-profit, Girls on Shred, is taking the lead on fundraising and looking for additional partners.

READ MORE: Community Assumes Ownership of Marshall Mountain

Silverwood gets new owners

Speaking of recreation changes, the only amusement park in the Northern Rockies will have new owners this coming year.

The Coeur d' Alene Press reports the Silverwood Theme Park is getting new owners, with Georgia-based Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation signing a deal to acquire the park. Herschend is one of the largest amusement park operators in the country and is committed to continuing the legacy of the Norton Family, which established and opened the park in 1988.

Gainforte touts success of apprenticeship programs

Governor Greg Gianforte expects the state to continue efforts to expand apprenticeship programs, saying it's the best way to train students for vocational careers, while developing the next generation of workers for the building trades.

Gianforte voiced that commitment last week while visiting Cascade County, where the Great Falls High School House program marked its 50th home.

"We've done our workplace learning experience that gets high school students out into local businesses, could be a mechanic shop. It could be an architect's office. It could be a construction site, it gives them real world experience, and they can see what it's like."- Gov. Gianforte

The state continues to offer tax credits to employers of 2-thousand dollars per year for those workplace learning experiences.  

Former Troy Police Officer arrested

A former Troy Police officer is expected to be extradited back to Montana this week to face charges of sexual misconduct and tampering with evidence.

The Lincoln County Sheriff said over the weekend that 23-year-old Layton Lee Artigo had turned himself in to authorities in Santa Anna, California. Artigo had been under investigation for "suspicious activity" involving several "juvenile females", and is expected to face charges for "grooming" at least one of them for sex.  He had started working for the Troy Police Department last spring.