A Bit of Help for Failing Montana Bridge

There's still a way to go to identify all the money needed for the multi-million dollar replacement of a key bridge on the Lower Clark Fork River.

But at least the state has come through with nearly a million dollars towards building a new Noxon Bridge. That money comes from Legislative allocations that were actually given for infrastructure improvements in 2023. However, engineers say the total cost is closer to $35 million.

Representative Ryan Zinke says replacing the bridge is critical for the community and needs to be a top priority…

"That little town, you know, it's burned down. They've been in some rough waters. They can't cut a tree around there, but they need a bridge," Zinke said.

"So you know, we looked at it and the engineers say, 'oh, it'd be difficult'. Look, we're America. We built the Panama Canal. We can build a little bridge across the river. Come on."- Rep. Ryan Zinke

"There's a little park upstream about 100 yards. It's fallow ground. You don't have to do a NEPA on it," Zinke noted. "Just put the bridge across there, make a new bridge in, but the bridge is deteriorated now, where you can't fix it."

Icing may have led to Bob Marshall plane crash

Investigators are still working the case, but initial findings suggest icing may have been a factor in the backcountry crash that killed an Alabama pilot and his two adult daughters.

Mark Anderson and his two daughters were killed when their Piper Twin went down in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area in mid-October. The accident happened as the weather was starting to change. And the NTSB's preliminary report says the pilot had requested a climb to 14,000 feet over the mountains because he was concerned about icing. When a controller warned of icing at that elevation, he requested a lower altitude, but then called to say he was having trouble maintaining altitude, declaring an emergency with icing and a problem with the plane's left engine. That was shortly before controllers lost radar contact.

Judge wants murder case to proceed

An Eastern Montana judge is granting a 5th, and what she says will be a final delay, in a murder case that's been dragging on for nearly 3 years.

Sterling Brown is facing the homicide charge stemming from the January 2023 killing of Issac Carrier in Prairie County. Prosecutors say Brown was one of two men accused of traveling to Fallon, murdering Carrier, and setting his house on fire.

His co-defendant was tried, convicted, appealed, and paroled. The Miles City Star reports Judge Jessica Fehr warned attorneys she's tired of hearing logistical issues and wants the trial to start right after the first of the year.

Seeley provides the Capitol Christmas tree

The 2025 State Capitol Christmas Tree is coming from "big tree" country in the Seeley-Swan this year, harvested Monday from state timber land near Seeley Lake.

The tree comes from a Good Neighbor Authority project, which is a state program where Montana DNRC and the Forest Service cooperate on reducing the risk of wildfires. Governor Gianforte says the tree is a good example of that program. The tree will be hauled to Helena for tree-lighting ceremonies next Monday at 5 pm in the Capitol rotunda.

Veteran Doctor to Lead Billings Clinic

Directors of Billings Clinic-Logan Health are approving another administrative shuffle, as they firm up leadership positions just over 2 years after the operations' merger.

The board announced Monday that Dr. Clint Seger will take over as CEO on January 1st. He's been serving as CO-CEO with Kevin Abel, in a joint arrangement following the departure of the former CEO last year. Abel will return to his previous job with direct management of Logan Health in Kalispell and Whitefish.

Seger is a Wyoming native who's been with Billings Clinic since 2008, specializing in rural medicine before becoming Chief Medical Officer in 2014.

Bitterroot bear cub killed

A sad wildlife story out of the Bitterroot Valley, when Montana FWP wardens are hoping the public can help them track down the person who shot and killed a black bear cub in the hills west of Stevensville.

The bear was left to waste off St. Mary Peak Road and was discovered over the weekend. Biologists say the bear was a cub this year, which is illegal to harvest.