Philipsburg, MT

State corrections officials say a staffing shortage has led to the assault of a female sergeant at the Montana State Prison. Montana Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin told lawmakers this week that almost 18 percent, or 59 correctional officer positions are unfilled at the state prison in Deer Lodge.

As union negotiations labor on, Montana Department of Corrections officials on Wednesday gave lawmakers some hard numbers to demonstrate the staffing shortage at Montana State Prison outside Deer Lodge. The Montana State Prison sees 23% of its staff turnover each year, adding up training costs for new officers to $1.4...

The Lady Blackhawks and Blackhawks hosted the Darby Tigers Jan. 14 and then traveled to Philipsburg to take on the Granite Prospectors Jan. 15. The Lady Blackhawks tamed the Tigers early putting up 19 and 18 points in the first two quarters to the Tiger's 12 and 7. They didn't let up on the Tigers until the final frame and finished them off 53-28.

Nearly 700 inmates at Montana State Prison are waiting for treatment in a program that can process only about 100 each year. The figures were part of a review by the Criminal Justice Oversight Council on Tuesday into the substance use disorder treatment available to inmates at the state prison outside of Deer Lodge, the largest correctional facility in the state. Clinical services and mental health officials with the Montana Department of Corrections said Tuesday that 65% of inmates at Montana State Prison have a substance use disorder.

Anaconda will celebrate winter on Saturday, Jan. 22, with the Festival of the Winter Moon offering all kinds of family-friendly activities. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Winter market at Pintler Portal Hostel with more than 18 vendors. 9 a.m. — Ice sculpting contest begins. Judging starts at 4...

By the time the Deer Lodge Wardens rolled into Thompson Falls this past Saturday, the Blue Hawks were anything but welcoming hosts. A pair of losses earlier in the week to Western 7B conference foes was the impetus for not hitching up the welcome wagon as Thompson Falls rolled over Deer Lodge 60-29 Saturday afternoon on the Blue Hawks home court.

Jack Moran was born on June 5, 1946, in Anaconda, Montana. Following in his older brothers footsteps, Jack joined the Army in 1963. He returned home and went to work at Rodgers then Birds Eye Canneries and IBP. He also worked at the Walla Walla VA Hospital, and retired from being an insulator. His hobbies included growing tomatoes and cucumbers. Jack enjoyed playing pool. Everyone that knew Jack knew what a huge Dallas Cowboy fan he was, wearing Cowboy attire and his cowboy hat was his signature.

On January 8, 2022, Kenneth Dean Johnson passed away at his home in Deer Lodge, Montana surrounded by his four children and family at the age of 75. Ken was born in Deer Lodge on November 14, 1946, to Allen Palmer Johnson and Marian Ruth (Christoffersen) Johnson. He graduated from...

Stopped Philipsburg Saturday, 39-27. Jason James scored 11 points, Chase Haines added 10 and the Blackhawks rode a 19-5 fourth quarter to a come-from-behind win over the Prospectors. Andrew Tallon scored nine and Hayden Mason eight for Philipsburg. Darby outlasted Valley Christian in overtime, 70-63. Hooper Reed drained 28 points...

Anaconda Montana, once one of the richest copper mining towns in the world, has a remarkable history, the remains of which can be seen under the winter snow. Come join me on a hike on the Historic Copper Trail by Anaconda Montana!

ANACONDA — If high school basketball games only lasted 20 minutes or so, Butte Central’s girls would be celebrating their fifth win of the season. Unfortunately for the Maroons, games last 32 minutes. Thursday night at Memorial Gym, Anaconda dominated the final eight of those, and the Copperheads pulled off a 52-39 non-conference win over the Maroons.

BUTTE, Mont. — Inside the Metcalf Memorial Senior Citizen Center in Anaconda, the Motor Vehicle Division helps distribute driver's licenses to Anaconda residents. However, after January, the location will be closing. “We try to serve the entire state," explained Laurie Bakri, with Montana's Motor Vehicle Division. "So when we...

Trent McMaster led with 17 points and Jake Genger helped with 11 as the Panthers bolted to a 19-point halftime lead and cruised past the Wardens. Logan Nicholson scored 12 for Deer Lodge. Wade Rykal, Tyler Harrington and Hyrum Parke each had six points for the Panthers, who had 10...

The Jefferson boys and Anaconda girls wrapped up Friday and Saturday's Choteau Classic with team wins. The Panthers racked up 215 points in their victory. The next-closest team was Cut Bank with 142, followed by Columbus with 135.5. Whitehall and Thompson Falls rounded out the top-five with 134 and 122 points, respectively.

Issues related to COVID-19 have cut into Thursday’s sports schedule. Butte High’s girls’ basketball game with Missoula Big Sky scheduled for the Butte Civic Center has been postponed. So has Butte Central’s boys’ basketball game at Anaconda. A press release by Butte Central said the...

The event will be held January 22 throughout downtown Anaconda.