Whitewater
Whitewater, MT · Education
Great Falls Tribune
Billings West football pulls away for Eastern AA win over C.M. Russell
Note: This story has been updated to add more information, a quote, and a video. When the Billings West football team needed a big play, it called Westdon Kelley’s number. Or he called his own. The Golden Bears’ junior receiver/cornerback hauled in a third-quarter touchdown pass and set up the dagger score with an interception in the final frame as West downed C.M. Russell High 28-7 on Friday, Sept. 25, at Memorial Stadium. Kelley beat the Rustlers deep for a 24-yard touchdown from quarterback Seth Williamson to put West up two scores in the third and tipped a pass to himself for an interception in the fourth. The following play, Kelley again got loose for a 38-yard gain to the CMR 12, and three plays later Tyreke Jones plunged in for his second score to effectively ice the game. West (5-0 overall, 3-0 Eastern AA) trailed 7-6 at the half after a fine defensive showing from the Rustlers (3-2, 2-1) in the conference contest. However, a CMR muff on the opening kickoff of the second half followed by a Rustler fumble set the Golden Bears up inside the CMR 5, with the tailback Jones punching it in for a lead
Fairfield Sun Times
Gianforte brings school of choice efforts to education roundtable
Gov. Greg Gianforte pushed his school of choice efforts at a roundtable on Wednesday. Gov. Gianforte's Great Falls roundtable puts school choice debate back in focus. GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Gov. Greg Gianforte brought his school choice message to Great Falls during a roundtable with teachers, parents and lawmakers.The discussion happened at CORE School at Morningside, a public charter school created after House Bill 549 passed in 2023. Since then, 24 charter schools have opened across the state.“Parents know their kids best. That's why expanding educational freedom is so important. And it's about putting students first, empowering parents and opening doors to greater opportunity,” Gianforte said.Gianforte had backed school choice efforts since taking office. In Great Falls, he called for more support for school choice and more options for families.Public charter schools have also drawn criticism from some who said they pull local taxpayer dollars away from traditional schools.
NonStop Local Missoula
Gov. Gianforte's Great Falls roundtable puts school choice debate back in focus
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Gov. Greg Gianforte brought his school choice message to Great Falls during a roundtable with teachers, parents and lawmakers.The discussion happened at CORE School at Morningside, a public charter school created after House Bill 549 passed in 2023. Since then, 24 charter schools have opened across the state.“Parents know their kids best. That's why expanding educational freedom is so important. And it's about putting students first, empowering parents and opening doors to greater opportunity,” Gianforte said.Gianforte had backed school choice efforts since taking office. In Great Falls, he called for more support for school choice and more options for families.Public charter schools have also drawn criticism from some who said they pull local taxpayer dollars away from traditional schools.
hilinetoday.com
Former University of Providence President Returning for Book Signing
(Great Falls) – Former University of Providence President Gene McAllister is returning to Great Falls next week for a special book signing and author event. McAllister, who led the university for 12 years before retiring in 2016, will showcase his new novel, titled “Now I See.”. The story...
Great Falls Tribune
Van Shockley, line play strong for Bozeman, Kayden Davison a playmaker for Great Falls
The Bozeman High football team started fast and built a big halftime lead on Friday, Sept. 18, at Memorial Stadium to secure a 35-7 Eastern AA victory over Great Falls High. The loss dropped the Bison to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play, while the Hawks improved to 3-1 while remaining undefeated in the early stages of the league schedule. Great Falls High heads to Billings at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, looking to get into the win column against Skyview at Sam McDonald Stadium at Daylis. Here are the takeaways from Great Falls High’s Week 4 matchup with Bozeman High. More: C.M. Russell High football takes down Bozeman Gallatin More: Van Shockley powers Bozeman High past Great Falls High football Shockley makes it happen for Hawks Bozeman quarterback Van Shockley was named first-team All-State last season, and the senior looked every bit the part on Friday. Shockley was highly efficient in the passing game, finishing 9-for-13 through the air for 175 yards and a score, but threw one interception to Bison corner Logan Candelaria while another was dropped. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound signal-caller was almost even more effective with his legs, powering for 72 yards and three touchdowns
Great Falls Tribune
Tristan O'Leary bringing efficiency, stability to Great Falls High football
Great Falls High head football coach Coda Tchida describes his team as “battle-tested” this season as it has endured contests against two of the top teams in the state in consecutive weeks. The term could also apply to Bison quarterback Tristan O’Leary as he continues his second season as the starter. The signal-caller navigated the ups and downs of his first year on varsity in 2025 as he helped guide Great Falls High to a playoff win, and this season has kept the continuity rolling as a leader. “The leadership is the bigger thing, where now that he’s a captain, he’s a senior,” Tchida said of O’Leary. “All the guys look to him in the huddle. That’s the big thing with the quarterback: Are they looking to the running back? Are they looking to the wide receiver? No, they’re looking to him. And he’s done a good job there.” More: Vote here for Prep Athlete of the Week, Sept. 15-18 More: Great Falls’ Reed Harris scores twice for Arizona State football O’Leary and the Bison (0-3 overall, 0-1 Eastern AA) face a crucial conference contest at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, playing host to Bozeman High (2-1, 1-0) as
theelectricgf.com
By the numbers: GFPS fall sports, activities
During the Sept. 8 Great Falls Public Schools board meeting, Superintendent Heather Hoyer detailed student participation in fall sports and activities as the data for the day. Total participation this year is 1,017, up from 962 during the 2025-2026 school year and 977 during the 2024-2025 school year. High school...
Great Falls Tribune
WATCH: Highlights of Bozeman High football's win over Great Falls High
swxlocalsports.com
Billings Skyview sweeps Great Falls in boys and girls doubleheader
GREAT FALLS — Billings Skyview's boys and girls soccer both picked up road soccer wins against Great Falls in a Thursday doubleheader at Siebel Soccer Field. The boys Falcons squad entered the matchup on a three-game unbeaten run (2-0-1) after losing eight straight, dating back to last year. The boys and girls Bison squads have yet to pick up a win during the 2026 season.
theelectricgf.com
GFPS reviews staffing statistics, continuing focus on recruitment and retention
Great Falls Public Schools is the third-largest local employer with 1,842 employees supporting 21 schools and 10,000 students. Personnel makes up about 85 percent of the district’s annual budget. During the Sept. 8 school board meeting, Heather Spurzem, district human resources director, discussed hiring, recruitment and turnover. She said...
NBCMontana
Great Falls Tribune
C.M. Russell High special teams powers win over Belgrade in conference opener
Note: This story has been updated to add a quote, video, and statistics. The C.M. Russell High special teams were just that on Thursday, Sept. 10, as the Rustlers cruised to a 28-3 Eastern AA victory at Memorial Stadium. Cornerback Carson Hollern returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown less than four minutes into the game before Gage Allen recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a score and recorded a blocked punt himself in the second quarter as CMR built the four-possession lead at halftime. Defensive end Ryan Gilbertson knocked down the Belgrade punt leading to the Allen touchdown and also recorded a sack, while quarterback Beckett Crouch slung a pair of first-half scores. Crouch hit receiver Devyn Smith for a 25-yard catch-and-run score early in the second quarter prior to finding Nick Stimac in the end zone from 22 yards out late in the second frame. The Panthers’ lone first-half score came on a Cooper Holland 22-yard field goal in the first quarter, capitalizing on a Rustlers’ muffed punt at their own 20. Belgrade drove down to the CMR 1-yard line in the fourth quarter but the Rustler defense held on downs, and corner Kawiwo’ole
Great Falls Tribune
Captain Mason Cannon the 'spearhead' for Great Falls High football team
Mason Cannon earned a captaincy last season for Great Falls High, an honor not often bestowed on juniors in high school football. As a two-way starter and the honorary No. 40 for the Bison this season, the senior is making the most of his opportunities on and off the field. “It really means a lot to see what my teammates think of me and what the prior class thought of me, too, as being a leader of the program,” Cannon said. “But it’s honestly surreal to be in the position that I am, to help lead younger kids and inspire younger kids to be the best versions of themselves.” More: Donavin Scribner an 'every-down back' for C.M. Russell High football VOTE: Volleyball, golf, football stars up for Athlete of the Week, Sept. 8-11 Cannon and Great Falls (0-2) open up the Eastern AA schedule at 7 p.m. against one of the state’s top teams in Billings West (2-0) on Friday, Sept. 11, at the newly christened Sam McDonald Stadium at Daylis. Cannon was the leading rusher for the Bison last season, as he averaged over six yards per carry along with five touchdowns. He is also the team’s top returning
wiareport.com
Leanne Frost Is CEO of Great Falls College in Montana
Leanne Frost is the new CEO and dean of Great Falls College Montana State University, a public community college affiliated with the Montana State University System. According to the most recent information from the U.S. Department of Education, Great Falls College enrolls more than 1,500 students, 69 percent of whom are women.