Hello all. It’s me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Billings Patch newsletter — here to impart everything that’s fit to print about what’s happening in town these days.
But first, your local weather:
- Friday: Mostly cloudy and warmer. High: 65 Low: 47.
- Saturday: Rain and drizzle in the a.m.. High: 52 Low: 45.
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Here are the top three stories in Billings today:
- Thirteen-year-old Louis Toth was struck by a car while biking to school on Wednesday, leaving him with injuries and a broken bike. Despite the incident, Louis managed to make his way to school and the staff called his parents. The driver of the car stopped briefly but then left the scene, prompting Louis’s family to appeal to the community for help in identifying the driver and emphasizing the importance of road safety and taking responsibility for one’s actions. (Q2 News)
- Edward George Allen, a Billings man, has been sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for selling methamphetamine to an undercover agent. Allen pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth and was involved in trafficking methamphetamine in Billings from April 2021 to September 2021. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie R. Patten, and the investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. (KULR-TV)
- A 28-year-old driver, under the influence and without insurance, crashed his van into the north entrance of the Billings Public Library, causing an estimated $100,000 to $150,000 worth of damage. The city will bear the cost of repairs. The incident sheds light on the issue of uninsured drivers in Billings, with law enforcement frequently encountering individuals without insurance and facing consequences, such as fines and license suspension. (Q2 News)
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Today and tomorrow in Billings:
- Money, Mommy & Me At 3115 9th Ave. N. (1:00 PM)
From my notebook:
- Mocha, a long-haired dachshund, got herself stuck in an underground drain pipe while chasing a rabbit in her owner’s front yard. Attempts to coax her out with food failed, so the owner sought help from professionals. With the assistance of individuals from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, the city’s water department, and Grizzly Peak Excavation, Mocha was successfully rescued after about five hours underground, bringing the neighborhood together in celebration. (Subscription: Billings Gazette)
- Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the list of adoption-ready pets in the Billings area at the link! (Billings Patch)
- Havenpark Communities, a Utah-based company, is moving forward with its plan to expand the Golden Meadows Mobile Home Park in Billings’ West End. The project will add 276 lots with new manufactured homes, catering to the increased demand for housing in Montana due to population growth. The company aims to bring in new mobile homes available for rent or sale, with estimated monthly costs of around $1,500 and expects to finalize plans with the city, break ground in spring, and complete construction by fall 2025. (Subscription: Billings Gazette)
- According to recent data, the state of Montana had the sixth-highest rate of U.S. teen driver fatalities in 2022. Bumper.com reports that “young drivers are statistically more likely than other age groups to be involved in fatal accidents.” (Bumper.com)
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Now you’re in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. I’ll be in your inbox soon with another update!
— Lauren Kubiak
About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.
