Montana

Helena names three finalists for city manager post

Published

2 months ago

December 1, 2025

Helena names three finalists for city manager post

The Helena City Commission announced Monday the three finalists to fill its city manager position.

After nearly two months of a turbulent recruitment process that included an ongoing lawsuit, the commission selected Janet Hawkinson, the town manager from Palisade, Colorado; Douglas Schulze, most recently the city manager of Banning, California; and Helena’s Alana Lake, the current executive director of the Montana Public Service Commission.

The Helena City Commission will begin public interviews of the candidates on Monday, Dec. 8, at the City-County Building, 316 N. Park Ave. Schulze will be the first interview from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by Hawkinson’s interview from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Later that day, the public will have the opportunity to ask questions of the two out-of-town finalists during town hall meetings on the second floor of the Montana Club, 24 W. Sixth Ave. Schulze’s town hall will be from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by Hawkinson from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, Dec. 9, the commission will hold its public interview of Lake from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Her town hall will be in the City-County Building’s commission chambers from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The city has provided online meeting links for each interview and town hall meeting, which can be accessed on the city commission’s Zoom hub.

The commission will hold its final deliberation on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the commission chambers from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Hawkinson has been the town manager of Palisade, a town with a population of 2,600 as of 2024, since 2018. According to the city press release, she previously served as the director of community development for Minturn, Colorado. She holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture and urban planning from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Fort Lewis College.

Schulze has more than 36 years of experience in municipal leadership, according to the city release, and has led city governments in Sandstone, Minnesota, and the communities of Medina, Normandy Park and Bainbridge Island, all in Washington state. Most recently, he served as city manager of Banning, California, a city of approximately 32,000 people, although he was placed on indefinite paid leave from that position last February, according to the Riverside Record. It’s unclear if that paid leave is ongoing. The mayor of Banning told the local newspaper that Schulze was not under an investigation but that it was ” … a matter of looking at some concerns.”

Schulze holds a master’s degree in urban studies and a bachelor’s degree in public administration, although the city release doesn’t specify where he earned those degrees.

Lake joined the Montana Public Service Commission, the state board that regulates shareholder-owned utilities, as its executive director this past March. According to the city release, she has more than 10 years of experience in military and federal law enforcement, including work with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. She has led teams across the globe that involved criminal investigation, security, and counterintelligence operations, gaining experience with interagency coordination and planning.

Lake previously served as a counterintelligence officer at the Idaho National Laboratory, advising senior officials on national security risks, guarding infrastructure and expanding intelligence programs, the release stated.

Lake graduated from Montana State University and earned her master’s degree in business administration from Boise State University. The release stated that she is currently attending the Command and Staff College through the Marine Corps University.

The release comes after current City Manager Tim Burton announced in September that he planned to retire at the end of this year, jumpstarting the commission’s process in finding his replacement.

That search sparked a lawsuit brought against the city by a former commissioner, who alleged that a commission subcommittee had violated Montana’s open meeting laws when initiating the recruitment process. The city responded to the lawsuit in November, claiming that the subcommittee, comprising City Mayor Wilmott Collins and Commissioner Sean Logan, had not violated any open meeting laws because the committee is not a “governmental body” or agency.

Additionally, the city also maintains that the lawsuit is void since the city revised its process to include all members of the commission in further meetings regarding the recruitment and hiring of the new city manager.

In a recent court filing, lawyers for the plaintiff have argued that the city’s change to involve all commission members does not resolve their original request for a preliminary injunction. They’ve also asked the court to disband the subcommittee.

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Montana

Brickner leads Idaho against Montana State

Published

12 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Press Room

Brickner leads Idaho against Montana State

Idaho Vandals (13-9, 5-4 Big Sky) at Montana State Bobcats (13-10, 7-3 Big Sky)

Bozeman, Montana; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Idaho plays Montana State after Isaiah Brickner scored 31 points in Idaho’s 79-62 win against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.

The Bobcats have gone 8-1 in home games. Montana State ranks second in the Big Sky at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 70.9 points while holding opponents to 44.4% shooting.

The Vandals are 5-4 in Big Sky play. Idaho is seventh in the Big Sky with 13.2 assists per game led by Kolton Mitchell averaging 3.7.

Montana State makes 46.3% of its shots from the field this season, which is 2.6 percentage points higher than Idaho has allowed to its opponents (43.7%). Idaho has shot at a 45.2% clip from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points above the 44.4% shooting opponents of Montana State have averaged.

The Bobcats and Vandals meet Thursday for the first time in Big Sky play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jed Miller is averaging 14.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals for the Bobcats. Christian King is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Mitchell is shooting 38.2% from beyond the arc with 2.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Vandals, while averaging 14.1 points and 3.7 assists. Biko Johnson is averaging 14.8 points over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bobcats: 7-3, averaging 77.1 points, 30.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 6.7 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.0 points per game.

Vandals: 5-5, averaging 76.9 points, 30.6 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 6.5 steals and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.4 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Montana

Montana DEQ adopts new rules for alternative burns after incinerator malfunction

Published

24 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Press Room

Montana DEQ adopts new rules for alternative burns after incinerator malfunction

BILLINGS — The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has implemented new regulations for all incinerator permit holders in Yellowstone County following a September incinerator malfunction at the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter facility.

Billings Animal Control was burning methamphetamine, and YVAS workers reported meth-laced smoke filled their building during the incident.

Under the new regulations, all incinerator permit holders must now request approval for alternative burns directly from the DEQ. Previously, RiverStone Health was responsible for approving alternative burns.

The DEQ said an agreement renewal reflecting this change will be sent to all permit holders in the next few months.

The City of Billings faces additional scrutiny as the DEQ has referred the September methamphetamine burn to their enforcement program. The program is reviewing alleged violations of the Montana Clean Air Act for formal enforcement consideration.

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Montana

Is This The Best Breakfast Spot In Montana?

Published

1 day ago

February 3, 2026

Press Room

Is This The Best Breakfast Spot In Montana?

One of my favorite food activities is to go out for breakfast.

Here in Montana we have all kinds of wonderful spots to grab breakfast, in fact a few are very well known. There’s Paul’s Pancake Parlor in Missoula, Shellie’s Country Cafe in Helena, Stella’s Kitchen and Bakery in Billings, and of course the legendary Western Cafe here in Bozeman.

We all have our favorite breakfast foods.

Me, well I’m a biscuits and gravy type of guy. It’s one of my favorite meals and my go to when it comes to trying out a new place. I figure if you’re biscuits and gravy pass the test, than everything else is probably good to go.

However, there is a one breakfast spot here in Montana that’s receiving lots of attention and many claim it might be the best breakfast in the state. So, where is this place that’s getting rave reviews?

The restaurant is actually located in a hotel in Billings.

Bernie’s Diner is located in the Northern Hotel and has a fun, nostalgic feel to it. One look at the menu and you know that that Bernie’s means business. They have all of your favorite breakfast favorites like biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, eggs with your choice of breakfast meat, but they also have some one-of-a-kind dishes as well.

Things like Captain Crunch French toast, chicken and waffles, elk sausage, and the “Vacation Breakfast” are all on the menu. Oh, and in case you were curious as to what the Vacation Breakfast is, you get a big piece of chocolate cake along with a chocolate shake.

What is the average price for breakfast?

The other impressive part are the prices. They start at around 10 dollars and nothing on the menu cost more than 18 bucks. So, the next time you’re in Billings, you might want to give them a shot and see if you agree that it’s one of the best breakfast spots in Montana.

Where is your favorite spot to grab breakfast? Let us know by sending us a message on our app.

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