Montana

Montana Folk Festival organizers, Uptown businesses say event was a success despite lower turnout

Published

2 years ago

July 17, 2024

Montana Folk Festival organizers, Uptown businesses say event was a success despite lower turnout

BUTTE — A parking lot on the edge of Uptown Butte is empty now, but just a few days ago it was filled with music and dancing for the annual Montana Folk Festival. Organizers say a heat wave that rolled through town may have impacted attendance but they say that the event was a success.

“It was down a little from previous years; you know, we had a record year last year,” says George Everett, the executive director of Mainstreet Uptown Butte, the organization that hosts the festival. He says by looking at donation collections and beer sales this year’s crowd was down by about 20,000 people.

“This year we estimate so far, it was about 160,000 people over the weekend. But we know we were down by about 20,000 in buckets and about the same about in beer sales,” says Everett.

On Saturday, July 13, the high temperature bumped into the 90s and that’s hot for a city that is used to winter storm watches in June. A radio host from New Orleans NPR told the audience that The Mining City was hotter than his city.

Everett suspects festival-goers may have sought refuge in air-conditioned spaces at local bars and restaurants away from the festival.

“I think the heat helped us a lot this year, people coming into the bars and staying for a little AC, getting a little break from the sun,” says Chuckie Richards, a co-owner of the Miners Hotel and the cafe and bar that are part of the boutique hotel.

Richards says his businesses benefit from Folk Fest year-round with festival goers planning repeat trips to the Mining City during winter months, as well as return trips to the festival.

“It’s not just the three days of the Folk Fest that we see a boost. It’s in the winter they’re making plans, planning throughout the year to come back and see us again … (that’s) where we really see the boost.”

Planning for next year’s festival is already underway.

“We’re gonna do it again. A couple of people have said we should do it in a couple of weeks but I think we’ll wait until next year and we’d love to have everybody come back and a few more with them,” says Everett.

Everett says Mainstreet Uptown Butte has also collected lost items like prescription sunglasses, a cell phone, and several other items that festival-goers can collect by calling 406-565-2249.

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Montana

Public Meeting at Hub on Smith Concerning Montana Water Call Prompting Priority Administration in Tongue Basin

Published

12 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

Public Meeting at Hub on Smith Concerning Montana Water Call Prompting Priority Administration in Tongue Basin

Wyoming State Engineer Brandon Gebhart announced that on May 5, 2026, the State of Montana placed a call under Article V(A) of the Yellowstone River Compact to fill Tongue River Reservoir in Montana. As a result, priority administration is in effect on post-1950 water rights in Wyoming that divert water from the Tongue River and its tributaries and are not excluded from the compact.

A public meeting will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, in the dining room of The Hub on Smith. Attendees are asked to enter on the north side of the building.

The Tongue River Basin has been experiencing drought conditions over the past year with historically low winter snowpack and streamflow conditions. According to the release, those conditions led to Montana’s interstate call and prompted the administration of the Tongue River Basin in Wyoming.

The priority administration will affect post-1950 water rights within the Tongue River Basin, including reservoir storage, stream diversions and groundwater withdrawals, all of which affect river flows. Post-1950 water rights will be regulated off or prevented from turning on. Wyoming hydrographer-commissioners will continue to administer reservoir storage and post-1950 diversions throughout the spring and work with affected water users until the administration is lifted.

As provided in the compact, domestic uses less than one-half acre in area and livestock uses, including stock reservoirs less than 20 acre-feet in capacity, are excluded from this administration. The release noted these excluded rights could be subject to future regulation to satisfy priority calls by senior Wyoming water rights.

Beginning May 5, 2026, Wyoming hydrographer-commissioners have worked to record the current storage levels of reservoirs with post-1950 water rights. Going forward, those reservoirs can continue to accrue storage so long as post-1950 storage gained after the interstate call on May 5 remains in storage until either the water is released to satisfy the Montana call or Montana lifts the call because Tongue River Reservoir will fill.

Reservoirs with unfulfilled pre-1950 water rights can continue to store water and that storage will not be subject to release to satisfy Montana’s call. However, that storage and other direct flow rights could be subject to regulation to satisfy priority calls by senior Wyoming water rights.

The priority administration will be carried out pursuant to state law by hydrographer-commissioners assigned to various portions of the Tongue River Basin, working under the direction of Division II Superintendent David Schroeder.

The Wyoming State Engineer’s Office can be contacted at:

Jack Morey, deputy state engineer, 307-777-5032, jack.morey2@wyo.gov

David Schroeder, Division II superintendent, 307-674-7012, d.schroeder@wyo.gov

Jeff Cowley, interstate streams administrator, 307-777-1942, jeff.cowley@wyo.gov

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Montana

Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Big Sky Bonus results for May 12, 2026

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 12, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 12 drawing

17-32-35-40-47, Mega Ball: 17

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from May 12 drawing

04-12-17-24, Bonus: 11

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 12 drawing

19-21-35-38-53, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Montana

Montana Fifth Grader Takes Top Prize In Art Competition

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2026

Press Room

Montana Fifth Grader Takes Top Prize In Art Competition

The Montana Highway Patrol hosts the Law Enforcement Appreciation Poster Contest every year. This year was the 5th annual contest, where kids all over the state submitted works of art to honor law enforcement officers.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced the seven winners, for seven districts, late Monday, May 11.

The District One winner was Brooke Murphy, a fifth-grade student at Missoula Hellgate Elementary School.

Murphy’s wonderful, winning artwork!. Credit: Brooke Murphy & the Montana Attorney General’s Office.

“I appreciate law enforcement. They help us no matter what,” Murphy said in a statement from Knudsen’s office.

“It’s important to instill in young Montanans that this is a state that ‘Backs the Blue.’ Knowing they have the support of the community can make a world of difference to law enforcement officers, and these posters are a visual reminder that Montanans have their backs,” Knudsen said in a press release.

READ MORE: Popular Instagram Page Spotlights This Rustic Montana Roadhouse

Knudsen, Highway Patrol Colonel Kurt Sager, and a representative with Stockman Bank celebrated with Brooke and her class.

Credit: Office of Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen

It’s nice to win, but even nicer to receive the $750 courtesy of Stockman Bank and an ice cream party for the whole class to celebrate.

READ MORE: Watch a Bear and a Wolf Battle Over Dinner At Yellowstone National Park

Brooke was also named the statewide winner.

Here were the other district winners:

District Two: Payson Wittmer, of Great Falls

District Four: Madison Turner, of Huntley

District Five: Jacob Baisch, of Glendive

District Six: Ainsley Robinson, of Ronan

District Seven: Finley Roney, of Livingston