Montana

Talk looks at vanished Montana town that was once America's wickedest

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2024

Talk looks at vanished Montana town that was once America's wickedest

Motorists heading up Interstate 90, west of St. Regis, will see no sign of Taft. But the former railroad boom town was once billed as America’s wickedest. Taft had no churches, no schools and only three residential homes, yet 10,000 men and 500 prostitutes once called Taft home. Taft burned to the ground three times and was rebuilt twice.

John Shontz, Helena lawyer and author, will tell the story of the short-lived town in a presentation April 15 in Kalispell. Everything associated with the “Wild West” happened in Taft — gunfights, murders, robberies, fights and just plain debauchery, he notes.

The town housed the construction crews pushing the Milwaukee Road across the Bitterroot Mountains. The 1906-10 railroad project was an engineering marvel of its time and included a 1.8-mile-long tunnel and multiple trestles. Much of the technology invented for the project is still used across the globe, says Shontz.

Life and safety meant nothing on this project as John D. and his brother William Rockefeller wanted the railroad built as fast as possible.

The presentation is the story of the people who built the railroad — from the board rooms of Manhattan to the thousands of immigrants who shoveled their way across and through the mountains.

Taft vanished in the historic 1910 forest fire, and the Milwaukee Road, which once served every major town in Montana except Kalispell and Helena, ran its last train through the state in 1980.

But its trestles and tunnels live on with the Route of the Hiawatha bike trail that is traversed by thousands of bicycle riders each summer.

The talk is the monthly presentation of the Northwest Montana Westerners, a local history group. It starts at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Northwest Montana History Museum, at 124 2nd Ave. East in Kalispell. Cost is $5 for the general public, with members and youths under 16 admitted free.

Source link

Montana

Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for April 13, 2026

Published

10 hours ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at April 13, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from April 13 drawing

38-43-59-63-64, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from April 13 drawing

01-18-19-35-50, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from April 13 drawing

14-20-25-29, Bonus: 04

Check Big Sky Bonus 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.

Source link

Montana

Montana Livestock Markets Hold Steady Amid Light Offerings (April 5-11, 2026)

Published

22 hours ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

Montana Livestock Markets Hold Steady Amid Light Offerings (April 5-11, 2026)

–>

Source link

Montana

Regents to take up president hire for University of Montana

Published

1 day ago

April 12, 2026

Press Room

Regents to take up president hire for University of Montana

Keila Szpaller

(Daily Montanan) The Montana Board of Regents is taking up the hire of Jeremiah Shinn for University of Montana president at a special meeting on April 14.

Shinn, interim president of Boise State University, visited the Missoula campus earlier this week after emerging as the sole finalist out of more than 70 applicants, according to earlier information from the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

At the meeting, the Board of Regents will consider employment terms that include an annual salary of $467,197 and annual deferred compensation of $76,875, according to the agenda item. The terms also include a university-owned residence.

The start date would be July 1, 2026. Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian has taken on interim president duties and will continue to do so until then.

The Board of Regents is considering the hire because former UM President Seth Bodnar announced his resignation in January and subsequently filed to run for U.S. Senate as an independent.

Christian undertook an expedited hire to preserve momentum at the Missoula flagship and said he had never seen a pool of candidates with so much presidential experience — many had served in the role in some capacity.

Christian said Shinn rose to the top because he was “a fit” with UM and has a deep background in student affairs.

In May 2025, the Board of Regents approved $455,802 salaries for presidents at both UM and Montana State University and Commissioner Christian, along with deferred compensation of $75,000, all effective July 1, 2025.

Galen Hollenbaugh, spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office, said because Shinn’s start date is July 1, his salary reflects the 2.5% increase from the 2025 legislative session effective in 2026.

“President Tessman and Commissioner Christian will also receive the scheduled increase, and the salaries will be at the same level,” Hollenbaugh said in an email.

The UM president’s house near campus has been on the market for $2.895 million, but Hollenbaugh said it will be off the market, and Shinn will plan to occupy it.

Source link