2015 Year in Review
Like everywhere else in the world, Stillwater County saw good times, rough times and people who inspired this past year. The following is a non-inclusive list of some of the year’s highlights.
Stillwater Mining Company
The Stillwater Mining Company was in the news for almost the entire year. In March, SMC and the United Steelworkers local 11-0001 began what would be months of unsuccessful contract negotiations for the Nye mine site and processing plant in Columbus. Members voted down all proposed tentative agreements while spouses took to a Columbus street corner holding signs reading things such as “If provoked, we will strike.” An undercurrent of unrest was apparent as union members pointed to a first quarter profit of $23 million and a performanced-based pay raise for CEO Mick McMullen while they were offered what they considered an unfair contract.
But there was no strike. And there is still no contract in place. Union members continue to work under the terms of the last proposed agreement while an unfair labor practices complaint in federal court is handled
Contract negotiations was only one element at play for SMC. After opening the year with a multi-million dollar profit, the workforce was cut down through a combination of voluntary and involuntary programs as well as natural attrition, with SMC warning that more reductions were be coming.
A second quarter profit loss of $27 million was followed by a third quarter loss of $11.9 million. And the workforce was reduced by another 119 people.
The losses were attributed to a slumping Platinum Metal Group (PGM) market, an extended maintenance and repair shutdown and a $34.4 million impairment charge against the carrying value of SMC’s Marathon mineral property in Canada.
There was good news too. The recycling business is booming, ongoing projects aimed at developing the JM Reef are on target and SMC continues to tighten its belt to become as lean and as profitable as it can.
Winter wildfire
A rare wintertime wildfire in March scorched 3,000 acres in the Pine Crest subdivision, claimed two homes, three outbuildings and was cited as a factor in a multi-car accident that claimed the life of a Park City woman and seriously injured her husband. The traffic accident was in part caused by near black-out conditions created by smoke from the fire, coupled with severe winds. The fire was a wind-driven blaze that prompted mandatory evacuations for 58 of the approximately 89 homes located in the entire subdivision. Columbus Fire Rescue, Absarokee fire crews, Park City fire crews, the Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest worked jointly on the fire with a total of 18 engines, three helicopters, two water tenders, one heavy equipment and a total of 126 people. More than $500,000 was spent fighting the blaze that was determined to be human-caused and accidental.
In September, wildfire would strike again with the Arrowhead Pass Fire claiming two homes. Wind again played a factor as the blaze was characterized as a fast moving, wind-driven event that prompted the evacuations of 80 homes in the Countryman Creek subdivision. The cause of the fire was determined to be human caused and accidental.
Extraordinary People
2015 was a year of remarkable people showing us remarkable character. At the top of that list was Steven Mandeville, a Columbus High School graduate and standout-baseball player who returned home in April with his bride Ellen to live out his days after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer at the age of 23.
It would be easy to be heartbroken with Steven’s story.
Just beginning his life as a new husband and a career as a petroleum engineer in Colorado, he and his entire family were suddenly dealt a new and devastating hand.
A man of immense faith, Steven faced his mortality with an unwavering commitment to his Christian faith centered on God and a desire to share his faith with everyone he possibly could.
“It’s a win-win,” said Mandeville during an interview with the News. “If God brings me home, I get to go to heaven. If I live, I get to stay here with my wife.”
Mandeville went “home” in May, leaving so many he touched stronger and inspired.
Another young man of note is Columbus Fire Rescue’s Nick Jacobs, who netted a huge statewide honor by being named the Career EMS Provider of the Year from the Montana Emergency Care Systems and the Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The award is given annually to an emergency care provider who is exemplary in their quality of patient care and/or dedication to their community. Jacobs, 31, was hired at CFR in 2010 to head up the EMS system as CFR was merging fire and ambulance services into one. In a nomination letter from Stillwater Billings Clinic Dr. David Kane and RN Pam Prideaux-Leak, the pair describes Jacobs as a “top notch medic, inspires by example and education and is totally dedicated to those he serves in the Stillwater Community. We are lucky to have him.” Jacobs was key in upgrading ambulance service from Basic Life Support to the current Advance Life Support which serves the entire county.
Half a million in Meth in Fishtail
Stillwater County got a wake-up call in a big way with the June arrest of Fishtail resident Merrill Clark Gardner on a federal charge of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Federal authorities, aided by local law enforcement, recovered approximately 6.25 pounds of meth that was tied back to Gardner. The 61-year-old recently pleaded guilty to the charge and now faces a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence. The charge stems from drug activity that occurred between 2013 and 2015.
Under a criminal forfeiture motion, Gardner has agreed to forfeit his property and possibly the $103,340 in cash found at his home at the time of his arrest. Criminal forfeiture allows for the seizure of all property derived from any proceeds obtained directly or indirectly from the alleged illegal activity.
Last month a second arrest was made in connection with the case. Absarokee resident Brett Clouse is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Clouse was with Gardner when Gardner was arrested.
Courthouse Project Saga
In the third year of activity regarding what to do with an aging and overcrowded courthouse, 2015 brought new information, more controversy and the issue still left unresolved. At the start of the year three public hearings presented a total of four options developed by Spectrum Group Architects of Billings, ranging in cost from $6.37 million to $17.54 million. At the low end was the remodeling of the old hospital and a renovation of the current courthouse. The old hospital was something the commissioners had been solely focused on when research on the project first began. The sheriff, district judge and some community members repeatedly voiced their objections to this option.
In July, the Stillwater County Commissioners said they were putting the entire matter on the back-burner due to “budget and other matters.” The following month, the commissioners said using the old hospital was a “viable option.”
Spectrum itself fell under the microscope due its involvement with the Lame Deer School District’s multi-million dollar building project that ended with a settlement. When the public meetings, public hearing and written input was in, the majority of the public favored remodeling the current courthouse with on-site construction of another building. One citizen was in favor of option 1, which is the remodeling of the old hospital and the renovation of the current courthouse.
The old hospital became newsworthy again in October when the commissioners said they had been given no further information from the hospital regarding a 2005 inspection report.
Sports
•Columbus Cougar Tana House claimed the Class B divisional crown in golf in the spring with a scorching round of 77.
•Reed Point-Rapelje’s Jordan Marsh and Park City’s Rayna Laasko each brought home Class C state track championships. Marsh claimed the discus title with a toss that was five feet farther than the runner-up. Laasko was the 100 hurdles champion.
•The Park City Lady Panthers won the 6B Divisional basketball championship, closing out its regular season at 14-1 in conference play and punching its ticket to the state tournament for the first time since 1983. Then senior Morgan Popp was the second in her immediate family to go to state. Her mother, Kim, was a member of the 1983 squad.