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Articles written by John Kelleher


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  • Saturday Market opens for 2016

    John Kelleher|Updated Oct 12, 2016

    Jake Waldner stood behind a table full of delicious-looking homemade baked goods and homegrown vegetables Saturday morning at the first-of-the-season Saturday Market on Town Square. There were fewer vendors than sometimes show up, largely because most farmers don't have produce yet, vendors said, adding that it is usual for smaller numbers to show up for the first Saturday Market. The numbers increase as the weeks go on. But, Waldner said, because at his farm they cover...

  • Pam Hillery - A lot of life in 56 years

    John Kelleher|Updated Sep 19, 2016

    A massive sob came over Havre Thursday afternoon as word spread that civic leader Pam Hillery had died. She had meant so much to so many. On Facebook, in downtown conversations, in office buildings, people mourned her passing. Not that it was a surprise. Since she learned nearly four years ago that she had the horrific disease ALS, Pam had been open about it. In Facebook posts, newspaper columns, blogs, in interviews and in public appearances she had been very open about it. She shared the most secret thoughts on life and...

  • Kelleher column: It's the end of a great ride

    John Kelleher|Updated Aug 5, 2016

    A couple of months ago, Fortune magazine did one of its surveys on the worst jobs in America. For the third year in a row, newspaper reporter was listed as the worst job you could hold. The low pay, long hours, financial trouble of newspapers, stress of deadlines and almost always displeasing at least somebody were cited as reasons for my profession’s low job satisfaction. Today is my last day as a reporter. I’m retiring after 44 years as a reporter/editor in small towns from New Hampshire to Havre in Montana. Fortune mag...

  • Phillips County reveals info on shooting incident

    John Kelleher|Updated Aug 5, 2016

    Ambrose Mecklenburg was walking down the middle of Highway 191 wearing only underwear prior to his fatal confrontation with Deputy Alan Guderjahn July 27. Mecklenburg died when he was shot and killed by the deputy after Mecklenburg repeatedly stabbed Guderjahn, a release from the Phillips County Sheriff’s Department says. The release gave this account of the incident: A motorist called 911 dispatch at 3:09 a.m. reporting that a man was walking down the road wearing only underwear. The motorist said he stopped and asked M...

  • City commission sends charter proposal to ballot

    John Kelleher|Updated Aug 4, 2016

    The proposed city charter for Havre will be on the ballot on Nov. 8. The Government Study Commission voted 2-0 Thursday night with Perry Attichson absent to put the proposed city manager form of government on the ballot that will be mailed out to voters on Oc.t 11. The proposal calls for: • Establishment of greater home rule. Under this provision, the city will have some authority that is now yielded to the state • Creation of a seven-member City Commission that will replace City Council. One member will be elected from eac...

  • Bullhook contract OK'd, work to start soon

    John Kelleher|Updated Aug 3, 2016

    Work will begin soon on the reconstruction of the Bullhook stormwater system which runs through Havre, much of it covered by buildings and pavement. The first step will be reconstruction of the 500 Block of 3rd Street where a large chunk of the street caved into the creek in October 2013. The street has been closed since then. Havre City Council Monday night approved a $1,972,503 contract with Kinkaid Civil Construction of Mesa, Arizona, to undertake the project, Mayor Tim...

  • No street improvement referendum this fall

    John Kelleher|Updated Aug 2, 2016

    Havre residents will not be voting on a street reconstruction program in this November’s elections, Mayor Tim Solomon made a last-ditch attempt to get a proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot that would approve a 75 mill levy for 20 years to begin work on the city’s streets as soon as possible. But City Council rejected the proposal 7-1, with only council member Caleb Hutchins siding with the mayor. Many of those voting against the proposal said they were conflicted and would like to have the matter voted on this year, but for a var...

  • Study panel may back Class 2 city status

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 29, 2016

    Mayor Tim Solomon may have some support in his his efforts to reclassify Havre as a Class 2 city. Two of the three members of the Government Study Commission, which is reviewing the city's form of government, said they would back the proposal. They spoke before a public hearing Thursday night at city hall that attracted three members of the general public and two reporters. In addition to proposing a change in city government, the panel is charged with making recommendations covering the operations of city government The pane...

  • Portrayal tells the life of CMR's wife

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 25, 2016

    The old Faber Schoolhouse on the Great Northern Fairgrounds was full of people sitting in the old-style, classroom wooden desks Thursday night. The overflow crowd was sitting in folding chairs along the side of the room, They were fanning themselves because of the stifling heat. At the front, Mary Jane Bradbury from Humanities Montana was talking to the crowd, playing the role of Nancy Cooper Russell. Russell was the wife of famed Western painter Charles W. Russell. After a rough childhood in Tennessee, Nancy Russell found...

  • Program at fair will focus on C.M. Russell's wife

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 20, 2016

    The Faber Schoolhouse on the Great Northern Fairgrounds is a symbol of yesteryear. It will come alive Thursday night when Mary Jane Bradbury tells the story of Nancy Cooper Russell, wife of the famed artist Charles M. Russell. The actress and historian Bradbury will portray Nancy Cooper Russell at 6 p.m. at the schoolhouse, a building that was used to educate children in the Bear Paw Mountains a century ago before it was moved to the fairgrounds. The program is sponsored by the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum through...

  • City council approves buying new police equipment

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 19, 2016

    The Havre Police Department may soon be getting new radar guns and new furniture for the city’s 911 dispatch center. The city hopes to purchase the equipment under a $10,530 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. City Council authorized Police Chief Gabe Matosich to apply for the grant after a brief public hearing Monday night. Matosich said he is optimistic the city will get the money. Asked by council member Caleb Hutchins how old the existing radar gunswere , the chief just smiled and said, “Very old.” The exist...

  • 4 compete for Miss Rodeo title

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 19, 2016

    Four locals will compete for Miss Great Northern Rodeo this week. The four will be interviewed and exhibit their modeling and horse-riding talents at noon Wednesday at the Great Northern Fairgrounds' arena. The candidates are: Sable Swinney, 16, the daughter of Mike and Bobbi Swinney. She is a high school senior and is involved in her community of Gildford by picking up garbage out of the ditches, cleaning the Gildford church, shoveling the snow and wrapping presents at the...

  • Havre City-County airport gets grant for design work

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 18, 2016

    The Havre City-County Airport will get a $144,900 U.S. Department of Transportation grant to do design work for repairs and improvements to its taxiways, Sen. Steve. Daines announced. Runway work at the airport was recently completed, said Tony Dolphay, the newly appointed airport manager. Now the airport board has turned its attention to reconstruction of the taxiways and aprons. The federal grant will supplement money coming from the state and from the Hill County mill levy...

  • City Council rejects downgrading city status

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 18, 2016

    Havre City Council, after a tense debate, voted unanimously by voice vote Monday night to reject Mayor Tim Solomon's proposal to change the city's classification from Class 1 to Class 2. "I don't like surprises," said council member Jay Pyette, who said he was taken aback when Solomon, without notice, placed the matter on the agenda which was released on the Thursday before a holiday weekend. He said that two weeks ago, Havre resident Bill Lanier complained that the City...

  • Chairman makes strong push for city manager

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 18, 2016

    Dave Brewer said he is a strong supporter of the plan to make major renovations to Havre's deteriorating street system. Just the same, Brewer told the Pachyderms Friday that he is happy the City Council is leaning against placing the multi-million proposal on the ballot this fall. That would mean it would be 2019 before work actually begins. By delaying that vote, he said, it will be easier to win approval of the proposed city manager form of government that will also be in...

  • Lotton reports arriving at GOP convention in Cleveland

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 18, 2016

    Settling into Cleveland and socializing was the highlight of Sunday's activities at the Republican National Convention. Brad Lotton of Havre, one of Montana's delegates, said the highlight for him was a Three Dog Night concert where the classic rock band played "every single top 40 hit they ever recorded." He said security was tight at the convention. "I was never once even the least bit uneasy," he said. The convention was called to order at 11 a.m. today. For the Montana del...

  • Program will help women enter nontraditional careers

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 14, 2016

    Montana State University-Northern is launching a new program to encourage women to enter nontraditional careers. The program will encourage women to enter courses leading to occupations that have traditionally had few women, such as plumbing or electrical work, said Cristina Estrada-Underwood, director of Northern’s Office of Diversity and Multicultural Programs. Even though there are women in the law enforcement program at Northern, she said. “There is always room for improvement.” The program got the final go-ahead last...

  • Bank gives 4-H Chuckwagon a $50,000 boost

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 13, 2016

    The effort to raise $400,000 for a new 4-H Chuckwagon for the Great Northern Fairgrounds is three-quarters of the way home thanks to a donation Tuesday. Independence Bank contributed $50,000 in the form of an oversized check to the cause in a brief ceremony outside the bank. Independence Bank President Miles Hamilton presented the check to a crowd of 4-H members and leaders. The check was symbolic. The bank has already donated $25,000 and promised another $25,000 at...

  • Council panel favors scaled-back streets program

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 13, 2016

    A Havre City Council committee has proposed that voters be asked to pay $15 million over 20 years to improve city streets. That is one-half the amount that was rejected by voters in November 2015. But under the proposal adopted by the Streets and Sidewalks Committee Tuesday night, the plan would not be on the ballot until 2017. That would avoid overloading voters with referendums this fall when the Havre Government Study Commission is planning to submit a proposal to overhaul city government by adopting a city manager form...

  • Buffalo Jump slates moonlight tour

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 13, 2016

    The public is invited to a moonlight tour of the Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump Friday night. The tour will be conducted with glow sticks and candles. People will be given the chance to practice with an atlatl, an ancient throwing weapon. “People have always asked us to do something like this,” said Anna Brumley, manager of the buffalo jump. The event starts at 9:30 p.m. at the interpretive center at the top of the jump, directly behind Holiday Village Mall. Guests will take a tour and dine on buffalo meat, Brumley said. After...

  • City charter panel questioned on manager proposal

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 12, 2016

    The Havre Government Study Commission heard questions but no outright opposition to the proposed city manager form of government at a public hearing at Monday night. The biggest concern raised by people was the cost of the position and how the city will pay for it. “Where is the money going to come from to pay for this administrator?” asked former council member Cal Long. Andrew Brekke, a City Council member and liaison with the study commission, said he has talked to other Montana cities to see how they financed the position...

  • City panel to discuss streets program proposal

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 12, 2016

    A Havre City Council committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. today to discuss the proposal to renovate city streets. The Streets and Sidewalks Committee is considering a variety of proposals to rehabilitate deteriorating city streets. A $30 million program was rejected by voters last year, but the vote was close enough so that supporters have talked about resubmitting the plan this year in its entirety or asking voters to approve a modified plan. The modified proposals usually entail funding the renovations through a combination of...

  • Hays call center to celebrate expansion

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 12, 2016

    Island Mountain Development Group will celebrate the 5,200-square foot expansion of the eCommerce call center in Hays Wednesday, July 20. The expanded part of the call center, which handles calls for internet lending businesses, was opened some time ago, but employees had so much work to do they didn’t have time to celebrate, said Terry Brockie, the spokesman for Island Mountain. The call center employs about 80 people now but is expected to add 40 more in coming weeks, Brockie said, making it the major employer on the s...

  • Havre Study Commission to hold public hearing

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 11, 2016

    The Havre Study Commission will inch closer to making its final report at 7 p.m. today when it holds a public hearing at city hall. The commission members said they want to hear from the public on its tentative proposal which calls for: • Adoption of self-governing powers, an action that will give the city government more authority over how it runs the city. • A seven-member City Commission would replace the eight-member City Council. Under the proposal, one commissioner would be elected from each ward, two would be ele...

  • Streets to close for 2 downtown festivals

    John Kelleher|Updated Jul 6, 2016

    Havre City Council Tuesday gave its OK to two street closings for community festivals in coming months. The Hill County Health Department will hold its annual Lil’ Shots Carnival Friday, Aug. 12, and asked that 4th Avenue from 3rd to 4th streets be blocked off so the activities can be held. The program is aimed at encouraging young people to get their immunizations before school reopens. There will be activities including games, art projects and an obstacle course. Council also approved a proposal from Bullhook Community H...

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