State will fill snowplow jobs

Snow and ice shouldn't put a freeze on local highways and secondary roads this season now that the Montana Department of Transportation has been permitted to hire seasonal snowplow operators.

Despite the statewide hiring freeze, the Montana Office of Budget and Program Planning granted MDT's request to hire seasonal snowplow operator positions when needed, budget director Chuck Swysgood said Monday.

The authorization was granted Wednesday, said Michael Johnson, Great Falls district administrator for MDT.

"We've been putting out ads for applications and it's critical to us to get those position...