Highway 2 Association sets annual meeting in Helena

In conjunction with the legislative session, the Highway 2 Association has set its annual meeting in Helena this year on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

"We hold the annual meeting in Helena every two years when the Legislature is in session, " Bob Sivertsen, president of the association, said in a press release. "It gives us an opportunity to visit with legislators about issues of interest to Northern Montana and to share with them what our priorities are. "

The association was reformed in the last decade with some of its top goals including the 4 for 2 push, an effort to widen U. S. Highway 2 to four lanes across the state, and the effort to upgrade hours at the Port of Wild Horse crossing on the U. S-Canadian border north of Havre.

The guest speaker at the annual meeting will be Joe Kiely of Limon, Colo., vice president of operations of Ports to Plains. That group is working to build a trade corridor from the ports on the Gulf of Mexico into the central and western plains of the United States and into Canada.

"Joe has a great presentation that highlights the economic benefits to Montana as one of nine states, Montana and North Dakota to Texas, as well as Alberta, that make up the Ports to Plains Alliance, " Sivertsen said. "The primary goal of the alliance is to construct an adequate transportation system in the north-south trade corridor, for the efficient movement of goods and services. "

The meeting will be held at Jorgenson's Inn and Suites in Helena, 1714 11th Ave., with the business meeting starting at 4 p. m., a reception for attendees including legislators at 5:30 p. m. and dinner at 6:30 p. m.

Sivertsen, a former legislator himself, said he stresses the importance of people from northern Montana attending the meeting to hear the presentation and talk to the lawmakers, "because we're smack-dab in the middle of the activity. I would encourage the folks to spend a couple of days in Helena and take part in the legislative process. "

People planning to attend are asked to RSVP for the meeting by Sunday via e-mail at [email protected]; or by telephone at (406) 262-2346.

In conjunction with the legislative session, the Highway 2 Association has set its annual meeting in Helena this year on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

"We hold the annual meeting in Helena every two years when the Legislature is in session, " Bob Sivertsen, president of the association, said in a press release. "It gives us an opportunity to visit with legislators about issues of interest to Northern Montana and to share with them what our priorities are. "

The association was reformed in the last decade with some of its top goals including the 4 for 2 push, an effort to widen U. S. Highway 2 to four lanes across the state, and the effort to upgrade hours at the Port of Wild Horse crossing on the U. S-Canadian border north of Havre.

The guest speaker at the annual meeting will be Joe Kiely of Limon, Colo., vice president of operations of Ports to Plains. That group is working to build a trade corridor from the ports on the Gulf of Mexico into the central and western plains of the United States and into Canada.

"Joe has a great presentation that highlights the economic benefits to Montana as one of nine states, Montana and North Dakota to Texas, as well as Alberta, that make up the Ports to Plains Alliance, " Sivertsen said. "The primary goal of the alliance is to construct an adequate transportation system in the north-south trade corridor, for the efficient movement of goods and services. "

The meeting will be held at Jorgenson's Inn and Suites in Helena, 1714 11th Ave., with the business meeting starting at 4 p. m., a reception for attendees including legislators at 5:30 p. m. and dinner at 6:30 p. m.

Sivertsen, a former legislator himself, said he stresses the importance of people from northern Montana attending the meeting to hear the presentation and talk to the lawmakers, "because we're smack-dab in the middle of the activity. I would encourage the folks to spend a couple of days in Helena and take part in the legislative process. "

People planning to attend are asked to RSVP for the meeting by Sunday via e-mail at [email protected]; or by telephone at (406) 262-2346.