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Off to the polls
Most Deer Lodge residents used mail-in ballots this year, but Powell County was one of a handful of counties in Montana that did not go all-mail. As expected, Powell County residents primarily voted for Republican candidates, but did support a few Democrats, including Mark Sweeney of Philipburg to the Montana Senate. |
Powell County, Montana go red
Statewide election results largely reflected similar results to Powell County voters, with Greg Gianforte becoming governor-elect, Steve Daines retaining his Senate seat, Matt Rosendale heading to the US House of Representatives, and marijuana being legalized in Montana.
Powell County residents voted to reelect President Donald Trump almost three to one, with Montana’s electoral college seats being allocated to President Trump, but former Vice-President and President-elect Joe Biden appears to have won the national popular vote and is expected to win the electoral college by a wide margin.
Powell County largely voted by mail-in ballot despite in-person voting being available on election day. Ultimately 82.86-percent of eligible voters in Powell County returned their ballots.
Ballot initiative No. 190, which legalizes marijuana, won in Powell County and state-wide. This means residents 21 years of age and older will be able to posses and grow small amounts of marijuana in Powell County starting January 1, 2021.
See Election, page 16
Powell County residents voted to reelect President Donald Trump almost three to one, with Montana’s electoral college seats being allocated to President Trump, but former Vice-President and President-elect Joe Biden appears to have won the national popular vote and is expected to win the electoral college by a wide margin.
Powell County largely voted by mail-in ballot despite in-person voting being available on election day. Ultimately 82.86-percent of eligible voters in Powell County returned their ballots.
Ballot initiative No. 190, which legalizes marijuana, won in Powell County and state-wide. This means residents 21 years of age and older will be able to posses and grow small amounts of marijuana in Powell County starting January 1, 2021.
See Election, page 16
City approves another new position
by Peggy Kerr
The Deer Lodge City Council approved (7-0) the creation of a new job position during its regular council meeting on Monday, Nov. 2.
Councilman Tom Malcomb was not present to vote.
“This went through internal review, and Public Works recommended approval (creating the new staff position),” Chief Administrative Officer Brian Bender explained.
Public Works Supervisor Trent Freeman identified the Groundskeeper position earlier this year to fill a void. The present crew was behind in maintaining the sports field, especially early in the season.
“We have a contractual obligation to maintain the ball fields for the high school,” Bender said.
Currently, the department relies on high school students to take up the slack, but they aren’t available to work until mid June and must stop working by August.
The part-time position would begin in March/April, so the employee could prepare the ball fields for the high school as well as work through the end of October/November. The new worker would float during the summer season.
“This gives flexibility to the parks crew throughout the summer,” Bender said. “This would last six to seven months, roughly. It depends on the weather.”
This year staffing was affected by lack of prison trustees due to Covid 19.
“We just don’t have the inmate workers we have had in the past,” Council President Rob Kersch explained.
See City, page 7
The Deer Lodge City Council approved (7-0) the creation of a new job position during its regular council meeting on Monday, Nov. 2.
Councilman Tom Malcomb was not present to vote.
“This went through internal review, and Public Works recommended approval (creating the new staff position),” Chief Administrative Officer Brian Bender explained.
Public Works Supervisor Trent Freeman identified the Groundskeeper position earlier this year to fill a void. The present crew was behind in maintaining the sports field, especially early in the season.
“We have a contractual obligation to maintain the ball fields for the high school,” Bender said.
Currently, the department relies on high school students to take up the slack, but they aren’t available to work until mid June and must stop working by August.
The part-time position would begin in March/April, so the employee could prepare the ball fields for the high school as well as work through the end of October/November. The new worker would float during the summer season.
“This gives flexibility to the parks crew throughout the summer,” Bender said. “This would last six to seven months, roughly. It depends on the weather.”
This year staffing was affected by lack of prison trustees due to Covid 19.
“We just don’t have the inmate workers we have had in the past,” Council President Rob Kersch explained.
See City, page 7
Prison reports first COVID-19 death
Montana Department of Corrections officials announced two COVID-19 related inmate deaths last week, one was an inmate at the Montana State Prison near Deer Lodge.
Identifying details for the inmate were not released.
The Inmate died on Oct. 24, with a second Dept. of Corrections inmate death on Oct. 31 in Great Falls.
“The health and safety of staff and inmates in our secure facilities remain our priorities as we all negotiate the significant challenges presented by this virus,” DOC Director Reginald D. Michael said.
COVID was initially identified in the prison three weeks ago with a cumulative 261 inmates listed as infected as of Friday. The prison updates inmate infections to the public once a week, each Friday.
“The Montana Department of Corrections extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of these individuals,” Michael said.
Employee infections at the prison continued to climb with 114 staff members listed as infected and dozens more employees in quarantine. Last week the Montana National Guard interceded at the prison to ensure adequate staffing was available to service and guard the prison.
Only staff members who reside in Powell County are included in the Powell County case counts.
The State of Montana reported 274 active COVID cases in Powell County as of Monday morning. Excluding the inmate population, according to County Health Nurse Marianne Saylor, the actively infected portion of the Powell County population in quarantine was 39 as of last Thursday.
The actively quarantined population statistics do not necessarily represent all infected individuals within the county, but only those who have sought and taken a COVID infection test and received a positive result.
Identifying details for the inmate were not released.
The Inmate died on Oct. 24, with a second Dept. of Corrections inmate death on Oct. 31 in Great Falls.
“The health and safety of staff and inmates in our secure facilities remain our priorities as we all negotiate the significant challenges presented by this virus,” DOC Director Reginald D. Michael said.
COVID was initially identified in the prison three weeks ago with a cumulative 261 inmates listed as infected as of Friday. The prison updates inmate infections to the public once a week, each Friday.
“The Montana Department of Corrections extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of these individuals,” Michael said.
Employee infections at the prison continued to climb with 114 staff members listed as infected and dozens more employees in quarantine. Last week the Montana National Guard interceded at the prison to ensure adequate staffing was available to service and guard the prison.
Only staff members who reside in Powell County are included in the Powell County case counts.
The State of Montana reported 274 active COVID cases in Powell County as of Monday morning. Excluding the inmate population, according to County Health Nurse Marianne Saylor, the actively infected portion of the Powell County population in quarantine was 39 as of last Thursday.
The actively quarantined population statistics do not necessarily represent all infected individuals within the county, but only those who have sought and taken a COVID infection test and received a positive result.
More on this and the other issues grabbing this week's headlines
can be found in our print edition, out every Wednesday.
can be found in our print edition, out every Wednesday.
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Silver State Post
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