GOVERNOR BULLOCK ISSUES STAY AT HOME DIRECTIVE TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

DIRECTIVE ASKS MONTANANS TO STAY HOME TO MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES, TEMPORARILY RESTRICTS ALL NONESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND OPERATIONS
For more information, read the directive here: https://news.mt.gov/governor-bullock-issues-stay-at-home-directive-to-slow-the-spread-of-covid-19.

Rifles and raffles

Before numerous events and gatherings of people were postponed or canceled, the Powell County Friends of the NRA held their banquet on March 13. Nicole Larson sold tickets for the general raffle. See photos pages 10 and 11.

Voters to be asked renewal of law levy

by Michael Stafford

When voters go to the polls in May, they are going to have to decide if they want to continue to fund the positions of two deputies with the Powell County Sheriff’s Office and whether they want to fund one additional officer to the force.
With the expiration of the five year, seven mill law enforcement levy at the end of 2020, the sheriff’s office is seeking a renewal of the commitment of those seven mills for another five years, along with a four mill increase in order to create an additional deputy position in order to better serve the people. In total that means voters will be asked to approve or deny an 11 mill law enforcement levy.
“Regarding the mill levy, it’s going to cover people,” said Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles about the money being earmarked for the cost of employing deputies.
Roselles explained to the Silver State Post about the purpose of the levy and its history. He said that being able to add one additional deputy position to the department is less than ideal, but will be helpful and he believes that the proposed 11 mills is all that the taxpayers of the county can currently tolerate.
Should the levy fail, Roselles said that people may recall what happened in 2014 when the initial law enforcement levy failed to pass.
Explaining about the levy, Roselles recalled the history of it. The Powell County Commissioners initially passed a resolution to put a permanent seven mill levy question on the ballot in spring 2014. The levy failed and with Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) money and Support Rural Schools (SRS) money cut shortly thereafter, layoffs occurred within the sheriff’s office as the budget had to be cut.
The following year in 2015 the commissioners put together a resolution to ask voters for seven mills once again, but this time with a sunset date in five years, which will occur at the end of this year. The levy was passed by voters and the cut positions with the sheriff’s office were recreated.
In speaking with people at the time and with his own observations, Roselles said that one reason brought out as to why the first levy failed was that it had no sunset date.
see Levy page seven

Dogs and cats won’t transfer COVID-19

by Cathy Harding

No.
You’re not going to get the novel coronavirus COVID-19 from your dog. That’s the word from Dr. Shannon Nielsen of the Clark Fork Veterinary Clinic.
“There has been no documented case of transfer from humans to dogs or dogs to humans, same with cats,” she said.
Nielsen said many species, including humans, are susceptible to coronaviruses. “These coronaviruses have been around a long time,” she said. “That’s why we have vaccines developed.” There are vaccines for coronaviruses for other animals such as cows and dogs, too.
Because COVID-19 is a new virus, scientists have yet to develop a vaccine. “This one is wreaking such havoc because it’s new,” Nielsen noted.
Nielsen said it is possible that an animal could potentially transfer the virus from an infected person to another through fomite transmission. In this form of transmission, an infected person could potentially leave the virus on a pet’s fur, by sneezing on a dog, for example. Another person could then come in contact with the animal, rub their eyes, and become infected. No cases of transmission in this manner have been recorded.
In general, it is wise to practice healthy habits around animals, whether in light of coronaviruses or every day life.
see New page 12

City council declares emergency

by Michael Stafford

The Deer Lodge City Council have declared a local disaster emergency through a resolution at an emergency meeting on March 20. That resolution will allow the city to potentially recapture costs spent in the future regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and has additional provisions.
They also spoke about open meetings and what options are available to comply with laws and the changing situation. They are waiting on guidance from the Montana League of Cities and Towns which is seeking an opinion form the Attorney General and Chief Administrative Officer Brian Bender called the situation “uncharted territory” and “ever evolving.”
Opening the meeting, Mayor Diana Solle said that the sole purpose of it was to discuss the resolution declaring a local disaster emergency and then read through the text of the resolution to the council and those present at the meeting. She said the reason the resolution was created at that point in time was in response to the declaration from Montana Governor Steve Bullock requiring the closure of bars, restaurants and other places where people gather across the state. The closure is to last until March 27, but may be extended.
“I think Deer Lodge has been doing really good,” she said.
see Open page 12

More on this and the other issues grabbing this week's headlines
​can be found in our print edition, out every Wednesday.

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