News

Two separate grizzly bear attacks resulted in three injured hunters on the west side of the Gravelly Mountain range on Monday according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. It is unclear whether one or more bears were involved. FWP is asking hunters to leave the area, and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is closing Cottonwood Road.

According to an assessment from Safe Tech Solutions, a consulting firm that specializes in emergency medical services, the long-term sustainability of the Ennis Ambulance Service is questionable. Stakeholders of EAS met in the Madison Valley Bank conference room to discuss the assessment Aug. 12. 

The recent discussion on Madison River regulations was finalized at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks commissioners meeting Aug. 15. FWP was not able to provide a collective proposal to address recreational concerns of the increasing fishing pressure on the Upper Madison River.

Madison County Housing Advisory Board is conducting an online survey this month. The results of the survey will help direct the board toward addressing Madison County’s housing shortage in way that benefits its residents.

The Madison County Commissioners approved a countywide burn ban, with the exception of Big Sky Resort Area, during its meeting July 30. 

On July 17, an Aviat-1A Husky crashed into a meadow 35 miles south of Ennis. Allen Kenitzer, with the Office of Communications at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), described this type of plane as a, “two-seat, high-wing, utility aircraft,” via email correspondence.

Madison County 911-Dispatch was approved a $270,000 grant from the State of Montana 911 Program in May, to update its equipment. Madison County’s emergency response and dispatch record keeping will be more efficient with the installation of a new computer-aided dispatch system, which could be operating as soon as next summer.

A private aircraft at the Ennis – Big Sky Airport began sinking through the pavement of the south parking apron around 3 p.m. July 15.