Teton County, MT Message Board

Compiled by Nancy Thornton on June 4, 2013, with the cooperation of the Choteau Acantha.

April 1995. Choteau School board decides to build a new gym and additional junior high and elementary school classrooms. Voters narrowly approve $1.6 million 20-year bond issue. (Photo) Zion Construction of Choteau was the low bidder and work began immediately with the demolition of the Teton County High School, followed by foundation work. Slated to open in fall 1996.

A Choteau police officer chased a grizzly out of town, dubbed “Danya,” that was captured with two young males and places in zoos.

May 1995. (Photo) Dave and Ardene Zion and brothers Jim and Neal Bouma unveiled plans for a 40- to 50-unit Best Western motel on the north side of Choteau along U.S. Highway 89.
City annexed the land into the city limits along with the municipal airport.
Harold and Darlene Yeager and Mike and Nikki Ley begin work at the airport on a new building to house their aerial businesses.
Yeagers took over management of the joint City-County airport, replacing longtime manager John Nordhagen who retired.

Mid year 1995. City council contracted with Forsgren Associates to study sewer system. Found groundwater infiltration, and proposed a plan of action. Council adopted a 100 percent sewer fee rate increase, doubling the $1.88 per month residential assessment. At end of year council sought a grant to replace a section between the pavilion and the Weatherbeater Arena.

Summer 1995. Choteau Country Club reengineers existing golf course holes.

Choteau School board and teachers at odds over wages and benefits leaving teachers without a contract as they started the school year, It was stull unresolved at the end of 1995.

July 10, 1995.Devastating hail storm with marble-sized hair stones, Damage estimates top $400,000 to roofs on home and businesses. Streetlights in town damages, windows broken, siding dented and dinged vehicles. Roof repairs could be seen throughout the summer.

County commissioners to cut library funding and proposed a ballot issue on whether to create a county library district.

November 1995. Choteau Performing Arts League and the Prairie Mountain Players debut original play, “The Coming Home, The Anniversary.”
Teton County Hospital District board signs contract with Great Falls Clinic for $68,000 per year to provide a physician assistant to cover the emergency room and provide at least 20 hours a week of clinical services.

December 1995. GFC decides to open its own branch practice in the county annex next to the hospital.

Compiled by Nancy Thornton on June 4, 2013, with the cooperation of the Choteau Acantha.

Feb. 1, 1996. Gas failure. Residents in Choteau experience a 19-hour loss of natural gas. It began between 11 and 11:30 p.m. on one of the coldest nights of the winter. Montana Power Co. workers go door-to-door relighting pilot lights. Heater in the valve station outside town broke, gas line serving city froze up. Jensen's Floral and Greenhouses lost most of its live plants. Others report frozen pipes and damaged heating appliances. Montana Power denied all claims and Jensen's complaint to the Public Service Commission was dismissed.

February 1996. Teton County Courthouse roof renovation project begins. Architect Gary Levine sets cost at $185,000.

June 1996. Voters approve special mill levy for $75,000 to help find the roof repair over the next two years. Contract awarded to Dick Anderson Construction of Helena and Black Eagle, the low bidder at $166,810. Completed in October.

to be continued