In front of a near-capacity crowd at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark, Austin Meier rode Groovy (Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls) for 84 points to take the lead after Round 2 of the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series Stanley Tools and Security Invitational presented by The Nile.

One of five riders to cover two bulls so far, Meier has 169.25 points and a one-point lead over Marco Eguche, who won Round 2 with 87.5 points on Mr. Slim (Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls). Aaron Roy is in third place with 162.75 points, while 2008 PBR World Champion Guilherme Marchi is fourth with 162.5 points, and Ben Jones is fifth with 135 points.

Round 3 and the Built Ford Tough Championship Round will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets begin at $10 and are available at the MetraPark box office, www.MetraPark.com, and by telephone at (406) 256-2422 or (800) 366-8538. Tickets can also be purchased at the Rimrock Mall customer service counter, and at Cellular Plus stores.

Robson Palermo and Billy Robinson tied for second in Round 2 with 86.25 points, followed by Dusty Ephrom with 85.25 points, and 2004 PBR World Champion Mike Lee with 85 points.

Continue reading: Meier takes PBR lead

 

On May 10, from 5:30-9 p.m. RiverStone Health Comprehensive Cancer Control, in collaboration with community partners, will host a free Pink Ribbon Bingo night for local American Indian women.  The goal is to provide education about women's health issues and resources available to help pay for cancer screenings. The event features Lori New Breast, a Native American advocate and speaker, and Kasey Nicholson, a licensed addition counselor and comedian.  Their entertaining and motivational presentations will encourage participants on their healthy lifestyle journeys. 

This free event provides an opportunity for women to socialize, win prizes, and learn how to make a difference in their own health. The evening includes refreshments and dinner. For further information and to register for the event, contact Kassie Runsabove at 406.651.6515 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Continue reading: Pink Ribbon Bingo Night slated

 

Cesar Mireles, of Bakersfield, Calif., and Sara Brunner, of Alberta, Canada, have been recognized as Rocky Mountain College's senior athletes of the year.

Mireles, who competes in cross-country and track, and Brunner, an outside hitter in volleyball, received the Herb and Clara Klindt Awards last week during RMC’s annual athletic awards social.

The awards were voted on by the school's coaching staff.

Noah Kiprono, of Nairobi, Kenya, and Lauren Brophy, East Helena, Mont., were presented with the Frank and Helen Mathew Awards as RMC’s outstanding underclassmen. Kiprono is on the cross country and track teams, while Brophy competes in soccer.

Continue reading: Rocky honors top athletes

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs Montana Health Care System will be honoring volunteers who have given their time, treasure and talent to help Montana’s Veterans. 

            This past year, 730 volunteers throughout the state have donated more than 62,000 hours to help VA provide for Montana Veterans’ health care needs.

            VA will host a Volunteer Recognition Banquet May 8 at the Billings Hilton Garden Inn.  Another Volunteer Recognition Banquet will be held May 9 at the Iron Horse restaurant in Miles City. 

            “Volunteers play a vital role in the mission of VA Montana,” said Steve Young, Interim Director of the VA Montana Healthcare System.  “Volunteers are huge; they allow us to reach more Veterans and provide high quality, compassionate care that Veterans so richly deserve. These banquets are our small way of saying thank you to our dedicated volunteers.”

Continue reading: VA honors volunteers

 

2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi rode Pandemic (C'N Stars Bull Company) for 90 points to win the fifth Professional Bull Riders 15/15 Bucking Battle on Friday at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. Marchi is the fifth different winner of the special round, which matches the Top 15 riders in the world against the 15 highest-ranked bulls at the event.

CBS will broadcast the event in its entirety at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 5 (please check local listings).

J.B. Mauney finished second with 89 points on RMEF Gunpowder & Lead (Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls), riding with his right hand. Mauney is competing for the second week in a row after switching to riding with his right hand down. He broke a bone in his customary left riding hand four weeks ago at Kansas City, Mo. He was unsuccessful in four outs last weekend at Uncasville, Conn.

Fabiano Vieira finished third with 88.25 points on Party All the Time (Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls), and L.J. Jenkins was fourth with 85 points on Unser Racing Bull (Hyland Cattle/Brookman Hyland Rodeo). Vieira was the first rider to reach 8 seconds, following seven consecutive buckoffs, and was the leader until Marchi’s ride.

Continue reading: Marchi wins Bucking Battle

 

Riding Badger Milk for 89 points on Friday, 2009 PBR World Champion Kody Lostroh is the leader after Round 1 of the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series Stanley Tools and Security Invitational presented by The Nile.

Round 2 will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. Tickets begin at $10 and are available at the MetraPark box office, www.MetraPark.com, and by telephone at (406) 256-2422 or (800) 366-8538. Tickets can also be purchased at the Rimrock Mall customer service counter, and at Cellular Plus stores.

Caleb Sanderson and Fabiano Vieira are tied for second with 86.25 points, followed by Chase Outlaw in fourth place with 85.75 points, and Emilio Resende with 85.5 points.

It is the record 17th year in a row that Billings has hosted the BFTS, which is the most appearances and consecutive appearances of the PBR in any city.

Continue reading: Lostroh leads at PBR

EDITOR’S NOTE: Clay Schwartz has filed to run on the Republican ticket for Yellowstone County clerk and recorder/surveyor. Here is his edited statement.

Schwartz, a professional land surveyor since 1989, has been the owner of Pinpoint Land Surveys PLLC since 2002.

Schwartz’s business experience and surveying credentials make him an ideal fit for the position. “I have been a professional land surveyor for 23 years and resided in Yellowstone County for 20 years. I have been researching land title issues in the Clerk and Recorder’s Office since well before the internet came along. I understand the indexing system; I know how to find things in that office.” Schwartz says. He adds that his surveying career has given him expertise in analyzing legal descriptions and determining the effects the various recorded documents have on property rights.

Schwartz says his business experience makes him well qualified to handle the administrative functions of the office. “I have 19 years of management experience with 10 years as the owner of Pinpoint Land Surveys. I work with budgets, prepare proposals, attend public meetings on a regular basis and have dealt with employee issues.” Schwartz adds that the people that use the Clerk and Recorder’s Office are the very same people that he has had business dealings with in the past. He also says that his surveying business has allowed him to work with many of the other agencies within the county, including the Planning Department, Public Works Department, county commissioners and County Attorney’s office. “I am not a stranger to that courthouse”, says Schwartz.

Schwartz says that when you add the county surveyor position into the mix, he is the only qualified candidate on the ballot. “State law requires that the county surveyor be a professional engineer or professional land surveyor and be registered by the Montana State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, which requires extensive education, experience and testing. The county was able to sidestep this requirement by consolidating the Surveyor’s office with the Clerk and Recorder by resolution in 2003,” says Schwartz.

Continue reading: Schwartz in running for clerk, surveyor

Rocky Mountain College students were honored for their academic and civic accomplishments at the annual RMC Academic Awards Banquet, April 17.

Presented with the prestigious President’s Cup were Margaret (Maggie) Weber, of Kouts, Ind., and Harald Carlsson, of Karlstad, Sweden. This award is presented by RMC President Michael Mace to two graduating seniors, one male and one female, based on scholarship, leadership and contributions to the RMC and greater community. Faculty make the selection.

Winning the Dean’s Cup were Erica Wall, of Billings, and William Scott of Billings. This award, presented by RMC Academic Vice President and Provost Anthony Piltz, goes to the male and female seniors with the highest cumulative grade point average.

The Ossie Abrams Faculty Awards went to Scott Severance, RMC associate professor, business administration and economics, and James Smith, RMC professor, business. For this award, graduating seniors nominate the teachers who “go beyond the call.” The instructors receiving the highest number of nominations are selected to receive the award.

Departmental awards were presented to students who achieved academic success:

The Governor's Office has issued this proclamation: In tribute to all the Montana heroes and veterans of the First Special Service Force -“The Devil’s Brigade,” and in honor of the last Montana survivors of that elite group, Joe Glass and Mark Radcliffe, who died on April 1, 2012, I hereby order all flags flown in the State of Montana to be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, April 10th and Wednesday April 11, 2012.

MSU Billings News Services

Two champions for American Indian children and education, an advocate for special education, business leaders and a local legend in music and theater were honored last week as outstanding alumni for Montana State University Billings.

The 30th annual Outstanding Alumni Awards event was held March 30 at the Student Union Building. This year’s event recognized the accomplishments of eight people selected by the MSU Billings Alumni Association.

This year’s recipients were:

Continue reading: MSU Billings recognizes outstanding alumni