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Thank you to al of the brave men and women of the armed forces for all that you have done. Also a BIG thank you to Perkins Family Restaurant for putting together the free breakfast for all of the vets.

Billings Transgender Alliance will be having their TDOR (Transgender Day of Remembrance) memorial on Nov 20th @6:30 pm at Grace United Methodist Church on 1935 Ave B.  TDOR is when they remember the names of the transgender people whose lives have been lost to anti-transgender violence over the years and continue to demand increased and accurate media coverage of transgender people in their lives and in death. These are the names of transgender people we know of whose lives have been taken due to anti-transgender violence, but should be noted that these crimes often are misreported, go underreported, or are not reported at all. Billings Transgender Alliance hopes that you will join then in memory of their lives.

The 4th Annual SUV Raffle for Education to benefit the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools and nearly 100 PTAs, sports teams, music programs, and student clubs and organizations is going on now!

Denny Menholt has generously donated a 2021 Chevy Equinox for the raffle.

Tickets are $10 each.

100% of the proceeds benefit our students and schools!

Drawing will be held live on KTVQ December 2nd.

Purchase tickets online at suvraffle4education.org, at Altana Federal Credit Union locations in Billings, and at Denny Menholt. Students will also be selling tickets directly to benefit their programs.

Billings Police Department is preparing for the 2nd Shop with a Cop event scheduled for Saturday, December 18, 2021.  Because of your help this Christmas, many children can enjoy a morning filled with excitement, joy and laughter as they shop for their family as well as themselves. 

Shop with a Cop has proven to be a nationwide success, establishing goodwill between area law enforcement agencies and families experiencing hardships by providing selected children, referred by public and private organizations, the opportunity to shop with an officer for Christmas gifts.   The goals for Shop with a Cop are many. It aims to boost the children’s morale and build their self-esteem while allowing each participant to see officers in a non-intimidating setting.  It also provides an opportunity for the participants to experience the gift of giving ~ not only will each child shop for themselves; they will also purchase gifts for their loved ones. The children will be shopping at Wal-Mart, 2525 King Ave W. in Billings following a lights and sirens procession. 

Shop with a Cop provides an excellent opportunity to establish positive relationships between area youth and law enforcement personnel. The Billings Police Department coordinates and participates in the event; however, several law enforcement agencies make this event possible including: Montana Highway Patrol, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Department, Laurel Police Department, Yellowstone County Detention Facility, and U.S. Marshals Service. Each agency’s involvement is vital to the success of the program! 

Contributions to the Shop with a Cop program generally qualify for a tax deduction depending on individual tax situation; please check with your tax advisor. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please make checks payable to the Billings Police Department, note Shop with a Cop in the memo section, and mail to:

Billings Police Department

220 N. 27th St.

Billings, Montana 59101

Attn: Chief Rich St. John.

Memo : Shop with a Cop 

Thank you for your consideration and support.  Should you have any questions, please contact Officer Jeff Stovall Billings Police Department (406) 633-5061.

On August 7th of this year, the Billings Police Department (BPD) took on the Billings Fire Department (BFD) in a friendly but competitive game of softball. Both departments selected non-profit beneficiaries to donate their proceeds; BFD selected the Muscular Dystrophy Association and BPD selected students of School District 2 by donating their proceeds to the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools.

“It was important to us to select a local non-profit organization so that the funds would make a major impact on our community,” explained Sergeant Nate West who heads Public Relations for BPD and spearheaded the game for the two departments. “We have a strong presence in our schools with our School Resource Officers and we see the need first hand. In selecting the Education Foundation, we know those dollars will support kids who need it most.”

The game invited attendees to donate to the causes of both departments both through direct cash donations and the purchase of t-shirts commemorating the inaugural game. The result? $2,320 to start the school year off strong with the Foundation.

“Two of our most in-demand programs are our Backpack Meals and Teen Pantry programs,” said Kelly McCandless, Executive Director of the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools.

These two programs ensure kids have access to nutritious food on the weekends and during school breaks, providing shelf-stable, easy to prepare foods for kids of all ages. Teen Pantry is conducted in partnership with Tumbleweed in Billings and extends beyond foods to offer toiletries. The programs serve the most basic needs of kids in the Billings community.

“Support for these programs is critical,” noted McCandless. “They assist in keeping kids in school and are better able to focus when they know where their next meal will come from. We’re grateful to the BPD for selecting these programs and highlighting the importance of them.”

“The softball game was an excellent way for the BPD and BFD to raise awareness, support the community, and have a little fun in the process,” continued Sergeant West. “We look forward to building on this tradition for years to come.”

To learn more about the Backpack Meals and Teen Pantry programs, visit www.efbps.org. If you’d like to learn more about how to support these and other programs offered by the Foundation in School District 2, email Foundation@BillingsSchools.org or call 406.281.5149.

The Yellowstone Valley Out of the Darkness Walk will be happening Sunday, September 19th, 2021, at Will James Middle School.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to be there for one another and take steps to safeguard our mental health and prevent suicide.

This event give people the courage to open up about their own connections with suicide and mental health, and a platform to create a culture that’s smarter about mental health. Friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers walk side-by-side, supporting each other and in memory of those that have been lost.

To register for the walk, donate, or to find more information visit www.afsp.org/yellowstonevalley

The Laurel 4^th of July fireworks at Thompson park will be starting just after dusk.  Fire fighters will be on the route there to fill their boots which helps pay for the show, so donations and appreciated.  You can also privately donate or participate in the raffle.  All they ask is that you follow local fire restrictions, let the firefighters manage this years fireworks, do not bring private fireworks to the show and for everyone to be safe and patient.