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Good morning. It’s Phoebe, the Billings reporter for Montana Free Press. Welcome to our second edition of Billings This Week.
In this issue, you’ll learn what all that loud air traffic was about this week. We follow up on a funding request for the Babcock Theater, get an update on county courthouse construction and hear about the city’s plans for South Park pool.
But first, a weather preview ☀️
It’s looking like a wet weekend here in Billings with at least an inch of rain expected. Thunderstorms are in the mix for Friday afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for south-central Montana from Friday night through Sunday.
Airport traffic picks up as planes fight fires
If you noticed some extra noise this week with loud planes landing and taking off from the Billings airport — well, I did, too.
The planes in question are C-130s, according to Paul Khera, assistant director of aviation at the Billings Logan International Airport. Khera said they are typically older passenger aircraft that “fly heavy” because they are loaded up with fire retardant. Their landing approach is slower, so the noise is audible longer from the ground.
“It’s not really louder from a decibel point of view, but it’s a different sound,” Khera said.
The Davis Coulee fire, nine miles southwest of Crow Agency, is the fire closest to Billings. It covered 24 square miles as of Thursday afternoon, according to FIRMS US/CANADA, the federal government’s online mapping tool.
The Sand Creek Fire in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest outside of Butte was 55 square miles as of Thursday afternoon.
Questions sent to a spokesperson for the newly consolidated U.S. Wildland Fire Service were unanswered.
In addition to the extra firefighting C-130s, Khera said an A400 plane from the German Air Force landed in Billings this week.
European pilots often come to the U.S. for training “because it’s not as densely populated, and Montana’s a nice place for that,” Khera said. Military missions typically don’t tell the airport administration much about their day-to-day operations.
“Apparently, they came and picked up a box or something and left,” he said.
County courthouse work continues
Repairs and upgrades to the Yellowstone County Courthouse, which are underway after a third-floor pipe burst in July, won’t be finished for approximately another year. The building is being remodeled to make more space for two new District Court judges, who took the bench in late 2025. In addition to construction on the first three floors, contractors must complete code updates and electrical and fire alarm improvements, according to a memo to county commissioners from architect Adam Baumgartner. Since then, the county has been leasing space from the city at the new City Hall at 316 N. 26th St.
Funding for the Babcock Theater, with a catch
The Billings City Council Monday conditionally approved awarding up to $553,000 in downtown TIF funds to ArtHouse Cinema and Pub for continued work at the historic Babcock Theater, which it owns. The money won’t be paid until the nonprofit has secured the $4.4 million needed for its building overhaul. And the city won’t set aside those TIF funds in the meantime. If other applicants qualify first, ArtHouse will need to wait until more funds become available, under the agreement reached this week, brokered by Council member Scott Aspenlieder. The agreement will expire in 2030.
Council members Denis Pitman, Tony O’Donnell and Roy Neese voted against the measure.
“I just don’t see any need for public money to be spent on this project, any more than it already has been,” O’Donnell said.
Pitman and Neese raised similar objections.
This spring, the city sold the Babcock to ArtHouse for the ceremonial price of $1. It also approved approximately $300,000 in downtown TIF funds earlier this year for structural repairs.
Public Notice 🧐
City to receive grant for new South Park pool Monday, Sept. 21
5:30 p.m.
316 N. 26th St., on the fifth floor
Federal credit union Mountain America and the bank’s foundation will present a $171,488 check to the city of Billings during the city council’s twice-monthly work session to support a new South Park pool. City Recreation Superintendent Kory Thomson said the total price tag for the project is expected to be $10.9 million. Thomson said the city would likely pursue additional grants and possibly a capital campaign. The city aims to keep the pool open in summer 2027 and have the new one ready for swimmers in June 2028.
School board likely to discuss AI, charter schools
Monday, Sept. 21
5:30 p.m.
415 N. 30th St., boardroom
The Billings Public Schools Board of Trustees will have its monthly meeting. Final agendas are not posted until Friday afternoons. A draft agenda says the board chair will discuss questions related to AI, and school officials will provide an update on charter schools. BPS currently has three charter schools: a credit recovery high school, a college credit and associate’s degree high school, and a school for English language learners. The district will seek board and state approval this fall for a fourth charter school, called the Health Science Charter School, which would open in fall 2027.
Game of the Week 🏆
Come down to the Sam McDonald Stadium at Daylis Friday night at 7 p.m. for some fall football and Billings’ beloved Senior-West rivalry. West is undefeated this season at 3-0. Senior is (ahem) only defeated, at 0-3. Come on, Broncs.
About Town 🚶
The ever-popular Parade of Homes runs both this weekend and next. The Home Builders Association of Billings’ annual event features 17 houses this year for people to walk through, gawk at and enjoy. One house is in Red Lodge, and two are in Laurel. Participants could win a family travel package to national parks. Tickets are $15 and are available on the HBA website. Homes are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 12-5 p.m. on Sunday.
It’s the last Saturday Family Fun Night at ZooMontana this season, with discounted admission from 4-7 p.m., food trucks, live music and an outdoor movie. Movies Under the Stars is sponsored by Billings Kiwanis, and this week will show Sonic 3. More information is available on the ZooMontana Facebook page.
The Montana Marathon is Sunday, beginning in tiny Molt and finishing at Pioneer Park. It’s the oldest marathon in the state, and this year both the full and half marathons filled all registration spots. That’s 300 runners for the full marathon and 450 for the half, hailing from 40 states. Watch for runners along portions of Rimrock Road, Poly Drive, Colton Boulevard and Parkhill Drive. Full marathoners start at 7 a.m. in Molt. Half-marathoners start at 8 a.m. northwest of Phipps Park. Maps and other information are available online.
