News in Brief

City to celebrate American 250 on July 3 with block party, fireworks

The City of Belgrade will celebrate America 250 on Friday, July 3, with a downtown block party and a fireworks show.

“Join us for an evening filled with music, delicious food, local vendors, community spirit, and patriotic fun as we celebrate this historic milestone together,” reads a Tuesday statement from the city.

The downtown block party will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., and the fireworks will begin at 10:30 p.m.

More event details -- including the fireworks viewing location -- will be reported when available.

Registration for vendors and food trucks is free for this event. Vendors -- including local businesses, nonprofits, artisans, entertainment, crafts -- can register at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/SVn2Gqg1CS. Food trucks can sign up at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/ic9gHp6rA2.

Registration open for Building Belgrade Class

The 2025-2026 Building Belgrade Class just wrapped up and registration is open for the 2026-2027 Class.

The Building Belgrade Class aims to inspire and empower community leaders through enriching experiences and valuable networking opportunities while giving participants a behind-the-scenes look at the city and its inner workings.

“Participants will have the chance to meet and connect with fellow businesses and community leaders, building meaningful relationships with like-minded professionals,” reads the program’s webpage. “This class promotes both professional and personal growth, offering insights into the unique aspects of Belgrade that you might not have encountered before...whether you've lived here for just one year or over two decades. Join us to deepen your understanding of Belgrade and contribute to the vibrant community spirit that makes our city special.”

The cost to register for Belgrade Chamber of Commerce members is $450. For non-members, it’s $550. The deadline to register is Aug. 20.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/mv4febcr.

Public invited to participate in 11th Annual Summer Trails Challenge

Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) is inviting members of the public to help reach a community-wide goal of logging 100,000 miles to unlock a $100,000 Sponsor Match Pool funded by more than 40 local businesses.

“To participate, community members simply need to hike, walk, bike, run, or roll on area trails—any trail, any time—and then log their miles on GVLT’s website at gvlt.org/challenge from June 1-30. Every mile logged unlocks $1 for trails and open space,” reads a GVLT press release.

The event’s lead sponsors are Bozeman Health, EVERGOODS, Oboz Footwear, and Toyota of Bozeman.

“With trails busier than ever, events like National Trails Day and Summer Trails Challenge provide a variety of fun and unique ways for trail users to give back to the spaces they love, ensuring that they’ll continue to provide opportunities for people to connect with each other and the land for generations to come,” said GVLT Trails Director Matt Parsons in the release.

Prior coverage of projects involving GVLT can be found at www.belgrade-news.com.

USPS issues bison stamp based on Montana photograph

The U. S. Postal Service dedicated the American Bison stamp at the 2026 Boston World Exposition on Tuesday.

Dubbed “American Bison,” the two-and-a-quarter-inch wide stamp, nearly twice the standard size, was issued as part of the exposition’s stamp collector's theme day.

“For the Boston 2026 World Exposition we wanted to give a nod to the philately community by dedicating the American Bison stamp here,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, USPS director of Stamps, in a press release. “The design of a stamp within a stamp creates a fascinating, puzzle-like experience that blends history, artistry, and the thrill of the hunt. We thought the World Expo would be the perfect place to unveil this unique stamp. This is especially meaningful because of the role the bison has played as an American icon, as we prepare to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.”

The American Bison stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp that will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.

The image on the stamp was provided by Livingston photographer Tom Murphy. The image is a broad shot from July 2005 of a young 4- to 5-year-old bull bison in Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National Park. He was on hand Tuesday at the post office in Livingston offering autographs.

Line dancing class slated May 30 at Jerry Askin Park

A free line dancing class will be held at Jerry Askin Park on Saturday, May 30.

The class is open to all experience levels, and no partner is needed to participate.

The class will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the park’s Band Shell off Stone River Road.

City asks public to control vegetation

As summer gets underway, the City of Belgrade is asking residents to keep weeds, tall grass, and vegetation maintained.

This is “to help keep neighborhoods safe, clean, and looking their best,” according to a May 22 statement from the Belgrade Police Department.

Property owners and tenants are responsible for keeping vegetation under control, according to the agency.

“This includes sidewalks, alleys, streets, and boulevards next to the property,” reads the statement. “Keep visibility clear around stop signs, fire hydrants, and utility poles. Overgrown vegetation can create fire hazards, attract pests, and reduce visibility. If vegetation becomes excessively overgrown, the city may issue a cleanup notice. If not addressed, the city may remove the vegetation and charge the cost to the property owner.”

Dancing in the Grass slated Sunday

Free live music will be on tap Sunday, May 31 at Lewis and Clark Park, 205 E. Central Avenue.

The event, Dancing in the Grass Summer Music Series, is held from 6 to 8 p.m. every Sunday from May 31 to Sept. 6 at the Lewis and Clark Park stage. This Sunday’s act is The House Band. Other music groups slated to perform include:

• The Scurry – June 7
• Come Backk – June 14
• The Scurry – June 21
• Bitter Roots – June 28
• The Dilly Dilly Band – July 19
• Belgrade Orchestra – July 26
• Seven Decades Band – Aug. 2
• Mad Valley Roots – Aug. 9
• West Dakota Stutter – Aug. 16
• Belgrade Orchestra – Aug. 23
• Ryan Littleeagle – Aug. 30

Bands haven’t been lined up for July 5, July 12, and Sept. 6.

Dancing in the Grass is a program of the Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails and Recreation District. For information about the district’s other upcoming events, visit https://secure.rec1.com/MT/belgrade-mt/catalog.

Local government study commission meeting slated this week

The Gallatin County Local Government Study Commission will meet May 29 in the community room of the Gallatin County Courthouse, 301 W. Main St., Bozeman.

The commission is examining how the county government is structured and what, if any, changes should be made. Topics included the number of commissioners, how elections are held — be it by ward or at large — whether elections should be non-partisan or whether to switch to a charter government form.

The study commission is not evaluating individual officials, county staff, or board members. It’s also not reviewing county policies, ordinances, taxes, fees, laws regulating election of local officials, or state laws related to planning and zoning.

The study commission is composed of seven elected representatives from Gallatin County who each are to serve for two years.

“Commission recommendations for changing Gallatin County’s governmental system or process will be compiled and, if changes are recommended, will be added to the November 2026 ballot for voter approval,” reads the study commission webpage at https://www.gallatinmt.gov/gallatin-county-local-government-study-commission/pages/resources-and-faqs.

The commission’s May 29 meeting agenda, which includes opportunity for public comment, is available at https://tinyurl.com/5yvx8yc7.

City seeks volunteers for boards, committees

Volunteers are continually being sought to serve on various advisory boards and committees, according to a press release from the City of Belgrade.

“Even if no current vacancies exist, please consider submitting an application for interest at https://www.belgrademt.gov/534/Advisory-Board-Applications, as from time-to-time other vacancies occur,” reads the release.

There are vacancies on the Sold Waste Management Board, Tax Increment Financing Advisory Committee, City-County Board of Health, Belgrade Regional Parks Trails and Recreation Board, Belgrade Planning Commission, and the Impact Fee Advisory Committee.

For more information about these bodies, visit https://www.belgrademt.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/316. For questions or more information, contact City Clerk Camille Gregory at 406-388-3760 or cegregory@belgrademt.gov.