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This is an offer for ALL visually impaired peoples 18 and older in the state of Montana.

At NO COST to you, the student, Montana Association for the Blind will be hosting its Summer Orientation Program (SOP). This program is designed to help you regain your independence again by teaching skills inside and outside the home. 

The 4-week program will cover how to travel safety, computer instruction, writing alternatives, and so much more. Not only these classes will help, but you will be in a warm, safe environment with people who understand - because many of us have gone through it ourselves.

The (SOP) program will be hosted at Rocky College in Billings, June 14 to July 9. Again, the students pay nothing for room, board, and training.

Here is what one person said about the program: “What a pleasure to see an organization with sighted and unsighted people who bring together a program that enriches and creates the opportunity for sightless and poorly-sighted people to learn and enjoy things in life that they thought were gone forever. What a pleasure to see the transformation in such a short time.”

If you or someone you know and love has lost or is in the process of losing your/their sight, please contact Rhonda Cochrane at (406) 442-9411 or mabadmin@mabsop.org for more information and an application.

     The Office of Consumer Protection seeks to protect Montana consumers from, and educate them about, harmful and unfair practices by retail businesses. The Consumer Protection Act prohibits businesses from taking advantage of consumers.

     “Scammers are more active than ever and show no signs of slowing down. Montanans can take steps to protect themselves and loved ones so that their hard-earned money and identities are not used by con artists and criminals,”Attorney General Knudsen said.

Attorney General Knudsen encourages all Montanans to keep learning about common scams and offers these consumer protection tips:

     1)  For COVID-19 related charities, give to an established organization, rather than one that has sprung up overnight. Pop-up charities probably do not have the infrastructure to get help to the affected areas or people, and they could be collecting the money to finance illegal activity. 

     2)  Don’t send money to someone you don’t know, including someone you’ve only met online and over the phone. While real relationships are increasingly being started through online dating sites and mobile apps, it’s unfortunately extremely easy for scammers to set up a fake profile in order to connect with genuine users of the matchmaking services and then exploit the person’s feelings for the fake profile.

     3)  Don’t send money to a “government” agent who calls and threatens to arrest you. Thieves call taxpayers and claim to be IRS or law enforcement officials.  They misrepresent that you owe taxes or other debts.  They threaten to arrest you unless you immediately pay your “taxes” through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer.  They often alter telephone caller ID to make it look like the IRS or a law enforcement agency is calling. The callers use IRS titles and fake badge numbers to appear legitimate. They may use your name, address, and other personal information to make the call sound official.

     For ongoing consumer tips, follow OCP on Facebook.

     To report an attempted scam, use OCP’s online reporting form.  You can also talk to an OCP investigator by calling (800) 481-6896 or (406) 444-4500, emailing contactocp@mt.gov, or you may contact your local law enforcement agency. 

     Last year, 60 percent of inquiries to the Office of Consumer Protection at the Montana Department of Justice concerned scams or potential scams.  In 2020, OCP investigators fielded 5,190 inquiries from consumers, resulting in 1,099 filed complaints.  OCP reported a marked increase in applications to repair identity theft – 586 in 2020 versus 362 in 2019 – which it attributes to a rise in COVID-19 related fraudulent unemployment claims.

     OCP facilitated the return of more than $325,000 in recovered losses to consumers and prevented losses of an additional $470,000 last year.  On an encouraging note, OCP estimates consumers it spoke with were able to prevent more than $1.2 million from being lost by proactively recognizing and reporting scams.

1st Choice Realty Open, Call for appointment 278-9129

1st Liberty Federal Credit Union: Drive thru open  

Branding Iron Open : Bar 2 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.; Restaurant 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Bowling Alley and pool tables closed

Brown-Fitchner & Assoc. Business by phone or email; Open Mon-thurs 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fri 8-3

Coaches Corner: Take out, curbside pickup and delivery. Free masks; 4:30 – 8 PM

Conrad Building Center Open

Country Charm Open Mon-Fri 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. In-store shopping limited to one; curbside delivery

Elings Insurance Office open, appointment recommended  

Folklore: Take out, curbside pickup and delivery. Free masks, 7:30 AM – 2 PM

Gary & Leo’s IGA:  Open, also providing delivery for AT RISK residents, free masks

H & R Realty Open, Call for appointment  271-2080

Home Café: Restaurant seating, open 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. Social distance seating to be followed

Independence Bank, Lobby and Drive-thru open.

Java Hut: Delivery and drive thru only. Free masks; 6:30 AM – 1 PM

Main Drive-in  Mon - Sat 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Marias Greenhouse Open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 576-7297

Northern Front Guns and Ammo Open Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Olsons’Drug and Village Drug: Both Open. Both will continue to offer home delivery 

Pet Paws Grooming and Supply Open 10 a.m. - 5 pm. Call for appointment 271-7394

Pondera County Insurance: ? Call for hours 271-2034

Senior Center Open for delivery and pick up only. Call 271-3911 to reserve a meal

Stockman Bank Lobbies open

Subway: Open for pickup and take out 10 AM – 8 PM

Sunset Dental Care Mon - Fre 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Super 8: Closed

The Keg: Open for pickup, takeout and delivery 11 AM – 8 PM

The Independent-Observer:: Lobby Open Hours 8 AM - 5 PM

Town Pump: Open 24 hours.

Windrift Hill Open Mon - Fri 8 a.m.  - 5:30 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.