Business Briefcase: Van’s closing Feb. 28, new hires and appointments, and more

Kellie Goodwin McBride, director of Criminal Justice Services at Lewis and Clark County, has been elected as the northwest region director for the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies.

NAPSA focuses on advancing pretrial justice and public safety through evidence-based practices and professional education.

Under McBride’s leadership, the Lewis and County Criminal Justice Services Department has been instrumental in improving community safety, reducing crime and ensuring the equitable treatment of defendants, offenders and victims, a news release said.

Established after a 2017 levy vote, CJS focuses on innovative reforms to address jail overcrowding by implementing diversion tactics and providing effective community alternatives.

McBride brings a wealth of experience to the NAPSA role, including her work in developing nationally recognized pretrial services programs and her prior impactful roles such as executive director at YWCA Helena. Her educational background and certifications further underscore her commitment to advancing community-focused criminal justice strategies.

Town & Country Foods said this week that Van’s Thriftway will close Feb. 28 and reopen in mid- to late-March as Town & Country Foods.

Van’s, at 306 Euclid Ave. in the Lundy Center, announced in late December it had been sold after 25 years to the Bozeman-based grocery chain.

Town & Country Foods is an employee-owned grocery company where team members share directly in the company’s success, was founded in 1966, company officials said.

Town & Country Foods offers competitive pay, flexible hours. The nearly 40 employees at Van’s employees will not automatically have work at Town and Country, but they were encouraged to apply, the new owners said.

For those interested in working for Town & Country, applications are being accepted at work4tncfoods.com.

Physician Assistant Abbie George has joined St. Peter’s Health Family Medicine.

She earned her master of physician assistant studies degree from Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, and received a bachelor of science in biological sciences degree from Montana Technological University in Butte.

Prior to her position as a physician assistant, she worked as both a certified medical assistant and a patient access specialist at St. Peter’s Health.

She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. George will be delivering care at the St. Peter’s Health Medical Group- Broadway Clinic alongside Family Medicine Physician Dr. Beth Plate.

Hospitalist Grace West has joined St. Peter’s Health Medical Group.

She earned her bachelor of science degree from Rocky Mountain College in Billings. She then completed her master of physician assistant studies degree, also at Rocky Mountain College. After graduating, she joined the hospitalist group at Billings Clinic, where she practiced for over 7 years.

West is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Montana Academy of Physician Assistants and the Society of Hospital Medicine. West will be delivering care at the St. Peter’s Health Regional Medical Center.

Katie Ott has joined Great West Engineering as an accounting assistant in the Helena office. Katie has worked for Helena Public Schools for the last 16 years.

When not at work, Ott enjoys spending time with her husband, Kiel, and their son, Banyan. She also enjoys being outside, reading, and cuddling with her four pets.

The Montana Department of Transportation invites the public to attend the Montana Aeronautics Board meeting at 10 a.m. Feb. 5 and 8 a.m. Feb. 6, in the East and West Auditorium at MDT headquarters, 2701 Prospect Ave., Helena.

The Aeronautics Board will review applications and take public comment prior to making the final award determinations for eligible airport improvement projects.

Funding for this program is provided by a $0.045 / gallon tax on fuel sold to commercial and general aviation aircraft in Montana. Most of the money awarded in grants and loans each year goes to leverage Federal (FAA) match dollars for large airport construction projects.

Many public airports are eligible to apply for assistance through the loan and grant program.

Funds can be used for a variety of airport and aviation related projects, such as lighting enhancements, runway, taxiway and apron reconstruction projects, land easements, perimeter fencing, weather reporting equipment, and snow removal equipment.

Applications for funding are due Nov. 15, and the funding is available for distribution for the following fiscal year in July.

For more information, visit mdt.mt.gov/aviation/, or contact Karen Hallenbeck, MDT Aeronautics Division, at khallenbeck@mt.gov and 406-444-9581.

Amanda Prestegard has been named the new special agent in charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office.

She will oversee special agents, analysts and professional staff conducting financial investigations throughout Montana, Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming.

The Denver Field Office is comprised of special agents based in 12 cities throughout the four-state region specialized in investigating sophisticated financial crimes such as evading federal income taxes, COVID-19 relief scams, and money laundering related to drug trafficking operations.

In FY24, IRS-CI initiated more than 2,600 criminal investigations, obtained 1,571 convictions, and achieved a 90% conviction rate. The agency’s investigative work identified over $9.1 billion in fraud from tax and financial crimes, obtained court orders totaling $1.7 billion in restitution to the IRS and seized criminal assets totaling nearly $1.2 billion.