🌱 Billings Clinic Awarded + 'War Of The Walls' Murals Voting Open

Hello. I'm here with your Friday edition of the Billings Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Cloudy and cooler; p.m. rain. High: 70 Low: 44.
• Saturday: Times of clouds and sun. High: 68 Low: 41.

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Here are the top three stories today in Billings:

1. Cecil Jerome Hatchett, a man from California, has been sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for transporting a minor with the intent of engaging in prostitution, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich. Hatchett allegedly arranged and aided in the transportation of Ashley Stella and a minor girl to Montana and elsewhere for commercial sex. Stella was previously sentenced to eight years in prison for the transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution, and the investigation involved the FBI, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Billings Police Department, Reno, Nevada Police Department, and the IRS. (KULR-TV)
2. The Leapfrog Group has once again awarded Billings Clinic an "A" grade for hospital safety, reflecting the hospital's success in prioritizing patient safety and minimizing preventable harm and errors. Despite the pandemic's impact on patient safety, Billings Clinic received the highest grade possible due to its commitment to safety and quality care, as demonstrated by over 30 national performance measures. The CMS 5-star Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating also awarded Billings Clinic, the only large hospital in Montana, for its high-quality scores in mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience, and effective care. (Subscription: Billings Gazette)
3. MasterLube is holding its annual War of the Walls competition, with murals painted on the wall of five of its locations. Voting has opened to select a winner from one student at each of the five schools in Billings and Laurel. The voting will close on May 10, and the winner will be announced on May 12. (Q2 News)

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Today and tomorrow in Billings:

Friday, May 5

• Celebration Of Moms Event At Rose Park (9:00 AM)

Saturday, May 6

• Safe Kids Yellowstone County 15th Anniversary Event At Rimrock Mall (11:00 AM)
• Kentucky Derby Family Fun Day At White Aspen Ranch (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Thrive apartment complex at the Elks Club in Billings had a rare ginkgo tree in front of the building that was donated to the Yellowstone Arboretum at ZooMontana. The developers plan to demolish the building and start construction of 220 apartments this summer. (Subscription: Billings Gazette)
• Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the list of adoption-ready pets in the Billings area at the link! (Billings Patch)
• The Western Heritage Center is accepting applications for its Summer Youth Volunteer Program for students in fourth through eighth grades. The program offers students the opportunity to learn how to curate a museum exhibit and explore other areas of special interest, and those selected will commit 10 hours of volunteer work over a six- to eight-week period and showcase their chosen artifact at the end of the program. (KULR-TV)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (May 9)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar on May 9th and 11th (May 9)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all soon for another update!

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.