🌱 Golden Apple Award Recipients + Child Abuse Prevention Month

Good morning, everybody! It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Cloudy, a shower; chilly. High: 47 Low: 28.
• Saturday: Sunny and milder. High: 60 Low: 36.

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Here are the top three stories in Billings today:

1. Seven educators in Billings received the 2023 Golden Apple Awards in a surprise event organized by a committee that visited different schools. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to education made by teachers, principals, and other professionals in schools. For the recipients, including Nels Jensen and Kyra Gaskill, the award was a great honor and a total surprise. (Q2 News)
2. The Burger King on North 27th Street in downtown Billings has closed, joining four other businesses that have closed in recent years, leaving the area feeling empty. However, downtown Billings Alliance Development Director Mehmet Casey sees the changes as a unique opportunity for potential redevelopment, hoping that the right developer approaches the project to create a transformative development in the blighted area. Meanwhile, local residents like Uriel Lopez hope for new businesses and new experiences in the area to bring back a sense of community. (Q2 News)
3. Family Tree Nurturing Center placed pinwheels on the Yellowstone County Courthouse Lawn at 12 p.m. yesterday, Apr. 13, to highlight Child Abuse Prevention Month. The center and Billings Exchange Clubs’ Child Abuse Prevention Center work to prevent abuse using the Nurturing Parenting Program, which is an evidence-based curriculum. The center also provides parent advocates, in-home mentoring, an on-site licensed child therapist, supervised visitation, free respite childcare, and resources. (Subscription: Billings Gazette)

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Today and tomorrow in Billings:

Friday, April 14

• Stand Up Comedy With Cody Sutton At The Loft Dance Club (9:00 PM)

Saturday, April 15

• The Highway Men Live - A Musical Tribute At Alberta Bair Theater (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• 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)
• New homes have been listed for sale in the Billings area! Get all the property details at the link. (Billings Patch)
• MetraPark will host three events this weekend, including a Gun Show at the Montana Pavilion, the Billings RV and Boat Show & Sale at the Expo Center, and the PBR at the First Interstate Arena. Construction work will also take place, which may cause parking challenges and traffic delays, but MetraPark management has provided advice on where to park for each event at the link. (Q2 News)

You're all caught up for today! See you soon for your next 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.