Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How will planned U.S. 12 and 287 upgrades change your Helena commute?
Spotted on the Helena calendar: Steak fry fundraiser

Good morning Helena! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How will planned U.S. 12 and 287 upgrades change your Helena commute?
- How Helena leaders just defused the Helena High parking lot controversy
- What does War Eagle Hill's new protection mean for Helena's outdoors?
Also on today's calendar: Steak fry fundraiser and 3 more events.
And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Diane M.!
Today's riddle: What is the longest word in the dictionary? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 89 and low of 59 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Sunday: A stray afternoon t-storm, temps: high: 85, low: 55.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 86 and low of 54 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• MDT shares early plans for U.S. 12 and 287 highway improvements near Townsend (ktvh.com) — If you regularly drive between Helena and Three Forks, MDT is planning major safety and capacity upgrades along U.S. 12 and 287, including widening several stretches and adding turn lanes. After logging more than 180 crashes since 2009, officials are gathering public feedback on three projects near Winston, Beaver Creek, and Silos, with construction expected to begin no earlier than 2030.
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• Helena leaders soothe concerns over temporary school parking during construction (ktvh.com) — City of Helena officials, Helena Public Schools, and the Helena Area Chamber have agreed on how to manage a temporary student parking lot by Helena High during major campus construction. The lot sits on state-owned land next to Helena College, and leaders promise better communication, safety reviews, and regular updates as projects advance toward an August 2028 completion.
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• Prickly Pear announces protection of 198 acres (missoulacurrent.com) — A new conservation deal has permanently protected 198 acres at War Eagle Hill just west of Helena, behind Fort Harrison. Prickly Pear Land Trust, the Montana National Guard, and Double L Family Land partnered to preserve wildlife habitat, safeguard open space around the military base, and maintain public hunting access near Helena and the Helena–Lewis and Clark National Forest.
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📸 Around Helena
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Helena
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Steak fry fundraiser →
West Main Street, W Main St, East Helena
9:00 am - Summer Community Celebration at the Clancy Old Red Schoolhouse →
3 N Main St, Clancy
3:30 pm - 227 Days Celebration →
14 W Main St, East Helena
8:00 am - 227 Days →
East Helena Main Street Park
11:00 am - 2026 Mullan Road Conference →
618 Helena Ave, Helena
6:00 pm - 6th Annual Helena Septemberfest: Gulch Goes Galactic →
Helena Walking Mall, Helena
4:00 pm
Monday August 24
Friday August 28
Saturday August 29
Friday September 4
Friday September 11
🗓 Events Nearby
- Disco Daddy Summerfest →
Lakeside on Hauser, 5295 York Rd, Helena
5:00 pm - EVMS Open House
EAST HELENA K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICT East Helena, MT 59635
4:00 pm - Open House for: LittleLante's, PPE & Radley
EAST HELENA K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICT East Helena, MT 59635
4:30 pm - Welcome Back to School!
EAST HELENA K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICT East Helena, MT 59635
8:00 am - Montana Distillers Guild: Last Chance Spirits Festival →
Best Western Premier Helena Great Northern Hotel, 835 Great Northern Blvd, Helena
4:00 pm - EVMS & EHHS Picture Day!
EAST HELENA K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICT East Helena, MT 59635
8:00 am
Saturday August 22
Monday August 24
Wednesday August 26
Saturday August 29
Tuesday September 1
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Now I was familiar with Joel at Rocky Mountain Pressure Washing from Nextdoor, and I had always liked and appreciated his posts regarding his work and other things.
Recently, I had some work I needed done right along the lines of what he does and that was re-staining the top of my porch railings that were… (Nextdoor North Hills East) - SHOUT OUT TO JOEL AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN PRESSURE WASHING!
Now I was familiar with Joel at Rocky Mountain Pressure Washing LLC from here on Nextdoor, and I had always liked and appreciated his posts regarding… (Nextdoor North Hills East)
- Jimmy John's Franchise, LLC posted a job opening for Team Member in Helena. Apply here.
- Vortex Companies, LLC posted a job opening for CDL Technician in Helena. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Helena here.
🗞 Nearby News
East Helena
- Butte group dreams of building gondola to the Our Lady of the Rockies statue on East Ridge (kxlh.com)
- A pedestrian was hit and killed by a car near Anaconda; other walkers urge caution (kxlh.com)
- SWARTZ v. SMOLE, 91 Mont. 90 (Mont. 1931) (justia.com)
Manhattan
- Butte man sentenced as part of fentanyl trafficking case (bozemandailychronicle.com)
- Butte nurses union rejects St. James contract proposal (bozemandailychronicle.com)
- Butte man accused of attempted home invasion involving a weapon (nbcmontana.com)
Ok Helena! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Smiles, because it has a mile between "s". (Thank you Sharon M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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