5 Things to Know in Montana for July 17

Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.

MONTANA DROUGHT

Gov. Steve Bullock has announced a pilot project meant to better manage the impacts of drought in Montana. Bullock says a new partnership will bring the resources of seven federal agencies to watershed groups and communities already working on drought issues. The project will take place on the upper Missouri River Basin above Fort Peck Reservoir.

BILLINGS-AREA SHOOTINGS

Police say a 52-year-old man arrested Tuesday afternoon at Pictograph Cave State Park has confessed to two shootings, one at the park and one in Billings. Billings Police Chief Rich St. John says Kelly Megard told investigators he was high on methamphetamine. No one was injured in the shootings. Megard is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Thursday.

TEACHER RAPE CASE

A former Billings teacher who was initially sentenced to one month in prison for raping a 14-year-old student is scheduled to be resentenced. Stacey Dean Rambold is to be sentenced by District Judge Randal Spaulding of Roundup on Sept. 26. The Montana Supreme Court ruled that Rambold's initial sentence was too lenient under state law.

WRONG WAY FATAL-CHARGES

A former Jefferson County jailer who faces trial on charges he had sex with female inmates is now charged with selling alcohol to a minor who later died in a crash on Interstate 15. The Montana Standard reports 45-year-old Rodney Mortimore was cited with two counts of selling alcohol to someone under the age of 21 on June 25 while working at a Boulder convenience store. He has pleaded not guilty.

HAY BARN FIRE

A fire at the Big Stone Hutterite Colony near Sand Coulee destroyed nearly $80,000 worth of hay and the steel barn where it was stored. Colony secretary/treasurer Andy Wurz says the total loss from Wednesday evening's fire will be about $200,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.