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The Billings Gazette announced changes to its editorial operation Wednesday.
Darrell Ehrlick
Pat Bellinghausen Montana CASA volunteer of the year. April 10, 2013 photo.
DAVID McCUMBER
Editor Darrell Ehrlick and Editorial Page Editor Pat Bellinghausen will be leaving The Gazette. The positions of editor and editorial page editor were eliminated in Billings.
At the same time, Lee Enterprises announced that David McCumber, editor and general manager of The Montana Standard in Butte, will assume the role of regional editor, adding Billings to his oversight of news operations in Butte and Helena.
Chris Jorgensen, who has been City Editor of The Gazette, has been named Local News Editor and will lead day-to-day news operations. He will be assisted by City Editor Alyssa Small.
As a part of the newsroom restructuring, the Gazette will hire an additional news reporter. Also, it will reduce the frequency of its Opinion page to three days per week, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Gazette will also retain its two-page Opinion section on Sundays. The editorial board will be restructured, and local editorials will still be maintained with Publisher Dave Worstell and McCumber working jointly.
Tentative plans call for Ehrlick to be a consultant and contributor during a transition, assisting the Editorial Board and working on other writing projects as needed as a freelancer.
Ehrlick, a Billings native, has been an editor with Lee Enterprises since 2004. He has served as editor of the Winona (Minnesota) Daily News, the LaCrosse (Wisconsin) Tribune, the Casper (Wyoming) Star Tribune and has edited The Gazette since 2013. For the past four straight years, The Gazette has been named the best newspaper in the state by the Montana Newspaper Association.
Bellinghausen spent 37 years at The Gazette. During her career at The Gazette she has reported on health care, criminal justice and education, and has served as the opinion page editor since 2001.
Publisher Dave Worstell said, “As the newspaper business evolves, The Billings Gazette must also embrace changes that help serve our readers in both print and in digital. “Pat and Darrell have both worked tirelessly for The Gazette over many, many years. The entire organization thanks them for their valuable contributions.”
McCumber has worked in and led newsrooms of various sizes, from small dailies to metropolitan newspapers. His 50-year career includes a decade at The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, where he was the managing editor, and a three-year stint as Hearst Newspapers’ Washington, D.C., bureau chief. He joined Lee as the editor in Butte in 2015. He was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and has published four books of nonfiction.
“We are lucky to have outstanding journalists at The Gazette and at all of Lee’s Montana newspapers,” McCumber said. “My job will be to support them however I can; to try to make each day’s print and digital products the best they can be; and to make sure we continue to give our Montana readers the excellent news coverage they need and have come to expect.”
My Town: Billings Gazette Editor Darrell Ehrlick shares his favorite things about Billings
Rims are the tops
Don't get me wrong: Missoula is great and Bozeman is just fine.
But Billings, you have my heart.
Growing up in Billings, I assumed that every town had a place where you could go and just look at the city.
Nowhere has that, though, except Billings. Nowhere has a place that you can just go and look, and hike around, and see nearly 150 miles on clear day (not to mention three different mountain ranges).
These sandstone cliffs that hold the city of Billings close are maybe its best, and most underappreciated, feature.
Billings booze
Billings has an amazing microbrew scene with places like Überbrew, Carter's and Angry Hank's.
It also boasts an outstanding distillery in Trailhead Spirits.
But I really appreciate the Montana State Liquor Store at 100 24th St. W., No. 2. The store carries a great selection of spirits, including a huge variety of Made-in-Montana liquors. If you're looking for a whisky that could compete with any from the Bluegrass state, look no farther than Uncle Carl's from Potomac, Montana.
Besides a great selection of Montana booze, it also carries one of the finest selection of bourbons and scotches you'll find.
Pioneer Park
It's Billings' version of Central Park. And, it's amazing.
With a stream running through it, tennis courts, picnic tables, running paths and playgrounds, and a kiddie wading pool, this is everything a park should be. When the weather is nice, the park is packed, and if you're in the mood to pet a dog or see someone you know, this is definitely the place.
It's a gathering spot for things like the annual Symphony in the Park or Big Sky State Games and it may be the best spot to take a blanket and read a book on a summer day.
Last Chance Cider Mill
I live in downtown Billings and I love downtown Billings.
Last Chance Cider Mill is one of my favorite places to take people, especially those who are not big beer fans. Locally brewed cider and a great selection of wines, coupled with an amazing menu of food, make this a comfortable, hip hangout at 2203 Montana Ave.
Every time I have a drink here, I think, "Wow, Billings is so lucky to have this place."
A Few Books More
In my book (yes, that's a horrible pun) there is fierce competition for the best bookstore in Montana. Among my favorites are the Book Cellar in Billings and Second Street Books in Butte. Then there's the always wonderful Country Bookshelf in Bozeman.
But my vote goes to A Few Books More, 520 N. 32nd. It easily has one of the best sections on Western American history you'll find and a great Montana section. If you're into Will James, owner Tom Vanek can help you find what you need.
It's easy to accidentally spend hours and lots of money finding books you don't know you need.
Oxford Antiques
One thing that folks may not know about Billings is it has a great market for antiques. In fact, I have included several places here because really, I can't pick a favorite.
As a local history buff, it's like treasure hunting in these local antique shops. The cool thing about all three of the places I have collected here is that they are in historically significant buildings. In fact, you can kind of just feel the energy of Billings' past.
Mike and Alex Gregory own Oxford Antiques, 2411 Montana Ave., and they have a great collection of area antiques and an incredibly strong collection of records and vinyl.
This shop is also on one of my favorite blocks in all of Montana — cool stores, great restaurants and amazing people.
Marketplace 3301
Named because of its address, 3301 First Ave. N., Marketplace 3301 is a collection of antique vendors that comprise what was formerly Holliday Furniture.
The different antique dealers vary from glass and baking wares to lace and linen. You can find furniture, books, albums and light fixtures. It's a pretty incredible variety.
The owners of Marketplace 3301 have also managed to keep the small aviary as part of the store. I can remember my parents going furniture shopping as we ran through the cavernous store, always stopping to look at the birds.
Pro tip: Marketplace 3301 may make the best mocha latte in town. You may not expect a great little coffee bistro tucked into an antique market.
YesterYears Antiques
Yesteryears Antiques at 102 N. 29th St. in downtown Billings is full of antique vendors — three floors from top to bottom.
Stella's, home of the homemade breakfast
Stella's serves cinnamon rolls the size of tires.
Personally, I think its pies are every bit as good as the breakfasts. In fact, I often compromise and just have pie for breakfast.
While there are plenty of good places in Billings to get breakfast, including the High Horse's chicken fried steak with hot potato crush, or the epic chicken fried steak at the Muzzle Loader, Stella's, 2525 First Ave. N., is the one place that people ask for when they come to visit.
And every time I see a line of people waiting to grab a table, I think about going somewhere else. And every time I wait for a table, I'm glad I did.
Don Luis
Just down the street from Stella's sits Don Luis, 15 N. 26th St.
I put my favorite Mexican restaurants through a taco test. My taco theory goes something like this: Every place can make something really neat — you know, the "wow" factor. But making something simple, like a taco, allows no room for mediocrity.
Don Luis has been a staple for more than 20 years in Billings. And though I have had other things, I still can't get enough of its carne asada tacos. They may be the most perfect taco in Billings. Maybe beyond.
The Montana Room, Billings Public Library
The best collection of books on Montana history can be found where everyone can access them — at the Billings Public Library's Montana Room.
The Montana Room was a place set up especially for research on local and state history. It has microfilm of The Billings Gazette, annuals from high schools and colleges, city directories and a remarkable collection of books about Montana history.
It may be the best and most unknown local resource on history. A strong contender for that distinction might also be the Western Heritage Center's archives.
Veronika's Eastern European bakery
Pear Faberge, almond tarts and chocolate croissants — these are not so much food as works of art.
Owner Veronika Baukema has Veronika's Pastry shop, 2513 Montana Ave. The small shop overwhelms customers with the smell of freshly baked pastries, and local connoisseurs know to get there early if you want your favorites.
You wouldn't expect Billings to have a world-class Eastern European style bakery, but these baked goods are too good to keep hidden. I love that the labels on the shelves are in both English and Russian.
Correction
This story has been updated to reflect the correct number of years of service for Bellinghausen.
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