Originally published on December 18, 2020 9:17 am A district court judge ruled from the bench Wednesday that a Bozeman bar must comply with a county health order intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The Gallatin City County Health Board and health officer took Rocking R Bar to court after the popular watering hole intentionally stayed open late nine times in Nov. despite a health order curfew and warning. Montana statute gives the public health officer the authority and duty to take actions to protect the public from infectious disease. Gallatin County says a Nov. 6 health order requiring bars, tasting rooms, distilleries, casinos and restaurants to close early was made in an effort to flatten the surge of COVID-19 cases, keep hospital beds open and improve contact tracing.