Week of October 21, 2026
Week of October 21, 2026
By Your Accidental Journalist There is something special about a small-town dream coming to life, especially when that dream has been brewing for years. For Big Sandy’s Heather Wolery, the opening of Frontier Coffee is about much more than serving a good cup of coffee. It is about following a longtime passion, creating opportunities for her family, and bringing a little extra joy to the community she proudly calls home. Located at the corner of Judith Landing Road and Highway 87, Frontier... Full story
Although Big Sandy residents may not have heard much about the proposed swimming pool lately, fund-raising activities have continued to be busily engaged behind the scenes. As a consequence, we are happy to report a recent grant award of $100,000 from a foundation which would like to go unnamed. This grant puts the total amount raised for this project to somewhere over $2.3 million. The goal to begin construction this Spring is $2.5 million, while the hoped-for goal remains $2.7 million. We are...
From Northern Montana Healthcare Recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition or regaining strength after surgery can take time, patience and the right support. At Northern Montana Hospital (NMHC), Rehabilitation Services helps patients work toward those goals, one step at a time. That message was at the heart of the department’s recent open house, themed “Under Construction.” Wearing orange and yellow safety vests, staff members welcomed visitors to learn more about the therapies and services available to help people improve...
By Your Accidental Journalist For Big Sandy High School senior Karter Jurenka, football has always been more than just a game. It is about family, hard work, determination, and the brotherhood formed with teammates who share the same goals. On October 15, Jurenka received statewide recognition for those efforts when he was named the Montana High School Association (MHSA) Athlete of the Week following an outstanding performance against conference rival CJI. The 17-year-old senior delivered an...
By Brittany Richard Pioneers Face Tough Battles on the Court, Gear Up for Senior Night and Districts The Big Sandy Lady Pioneers experienced a back-to-back week of volleyball, showcasing intense moments of dominance alongside tough lessons in maintaining momentum. A Monday Slip-Up Against PDB The week started on a quiet note for the Varsity squad during a rare Monday night match against PDB. The Pioneers struggled to find their usual spark early on, ultimately falling to PDB in 4 sets (26-28,...
Deer Need a Little “Tough Love” Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently sent out a warning to Montanan’s that it is illegal to feed deer under Montana law. Jim Knight, MSU Extension Wildlife Specialist (retired) explained a 2003 article why feeding deer is a poor practice. Feeding deer hay or corn can be deadly because deer cannot always digest new feed. Deer digestion involves protozoa and bacteria that help break down food. Different micro-organisms help digest different types of vegetation. If a deer has been feeding on aspen or...
100 Years Ago — Oct 21, 1926. The livestock industry was bustling, with 47 railroad cars of cattle shipped Tuesday to markets in St. Paul and Chicago. Among those shipping cattle were N.C. McNamara, Harry Green, Bob Green, Frank Bell and Peter Sonksen. The substantial shipment reflected the importance of ranching to the local economy and the connections between Montana producers and eastern livestock markets. There was news from the business district as well. The Fashion Barber Shop had relocated to the Campbell building. After considerable...
By Erik Sietsema A little over 110 years ago, Big Sandy was briefly home to two local newspapers. Over the past few months, the Mountaineer has been digging into the lost history of the Sentinel, an obscure local publication whose existence has practically disappeared from the collective memory and historical record of the community. Apart from a partial online archive and a handful of references in the Mountaineer documenting its side of the brief local newspaper war, I have been unable to uncover any local recollections or records of this...
Sixteen players braved the early winter weather to play eight rounds of pinochle in the Mint family room on October 11th. Tammie Szarynski won $25 for her top score of 8470. Next high of 8210 was played by Shawn Webster for $20. Ken Darlington received $15 for his 7650. Fourth high score was 7610 played by Jessica Sietsema for $10. And the fifth high score of 7370 gave Maggie Cline her $5 back. Low of 4590 was Linda Osterman also getting her $5 back. Jessica and Rod Courtnage had the highest round score of 1810. Lowest was a positive 240 for...
