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“If you have a kiddo that a teacher says ‘they can’t focus’ or that kind of thing, and you say ‘Yes he can, he plays with his favorite toys or video games for hours. It’s just things he doesn’t like to do that he can’t focus on.‘ That a lot of times is the first clue for me because kids with ADHD can focus if it’s something they are really interested in. It’s the every day things and the non-preferred activities that they have a hard time focusing on,” explains Amy Terry, the special educ...
Terry Jurenka has played host to a pair of Canadian geese for 5 consecutive years. Every year, the visiting couple nest in his yard until their flock of goslings hatches, then they head off until the following year, when they will nest again. Terry explains that their first year of nesting was not so successful: "The first year they came was the year that hail storm came through and took out the airport hangars and stuff. The eggs didn't survive. Every since then, they've come back, and they've...
It was a hot weekend for last weekend's Summer Celebration in Fort Benton, which was a total success after its cancellation last summer due to the Covid lockdowns. This year's theme was Fort Benton's 175th Birthday, commemorating the founding of the town in 1846. Turnout was strong this year, despite last year's cancellation and ongoing concerns about the spread of Covid. I spoke with Dianne Jones, who helps out with the fundraising for park repairs and maintenance at the Pool Repair Committee...
The Biblical book of Daniel opens with a pretty dire set of circumstances. Jerusalem is under siege. The armies of Nebuchadnezzar have conquered every other nation in the area, now they are about to sack the capital of Judah. God’s people are facing a threat to their existence. Then the text says: “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand…” That’s a pretty powerful statement when you think about it. God gave his people over to the Babylonian empire. They had been in rebellion...
Big Sandy's own Wyatt Williams went to Boys State from June 6th-11th to learn more about how our state, county, and city governments work. The American Legion Boys State is a program dedicated to educating high school students in the legislative process, bill writing, and the election system. It presents students with a simulation of various government situations so they can learn well-rounded and realistic lessons. Boys state was first organized by the American Legion in 1935, hoping to foster...
The Big Sandy Public Library Summer Reading Program welcomed Scott Hemmer from the Fish Wildlife and Parks department as guest speaker to speak with the children about area wildlife. Mr. Hemmer is a Wildlife Biologist who does educational talks along the Hi-Line and to other communities in the area. The event was an overwhelming success, with 55 Big Sandy students and 11 adults showing up to listen to the talk. One young man who attended explained that his favorite part of the event was when Mr....
Pastor Sean Janssen and his family will be leaving Big Sandy to answer a call to pastor Grace Lutheran Church in Port Townsend, Washington. Sean was called to Big Sandy to pastor Christ Lutheran Church in May 2018, though he was not able to start his work here until the end of the summer. "Because I was in a one-year contract to serve as a chaplain resident at Banner University Medical Center-Phoenix, and that contract would not be finished until August, I did not get ordained until September...
“I meet millions who tell me that they feel demoralized by the decay around us. Where is the hope? The hope that each of us have is not in who governs us, or what laws are passed, or what great things that we do as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people, and that’s where our hope is in this country; that’s where our hope is in life.” This quote is from a sermon I heard this weekend by Chuck Colson. It has been more than a decade since I first heard h...
The community pool fundraising project is in motion, which raises the question of what sort of pool will the community be building? Plans for the pool are based on its placement in the lot near the graveyard on the southern end of the lot. The north side will remain an undeveloped field and will continue to belong to the local schools. The deep end of the pool will either be 10 or 7 feet deep. The depth will ultimately be determined by the total capital raised before the groundbreaking. The...
Last week, a young man from the community made the trip to Great Falls to receive treatment for a suspected case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). The decision to seek medical help was made after he suffered a handful of symptoms that prompted a trip to the ER and then to the hospital. Fortunately, tests for the condition ultimately came back negative. However, anyone working in grassy or wooded areas can potentially pick up ticks that carry the bacteria responsible for the illness. With...
When I was a kid, my friends and I used to play baseball in the backyard. Along with baseball came tons of talk about how different baseball players swung the bat, made catches, slid into bases, or whatever. Then we would practice to play like them. I remember practicing swinging a bat like Pete Rose and sliding into bases head first during ball games. It seemed like the best way to become a better ball player. When I grew up, I began to do the same thing in my professional life. The first...
Fundraising efforts to build a new community pool have begun and construction plans and cost estimates are being finalized. The committee to raise the estimated $1.75 million dollars is comprised of members of the community and two city council members, whose objective is to fund the project without having to put the costs on the town's taxpayers. So far, the fund raising effort has pulled in a little over $110,000, primarily from Rotary, 2 foundation gifts, and some local donations. Rich...
It is easy to look at other folks and get the sense that they have it all together. I talk to folks often who tell me about how they wish they were more like other people around them. I once talked to two different moms in a week who pointed at each other while claiming they wish they had their lives together like the other one. I have spent years talking to folks who struggle with depression or anxiety lamenting that their lives are not as orderly or happy as their neighbors. This is a...
6 students at FE Miley Elementary received Kindle readers as prizes for their participation in the Bikes For Books/Kindles for Kids program. Every year 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students participate in the program by reading books and receive tickets to enter a drawing at the end of the year. Mr. Thorton explains the program and how it encourages kids to read more: "The Masons offer their program to encourage the kids to read books. It's nice to have somebody other than the teacher saying that...
On May 20th, F.E. Miley Elementary School put on its annual Open House Extravaganza. Parents and community members were welcomed into the elementary school to see displays and hear presentations put on by students in order to share some of what they have learned during the school year. The Extravaganza was cancelled last year due to the Covid lockdowns, so students, teachers, and parents alike were pleased at the opportunity to resume the tradition. The Kindergarten portion of the open house...
Every 5th and 6th grade student at FE Miley Elementary received a fishing pole last week, compliments of Walleyes Unlimited of Montana, Fresno Chapter. Neil and Bope Kulbeck, along with Charlie Foussard, delivered the fishing poles during classes on Thursday the 20th. Neil explained the reason for the gift of fishing poles: "Our goal is the future of fishing, especially for kids. We normally have a kids' education day for 5th and 6th graders in the spring. Of course, Covid has stopped that....
There is a thinking error that we see in our world often: “The Fallacy of Change.” It refers to the idea that you can change other people through your efforts. It’s hard to see this as a thinking error, because we don’t like the idea that we cannot change others. However, if you think on it carefully, the idea becomes clear. The most common version of this is the stereotype where a gal will date a “bad boy” because she knows she can change him if she just tries hard enough. This rarely turn...
Tucker Taylor has been teaching history and coaching Big Sandy students for nearly three years. Tucker was raised in Belgrade and has a strong affinity for small town living: "I like it here. I really like small town communities. Both my parents grew up in small towns. My dad is from Circle, Montana. My mom is from Sheridan, Montana. We spend a lot of time out in the rural areas of Montana. I definitely like the closeness of the small town community. Things get kind of chaotic and wild in those...
The Big Sandy Public Library has brought in a new temporary supervisor from Little Flock Preschool. Alfie the Alligator, who is well known to parents and kids who've been associated with the school in the last 10 years, has been staying at the library since last Christmas. He and his book of adventures will remain there for old friends to visit through the fall. Preschool teacher, Keri Cox intruded Alfie to the school as a teaching tool to help children pay attention and get comfortable with...
FE Miley Elementary School put on two live concert performances last week for the first time in over a year. Due to COVID restrictions, live performances were not possible in the past year, and resulted in all of the band and concert performances taking place via streaming video on the school's Facebook page. Before the Wednesday concert, I asked Heather Wolery, the school principal, her thoughts on the live performances. "It's wonderful! I wish we could have done a normal, in-person, at night...
The Big Sandy Food Bank raffle of 1/2 a pig was awarded to Dusty Alderdice after Deb Louvar drew Dusty's ticket as the winner. The Food Bank partnered with Triangle Communications after they were selected, along with several other programs in the area, to receive the meat to raffle off or to distribute among their recipients. Triangle Communications provided posters and tickets and the community showed their support by buying raffle tickets. The raffle raised $2,030 through ticket sales, with an...
One of my favorite arguments to stoke while hanging out with friends is the “Ford-verses-Dodge-or-Chevy-or-whatever” debate. I don’t have strong opinions on the quality of many vehicles or a loyalty to any brand of car. I jut like teasing folks about things like that. The interesting thing to me is when a person in the argument reaches the point where they make crazy absolute statements, like “Ford has never made a car worth owning.” This would mean that in the entire 118 year history of making...
The 5th Coal Mine Coulee Cross-Country Dirt Bike Race will take place this Saturday, May 8th, at Austin Genereux's ranch off of Coal Mine Road just north of town. First held in 2017, the race will likely attract between 175 and 200 racers from all over Montana and the surrounding states. When I asked about the race itself, Austin explained the difference between the Coal Mine Coulee race and a motocross event: "It's a cross-country dirt bike race. Motocross is a race around a track usually...
A special short season of soccer will be held for Big Sandy’s young athletes running from the last week of April into May. The local soccer season typically takes place place in the fall, with practices and games against teams from neighboring towns. Last fall, the season was cancelled due to the Covid lockdowns. The decision to hold a short make-up season for students was made after the league organizer, Rachel Baumgarn, began receiving requests for soccer from area students. “It’s mainl...
In ancient Israel, the Jewish people followed a very strict set of dietary laws. There are a lot of reasons for these laws, most of them having to do with reminding the Jews that they were separate from other nations and holy. In Acts 10, the apostle Peter has a vision in which he is told that the dietary laws are no longer in effect. There are two huge reasons for this taking place. First, because Jesus fulfilled God’s law and filled the need for holiness a spiritual effort rather than a m...