Articles written by Zoe Merrill
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Transportation bids are needed for the 2023-24 School year
Superintendent Dan Schrock reported to the board that the leak creating the water damage to the gym floor was because of a leak in a fin tube of the heaters in the gym. In the written report to the...
National Ag Week March 21-27-Ag Lives
The first farm I ever lived on was a dairy farm in the shadow of Mount Jumbo Missoula, Montana. It was a dairy farm owned by my mother’s mom and dad. I don’t remember much, maybe the corral, which was full of manure. I remember the creek. I love...
The Future of Wrestling
I knew that adding the 8th-grade wrestlers to the high school wrestling program had helped the team this year, but I was curious to know if the statewide changes were as effective. Head coach Tucker...
Rhinestone Cowboy Rotary Banquet Invaluable for our Community
This year's theme of the Rotary Banquet is Rhinestone Cowboy Rotary. The question would be, what do you wear to that? Shon Tester said, "I found his old Rhinestone Cowboy attire from back in the day"...
A fun pep rally raises $5,300
A new community-wide activity occurred one day before the Pioneer boys took off for state. After talking to Ella Jurenka, who in part organized the community side pep rally and fundraiser, she said,...
School Board approves Interlocal Agreement with the Town of Big Sandy
During public comment, a letter was read. Day's Inn sent a letter to Big Sandy commenting on how wonderful the Big Sandy boys are. (Please read the letter to the editor) The Chauvet family wants to pa...
Ten years since we have been to state basketball
They had two weeks to rest, heal and prepare. I wanted to ask the Pioneer team if they were ready for state. Kody Strutz said, "Yes, Ma'am! After playing eight games in two weeks, I've been working...
Gasvoda and Wagoner sign letters of intent, Football and Track
Rusty Gasvoda is going to Western in Dillon. Suppose you haven't heard the story; Rusty never sent a videotape to them. Instead, someone from a different school, the Pioneers, played sent a tape and...
The Making of Heroes
I walked into the Big Sandy High School gym and sat down to watch our 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade athletes learning to play basketball. Their coaches are Eryn NNissen, Ronnie Simpson, and assistant Nathan Merrill. They were learning how to shoot a...
Fraud is Very prevalent
I won another Kitchen Aid, according to my emails. I think I win a Kitchen Aid every week. According to National Consumers League, this type of fraud tops the list at 35%. Demra Brown, representing First Bank, did a presentation on the fraud...
Town Council informed about Deer Control Hunt in Big Sandy
The Town of Big Sandy held its regular City council meeting on February 16th. The Public Comments section noted that the Fish and Game would be coming to Big Sandy to kill up to 50 deer and donate...
Senior Center thriving under new Management
The Big Sandy Senior Center is doing well under the leadership of Brenda Darlington and the Board of Directors. Questions are always asked about how the center is now doing. Without trying to name eve...
Legislation Needed for Educational Professionals
According to usafacts.org from an article called “Teachers in the US face low pay relative to their level of education, which was published on November 11, 2022, “the average teacher makes less than the average full-time earner in every state...
Why we don't feed the deer
When I had energy and more time I loved to plant flowers and vegetable. Only to be frustrated to wake up in the morning and have them eaten to the ground. Deer loved my flowers. They would come and mu...
Dr. Derik Powell and Highwood Dental Studio are now open
Dr. Derik Powell will be Big Sandy's new dentist. Derik and his wife both graduated from CMR in Great Falls. He completed undergraduate degrees from Montana State before attending Dental School at...
Tenley Keller Epperson and The Superbowl of Rodeo
Up front, I know nothing about horses, so when I heard one of our own had a horse competing in the Superbowl of Rodeos, the National Finals Rodeos, I just had to get a story. Laci Keller Christenson...
Lippard/Clawiter Foundation Grants for Big Sandy
Every year I am in awe of the contributions made by the Lippard/Clawiter Foundation. They have supported Chouteau county since its formation in the early 1980s. The Foundation awards grants to non-profit organizations all across Chouteau County...
Tordik Wildlife Foundation gave $98,000 to Big Sandy groups
Tordik Wildlife Foundation, Inc. was formed in 1991 and they have quietly continued to fund projects in Chouteau County. This year the Big Sandy area received $98,000. The following received:...
Joyful Christmas Concert
My favorite concert lived up to my excitement. Big Sandy's Elementary School concert is always my favorite. It started with the 4th graders playing Cool Christmas tree on their recorders. Music Teacher TJ Bonds introduced them by saying parents...
Big Sandy High School Music Rules the Air
It is that time of year when music rules supreme. The time of year when we usually know every song being played. It brings up memories and smiles. It lifts us, and despite ourselves, we find ourselves...
Big Sandy Students show off Art at Mountaineer during stroll
It was great to have Jessie Jaramillo, Big Sandy's Art teacher, display some of the work of the Big Sandy students in the Mountaineer during the Big Sandy Stroll. I was also happy with the number of...
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas-Miracle on Main Street
It was a very long day but full of excitement, except if you asked the kids sitting with their moms at the craft bazaar. They said they were bored. But let's start with Breakfast with Santa; what a...
charbaby clay: A new business in town
Charlotte Danreuther knows clay. She's hand-thrown clay with perfection for years. When you see her work (art), you'll think they're made from a form. Each one is perfectly made. She is opening her...
Pioneer Girls Basketball to build on last year
I asked Travis Baumann what he wants for the Pioneer Girls Basketball team. Travis said, “To be competitive. We want to be competitive in every game we play. That’s everybody’s goal. That’s the girls’ goal too.” He believes we will see...
Boys Basketball is going to keep the momentum of State through the seasson
This year the Big Sandy Pioneers will have Co-Head coaches; Rhett Simanton and Ryan Labuda. They have 14 basketball players but will bring up some 8th graders. Rhett said his coaching philosophy "is...
