Sorted by date Results 16 - 40 of 1004
The homecoming committee is doing a great job, and Rotary wanted to help in any way they could to make it a success. Interviewing Shon Tester, he said, The Homecoming Committee and Rotary are getting along fantastically. They have always done so, and Rotary has assisted the Homecoming Committee with the flowers on Main Street, which look amazing. During Homecoming, “We are also featuring our restoration of the 59 Willys truck. On Main Street, we will have a 16-foot by 32-foot tent that will house everything Rotary right in front of Courtney a...
Memorial Day always makes me cry! I even saw a veteran break down and cry and another veteran comforting him. I have noticed that each year more people come home to honor those who passed away, serving our country, in our community. A breakfast is served by the Big Sandy Historical Society at the Big Sandy Museum followed by a parade. This year's parade was the best yet, with numerous old vehicle. After the parade a program was held at the Big Sandy Highschool. Diana LaBuda, Bob Quinn, and...
American Legion Post has two scholarships every year for our children within the school district. One is the rhetorical which is on the constitution that they have to write a speech the other is to prepare the essay which took first place. Severin Heimbigner, son of Conrad and Lianna Heimbigner won and earned a $1,000 scholarship. Diana Labuda read the winning essay, at the Memorial Day Program. "The Vietnam War era was an intense time in our country's history. There was a very binary outlook...
My sister, Dena, did many, many hours of research for the Mountaineer. In my mind, she's phenomenal. She told me, "I enjoyed researching Chouteau County Sheriffs so much because I've always loved history. I don't mean the history people get in high school or grade school that turned them off from history. I mean the kind of stuff that explains why that street is named what it is and why that road has a certain name? Who are the people behind that name who lived there?" "When you like history,...
Graduation and another new start have come and gone. The day was full of memories and excitement for the future! Loved ones from all over the nation and home, small-town best friends, came together to celebrate the Class of 2025. The class asked Shon Tester to speak to them. He said, "Through my experiences, every graduation speech, college or high school, is essentially the same. They're just worded differently with someone's personal twist. So what can I say to you, in the seven minutes allott...
Big Sandy Art was on full display at the Big Sandy Museum. I loved the opportunity to bid and win a gardening basket and still supported the art show. Dan Schrock, Superintendent of Big Sandy Schools, said, " I think if you look at all the efforts of the kids that have participated and entered their work in this show, it just speaks to the trajectory of our art program, and that's a really positive thing. We are incredibly fortunate to have Miss Jay. She is a rock star and has elevated this...
I want to encourage any family to join the swim team. For the older kids, it's a wonderful way to get in excellent shape for fall sports. For younger swimmers, it's one of the best ways to develop confidence! The friends they make all over the state encourage them to be confident socially. So, it's something to do all summer long: getting stronger, building self-esteem, and building confidence. You aren't required to go to every meet, but you'll want to. You will only be required to attend two....
Charlotte Danreuther sent the following information. "We just had our end-of-the-season pool tournament for our Big Sandy VNEA league. It was a double elimination, and the top 6 players got payouts. All four tables in town were utilized in the 2 day event. Ryan Pansch was undefeated and took first place, winning $200. Chad Cook worked hard to get to the final match, winning second place with $150. Charlotte Danreuther came in third with $125. Walt Sivertsen got 4th place, taking home $100. Ron...
Physically besides water and air, humans also need food, shelter, and sleep to survive. These are considered basic needs; without them, survival is impossible.” I have realized that these five components of physical life are the same ones we need for a spiritual life. Therefore, these will be the subject for the following five weeks. In the beginning, after the Lord formed us from clay, he breathed life into us (Genesis 2:7). The Spirit of God gave us life from the beginning! Without him, we cannot breathe spiritually. “In scripture, the Hol...
A new exciting fund raiser by the Big Sandy Rotary is nearing it's deput. I had a nice conversation with Shon Tester, who is spearheading this exciting new Willys truck! Someone here will win it! Shon told me, "Steve Klanick purchased the1959 Willys Brand New. In 2001, Blaine Opus bought it; after that, Deb and Dave Louvar owned it and generously gave it to Rotary." Shon has restored other cars, and Deb had originally called to see if he wanted it for his own collection of antique cars. "She...
April was declared Autism Month and Big Sandy Miley School. Big Sandy does have a number of students diagnosed with Autism. One in 36 children in the United States will be diagnosed with Autism. Amidst the significant controversy surrounding autism, it's crucial to remember the essence of this discussion. The focus should always be on the students who have autism, and the necessity to respect and include them in our everyday lives. Inclusion is not just a concept, it's a fundamental need. There...
Charlotte Danreuther's journey in her first Montana VNEA Pool Leagues is a testament to her resilience. The league's news release stated, "Despite losing her first preliminary match, she embarked on a winning streak of 6, winning 3 in a row to make it to the finals. She then won 3 more straight matches to reach the final, only to lose a heartbreaker in the last match. Her ability to bounce back and keep fighting is truly inspiring." As I enjoyed a cup of coffee from a pottery cup Charlotte...
Bob Boettcher was born in Big Sandy in a private home. Born into a musical family, Bob said, "My mother was, really the whole family was musical, but mom made sure that all three of us kids were musical too!" He's been singing from the very beginning. This Good Friday I attended the Christ Lutheran Church and Bob was singing a song called Take My Mother Home which he has sang at other Good Fridays Services. It's become a tradition at Christ Lutheran. Bob said, "It's a very special time." The...
My mind has been all over the place this week, and I couldn't see what my thoughts had to do with each other until I researched and found this quote from AI (Artificial Intelligence): "Besides water and air, humans also need food, shelter, and sleep to survive. These are considered basic needs; without them, survival is impossible." Finally, I realized that these five components of physical life are the same ones we need for a spiritual life. Therefore, these will be the subject for the...
Big Sandy Pioneer Senior Kenzie Kallenberger will join the Women's Skylight Rodeo Team at MSU-Northern next year. Kenzie received a scholarship, something she has been wanting for 12 years! I spoke with her by phone as she returned from a college rodeo in Bozeman! Kenzie can't wait to participate. "I'm so excited. I've wanted to be a part of the rodeo team." We talked about how the team did, and although I've watched rodeo for years, I realized I didn't know much about how a college rodeo team...
Shiver Brains, a local children's music group, played in Havre Saturday night with members Henry and Dorothea Merrill, Levon Myers, Liam Simpson, and their mentor, Christ Myers. So yes, I love watching the kids play, but so much more ran through my mind. Saturday was special because every song played had to be ordinary songs written by the musicians themselves. Nathan, my son, has always loved music. On Saturday, he played a song he wrote, and for the first time, his son Henry played the drums...
This week is National Library Week, and I just felt like celebrating our local library. DOGE has recommended making substantial cuts in support of our state library, and since we don’t really know what this means yet, we’ll need to wait and see. Darlene Cline, Head Librarian in Big Sand Branch, shared with me that the state cuts would impact the library, particularly in the services they receive from the state. This insight helps us understand the potential changes our local library might face. Because it is National Library Week, stop at the l...
During my conversation with Amanda Hoffman about the upcoming play in June, she shared some fascinating details. The play, titled The Big Sandy and written by Mike Hesford, will be performed twice during homecoming. Currently, we are in search of actors, particularly those with an adult-based cast to bring a diverse range of perspectives. The play is based on a significant event that took place in 1970 on a local farm near Big Sandy, which was actually outside of Box Elder. This unique opportuni...
The Big Sandy High School Music Program put on a concert showcasing the solo, duet, and ensemble performances in advance of regional music festivals in Havre. The festival is a competition in which all of the school music programs in the area compete to see who will go onto the state level competitions. Big Sandy will be heading to festival this coming Friday and Saturday, April 11th. TJ Bond, who teaches music at Big Sandy Schools, explains that the concert is more of a recital. "We have a...
The Big Sandy Senior Center is trying a new baking venture. As we all know, the Center prepares lunch for the seniors in Big Sandy and anyone else who needs it. An amble plate full of food costs $7.00. The Center has been hit with an urgent situation-its funds have been frozen. The duration of this freeze and its potential long-term implications are uncertain, but it's a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. Currently, they are using funds earmarked for other budget items to keep things...
I visited with Tucker Taylor at Big Sandy High School because this is a big deal-he is the Montana State Girls Wrestling Coach of the Year! He shared with me exactly what I thought he would tell me! Tucker said, "Obviously, it's a nice award to have, but first and foremost, it's just a reflection of the team's success. Also, Kyle Rodewald, we have a co-head coach position, and it's only on paper that he's the guy's coach and I'm the girls, but we're both coaching. It is an award to share not...
Holden O'Dell's love for Big Sandy is palpable. It's not just a place he lives, it's a community he's deeply connected to. When Holden O'Dell first came to Big Sandy, he liked it right away. "I felt very welcomed in the town. I came to visit for Christmas five years ago, I think, and on my way back, I decided to move here because I felt welcomed in just the two weeks I spent here. I've been able to integrate myself with the town a little better since then." Holden works at The Grocery Store. "I...
Recently, Big Sandy hosted the 35th Annual Middle School Mass Band Festival. 165 musicians represented the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Schools participating besides Big Sandy were Havre, CJI, Harlem, Box Elder, Chinook, and North Star. The 6th grade band concert band was conducted by hi-line music teachers. They played 12 The Clock Strikes, Farwell at Dawn, and Legend of Boudica. Guest conductor Cole Bass conducted the 7th and 8th grade Symphonic Band. Cole Bass is from East Helena High School....
For two years, Coach MacDonald of the Box Elder Bears steered the Bears to two state championships, and I visited with him about his coaching philosophy. What does he believe? They have been so much fun to watch over the years. I asked him, "Why are you a coach? And what do you think is the most important thing you coach besides basketball skills?" Coach MacDonald said, "I grew up in a home where basketball was always around and in a community where basketball is a big part of our activities. I...
Ninety-two boxes of meat-3,600 pounds, or 14,000 meals-were delivered to Big Sandy by local ranchers working through the nonprofit Producer Partnership, which provided the meat to the community. Both the school and Senior Citizens will benefit. Shane Chauvet, Co-Founder of Pioneer Producers, was interviewed by KRTV and the Havre paper. He explained that this beef was raised and processed with one goal: feeding local families. "In November, we sent 12 beef to Producer Partnership to get...