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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...
Many of you have approached me, expressing the need for accurate information about the closures initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and their potential impact on Big Sandy. Will it affect the school lunch program, the Big Sand Medica Center, and the FSA? Let’s seek the facts together. “According to the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the Trump administration plans to shut down multiple Social Security offices, Border Patrol facilities, wildlife stations, and other buildings used for federal work across Mon...
Black and White Psalm 139:23 says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” The Lord knows I struggle with negative people and people who judge other people, which simply means I’m guilty of both. In our times, people can say whatever they are thinking and criticize anyone who is different from them. They use offensive words that are meant to be! They want their words to be damaging. I struggle to love even my friends who write...
Shon Tester has a way of expressing himself concerning the Big Sandy Rotary Banquet so that it brings excitement to everyone in Big Sandy! “This is a big thing, and it’s an exciting thing, and it’s a fun thing. I do want to encourage people to attend this community event. Involvement is a wonderful palate cleanser for the majority of people, but getting them actually to get involved is sometimes rough. The Rotary banquet has been a wonderful success for many decades now, and it’s because the community is always showing up, and March is intenti...
There are three libraries in Chouteau County: Geraldine, Big Sandy, and Fort Benton. Emily Wicks is the Director of all three. Emily Wicks said, "As far as libraries in Montana: we have 56 counties, and there's like 55 different ways libraries are run in Montana. Ours is an example of a county library. The county is responsible for the funding and the governance. There are some city libraries. There are some city/county libraries. There are also library districts." Wicks puts in the initial...
Charley Overbay, who grows corn for Dave Christensen, had a great year this year. They are still processing it, but the rough estimate would be around 12,000 pounds this year! Every piece of corn cob has to be handled one piece at a time. Some kernels need to be removed one at a time to ensure that their genetics are preserved! To compare the crop from last year when they got 2-3 thousand. "Over eleven years, this year was by far the largest total harvest. But it was also the highest or the...
This year, the Big Sandy Pioneers have an entire cheer squad: Brooke Cope, Camielle Nissen, Ali Moresette, Natalie Lavenger, Jamie Jones, and mascot Chase Gasvoda. They were joined by a new Cheer Coach, Leslie Gregory. It was exciting to see more than two or three out there. Leslie said, "I didn't have any experience with cheer-leading and I am still learning. My goal this year was to get them to look and sound like a team." They ordered new uniforms, which was decided on by the whole team. If...
Amidst the national discourse on the role of the Department of Education and the states in education, it's crucial to understand the impact of federal funding on Montana's education system. "In the 2021–2022 school year, Montana received a substantial $498.3 million in federal funding for public schools, a figure 30.8% higher than the national average. This funding covered 19% of the state's public school expenses in 2023, underscoring its significant role in the state's education landscape." "...
I found visiting with Justin Chen really interesting. His Chinese name is Xingting Chen, which is impossible to pronounce, so he gave himself an American name. When I suggested I take his picture by the American flag, he said that would be wonderful! He traveled from China to Calgary, Canada. "I used to study for over one year." Justin is currently waiting for a study visa to study in Portland, Oregon. "I got an offer from Portland Community College, and I applied for a change from a visitor...
Mary was living in Kalispell, and Nathan was farming here. They met through a mutual friend who was visiting Mary. Mary said, "He thought Nathan and I would hit it off and be great friends, basically because we were both the only ones in our friend group from the state of Montana. He figured we should meet since we both live here in Montana. So one time, when he was over at my house, and I wasn't paying any attention to my computer, he jumped onto my Facebook and friended Nathan. Nathan thought...
Keith Hanson, former owner of the Big Sandy Mountaineer from Chinook, organized a gun show here for the third year in a row. There were 17 vendors and 50 tables, and the place was full. All the vendors I talked to loved firearms. They sell more than guns, of course, with a wide variety of items. They also could purchase guns from private individuals. Some vendors have been in the gun show business for many years, while others just started two years ago. It was fun to talk to an engraver from...