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Many track meets were canceled, but they are sure making them up now. Last week they had three track meets, one in Havre, one in Chouteau, and one in Great Falls. I love watching track when the weather is nice, and these three meets had real nice weather. It's difficult to report on track meets because the number of athletes is crazy this year. At the Havre meet, they had 500 athletes, and I thought it was a long day, primarily because they had prelims and finals. However, the Great Falls meet...
The meeting started with public comments by Kristie Rutledge, who is concerned about the morale at the school. She believes it affects not just the kids but teachers and community members. Travis Baumann said the new WiFi would be here in the middle of June. They discussed next year’s school calendar; it will start on August 22 and end on May 31. The new superintendent search currently has three applicants. They have decided to ask the MT School Board Association to help find new qualified candidates. Darin Genereux discussed the policy of c...
Brett Holmquist graduated in 1992 after four years of being a star basketball, track player, and football player for the Pioneers. Everyone also knew how good he was at music. He went to Concordia College in Moorehead on a choir scholarship. He stayed there two years but transferred to U of M to finish his teaching degree. Brett is still making music. "I've been coming back to Big Sandy to visit with Gramma Helen, Nathan, Chris, and Josh." A year ago, Stick and String were recorded at RD...
When I first moved to Big Sandy to a farm out southeast. A huge cottonwood tree greeted everyone at the start of our farm. Over the years, the tree was poisoned by weed spray from airplanes spraying the crops right above it. It finally died and stood for years with its white skin against the blue sky, but ultimately, my husband cut it down. Years later, I saw what I thought was a fantastic picture-a sunflower growing out of a dead tree stump. I've come to understand its message to me. We...
On a cold, windy day in Choteau, Montana, 24 schools attended a track meet. It was well attended because a track meet was not canceled. Although the Pioneers didn't have anyone running in the 100 meters, just to let you know how huge the meet was, 89 high school boys ran in the event. Big Sandy was missing a large portion of their team while participating in the Music Festival in Havre. Others traveled to Bozeman to watch Kade Strutz play in the Bobcat gray and gold scrimmage. In the 100, 53...
The town of Big Sandy held its regular meeting on April 7, 2022. Colby Baumgarn offered his resignation as councilperson from Ward 2. Jon Sheehy offered his resignation from Ward 1 because he moved to a different area of town. Krystyl Kulbeck moved to appoint Danielle Weaver as councilperson for Ward 1, replacing Jon Sheehy. Jon Sheehy was then appointed councilperson for Ward 2. There were 14 members of the town of Big Sandy present. Chuck Williams from KLJ said he was contacting ACME for a fir...
Two new board members have volunteered to serve on the board of directors. Brenda Darlington was voted in at the beginning of the monthly meeting. At the end of the meeting, Terry Grant was asked if he would be a board member, and he agreed. The majority of the meeting was spent reviewing further financial information. Pat Matthews has done an excellent job of getting the late bills paid and ready for the auditors to arrive the week after Easter. There was a large group of people there, showing once again how everyone wanted the center to...
It's that time again. The Big Sandy Barracudas held a fundraiser during Rotary's Easter Bunny Egg Hunt (which was held indoors due to the weather). The Barracudas served 134 people at their event. The Big Sandy Barracudas raise money for the team through fundraising, donations, and registration fee for the swimmers. This year the sign-up period to join the swim team will be a month-long. The registration will start on April 25th through May 20th. There will be forms located at The Bakery and...
Track in Montana has always been a mix of snow, rain, wind, or hot sunburn weather. When I went to Fort Benton to watch the Pioneer's first track meet, I went into Lehman's, and it started to snow. They said, "Lorrie, you brought the snow!" And I said, "No, there is a track meet in town today!" Everyone laughed and agreed with me. It did snow a little and was a cold day for track. The Pioneers were down several athletes as many were on an FFA trip. They also had five athletes down with...
I have enjoyed getting to know Shon Tester. I knew him as a child growing up here, but it is a wonderful experience to visit with him now whenever he sits down and visits. He always has something creative happening around him. His latest, of course, was Pirate of the Prairie, Rotary's fundraisers. If you went to the event, you saw the pirate ship he made himself, which covered the south wall of the gym. The Junior class helped decorate, but e said of Amia Edwards. "She really ponied up. She is a...
Big Sandy Organics received a new grant for $400,000 for expansion. Thomas Dilworth said, “We have a few (in Big Sandy)that have expressed interest (in selling us some land) but no guarantees. I want to stay here, I have an offer in Fort Benton, but we want to stay here.” Thomas has been working on grants since October. That’s his job at Big Sandy Organics. They have received the following since January of 2022: Growth Through Agriculture $50,000, Job Creation Grant—$82,000, and the grant for expansion. That totals $530,000 in three months....
Big Sandy Senior Center Board of Directors is looking for a new center director. Crystal Geyer had an opportunity for a new job and has given her resignation as of April 1st. (This is not an April Fool's joke.) The Board will be having meetings the week of April 4th to discuss their next moves. At this time, the dates of an open center are not known. They will have the center open as quickly as they can legally open it. If you are interested in being a cook or a director, please contact any...
I found myself surrounded by art in the high school art class. Monika Winderl, a high school art teacher, is thrilled to be telling me about the First Annual Art Week coming April 29- 30 down at the Big Sandy city hall. All events start at 7:00. She has artwork from all her students starting before covid through this year-over 300 pieces of art. Photographs, acrylics, pencil drawings, wood burning, and various venues will be shown. Monica wants to showcase the talent we have in this town. It...
A Big Sandy Senior Citizen Meeting was held on March 22. Local members attended it well. Board members present Gloria Godfrey, Pam Gasvoda, Dee Pribyl, Pat Matthews, and Lorrie Merrill. Susan Bender from North Central Area Agency on Aging, Inc. District Ten was present along with Kerrie Reidelbach, DPHHS State Unit on Aging Director, from Helena. She also brought with her Nutrition Program Manager Nichole Thennis. Before the meeting, the board met with Chouteau County Commissioners and Steve Gannon County Attorney, as requested by Susan...
The Big Sandy Pool Committee members set the summer of 2023 to begin constructing the new Big Sandy Pool. Pool Committee members are Rich Jesperson, Diana La Buda, Dianna Keane, Lorrie Merrill, Heather Pleninger, Ann Quinn, Melanie, and Shaud Schwarzbach. The mission statement of the pool committee is: Our mission is to build a new Big Sandy pool to increase the quality of life and well-being of all residents and encourage the economic growth and vitality of our rural community. The committee has currently raised $354,000, with the addition of...
It was reported that the sanitation inspection went well as they were impressed with how we cleaned and disinfected the classrooms. Kelly Haaland reported on the progress for the annex and gym access. Richard Roth and Nathan Merrill are working with a community effort. He encourages people to look on the web page for the link for gym access. They will be forming a committee to discuss how things are working out. Mainly there needs to be better communication and better regulations in the future. A new student from out of the district was...
Big Sandy Senior Center and the Board of Directors will be having a public meeting for its membership, patrons age 50 and older. It will be held Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at 5:00 pm. There have been many questions and concerns. At this meeting, you'll be able to ask your questions and express your concerns. According to the contract signed, the Big Sandy Senior Center cannot close before June 2022. Therefore, we have three months to try and find a way for the center to become viable in the...
The City council met on March 10, 2022, at 7:00 PM. There was no public comment nor a sheriff's report. The Pivot agreement was signed again this year with 406 Agriculture for next year's contract between Chauvet and the city for the lagoon area. In discussing the pool, it was reported that Tim made a new tarp roller for the pool. The city also did get an initial agreement with the school. The exact wording for the long-term lease is being worked on. The Big Sandy Pool committee will be meeting...
It's still in the beginning phase, but superintendent Kelly Haagland is working with Rich Roth to create public access to the high school weight room and with Nathan Merrill to develop a protocol for the public's use of the gym. They are getting closer. Kelly is in the process of writing the rough draft. Reported in the ? of The Mountaineer was the following paragraph; "The biggest discussion of the night was the Annex and Gym access. In prior years adults were allowed fobs allowing them access...
The Big Sandy Senior Center Board seriously considering closing the Big Sandy Senior Center. They are currently in the process of visiting with local and state authorities about options. However, the future is challenging. Big Sandy Senior Center has been struggling for years to be financially viable. The Big Sandy Senior Center had its first organizational meeting on May 14, 1974 and was established in 1976 with annual revenue of $121,758. It had six employees. The first time I wrote about the...
In October, Brad Moore of Big Sandy was chosen as Montana's Superintendent of the Year but just recently traveled to Nashville to receive his reward. Brad represented Montana at the National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tennessee. He wasn't chosen as the AASA National Superintendent, but what an honor it was walking across the stage to hearing his name read as Montana's Superintendent of the Year. Brad has been a superintendent here in Big Sandy, where his wife, Sheri, works as a third-...
Sometimes getting away from home gives you new insight. On my recent trip to Oklahoma, I discovered I couldn't buy an airplane ticket unless I promised to wear a mask the whole time. I was reminded of that fact listening to a video repeatedly while waiting for the plane about the law of wearing a mask while on the plane. When I got on the plane, I was reminded again. So those who create a scene aboard a plane about not wearing a mask planned on making the scene. While on the plane, I had great...
As most of you know in Montana Initiative 190 passed by 56%. Chouteau County Deputy Rosijpal told me, “Only the counties that voted yes for recreational Marijuana can sell it.” Hill county and Cascade both voted yes, so it is legal for them to see it recreationally. He reminded me that “Chouteau County can still sell medical marijuana. In Fort Benton, that is the Fat Hippie.” He continued to say, “Technically, there are no dry counties in Montana because anyone in Chouteau can purchase marijuana and bring it into the county.” You must be 21...
Debra Silk, Associate Executive/General Counsel for the Montana School Boards Association, led a discussion at the Big Sandy High School for a new Strategic Plan. The last one was done in 2017. We started with the discussion on the current Core Purpose. It reads, “The Core Purpose of Big Sandy Public Schools is to provide a quality education and environment for each student to be successful in life.” The Core Values for the Big Sandy Public Schools are: Purposeful, Respectful, Inspiring, Determined, and Encouraging. PRIDE. She asked if we wer...
The Community Decay Ordinance had its first public meeting. Mayor Shaud Schwarzbach started the meeting by telling everyone how happy he was to have so many people present. He reminded everyone there would be no voting that night. This was just a public awareness meeting to discuss the ordinance. There were a few recommendations to make the wording a little clearer during the discussion. They will take the recommendations to the lawyers for review and bring the ordinance back for further...