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I needed a break. A break from dry brown land. A break for high heat. A break from discouragement and depression. I went and visited my sister, Dena, in Billings. I knew she would have a lush green yard, and she and I would find numerous reasons to laugh and celebrate. With the frustrations we are all having right now because of the grass-hopers, the heat, and the outcome of a horrible storm, the trouble is we sit in our air-conditioned homes and wait for a different outcome. There are oases...
At press time Monday, it was hard to verify rumors. However, the storm that hit Big Sandy Sunday evening was devastating. You don't need to confirm when your eyes clearly show the damage. No one was killed, but there were two ambulance runs due to the storm. One at least was very serious. Shane Chauvet wrote on his Facebook account, " A severe storm blew a 5-foot steel culvert into the 'Roxor' ( 4-wheel side by side) we were driving on our way home through the field. It was the amazing and...
One thing is for sure the laws have changed since I was in school. I attended a training session by Andrew Vegland, a lawyer from the Helena Montana School Board Association. He handed out a 57-page document discussing current laws governing the Big Sandy School Board. I will not attempt to cover the entirety of the meeting here. However, we need to understand how the local school works and cover various issues further in-depth. There were a variety of issues briefly discussed. Title XX sets out the legal code if you want to look that up. Open...
Although it appears that everyone is tired of talking about COVID-19, I felt it very interesting to discover the long-term effects it was having on so many people. Gwen Ophus came into the Mountaineer and quickly visited me about some long-term effects she is still experiencing. She wondered if anyone in town is still struggling with the same issues she is or if they are struggling with different effects. She has joined an online support group and hopes that she’ll be healing quicker than later. She got COVID in the second week of November 2...
A couple of weeks ago, I received a message asking me to be a true journalist. It contained a comment about a politician I should be pointing out is not a good representative of the state of Montana. In other words, I would only be a good journalist if I wrote an article according to her opinion. She did say I should represent both sides, but it was obvious to me, for her, truth is only represented by her political persuasion. Freedom of speech is one of our most cherished freedoms, but I was raised to understand that with that freedom comes re...
As one person told me when I asked which Freedom came to mind when you think about your rights, “There are so many of them. Our right to have Freedom. I guess.” Actually, that sentence, “There are so many of them,” was repeated numerous times. Some had difficulty putting their thoughts into words, but I understood. It is the “Freedom to do things. The Freedom of choice.” And as an afterthought, they told me, “to remember to say thanks to all those who protect our rights.” The truth is we don’t stop to think about our rights that often. I ask...
This July 11th, the Virgelle Mercantile will be holding its annual Flea Market. The weather will cooperate; in fact, it will probably be hot. Don Sorenson, the owner of the Virgelle Merch, said, "we'll have ice cream, soda's, pop to help keep people cool." Besides the refreshment, there will be up to 20 vendors scattered around. There is one food vendor. "She has a great menu; Indian tacos, wraps that are pre-wrapped, so you can grab it and go. She always has great food," Don exclaimed. It's...
Anton Poelman at Tillemans told me he really enjoys his job because he likes fixing problems. Solving maintenance issue on equipment so they can last is rewarding work for him. “We get trade-ins with over 400,000 miles” Those cars get regular maintenance service. All professional maintenance manual says the same thing. “It is important to stick to the schedule. So easy to let what needs to be done slide, I know. Experts all say to “Follow the maintenance schedule in your car’s owner’s manual. It spells out when to take care of every servi...
I live at Hopp. Out southeast of Big Sandy, many communities are still going by the names they were given years ago. I live in one such community. The Hopp Post office wasn't too far from where I live now. I thought maybe some would be interested in what I found while I was doing some history research. Most who still live in the Hopp community indeed have long family history in the area and already know the following: (Taken from A Gathering of Memories) "W.M. (Bill) Hopp was born on March 3,...
There was a School Board Meeting held in the computer room. The new Student Council gave the school board members the goals they hope to achieve during the next school year. The Booster club's report is the new football room's lockers have been purchased will be installed by the Booster Club before the football season is here. Maintenance projects have been started. The Annex/Weight room has a new floor. It was a big project removing all the weight machines. The Gym floor has a 10' X 15'...
The Big Sandy City Council town meeting to discuss water and sewer rates was held in the large room in the back of City Hall. Approximately 30 residents were in attendance. Mayor Shaud Shcwarzbach thank them for coming and said he wished this many people would show up for every city council meeting. The floor was opened for comment with the stipulation that comments be kept to five minutes. No one talked for five minutes but did talk several times during the time. Questions were asked, and I...
Big Sandy is divided up into two wards. Ward one runs south of the main street that runs from the Catholic Church to the cemetery. Ward two runs north of the same street. The council has two representatives from each ward. The Mayor represents the entire city. There are three Big Sandy Council members up for re-election. From Ward 2, Krystyl Kulbeck and Colby Baumgarn. Krystle was appointed April 1st but now must run for the position outright. From Ward 1, Jon Sheehy is also up for re-election....
I have known Sarah Shaw for quite a while. I was also looking for someone who could do alterations or mend small projects. Yes, I sew, but finding the time or, for that matter, the desire to mend hasn't been in the works. Sarah sews. I didn't know she even had a small business where she could do all of that and more. Sarah's Craft Creations will do alterations and mending. You don't have to give them or throw them away. If you look on Facebook at Sarah's Craft Creations, you can see various prof...
At the Memorial day Presentation at the Big Sandy High School Auditorium, the guest speaker was Durl J. Gibbs of the Lewistown area. He is a 95-year-old World War II veteran. Born in 1925 in Idaho, he enlisted in the U.S. Army upon graduation from high school. As a 19-year-old, he was assigned to the 381st Regiment, 96th Infantry Division of the U.S. 10th Army, a division known as the "Deadeyes." On Easter morning, April 1, 1945, his Regiment was part of the assault force against Imperial...
There is an important public meeting on Wednesday, June 9, at the city hall to discuss the new sewer and water rates. I have been covering this issue for three years attending the city council meetings, and have reported on the process they have taken to get to this point during those three years. There has been ample time to ask questions and discuss with the city council members your concerns. The meeting on Wednesday, June 9, will be another opportunity to express your opinion and ask...
This May 26th, a spring Piano Recital featuring the private students of T. J. Bond, Nona Danreuther, Susie Sant, and Marla Ray was held at the Christ Lutheran Church. There were 21 impressive students: seventeen grade school students and four upperclassmen. The range of experience was fun, from those who just started this year to senior Kathrine Bold with years of lessons and experience. Katherine Bold played “Never Give up on Your Dreams” from memory. Simple songs like “London Bridge” were played by Isaac Goodman and Chopsticks in a duet wi...
The class of the 2021 Graduation Ceremony was held on May 23, 2021, at two o'clock at the Big Sandy High School gymnasium. The gym was full, and I heard so many say it was good to get back to the tradition of graduation. Last year only family could attend, and it was outside on the football field. It was a beautiful day, but because of that, the slide show could not be seen. This year the ceremony was like all others before. This graduation felt like a warm sweater, something warm, something...
Nothing is nobler than having a parade just for the joy of the residence of Big Sandy Medical Center. The joy it brings to our community's seniors is well worth the few minutes to walk three blocks. The length of the parade doesn't measure the value of the parade. According to research, "The longest parade in the world is the Hanover Schützenfest that takes place in Hanover every year during the Schützenfest. The parade is 7.5 miles long with more than 12,000 participants from all over the world...
Big Sandy Pioneer girls won second place at District 9C. Those girls attending Northern Divisional this week will be: Malaysia Baumann in five events; Amy Gasvoda in four events; Mattie Gasvoda in four events; Angela Sant in two events; Lainey Terry in four events; Madison Terry in four events; Eva Wagoner in five events; and Jaycee Worrall in four events. Pioneer Boys attending Northern Divisional will be Braydon Cline in one event; Lane Demontiney in four events; Wylee Snapp in two events;...
For the second year in a row, Grizzle Bears have been seen in the Big Sandy area. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks presented a Grizzle Bear informational meeting in Big Sandy. There were three representatives present at the meeting, including Wesley Sarmento, Bear Management Specialist from Conrad Montana. Thirty residences of Big Sandy attended the meeting. We will be having more sightings of Grizzly Bears in the future as they leave the Rocky Mountain Front. If you ever see a Grizzle Bear, report it immediately. The phone number of the FWP...
I like reading autobiographies because I enjoy getting to know people. I find them inspirational. I have never read a movie star's autobiography, and to be honest, I don't care, but I was impressed with his comments on creativity. And have struggled to express them myself. I believe we are created in the image of God; therefore, because he is creative, we are. If we aren't creative, we can't live fulfilled lives. Now I'm not saying that creativity is only in the arts. You can make a mean...
Congratulations to Cam Schwarzbach, son of Shaud and Melanie Schwarzbach, for earning a scholarship in swimming at the College of Idaho! Cam has been swimming for nine years as a member of the Big Sandy Barracudas Swim Team. He swims the 50, 100, and 200 meters free. A couple of months after his mom sent his times to the College of Idaho, a private liberal arts college in Caldwell, Idaho, they sent him a scholarship offer. "I decided that's what I wanted to do. My emphasis for both racing and ac...
It’s been a year since we acknowledge the Big Medical Center, but it was for the entire staff what it year. They did an excellent job during the pandemic. I was looking forward to visiting with the staff and the residence but found myself ill when I was supposed to interview. I sent my phone (it has a recording option) and asked Lisa Sipler to ask a few questions for me. Pam Gasvoda is the longest-employed employee at 33 years. “It’s amazing.” She would fill in a few shifts when her children were little. But those years are not include...
Emily Cox moved from a larger city. But she loves it here. Emily lives on the edge of town with her mother and step-father, Karin and Ron Baumann. She said smiling, "I can look at the mountains and a lot of cows." Emily moved here to recover from COVID-19. "It's been a blessing in disguise because it has pushed me to live healthier." She spent 13 days in the hospital with nine days in ICU with a feeding tube and bi-pap. There were 80 beds in her ICU in one large room that only had cloth...
Finally, something a little closer to our normal. Camelot was held April 24, 2021, at the Big Sandy High School gym. The Rotary's District Governor, Sandy Mundahl, attend the banquet. Sheri Moore, president of Rotary, wrote to me, "(she)couldn't believe the outpouring of support for our community, what an amazing banquet we had, and the amount of people we had attending. She was excited to see all the projects we had completed or are working on. She had no idea this was what our banquet would...