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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...
Darin Ray was found guilty of four felonies of aggravated assault by accountablity. His sentencing was held on April 20th. In the Minute Entry, the Montana District Court in Chouteau County reads, “The court sentences the defendant on Count I to a six-year deferred imposition of sentence with a $5000 fine. On Count II, a 6-year deferred imposition of sentence with a $5000 to run concurrent with Count I. On Count III, a 6-year deferred imposition of sentence with a $5000 fine to run consecutive to Counts I and II. On Count IV, a six-year d...
The recent school board meeting held on April 20th had 35 guests present. Chairman Glen Terry reminding everyone, “School Board meetings are held in public but are not public meetings.” There was plenty of discussions, even by zoom, as everyone present could speak to anything on the agenda. The report on the Building Maintenance Projects revealed that a small section of asphalt sidewalk would be removed. Also, the breaker box was placed in the high school in 1956 and needs updating. Insulation and heating bids have been received for the bus...
I was visiting another service organization representative who said he had great admiration for the Rotary members and the amount of service they do for our community. To date, they have raised and given to the community through various projects $675,000 in the last 36 years. This Saturday, April 24, is the Big Sandy Rotary Banquet. This is how they have raised all of their funds. If you would like to buy a ticket for the meal, you may purchase one at First Bank. It costs $100 for two Prime Rib dinners, including salads and desserts. There are...
This year Earth Day falls on Thursday, April 22nd. There isn't much celebration for the Holiday here in Big Sandy. Here in God's Country. Here in the middle of farm and ranch country. I get it. People living in the city surrounded by cement don't have much earth around them to influence them, even if it's just a tiny patch of green in their backyards. I can understand why they would want a day to express the importance of the earth, the importance of nature because they see too little of it. On...
This year at the FE Miley Elementary school, because of Autism awareness month, students will be learning why and how to be kind. They made a rainbow of seven colors representing all seven classes. They used each student's handprint, and the high school art department will paint the words "In a world where you can become anything, be kind" above the rainbow. Every year 1 in 54 births is diagnosed with Autism. Often nationwide, students on the spectrum are bullied. But Cat Lopez,...
It was cold and windy-a typical track day in Havre, Montana. As one parent put it, 'It's better than no season at all," as was the case last year, with the entire year was lost. This track meet was the Lion's Invitational held at the Havre Middle School and was a big all-class track meet with 23 schools present representing class A, B, and C schools. Placing in the races was a significant achievement as each event had numerous athletes. I got the track meet results online, and to be honest not t...
In 1924 Everton Mattress Factory began as a small bedding company in Utah before moving to Twin Falls, Idaho. That’s important because they have always been a company that made beds in the United States. It is one of the reasons that Ed Lehman has them for sale at Lehman’s True Value. I found myself in the basement of the hardware store in Fort Benton in a room full of beds. Everton has a large selection of different kinds of beds. He told me he carries twin, full, queen, and kings size mattresses. I mean, you can get soft pillow tops, pos...
Maybe you have noticed. After the first of the year, I had a good look at the direction the Mountaineer was taking and realized I needed to do more. It still felt like we were struggling to stay connected, to feel a part of a rural community. It felt like we still separated due to COVID-19 and political rhetoric. I wondered what the Mountaineer’s role was to make sure we were a tool to help heal the division. I decided to create Project Connect. The idea was to make sure I do everything possible to help the small business, including an a...
Mayor Shaud Schwarzbach mentioned that the pivot soil samples had been taken. Diane Labuda from the Big Sandy Pool Committee attended the meeting and reported on the recent meeting held with KLJ about the pool design and emphasized the funds would all be raised through fundraising. There will be stages so that the project can be started in different phases. A zero entrance versus a ramp approach to the pool was discussed. Mark Rohweder from KLJ visited about the state code mentioning the pool...
A surprise assembly at the F. E. Miley school was held to award Amy Terry, Alma Terry, Cat Lopez, Brittany Sherburn, Cheryl Ostrom, and Dick Thornton the Paraeducator/Teacher Team of the Year award. Kristie Rutledge, School Psychologist Bear Paw Cooperative, presented the award to a shocked group of paraprofessionals. Also present was Glen Terry, the president of the Big Sandy School Board. He said, "Everyone is born with a gift, and these people use their gifts working with you," he said to...
Big Sandy Pioneer track was canceled last year, so the start of a new season is exciting. Head Coach for the Big Sandy Pioneers is Melanie Schwarzbach. Helping her this year is Charlie Klimas throws, Wendy Taylor-sprints, and Shersteen Cline. “Track helps every sport. Not everybody does track for the love of track, but track will benefit every sport,” Melanie said. “They are coming out knowing they need to get faster for football.” According to Melanie, “We are using a really cool newsprint program.” She learned about it at the coach’s clinics....
Three months in Rick Darlington, County Commissioner, reports, “It’s been really good, not a lot of snow removal this winter, with the open winter we saved a lot of money. We have a big job ahead of us to try and get them (the road) all improved. We aren’t going to get it done overnight. It’s going to take a long time” It was Saturday during the grade school basketball games when I finally got up with Rick. He continued to tell me, “We are out there blading them right now.” They have a full crew having hired Lance Cook again. Traci Sibra i...
Answering a third grader’s concern about finding a home for all the stray animals, especially feral cats, I thought I would ask first at the Dedman Animal Shelter. Nikki Jones has been the director for three years. She admitted that the topic of homeless animals is a big concern. Currently, they have 40 cats; three are kittens. Adult cats are the hardest to adopt out. They also have nine adult dogs and 25 puppies to give away. They take strays from Big Sandy and have a new program funded by grant funds to fix the problem of feral (wild) c...
Jaesun Yirsa is a 7th grade home school student and the son of Petra and Justin Yirsa. Jaesun said he likes writing and has a very patriotic family. “It’s an honor for me.” Marty and Tamee Havrilla, from Fort Benton, both air force veterans, presented his award. Marty represents post 447 VFW in Fort Benton, and Tamee is a state VFW Auxiliary officer. VFW Post 447 just celebrated its 75th anniversary. The 2020-21 Patriots Pin Theme this year was “What is Patriotism to Me?” Jaesun was required...