Sorted by date Results 954 - 978 of 1004
Big Sandy City Council met at City Hall March 8th at 7:00. All hats were removed prior to saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Schwarzbach called the meeting to order by saying, “Steve it’s good to see you can still draw a crowd.” The first order of business was to present to the former Mayor Steve Stiles an official proclamation and plaque for his contribution to the city of Big Sandy. Brad Moore wanted to thank the city crew, Tim LaBuda and Larry Geyer, for all their help in removing the snow from the school parking lot. He said they were...
This winter has been a nightmare for everyone, but more so for those who are calving out in this weather. We all have a pretty good understanding of what it must be like, but not really because we aren't experiencing it. We aren't in the thick of it. We aren't exhausted. We aren't struggling hourly with the elements of the weather, the freezing wind, the enormous drifts, or the temperamental cow. We aren't fighting for the life of a calf or it's mother. We aren't frozen to the bone after...
Celebrate an Irish tradition on Saint Patrick's Day March 17th, even if you aren't Irish. The day in particular remembers Saint Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints, who ministered Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century. Despite his Irish notoriety, Saint Patrick was British. His parents were living in Scotland or Wales and he died on March 17, 461. The traditional meal is corned beef and cabbage. Although beef was not readily available in Ireland and was considered a luxury so thei...
It’s time to wake up an hour earlier! March 11th is Daylight Saving Time day which means we need to spring forward an hour. Before you go to bed turn your clock ahead. The following day or for that matter even a week afterwards our conversation will be all about the new time period. Conversations will be about how we hate Daylight Saving Time. Big Sandy residents have their opinions. “I wish they would leave time alone.” “I hate it.” “Ok, Change the time to give us more light in the summer, but leave it there. Don’t change it back ” “I lik...
Ok, we have snow. We've had wind. We have drifts and everyone is talking how this winter measures up to the winter of 78/79. Comments like, "this is the most snow I've ever seen in the area", or "We're going to have so much flooding just like in 79"! To be sure thoughts need to turn to preparedness for flooding, which is hard to believe when snow is up to our eyebrows. In the spring of 1979 there were numerous road outages, culverts throughout Chouteau county weren't big enough for the massive...
It seems everyone in town is taking pictures of their new neighbors. The deer have come into town in search of food. They’re eating bushes, which probably need trimming anyway. We know how we are faring, but how are the wildlife doing? Are they starving? What does winter do to our neighbors? Retired Montana state game warden, Sgt. Gary Benson said we are losing some deer due to the snow depth and the hardness of the snow. Usually a deer can break through the snow by pawing at the ground to get to the grass below. This year the snow is deep, it...
Sheri Roth, Big Sandy's Post Master, says mail route carriers must make an attempt to deliver mail. An attempt, but at no time are they to put themselves at risk. Safety is the number one point at every training conference. Having said that the three Big Sandy Mail Carriers have had quite a year this winter. Tina Cook, Barbie Martin and Dennis Young either smiled or laughed out loud when asked about this year's attempts. Tina Cook has worked for the post office for nine years but has only been...
The Chouteau County Spelling Bee took place in the auditorium of the Fort Benton Elementary School on February 27, 2018. The Big Sandy Grade School spelling champs were both excited and nervous. The 3rd and 4the graders of the county will spell against each other and are not eligible for the State Spelling Bee. The Winner of the 5th-8th grades will go on to the State Spelling Bee. Big Sandy is represented by a number of children, all excited to be in a spelling contest. Representing the 3rd...
Working hard, or learning to work hard, or learning how to battle through, or maybe just meeting new friends. What is the value of little ones learning to wrestle? If you ask them, it's none of the above. It's JUST FUN! Head coach Kyle Rodewald must think it's fun too. And thanks to the Big Sandy Historical Society they've been able to "have fun" four days a week after school. The Big Sandy Museum has had the wrestling mat down in their meeting area for a number of weeks now. You walk in and...
According to Big Sandy's local Fire Chief Larry Ophus the local EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) service "doesn't get the acknowledgement they deserve and are under appreciated". He says the fire department always has an opportunity to visit with everyone after their services have been provided, but the EMT personnel do their service and disappear. EMT's "provide out of hospital emergency medical care and transportation for critical and growing number of patients who access the emergency...
February 22 is National Chili Day. Picture all the hard-working people in Big Sandy, those shoveling snow, digging out neighbors, driving road plows till 2:00 am. Why not celebrate our community by sitting around a table with neighbors, digging into prize winning Chili eating homemade cornbread and laughing about how ridiculous it is outside? There are a few men in our town known for their chili, but they weren't even in their houses to talk Chili. They were outside plowing snow, so giving up...
It was impossible to travel on some of the county roads to get to Havre to support the Pioneers in their basketball game at the District Tournament in Havre. Some parents couldn’t even make the trip to cheer on their daughters. We could listen to it on the radio, but it’s not the same as being there to cheer for their efforts. Big Sandy fans enjoyed watching the games this year especially the extreme effort the Pioneers made this year. Even the Havre Daily News report that, “The Bears certainly took notice of how hard, and with how much passi...
"The weather outside is frightful, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." Band after band of snow keeps falling and although the inches vary in our community it is clear there is at least 25 inches or more of snow on the level. Ditches are completely full, making it difficult to determine where the road is, with many guessing wrong and getting stuck including the county road crew. Coulee's are full and wildlife are finding it difficult to find food. There are hard drifts, not the soft easy to...
After one year, those who have enjoyed traveling to brave new worlds through science fiction books or who have learned how incredible key people were through reading their bibliography's. Those who came to know more about who we are through the histories of our area or who were held in suspense while reading mysteries would like you to join them in discovering one of the most important locations in our community, the Jeff Reichelt Memorial Library. Scientific research conducted in 2009 says...
"All I need is a sheet of paper and something to write with, and then I can turn the world upside down," Friedrich Nietzsche, even if that world is the world of one or the many. Some people have dreams to write, to write anything, and yet they spent their lives void of any attempt. Erik Sietsema had just that very dream as a young kid. Erik said, "When I was very young I'd write short stories. Several times over the years I started writing non-fiction and lost interest." He's writing a trilogy f...
The first Friday of February is Heart Health Day and the month of February is "Take Care of Yourself" Month. Many of us have already abandoned our New Year goal to get healthy by now, so why not look at the issue again and have a look at what we can do about it. We all have heard before what is necessary to be healthier person. Krystl Kulbeck, PA-C, at the Big Sandy Medical Center simplified it for us. All we need to do is make correct food choices and exercise. She doesn't believe one exercise...
Big Sandy Activities is initiating an award available to all students 7th grade through 12th at the Big Sandy High School called the POWER AWARD. Big Sandy Activities motto is "Empowering people". It was shortened from Empowering People with Disabilities to just Empowering People. People with disabilities are just people living with the challenges given to them, not unlike any of us. BSA's goal is to help them feel powerful and appreciated. Nothing gives any of us a boost in life more then...
The Grammys 60th Anniversary was January 28th and was a time to celebrate the power of music. Music has always been an important part of Big Sandy. Here at Big Sandy we have always had a number of gifted musicians and the Mountaineer thought this week would be a great time to have a quick look at a few local musicians who are new, old, or not so well known in our area. Nick Fry is first and for most known in Big Sandy for his "Outsiders Art", but Nick loves music. He plays the harmonica. There...
Gary Hanson has always been handy with wood. Making fabulous wood projects his whole life. He especially likes working on old west projects. Gary is the father of Paul Hanson and Keith Hanson. He made this incredible wagon along with six oxen pulling the wagon and a mule following behind the wagon. The building process took many hours from start to finish. Gary displayed it in his backyard in Arizona and every year he would take it back inside to restore it, before placing back in his yard for...
The best tasting honey in the world is from Big Sandy Montana! Ken Yirsa and his family planted 100 acres of Hairy Vetch the first year they tried it in their crop rotation. Hairy Vetch, is a moderately winter-hardy species. It is the only vetch species that can be fall-seeded and reach maturity the following July. It is a legume, grown as a forage crop, fodder crop, cover crop, and green manure. Hairy vetch as a legume is used primarily for soil improvement. During that first year the Yirsas...
Sharon Sluggett Robertson has spent her entire life living in and serving the community of Big Sandy. Next month Sharon will be moving to Hamilton to be closer to her children and grandchildren. It's important to take a few minutes to acknowledge her commitment to all of us, give her a heart filled thank you, and send her on her way to her next adventure. Sharon was born in Big Sandy. After going to school here she married Roy Robertson one day before her 18th birthday. Roy and Sharon had the...
The 6th Annual Gun and Ammo Show in Big Sandy will take place on January 26th, 27th, and 28th. The Gun Show will be at the Jerry Martin Memorial Hall. Vance and Jean Butler along with their son started the show six years ago because they thought "it was good for the community, because it gives everyone a chance to get a gun and some ammo." Vance said he, "enjoys visiting with old friends as well." There will be 18 dealers from all around the state to sell their wares. Some of the dealers also...
Bailey Gasvoda is the daughter of Brandon and Kristen Gasvoda. She first heard of the opportunity to travel to Washington DC from her friends. They told her how incredible the trip was. Bailey knows that not many teens entered the contest sponsored by Hill County Electric but she still believes it is an honor to win. Hill County Electric has this contest each year and Bailey entered it by writing a four-page essay. This year the question was, "How can the electric cooperative reach out to the...
Chris and Judy Yirsa while living in the wine country of California couldn't help but wonder if the farm back home in Big Sandy could grow grapes. Curiosity got the best of them. What kind of wine could they make in Chouteau County at Yirsa farms? Chris called his father and as they speculated and researched the idea of making wine the idea just grabbed hold. He couldn't shake it. Originally, they knew they would need to try a variety of different kinds of grapes eventually settling on 13 brands...
Larry and Maria Jappe opened the Mint for business 14 months ago. They first opened it on November 1, 2016. Maria said she wanted to have some kind of celebration in November, but just couldn’t get it scheduled. It’s been a great year. The highlights of the year; First and foremost, the people of Big Sandy who supported the business. Marla said, “The people of Big Sandy are fun and the community is just wonderful” Second, the employees of the Mint. She said they couldn’t have done it without the staff. They have been great to work with. Oth...