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With Montana's mosquito season in full swing, West Nile virus (WNV) activity has intensified across the state. In addition to previously confirmed positive mosquito pools in Lewis and Clark County (three detections) and Cascade County (one detection), new positive tests have emerged in Hill County. Those developments elevate ongoing public health concerns and reinforce the urgency of prevention efforts. • Cascade County: One mosquito pool tested positive earlier this season. • Hill County: On...
GREAT FALLS – On Sunday, August 10, audiences at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center got a rare, one-night-only chance to see Montana through the eyes of those who live and work its land. The Real Yellowstone, the latest conservation documentary from award-winning filmmaker Tom Opre, offers an unfiltered look at the challenges and triumphs of rural ranching and farming life. This isn't a romanticized postcard of the West. Instead, Opre's film shines a spotlight on the families who raise l...
Summer vacation is winding down as the first day of school is fast approaching. Students returning to classes on the 18th will be greeted by a mostly familiar faces as Big Sandy Schools continues to run like a well-oiled machine. Going into the 2025-2026 school year, Big Sandy Schools experienced a very low number of staff changes, a trend that has been consistent over the past few years. That consistency in staffing is ultimately good for the students, who experience stability and...
September Horticulture Management Managing horticultural landscapes in September is essential to healthy production during the growing season. Below are a few recommendations for Chouteau County gardeners. • The average first frost is September 15 (Carter), September 18 (Kenilworth and Highwood), September 20 (Big Sandy), September 25 (Fort Benton) and September 28 (Geraldine). All fruit and vegetables should be harvested before temperatures drop below 40° to 50°F. • Ripen tomatoes in a paper bag along with an apple, or hang the entire plant up...
BIG SANDY, MT — A fresh new chapter is unfolding at our beloved local newspaper as Daniel and Danielle Weaver step in as the new owners and stewards of this long-standing community publication. The Weavers, residents of Big Sandy, are no strangers to the heart and soul of small-town life. With deep Montana roots and a passion for local storytelling, they are eager to carry on the legacy of the paper while bringing new energy and vision to its pages. “Our goal is to make the newspaper a true reflection of the spirit of Big Sandy,” said Danie...
I have been the owner of the Big Sandy Mountaineer for six years, during which time I have learned a great deal about myself and our community. I love being a part of you all. I loved writing, although I believe you will find the new owners are better at writing than I am. Big Sandy Pharmacy, owned by Danielle and Daniel Weaver, has supported me by placing ads in the paper during those years, and now they have stepped up to ensure Big Sandy will have a newspaper in the future. I hope you all...
First thing this morning, while letting my dogs out, they found a small skunk in the yard. My very energetic puppy attempted to play with our unwelcome visitor and got a face full of skunk spray for his efforts. This is my second skunk incident in my tenure in Big Sandy. Fortunately, this one was far less severe. Last time around, we had to keep the kids out of school for a week. We also had to air out the house, wash every bit of clothing we own, and throw away all kinds of things that we...
Practical Considerations for Bovine Castration The following article was written by Rosslyn Biggs, DVM, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Beef Cattle Specialist. Approaches to castration should be made with operational objectives and animal welfare in mind. Producers should consult with their herd veterinarian for a castration protocol that includes consideration for animal age, facilities available, castration method, and pain control. Calves castrated at younger ages—ideally under three months—generally experience less str...
I love stained glass, so I'm excited to see a store in Big Sandy! The name of Lisa Myers's business is Glass Candy. "I did stained glass in high school, which was a really long time ago." We both laughed. "I used all my graduation money and bought all the supplies to do stained glass, along with a bunch of glass. I probably did three or four things with it after high school, and then I did maybe a couple of things in my early 20s." However, after that, everything was put in a box and moved with...
By Zoe Merrill I was a student at the University of California, Davis. I was a political science major and was expecting to go to law school. I had even teamed up with a couple of other people to start a pre-law club at UC Davis. UC Davis has about 18,000 undergraduate students, which is very large, and they were beginning a law school." Another law school was at Berkeley. "That's where I was headed, but my personal life was a wreck. I was doing well as a student. I ended up graduating with...
As of last week, The Mountaineer has been purchased and will continue to serve the community of Big Sandy. Danielle Weaver, the paper's new owner, will take over operations in August. Big Sandy residents likely know her as the owner and operator of the Big Sandy Pharmacy. I had the opportunity to visit with her about the purchase of the paper and her plans for The Mountaineer going forward. Danielle explained how the decision to purchase the paper came about: "I had the thought when Lorrie first...
Jason Cook is the Project Lead of the Spring Wheat Breeding and Genetics Program. He is also an Assistant Professor at MSU Bozeman. He is the son of Kenyon and the late Kathleen Cook of Big Sandy. Jason is a graduate of Big Sandy in 1996. Jason told me, "I went to Bozeman for my undergrad degree. And my master's degree. Then I went to Wisconsin for my PhD." He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Missouri. "I went to North Carolina State, in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was...
At the monthly meeting of the Big Sandy City Council, the Sheriff of Chouteau County, Justin Smith, introduced Ryan Clark, the new Chouteau County Deputy, who will be patrolling Big Sandy. The sheriff reported that there were 105 sheriff calls last month from the Big Sandy Area. Two deputies were always present for Homecoming. Last month, there were 18 patrols in the Big Sandy Area. There are currently seven open criminal cases in Big Sandy. Also, the new deputy has logged 41 traffic citations....
Horticultural Tips for August Below are some rules of thumb when tending vegetables, lawns, flowers and trees during the month of August. • Renovate strawberries by mowing a minimum of every three years. Some people mow their strawberries every year following fruit production. Be sure to set the mower high enough to mow the leaves. Mowing too low may damage the crowns and kill the plant. • Topdress strawberries after harvest with a complete fertilizer like 16-16-16. • Pinch the tops of indeterminate tomatoes and reduce watering to promo...
Press Release: TUESDAY JULY 8 Big Sandy, & Havre, Montana –Healthcare providers and Montanans working on promoting healthy, sustainable food systems come together for a two day summit at the Quinn Institute (Friday) and Vilicus Farms (Saturday). Participants will engage in field tours showcasing organic sustainable farming techniques, including dryland vegetables, crop rotation, and health-driven genetics. Experts will discuss food as medicine, featuring local programs. Topics include the economics of stewardship, food education, and how h...
Big Sandy Public School District #2 Board of Trustees Meeting This meeting has been recorded & will be available on the School Website July 15th, 2025, 7:00 pm Location: High School Computer Lab: 7:00pm Trustees in Attendance: Vice Chairperson Jessica Sheehy, Matt Myers, Amanda Hoffman, Kyle Danreuther Trustee Not present: Chairperson Brad Weaver Administration in Attendance: Superintendent Daniel Schrock, Principal Heather Wolery, District Clerk Mary Merrill Guests in Attendance: yes 1. Call to Order by Vice-Chairperson Jessica Sheehy at 7:01...
Trapper Skoyen, newlywed husband of Eryn Darlington, has been diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. In Early March, Trap made a visit to the hospital for what they thought was gallstones and came out with the unexpected news he had cancer. A Tough Like Trapper Benefit as been scheduled for July 25 at 5:00 PM at the Blaine County Commercial Building in Chinook . On June 16 he went in for surgery, unfortunately the tumor remains. They found that the cancer had metastasized. But they are still fighting...
The first fire of the season was caused by a baler bearing. It was put out with the help of neighbors and the Big Sandy Fire Department. The following is an article found on the internet to remind all of us to be diligent in preparing for the fire season. Farm fires pose significant dangers and can devastate agricultural communities. As a local resident, there are several crucial ways you can contribute to preventing and responding to these fires: 1. Prevention is key • Practice fire safety a...
Nine students from Big Sandy High School recently traveled to Belize to study rainforest ecology and marine biology. This was the fourth international science trip taken by students at BSHS and the second time our students have visited Belize. Working through Ecology Project International, a nonprofit educational ecotourism company based out of Missoula, the students raised funds for close to a year in order to make the trip possible. The Big Sandy Education Foundation supported the students...
A Special Thanks in Advance to our Chouteau County 4-H Fair Superintendents 4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. 4-H programs help develop nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA. Cooperative Extension serves every county and reservation in the U.S. through a network of 110...
This year was the 15th year of the annual skate park. As always, people from all over the world were here. I visited with two from Brazil and from around the states. This year, I wanted to focus on the youth, as the hype should be about what it's doing for our children. After all, that is why Jeff Ament built it in the first place. So I spent time visiting with Big Sandy's guest about why it was important for our children. It was interesting to talk to skateboard experts. It was very clear why...
Last week's Big Sandy Mountaineer featured an article announcing Lorrie Merrill's upcoming retirement. Lorrie is the owner and operator of the Mountaineer, which means that the paper will potentially cease publication in September. The story behind Lorrie's tenure at the Mountaineer is a long and winding road. Lorrie initially became a part of the Mountaineer when the previous staff writer, Robbie Lucke went in for cancer treatment effectively limiting his ability to write for the paper. She...
On Thursday, the 17th, Corey Kop, owner of Spruce and Steel Music in Havre, Montana, will host a concert and fundraiser for Chris Myer's Rock School. Chris told me Corey has a nice little music store. "He's been doing a backyard concert series, and this one will help support Rock School." Chris said, "I think Nathan and I are both going to play a little bit, and Cory is going to play. I might have the other three Shiver Brains kids play some acoustic stuff because it's in the backyard." Corey...
I hope that someone will continue the paper, but the chances are slim. You can do it no matter what your ability. There's a former editor in town who will help, and I will also, but it needs to be someone who believes in the purpose of the Mountaineer and its importance to Big Sandy. Please step up. Yes, I did initially say the last month would be June, but I had forgotten about Homecoming at the time, so I will now retire in September. My goal for the Mountaineer was five years, and it's been...
One of my favorite people, Doris Gullickson, is still rocking life. Her resilience and determination are truly inspiring. Despite the challenges, she's found a way to continue her work outside, even in a wheelchair. Doris's love for the outdoors and her positive spirit are unwavering. She's a testament to the fact that with the right support, anything is possible. Doris received a track wheelchair for the summer. Cutting Fences Foundation is a 501c (3) nonprofit organization serving farmers,...