Sorted by date Results 601 - 625 of 3540
In the Spring of 2023, a spot on the Big Sandy Medical Center's Board of Directors became vacant. After careful review of the Board By-laws, the Board learned they must appoint a candidate to that position until the term is completed. Candidates that were interested in being on the BSMC Board were allowed to express their interest through October 16, 2023. At that time, the nominating committee stopped accepting nominations and the Board chose the candidate to be appointed. At the most recent Bo...
I asked Shane Ophus, “How do you approach life so you can be thankful every day”? Shane responds, “Well, it’s not easy. Sometimes, you have to concentrate on it.” However, just that morning, Shane told me he had read in his study bible,”’Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. The note for that verse in my study bible says, ‘Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings. Obeying these three commands, rejoice always, p...
A family of turkeys moved into the east side of Big Sandy this past month. The Merriam's wild turkeys travel from one yard to another looking for seeds, leaves, insects, nuts, and berries. They also hold up traffic on occasion as they leisurely stroll across streets. The birds garner fame as their photos repeatedly pop up on social media. So what is their story? Wild turkeys are native to North America but not native to Montana. The large birds were introduced to Montana in the 1950s as part of...
Deer Need a Little “Tough Love” in Winter Conditions Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently sent out a warning to Montanan’s that it is illegal to feed deer under Montana law. Jim Knight, MSU Extension Wildlife Specialist (retired) explained a 2003 article why feeding deer is a poor practice The compete article is available at https://bit.ly/3uU6JRa. Feeding deer hay or corn can be deadly because deer cannot always digest new feed. Deer digestion involves protozoa and bacteria that help break down food. Different micro-organisms help diges...
Big Sandy Schools is participating in Red Ribbon Week this week, an annual event where schools work to inform students of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Dianna Keane, the school counselor, is organizing this year’s activities. She explained, “Red Ribbon Week would be a week that we use to help students give them facts and awareness about drugs and alcohol and how that it can affect them. We use it as a way to create awareness, but then also provide some tools to help kids. Things lik...
Big Sandy High School shop class has been busy preparing for a subterranean geothermal greenhouse, given to Big Sandy by a grant from Northwest Farm Credit Services. Helping to get the site, which is by the football field, ready were Jay Worral, and Blaine Ophus who both came over and helped dig dirt. Layne Taylor said, "They brought over their equipment and donated their time to help me dig it out. So, they actually did most of the digging. We have just been building. I also had Jesse Hartley,...
The Chouteau County Angel Basket Program provides in-need families with food for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, as well as Christmas gifts for children in the homes. The deadline for signing up is November 1st and it is approaching quickly. For years, the program has provided families in our area with groceries, a gift certificate, ham and beef roasts, and (sometimes in years past) turkeys. The program also is associated with the Angel Trees, which provides gifts for kids in the families...
A new book offers decades of grassroots research and local history that easily could have been lost on computer hard drives and buried in filing cabinets. Instead, Fort Benton resident Lorna Krause, retired Chouteau County Conservation District administrator, worked closely with the family of Highwood farmer Ron Long to make sure a piece of his life's work will be available for generations to come. A lifelong learner and community volunteer, Long passed away in 2021 at age 81 from injuries suffe...
Updated Diseases of Cool Season Legumes MontGuide Available A Montana State University Extension guide from 2015 has been updated. The new and improved guide (EB0207) is titled Diseases of Cool Season Legumes - Pulse Crops (Dry Pea, Lentil and Chickpea). It is written by Uta McKelvy, Assistant Professor Extension Plant Pathology, Erin Gunnink Troth, Research Associate, and Mary Burrows, Associate Dean for Research and Director of Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station. It includes photographs and management of existing diseases and diseases...
Staff present- Superintendent Dan Schrock, Clerk Mary Merrill Trustees present- Chairman Kelly Rutledge, Jessica Sheehy, Matt Myers. Not present- Anna Bold, Brad Weaver. Guests in attendance. 1. Meeting called to Order at 7pm by Kelly Rutledge, Chairman 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Public Comment- Non Agenda Items . No public comment 4. Minutes of the Last Meeting held on September 19th 2023. Motion to approve made by Jessica Sheehy, motion seconded by Matt Myers, approval of minutes from previous meeting approved unanimously. 5. Reports &...
½ Beef - Demrce Keller ½ Beef - Daniel Weaver ½ Pork - Rita Yirsa ½ Pork - Kyle Clark ½ Pork - Frank Moravec ½ Pork - Chase Hoffman They can be picked up at Hi-Line Meat Packing Nebo Emergency Kit Light and Power – Ruth Hlavnicka $50.00 Gift Certificate to the Mint – Eli Dixon $50.00 Gift Certificate to Pep’s – Daniel Weaver Turkey/Ham Combo. – Eli Salapich Turkey/Ham Combo. – Carla Courtnage Turkey/Ham Combo. – Ruth Hlavnicka Turkey/Ham Combo. - William Ophus Turkey/Ham Combo. – Chase Gasvoda Prime Rib Roast – Heather Pleninger Prime Rib Roa...
t represents one of the reasons I love small-town living. The tradition has continued for 68 years! Once again, the Fireman's Chili Feed was well attended. Such a wonderful community event. It isn't just a one-day event. The week starts on Monday because although we don't call it Homecoming it is. There is spirit week all week with Monday being Pajama Day, Tuesday being Cowboy or Cowgirl, Wednesday being Favorite Decade, Thursday being Favorite Sports Team, and Friday being Purple and Gold. The...
F.E. Miley's First Grade Students were greeted by a new face when they showed up to class at the for the beginning of the school year. Long time Big Sandy resident, Renee Leader, stepped in to fill the role left by Mrs. Hanson. Katie Hanson shifted from full time teaching to a slot on the substitute teaching roster. Renee came out of retirement this year to help care for the needs of our first graders. The move came after a change in the teachers' retirement system, which allows teachers to...
A new structure takes shape at Big Sandy Airport. The 52 X 46 foot building will house ground maintenance vehicles including a new snow plow. Chouteau County Joint Airport board began plans, for the vehicle and building, approximately one year ago. Mark Reichelt, Big Sandy Airport manager and member of the airport board, says bidding for the building began soon after plans were finalized and Claussen and Sons, of Havre, received the job. Chouteau County currently supports three general aviation...
Saturday morning slowly began with an eery glow. The gloomy atmosphere wasn't a remnant of Friday the 13th but instead an astronomical phenomena. Beginning around 9:15 a.m., Big Sandy saw shade from the shadow of the Moon. The annular solar eclipse lasted for almost two hours and the best viewing sites, in the United States, were in Oregon Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas. Big Sandy experienced a partial eclipse with maximum coverage around 10:30 am. The annular or "ring of fire" eclipse...
Dr. Sam Wyffels to Speak at Chouteau County Livestock Protective Association The Chouteau County Livestock Protective Association annual meeting will take place on Thursday, November 16th at 3:00 p.m. at the Mint in Big Sandy. A social will follow the business meeting at 5:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:00. Please RSVP Buck Goldhahn at 622-5572 so the cooks can have notice on how many people will be attending. This year’s guest speaker is MSU Beef Specialist, Dr. Sam Wyffels. The presentation will be Fall and Winter Nutritional Management o...
Trustees present: Chairman Kelly Rutledge, Vice Chair Brad Weaver, Anna Bold, Matt Myers Jessica Sheehy Staff Present- Superintendent Dan Schrock, Principal Heather Wolery, District Clerk Mary Merrill, Athletic Director Melanie Schwarzbach Guests in attendance- yes 1. Call to Order- Chairman Kelly Rutledge called the meeting to order at 7:00pm 2. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. Public Comment In public comment to the board of trustees, William Maddox emphatically expressed his concern with not being placed on the agenda for the current...
The senior center would like to thank Terry Grant, for the year he served on the board. At the same time, we would like to welcome our newest member, Jodi Thorton. Jodi, has taken on the position of secretary as Wendy Kleinsasser, has stepped down from the position of secretary. Wendy is still an active member of the Big Sandy Senior Center Board. We would also like to take a moment to thank Brenda Darlington, board president for all the volunteer hours. After a year of volunteering, as assistant cook and director Brenda has been able to step...
The Wreaths Across America laying of the wreaths will take place Saturday, Dec. 16 this year. At 10 a.m. wreaths will be laid all across the nation for our veterans who have gone on before us. This all started with a 12-year-old boy who went to the nation’s capital for the first time and Arlington Cemetery made a big impression on him. The experience followed him throughout his life and reminded him that his good fortune was due in large part to the values of his nation and the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. T...
After a few years without a pastor, Christ Lutheran Church is hiring Kristie Rutledge part time. She will be providing pastoral care to members and preaching two Sundays a month. Her first day on the new job was Friday, October 6th. The new role comes as Kristi is wrapping up her Licensed Pastoral Associate Program, which will conclude this June. "I started my LPA program over two years ago now through the Montana Synod of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America)." Kristi is...
New Owners of the Diamon for You club and Casino, Chris O'Dell and Stephanie Therow, sat down with me and talked about how excited they were to be the new owners. Although they will be changing the name back to The Club. Both are from Nebraska originally. Chris owned a bar in Nebraska and was looking to buy another one here. Chris is also the Big Sandy Hospital Facility Manager. They will be looking at some changes, but what and when is still up in the air. There is the feasibility of making a...
At the recent city council meeting I was informed that a business has closed its doors to full-time operation. I received the following information from a letter from Mountain View CO-OP'S Nate Fairbanks: "Effective October 1, 2023 Mountain View Co-op has made the decision to transition the Big Sandy location from a full-time operation to a season Agronomy operations facility. I was to assure you that our priority is still to provide you with the products and services that you've become...
Garden advice for October and November Managing horticultural landscapes and house plants in November is important for healthy production during the growing season. Below are a few recommendations for Chouteau County gardeners. • Apply protective mulches to perennial beds. • Use a humidifier to maintain humidity for houseplants. • Prune out dead limbs of woody ornamentals. • Do not fertilize or transplant anything after Columbus Day. • Continue to water landscape plantings (trees, shrubs, and perennials) until the soil freezes. • Apply winter m...
I’ve tried to write about school funding before. It has multiple levels and at times is difficult to completely understand. But at a recent board training, I was given a Montana School Finance Handout a 25-page document explaining school finances. I thought I would start by giving the Big Sandy K-12 Budget for FY2024. The total of all funds is $3,564,573.44, but having written that it’s important to know there are ten different fund categories. The General Fund is $2,127,853.49. Transportation is $250,000; Bus Depreciation Reserve is $64...
Mike Schneider, owner of Jim Taylor Motors, lost over 200 pounds in the last two years using an unusual strategy. The change was so drastic that long-time friends didn't recognize him, even after he approached and conversed with them upon returning to Florida recently. Mike attributes his success to a different approach to weight loss. "I've had more people reach out to me on this than anything I've ever done in my entire life, which is just crazy." His motivation in sharing his experience is...