Sorted by date Results 809 - 833 of 3567
The 2022-2023 State FFA was one to remember. We had Lance Rutledge, our local FFA Chapter president, run for a State FFA office. We had multiple teams participating in FFA competitions including: Forestry, Agricultural, Technical, and Mechanical Systems (ATMS); Agronomy, Horse Evaluation, Veterinary Science, and Farm and Ag Business Management. We had a couple of participants enter the Montana Junior Ag Mechanics Show (JAM) for the first time at State FFA. We had many members that got proficiency awards, State Degrees, and scholarships. Lance...
With the snow still on the ground and the temperatures mimicking a mid-winter chill, Easter weekend seems like a far-off thought, let alone the summer swim season. Neither of them, however, are very far out. Easter weekend brings back an annual tradition for the Big Sandy Barracuda swim team. The Swim Team Barbeque is held every year on the Saturday before Easter, this year being held on April 8th. This Fundraiser, put on by all the families and swimmers themselves, raises funds that are used for multiple expenses throughout the season which al...
Craig Edwards, a local artist and farmer, received special recognition at the Montana Western Art Week show in Great Falls 2 weeks ago. Craig has been participating in the art show for years, but for the first time was included in the Charlie Russell Auction, which took place at the CM Russell Museum on March 17th. Craig's inclusion in the silent auction is the first time photographic art was included in the auction. Craig explained the auction itself and the significance of his inclusion: "The...
Tree and Shrub Grafting Class at Fort Benton Library The Fort Benton garden club is hosting a tree and shrub grafting class at the Fort Benton Library at 12:15 on April 19. Those who attend will learn how to make unproductive apple trees and rosebushes productive thru the grafting process. In addition, there will be a hands-on grafting demonstration where gardeners will get to practice. Please bring a grafting knife, paring knife or a carpet knife. Branches, tape and wax will all be available. The class is free and open to the public. In...
Easter eggs and egg hunts, the Easter rabbit, fasting for lent, and even the name of the holiday itself all have fascinating origins that have become increasingly obscured by the passage of time. Over the last few weeks, I’ve explored the background of some of the most popular Easter symbols and customs. But, what about the holiday itself? Most people know that Good Friday and Easter are the the days we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. But, why was Jesus crucified? What is the significance of the resurrection? Why did it take p...
Superintendent Dan Schrock reported to the board that the leak creating the water damage to the gym floor was because of a leak in a fin tube of the heaters in the gym. In the written report to the board Superintendent, they have "wrapped up the mitigation efforts by Day Spring restoration as of last week. They came and removed the equipment that was used to pull moisture from our gym for in the area that experienced a significant water event. Time will tell if other gym areas are affected, and...
My wife and I moved to Big Sandy from a community with nearly the same population as the entire state of Montana. The peace and quiet are amazing. Having a tight knit community and the lack of traffic are even better. The one thing we find ourselves missing about living in a larger community is in the things-to-do-when-we-go-out category. Over the years, we have discovered that the Golden Triangle has plenty of amazing options as well, though it might take some exploring and searching to find them. This is why I will be sharing the hidden...
The Montana FFA Association held their 93rd annual state convention in Great Falls on Saturday March 25th. The last order of business was announcing the 2023-24 State Officers. Congratulations Lance Rutledge for winning the election for State Treasurer....
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been researching questions about the origins of various Easter observances, traditions, and practices. As I’ve progressed, I’ve had folks approach me and add their own curiosities to the list. There is one question, which I’ve alluded to in other articles but have avoided mainly because I haven’t been able to come up with a conclusive (or even vaguely satisfying) answer. “Where did the Easter rabbit come from?” Like so many other traditions we observe today, no one is really sure. Worse, the research that exists o...
Initial Private Applicator Pesticide Training in Stanford MSU Extension Judith Basin County will be offering a Private Pesticide Applicator Initial Training on April 6,2023 in Stanford. The training will take place at the Stanford City Hall located at 102 Central Ave. New applicators will need to fill out a new applicator permit with $60 fee (if within District 5) and mail to Montana Department of Agriculture. Please register by April 5th (walk-ins are welcome). For further questions, please contact the MSU Extension Judith Basin County office...
Friends of the Library met at the Big Sandy Library on 3/7/23. This was the first meeting of the year. The Christmas stroll basket raffle at the Library was a success. $715 was generated for the Friends of the Library fund. The Friends has also received $70 from the Sharon Robertson Memorial. The Friends approved funding to send Darlene Cline, Big Sandy Librarian, to the Montana Library Association Meeting and Training. Funds were not available in the Chouteau County Library budget to provide...
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. With the ice we’ve seen this year we are acutely aware of how quickly a life-changing injury can occur. The first thought is often broken bones, but have you ever considered how quickly your brain health can change? According to the Brain Injury Association of America, 5.3 million Americans are living with a permanent brain-injury related disability. There are at least 2.8 million people in America who suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) every year. A TBI is any alteration in brain function, c...
The first farm I ever lived on was a dairy farm in the shadow of Mount Jumbo Missoula, Montana. It was a dairy farm owned by my mother’s mom and dad. I don’t remember much, maybe the corral, which was full of manure. I remember the creek. I love mountain creeks, full of rocks and bubble foam water. I remember the irrigation ditch on the side of the mountain. But mostly I just remember a great big barn where the hay was stored with a swinging rope. The truth is, I might remember that because I have a picture of me swinging. Living in the cou...
The Big Sandy Senior Center purchased a new oven with the help of a $10,000 grant. The grant also helped with the purchase of several additional items that were in need of replacement and upgrade. I spoke with Brenda Darlington, who is the board chair and oversees operations at the center. "We got a grant from Vitalogy, and it helped us purchase a new oven, which we desperately needed. We just got that in on Friday, and we love it." Brenda explained that the replacement was necessary because the...
Where did “Easter” come from? This question isn’t about the Christian observance of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Rather, it’s about the name of the holiday. Though some churches call it “Resurrection Sunday” in order to avoid the more common name, which has become associated with all sorts of secular observances. Regardless of the less used names, “Easter” is the most common name, and it doesn’t seem to be obviously associated with the holiday. So, where did the word come from? When did the observation of Christ’s resurrection become...
MSU Extension Forester will teach Shelterbelt Management near Loma Peter Kolb (Montana State University Extension Forester) will be teaching shelterbelt management on Thursday, April 13th from 3:30 p.m-5:00 p.m. at the Terry and LeRita McKeever residence. The address is north of Loma at 2088 Houston road. The public is invited to attend. Peter F. Kolb is the Montana State University Extension Forestry Specialist and an Associate Professor of Forest Ecology & Management, housed at the University of Montana in the Department of Forest...
Fort Benton Women’s Club sold daffodils with proceeds going to the Cancer Support Group. If you missed out on ordering daffodils earlier, you can purchase some at the Rivers Edge Greenhouse & Floral. Yes, they have some extra. Don’t wait, they may run out. The annual Dart Tournament sponsored by the Pastime Bar is March 25. We appreciate the generosity of Natasha Nash and all that work to put on this event each year and sharing the proceeds with us. If you haven’t had a health check up in the past year now is good time to schedule an appoi...
Big Sandy Medical Services Foundation would like to remind high school seniors, college students, and BSMC employees who are pursuing a medical career that the deadline for these scholarship applications is March 31, 2023 for the 2023-2024 college year. Applications may be picked up either at the high school by contacting Mrs. Dianna Keane or by writing: Big Sandy Medical Services Foundation, PO Box 530, Big Sandy MT 59520. You may also call 378-2163 and ask Nora Grubb, Secretary. College students who have applied and received the BSMS...
This year's theme of the Rotary Banquet is Rhinestone Cowboy Rotary. The question would be, what do you wear to that? Shon Tester said, "I found his old Rhinestone Cowboy attire from back in the day" from his Grandfather's closet. And I thought, man, wouldn't it be great to have an event where we could wear this kind of stuff? Because I know I'm not the only one with a closet full of this attire. And so many people come up to me, saying, we don't know what to do. And so here it is in black, and...
It’s time to dig through your dresser drawers for the green T-Shirt, socks, or scarf that you’ll wear on Thursday, March 16th. St. Patrick’s Day is once upon us! If you want to indulge in a traditional Irish meal, you will find a welcome at the Senior Center or the United Methodist Church at noon on March 17th , more on that later in this article. These days it’s common practice to ‘be Irish for a day’ on St. Patrick’s Day, just as many enjoy a smashing a pinata at a ‘ Cinco De Mayo’ party on Mexico’s Independence Day, May 5th. Celebrating the...
Easter weekend is fast approaching, landing on April 9th this year. For years, I wondered why it moved around so much. In addition, when I began to learn more about my faith, I wondered why Easter doesn’t always land during the Jewish Passover. The history behind the floating holiday, and the disconnect from its Jewish roots, is fairly interesting and worth sharing as a part of my series on the history of Lent/Easter traditions. A little background is necessary for understanding the whole matter. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection o...
Tenth annual Chouteau County Agriculture Day for 4th and 5th Graders The tenth annual Chouteau County Ag Day for 4th and 5th graders will take place at the Chouteau County Fairgrounds on April 20, 2023. All 4th and 5th graders in Chouteau County are invited to attend. Home school kids who are interested in participating need to contact the Chouteau County Extension Office at 622-3751. Participants will learn the importance agriculture, which is Montana’s number one industry. Youth will learn why agriculture is important to their health, home a...
In fall of 2021, Starle Taylor joined the BSMC team as the Dietary Manager. Prior to her job here, she worked at the Ft. Benton Hospital for 31 years. Working with Star are Patti Pegar, April Reid, Sierra Grimwood, Karla Whetham, Jamie Jones, and Kodi Boone. Each staff member is ServSafe Certified. A certification that provides training in food safety and sanitation. This is not something that is required by the State or CMS but is encouraged by Star for all her employees. Aside from the time spent managing her staff, Star fills her days with...
A new community-wide activity occurred one day before the Pioneer boys took off for state. After talking to Ella Jurenka, who in part organized the community side pep rally and fundraiser, she said, "The goal was pretty simple--to try to help take the financial burden off the school, the parents, and the kids. It costs a lot of money to take the kids to tournaments, but the experience for them is priceless. Memories they will never forget. You cannot put a price tag on this experience." "We ask...
(Editor's note: I had written a few questions to Bailey and she wrote this. It was fun to watch her lift) LIFT fitness is where it all started for me. When I couldn't play basketball because of my concussion history, I turned to CrossFit, thinking it would be temporary and I would be back on the court in no time. That did not necessarily happen, so I became consistent with CrossFit starting in 2019. From there, I was all in. I signed up for competitions and started to really invest myself in...