The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The Mountaineer usually finds out about local news from a resident. In this case, I was eating lunch at Pep's and heard they were going to close the elevator. I went over to CHS and asked. Shane Cline told me on Tuesday, to contact Keith Schumacher the general manager for any furhter information on the closing of the Big Sandy Elevator. CHS has three full-time employees, Sue Knight, who has worked at the elevator for 27 years. Shane Cline who has worked there 14 years, and Chris Dixon who has worked there for nine years.

From my experience working with boards, board members most likely were required to sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), making it illegal for them to discuss the matter. However, it doesn't stop you from contacting them and telling them how you feel the decision will impact the community of Big Sandy.

The Board Members are Chairman Howard Hammond, Malta; Vice-Chairman Courtney Herzog, Rapelj; Secretary Ray Linhart, Lewistown; Rocque Fairbanks, Geraldine; Joseph Robertson, Fort Benton; Kevin Aberg, Harlem; Ray Green, Hilger; Michael Ladenberg, Havre; and Robert Myers, Havre.

When I contacted their spokesman Keith Schumacher, he responded by saying he would email me a statement from CHS. I reprint it here in its entirety.

"The CHS Big Sky producer board and management team recently made the difficult decision to close the Big Sandy grain elevator. The facility will be emptied by May with plans to sell the facility at that time. All farmers affected by the closing are being contacted directly, with a follow-up letter next week. The employees at Big Sandy have been notified of the pending closure and will have the opportunity to apply for other positions within CHS as available. The CHS Big Sky agronomy operations in Big Sandy will remain open."

"Much thought and discussion has gone into ensuring our cooperative, which is financially strong today, remains strong tomorrow while serving farmers and ranchers in central Montana through the best use of our facilities."

CHS has closed Denton, Geraldine is open only seasonally, and now Big