100 Years Ago — Oct 7, 1926.
Miss Helena Jorgensen had returned home Saturday after spending the previous six weeks in Chinook, where she had been employed as a linotype operator for the Opinion.
Mrs. Christine Nass entertained friends at a waffle supper Monday evening. Among those attending were Miss Carrie Foin and Miss “Carrie Schurmann” of Fort Benton, Mrs. Harry Green and Mrs. Ella Miltz.
M. F. McAnelly traveled to Fort Benton early in the week to attend the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners.
Miss Bertha Laurenson of Great Falls had been visiting the Misses Murtaugh for a week before returning home Monday. The paper noted that Miss Laurenson had worked at the Great Falls post office for the previous 15 years.
A baby beauty contest held Friday named Deane Owen Courtnage first among the boys, with Junior Rutledge second. Among the girls, Lea Beth Campbell took first prize and Margaret Louise Bakke placed second.
A clinic baby contest followed on Saturday. Virginia May Allderdice received first prize among the girls, Ruth Rutledge was second, and among the boys, Elsworth Butler placed first and Fred Shore second.
And Big Sandy youngsters received a firm reminder about the rules of town life. City officials asked The Mountaineerto announce that all children under 18 years of age were required to be off the streets by 9 p.m. unless accompanied by their parents.
75 Years Ago — Oct 11, 1951
Graduates from near and far had flocked back to their old hometown to spend two days visiting old friends and former classmates.
The Kenilworth Home Demonstration Club was preparing for its Harvest Festival Dinner and Bazaar, scheduled for Saturday, October 13, at Kenilworth Hall.
There was another celebration on the calendar as well. Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Berlinger were planning to give their wedding dance at Lone Tree on Saturday, October 13, and everyone was welcome.
Big Sandy High School was preparing to initiate a new group of Honor Society members. Those to be initiated were Marilyn Humes, Buri Miner, Kay Viscon, Cliff Gullickson, Donna Madison, Don Trunk, Walter Gerson and Patty Pokorny.
Homecoming brought former students back from considerable distances. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Worstell came from Great Falls. Richard was noted as a particularly distinguished visitor because he had been the “entire class” of 1918.
Traveling the farthest were C. Herschel Smith and Pearl “Marty” Smith of Wilmington, California. Herschel was a retired policeman, while Pearl was a chemist.
Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Works entertained friends and relatives with a surprise birthday party for their son, Marvin. Allan Pearson was also a guest of honor because his birthday fell on the same day as Marvin’s.
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Tyler and Susanne, along with Mr. and Mrs. Harold Braun and Glenn, spent Tuesday fishing at Lake Francis.
Mrs. Vic Clixby accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Tyler to Fort Benton for lodge Monday night, while Ray Cline stopped at the Floyd Cline home Monday evening before the men headed to Kenilworth Hall to play volleyball.
50 Years Ago — Oct 14, 1976
Sherry Jenkins and Craig Edwards were among the students home from Bozeman for the three-day holiday. Sherry was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, while Craig was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ken Edwards.
Florence Ketterling returned Saturday after a three-week visit with her son Phillip Bulkeley and his friend, Sherman Sivertson, in Seattle. The young men were noted as being well known in the Big Sandy area. On Sunday, Florence and Jake spent the day visiting her sister and brother-in-law, Vivian and Grant Schrouder.
Jim and Kathy Popnoe and their son Justin of Winifred visited Sunday with Lucy Secora and Lillia May Lohse. Jim was Lucy’s nephew.
Nellie Matthews and granddaughter Nancy drove to Malta for the weekend to see Nancy’s sister Lynette, who was teaching there. On Sunday afternoon, the three traveled to Whitewater to visit Patty and family and Eileen Ostrom, who taught there and lived in the Anderson apartment. Nellie and Nancy returned home Sunday evening.
Helen and Glen Terry returned Saturday from Spokane, where Glen had undergone heart surgery. Friends were glad to hear that he was recovering very well.
Mr. and Mrs. Page Lanning of Hamilton came to visit the Harley Darlingtons and do some hunting.
Gladys and Virgil Ferree of Kalispell were also guests of the Darlingtons while enjoying some successful bird and antelope hunting before returning home Tuesday afternoon.
25 Years Ago —Oct 10, 2001
The Girls Tennis Team was hosting an evening of entertainment at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. People of all ages—from elementary students to adults—had volunteered to share their talents.
The program promised a little bit of everything: patriotic music, classical selections, “wacky cowboy music,” a World Wrestling Federation demonstration by four elementary school “monsters,” science experiments by Gaye Genereux and emceeing by Brian Johnsrud.
The annual Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Department Chili Feed and Raffle had once again been declared a success.
The newspaper thanked the volunteers as well as residents of Big Sandy and the surrounding area for supporting the event. Raffle winners went home with prizes ranging from beef and pork to carbon monoxide detectors.
Among those pictured cooking for the annual Chili Feed were Rod Courtnage, Tom Havnicka, Wayne Silvan and Tim Bahnmiller.
On October 1, Rotary members met early to clean up the dump area before gathering for dinner at the Senior Center. Members also discussed their upcoming banquet, including possible themes and entertainment.
At their October 8 meeting, the club decided to order two fire rings for Sheehy Park to be installed the following spring. Members also planned to refurbish picnic tables and replace a couple of the older tables.
Kari Ann Anderson had been named the new executive director of the Dedman Foundation, replacing Dr. Cherie McKeever.
McKeever had resigned earlier that summer to accept a position with MSU in Great Falls.
Young athletes took to the high school football field October 5 for the Punt, Pass and Kick competition.
Among the girls, participants included Tenley Keller, Mataila Cline, Kylie Cline, Amber Amsbaugh, Quartnee Owen, Suzannah Faber, Stacy Weaver, Shersteen Cline, Kortney Danreuther, Shalayne Pearson, Rebecca Bitz, Shaila Cline, Raynee Pearson and Michelle Larish.
The boys included Dallas Briese, Zac Leader, Cooper Jenkins, Taylor Ophus, Dallin Willis, Weston Brown, Darrick Brown, Cory Danreuther, Corbin Pearson, Lawrence Jappe, Kyle Danreuther, Karl Osterman, John Drga, Logan Darlington and Luke Runnion.
The Big Sandy Senior Citizens Center’s October birthday list included Emma Kulbeck and Thora Allderdice, who was celebrating her 94th birthday.
The newspaper also announced memorial services for Berneta “Bunny” Courtnage Burns.