We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
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Reporter’s note: Rose Noel is a resident at the Little Rockies Retirement Center (part of the same complex as the Harlem Senior Center in Harlem). A few weeks ago she told me that “six of our resident ladies are now in their 90’s. I think it would be interesting for you to come by and visit with them.” I was curious to hear what these 90-year-old ladies had to say. Rose Noel got the ladies together in the dining room of the senior center. I greeted them by saying, “I’m very happy to be visiting with you nonagenarians. To which one responded,...
The late Bill Ammen, of Turner, was honored at the annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs (RMAF). Ammen was the recipient of the RMAF's Heritage Award, an annual posthumous award that recognizes one individual for their outstanding life's work towards supporting their local county fair as well as county fairs in general. John Skoyen, a current Blaine County Fair Board member, received the award at the November convention on behalf of Ammen's family who could not attend. The...
This coming January 30th through February 4th the Fort Belknap Indian Community will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mid Winter Fair. Many locals remember when the Mid Winter Fair began. Allie Young served on the fair coordinating committee beginning in 1984. She said in a 2015 interview, "As best I can recall it was initiated by some ladies from Lodge Pole who saw the Fair as a way to deal with winter 'cabin fever.'" Over the years some changes were made but the basic format remains the...
About 45 area volunteer firefighters attended the second annual Northcentral Wildland Fire Training Conference hosted by the Montana Department of Natural Resources (DNRC) in cooperation with several local fire departments and emergency service providers. The training program was designed so volunteers could balance training time with other demands in their personal lives. Don Pyrah, Fire Management Officer for the DNRC's Northeast Land Office in Lewistown, said, "We first offered a class with...
'Shug' (sounds like "sug" in sugar) is the newest version of Chinook High's mascot, the Sugarbeeter. The new version of the mascot made its premier, in its official mascot-role, at a home basketball game on January 12, 2018. The iconic mascot has made state and national news through the years for its unique history and unusual look. The Sugarbeeter placed in the top five most unique high school mascots in a nationwide poll sponsored by "USA Today" in 2013, losing to Centralia, Illinois' Orphans....
The American Lutheran Church in Chinook hosted a celebration to recognize the role of volunteers in the local community. Kayla Hudon was responsible for organizing the event and explained, "It's part of "God's Work, Our Hands," a program encouraged by our synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)." It's the second similar recognition hosted by the Chinook church. In 2016 the event specifically recognized volunteers who provide emergency medical services in the area. Hudon said,...
Each month the Cancer Support Group in Chinook meets to hear a topic related to the challenges surrounding cancer from survivors, caregivers, researchers, medical professionals and patients. Judy Handstede, a cancer survivor from Havre, recently shared her story of her survival after an initial diagnosis of breast cancer 15 years ago. Last year two of her three adult daughters were diagnosed with breast cancer casting Judy now as a caregiver and survivor. She shared some of the challenges of...
Frank Billmayer was the first candidate in Blaine County to file for an office in the upcoming 2018 election. Filing opened at 8 am on January 11 and Billmayer filed paperwork as a Republican (R) candidate for Sheriff shortly after 8 am. Deputy Clerk and Recorder Laurie Rigg said four more candidates filed for county offices during opening day of filing. The filing period began on Thursday, January 11 and will remain open until 5 pm on March 12. In Blaine County seven county-level officers are to be elected by voters. The seven elected offices...
On January 1, 2018 Hilary (Krass) Richman and her husband, Tim, became the new owners of the Milk River Pharmacy located on the south side of Harlem along Highway 2. The pharmacy was started in 2008 by Kelcey and Nancy Diemert of Chinook. Regarding the sale to Hilary and Tim, the Diemerts said, "It was always our plan for Hilary to eventually own and operate the pharmacy." Hilary has served as the Pharmacist-in-charge since the store opened. The Milk River Pharmacy is a successor to Don's...
When the curtain goes up this Saturday afternoon for two live performances of the "The Snow Queen" performed by local youngsters, it will mark another milestone for the Danish fairy tale first published in 1844. For nearly two centuries artists have used the tale written by Hans Christian Andersen to present the struggle between good and evil as experienced by Gerda and Kay, the two main characters in the Missoula Children's Theatre's (MCT) adaptation of the original story. The version of the...
Until her retirement on December 31, Sandi Boardman had more years of service than any other current Blaine County employee. The Zurich-area native started as a part time employee in the Clerk and Recorder/Assessor's office during her senior year of high school, working after school and during school breaks. She explained, "Dave Jensen, my Chinook High business teacher, contacted local businesses and set up work opportunities for his students to get on the job experience. I worked in the Clerk's...
Owen Powell likes to build things, especially using his welding and metal working skills. I first met Owen a couple of years ago, while he was still in high school, when he and a friend, Justin Kellam, built some custom bumpers and headache racks for their pickups. At that time the two friends got sticker shock when they went bumper shopping and decided they would make their own, which they did. They said at the time, "We like to build stuff." Owen was looking to use his skills with metal to...
The December winners in the Sweet Escapes 2017 Raffle were drawn last week. The year long raffle involves quarterly and monthly drawings with proceeds going toward needs at Sweet Medical Center. Quarterly winners choose among trips for two people to Hawaii, San Diego, Cancun and Las Vegas. Monthly drawing winners may select from twelve trips for two travelers to Montana destinations including West Yellowstone, Chico Hot Springs, Fairmont and Glacier. Each month a runner up winner is also drawn for a $200 cash prize. Successful December ticket...
Montana's high school speech, drama and debate students are in the final stages of their winter competition season. With only two more weekends for competition before divisionals, students were honing their presentations anticipating divisionals and, for some, a chance to participate at the state level (this year at Huntley Project). Chinook High along with schools in Three Forks, Culbertson and Columbia Falls were hosting similar competitions on the same weekend. Chinook High Drama and Speech C...
In mid-December the Blaine County Fair Foundation announced plans to begin site work on a new indoor event center at the fairgrounds. The 100 x 200 metal building will have a dirt floor and can host events varying from barrel races to car shows. The county received the new metal building from Malmstrom Air Force Base through a federal surplus program that makes equipment available to local governments. The Fair Board created the Fair Foundation so donors could have a process for making...
In November Montana Governor Steve Bullock called a special session of the state legislature to resolve a $227 million budget shortfall. Part of the decision to deal with the budget crisis included closing offices and combining some functions into regional locations and implementing more computer-based reporting, especially for personal property (business equipment). The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) took a $49 million reduction in funding. Prior to the special...
Reporter's note: In case you missed it, National Fruitcake Day was celebrated, as usual, just a few days ago on December 27. National Fruit Cake Day got me thinking: it's probably been 25 years since I had fruitcake at Christmas. For about the first 25 years my wife and I have been married the company my father-in-law worked for would ship him a fruitcake, in a metal tin, every Christmas. He would put it under the Christmas tree. When my wife and I would arrive for Christmas, my mother-in-law...
Standing on the cusp of a new year it's probably a bit too soon to try and describe how we will recall 2017. Still, it's tradition with news outlets to try and summarize the major news that defined the year. This year we decided to summarize the stories we thought were of note by topic rather than in a chronological order. So, here's what we think were some of the significant stories for 2017. Politics: While there were no regular national or state elections in 2017, there were elections at...
William "Bill" Taylor did not seek re-election last fall for a third term as mayor of Harlem. Taylor served as mayor for eight years and was on the city council for two years before his stint as mayor. He said, "One part of me said, 'run again' and another part said 'you'll be 81 years old at the end of a third term.'" City council member Kim Hansen filed for the mayor's slot. No one else filed and an election wasn't necessary to fill the mayor's post. Taylor shared a bit of history about how he...
Promoters of the erection of an indoor arena at the Blaine County Fairgrounds are optimistic site work could begin sometime in the spring of 2018. Members of the Blaine County Fair Foundation say they have sufficient designated contributions to begin site work, the first phase of the project. Several years ago Blaine County acquired a new, surplus 100' by 200' foot metal building from Malmstrom Air Force Base. Serious fundraising to erect the building began this year. The Fair Foundation,...
The first Future Farmers of America (FFA) students from Chinook High to receive grants through the Montana FFA Bulls for Blue program attended the Shipwheel Cattle Company's recent bull sale. Bulls for Blue is a program that allows beef producers to earmark 10% of the selling price of Lot 10 from their bull sale to the FFA Foundation. FFA students who are interested in beginning or expanding their own beef program can apply for a one time grant from Bulls for Bule to use for a Supervised...
Reporter's note: Since learning the 2017 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree would come from the Kootenai Forest in western Montana I've been following the story. When my wife and I lived in Libby I was a seasonal employee in the Kootenai Forest for several summers. I still have friends who work there and I was hoping I could get some nuggets of information about the national tree that might not otherwise be available. Turns out there was huge coverage by the media of the process of harvesting and...
The Blaine County Library, in Chinook, held its Annual Hassle-Free Christmas program recently. It was the 26th year for the event that offers simple to make holiday gift ideas and decorating tips, holiday music and a Christmas-time story. At the end of the event guests are invited to try a variety of treats prepared by the library staff and library trustees. About 80 people attended the program this year. It all started as an adult ed class by the MSU-Extension Library Director Valerie Frank...
Friends of the Harlem Public Library hosted a Wine and Cheese Christmas! last week. According to Library Director Colleen Brommer it was the fifth year for the winter fundraiser. The Friends group provides financial support for library programs, like the very popular summer reading program for kids, and donate items that the library might not otherwise be able to purchase. The winter event offers donors wine and other items. The summer fundraiser's theme varies and has included a pie and ice...
Three long running annual holiday events were held last weekend around the county. Sweet Nursing Home held its annual bazaar on Saturday while Edwards Funeral Home and the Harlem Civic Association held there events on Sunday. Sweet Nursing Home bazaar and beef stew luncheon Activity Manager Jeanne Buffington, who oversees the annual bazaar at the Sweet Nursing Home, said of this year's event, "There were 18 vendors, about the normal number for the bazaar." Buffington added, "The nursing home doe...
