We've Got The County Covered
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On June 18th, before the regular school board meeting, the Harlem School Board of Trustees held a ground breaking symbolizing the beginning of two major construction projects. The projects include Junior High/High School cafeteria expansion and new kitchen facility. A new physical education area consisting of a regulation sized gymnasium is in the works at the Elementary school. Collaborative Design Architects out of Billings handled the design/engineering for both projects and Dick Anderson...
On June 17, 2024, the St. Mary River Canal siphon suffered a catastrophic failure, causing the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to take immediate action. Ryan Newman, the Montana area office manager for the Bureau of Reclamation, said they aren't expecting any negative impacts on the municipal water for 2024 or 2025. "The municipal water supply is stored up. We do have that water held in Fresno Reservoir and we have that available for use; what comes into question is next year, 2025, we won't be able...
Chinook Blood Drive The American Red Cross critically needs blood donors now following a concerning trend over the past months – fewer donors rolling up a sleeve to give lifesaving blood. With summertime, comes family vacations and lots of extra traveling. According to the American Red Cross, AAA calls it the "100 deadliest days" of summer for auto accidents, it's critical hospitals have lifesaving blood products on hand for all trauma and accident victims who count on transfusions when there is no time to waste. In some of the most dire s...
After thirty years working with youth, Mrs. Diana Maloney decided to retire from Turner Public School (TPS) at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Although she expressed that she will "miss the little ones," she looks forward to a less regimented schedule with more impromptu days ahead. "I can do family things now," Maloney stated. "I haven't been able to do much of that in past years. It'll be different but good!" Maloney earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a...
How one multigenerational Montana ranch continues to ensure long-term viability. Beneath wispy clouds set in a blindingly blue sky where Montana and Saskatchewan become indistinguishable from one another sits the Louie Petrie Ranch, an exemplary model in ranch tradition, innovative trial, and targeted implementation. It's on this land outside of Turner where you'll find multiple generations strategizing for the long-term viability of the ranch originally homesteaded in 1901. "If you improve the...
Montana Press Secretary Senator Tester will be announcing that he secured a critical Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant for Blaine County through his bipartisan infrastructure law. Blaine County will receive $336,000 for infrastructure upgrades at the airport in Turner, MT. The funding will be used to acquire a new wind cone and segmented circle to provide pilots with critical airfield information; install a precision approach path indicator system to bring the airport up to current standards; reconstruct the existing lighting vault...
As parks in Chinook are starting to see changes, another Chinook park is also starting to see improvements with hopefully much more to come thanks in part to a prodigal son. Marjorie Feist Park is located north of US2 and the railroad tracks just east of the Indiana Street crossing. Marjorie Feist Park, also known as Northside Park had five new trees planted last year, with hopes of seeing more along with other improvements thanks in part to the namesake's son, Bob Feist. Bob recently returned...
A siphon on the more-than-100-year-old system that provides much - almost all, in drought years - to the Milk River broke last Monday, shutting down the system. The Montana Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation area manager said the bureau was waiting for the water to finish flowing out of the breached siphons on the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works and is working to get a feel for impacts caused by the breach and looking at possible models for replacement or partial repair. "We're...
Lane Wicks, a seventh-grade student at Chinook Jr. High School has earned a position on the Montana state/provincial National Junior High rodeo team and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Des Moines, IA June 23rd thru June 29th to compete at the 19th annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) in Bareback steer & Team Roping (Header), competitions. Featuring roughly 1,200 contestants from 43 U.S. States, 5 Canadian Provinces, Australia, and Mexico, the NJHFR is the world's largest...
On June 7, the Blaine County Museum unveiled an exhibit to honor Fort Belknap's Patriot Chief, Gilbert Horn, Senior. The exhibit not only recognizes the life of Fort Belknap Nakoda Chief and World War II Code Talker Skunk Ta Oba Kni (Returns with Prisoner's Horse) but honors all American Indian veterans. The event, free and open to the public, was attended by approximately 100 people on Friday. The gathering began outdoors, where rows of chairs were set up on Indiana Street, before the crowd...
Statewide Voter Turnout Total Turnout 311,695 (41.35%) Registered Voters 753,767 Blaine County Voter Turnout 1,261 Votes Cast (33.51%) 3,762 Registered Voters President Donald Trump 745 votes Joseph R. Biden Jr. 343 votes United States Senator Brad Johnson (R) 154 votes Tim Sheehy (R) 594 votes Charles Walkingchild Sr (R) 37 votes Michael Hummert (D) 15 votes Jon Tester (D) 410 votes Robert Barb (G) 1 vote Michael Downey (G) 4 votes US Representative Dist 2 Elsie Arntzen (R) 78 votes Kyle Austin (R) 39 votes Ken Bogner (R) 60 votes Troy...
From 2:00 until 7:00 p.m. on May 31, cars and pickups were pulling off Highway 2 just west of Zurich, keeping traffic busy at 41270 US-2. This is the new location of Aiton Veterinary Service, where Owners Larissa and Brock Aiton held their open house last Friday. Curious people from Turner, Chinook, Harlem, Zurich, and other surrounding communities converged on the location to see all of the renovations that the old Spa Bar building had undergone, transforming it into an animal hospital. Food...
A group of Chinook's Meadowlark and Junior High students recently joined the Chinook Lions to celebrate a second replay of a nearly century old event in the town. Last week classes from kindergarten to junior high picked up litter on selected city streets in Chinook. Students got to experience firsthand what happens when trash is not properly discarded. Chinook's town clean-up efforts date back nearly a century A few weeks before October 21, 1925, the official date of the startup and dedication...
The owners at the Journal asked if I would write about Dr. Brock Aiton's moving his veterinary service to a new clinic at the old Spa Bar on US Hwy 2 at Zurich. I'd heard Aiton Veterinary Service was moving to the building and was interested to see how the conversion of the historic building to a vet clinic was progressing. After a tour of the facility, still in the final throes of finishing the remodel, Dr. Aiton told there would be a grand opening celebration for the new clinic on Friday, May...
Laurie Huestis retired in March, 2024 after 40 years as a member of the Blaine I Ambulance and Rescue Crew. Fellow crew member Lynne wrote, “Laurie has a three-digit EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) number from when she started, now those numbers are five digits!” Laurie began serving with the Blaine I emergency services crew in 1984. Her fellow crew members are hosting an opportunity for the community to express its thanks to Laurie at a community celebration in early June. Laurie was noted for being one the first responders to an eme...
This week, professionals and volunteers with the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) celebrate fifty years of life-saving commitment with EMS Week, May 19-25. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) wish to honor the dedication, commitment, and sacrifices of EMS professionals around the country with a 50th Anniversary theme: "Honoring Our Past, Forging Our Future." Several members of the Blaine County ambulance crews...
The Chinook FFA Chapter held its Annual Banquet on Thursday evening, May 2. The banquet began with the recognition of graduating members, featured guest speaker Romulus Hiner, and highlighted the achievements of the membership during the past year. An Honorary Chapter Degree was also presented to Dennis Cross. Held in the Commercial Building at the Blaine County Fairgrounds, the banquet began with the acknowledgement of several seniors: Aislinn Handy, Wylee Simenson, Landon Keeling, Emma Paulsen...
The Harlem Post Office planter, situated in the outside front entry way of the Harlem Post Office, was in need of repair and replacement, the lone plum tree has survived for over two years without a proper planter in need of replacement. Students from a Harlem High School class became aware of this needed project. As a community service project, students then decided to express their creativity and design skills and build a new planter to contain the hardy plum tree and provide a space for...
Not only across the country but also in area schools, people celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6-10. In a proclamation on Friday, May 3, President Joe Biden said: “Teachers are the heart and soul of our Nation. They care for our Nation’s students, pass on knowledge to rising generations, and inspire our children to dream up new possibilities for their futures.” The idea for a week to honor teachers began more than 70 years ago with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who urged Congress in 1953 to designate a day to thank teachers. The d...
The Chinook Chapter of the FFA celebrated FFA Week from May 6-9. Observed annually across the country in February, National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to raise awareness about the importance of agricultural education and the National FFA Organization's role in developing future leaders in agriculture. The local Chapter held a series of dress-up days and activities to bring recognition to the agriculture industry and to those who work in related occupations. Monday was Drive Your Tractor...
On Tuesday, May 7, both Aislinn Handy and Wylee Simenson signed with Casper College in Wyoming. Handy will compete with the College Rodeo Team and Simenson will share his skills on the Showmanship and Judging Team. The pair of Chinook High School Seniors joined family members in the Floyd Bowen Gymnasium during the noon hour where they symbolically signed a commitment to attend Casper College and to compete as Thunderbirds. Both Simenson and Handy wore the school's colors, red and black, and sig...
May is mental health awareness month, which is a crucial time to raise awareness and reduce stigma when it comes to mental health. Mental Health should be just as important as your physical health and affect every single person in one way or another. By having more education to better understand mental health, in the future we can hope that mental health will be viewed and treated with the same importance as physical health. Going to therapy should not be frowned upon but encouraged. Going to therapy and talking through one’s mental health s...
Students of Meadowlark Elementary School in Chinook were recently given the opportunity to learn some valuable skills that one day might just save your life. In a class put together by teachers Melinda Jones, Alicia Noel, and Janelle Deanon, 6th grade students took a two day course on CPR and first aid, lead by Jessica Kuntz, a registered nurse and certified instructor. The course began on April 17th with Kuntz leading the children in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques, which...
Three juniors at Chinook High School (CHS) were recently named Boys' and Girls' State Delegates. Dentin DePriest, Hannah Schoen, and Brockton Elliot will be attending the Montana American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary sponsored event this summer. Scheduled for June 16-22, the 2024 Session will take place at the Fort Harrison Training Center in Fort Harrison, Montana. Mrs. Fay Friede, the CHS Counsellor, explained that all juniors were encouraged to apply. Beyond being a junior in good...
This past week, Stella Llante, Math Teacher for Chinook School District, learned that two Chinook Junior High School students had earned State Certificates as a result of their participation in the 2024 State Math Contest held in Havre on March 14. January Jensen, a seventh grader, earned a Superior Rating on the Mathematics Foundation test, and Sydney Bowles, an eighth grader, earned Honorable Mention on the Dimensions and Shapes test. A State Superior Rating is awarded to the top 2.25% of all...