We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
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Something about a new year hints at possibility. The notion of fresh starts and clean slates inspires us to make intentional changes in our lives. New Year’s resolutions are also a chance to reflect on past achievements and challenges, identify areas for growth, and establish clear goals for personal and professional development. According to information gathered by Talker Research/Talkspace, 2025 was a year most Americans would like to forget, perhaps because of political and economic strife. However, the widespread dissatisfaction with 2...
On Sunday, December 21, 8:03 a.m. the Winter Solstice officially began. That time and date mark the shortest day and longest night of the year. For all creatures inhabiting Earth, the length of daylight is fundamental to life. After all, the sun is our ultimate source of light and warmth. The psychologically effect of this event is that starting on December 22, 2025, we stopped losing daily sunlight, a loss which has been progressing since June 20. Finally, daylight will begin to increase. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, during the wee...
On December 16, Mrs. Mitzi Cecrle's third period Animal Science class played host to two State FFA Officers. Their guests: Morgan Bisel, State Secretary from Corvallis, and Kylee Finn, State Treasurer from Cascade, shared inspiration with Chinook students. The state officers' next stop was Turner Public School, where they visited with members of the Big Flat Chapter of the FFA. Bisel and Finn are members of the Montana FFA Association's eight- member officer team who, during their year of...
On November 14, when Commissioner Shane Fox read an email from the Local Government Center, suggesting that he was a Local Impact Award Recipient, he doubted the message's authenticity. A follow-up phone call confirmed the award's legitimacy, although the specifics of the award would remain a surprise until its presentation. During the Montana State University Local Government Center's (LGC) 40th Anniversary Gala held on December 11 at the Delta Colonial Hotel in Helena, Fox received the Public...
Following a week of rehearsals, the Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) supported nearly 40 local students in presenting The Jungle Book, an original musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic. Directed by MCT Tour Actor/Directors Alex Webster and Pablo Fulbrook, the cast performed in Chinook High School's Lloyd Sweet Auditorium on Saturday, December 13. Giving life to the story, the local cast consisted of several colorfully reenacted characters. Bentley Hallett played the role of Mowgli...
The Montana Association of Counties (MACo), in cooperation with the Local Government Center (LGC) at Montana State University in Bozeman, presented their 2025 Elected County Officials Training from December 10-12 at the Delta Colonial Hotel in Helena. Intended for all elected officials who wished to attend, three officials from Blaine County took part in the professional development opportunity. According to event organizers, the purpose of the training was twofold: to be both educational and engaging while providing practical insights and tool...
On Saturday, December 6, Chinook High School held its annual Winter Ball. The theme for this year's Snoball was Country Christmas. Because the sophomores were hosting this year's festivities, their class president Bryce Elliot led the group through the organization of various event details. Based on the Country Christmas theme, the decorating scheme captured a rustic, western feel. The decoration that stood out, according to a number of the students who attended, was the backdrop photo op. To...
A 1999 graduate of Chinook High School and an eight-year U.S. Navy veteran, Brandon Nissen had a vision two years ago that he has recently brought to life. On October 15 as president, he led his first founder's meeting at the home of Barb and Don Ranstrom. On that day, The Sugarbeeter Foundation (TSF) was formed, and the Foundation's first meeting was attended by his newly formed board: Members Barb Ranstrom, Jack Mattingly, and Rita Surber. The Foundation Board met again on December 9 to discus...
The Hill County Christmas Revue, which opened at the Montana Actors’ Theatre (MAT) in Havre on December 12 and 13, continues this week and into next month. Back for its third year, this holiday edition of locally written original skits features brand-new comedy, yuletide musical numbers, and cheerful stories inspired by local traditions, winter tales, and the colorful characters who make Hi-Line communities shine. Although Catfish Carl has passed, music lovers and theatre goers can experience Izaak Opatz on December 19-20 and Wailing Aaron J...
Blaine County Schools will be hosting their holiday programs in the coming days. From A Festive Night of Music in Chinook on December 15 to a gift exchange in Turner on December 19, and from several schools with schedules in between those dates, area youth will facilitate a festive spirit by sharing their talents. Music Instructor Alicia Noel at Chinook High School shares that the 6-12 band concert will be on December 15 at 7:00 when they present A Festive Night of Music in Lloyd Sweet...
Observed annually around the world on December 10, Human Rights Day commemorates the anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948, the Declaration states that fundamental human rights should be universally protected. According to the United Nations' website, "This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to...
Selected from a different parcel of public land around the state each year, the tree that will adorn Montana’s Capitol rotunda for the holiday season was harvested near Seeley Lake in the Lolo National Forest on Monday, November 24. With Governor Greg Gianforte looking on, foresters felled the Douglas Fir as part of an active forest management project. Following his lead, the governor encourages Montanans to participate in the tradition of harvesting Christmas trees from the state’s public lands to benefit forest health as well as to imp...
Monthly awards were bestowed at Meadowlark Elementary School on November 25. Several students were named as winners of the Recess Award, Mountain Mover Award, and Principal's Award. Others were honored as Students of the Month and as Dog Man artists. Winners of the Recess Award who showed respect and good sportsmanship on the playground were Peighton Dawson, Raelynn Dawson, Raija Weinheimer, Josey Sather, Veda Nieft, and Dax Langford. For making improvements academically, behaviorally, or...
Thirteen Student Council members from Chinook High School (CHS) attended the 70th Annual Montana Association of Student Councils (MASC) Conference at the Heritage Inn and Convention Center in Great Falls this past November 16-18. Explore Leadership was the theme for the annual conference hosted by Charles M. Russell (CMR) High School. Bailey Billmayer, who currently serves on the MASC Executive Board and is Vice President for the CHS Student Council, presented a workshop on anti-bullying and...
In a week-long residency from December 8 through December 13, the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) Red Truck Tour will be in Chinook to stage a performance of The Jungle Book. Auditions will be held on Monday, December 8 beginning at 4:00 p.m. in Chinook High School’s Lloyd Sweet Auditorium. Those auditioning should plan to stay for approximately two hours. Some of the cast members may also be asked to remain for a rehearsal immediately following auditions. With approximately 50-60 roles available for local students, youth in grades K-12 are...
Members from both the Big Flat FFA and the Chinook Chapter of the FFA attended the Montana FFA Ag Expo and posted some wins. Sponsored in part by John Deere Dealers and held at Montana State University–Bozeman on November 13-15, the annual event serves to enhance agricultural education, develop student leadership, and provide career and personal growth opportunities. Over the three-day conference, FFA members participated in various workshops hosted both on campus and at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, toured MSU research and academic f...
In part to honor Native American Heritage month, the Blaine County Museum arranged for Montana's 11th Poet Laureate (2023-2025) Chris La Tray to visit the Hi-Line. Museum Director Sam French collaborated with Program Director Craig Todd at the MAPS Media Institute, with Head Librarian Valerie Frank at the Blaine County Library, and with Ginger Hansen, Director at the Chinook Senior Center, to secure the guest speaker. On the afternoon of November 18, over forty people gathered for a program...
After celebrating their 34th Annual Banquet and Auction on November 15, Blaine County Wildlife Museum personnel compiled a positive report. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Roger Jergeson thanked everyone who has made the facility possible and the banquet successful while Museum Manager Dawn Colby shared information regarding key winners. "For over 30 years, area businesses and individuals have generously given in a variety of ways to make our museum a definite asset to the city of Chinook,"...
Anyone travelling through Chinook in the past month has likely seen a black sign at the corner of Highway 2 and Missouri Street advertising the Glazed Heifer. Representing Chinook's newest business, the Glazed Heifer is a food truck eatery owned and operated by Kathy Mitchell. Originally from Billings, Mitchell married Dan Mitchell nineteen years ago and has lived in Blaine County ever since. To her current endeavor, Mitchell brings over twenty years of experience as a cook. Most recently she ha...
Triangle Communications and the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) invite high school juniors to apply for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Those interested and eligible should apply online by the December 1 deadline. With tour dates set for June 1-5, 2026, this experience includes airfare, hotel, luggage fees, and meals. Eligible students must be 16–17-year-old high school juniors who are dependents of a Triangle Communications landline or broadband subscriber. Applicants will be asked to complete an online form in which they w...
Blaine County schools in Chinook, Hays-Lodge Pole, and Turner celebrated Veteran's Day with assemblies, gift bags, and other gestures of appreciation on November 11. School officials suggested that these forms of recognition offer an opportunity for students not only to learn about military service but to express gratitude to those who have served. At Meadowlark Elementary School, Principal Danelle Gibson reports that the Veteran's Day program went well. She described the school's assembly as...
A geomagnetic storm brought impressive displays of the Northern Lights to Blaine County late on Tuesday in a light show which continued on Wednesday. While residents at Zurich reported that clouds prevented much of Tuesday's visibility, those on the Big Flat observed red, orange, and green hues coloring the sky. Prior to the event, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center forecast that "G3 (Strong) geomagnetic conditions were observed, and...
With hardly a vacant place to park, cars lined Indiana Street on the morning of November 8. Chinook was doing a brisk business as people were out shopping for the holiday season. Shores Floral's holiday open house was one of Saturday's attractions. Owner of the shop, Tomi Simenson welcomed shoppers not only with a holiday-themed store front featuring pink poinsettias, packages, bulbs, baskets, and bows but with clever signage that read: "Where Frost Meets Flowers; Come Celebrate the Season with...
At the beginning of each academic quarter, the students at Zurich Elementary School set reading goals. Those who meet those personalized goals earn an opportunity for a special "treat." The reward for the first quarter was a Halloween-themed games event which was held on October 31 at 1:30 p.m. and attended by thirteen star readers. "Anyone not meeting reading goals is not allowed to participate, which we hope will encourage readers to try for next quarter," stated Ms. Heather Brown, the...
Board Members of the Funshine Preschool, a parent co-op early learning academy in Chinook, have been busy selling raffle tickets. The drawing will be held during the Parade of Lights on November 28. One Board Member, Amanda Reed described how the raffle offers four different prizes to choose from, each one a basket with items and gift certificates matching its theme: a Women's Basket, a Dinner and Game Night Basket, a Holiday Baking Basket, and a Men's Basket. Ticket purchasers can designate...
