We've Got The County Covered

Articles written by donna miller


Sorted by date  Results 943 - 967 of 1315

Page Up

  • The Show Goes On

    Donna Miller|Aug 5, 2020

    Opening on August 6 and sponsored by Western Drug Pharmacy, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a Montana Actors' Theater Youth Production, will take place on the west end of the Holiday Village Mall in the old North 40 location. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:00. Chinook resident Ben Hall will not only serve as the production's narrator but will also act the part of Frank Baum as well as the Wizard. Baum "stage manages" his story to keep the action brisk from scene to scene. Before ar...

  • "Show What You Grow" Contest Coming to a Close

    Donna Miller|Jul 29, 2020

    From 23 Sesame Street, the broadcast team with Virginia’s Home for Public Media announced on April 27 that “while the pandemic brings many uncertainties, there is one thing we can count on; it is officially growing season.” With that statement, they kicked off their “Show Us What You’re Growing” contest, and other broadcast teams have picked up the idea. As an imitation, Montana Ag Live, a regular call-in information program dealing with agricultural and gardening issues in Montana, launched their “Show What You Grow” Photo Contest. Anyone...

  • August Is Professional Development Month with CSPD

    Donna Miller|Jul 29, 2020

    With registrations due as early as July 31 and workshops beginning on August 4, Region II of the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) is offering a buffet of professional development topics during the month of August. Featuring three high profile speakers: Dr. Lucy Hart Paulson, Denny McLoughlin, and Eliza Sorte Thomas, these FREE trainings target General and Special Educators, Paraprofessionals, Agency Personnel, and Parents. The first workshop, Early Literacy and Learning Language, will be presented on August 4 by Dr....

  • Art Social and Exhibition Set for Saturday

    Donna Miller|Jul 29, 2020

    On Saturday, August 1, three local artists will be hosting an Art Social and Exhibition at 223 Indiana Street, the former location of the Impact Zone in Chinook. The work on display will be that of Adrianna Standiford-Reid, Jenna Fox, and Elizabeth Finley-all recent magna cum laude graduates of the University of Montana-Western (UMW) visual arts program. Because Finley and Fox had to cancel their art thesis exhibitions due to COVID-19, the trio is looking forward to displaying their work...

  • Fort Belknap 4-H to Hold Private Treaty Livestock Sale

    Donna Miller|Jul 29, 2020

    The three 4-H clubs that serve the Fort Belknap area will be holding their 4-H Private Treaty Livestock Sale from August 3-13. Potential buyers include anyone wishing to support local youth or wanting to buy quality beef and pork with a known origin. According to MSU-Fort Belknap Reservation Extension Office Agent, Liz Werk, 4-H members from Lucky Charms (Dodson), Little Rockies (Hays), and Wild Horse (Fort Belknap Agency) clubs brought their steers and hogs to the Hays Scale for an official weigh-in on July 25. These weights will be projected...

  • Times That Call for Patience

    Donna Miller|Jul 22, 2020

    Montanans often joke that there are two seasons in Montana: winter and road construction. Neither is for the faint of heart since both require endurance and patience. As highway reconstruction continues in Blaine County, however, not only the Montana Department of Transportation is asking for travelers' patience. The Blaine County Ambulance Crew also requests understanding and empathy. In a report generated on July 15, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) shared construction progress...

  • Nursing Home Residents Take Life in Stride

    Donna Miller|Jul 22, 2020

    So far, July at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home (SMNH) has found the staff and residents receiving therapy frogs, previewing their new activity room, celebrating birthdays, and extending their visitation policy. Nancy Boyce generously donated a cart of homemade therapy frogs to the residents at the SMNH. From the selection, each resident chose a frog of his or her own. An activities employee at the Home, Stephanie Talksdifferent explained how the frogs work: "With a little microwaving these frogs...

  • Sweet Home Welcomes New Employee

    Donna Miller|Jul 22, 2020

    The Sweet Memorial Nursing Home (SMNH) welcomed one of their newest employees at the end of May. Stephanie Talksdifferent heard about the opening from another nursing home employee, applied, and was hired as an Activities Aid. Since that time, Talksdifferent has found pleasure in her job, describing her position with enthusiasm and calling it a life-saver. "I absolutely love my job! I needed a little positivity in my live, and this job fills that need. My co-workers are kind, helpful, and...

  • Grant Dollars Fund School Projects in Turner

    Donna Miller|Jul 22, 2020

    Superintendent of Turner Public Schools (TPS), Tony Warren, received notification last month that the school district is the recipient of five grant awards. These funds will not only fill educational gaps but enrich learning for students of this small, North Central Montana community. The first, a Humanities Montana Grant, will provide funds for Annishinaabe artist and cultural consultant Louise Ogemahgeshig Fischer to visit the school in September 2020. In her presentation, “Living with the Land,” Fischer will not only describe the Ame...

  • Pandemic Concerns Continue to Impact Local School Districts

    Donna Miller|Jul 22, 2020

    Turner Public School District is currently developing a school reopening plan. Revisions to that plan are occurring frequently based on changing recommendations from federal, state, and local officials. According to Turner Public School (TPS) Superintendent Tony Warren, their small class sizes provide a distinct advantage in reopening for the new school year because social distancing guidelines are more easily met. Therefore, he remains optimistic that Turner Schools will be able to welcome back students for in-person instruction beginning on...

  • 4H Program Holds Project Day

    Donna Miller|Jul 22, 2020

    Several Blaine County youth attended an afternoon of workshops on 4-H Project Day, which was held on July 15 at the Blaine County Fairgrounds. Blaine County Agriculture and 4-H Agent, Juli Snedigar reported that twenty-five 4-Hers joined her and fellow 4-H/ Family and Consumer Science Agent, Sarah Johnson to learn ideas from topics such as record keeping, demonstrations, and livestock quality assurance. MSU-Extension Administrative Assistant, Brenda Jones and other guest presenters also offered...

  • Friends of the Museum Group Forms

    Donna Miller|Jul 22, 2020

    There’s a new group in town! The Friends of the Museum is a volunteer group that will assist with Blaine County Museum outreach, fundraising, event organizing, and other projects. Museum Director Samantha French conducted three informational sessions last week at the museum in Chinook to introduce the idea and to generate enthusiasm for history. “We welcome diverse age groups and backgrounds, so consider joining us for future meetings,” French said. “Volunteer projects can range from outreach to assisting with cataloging the collection or perf...

  • Lodgepole Project Receives Beautification Funds

    Donna Miller|Jul 15, 2020

    Last month, Hillary Maxwell, MSU-Extension Agent at Fort Belknap, received notification that the Lodgepole Research Orchard Beautification project had been awarded funding from the Montana Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA). The MNLA Board of Directors awarded $250.00 toward the project to purchase a garden bench. Due to the number of applications received for this year’s Community Beautification Fund, the MNLA was not able to fund the MSU-Extension’s total request, but Maxwell expressed pleasure about receiving the monetary award. The Lod...

  • Hannum Shares School News

    Donna Miller|Jul 8, 2020

    On Monday night, June 29, and again on July 6, the Chinook Schools’ Reopening Committee met with local school board members to discuss the fall reopening strategies in response to COVID-19. Although no action was taken during either meeting, the group is developing a reopening plan for Chinook School District during the 2020-21 school year. This plan will be presented to the School Board in August. “We had a couple of good meetings and designed a tentative plan. It is a comprehensive one, so I don’t have the document complete yet,” Chinook Scho...

  • The Office of Consumer Protection Warns: Be Scammer Aware

    Donna Miller|Jul 8, 2020

    Several people in Blaine County reported receiving invitations to take the Montana Opinion Survey, with a $5 gift card offered as remuneration. The solicitation asks participants to respond by July 13 to have their voices included. The notice, sent through the United States Postal Service, indicates that responses are important and “will help us understand the views of people like you in Montana on a number of issues important in our community.” The Montana Opinion Survey claims to be a project of Sequoia Research, a limited liability corporati...

  • MSUN Foundation CEO Discusses the Beauty of Campus Green Spaces and the Benefits of Yoga

    Donna Miller|Jul 8, 2020

    The Northern Alumni Foundation invites Hi-Line residents to join them this summer for a fun and free outdoor event on the MSU-Northern (MSUN) campus. Every Wednesday from July 15 through August 12, a local yoga teacher will lead a free yoga class. An idea inspired by MSUN Foundation CEO Shantel Cronk, the more social-distancing-friendly outdoor yoga classes will serve as an alternative to the movie nights of previous summers held in the Pershing Hall Courtyard. Trading a sedentary activity for one that includes exercise is also in line with...

  • Two Area Youth Earn Scholarships

    Donna Miller|Jul 8, 2020

    Triangle Communications recently announced the names of twenty-seven area youth who won 2020 $1,000 Triangle Communication Scholarships. Among those recipients are two Blaine County residents: Raynee Hasler of Chinook and Tashon Scheaffer of Harlem. To win the scholarship committee's vote, the two young women had to provide evidence of academic achievement, community and school activity participation and leadership, and volunteer service and employment. A recommendation from an unrelated third...

  • Chinook Veterinarian Employs a Veterinary Student for the Summer

    Donna Miller|Jul 1, 2020

    inic (CVC) since 1986, and for the past nine years, Melanie Skoyen has been his administrative assistant. While some things remain fairly constant; others change. On June 18, for the first time that Maureen Schmitt could remember, there were two vet students in the CVC building at 327 Missouri Street: Tylynn Rettig and Tianna Cronk. With experience that traces back to the late seventies when she was helping 4-H club members with their horse projects and currently as she facilitates embryo...

  • State Task Force Makes Recommendations for 2020-2021 School Year

    Donna Miller|Jul 1, 2020

    Early last month, the Montana Flex2020 Task Force and the Montana Learn Task Force reported having completed their work and thanked Education Northwest for assisting in the compilation of their final reports. In a letter to Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen dated June 17, the Task Force members shared their recommendations and guidelines for reopening K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Superintendent Arntzen has consistently communicated her view that the “new normal” in Montana’s K-12 schools will look diffe...

  • College Radio Station Hosts Songwriting Challenge: Quarantunes

    Donna Miller|Jul 1, 2020

    Founded in 1954 and identifying as the "oldest college station in Montana," KNMC, broadcasting from MSU-Northern in Havre on 90.1 FM, is hosting Quarantunes: KNMC Songwriting Challenge 2020. Several songwriters are submitting their parodies or original songs each month for the competition, hoping to win this year's grand prize: a custom made leather guitar strap. For the Songwriting Challenge, Dave Martens, who manages the radio station at the college, is posting a different challenge each...

  • Big Winners Announced

    Donna Miller|Jul 1, 2020

    On June 24, from a room rented at Vine 19, Board Members of the Plant a Seed . . . READ organization announced the names of thirty-three lucky winners who purchased raffle tickets in their recent fundraising effort. The Grand Prize winner of $1500 was Hi-Line Rental. In second place, Lorraine Verploegen won $500, while Sandy Wilson secured the third place prize of $250. Shaylan Verploegen, who serves on the Board of Directors as the group’s treasurer, uploaded a live video to the organization’s Facebook Page during which the top three win...

  • Alyssa Gruszie Wins Star Farmer Finalist Status

    Donna Miller|Jun 24, 2020

    Multiple competitions took place during the 90th Montana FFA Convention held late last month, and one of the winners was Alyssa Gruszie from the Chinook FFA. Gruszie emerged as a Star Farmer Finalist, making it in the top four among 175 competitors. In other competition, the Chinook FFA Chapter Conduct of Meeting team comprised of Bree Swanson, Morgan Friede, Ryley Hofeldt, Torin Cecrle, and Aislinn Handy placed fifth. Madilyn Gruszie also competed in Livestock. Because the 90th Annual Montana...

  • Blaine County Beacon: Doctor Pursues His Goals in One of the Best Places in the World

    Donna Miller|Jun 24, 2020

    Lane Schmitt is a new doctor in town- a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM). And he enjoys the rewards of being around his clients and forming friendships with livestock growers who raise the "best beef in the world," in his estimation. "I get to work in the best places-outdoors, under the big sky. On the job, I have seen some of the best places in the world!" Schmitt exclaimed. After graduating from Chinook High School in 2011, Schmitt enrolled in the Animal Science program at Montana State Uni...

  • COVID-19 Crisis Has Prompted Interest in Homeschooling

    Donna Miller|Jun 24, 2020

    Blaine County Superintendent of Schools, Valerie White, reported that her office has recently been receiving an increase in the number of calls regarding homeschooling. White wants Blaine County residents to know that families considering homeschooling should not only understand Montana’s homeschool requirements but know the laws governing this academic option and the significant commitment required. The coronavirus pandemic, which thrust the country into a mass homeschooling experiment, may be the cause of that uptick in calls and may even h...

  • NESSP Offers Opportunity for Montana Teachers

    Donna Miller|Jun 24, 2020

    The Northwest Earth & Space Science Pipeline (NESSP) grant will be providing registration funding for fifty Montana teachers to attend distance learning through the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) that supports students’ sense-making. The topic of this summer’s NSTA virtual program is distance learning strategies and assessment. NESSP partners, the Montana Office of Public Instruction and Montana Tech, understand that given the current teaching environment, teachers will be more likely to reach the goals of the NASA-funded gra...

Page Down