We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
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Montana Actors’ Theater (MAT) received ten script submissions for their First Five Pages Project. Local writers submitted the first five pages of a script they developed. Now, the public is invited to read and comment on them. According to MAT Executive Director Jay Pyette, readers can let the playwrights know what they’re interested in – what caught their curiosity, as well as help emerging playwrights develop their writing. MAT asked playwrights who’ve started scripts to submit the first five pages (only) along with a character list and set...
While the residents of Sweet Memorial Nursing Home have been abiding by the Governor's Directives, the staff has learned to be creative in providing socialization that meets distancing guidelines. From horsing around to requesting cards, blowing bubbles, and celebrating National Skilled Nursing Care Week, the crew at the Home has proven that social distancing doesn't mean isolation. Now, perhaps more than ever, we need to make sure we are checking in with one another and providing support. To...
During this challenging chapter in education while we all navigate the obstacles imposed by the COVID-19 situation, Colleen Overcast, who teaches grades six through eight at Zurich School, wishes to credit a couple of students who are doing their best job: Elayna Adams of Harlem and Micah Conner of Chinook. Students in grades 6-8 at Zurich School were given the assignment to build a scale model of the solar system. After working through the math for appropriate diameters and distances, they set...
On May 6, two C-130 airships from the 120th Airlift Wing of the Montana Air National Guard at Great Falls conducted flyovers in 21 Montana cities as a tribute to healthcare workers and first responders in the COVID-19 response efforts. One of the air craft took a western route, while the other followed an eastern route. Harlem was one of the cities on the fly-over itinerary. As part of the Air Force Salutes flyover program, the two C-130s flew in a salute to Montana's first responders on the...
In response to educators’ emerging needs for addressing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on teaching and learning, the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation is offering three new grant opportunities: COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant, COVID-19 Response Student Success Grant, and COVID-19 Response Learning & Leadership Grant. A COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant will support school initiatives to address the unique challenges presented by COVID-19. The grant application process, which opened on April 23, will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Tim...
Under Governor Steve Bullock’s Directive for a Phased Reopening of Montana, beginning May 7, all schools were given the option to return to in-classroom teaching delivery. However, none of the area schools will be opening their buildings for the remainder of this school year. This new gubernatorial directive rescinded the school closure directive and essentially returned education back to local control by districts. Nothing in the Directive, however, prevents a local school board from declaring a local emergency as provided in § 20-9-806, MC...
The Plant a Seed . . . READ Program is holding its Third Annual Fundraising Raffle with a grand prize of $1,500 cash and 32 additional chances to win! With only 500 raffle tickets being sold, a person’s odds at winning increase. The drawing will be held on June 24. The Plant a Seed . . . READ Program is an educational community impact project that not only advocates for literacy but supports children in North Central Montana with readiness skills prior to kindergarten. This proactive nonprofit encourages and educates communities and families a...
National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4—May 8, with National Teacher Day being observed on Tuesday, May 5. Given their recent efforts at stepping into a teacher’s role, many parents are more than ready to show their appreciation to teachers. On their website, the National PTA encourages the celebration of teachers by saying, “Teachers change the lives of millions of children every day—their immense work and impact move us beyond words. . . . And with the abrupt end to the physical school year, our teachers have done even more to continue ed...
On May 1, Humanities Montana announced that nominations are now open for the annual Montana Center for the Book (MCB) Prize. Up to five award-winning programs will receive $1,000 cash in recognition of their creative and wide-reaching literary programming. Programs such as family reading groups that promote youth literacy, reading series that encourage active engagement with the literary arts, or high school workshops that support student participation are all eligible. Organizations and libraries can also self-nominate. The deadline to submit...
Although we are all making adjustments in the way we live our lives during the health crisis we are facing, many people have performed as heroes. Some of those acts of heroism are small, like having to cook seven days a week without the luxury of restaurant dining. Others are larger, like sewing masks and scrubs for health professionals. The Blaine County Journal-News-Opinion wishes to join local school administrators in celebrating area teachers who have faced the school closure challenge with...
The twenty-four students in Mrs. Emily Scofield’s third grade classroom can now say that they will be published authors. They were selected to be published in the 2020 edition of Young American Poetry Digest. The final step in the publishing process is for the students and their parents to complete, sign, and return permission slips by May 20. After finishing a class project on writing haiku, the students submitted their poetry to the Digest. The poems are on topics that range from animals to vacation spots, with nature being a key theme. T...
Under Governor Steve Bullock's Phased Reopening of Montana, retail businesses were allowed to reopen their doors on Monday, April 27, and become operational with reduced capacity. Some Blaine County business owners were eager to get back to work while others expressed hesitation, preferring instead to continue to telework. Bonnie Weber, owner of Shores Floral & Gift in Chinook, shared her feelings about the Governor's Directive: "My feelings are a little mixed on opening the doors, truthfully....
Under Governor Steve Bullock’s Directive for a Phased Reopening of Montana, beginning May 7, all schools have the option to return to in-classroom teaching delivery. Despite that option, Chinook School District’s Superintendent, Darin Hannum reports that almost all of the Hi-Line school superintendents will recommend to keep online instruction because of prohibitive aspects of the governor’s Directive. Harlem School District held a special school board meeting at noon on Monday, April 27, to discuss their options: Whether schools would reope...
On May 1 and May 2, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Shores Floral & Gift will be hosting photographer Adrianna Standiford from Images by Adrianna, who will be set up in the greenhouse to photograph children and families, just in time for Mother’s Day gift giving. With Mother’s Day approaching, Bonnie Weber, owner of Shores Floral & Gift who has a history of supporting artists, decided to collaborate with Standiford and create an event for the community. Each portrait session will be fifteen minutes and will produce five digital pho...
In a press conference on Wednesday, April 22, Governor Steve Bullock issued a Directive that provides guidelines for a Phased Reopening of Montana. The Directive establishes guidance applicable to all three phases and specifically provides direction for Phase One, including lifting the Stay at Home Directive on Sunday, April 26 and reopening non-essential businesses on Monday, April 27. Bar and restaurant closures, however, are extended to May 4, and school closures remain in effect through May 6. Although this recent Directive establishes cond...
As a way to escape all of the serious news and to bring a little humor to their students, principals from across Montana have been performing and posting videos to the YouTube channel. Many feature lip syncing and acting, some highlight dancing and singing, others are a combination of talent. According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Eric Fisher, Principal at Manhattan Middle School, started the trend and challenged other area principals to post videos of themselves dancing in their empty school...
Authors who write for the theater often have multiple unfinished projects, scripts that they have started but not completed. This fizzling of creative energy may derive from a loss of inspiration, a character’s failing to come to life, or a story arc that stalls. Montana Actors Theater (MAT) is inviting all playwrights who’ve started scripts to submit only the first five pages, along with a character list and setting description—if available, but not required—of something they have written. These partial scripts will be published anonymo...
Since the beginning of April, the City of Chinook has advertised openings for the positions of Swimming Pool Manager and Lifeguard at Chinook City Pool. That they have had no applicants to date is worrisome to Chinook's Mayor, Keith Hanson. "With the jobless situation what it currently is, I'm surprised that we have received no applications for these vacancies. If we can't get any interest, I'm afraid that we won't be able to open the pool this summer," Hanson said. Chinook City Pool typically...
In the upcoming primary election, two candidates are running for the position of District Clerk of Court in Blaine County. Tami Mitchell, the incumbent, is being challenged by Jim Doyle. The current Blaine County District Clerk of Court, Mitchell interacts directly with the judiciary system. To the position, she brings her years of experience served as well as more than seventeen years of experience as a Blaine County Employee. During her service with Blaine County, she has worked as an...
Located at 112 Sixth Street West in Chinook, the Chinook Food Pantry is a member of the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN). As a partner agency, it provides direct service to individuals and families in need by distributing food and grocery products to clients in their service area. During this time of economic insecurity, the volunteers of this donation-based entity remind the community that the Food Pantry is a resource available to them. One of those volunteers, Wilma Melville reported that there has been no increase in those requesting the se...
Many people are respecting social distancing and even wearing masks when they go out into the public to conduct essential business. Grocery shopping is one of those essentials, and three of Blaine County’s grocery store managers report that things are starting to level out as supply chains regain their health and merchandise continues to flow into stores. However, shoppers are spending less time in the stores so as to minimize potential exposure for themselves and others. In two area stores—Albertsons in Harlem and Finley’s Food Farm in Chino...
Enumerating several reasons and believing that the best way to get the largest attendance, the Zurich Association of Parents (ZAP), who are planning the Zurich Elementary School All-Class Reunion, has announced that the event will be postponed. The tentative reschedule date is June 19, 2021. “For those wondering what we’re going to do, I guess we have a plan,” Committee Chair Betty Billmayer stated. “Not that plans necessarily go the way we expect!” In a Zoom video conference meeting held on Monday, April 13, members considered feedback from mu...
The 2020 Montana Winter Fair, which was billed as the premier event "Celebrating Montana Agriculture and Our Western Way of Life for 75 Years," is in the books. From the exhibition, four Blaine County livestock showmen and women brought home several awards. With over twenty-five attractions, Montana Winter Fair took place at numerous locations throughout Lewistown on January 18-26. With events like Skijoring, Polar Plunge, Ranch Rodeo, Arm Wrestling, Savor the Flavors of Montana, Fiddle...
For the first time in history, election polls in Blaine County and across Montana will be closed on Election Day. Montana's June 2 primary will be conducted primarily through the United States Postal Service in an effort to allow people to vote without being exposed to large groups in close quarters. Citing concerns about exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Governor Steve Bullock used his emergency powers and signed a directive on March 25, allowing counties to expand voting by mail and early voting in the June 2 primary election....
Applying what they know about infection control and adhering to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home administration and staff are making the necessary adjustments amid the COVID-19 crisis to protect their vulnerable population. In providing an update on how the COVID-19 situation has affected the residents of the rest home, Rebecca Shackelford, Administrator at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home (SMNH), reported that during the week of March 9, staff inventoried what they had on hand for...
