We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
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The Blaine County Sheriff's Office and Chinook Police Department are using a new web-based software that will improve crime statistics reporting and streamline dispatch operations that serve both agencies. Undersheriff Frank Billmayer explained, "The eFORCE system utilizes computer-assisted dispatch (CAD) and will give officers a record management system (RMS) that reduces paperwork and streamlines the issuing and writing of citations. The RMS capabilities allow department managers to create...
5-year old Anna Getten is currently a freshman at Chinook High. Last June she competed in her last National Junior High Rodeo. This year was her second trip to the nationals. After winning the requisite points in the Montana rodeo circuit and finishing among the top four finishers at the Montana state rodeo, she moved on to the nationals held in Lebanon, Tennessee. There she joined the 1,000+ junior high contestants who made it to the top level of their sport. The Lebanon region, always hot...
Ken Finley raises produce in an area along the Milk River near the Chinook Water Treatment Plant. The last day of September he held a Customer Appreciation Day. It was a near perfect fall day with mild temperatures and sunny skies. Finley said, "I've been wanting to give back to the folks who support my vegetable stand all summer. This seemed like a good weekend to do it and pumpkins are the seasonal vegetable of choice this time of year." Weather forecasters were predicting a dramatic cold...
This was the fifth year the Harlem Civic Association hosted a Fall Festival-sometimes billed as 'the last picnic of the season.' The Association hosted a first ever Hunger Walk as part of this fall's event. Organizers said 70+ people signed up and paid the $30 fee to walk. The money will go toward support of the local food bank. The Civic Association has operated for more than a decade funding and organizing various events to "improve life in our community." By walk time, at 2 pm, the weather...
By Steve Edwards BCJ News Reporter's note: My interest in the Country Club hall on the Big Flat started when a fellow diner asked Ed Snider, at a Harlem Senior Center dinner, "Do you remember the time you took us to the Turner Country Club?" My ears perked up because I'd never heard about a country club near Turner or anywhere else on the Big Flat. After some more questioning Ed told me, "The Country Club is a place with quite a history. Contact Richard Hickel up in Turner and he'll tell you all...
By Steve Edwards BCJ News Last week the first quarterly drawings in the new Sweet Escape raffle series were completed. Sarah McKinney won the first quarterly trip for this year. She won a trip for two for four nights/five days and can chose among Hawaii, Cancun, San Diego or Las Vegas as her destination. Jill Leo won the third drawing for the monthly Montana trip. That trip, for two, is for three nights/four days and Leo can pick from 12 cool Montana destinations. Art Kleinjan was the third monthly runner up winner and will receive $200. Trip...
Newborns to five year-olds in Blaine and Hill Counties can receive an age appropriate book each month…for free! The free books are a part of the Plant a Seed…Read! effort connected to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library project. The popular artist started the book distribution program in 1995 in her home county in Tennessee. The initiative was based on research results that show a major part of a child’s brain development happens from birth to age five. Reading aloud to a child in that age category is connected to improved levels of readiness wh...
Harlem Senior Center hosted its second annual Senior Sensations event recently. The day long gathering featured presentations on everything from adult protective services to support groups for caregivers. Katy Noel, Harlem Senior Center Director, said, "I got the idea to hold a one day event last year after noticing all the 'special' days set aside for seniors in September. It seemed to make more sense to have a one-day event and use it to share information useful to seniors." Noel said she is...
The Blaine County Sheriff's Office and Chinook Police Department are using a new web-based software that will improve crime statistics reporting and streamline dispatch operations that serve both agencies. Undersheriff Frank Billmayer explained, "The new eFORCE system utilizes computer-assisted dispatch (CAD) and will give officers a record management system (RMS) that will reduce paperwork and streamline the issuing and writing of citations. The RMS capabilities will allow department managers...
Six months ago several locals participated in a "train the trainer" class presented by the ALICE Institute and held at Chinook High. Since that first introduction to the protocols associated with ALICE training (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate), trainers for both Blaine County and Chinook Schools have been conducting drills to teach staff and students at schools and county employees how to deal with an active shooter situation. Since the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999,...
Most transports in Blaine County, whether by the fixed wing jet or the helicopter, are from one of the local airports. Smith said, "Typically we will land and someone with the local EMS organization will pick up the Mercy Flight crew and take us to the patient. We can help the local EMS folks prepare the patient for transport, that's part of our job." Dan Friede, who has worked with the Mercy Flight crews over the years, added, "The crews are very helpful and will direct and assist the local...
With the suspension of the Sugarbeet Festival, a few organizations and individuals in Chinook took matters into their own hands to create some fall diversions last weekend at the Blaine County Fairgrounds. Despite a rather gloomy start of the weather, the day turned pleasant and a decent sized crowd came to enjoy a car show, do some roping, enjoy a customer appreciation lunch and take in a drive-in movie after dark. Dan's NAPA store hosted a noon luncheon in the commercial building with sloppy...
When Meadowlark fourth grader Griffin Crowley and his family returned to their home in south Blaine County after being evacuated because of the East Fork Fire, Griffin made a sign for the front yard. One side read "Pray for rain" and the other read "Thank you firefighters." Asked why she thought her son made the sign, Jacy Crowley teared up a bit as she explained, "I think when we returned to the house and he saw the devastation from the fire, he was overwhelmed." Jacy added, "He did the sign...
By Steve Edwards BCJ News Reporter's note: Forty-six seniors from along the Hi-Line recently completed a seven day, six night motorcoach trip to Colorado Springs. My wife and I organized and were group leaders for the trip. Since coming to Chinook I've wanted to put together such a trip and the experience was a lot of fun for us, and I hope for the other 44 travelers who made the trip with us. Coordinated through the senior centers along the Hi-Line, we had 27 passengers from Blaine County, the...
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded a grant to purchase and install technology that will allow students at Meadowlark Elementary to experience "virtual field trips." Meadowlark Principal Jon Martin said he was excited about how the equipment will provide new learning experiences outside the classroom without the expense and logistical challenges of organizing and taking regular field trips. USDA's Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants program was created to...
Reporter's note: A couple of weeks ago Lynn Friede called and asked if I could come by the NAPA store in Chinook, husband Dan had something to show me. Dan took me to Centennial Park, the little park on the north side of NAPA, to an oak tree with a trunk about 10 inches, or so, in circumference. The tree was just around the corner from the front door of the store. Pointing to some low hanging branches Dan said, "The other day I heard a terrible noise from the park and came out to see what was...
Two wildfires have raised concerns with locals in the southwestern part of the county. While each fire had its own unique conditions, the most recent fire was on Lloyd Road south off Bose Road. That fire began late this past Saturday afternoon but was quickly extinguished. Local fire resources are still involved with monitoring the East Fork Fire, which, according to a dispatch on Sunday afternoon, is currently under control. The fire on Lloyd Road A spokesperson for Chinook-area firefighters said that fire was reported about 4pm on Saturday (9...
By Steve Edwards Last week the Blaine County Commissioners approved the 2017-2018 budget to operate the county. Again, the annual budget cycle for Blaine County had a familiar ring to it. Declining non-tax revenues, minimal growth in the value of taxable property, uncertainty about key annual payments from the federal government and county commissioners’ goal to keep an ‘emergency reserve’ have required more belt tightening by county departments. The result is a 2017-18 budget that is at the same overall level as last year and will again requir...
Forty-six people from along the Hi-Line just returned from a trip to Colorado Springs. Coordinated through several senior centers along the Hi-Line, there were travelers from Fort Peck to Chester along Highway 2 as well as from Polson and Great Falls. The seven-day, six night tour included four nights in Colorado Springs, with overnight stops in both directions in Sheridan, Wyoming. The trip was open to any adult. While in Colorado Springs the group visited Glen Eyrie, the castle built by...
The East Fork Fire began late Sunday afternoon, August 27, on Rocky Boy reservation. By the week's end the fire had spread north and east to parts of Hill and Blaine Counties as well as Beaver Creek Park. At press time for the "Journal" on the first of September, the fire encompassed 15,000 acres, involved 160 firefighters and threatened 160 structures and much farm and ranch land. A Type I Incident Management Team was being assembled to take over management of the situation. Special Type I...
The Chinook Area Chamber is bringing back Farmer-Rancher Night on October 21. The idea is to show appreciation to the farmers and ranchers for the economic contribution they make to local and area businesses. The concept follows a model used from 1970 to around 1996 by the chamber and local merchants. For many years what started Ag Appreciation Night attracted several hundred guests for a dinner and dance that sometimes lasted until 2am. Former and present ag nights were set in the fall after...
Reporter's note: Since I first heard about ranch rodeos, three or four years ago, I've wanted to attend one. Recently my wife and I went to the Phillips County Fair, in Dodson, to see our first ranch rodeo. Locals say a ranch rodeo has been held each of the last several years in Malta but this was the first one held at Dodson as part of the county fair. I've learned fan interest in ranch rodeos is burgeoning nationally. The attendance at the combined ranch rodeo and Indian relay races at Dodson...
Earlier in the summer "Bibbs" Pyette, from Houston, was visiting her mom, Mary Pyette, out at the family home on Coal Mine Road west of Chinook. Sitting on the front porch, Bibbs heard a commotion. When she checked it out a rabbit was head-butting a gutter drain pipe down the driveway. Later, Mary was able to photograph the rabbit using its teeth to pull the drain pipe away from the down spout. Mary's theory is that maybe the rabbit was looking for water. She said, "Whatever its reasons, the...
Despite a couple of false starts about where he could build his Eagle Scout project, JJ Colby believes he can have everything done by the end of October. To gain the rank of Eagle Scout all requirements must be completed before the Scout turns 18 years of age. Colby will turn 18 in January, 2018. The Chinook High senior said of the greenhouse made from plastic bottles, "I think it looks great. It was a lot of work but it will be worth it." The greenhouse was erected on the back portion of the Ch...
Lacy Schimmel, from Wisconsin, and Lauren LaMonica, a native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, were introduced at a community gathering last week in Wallner Hall. The two will serve as Young Adult Volunteers (YAVs) for a year in Chinook working with existing faith-based and community organizations. This is the sixth year that five local congregations have hosted the adult volunteers. There are fifteen sites in the U.S. and seven sites in foreign countries where volunteers serve each year under...
