We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
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Reporter's note: Louise Nissen, a member of the Blaine III ambulance crew in Harlem, shared a newspaper clipping about a Montana legislative study committee looking at the status of emergency ambulance service in Montana. Jim DeTienne, EMS and trauma systems section supervisor for Montana's Department of Health and Human Services told the committee, "It (the EMS system) is very fractured. It is very troubled. It is not going to sustain the same way we've built it in the last 30 years for much...
Information from unapproved board minutes. At its regular May meeting the Chinook School Board certified results from the May 3 school election. Two new board members were sworn in to office and the board organized itself by selecting a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for the upcoming board term. Two 2016-2017 contracts for certified teachers were approved along with a number of 2016-2017 extra-curricular contracts. The board also approved MHSA annual dues, ratified district group health insurance changes and gave the superintendent authority...
Shelby Cole, a pharmacy student from the University of Montana, recently began a three-week internship with the Chinook Pharmacy. Cole, a 2010 graduate of Malta High School, explained the internship is part of several internships pharmacy students must complete during their four-year program. Kelsey and Nancy Diemert, owners of the pharmacy and graduates of the U of M pharmacy program, said they have hosted several interns during the 20 years they’ve owned the pharmacy. Cole, who just finished her first year of pharmacy school, said the c...
Article information from unapproved council minutes. At its May monthly meeting the Harlem City Council heard reports on the status of various projects involving support from Bear Paw Development. The Mayor believes the wastewater treatment plant project may be ready for bid the end of May. Hiring of summer pool employees and temporary summer help was approved. The council met prior to the regular council meeting for a work session regarding the 2016-2017 fiscal year budget and Capital Improvement Plan projects. The council was called to order...
Need a little change of scenery? Have a case of itchy feet? Looking for a way to escape from the “last best place?” Or, need a temporary escape to another part of the “last best place?” The Sweet Medical Center will have several escape solutions covered in its upcoming fundraiser—Sweet Escape 2016. Details of the fundraiser are not being made public until next week. News leaks suggest the year-long fun event has a serious purpose. Funds raised are committed to purchasing an emergency power generator for the clinic. Sweet Medical’s CEO, Dana P...
The 2016 graduating class at Chinook High continued a tradition that dates back to the late 1960's. Around 1968 or 1969 the graduating senior class painted a section of sidewalk, at the southwest corner of the school yard, to include the names of the current graduating class. It's a tradition that has continued as each class brings its own unique design and approach to create the final calling card from the graduating class. Ken Schubert, who graduated in the late 1960's, said he believes the...
Two months can seem a long time away. For the Blaine County Relay for Life coordinating committee the two months is the time to finalize plans and get ready for the major local fundraising activity for the American Cancer Society. The Blaine County Relay for Life typically raises about $15,000, all earmarked for cancer research and support of cancer victims' needs. This year's Relay will be held the evening of Friday, July 8 with most activities at Hoon Field. This will be the sixth year for...
The Chinook City Council heard a letter of resignation from fellow council member Chris Thurman, who will be leaving in June to a new job in Iowa. Council also dealt with some final payments related to the water treatment plant upgrade with final inspection expected next week. Another inspection on the downtown sidewalk project brought that project closer to completion, but some work is still identified as not completed. Mayor Keith Hanson called the May council meeting to order. Council members present were Mitch Haider, Robert Smith, Chris...
Donnie and Bonnie Harmon, long-time members of the Big Flat’s Blaine II Ambulance Crew, will receive Montana’s 2016 EMS Providers of the Year Award at a ceremony at the state capitol on Thursday, May 19. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services honors selected Emergency Medical Service providers and facilities during the annual ceremony, a part of National EMS Week activities. Individuals from around the state make written nominations for the awards and a committee makes the...
A guy wearing a funny red hat steps to the podium and introduces a local football standout who will be representing his school and area in an east-west statewide clash of the ‘best of the best.’ The scene is repeated across Montana this time of year as local Shrine clubs announce football players, from their area, who will be playing in the East-West Shrine game. Described as “the premier all-star game in Montana,” this year’s game will mark the 70th edition of the annual summer event. It’s a win-win situation. The players have one more opport...
Michelle L. Speakthunder died as a result of a single vehicle crash on Montana Highway 66. The crash happened last Sunday night around 10pm. The 45-year old victim was a resident of the Harlem/Fort Belknap area. The Montana Highway Patrol reported the driver was northbound in an SUV when it left the right side of the road. The driver overcorrected, causing the SUV to roll. The single occupant of the vehicle was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle. According to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office the crash is still being i...
Sweet Nursing Home staff hosted a community cookout as a part of the facility's celebration of National Nursing Home Week. Administrator Jenni Pula said, "During the national celebration we try to offer events that focus on our residents, our staff and our community. The cookout is a great way to get the community out to the facility and the residents enjoy the visitors." A nice break in a stretch of cool and wet weather helped bring out a crowd for the dogs, burgers and all the...
When Jeff and Lynette Finley began making plans to host the May Business After Hours event, the weather was summer-like and plans were to welcome and serve guests outdoors. By the time of the actual gathering the weather had turned, well, winter-like with a cold rain and blustery winds. Jeff said, "We had to adapt, we were able to move the Business After Hours to Wallner Hall." As a crowd of about 60 began to gather, Jeff Finley, surrounded by his wife and daughters, welcomed guests and shared...
A reception was held recently to recognize the three 2015-2016 Young Adult Volunteers (YAV's) who are currently serving in Chinook. YAV Site Board Chairman, Pastor Dennis Findorff, said the event was also a celebration of the support from volunteers and organizations that makes the YAV program function in Chinook. The YAV program is an ecumenical effort supported by six local churches: Alliance Church; Assembly of God; St Gabriel's Catholic Church; American Lutheran Church; United Methodist...
A determined and organized group of canvassers made quick work of the annual canvass of Chinook for the Community Chest annual door-to-door solicitation. The non-profit Community Chest was created in the late 1970's to "consolidate solicitation and receive and disburse funds through one organization." The annual fundraiser, which typically raises about $4500 each year, helps support Boy and Girl Scouts, the Food Pantry, AAU Wrestling, Youth Baseball/Softball, Children's Theatre, Swim Team and PA...
Members of the North Central Montana Shrine Club are preparing to receive their usual shipment of three tons of Vidalia onions. The annual sale of the delectable Georgia onion, according to Shrine officials, is their best fundraiser of the year. Onion sale proceeds provide money to help kids, and their families, with travel expenses to the Shriners' Hospital in Spokane. Henry Tweeten, a Shriner from Havre, has been heading up the regional onion sale since it started about a decade ago. Tweeten...
The Chinook Lions Club was founded in May, 1925, making the club the third oldest in Montana. Lions International, the umbrella group for the 1.4 million club members around the world, aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and global scale. The Chinook Lions, in nine decades of service, have supported a variety of projects reflecting the needs of the community and the interest of the club members at any given time. Lions Clubs, internationally, are best known for their programs to...
Finley's Food Farm will host the May Business After Hours on Thursday, the 12th. The monthly networking event, sponsored through the Chinook Chamber, gives a Chamber business an opportunity to introduce themselves, their staff and any special promotions they are offering. Jeff and Lynette Finley began operating the Food Farm store in November, 2008. The Finley's bought the store from Tom and Nancy Petrick. The Petrick's operated the store when Jeff Finley was in high school. Finley said, "I used...
Blaine County Superintendent of Schools Terry Brockie announced he was resigning at the end of April to take a newly created position with Island Mountain Development Group (IMDG), the "economic development arm" of the Fort Belknap Community. Brockie was appointed as county superintendent of schools in July, 2013, when Dr. Lisa Stroh left to take another position. Brockie was elected to an additional four-year term in 2014. Before becoming county superintendent, Brockie taught the Aaniiih...
Despite the 2016 presidential primaries being well underway, the selection of a candidate for the top political office in the U.S. will be finalized, technically, at the national conventions of both major political parties in the late summer. The process for choosing the final presidential candidate actually begins at the county level. County party organizations select delegates to their state party conventions. At the state convention, the delegates who will attend the national convention are elected, and the national convention delegates choo...
Readers and customers may not be familiar with the newest members of the "Blaine County Journal" team. Over the past few months three new people have begun reporting, handling ad sales and greeting customers in the front office. This brief introduction begins with the most recently hired staff member. Elizabeth Doney, Reporter Elizabeth Doney is a reporter who started in March and covers news events on the east side of the county, including Harlem, Fort Belknap, Lodge Pole and Hays. She'll be...
The Sweet Home will begin celebrating National Nursing Home Week, 2016, with the home’s traditional Mother’s Day Tea for residents and their families. The Mother’s Day Tea marks the beginning of the week long salute to nursing homes across the country. A Community BBQ on Wednesday evening will provide an opportunity for the entire community to celebrate with Sweet Home residents and staff. Sweet Home Administrator Jenni Pula said, “We enjoy celebrating National Nursing Home Week. It’s another series of events to bring community members o...
The Ecumenical Echoes, a multi-denominational group of hand bell musicians, held their third spring recital last Sunday afternoon at the Chinook Presbyterian Church. A hand bell choir was started about 30 years ago under the direction of Donna Walworth, a local piano teacher. About 10 years ago the group disbanded but was started again three years ago under the direction of Julie Finley. Their first appearance as a newly formed group was for the first annual Christmas Concert begun by the...
In mid-December several Chinook city council members and the mayor did a walk-through to inspect the city's downtown sidewalk improvement project. From the inspection a punch list was jointly developed to address several issues with the completed work. Siemens Engineering, the firm that did the design work, made a video and detailed descriptions of the repairs that needed to be made. At the city council meeting in early April, Mayor Keith Hanson said the contractor was planning to begin the...
With the primary election just a month away, there is one major local political contest to be decided in Blaine County. Four candidates are vying for the office of Clerk of District Court that will be vacant when Kay Johnson retires at the end of the year. There are three candidates on the Democratic primary ballot and one Republican candidate. The primary is set for June 7. What follows is some basic background about the office and the four candidates seeking the position. A short history of...
