We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
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Last January Alpine Pacific Utilities, a Kalispell-based engineering firm, filed a preliminary permit to study the feasibility of using Fresno Dam's excess overflow water to generate electricity. The preliminary permit is part of a process to obtain an operating license. The operating license is required from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to begin producing electricity. A permit holder has a three-year window to obtain a license to generate electricity at a permitted site. In the...
Reporter's note: Someone left a copy of the March-April, 2016 "Bugle" magazine on my desk at the newspaper office. The magazine is the official publication of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF). Not being an elk hunter I wasn't familiar with the publication, but an article titled "A New Fork on the Cow Island Trail" caught my eye. I recognized the road name because of some previous public land access stories I'd written. The story was about the purchase of a 93-acre tract of land, by the...
Last week the Chinook and Harlem City Councils heard a summary of the final draft of the housing study conducted by KLJ Engineering. The housing report was one of the final steps in a study of current and future needs for housing development and how those needs can be met. The study was done in Harlem, Chinook and Malta. Forrest Sanderson, with KLJ Engineering, presented the final draft of the housing needs study. The study was the result of a multi-month housing assessment by KLJ and input...
Chinook's water treatment plant upgrade is nearing completion. Construction on the $6.7 million project began in the early spring of last year. Last week representatives from the engineering firm that did the design work, the company that did the construction, USDA officials, a Bear Paw Development grant writer and manager and Chinook officials and water treatment plant employees made the tour to check the status of the remaining punch list. A crew was still putting up final fencing while the...
According to Chrissy Downs, one of several adult leaders involved with JUMP's recent fundraiser at Wallner Hall, "The gloomy weather might have worked to our advantage, discouraging people from doing outdoor activities. They came to enjoy our Ultimate Salad and Dessert Bar, a good thing for our youth group." The Chinook-based youth group will be doing a destination mission trip this year, doing worship and service projects in Helena, Missoula, Coeur d'Alene and Kalispell. The Sunday meal was...
Border Patrol Agent David Entrot made a presentation at the March meeting of the Chinook Christian Men's Group. The men's organization meets monthly for breakfast, fellowship and a presentation on some topic of interest. Entrot recently moved to Chinook to serve with the Havre Border Patrol Station. David Entrot grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with a degree in criminal justice. After college he joined the Coast Guard, serving in New Jersey and the...
Sheilah and Buddy Walsh, ranchers south of Dodson, were recently honored with a 2016 Good Neighbor Award in a ceremony with Governor Steve Bullock presenting. Six couples and individuals were honored for their service and volunteerism to the cause of conservation. The six awards were nominated by various conservation groups around the state. Sheilah and Buddy Walsh were nominated by The Montana Nature Conservancy, primarily for the work with the Matador Ranch Grass Bank project and other...
Information from unapproved board minutes. Chinook Schools board members approved tax levies for the 2016-2017 school year, approved contract offers to classified employees and contract offers for extra-curricular activities positions. It was announced that two vacant board positions need to be filled by appointment by June, residents of District 67 interested in serving on the board should contact the Business Office at the high school. The meeting was called to order, on Tuesday, April 12, by Chairwoman Miller. Board members present were:...
Dawn Lovisa, FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) joined the Sweet Medical Center on April 19. Lovisa will be working ‘locem tenens,’ meaning on a temporary basis until the end of October. Nicole Legere, NP, currently working part time at the clinic, will join the Sweet Medical Center as a full-time staff member in the fall to fill the position. Lovisa is a native of California, growing up in the San Francisco Bay area, then moving to Yreka, California where she finished high school. She wrote, “I loved camping when I was little and got into backp...
Chinook residents have seen a new face at the service counter in city hall. Cheryl Alm is the new Assistant City Clerk. She began her duties on March 21 when she replaced Carol Floren. Floren became the City Clerk, in February, replacing Gabe Harry who took a position at the city's water treatment plant. Cheryl Alm grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in the Puget Sound due west of downtown Seattle. She raised three children, now adults, in Havre, where her grandparents lived. She now...
The Chinook Lions' Club hosted about 80 guests for their annual Old-Timers' Dinner. The annual event started several years ago when the club invited a few senior citizens to an evening dinner to share stories from the past. Eventually the club decided to invite everyone to share stories and memories. Long-time club members believe the Old-Timers' Dinner began in the early 1980's. While guests arrived and the cooks put the finishing touches on the dinner, Larry Larson entertained with some rollic...
The Harlem Civic Association, a group of local volunteers who take on all sorts of projects to improve their town, has launched a new undertaking to create a recipe book. Organizers have set a goal to have the recipes collected by Harlem's annual July 4 picnic, also hosted by the civic association, and have the recipe books ready to sell during the 2016 Harlem Country Christmas. Association members emphasized, "This is not a book just for recipes from the Harlem area. We want it to be an...
Intermittent rains didn't deter guests from attending the April Business Hours event hosted by Chinook Tire, Lube and Sporting Goods. Owner Chris Carpenter said, "Mid-afternoon I was afraid the weather would keep people away." Heather DePriest, President of the Chinook Area Chamber, which sponsors the monthly showcase for local chamber members, added, "It seems when the weather is bad the turnout is better. Maybe people have fewer distractions when they can't work or play outside." Carpenter...
Twenty-five area firefighters gathered at the Chinook Fire Hall for an intermediate course in wildland fire behavior and management. Don Pyrah, Area Fire Program Manager for Montana's Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, said the course was part of a series of fire-related courses that would allow participants to be certified as an engine boss. He added, "Though it's aimed at wildland firefighters, we encourage municipal and county crews to also attend." The firefighters were from a...
Blaine County Sheriff Glenn Heustis explained a new phone scam that recently came to light through the County Attorney’s Office. A local resident was called and told her nephew had missed a court appearance and the “Blaine County District Attorney” had issued a warrant for his arrest. The concerned relative was told to call a toll free number to find how to “cancel’ the warrant—it would require some amount of payment. Deputy County Attorney reports the call Jordan Salo, the Deputy County Attorney, took the call from the relative wondering w...
Blaine County's judicial-related offices could soon move to the third floor of the county courthouse. Commissioners said plans for the proposed remodel will be let for bid on April 20. Selection of a contractor should happen shortly after the bidding process is completed and work could begin. Commissioners think once the work begins the remodel could be completed before the end of the year, the affected offices would then move to the new space. Planning for moves began in 2008-2009 Commissioners...
The Montana Country Poets and Pickers packed a lot of poetry, jam sessions, entertainment and enjoying each other's company into two and a half days. Venues moved from the Motor Inn to the Chinook High School, and back, several times. But wherever they gathered, there was always time for greeting old acquaintances and making new friends. Both Friday and Saturday nights were 'organized' performances with poetry and music. The Chinook High FFA was helping host the evening performances, running...
Supporters of the My Neighbor in Need and My Student in Need help programs met recently to evaluate how the organizations are meeting their goal "to help others in need." The Chinook-based group is a part of a program initiated by Dave Snuggs, of Great Falls, who first devised a way for neighbors to help their neighbors with needs (and, later, students). The program takes requests from those with a need and donors fill those needs-anonymously for everyone involved. Growth of the help programs...
Reporter's note: Don Berger, the sexton at Kuper Memorial Cemetery north of Chinook, told me about a headstone from a burial in 1889 that caught my interest. On the headstone of Frank M. Mitchell was the message "wantonly shot by a companion in roundup camp near Snake Butte, Oct 17, 1898." 'Wantonly' is not a term used much nowadays and it suggested 'evil intent.' Several locals had heard varying stories of the shooting: a mercy killing when the injured cowboy knew he was doomed and begged to...
When Triangle Communications updated its laptop computers used in workshops and for demonstrations, it was decided to donate the 20 'retired' computers to local, eligible entities. Several of the laptops were delivered this week to the Blaine County Library, in Chinook, and the Harlem Library. Angela Allestad, a Public Relations Specialist with Triangle, described the laptops as "lightly used" and said by phone, "There's still a lot of service left in the retired laptops." They laptops were...
Six local ladies gathered at the Harlem Library for the latest "Learn at the Library" program. The hands-on class was instructed by April Fox, a K-12 art, French and metal shop teacher at Turner. Each participant learned about the art/science of fusing glass plates to create their own design and layout for a pendant. Because the fusing process requires a special kiln, at the completion of the class Fox took each finished design to her own studio where she would complete the fusing process....
Travis Hamilton, a senior at Chinook High School, was recently awarded the Jerry Pyette Montana Eagles' Scholarship for District 2. The district includes Eagles Clubs in Chinook, Great Falls, Havre and Lewiston. Hamilton received one of four scholarships awarded throughout Montana. Travis is the son of Darin and Elaine Hamilton. Jerry Pyette presented the scholarship in a ceremony at the Chinook Eagles' Club. At CHS, Travis is active in choir and was preparing for the district music festival at...
By Steve Edwards BCJ News Danny Pratt, District Conservationist with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Chinook, gave a presentation to the monthly breakfast meeting of the Chinook Christian Men’s Group recently. The presentation was to acquaint the group with pulse crops and to learn some of the history and recent increase in acreage, locally, of the crops. Montana is the number one producer of pulse crops in the U.S. and acreages continue to expand. Pulse Crops—a short primer Pratt said pulse crops have a long history, havin...
By Steve Edwards BCJ News The 22nd annual gathering of the Montana Country Poets and Pickers will begin Friday night, this coming weekend, and run through Sunday noon. According to Dale Mailand, long-time organizer and secretary of the group, "We'll pretty much follow our regular schedule with invited musicians and poets for the Friday and Saturday evening performances and 'open mic' on Saturday." The Saturday sessions are open to performers wishing to try out their poetry and receive feedback f...
By Steve Edwards BCJ News The Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring an April Business After Hours at Chinook Tire, Lube and Sporting Goods, on the evening of April 14. After recently updating the format for its Chamber Bucks program, the Bucks can now be purchased online. And local businesses and organizations are invited to post information, at no charge, on several free websites. Read more. Next Business After Hours set for April 14 Chris Carpenter, owner of Chinook Tire, Lube an...
