We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
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The word is exceptional. That's how Blaine County spellers have been performing with spelling bee season well under way. January has been abuzz with school bees taking place all month in order to identify top spellers who will compete in the Blaine County Spelling Bee scheduled for February 5 in Chinook. When Zurich held their local contest on Friday, January 16, Kyleejai Baird came away the winner. For their spelling bee, they invited former Zurich Elementary School Teacher Mrs. Colleen...
The Blaine County Commissioners convened on January 21, 2026, to evaluate plans for the Blaine County Museum’s cleanup and future. The meeting, held at the Chinook Fire Hall at 6 PM, brought together community members and officials to address contamination and restoration options for the historic building. Christin Hileman, President and Project Manager, Granite Peak Environmental, conducted the meeting, accompanied by Sara Strissel, Director of Community Planning for Bear Paw Development Corporation. Eight County residents, including two C...
MSUN Rodeo standouts Georgia Orahood of Malta, MT, and Brittney Cox of Chinook, MT, competed in their first Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals at the Metra in Great Falls, MT, January 9–11, 2025, adding excitement and memorable performances to the event. Brittney Cox entered the Montana Circuit Finals alongside her standout mare, CCR Pearl N Blu, sitting in the number 10 spot. Describing her 14.2-hand, 1,225-pound mare, Cox said Pearl was "tough," explaining that she would have run barrels on t...
Blaine County Deputy Clerk & Recorder/Election Manager, Savannah Wendeln announced earlier this month that her office is currently holding an "I Voted" Sticker contest election. This is the office's first-ever sticker contest, and winners will be announced in February. For anyone interested in viewing the designs and voting, Wendeln has a poster display at the courthouse that features the art of the finalists. The public is invited to vote on their favorites when they are in the building or to...
Last May, Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 207 into law. Because this new legislation has shortened the candidate filing period, Blaine County Deputy Clerk & Recorder/Election Manager, Savannah Wendeln wishes to remind residents that the filing period opens February 17 and runs through March 4. The previous filing period was 60 days. “Also, the write-in period overlaps with the candidate filing period, so there will no longer be an opportunity for people to decide to file as a write-in after they see who has or hasn’t filed,” Wende...
At the January City Council meeting, it was reported that letters were sent regarding the recent notice of a Standard Maximum Contaminant level (MCL) violation. The violation occurred this past quarter on 11 December 2025. Chinook City residents who are drinking Chinook City-treated water should have received a notice dated 12 January 2026. If you know of anyone outside the Chinook water treatment plant coverage area who is drinking this water, please make them aware (individuals may be receiving water by bulk delivery). The notice stated the...
The first City Council meeting of 2026 occurred on the12th of January. This is the first meeting with the newly placed council members. The mayor, city attorney, four city council members, and the city clerk were present, along with a half-dozen city residents and city department representatives. The agenda sheet for the meeting was very short, with nearly half the page devoted to the new policy on conduct in public meetings, including instructions from Mayor Hauer. The conduct message resulted from the heated discussion at the last city...
Avid history enthusiasts and social justice activists are likely aware that Sunday, February 1 is National Freedom Day, but many of us have probably never heard of the designation. Although not a public holiday, National Freedom Day is an observance in the United States that honors the signing of a resolution that proposed the 13th amendment to the nation’s constitution. On February 1, 1865, Abraham Lincoln, who was president at the time, signed the resolution to outlaw slavery and involuntary servitude. According to the National Today w...
A successful blood drive was held in Chinook on January 6, 2026, with 41 donors stepping forward to help meet the ongoing need for lifesaving blood. Volunteers Judy Johnson, Roxanne Townsend, and Linda Thompson staffed the reception table and helped ensure the event ran smoothly. Door prize winners included Shellie McMaster, Kylie Huravitch, Keri Hanson, and Judy Johnson. Organizers expressed sincere appreciation to everyone who donated. Blood donations are especially crucial during the winter months, when donor numbers often decline due to sea...
Chinook, MT – January 14, 2026 – Great Plains Veterans Services Center (GPVSC) is on a mission to increase veteran access to medical care and reduce barriers for veterans to attend appointments. In 2025, GPVSC made a significant expansion of its Veterans Transportation Services (VTS) to better serve Veterans in rural counties across Montana, including Chinook and the rest of Blaine County. They closed out the year with over 571 thousand miles traveled to ensure veterans received the care the...
After discussion during the last two city council meetings about snow removal within city limits, Street Superintendent Josh Nordboe and his street team are developing a standard snow removal process. Nordboe and his team have many ideas for clearing the streets after a heavy snowfall. A finalized snow removal plan is in development and dependent on future snowfall to conclude testing. However, City Street officials need public cooperation while removing snow from the city roadways. New, very...
Next time you visit Kuper Memorial Cemetery, you may notice a new feature. On December 22, 2025, the Cemetery installed a niche wall, sometimes referred to as a Columbarium. The wall contains twenty compartments which will hold cremated remains. The Cemetery Board had discussed erecting a niche wall for many years and were finally able to obtain the necessary funds and purchased the wall this past summer. According to Cemetery Board Secretary Kari Sullivan, "the board's main motivation in...
The Turner/Hogeland Lions Club held their annual New Year's Eve celebration at the Old Gym in Turner on December 31. The community gathered to usher in 2026, and the Lions announced awards. The Lion of the Year Award was presented to Alan Van Voast. New Year's Eve began with a meal for which the Lions provided meat and buns, while community members contributed side dishes. For both dancing and listening pleasure, the Whiskey River Band, a Western and Outlaw Country band from Jordan, Montana,...
The University of Montana (UM) News Service recently released the Dean’s List and President’s 4.0 List for Fall Semester 2025. Among the more than 3,000 students who made the lists, four are from Blaine County. According to UM officials, to qualify, students must be undergraduates, earn a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher, and receive grades of A or B in at least nine credits. Students who receive any grade of C+ or below or no credit (NC/NCR) in a course are not eligible. From Chinook, Liam Edwards earned academic status, as did Serena Cha...
The Montana State University-Northern’s Spring semester Dean’s List contains 377 students. To be included in the Dean’s List, students must carry a minimum of 12 credits and earn a grade point average of 3.25 or better. Students that received a pass, incomplete or “F” during this semester are not included on the honor roll listing. The following list of students is organized alphabetically by hometown (please note that many students give a Havre address instead of a hometown address, and thus are listed in the Havre listing). CHINOOK:...
The Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation are excited to announce that they recently received notification of a large anonymous grant for the Chinook Pool and Park Project. December 29th, the Foundation received an email from the Park Community Foundation that an anonymous donor gave $90,000 to the support the project. The grant was made at the recommendation of their Anonymous Fund and we are beyond thankful for their contributions to the project. If you are the donor reading this, we are incredibly appreciative of your contributions to the...
Both the Turner and North Harlem Hutterite Colonies will soon be in the egg production business. After realizing that diversification was necessary to remain viable in the agricultural markets, Colony officials studied their options and hatched a plan. Although egg production on a small scale is one of the oldest animal farming enterprises in recorded history—according to the Pennsylvania State University’s Extension Service—the two new facilities in Blaine County will not be small scale. The Turner Colony operation, which plans to be up and r...
Mrs. Kelsey Harry, Librarian for Chinook schools, announced recently that with the return to classes in 2026, the Meadowlark Elementary Library will begin its Mock Caldecott unit. According to Harry, the activity is something both she and the students look forward to every year. The Caldecott Medal is an award named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott who was known for his colorful and lively children's book illustrations. Awarded annually by the Association...
Law enforcement is requesting the public's assistance in solving an arson case that occurred on the 400 block of Ohio Street at approximately 2:24 a.m. on December 25, 2025. The suspect was dressed in dark clothing, possibly wearing a backpack, and fled toward Main Street (Indiana Street). The suspect may have sustained burns to the face, arms, or upper body. Local business owners in the area are asked to review any security camera footage they may have. The Chinook Masonic Lodge is offering a...
On December 16, the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) announced its 2026 Board of Directors. Composed of thirteen members, including two directors from each district and three elected officers, the board represents ranching families from across Montana. One of the two North Central District Directors is Kevin Elias from Chinook. MSGA directors volunteer their time and travel across the state to participate in meetings, where they provide leadership and ensure the interests of ranchers are...
From 5:30 p.m. until approximately midnight on December 20, the Chinook Rod and Gun Club held its Annual Winter Solstice Block Party on Chinook's main street. One event organizer, Joe Kennedy-Zarn reported that all went well. "The Block Party is really just an excuse to get out and say hi to your neighbor. This time of the year the weather isn't always conducive to extended stays outdoors, so many people just came for a hot drink, a bowl of soup, and a visit with Santa. We also like to give...
Just past the stroke of midnight in New York’s Times Square, the celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday, which officially began on Memorial Day 2025, continued. Following the traditional midnight countdown and the iconic Times Square Ball Drop, another momentous event occurred. The Times Square Ball was relit in a red, white, and blue America250 design and rose above the illuminated numerals 2026. The moment included a video “America Turns 250,” a release of 2,000 pounds of red, white, and blue confetti, and a festive firewor...
KALISPELL - The spirit of conservation and community runs deep in Montana, and a great example of this is Montana’s Hunters Against Hunger program. This partnership between Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) transforms the bounty of a successful hunt into high-quality protein for Montana families facing food insecurity. For more than a decade since its inception in 2014, the Hunters Against Hunger program has been a shining example of how hunters, both local residents and nonresidents, are actively c...
HELENA — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recently concluded its general season sampling effort for chronic wasting disease (CWD), marking one of the most productive monitoring periods to date. This achievement was made possible through the direct participation of hunters across the state. A message of thanks to our hunting community FWP wishes to extend a sincere thank you to the thousands of hunters who brought their harvests to check stations or submitted samples this fall. We recognize that your time in the field is valuable, and taking t...
Something about a new year hints at possibility. The notion of fresh starts and clean slates inspires us to make intentional changes in our lives. New Year’s resolutions are also a chance to reflect on past achievements and challenges, identify areas for growth, and establish clear goals for personal and professional development. According to information gathered by Talker Research/Talkspace, 2025 was a year most Americans would like to forget, perhaps because of political and economic strife. However, the widespread dissatisfaction with 2...
