Sorted by date Results 1753 - 1777 of 4837

The Chinook Chapter of the FFA met last week to work on setting up their Christmas tree pickup plan following the holidays. During that meeting, Advisor Karyn Billmayer learned that the Chinook Green Waste area has been closed down due to improper use. This situation resulted in the group's needing to revise their original service project by determining the trees' final resting place. In devising a Plan B, the Chapter heard from an FFA Alumni member at the meeting, Lori Swanson, who mentioned th...

The Montana Law Enforcement Academy held a graduation ceremony for LEOB Class No. 173 this past Friday. Included amongst those officers receiving certificates were two fine individuals recognizable to many in Blaine County. Brandon Murnion and Mark Kletke completed the training. The Law Enforcement Basic Course is 12 weeks long and for Murnion and Kletke that process began on September 15, 2020. Included in those 12 weeks of class instruction as well as 24 hours of online course study. One of...
Superintendent of Chinook School District, Darin Hannum released a report on Monday, December 7 to update the community on the status of the school district and to share current details about student populations and various programs. Enrollments are about average. Meadowlark Elementary School recorded 161 students. That figure is down from 204, a total which was reported three years ago. At the junior high school, 60 students are enrolled, and the high school turned in a count of 105 students. According to Hannum, these numbers include online...

At Meadowlark Elementary School in Chinook, each month the teachers choose students from their classes based on positive behavior, kindness, getting work done on time, staying on task, and otherwise exhibiting behavior worthy of recognition. These students become the month's dynamic dozen, winning Student of the Month designation. To honor their efforts, each member of this group of twelve students receives an award certificate, a profile and picture for the school's bulletin board, and his/her...
Helena - Do you know a student who could use $1,000 to help pay for their education? The Reach Higher Montana Scholarship program opens on December 1, 2020, at www.ReachHigherMontana.org. This year, the Montana-based nonprofit organization will award eighty-one scholarships – thirty awards for Class of 2021 graduating high school seniors, and fifty awards for students currently attending a Montana college or university for use in the 2021-2022 academic year. In addition, one $1,000 scholarship is earmarked for a current college student who h...

In this final month of 2020, Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest and brightest planets in our solar system, have been putting on a celestial show. Through the entirety of December, skywatchers can look up each evening to watch these two gas giants approach one another. Their apparent merging will occur on December 21, in what astronomers are calling the Great Conjunction of 2020. During this close encounter, Jupiter and Saturn will form a rare "Christmas Star" on winter solstice when the...

For the past fifteen years or more, the December newsletter at Meadowlark Elementary School has carried an announcement about packing Santa's Sleigh with food donations. It also alerts parents of school children about the Angel Tree, which typically goes up at Finley's Food Farm just after Thanksgiving. With the holiday season often focused on giving, residents find ways to share their resources. To fill Santa's Sleigh, Meadowlark Elementary School conducts a food drive. The sleigh, which was...

The Parade of Lights, a staple of the Holiday Season in Chinook, was downsized considerably due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it still included something new. On Friday, November 27, a new business opened up in town and the community showed up in full force to welcome 'All Dahl'd Up' to the main street Chinook business community. Owner Kadie Dahl was overwhelmed by the support, "It was great, the community was really supportive. It was humbling." Kadie along with her Husband Daniel and children...

With loss so prevalent-whether considering incomes, people, routines, security, connections, or comforts-and with risk quite literally in the air we breathe, the Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation, along with Chinook Pharmacy, are proud to present Chinook's Wishing Tree. Although this tree has a variety of purposes, its focus is on hope and healing Those involved in the project invite anyone interested to simply write a wish on one of the tags provided at Chinook Pharmacy between now and De...
Turner Public School District has received two separate COVID Relief Grants, one from the Governor’s office and another from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services. Both grants will enhance educational opportunities for students in the district. Monies for the first grant came in the amount of $35,784. These federal relief dollars were made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act. Turner School District applied for this additional funding through the Education Assistance Program administ...
After nearly 40 years of a highly successful Chinook Community Thanksgiving Dinner the crew has decided to expand for 2020. Betty and Mark Billmayer, Jay Eslick, Kathy O’Brien and the whole crew are proud to announce that they will be doing a Chinook Community Christmas Dinner as well. “The Thanksgiving Dinner went so well, and I just thought this year has been so challenging for everyone, that maybe we could do a Christmas Dinner as well” Betty stated. “I talked with Mark, and he liked the idea. We then visited with Jay and Kathy and they li...

Steve and Sherry Edwards moved to Chinook in December of 2013. Soon thereafter Sherry walked through the doors of the Blaine County Journal News Opinion with Steve a few steps behind. She asked Keith and Keri Hanson, Owners of the newspaper, if they might have a need for someone to do some writing. From that point on Steve, the writer, became immersed in the community of Chinook and was out and about all over Blaine County learning all he could learn about the area. Steve published his first...

As is their tradition, Harlem Elementary School officials have selected two staff members for the month of November and nine students for the last week of November in their quest to honor inspirational actions and displays of appropriate behavior. The two distinguished educators for the month of November are fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Cathy Bear, and first grade instructor, Mrs. Rhawnee Hopkins. According to the administration at Harlem Elementary School, Mrs. Bear and Mrs. Hopkins have...
Chinook, MT: Work on US 2 between Havre and Chinook is substantially complete as of this week. Crews have finished paving the highway mainline, and have placed interim pavement markings, delineation, and guardrail for the project. Some permanent signs were installed before winter shutdown. “The Lohman East and West project on US 2 is reconstruction project designed to improve a critical stretch of hi-line roadway infrastructure. We have completely reconstructed over ten miles of US 2 and rebuilt four bridges,” Great Falls District Adm...

In a year like no other, it was even more important to organizers of the Chinook Community Thanksgiving Dinner for the event to continue. "We really didn't want to let it go. We felt like if you skip a year it's really hard to get it started again," said Betty Billmayer. Their efforts were extremely appreciated as the total number of meals served exceed previous years. "We served approximately 190 Meals, 90 delivered and 100 picked up," said Billmayer. This year's crew included Betty and Mark...

Boxing, like any sport, requires a lot of dedication and hard work to succeed. It helps develop hand-eye coordination, improves physical condition and is a proven stress reliever. It also builds character and instills pride in those individuals who give it their all. For any young child, those traits are highly desirable. For children who may not have the best of situations at home they can be lifesavers. Head Coach and Trainer Jon Jay Mount has worked diligently getting the Hays Amateur Boxing...
The Re-Imagining Rural gathering that occurred in September and October 2020 on a virtual platform was reported a success. As an incentive to capitalize on what they learned during these sessions, representatives from community foundations and other public entities were invited to submit grant applications for funding. Two local entities receiving grants are MSU Blaine County Extension and Fort Belknap Community Economic Development Corporation. MSU Blaine County Extension was awarded a $2,000 grant to support inclusion in Chinook. According...
HELENA, Mont. (November 19, 2020) – The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) wrapped up its first-ever Virtual Annual Convention & Trade Show on Wednesday, November 18. This one-of-a-kind event provided over 200 attendees the chance to gather for keynote addresses, explore a virtual trade show, vote for MSGA’s 2021 Board of Directors, and participate in policy development – all from their own home! During Opening General Session, attendees heard from livestock industry organization leaders such as Fred Wacker, former MSGA President; Jay Bodn...

During this pandemic when critical resources are stretched thin and the very essence of our freedom is shrinking under mandates, stay-at-home directives, and social distancing guidelines, many of us have grown introspective. We have turned our thoughts inward to imagine a different reality than the one we're living. Quarantine, although stressful, has given all of us time to think. In this time of crisis and isolation, art can play a healing role. Art slows us down, forcing us to notice and to...
MSU Blaine County Extension will be teaming up with USDA/APHIS to present a Grasshopper informational webinar and question and answer session with Gary D. Adams, State Plant Health Director, Montana APHIS on Wednesday, December 9th beginning at 5:00 PM. This meeting will take place virtually as well as in person. Limited in person attendance will take place at the Triple E Meeting Room in Chinook. Please call the Extension Office at357-3200 to RSVP to attend in person. To attend online, please call the Extension Office and we will send you log...

Given unusual circumstances, schools have had to devise innovative ways to carry on old traditions. For instance, Harlem Elementary School's ROARing students program has undergone a renovation to include both Hybrid A and B groups, as well as those students who are working remotely. What used to be a once a week drawing has evolved into a three times a week affair in order to accommodate all groups. At Harlem Elementary, students who follow the school rules and display appropriate behavior may...

Anyone who has shopped local businesses recently has likely noticed that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! However, Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce President, Daniel Dahl announced on Friday, November 20 that Chinook's 35th Annual Parade of Lights, Festival of Trees, and Downtown Stroll will look different this year on November 27. Because of the Governor's recent directives and the increase in the number of COVID cases, the Chamber had to forego the Festival of Trees and the...
It has been a little more than three weeks since Blaine County Voters cast their final ballots. By now we are all aware of the winners in each race, but how did Blaine Counties vote totals compare to the declared winners in the state vote. Blaine County had the unique designation of being completely opposite of the state tally in every race ran statewide. Blaine County was in sync nationally in the Presidential race however. The following is a breakdown of the contested races and their results statewide compared to votes cast in Blaine County....

The Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation are the recipients of another generous donation, this one from Richard, Rose, Elizabeth, and D.J. Stuker. Last week, Richard and Rose Stuker stopped by American Garage-where at least two of the board members of the non-profit organization work-to present the Foundation with a $1,000 check. About that gift, President of the Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation (FPPF), Heather DePriest said, "We live in one of the most giving communities! We want to...

On Saturday, November 21, from noon until 3:00 p.m., the local Knights of Columbus organization in collaboration with the Great Falls Council and several local businesses distributed 2000 pounds of food and gave-away more than three dozen coats in an act of charity. Using St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Chinook as a distribution center, the District Deputy for the Knights of Columbus (K of C), Frank LaTray and his team of trusty Knights and other volunteers took requests from the front door of...