We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Sorted by date Results 1926 - 1950 of 4831
Montanans often joke that there are two seasons in Montana: winter and road construction. Neither is for the faint of heart since both require endurance and patience. As highway reconstruction continues in Blaine County, however, not only the Montana Department of Transportation is asking for travelers' patience. The Blaine County Ambulance Crew also requests understanding and empathy. In a report generated on July 15, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) shared construction progress...
The Blaine County Commissioners and Blaine County Fairboard held a meeting last week on Thursday, July 17 with discussion focused on finalizing a schedule for the 2020 Blaine County Fair and deciding how the events will be carried out. The Blaine County Fairboard and Commissioners have the enviable task of making the most out of a difficult situation in doing what is best for this year’s fair to take place in some form. Both the Commissioners and Fairboard met with a representative of the counties insurance coverage to discuss COVID-19 c...
For the first five months of the Global COVID-19 Corona Virus Pandemic that has gripped our communities in 2020, Blaine County was able to maintain a clean slate. That changed last Wednesday, July 11 with the first positive test being returned. On Friday the Blaine County Health Department reported that through contact tracing from the original case, three more positive tests were returned. This brings the number of COVID-19 test positives to four which is the thresh hold set for new mandates to take effect as ordered by Governor Steve...
The City of Chinook recently adjusted their garbage pickup schedule and owners of property should note the new pickup times. Garbage collection will now take place once a week for residential property. On Tuesdays, collection will take place west of Indiana Street and on Thursdays residences east of Indiana Street will have their garbage picked up. Residences are allowed three (3) 30-gallon cans. Collection will take place in the Business District 5 days a week, Monday through Friday. Any...
The Sweet Memorial Nursing Home (SMNH) welcomed one of their newest employees at the end of May. Stephanie Talksdifferent heard about the opening from another nursing home employee, applied, and was hired as an Activities Aid. Since that time, Talksdifferent has found pleasure in her job, describing her position with enthusiasm and calling it a life-saver. "I absolutely love my job! I needed a little positivity in my live, and this job fills that need. My co-workers are kind, helpful, and...
Superintendent of Turner Public Schools (TPS), Tony Warren, received notification last month that the school district is the recipient of five grant awards. These funds will not only fill educational gaps but enrich learning for students of this small, North Central Montana community. The first, a Humanities Montana Grant, will provide funds for Annishinaabe artist and cultural consultant Louise Ogemahgeshig Fischer to visit the school in September 2020. In her presentation, “Living with the Land,” Fischer will not only describe the Ame...
I saw the bright red barn on the Louie Petrie Ranch during the Montana Angus tour a couple of years ago. Sonny and Nellie Obrecht told me some of the history of the barn at that time but only recently was I able to visit the Big Flat and learn about the barn. In 1901 George Petrie came from Minnesota and homesteaded the main part of the ranch a few miles north of Turner and still referred to as Mutton Hollow. Three generations of the Petrie family currently operate the ranch. George Petrie's gre...
Turner Public School District is currently developing a school reopening plan. Revisions to that plan are occurring frequently based on changing recommendations from federal, state, and local officials. According to Turner Public School (TPS) Superintendent Tony Warren, their small class sizes provide a distinct advantage in reopening for the new school year because social distancing guidelines are more easily met. Therefore, he remains optimistic that Turner Schools will be able to welcome back students for in-person instruction beginning on...
Several Blaine County youth attended an afternoon of workshops on 4-H Project Day, which was held on July 15 at the Blaine County Fairgrounds. Blaine County Agriculture and 4-H Agent, Juli Snedigar reported that twenty-five 4-Hers joined her and fellow 4-H/ Family and Consumer Science Agent, Sarah Johnson to learn ideas from topics such as record keeping, demonstrations, and livestock quality assurance. MSU-Extension Administrative Assistant, Brenda Jones and other guest presenters also offered...
There’s a new group in town! The Friends of the Museum is a volunteer group that will assist with Blaine County Museum outreach, fundraising, event organizing, and other projects. Museum Director Samantha French conducted three informational sessions last week at the museum in Chinook to introduce the idea and to generate enthusiasm for history. “We welcome diverse age groups and backgrounds, so consider joining us for future meetings,” French said. “Volunteer projects can range from outreach to assisting with cataloging the collection or perf...
Area grain producers are all smiles after a number of recent rains have dropped an unusual amount of moisture on their crops to start July. For many producers this year's crop looks fantastic and hopefully the second half of the season is as good as the first. The area has had more rain at times through the years, but the timing of this year's rain seems to be on point and separates this summer from the rest. More often than not when the calendar notes the start of summer (June 20) the amount...
In November, 1903, the new Chinook Opera House hosted a grand opening ball that attracted 500 guests. A couple of weeks before the grand opening, the "Chinook Opinion" described the new facility as "...worthy of our pride and would be a creditable in a city of the population of Great Falls." The writer noted, "...the residents of Chinook and vicinity have deplored the fact that we had not a theatre or other place of amusement worthy of a large and wealthy population." A writer described the new...
To slow the spread of COVID-19, and prevent future outbreaks, Fort Belknap Indian Community is partnering with the State of Montana on a free community snapshot testing event Thursday-Friday, July 16 and 17 at Fort Belknap Agency and Hays. If you’re a front-line worker, Blaine County resident or Tribal Member and don’t have any symptoms of illness, you’re encouraged to get a free Coronavirus test. “The virus is here with us and as we learn to live in a new normal with wearing a mask, social distancing and vigilant hygiene, enhanced testing...
“The American Red Cross is so grateful for partners that continue to stand with us throughout the coronavirus pandemic. While we have been able to meet immediate patient needs, your upcoming drive is essential to ensure a stable blood supply in the weeks to come. Donating blood products is essential to community health and the need for blood products is constant. As part of our nation’s critical infrastructure, healthy individuals can still donate in areas that have issued shelter in place declarations. The Red Cross follows the highest sta...
Last month, Hillary Maxwell, MSU-Extension Agent at Fort Belknap, received notification that the Lodgepole Research Orchard Beautification project had been awarded funding from the Montana Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA). The MNLA Board of Directors awarded $250.00 toward the project to purchase a garden bench. Due to the number of applications received for this year’s Community Beautification Fund, the MNLA was not able to fund the MSU-Extension’s total request, but Maxwell expressed pleasure about receiving the monetary award. The Lod...
A familiar face at the Blaine County Clerk and Recorder’s Office retired on March 31. Laurie Rigg retired as Clerk on March 31, 2020. Laurie started her position as clerk in the Blaine County Recorder’s Office back in January of 1987. “Lucille Oehmke was the Clerk and Recorder at the time, and she hired me to fill the position,” said Laurie. “That same year I started recording Blaine Counties Tract Indexes. I had found previous versions, but none were never maintained. I even found one back as far as the 1930’s. I have maintained them ever s...
First Sergeant Perry Joshua Miller retired from the United States Marine Corp (U.S.M.C.) recently and was well honored with a ceremony in North Carolina. Miller entered the Delayed Entry Program for the U.S.M.C. in August of 1999. On July 23, 2000 he reported to boot camp at M.C.R.D., San Diego and graduated in October 2000. 20 years later, having served the bulk of his enlistment, Miller retired from the Corp Honorably. Originally Miller had plans for nearly 40 friends and family to attend but...
Chinook's Kailey Kleinjan graduated from Chinook in 2016 and this spring earned her degree from Carroll College in Helena. Kleinjan is a familiar face to many and her love and passion of animals has never been questioned. Her degree was in the Anthropic-Zoology program. Anthro-Zoology is the study of the human and animal bond interactions and relationships formed from this connection. Kleinjan's time in the program serves as the background of her new business 'Hi-Line Canine', and it was...
Montana State University Extension educators say it is important for people to understand how titling personal property that is owned in joint tenancy with right of survivorship could have unintended consequences. MSU Extension family economics specialist Marsha Goetting and Pondera County Extension agent Wendy Wedum said factors like property title laws and intestacy statutes can impact how property is distributed after a person dies. Joint tenancy with right of survivorship, according to Montana law, takes priority over a written will....
Senior citizens in any community are treasures with a wealth of knowledge, and experience gained from their journey through life. Seniors have had to overcome obstacles recently that are unique and isolated to them. Their life lessons learned have provided them with the intuitiveness and strength to get through each day as successful as possible. For many, their life journeys will result in residency at a Nursing Home. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us in our own individual ways, but...
Many readers know Toni Collins who works at Finley's Food Farm in Chinook. Some may know she's an avid outdoor photographer, especially for wildlife. Likely few readers know Toni's a "volunteer, citizen-scientist" who's been collecting data for a regional study of Short-eared Owls (SEOWs) over the past couple of years. With a minor in biology from Pacific University, working with the study was an opportunity to apply some of what she had learned in college. Six hundred volunteers across eight...
On Monday night, June 29, and again on July 6, the Chinook Schools’ Reopening Committee met with local school board members to discuss the fall reopening strategies in response to COVID-19. Although no action was taken during either meeting, the group is developing a reopening plan for Chinook School District during the 2020-21 school year. This plan will be presented to the School Board in August. “We had a couple of good meetings and designed a tentative plan. It is a comprehensive one, so I don’t have the document complete yet,” Chinook Scho...
John Hebbelman is a lifelong resident of the Chinook area and Blaine County, spraying crops along the Hi-line for the past 55 years and flying planes for 60, being an aviator has defined who he is. On February 20, 2020, John learned that he had become the 84th recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. John also became the first Blaine County pilot to earn the prestigious honor. To be eligible to receive the award it takes years of dedication to win. There are three major...
Several people in Blaine County reported receiving invitations to take the Montana Opinion Survey, with a $5 gift card offered as remuneration. The solicitation asks participants to respond by July 13 to have their voices included. The notice, sent through the United States Postal Service, indicates that responses are important and “will help us understand the views of people like you in Montana on a number of issues important in our community.” The Montana Opinion Survey claims to be a project of Sequoia Research, a limited liability corporati...
After 40 years of service at the St. Paul's Mission Grade School, Sister Helen, Sister Chris and Sister Nora will head back to New York to be with friends and family in their hometown. The trio arrive at the school in 1980 and will head back to New York on July 6, 2020 after 40 years of service to the school and the community. The St. Paul Mission Church was first established in 1887 by the Bureau of Catholic Missions. The Church now serves as a kindergarten through eighth grade school. The Miss...
