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With the 2021-2022 school year nearing an end, the Big Sandy High School Ag Classes are working on some interesting projects that will soon be available for sale or auction to the community. The proceeds of these sales will go to the local FFA chapter and to help defray the expenses of future student trips. In addition, the summer will bring with it some exciting opportunities for students to participate in FFA activities. The most obvious project, based on its sheer size and presence in the...
Every Spring brings with it the powerful chinook winds that fill main street with tumbleweeds and knock out the power on occasion. Another consequence of the Spring windstorms is trash blowing from the dump and onto the highway. For members of our community that live on the highway across from the dump, this means tons of cleaning. Betty Jo Chauvet recently drew attention to the matter with a Facebook post exclaiming that she had just spent two hours cleaning the ditches in front of her...
The school music program played its part in last week's "Art Week" activities. Both the Elementary and High School made noteworthy contributions to the activities. Last week, the High School held a midweek concert in preparation for the pressure of performing for judges. As a follow up, on Tuesday evening the school presented an encore performance. The full band played several pieces in the High School Auditorium before adjourning to City Hall. After having an opportunity to enjoy the artwork...
Around 17 years ago I was hired to work as a chaplain at a metal health facility for kids. I had been a youth pastor for a number of years and was decent at working with kids. That was about all I had going for me, apart from interviewing well. I suspect that within the first few months, it became clear that I wasn’t quite ideal for the job, and I am absolutely certain I made a ton of mistakes over the years. The biggest redeeming factor for my time there came in the form of a few men who invested in me. They talked me through my errors and m...
The Big Sandy High School Music Program put on a recital last Wednesday, April 20th, in preparation for the District Music Festival which took place in Havre on Friday the 22nd and Saturday the 23rd. The concert was an opportunity for various musicians and singers to perform their festival pieces in front of an audience. The opportunity was especially important because playing in public can be difficult for some students. This concert helped prepare the students to play for judges later. Due to...
The Missoula Children’s Theater is returning to Big Sandy to put on a performance of “Johnny Appleseed” with our local students. Rehearsals are open to children from Kindergarten through 12th grade. They will take place at the High School Auditorium on May 16th from 4 PM to 6 PM. They will also be looking for backstage help for the performance. Amanda Hoffman, who helps run the Big Sandy Theater group explains the program: “Montana’s Children’s Theater is an organization out of Missoula that goes around and puts plays on for Children K...
I have been preaching through the book of Acts at my church for the past 8 months, taking time off for a Lent and Christmas series. This past Sunday, I reached chapter 17 and began delving into Paul’s visit to Athens, in ancient Greece. While reflecting on the text, I had an interesting realization. Paul arrives in Athens with the goal of waiting there for several traveling companions to meet him. Most translations say that he looked around the city and was troubled by the excess of idols. The word in the original Greek would be stronger t...
The clients at Big Sandy Activities received a special gift this Easter weekend. The clients received 21 baby chicks and a duckling as pets. Heather Pleninger, the Executive Director at BSA, explained the gift. "I really wanted to do something fun for their Easter. We've never done something like this before. We've never had chickens. I always thought that they'd be fun. When I brought it up to the guys, they seemed pretty excited. But I really don't think they got the gist of what we were...
A few times in my life, I’ve read a news story involving someone who was shot by a friend while “testing” their brand new bullet proof vest. I’ve also seen videos of the same stupid stunt. I will say confidently that I would not test out a bulletproof vest if I owned one. This is mainly because every time I read about these “tests” they go wrong. It’s an example of when it’s easy to trust something when it doesn’t matter, than be put in a position where I have to act on that general sense of belief. While studying for the Easter sermon thi...
Holy Week is the most important time in the church calendar year , which culminates in the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Our community churches will be offering different options for worship and observance during Holy Week. The community is welcome to join any of these church bodies in celebrating the holiday. The following is a summary of the various days, their meaning, and what the various churches are doing to observe the days. On Thursday of Easter week, the Last Supper took place. This is when the disciples...
The news of the Senior Center closing for a deep audit this month has prompted many in the community to ask an important question: “What can we do for the seniors who depend on the center for their meals?” The answer has arrived as Big Sandy Medical Center stepped up to fill the temporary void. Leah Griffin, the CEO of the Medical Center, explains how the idea came about: “It was a group effort. Everybody had heard scuttlebutt about the Senior Center. Then, a few of them reached out to some of the board. But ultimately, it was the kitch...
Big Sandy High School held its Carnival for the first time since Covid restrictions prompted its cancelation 2 years ago. The event was well attended and ran smoothly, despite the hiatus. "It's like riding a bicycle. You never forget how to do it," explained Melanie Schwarzbach. She quickly added, "I've got a nice little group of kids to work with, and it's a time-honored tradition that the community enjoys." Many of the patrons and school staff I spoke with expressed joy at the return of the...
Range Management Suggestions for the Upcoming Season Below are a few range management suggestions from Dr. Jeff Mosley (MSU Extension Range Management specialist). 1. Delay turn-out onto native range as long as possible to let the grass get ahead of the livestock as much as possible. Use tame pasture more heavily to delay turnout on native range. 2. Reduce stocking rate in the pastures you graze in May and June by at least 20%. 3. You can reduce stocking rate in late spring by reducing the number of days you keep the livestock in your May and...
Last year, the CDC released a report that documented a 50% increase in emergency room visits for suspected suicides for girls ages 12 to 17. The numbers for boys in the same age range rose as well, but not nearly as dramatically. Gallons of newspaper ink has been spilled trying to explain this tragic spike, offering explanations and theories galore. Regardless of why it’s happening, the fear that these tragic stories strike in the hearts of parents can be paralyzing. There are so many unknowns and “what ifs”; it can easily make parents feel...
With the war in Ukraine passing the one month mark and millions of citizens fleeing the Russian invading force, Big Sandy Church of God had begun discussing how to support those in need. The effort took on additional urgency in response to impassioned pleas from Irina Gulenko. Irina immigrated from Ukraine to Big Sandy last year to marry Duane Bierwagon. As news of the invasion and destruction of her homeland began, Irina has watched from afar with horror. "I can't sleep I can't think about...
I recently read that employees, by a wide margin, prefer recognition for their work and contributions over bonuses or financial incentives. This seems counterintuitive, but there is a strange truth about what motivates humans in life: we want to know our work is meaningful and appreciated. This isn’t to say that money isn’t important. There are limits to this idea. Very few people would go to work every day in order to receive nice words and encouragement. However, one of the areas where employers often fall short in motivating their peo...
With Easter 3 weeks away, The Black Granary has begun taking order from families looking to add something special to their holiday celebration. Mary Merril, who owns and operates the bakery, explained that they will be offering a couple of special items this year that people can order. Customers have the choice of special Easter items including Cinnamon or Orange Star Bread, Sunbeam Crescent Dinner Rolls, Whole Quiches, Key Lime Tarts, Lemon Curd Tarts with Pate Sucre Crust, or Carrot Cake. In...
March 16th through the 20th was Western Art Week in Great Falls and local photographer Craig Edwards was there selling prints of photos depicting aspects and artifacts of life in Big Sandy. In addition to fine art, Craig sold limited edition jars filled with Big Sandy itself. Craig's photography is well known to residents of our community and can be seen in his art gallery in town or hanging in various businesses in the region. However, his dirt sales are a less well known business venture that...
The nation of Ethiopia, which is in Northeastern Africa, was once a lush, fruitful, and green nation. Over the past century, that situation has changed. The nation has seen nearly 40% of its forests cut down and sold off. The result of these actions has been that the once green nation has been turned into a vast desert. The famines of the 80s, which captured the attention of the American media, were a direct result of the ecological disaster that has taken place. Over the weekend, I came across a photo collage of Ethiopian Orthodox Churches...
Electric cars and trucks are becoming increasingly common around the country. Battery electric locomotives are in development or already on the rails in some areas. This raises the question of whether or not electric tractors are on the horizon for agribusiness. I asked Ron Harmon of Big Equipment in Havre, MT about the future of tractor manufacturing. "There are some people that are working on electronic electric tractors. And let's just call them diesel electric... There's been a sprayer and...
Images from the Russian invasion of Ukraine have dominated the news for the past month, and with it, stories of the human suffering as refugees flee their homeland. With photos of bombed out cities, stories of Russian forces targeting civilians, and video of the over 2.5 million refugees that flooded into Western Ukraine and Europe, it's obvious that help is desperately needed. However, it can be difficult for individuals to know how to do something to ease the sufferings and meet the needs of...
Big Sandy Organics has experienced a growth spurt over the last few years. Big Sandy residents have certainly noticed the facility expansions as the organization has grown. In November of 2020, Thomas and Heather Dilworth purchased the company from Bob Quinn. Heather explained that the first big contract they landed came to them right off the bat: "Right after we bought the business, we had a company named Snack Nation contact us. They send boxes of snacks and goodies to homes. It's a...
Big Sandy Organics is looking for ways to give back to the community. The company has seen some significant growth over the last couple of years and now they are looking for ways to serve the town. Heather Dilworth explained that the idea behind the initiative came form her husband, who also coined the tagline: “We’re more than a company. We’re a community.” Heather explained that “he actually made a stamp out of it. And we stamp it on our envelopes and things…” She went on to explain that though she didn’t grow up in a small town, her husba...
Last Wednesday, Christ Lutheran Church kicked off its services for observing Lent with an Ash Wednesday Service midday on March 6th. Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season where churches begin to prepare to celebrate Good Friday and Easter. Melanie Schwarzbach, who is currently the chair of the board at Christ Lutheran, explained: "We take time out of our week to reflect upon Jesus' journey to the cross and to be mindful of the sacrifices He made for us." The time taken out of the week...
Over the last few years, I’ve begun to rely more and more on reading glasses. Last Sunday, I forgot to bring a pair to the pulpit when I went up to preach the sermon. I asked my son to run down to my office and grab a pair. He brought back a pair of black framed readers that came from a drawer in my desk. As soon as I saw them, I realized that they were a pair of fake glasses I picked up for Halloween a few years ago. I didn’t want to stop talking and explain why I needed a different pair, so I put them on and did the best I could by squinting...
