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Big Sandy Barracuda took 3rd in class A with 17 swimmers. The state swim meet was held in Sidney last week, and the western division's best faced the eastern division's best. The state meet consists of 19 teams. The teams that competed were Big Sandy, Bitterroot, Chester, Chinook, Choteau, Columbia Falls, Conrad, Cut Bank, Fort Benton, Glasgow, Glendive, Harlem, Lewistown, Malta, Plentywood, Roundup, Scobey, Sidney, and Shelby. There were 451 swimmers from around the state. The Barracuda's had a...
While driving to and from Big Sandy, I noticed large flocks of what looked like small white birds. I had to find out what they were because I had never seen them in our area before. I researched at the All About Birds Organization and Audubon sites. "The Arctic Tern is a small, slender gray-and-white bird with angular wings, the Arctic Tern is well known for its long yearly migration. It travels from its Arctic breeding grounds to Antarctica, where it enjoys the Antarctic summer, covering...
Les Rutledge was born in 1924 in Big Sandy and graduated in 1942. He just celebrated his 100th birthday. Les has led a full, interesting, thought-provoking, and rewarding life. Two years after high school, he found himself in Germany during WWII. He received his education from the University of Montana, the University of Utah, the University of Washington, and an institute in Sweden. All the education helped him teach neurosurgery for 32 years at the University of Michigan Medical School. He...
Kristie Rutledge is a certified LPA (Lay Pastoral Associate). The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America) has an LPA program. The truth is, she has wanted to be an LPA since high school. Her mentor is PR Megan Howeisch from First Lutheran in Havre. The Big Sandy Christ Lutheran has two LPAs, Dan Leader and Kristie Rutledge. Havre is a good support system with Marilyn Henry, Mary Stevens (music and no preaching), Lynn Steinmetz, and Josh Gomez. The Hi-Line has another LPA, Judy Vosen....
We just read an article about how Big Sandy Activities required new vans. However, Big Sandy is more than new vans. Those who have lived in Big Sandy know Big Sandy Activities was started by Connie Green, who was passionate about serving people with disabilities in 1974. They started a day program in 1975 and Incorporated in 1976. She hired Doris Gullickson and then Lenore Marx. Doris and Lenore still work for Big Sandy Activities; the only individual here is Donald Christianson. The first group...
Every summer, the Big Sandy Saddle Club organizes two months of O-mok-see, an Indian word meaning Big Dance. The next Big Dance is July 14th. I couldn't help but think of four girls who love their horses. Let me introduce you to them: Holli, Katie, Maddie, and Liz Williams. They all work and train their own horses. It's taken so long to sit down with them, between my schedule and theirs and the road conditions because of the rain, but finally, over a cup of coffee with creamer, we sat around the...
We were constantly told that the Big Sandy Pool could not continue to be patched and survive. The time is here. The Kiddie pool is gone. Leslie Gregory, Big Sandy Pool Manager, told me, "When I came to work (at the pol) that morning, water was coming out of the side of the deck, like under the deck. There's a crack there. Where did all this water come from? It's not gushing, but it's enough to put water in our alley. I walked over there. Tim Labuda, thinks it's one of the jets that circulates...
Sue King, a devoted Methodist Pastor with a profound love for science and the Lord, bid farewell to her last Sunday Service in Big Sandy this past Sunday. Her pastoral duties also extended to Havre and Chester, where she traveled each Sunday. Now, she embarks on a new journey, taking up a science teaching role at Chester, where she will be imparting her knowledge to junior high and senior high school students at CJI High School. Sue said, "My Bachelor's was in chemistry, and then I have a...
By Zoe Merrill I was finally able to attend a Big Sandy swim meet. Being there reminded me of how much fun they are to watch. The sport is more than the development of athletes; it is also about families playing together with other families around the state. The swim team was in Conrad last weekend, with a huge park surrounding the outdoor pool. The weather was perfect, the pool warm, and the swimmers worked hard competing. There were 10 teams at this swim meet, including Big Sandy. They...
The Big Sandy Library has been buzzing with excitement this summer, with a multitude of kids and adults enthusiastically participating in our reading program. Although I'm a bit late to share the news, the first three weeks were a whirlwind of adventure, with activities centered around the enchanting worlds of Wonderland, Narnia, and the Hobbit. We've got something for everyone, with children's activities at 1:00 on Mondays and 11:00 on Tuesdays, followed by a delightful story time on...
I have always known who Barb Ophus was, but I have enjoyed getting to know her better when we eat lunch at the Big Sandy Senior Center. She has 11 children. She lost a child, Lacee. Shane is the oldest, and Clete is the youngest of 10 children. She lost one grandchild, Laynee, leaving her with 30 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Barb was born in Havre. "I started teaching right after I graduated from college, with my bachelor's from Northern in those days. I graduated in the evening and...
Christain News Letter available. So why Uplifting? It’s simple. Augustine of Hippo wrote, “The Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot!” For several years, I have been living a dull/gray Christian experience for the most part. In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster wrote, “In the spiritual life, only one thing will produce genuine joy, and that is obedience.” Writing a devotional book/newsletter has been in my heart for years—YEARS! John 15:11 says, “These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy...
Mark Umfleet, the 2021 Country Gospel Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year, will be in concert Friday Evening, June 21, at 7:00 pm at the Big Paul Williams Memorial Park. In Box Elder at the Joe Rosette Memorial Park on Sat, June 22, at 2:00 pm, and in Havre at Pepin Park, 520 4yh Street, Sunday, June 23, at 12:00 noon. The concert is free, but donations are accepted. Consider bringing your own chairs. Mark was born in South Dakota but grew up in Montana. He attended grade school in Miles City but moved to Helena at Capitol High during...
A June 14th political meet and greet with Tim Sheehy, candidate for U.S. Senator, was at Big Sandy's The Mint. It was a good turnout, but The Mint was not full. He went around the room completely, shaking everyone's hands before he spoke for about 20 minutes. Tim answered a few questions before he left for Fort Benton. I asked him for a quick statement, and he said, "You bet! America is at a crossroads between open border inflation, interest rates, and foreign policy disasters. We have to make s...
(Editor's note: This took place one month ago, but for those participating, an article they can cut out and place in a scrapbook is important.) On May 13, the piano students of Nona Danreuther, Dianna Keane, Marla Ray, and Susie Sant gave a piano recital at the Christ Lutheran Church. Parker Yirsa played Home on the Range, a duet with Marla and Valse Scherzo. Bridger Keane played Mist on the Lake. Peyton Sant played Do You Ears Hang Low. Georgia Silvan played Puff, the Magic Dragon. Kennedy...
Father's Day is a relatively new holiday. The first time it was held was in June 1910, but it wasn't officially recognized as a holiday until 1972 by then-President Nixon. This last Sunday, fathers were celebrated. My challenge to everyone is to make it a week-long celebration. My father worked hard but knew how to rest. He laughed easily, especially at the practical jokes he played on others, and loved solitude and peace at his Fort Peck cabin. A smile came across my face when I remembered he...
The Mountaineer is 114 years old and faces changes, which should be evident to all. The Havre Daily/Chronicle has decided it will no longer print the Big Sandy Mountaineer nor, for that matter, its own paper. It will be outsourced as well. Bozeman will be printing the Mountaineer at almost two times the cost I previously paid. We still need to find out the timeline, but we hope it will be similar to what we are doing now. The format has changed because of the paper's size, so please be patient w...
Of all patriotic holidays, Memorial Day is the most powerful for me. A veteran came up to me at the program and asked why more people didn't come. He was hurt and said, "I guess I'm just old fashion." There is just something about this holiday that brings tears to my eyes. The first stop is the breakfast put on by the Big Sandy Historical Society. It's a great breakfast, and everyone can sit around and visit while waiting for the parade. Every year, the parade is getting better. I remember...
Well, school is out for the summer. Do you know what that officially means? Swimming is back! I wanted to start this year’s swim season with something different. I was visiting with someone recently about how excited I was to be able to keep up with the swimmers and how their times change for the season as they get better. That individual said they don’t read the articles or attend any meets because they don’t understand swimming. I decided to break down a few things before I give you the results of the Big Sandy swim team’s weekend in Shelby....
Barb Martin from Big Sandy and Dan Wilkins presented a program to the Big Sandy students called Pull Your Share. It is designed to teach what a Knapweed looks like and encourage students to pull the weed before it forms seeds. The program hopes to have teachers and their classes adopt sites that are infested with noxious weeds. When pulling weeds, wear gloves, pull close to the ground, and remove as much root as possible. If the weeds are pulled before seed heads have formed, it is ok to leave the pulled weeds. If seed heads have formed, it is...
One of my favorite activities at the FE Miley Elementary School is the end-of-year Extravaganza, held on May 23rd. The kindergarten class theme was "Travels to Antarctica." Teacher Samantha Weaver said, "We collaborated with Connie Reichel when she went to Antarctica. So it was perfect. They just had a great time, and we learned a lot. I learned a lot." A study of four different Penguins on display was excellent, and a few of the students let me take their pictures once they had their penguin...
This year's 2024 graduates wanted to have the shortest graduation in Big Sandy's history, and it was. It only lasted 30 minutes, but it fit this class. Dan Schrock, Big Sandy Superintendent, welcomed family and friends. His welcome was the only speaker besides the Salutatorian and the Valedictorian. Dan said, "Distinguished guests, and most importantly, graduates. Today marks a significant milestone in your journey to you, your hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence.'...
Chouteau County Sheriff Vern Burdick, a man of unwavering dedication, will be retiring in January 2025. His commitment to the community is evident in the way he always looks me right in my eyes and says "ma'am" when answering my questions. This respect he shows is a testament to his 30 years of service, 19 years as Sheriff and 11 years as a deputy, which he will complete on January 3, 2025. "I grew up in Nebraska but landed here with my family in 1993." Chouteau County was where he started his...
By Zoe Merrill The new Big Sandy clinic is getting nearer to opening. It's been a nightmare to receive the parts needed for opening. Ron Weins, CEO of Big Sandy Medical Center, said, "We are working on all the cabling for the building. Cabling, like for phones and computers, all that kind of stuff. Some of it's wireless because that connection between our two buildings will be wireless, but hopefully, it will get done next week." He isn't saying when the open house will take place because...
We have a new medical provider at Big Sandy. Introducing Joe Epperson, who has jumped right in because he just moved in here last week, and before the boxes were unpacked, he helped with branding. Joe is married to Tenley Keller. Joe and Tenley will be living with her parents, Demrec and Harvey, Keller 14 miles from town. Joe starts working at the Medical Center on May 10th as a physician assistant, certified (PA-C). He is a healthcare professional trained to diagnose and treat illness as well a...
