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Big Sandy's Chili Feed is a treasured community event. People come home, and even college kids ride the fire trucks. Although it remains a valuable community get-together, it doesn't really change, and maybe that's why it's so important to us. The day starts months before, with our firefighters working tirelessly to secure prizes for the community. Our grade school kids, with their boundless creativity, draw and color their artwork, adding a personal touch to the event. The firefighters' visits to the school to educate the kids about fire...
On June 17, 2024, Montana Attorney General Knudsen issued a news release entitled “Montana On Pace For Another Record-Breaking Year Of Fentanyl Seizures: “HELENA—Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today that anti-drug task forces in Montana seized 150 percent more fentanyl in the first quarter of 2024 than during the first quarter of 2023.” “Through the first quarter of 2024, Rocky Mountain High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task forces seized a total of 163,184 dosage units of Fentanyl in Montana compared to 65,142 during th...
There's something truly magical about Fall. The world transforms into a canvas of vibrant colors, each leaf a masterpiece in its own right. It's a season that fills me with joy and awe at the beauty of nature. God gave us so many colors if you stop to think about it. The trees, when green, have so many different shades of green. Why did God do that? Then there's dirt. Where I live, the dirt is that brownish gray. In Oklahoma, the dirt is red, and the dirt smells different in both places. It may...
Big Sandy Pharmacy is offering additional point of care testing services for our patients. This program enables them to conduct influenza(flu), strep, urinary tract infections, cholesterol and glucose tests and to receive results within minutes and treat accordingly, allowing the patient to care for his or her healthy. Thirty three years ago, the development of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA ‘88), introduced point-of-care testing (POCT) In the early stages of the flu, many people do not realize thy are infected. W...
Bryanna Goodman had a marvelous summer. She planted her dream garden. "I grew up gardening. Ever since I was a little toddler, I was barefooted in the garden, helping my mom. She had a magnificent garden my whole life, but it was always just vegetables, never flowers. I have always wanted to grow wildflowers, and this year, I decided to scatter wildflower seeds throughout the garden and see if it would work. They grew so abundantly and completely took over. It was just magnificent." "I grew a...
Close to 200 people were served meals, and with a silent auction, live auction, and raffle tickets, the benefit brought in $60,000. One hundred fifty items were donated to the benefit. One of the organizers, Mikki Pansch, said, "I think John and Jessica Sheehy Elk print, Billy's and Kandi's Thai dinner for 12, and the Mint prime rib dinner for 12 brought in the most dollars. Ryan Pansch's service inspection also brought in a good amount. The beef box donated by the Darlington Ranch went for $500...
Harvest is almost over. For the farmers in this community, this season is when they collect all their yearly income. So it's stressful. It's long hours for many days, working with the weather and equipment that breaks down. This year, we did get good rain in most areas, but the price is lower this year, so the question will be if there is enough money after selling the crops to cover the operating loan. According to Hi-line Today on 9/13/24, winter wheat was worth $5.09 a bushel, and spring...
It's that time of year. It's fall house cleaning and time to go through everything and give to the Big Sandy Medical Guild Rummage Sale. We're particularly in need of gently used clothing, toys, books, records, and glassware. There are three weeks left to clean your own home and donate. The 2024 annual rummage sale starts with donations dropped off at the Jerry Martin Memorial Hal from Monday, October 7th, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can continue to drop off items until Wednesday, October 9th,...
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" Proverbs 15:1 What is my response to abrasive people? It's a constant struggle. I can usually keep my mouth shut, but not always! If harsh words stir me up to be harsh back, I'm no better than the person who offended me. It's a battle of self-control and understanding. Walking in the cool September weather after the nice rain, I found myself taking pictures of odd things, like always. But the picture of the thistle growing by a...
Don Jenkins has been diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. The official medical definition says it is, "Many different things may cause damage to the lungs that results in pulmonary Fibrosis. Examples include long-term exposure to certain toxins, radiation therapy, some medicines, and certain medical conditions" that cause the disease. Don Jenkins graduated from Big Sandy High School in 1979. He coached wrestling for 14 years and was the assistant football coach for 14 years. He also loved being th...
Marty Demarest has been preaching at the Methodist Church. I went to worship with them and found him full of joy and the Spirit of God, as they do. I couldn't wait to interview him. Marty said, "I am a lay preacher. I am exactly what Brother Van was: a layman called by God to bring the Word of God. I can preach at three churches on a Sunday, no problem. I love it. I absolutely love it. I drove 230 miles today. The Spirit of God sustains you if God calls you to the work. Before this, Marty wrote...
Montana has more independently owned bookstores per capital than any other state. A group of those shops have banded together to help promote their businesses and attract a peculiar type of tourism around the state. The Montana Bookstore Trail is the product of that effort. For the past 2 years, the Trail has raised awareness of these small businesses in our state. The concept is quite clever. Bookstore explorers get a passport, which they get stamped at each place they visit. The passport has...
Hearts for Hep is a benefit for Casten Heppner. It will take place at the Jerry Martin Memorial Hall in Big Sandy, Montana, on Saturday, September 14, starting at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served, followed by live and silent Auctions. Casten and Katie and their children have lived here for years and are still Big Sandy people in our hearts. Katie wrote on Facebook (she gave me permission to use it), "We traveled to Mayo, and we were able to see Casten's mass. The team assessed it to be an arachnoid...
4-H and FFA Youth Meet Excellence Criteria for Livestock Carcass Quality The 2024 Chouteau County 4-H and FFA livestock carcass ultrasound took place at the Chouteau County fairgrounds. A total of 89 Chouteau County animals were evaluated for carcass quality by Elin Kittelmann, Ultrasound Technician from Ekalaka. The purpose of the carcass contest is to teach youth how to correctly select, feed and finish livestock based on carcass data. If carcass criteria are met, youth can be confident they are producing a quality product that is safe,...
Okay, I'm going to say this upfront: This team is worth watching. Come and enjoy the Big Sandy Girls' skills and help support them. Their first matches are away on August 30th at North Star and August 31st at Belt for a tournament. The first home matches are September 12th against Highwood and September 19th against CJI. I walked into the Big Sandy gym, and the first thing I noticed was that the girls were exhausted and sweating. I said, "Hard practice," and they said yes! At the beginning of...
Some believe we are in a rebuilding year, but Coach Tucker Tayor answered that question right up front. We have lost a lot of talented football players over the last three years, some of whom are playing football just down the road, but head coach Tucker Taylor believes there are athletes ready to step up and, given the chance, will do well for the Pioneers. There are four seniors this year: Sonny Phillips, Darrell Sunchild, Ryder Galbavy, and Severin Heimbigner. Although he cannot play this...
As I parked my car, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of a couple of fair rides, all free to ride on Thursday night! The fair is a place for kids and adults alike, a place where everyone can have fun. There's something about seeing kids enjoying themselves that brings a smile to everyone's face. The 4-H clubs had to have their animals there on Wednesday, but the opening day was on Thursday, with entries due that afternoon and judging starting in the livestock building. Most food booths...
When I stepped outside my car at the MSU Northern football parking lot, I was surprised to hear the players cheering loudly. Realizing they were looking forward to playing football this year was fun. Three of the players are from Big Sandy Pioneers, but what's truly fascinating is that four of them are cousins! Braydon Cline, Wylee Snapp, Lane Demontiney, and Crawford Terry share a unique bond. Lane also happens to be a cousin to Joe Quinn Demontiney. Each player has a unique role on the team:...
Skate Park Jam was once again a bustling event, with an even more significant presence of families and kids, making it a genuinely inclusive gathering. The participation of world-famous skaters added to the excitement. On Saturday morning, Randy Katen, a pro skater since 1977, generously shared his skating tips with all the kids. The skate park was a generous donation from Jeff Ament, Pearl Jam, who was also present. It's amazing how far people come. One always comes from Brazil, and two came...
Blaine Ophus was sworn in as a council member on August 8 at the start of the monthly meeting, replacing Danielle Weaver, who resigned. Sarah Strissel from Bear Paw Development was present at the meeting to discuss the removal of the old Motel on the main street. There are rules concerning removing asbestos and lead-paste paint that must be strictly followed. The city needs some in-kind contribution, which is still being determined. She reported that they were present in Big Sandy that day to...
Learning keeps you young and vibrant! It was my mother's favorite activity, always attending different workshops. I've spoken to many older individuals who credit learning new things for their vitality and zest for life. The spice of life is trying new activities. Are you bored? Try something different! At the farm, there is a pit that has a mother duck and six ducklings. We watch them daily. We questioned how and when they would learn to fly and get up over all the plant life and hills...
On August 4th, Tannin Baumann stepped into the MMA arena for the first time. His debut took place at The Northern Winz, in an outdoor tent area. Tannin's journey to this moment was marked by six months of rigorous training, a testament to his unwavering dedication to the sport. Tannin informed me, "It's a mix of boxing, kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and grappling. It's just a mix of a bunch of different fighting techniques." Tannin has found that his wrestling knowledge is a big part of MMA....
At its regular annual meeting, the Big Sandy Senior Center voted to raise its meals to $7.00. This was necessary to cover the cost of food and supplies, which kept going up. They could also use donations of any kind because donations are a key factor for keeping the center running. While monetary donations are greatly appreciated, there are other diverse ways to contribute. The following items were mentioned: Eggs, vegetables, powdered lemonade, coffee, tea, toilet paper, trash bags, dish soap, computer paper, file folders, file hangers, pens,...
With the recent hot weather, the right time to discuss how to have a nice lawn without using so much water is now. What is a Waterwise lawn, and how does it work? There is and will continue to be a battle about who owns the water in our state. Working for change is essential because the planet is worth the effort. My 100-year-old uncle Les Rutledge said, "Do what you can while you can. It is one lawn, one neighborhood at a time." With the help of Waterwise Project LLC, he created a...
Recently, wrestling camp came to Big Sandy. Kyle Rodewald held a four-day wrestling camp in the city hall. It was scheduled at the school, but the electrical company decided that was the week they were coming to town, and all the electricity at the high school would be turned off. The wrestling mats covered the city hall floor well, but it did get hot in there towards the end of the day. Kyle told me, "I think the youngest is kindergarten up to seniors," for a total of 34 kids. They came from...
