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It's Time to Fly In December 2017, when I started writing for the Mountaineer, I felt inadequate. In nineteen months, I've improved. I've learned a local paper is essential. Philosophically, I believe the Big Sandy Mountaineer should be used to celebrate who we are. It should be a tool to keep us connected. Rural lives matter, and we need to be supporting our community. I do have dreams. It will take time before I can make them a reality. However, it's worth the effort. Nothing gained without...
The City Council met on Thursday, July 11th with everyone present except Mayor Shaud Schwarzbach Leslie Gregory reported the Big Sandy Swimming Pool Inspector showed up for a surprise visit and inspection. Historically, the pool was grandfathered for not meeting the requirements at the beginning because of the age of the pool. We are required to maintain an eight-hour water exchange; which means the water in the pool must all be taken out of the pool every eight hours. A couple of years ago we...
They start with a celebration of community with a potluck on Saturday night, Don provides ribs, beans, and salad. And it was more than just a time to buy from each other. Jimmy Griffin said, "it was a magically fun day!" There were over 20 vendors. One that had a 45-foot trailer with antique with a western flavor. Don Sorensen told me that vendors kept calling, and he would have accepted them even if the called on Sunday morning. "If people show up they'll just put them somewhere." It was an...
According to Sandy Broesder a volunteer at Coal Banks and a "full time RV'er", she's having "a blast!" She has minimalist life now, with small house on wheels and a dog, "a little mutt." She spent 40 plus year in Conrad area before this first-time volunteer at any site. "My passion is kayaking." She has kayaked the Missouri river, "Not as much as I would like to and I will do more." Not having been at Coal Banks Landing before she doesn't have a standard to compare this years attendance to the...
Barracuda swimmers have taught me once again the real value of a sport. This last weekend I attended the swim meet at Conrad both Saturday and Sunday. I was going to interview the kids, but to be honest they couldn't give me a complete story to write about because they all said the same thing. "The best part of swimming is meeting new friends." That sentence doesn't say it all. Maybe because they wouldn't express it the way I write it. Meeting new friends means so much more and they have fun for...
The Big Sandy Gun Club is over 40 years old. The building was built in the '70s and the club was active way before that according to Steve Stilles. Besides Steve other club officers are Ken Martin and Brad Moore. There are "30 some" members. It cost only $10 for a single membership for a year. For a family, you only have to pay $15 for membership. Grade school students can shoot at the club house, but must have an adult with them. Weather permitting Steve goes out to the Shooting Range every...
I have always been intrigued by rocks, a gift I received from my mother. I couldn't help but think of her and the hours she would have spent learning from Glenn in his rock house. He must have a ton of rocks, gems, and minerals. He started out by showing me the earrings and pendants he has made which he plans to sell at a few Farmer Markets. He has ordered a few displays. I loved the jewery, because I love rocks. And then he decided to start me from the beginning. It's a passion he has had for...
Glenn Koster is walking across the United States and was recently in Big Sandy for a day. He started in Miami on February 1, 2018, and hopes to finish at the Pacific Ocean on August 26, 2019. He walks to bring a spotlight to Foster Care and adoption. Glenn and his wife Charlcie started Charity Steps in 2015. Both Glenn and his wife will soon be 64 years old and have committed to the goal of bringing awareness to the problems of the foster care system. He has written a book Life is a Long Story...
Audrey Sipler was informed she has won a $500 scholarship from Big Sky State Games. The Scholarship reads, "The Big Sky State Games has teamed up with the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition and Kenco Security and Technology to recognize the importance of sportsmanship and character in Montana student athletes. CHARACTER COUNTS! is a nonprofit organization striving to improve the character of today's youth. It is based on common ethical values that transcend political, religious, socio-economic, and...
July 4th will be here, but Big Sandy will not be having any man-made fireworks this year. As it is, it is always, "Next year country!" The 4th isn't just about fire-works anyway, it's about celebrating freedom. Picnics and sitting around celebrating together. It is also important to know there are many people who hate fireworks in Big Sandy so they are happy. It's important to know there are many in Big Sandy that don't want to be, or can't be around fireworks when they go off. So, giving them...
It's come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1950s. The first commercial board was called the Roller Derby Skate Board and it has become a multi-billion-dollar sport. I was sitting there, in a borrowed chair on the elementary school lawn listening to the excitement of the participants. As a man reached down to pick up a bottle of water he said hello and I asked him where he was from. He told me he was from Portland Oregon and I asked why he would come to Big Sandy. He told me he has come...
Max Baucus, Steve Bullock, Steve Daines, and Ryan Zinke have all gone to Boy's State. And now Everett Works. It lived up to everything Everett thought it was." "It was very very much what I thought it was. I was not disappointed by it!" His voice was animated with excitement. "The best part of the week was the other people who were there. Those who participated. They were laid back. They just let everybody be themselves." He liked going and said it was nice to go somewhere where everyone let...
Attending the meeting was Kelly Haaland; Big Sandy Superintendent, Darin Genereux; Chairman, Brad Weaver, (new board member) Glen Terry replacing resigned Brandon Gasvoda, Heather Pleninger, Maryetta Engle; Big Sandy School clerk, Kelly Rutledge; new school board member and Heather Wolery, Big Sandy Principle, were not in attendance. Guests presented topics to be placed on the next month agenda. Thomas Dilworth after visiting with Melanie Schwarzbach Pioneer Activity Director said he would take the lead on fixing the tennis courts. He would lik...
Amanda Cline, daughter of Charla Moffit and Ty Cline, and Lainey Gregory is the daughter of Rob and Leslie Gregory have a greater appreciation for the political process of state government. Lainey said, "There were over a hundred girls from all round the state and it was really great to make new friends. Getting to know everybody at a deeper level. Learning about our government was a great experience." Going to the capital sitting in the senate chambers and the house of representatives was...
On Tuesday, July 2, 2019 from 2 pm - 4 pm at the Jeff Reichelt Library Loretta Nepil Johnson will be reading and signing her book Farm Stories and A Fading Dreams. It was printed in 2017, but this is her first opportunity to read and sign her book in Big Sandy Loretta writes, "This memoir starts in the early 20th century as both sets of grandparents are immigrating to the United States from Czechoslovakia. Settling in Chicago, a carpenter and baker, they start to raise large families, just as th...
Zane Bendig is Big Sandy's newest Medical provider. Zane, his wife Sarah, and five children will be moving to Big Sandy in July. Currently Zane is travelling back and forth from Great Falls to provide medical care here. He grew up in Great Falls before Zane moved to Denver. In Denver, he was a paramedic and a fire-fighter for 20 years. "Being a first responder in Denver is kind of fun. What I noticed there is the best way to keep people out of the ER is to have better primary care." On the...
We have three new teachers committed to coming to Big Sandy to teach. The new art teacher is Monica Winderl. She has 19 years of experience teaching art. She comes from the Highwood School as they decided to not have art class there anymore. If you have ever looked at the Chouteau County Fair art department or the varies school’s art displays at the fair you have seen her teaching efforts in her student’s lives. I was always impressed with Highwood’s art program. Dani Norling our 5th grade teacher has moved, but Shelbi Darlington who was our J...
Dave and Debra Louvar bought the Grocery Store in the fall of 2002. Debra was telling John Gunhold, the former owner that they were going to have to move because the elevator that Dave manage was closing its doors. John told her, "You should buy the store". Debra said, "I told Dave what he said that night and he told me to tell him we wanted it." The rest is history. Currently the Grocery Store has had a face lift. There wasn't any room to add isles so they went higher. They have added over a...
I hate shopping at garage sales, because I always find something that I want. This time was no exception. I bought a bike for $15, because I wanted one to ride around town with. I found the perfect size bench for my front outside deck which the grandchildren will use to play on, and miraculously I found two pair of shoes size 11, which even stores do not carry! It was not necessarily crowded at the sales, but they all had people at them. There were his and hers sales at opposite end of the lot,...
Doris Gullickson is one of the women that most inspires me. She has just recently returned home from a 75 day stay in Great Falls after suffering a slight stroke that was in a crucial spot in her brain. She and I had a conversation about how important it is to understand the signs of a stroke and the prevention of having one. She thought I should write an article about strokes, but the important part of this story is Doris herself! Doris's stroke took place over a longer period of time. Her...
For Seth and Bryanna Goodman and their family this Saturday was the first time they participated ever in an O-Mok-See. "It's a good family experience." They all stood by the fence, with their horse, waiting for one of the children's names to be called. It was a children's race as mom or dad ran along-side the horse as their children rode in the saddle. Tommy is the name of their horse. "He is a really good little pony." Bryanna said, "Ya, this is fun, I'm really excited we can be a part of...
Keely Bahnmiller coordinator of the Big Sandy Garage Sale on June 15th says this year they have 33 yard sales with 45 families participating. We have more sites this year than last year. We have 11 families that have returned from last year and 22 new sites this year. Keely says to "Please come stop by and shop for Big Sandy's second annual community rummage sale." It is one day only from 8-3. The high traffic usually is over by 1:00 so some families start boxing up then. "Stop by the Bear Paw...
Recently as you are all mostly aware there have been two car thefts in the town of Big Sandy. They are not related. The one pickup was discovered and returned to his owner. They have a couple of suspects, but other than that because it is on an ongoing investigation Chouteau County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy Echols will not comment. The pickup that was stolen was reported missing an hour or two from when it was stolen. The razor wasn't reported missing up to 12 hours after they had last seen it....
This year's theme at the Christ Lutheran Church Vacation Bible School was "Who is my Neighbor." The story of the good Samaritan can be found in Luke 10:25-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan: "On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with...
“This June, I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids’ cancer!” says Pastor Erik Siestsema. “Because right now, cancer is the biggest killer of children from disease in the United States. Over 15,700 children are diagnosed every year, and sadly, 38 children die of cancer every week.” “Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.” “So, I am raising funds through my challenge to help these kids and support Children’s Cancer Research Fund to allow them to continue their work to develop lifesaving This is the third year he...
