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July 21st is the day to be in Big Sandy for the 7th annual pig roast. Pep's is donating the pig and the sides. The Grocery Store will be donating the water. The best trick competition will be later in the day. All of this including awards for tricks will be located at the Big Sandy Skatepark next to the Big Sandy Swimming Pool. Cash and prizes are being added from local business and some far away sponsors. Josh Danreuther said, "Everyone has been really cool and supportive." Music to the day's a...
On July 1, 2018 Father Pete retired after 41 years of service to the Big Sandy, Box Elder, and Rocky Boy Catholic Churches. Attending a potluck supper in honor of Father Pete, found those in attendance emotional about his leaving. Some just teared up when asked what he meant to them and couldn't give a verbal response. I was given a quote by one of the women who said it was one of her favorite quotes. It was by Sister Theresa and it says, "we can't all do great things, but we can all do small...
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument (FMB) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sponsored the 1st Missouri Breaks Triathlon. The event used the Missouri River as the backdrop. It was designed to be a family or group event just to celebrate. Although the triathlon started with a 20-mile canoe/kayak, then a 3.4-mile foot race, and finished with a 20-mile cycling portion, it didn't need to be completed solo. It could...
Ronald Baumann opened Complete Small Engine Repairs. "I work on everything; ATV, UTV, Go-carts, motorcycles, and compact tractors." His business card says he works on all makes and brands of outdoor power equipment. Anything to do with outdoor power equipment. He is certified in 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines, but his specialty is 2-cycle engines. He has over 41 years of experience. Bob Quinn who was in his shop said, "so it's not his first rodeo." He's been keeping busy. Current business hours...
As you approach the pool you can hear lots of children's laughter, finding it surprising that only eight children are swimming. Thirty-two children took lessons this summer at the Big Sandy Swimming pool, but for each session, there were eight children and four teachers. Connie Reichelt, Jaylyn Cline, Audrey Sipler, and Lainey Gregory were the swimming teachers this summer making it two students per teacher this season. I watched them playing and diving to the bottom of the pool to pick up...
Hope Gasvoda, daughter of Peter Gasvoda of Big Sandy, and Marla Olson of Havre, will be attending a Medicine and Health Care Summit at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD July 27-August 4. She was nominated by her shop teacher Brianna Bernhardt to attend the prestigious conference and was accepted. Hope will get to experience a wide range of different medical and health experiences. Just staying at and receiving real-life experiences at a great medical school is impressive but she will...
Jack Gollehan, son of Rob and Mindy Gollehan currently residing in Helena, but who lived in Big Sandy a year ago, is well on his way to a career as an artist. Although he is just a six-grader next fall he has already won two major art awards. First, he won second in the postcard contest for United Way state wide. The theme was Change the World The United Way and he drew pictures of some recycling efforts, a van with Meal on Wheels on the side, and a building that says' "educate everyone". His...
There were enough cars in the parking lot one would have thought it was a big game, and it was for the little ones playing. Moms and dads, grandparents, and even great grandparents were there sitting on the bench watching and yelling, "Run, run, run!" "Good hustle." "Run to third." "Good job pumkin!" The kids have on matching T-shirts and love being in the dugout ready to hit the ball and the parents are sitting in the stands waiting for their child to come to bat. The reason they bring their...
Big Sandy will be having a town party at the T-Ball fields next to the grade school on July 4th starting at 6:00 or 7:00?? The concession stand will be serving hamburgers and brauts for $5.00. The money goes to supporting the town party. The Mint is suppling all of the hamburger, Peps is donating all the brauts, and the Grocery store will be donating everything else. All three businesses support the party because they can and because they believe celebrating community and connecting with each...
Erica Chauvet, is the only veterinary we have in Big Sandy. Says she's just "a girl that likes people, helping animals, and loves her family and God. Countryside Veterinary Service is located on the Chauvet Ranch just outside of Big Sandy. She told me that she probably always wanted to be a veterinary, because "growing up on a cattle ranch with cattle, horses, my own farm flock of sheep, dogs, cats and etc. really had an influence on me." Erica went to undergraduate for four years at Carroll...
Everybody should know by now that the Montana Army National Guard used two Chinook helicopters to rescue Big Sandy kids who were attending Montana Wilderness School of the Bible. The Dearborn River southwest of Augusta flooded and destroyed the road making it necessary to close the road and evacuate campers and staff who were stranded. There were 100 teenagers and 37 staff members attending the camp run by C Bar N Ministries. During the storm and while at camp the kids were never told of the...
Grace Finke a senior this year at Big Sandy High School was selected to go to Girls State this month. She wanted to go "to expand my horizons on learning about the government and how things work. It's impressive. Everyone has an idea on how things may work, but it's totally different when you are actually there and creating your own real government and the process it takes to get things done." She was so impressed and she had a lot of fun in the process. "I really enjoyed learning." Her...
The regular school board meeting was held with all board members present. The new Superintendent Haaland was also present although he doesn't start his responsibilities until July 1, 2018. There were six guest presents at the meeting. There were two reports given: Bailey Gasvoda, President of the Student Body, told the School board starting in August all four of the student council members will be present at the school board meeting. Principal Heather Wolery reported three teachers are...
Keely Bahmiller was planning a garage sale for herself when the idea of forming a Community Garage Sale just kept coming to mind. Keely said, “It sounded like a fun family event. It would be fun and could be a good community event.” She also believed it might bring some business to town which would help our local businesses. Keely floated the idea on Facebook which was an instant success. “The garage sales will be held individually at each home, not all together. I’m trying to organize this to encourage people to come from surrounding areas, kn...
There was running, kicking, and passing and catching the football. Eighteen grade school kids meet every morning between 9-12 o'clock dreaming of becoming the next Pioneer football player. "It was fun. I'll do it again next year." It was just concentrating on the basic of playing football and encouraging them with a lot of high fives and words of encouragement. Helping with the little kid's camp was Kurt Stutz and a number of varsity players. Chuck Terry head Pioneer Football coach held two...
On YouTube they have instructional videos on how to drive a tractor. Seem ridiculous that driving a tractor could be accomplished by watching a video, or by reading step by step instructions. With the late start to spring seeding and the late start to summer fallowing, stepping into the tractor to help finish before the rain was exactly what was called for. Being organic means working the soil with a tractor and cultivator with spikes instead of duck foot shovels to break up the soil for the...
Editors note: I decided to approach people not local to the area and see what brought them to town, here is what I found out. I saw them ride their bicycles into town and turn down onto main street. I meet them in the Grocery Store and they were buying cold medicine. I asked where they had started their bike trip. They had started in Seattle and where going to Fort Lauderdale, Florida hoping to be there by the end of August. I would have loved to slow them down and asked them a few questions,...
It only took 58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day a National Holiday in the United states. Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, who was a single parent who raised his six children by himself. However, it was not until 1972 when it would become official. It was Senator Mike Mansfield of Montana who carried the bill making Father’s Day Official. What makes your father so special? Why does he deserve to have a Spe...
Finding a way to serve our community is easy. All you have to do is look for a place that interests you and get involved. This year's primary election is the perfect example. It takes 10 people to man the voting place. They've been involved in serving our community for many years. They've put their time into making sure our democracy counts. Marla Drga has served for 40 years; Michelle Danreuther 30 years; Marilyn Swanson 24 years; Lil Foussard "to many years to count"-35 years; Cindy DesRosier...
A special Big Sandy School Board meeting was called to order by Chairman Darin Generuex with two other board members present, Brandon Gasvoda and Heather Pleninger along with Big Sandy Superintendent Brad Moore. Other guests present were Bailey Gasvoda, Student Body President, Mrs. Wolery; Grade School Principle, Melanie Schwarzbach, Teacher Representative and the future Superintendent Mr. Kelly Haaland. The Activity Director position was discussed at length. Mr. Haaland was asked who he thought would make the ideal Activity Director. He...
Tyler Schwarzbach participated in an incredible opportunity that will affect his involvement in civic responsibility for the rest of his life. American Legion selected Big Sandy high school junior Tyler Schwarzbach to attend this year Montana American Legion Boys State. More than 100 high school students took part. 49 states in the US currently operate Boys State programs, and about 20,000 students take part each year across the nation. American Legion Boys State was organized in 1935 and...
I loved watching the kids huddle up and give loud cheers for their team leader, Jesus! They jumped up and down in excitement and celebration. You might find this activity at a sports pep rally, but not at church, but this was Christ Lutheran Vacation Bible School. The theme was T.E.A.M. TEAM was developed around Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Kristie Rutledge said, "God is the coach. We are the team." The T...
School's out and it's a great time to celebrate the quality of teachers we have in Big Sandy giving them a high five to say thank you! Somehow over the years people in our country have lost their high regard for teachers. We have some excellent teachers in our community and they deserve to be recognized and thanked. Brad Moore said, "It's hard, almost impossible to keep good teachers in Big Sandy." Montana has the lowest starting salary in the nation at $30,036, according to the National...
The Barracuda Swim Team started out with a splash! No pun intended. The under eight relay team made up of four boys started the race from the starting blocks with a big belly flop. One of the boys laughingly told me the splash he made blinded the other swimmers and helped him get ahead. It was a nice day and surprisingly bug free for Harlem. There were 14 teams totaling 140 swimmers Big Sandy had 25 of their 43 swimmers there for this first meet. There are six meets before Divisional which will...
By Zoe Merrill I'm always woken up by the bird's morning songs who live in our shelter belt. They wake me up at 4:14 every morning. It's still dark out! It always starts with one song, probably the same early riser, but she is joined quickly as they sing out to each other. Some mornings I cuss at them, because I hear nothing but noise as they all sing with their own voices. Clearly not in harmony. I try to roll over and shut it out, sometimes successfully, but it can't be a deep sleep, because...
