Articles written by zoe merrill


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  • Summertime is the time for Swim Lessons

    Zoe Merrill|Jul 11, 2018

    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, will attend Summit at John Hopkins University

    Zoe Merrill|Jul 11, 2018

    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...

  • Young artist Jack Gollehan wins major art award

    Zoe Merrill|Jul 11, 2018

    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...

  • Big Sandy T-Ball; a Diamond in the rough

    Zoe Merrill|Jul 11, 2018

    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...

  • Town Celebrates the holiday together!

    Zoe Merrill|Jul 4, 2018

    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: Small town Veterinarian serves Big Sandy

    Zoe Merrill|Jul 4, 2018

    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...

  • Camp Adventure: a flood and Helicopter ride

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 27, 2018

    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...

  • Big Sandy senior Grace Finke attends Girls State

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 27, 2018

    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...

  • Big Sandy School Board News

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 27, 2018

    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...

  • Community Wide Garage Sale June 23

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 20, 2018

    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...

  • Big Sandy High School held Football camp

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 20, 2018

    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...

  • Enjoying the perks of Tractor Work and the things you see

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 20, 2018

    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...

  • Look Who's in Town

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 20, 2018

    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,...

  • Father's Day is Celebrated

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 20, 2018

    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...

  • Doing their Civic Duty

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 13, 2018

    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...

  • BS schools hires Activities Director

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 13, 2018

    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 learns "Lessons on Civic Duty"

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 13, 2018

    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...

  • TEAM themed Vacation Bible School

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 13, 2018

    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...

  • Big Sandy Superintendent Brad Moore discusses teachers, local school education

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 6, 2018

    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...

  • Summer is here: The Barracuda swim team Experience

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 6, 2018

    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...

  • A birds morning song is the early, early Alarm Clock

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 6, 2018

    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...

  • Bike Safety for the Elementary Students

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 6, 2018

    Sheriff Deputies Jeremy Echols of Big Sandy and Eric Visocan from Fort Benton were at the FE Miley School to help teach bike safety. And although your children have been taught a few safety tips it's parents that need to make sure our children are safe on their bikes this summer. It was interesting listening to the grade school kids as they repeated numerous safety tips they already knew to receive some small rewards. The first safety tip mentioned by the kids themselves was wearing bike helmets...

  • Recipients of the Power Award

    Zoe Merrill|Jun 6, 2018

    The Power Award nomination process was lengthy as there were 37 nominations just from students alone. Teachers and the general public also made nominations. Picking the final four out of the 37 nominations was a taunting task. Next was a interview process for those final four to determine their value systems. The final four all deserve enormous recognition. They are Adriene Gibson, Jasmine Genereux, Baily Gasvoda, and Brock Proulx. Winners of the Power Award, Brock Proulx and Baily Gasvoda,...

  • Food Buys Books May 29- June 8

    Zoe Merrill|May 30, 2018

    Between May 29th and June 8th the Jeff Reichelt Memorial Library will be holding a food drive for the food bank and you’ll get to walk away with free books. In other words a “Book Sale Food Drive”. The non-perishable food items can be brought to the library, left there, and you can pick out your books from a large selection. Library Hours: Tuesday 12-6; Wednesday 10-2; Thursday 12-6: and Friday 10-2. Food most requested and needed are hot and cold cereal, juice especially lemonade mix and grapefruit juice, condiments especially ketchup, mayo,...

  • Reichelt's talk high school memories

    Zoe Merrill|May 30, 2018

    Sophie Reichelt was asked what is the highlight of your high school career? "Oh, this is very hard. That's positive because there are so many!" "Ok this was really huge for me. Some people might not think so but this year I was a state champ in Science Olympia with Grace Finke in the Write It Do It event against every kid in the state of Montana. That was a really big deal for me." Mom pipes up and says, "It was a really big deal". According to the national Science Olympia rules "In the event,...

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