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With the war in Ukraine passing the one month mark and millions of citizens fleeing the Russian invading force, Big Sandy Church of God had begun discussing how to support those in need. The effort took on additional urgency in response to impassioned pleas from Irina Gulenko. Irina immigrated from Ukraine to Big Sandy last year to marry Duane Bierwagon. As news of the invasion and destruction of her homeland began, Irina has watched from afar with horror. "I can't sleep I can't think about...
Big Sandy Organics received a new grant for $400,000 for expansion. Thomas Dilworth said, “We have a few (in Big Sandy)that have expressed interest (in selling us some land) but no guarantees. I want to stay here, I have an offer in Fort Benton, but we want to stay here.” Thomas has been working on grants since October. That’s his job at Big Sandy Organics. They have received the following since January of 2022: Growth Through Agriculture $50,000, Job Creation Grant—$82,000, and the grant for expansion. That totals $530,000 in three months....
Big Sandy Senior Center Board of Directors is looking for a new center director. Crystal Geyer had an opportunity for a new job and has given her resignation as of April 1st. (This is not an April Fool's joke.) The Board will be having meetings the week of April 4th to discuss their next moves. At this time, the dates of an open center are not known. They will have the center open as quickly as they can legally open it. If you are interested in being a cook or a director, please contact any...
Chouteau County, you are in for a special treat. The Empire Trio returns to Fort Benton with their inspiring show "Hooray for Hollywood", 100 years of movie musical magic. You may remember them as O' Sole Trio from a few years back. Chouteau County Performing Arts along with Max Ag for piano tuning, and 12th and Front for lodging, are presenting this show on April 8th at the Fort Benton Elementary School Auditorium, at 7 PM. This show is a special addition to our usual performance series, since...
I found myself surrounded by art in the high school art class. Monika Winderl, a high school art teacher, is thrilled to be telling me about the First Annual Art Week coming April 29- 30 down at the Big Sandy city hall. All events start at 7:00. She has artwork from all her students starting before covid through this year-over 300 pieces of art. Photographs, acrylics, pencil drawings, wood burning, and various venues will be shown. Monica wants to showcase the talent we have in this town. It...
A Big Sandy Senior Citizen Meeting was held on March 22. Local members attended it well. Board members present Gloria Godfrey, Pam Gasvoda, Dee Pribyl, Pat Matthews, and Lorrie Merrill. Susan Bender from North Central Area Agency on Aging, Inc. District Ten was present along with Kerrie Reidelbach, DPHHS State Unit on Aging Director, from Helena. She also brought with her Nutrition Program Manager Nichole Thennis. Before the meeting, the board met with Chouteau County Commissioners and Steve Gannon County Attorney, as requested by Susan...
The Big Sandy Pool Committee members set the summer of 2023 to begin constructing the new Big Sandy Pool. Pool Committee members are Rich Jesperson, Diana La Buda, Dianna Keane, Lorrie Merrill, Heather Pleninger, Ann Quinn, Melanie, and Shaud Schwarzbach. The mission statement of the pool committee is: Our mission is to build a new Big Sandy pool to increase the quality of life and well-being of all residents and encourage the economic growth and vitality of our rural community. The committee has currently raised $354,000, with the addition of...
With Easter 3 weeks away, The Black Granary has begun taking order from families looking to add something special to their holiday celebration. Mary Merril, who owns and operates the bakery, explained that they will be offering a couple of special items this year that people can order. Customers have the choice of special Easter items including Cinnamon or Orange Star Bread, Sunbeam Crescent Dinner Rolls, Whole Quiches, Key Lime Tarts, Lemon Curd Tarts with Pate Sucre Crust, or Carrot Cake. In...
March 16th through the 20th was Western Art Week in Great Falls and local photographer Craig Edwards was there selling prints of photos depicting aspects and artifacts of life in Big Sandy. In addition to fine art, Craig sold limited edition jars filled with Big Sandy itself. Craig's photography is well known to residents of our community and can be seen in his art gallery in town or hanging in various businesses in the region. However, his dirt sales are a less well known business venture that...
The ninth annual Chouteau County Ag Day for 4th and 5th graders will take place at the Chouteau County Fairgrounds on May 10, 2022. All 4th and 5th graders in Chouteau County are invited to attend. Home school kids who are interested in participating need to contact the Chouteau County Extension Office at 622-3751. Participants will learn the importance agriculture, which is Montana’s number one industry. Youth will learn why agriculture is important to their health, home and community. For thousands of years, civilization has been built u...
It was reported that the sanitation inspection went well as they were impressed with how we cleaned and disinfected the classrooms. Kelly Haaland reported on the progress for the annex and gym access. Richard Roth and Nathan Merrill are working with a community effort. He encourages people to look on the web page for the link for gym access. They will be forming a committee to discuss how things are working out. Mainly there needs to be better communication and better regulations in the future. A new student from out of the district was...
Electric cars and trucks are becoming increasingly common around the country. Battery electric locomotives are in development or already on the rails in some areas. This raises the question of whether or not electric tractors are on the horizon for agribusiness. I asked Ron Harmon of Big Equipment in Havre, MT about the future of tractor manufacturing. "There are some people that are working on electronic electric tractors. And let's just call them diesel electric... There's been a sprayer and...
Images from the Russian invasion of Ukraine have dominated the news for the past month, and with it, stories of the human suffering as refugees flee their homeland. With photos of bombed out cities, stories of Russian forces targeting civilians, and video of the over 2.5 million refugees that flooded into Western Ukraine and Europe, it's obvious that help is desperately needed. However, it can be difficult for individuals to know how to do something to ease the sufferings and meet the needs of...
The big winners of the Big Sandy Rotary Club's Pirates of the Prairies which was held Saturday night March 19th was Karma Hale who won $3,000. Chandee Bomgardener and Napa both won $1,000. Needed on every farm is gravel and Donna Upham won 20 yards of gravel. Calista Worrall won Traeger grill. Darin and Lisa Genereaux won assorted gift certificates and Erickson Insurance $400 gift certificates. Frank and Madison won a ½ of a pig. Draga's won the barbecue and will be having delicious...
Initial Private Applicator Pesticide Training in Stanford MSU Extension Judith Basin County will be offering a Private Pesticide Applicator Initial Training on April 21, 2022 in Stanford. The training will take place at the Stanford City Hall located at 102 Central Ave. Individuals and their employees must be licensed as private applicators prior to purchasing and using restricted use pesticides on land they own, rent, or lease. For applicators to acquire their private applicator license, they must either attend an Initial Private Applicator tr...
Miss Kandi Marino stopped by the Mountaineer. She wanted to give an update "to my people." Kandi is currently on the organ wait list for a kidney. She said, "Isn't that sad. I had insurance, but I had to wait till I had money (before they would put her on a list." Each month Kandi gives blood to see where she is and how it affects her match for a kidney. Her kidney four years ago was at 8 %, and four years later, it is currently functioning at 12%. Kandi's kidneys would be further damaged by...
In honor of Montana agriculture, the state's number one industry, Governor Greg Gianforte today proclaimed March 20-26 Montana Agriculture Week and March 20 Montana Meat Day. "As Montanans, we take great pride in the world-class ag products grown, raised, or made here in the Treasure State," Gov. Gianforte said. "Serving as the cornerstone to rural communities across our great state, our farmers and ranchers produce the best products and work hard to feed our nation and the world." Since 1973,...
•MSU News •March 18 2022 Montana State University Extension and USDA Agricultural Research Service will host a free, two-hour workshop, “Grasshopper Outbreaks and Management Options in 2022,” at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 29. The event will be held in-person at the Richland County MSU Extension conference room in Sidney and will also be viewable online. Over the last year, eastern Montana and western North Dakota farmers and ranchers endured the second-largest grasshopper outbreak in the last 35 years. Annual grasshopper surveys taken last fall by...
Big Sandy Senior Center and the Board of Directors will be having a public meeting for its membership, patrons age 50 and older. It will be held Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at 5:00 pm. There have been many questions and concerns. At this meeting, you'll be able to ask your questions and express your concerns. According to the contract signed, the Big Sandy Senior Center cannot close before June 2022. Therefore, we have three months to try and find a way for the center to become viable in the...
Big Sandy Organics has experienced a growth spurt over the last few years. Big Sandy residents have certainly noticed the facility expansions as the organization has grown. In November of 2020, Thomas and Heather Dilworth purchased the company from Bob Quinn. Heather explained that the first big contract they landed came to them right off the bat: "Right after we bought the business, we had a company named Snack Nation contact us. They send boxes of snacks and goodies to homes. It's a...
The City council met on March 10, 2022, at 7:00 PM. There was no public comment nor a sheriff's report. The Pivot agreement was signed again this year with 406 Agriculture for next year's contract between Chauvet and the city for the lagoon area. In discussing the pool, it was reported that Tim made a new tarp roller for the pool. The city also did get an initial agreement with the school. The exact wording for the long-term lease is being worked on. The Big Sandy Pool committee will be meeting...
Drought Persistence and Cattle Decisions from the MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Unfortunately, the drought continues to persist throughout Montana and relief is not forecasted. The current drought map has 92% of Montana in a drought, with almost half of the state designated as D3 and D4. The seasonal drought outlook map shows through May 31, 2022, the drought will persist for most of Montana and the Western United States. The persistent drought means tough decisions ahead for livestock producers. Since the summer of 2021, many livestock...
Big Sandy Organics is looking for ways to give back to the community. The company has seen some significant growth over the last couple of years and now they are looking for ways to serve the town. Heather Dilworth explained that the idea behind the initiative came form her husband, who also coined the tagline: “We’re more than a company. We’re a community.” Heather explained that “he actually made a stamp out of it. And we stamp it on our envelopes and things…” She went on to explain that though she didn’t grow up in a small town, her husba...
Big Sandy Medical Services Foundation would like to remind high school seniors and college students who are pursuing a medical career that the deadline for these scholarship applications is March 31, 2022 for the 2022-2023 college year. Applications may be picked up either at the high school by contacting Mrs. Dianna Keane or by writing: Big Sandy Medical Services Foundation, PO Box 530, Big Sandy MT 59520. You may also call 378-2163 and ask Nora Grubb, Secretary. College students who have applied and received the BSMS Foundation scholarship...
Big Sandy has a new locally made snack option. With Easter on the horizon, Samantha Potter recently announced the launch of Montana Mommy Made, which offers a unique fare of candy items. She explained "It's mostly freeze-dried candies or treats, ice cream included." These freeze-dried treats are far cleaner and more portable than many alternative options, which is part of the reason she developed the line of snacks in the first place. With 3 small children of her own, portable and clean snacks...