Week of November 22, 2024
Week of November 22, 2024
Ekalaka Public Schools has taken a significant step towards addressing the critical need for quality childcare in rural communities. The district's in-house daycare, located within the elementary school building, opened its doors in August 2022. This initiative was made possible by a $163,000 Child Care Innovation Grant, awarded to Ekalaka as one of only two public schools (alongside Browning) among 31 grantees across Montana. The grant funding spanned from September 2022 to...
Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation (EPEDC) is pleased to announce the availability of a $200,000 grant from the Montana Department of Commerce, provided under the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Grant Program. This grant offers crucial funding for businesses in the EPEDC region-including Dawson, Prairie, Fallon, Carter, and Wibaux counties-that are seeking to enhance operations or embark on new ventures. This grant aims to fuel economic growth in eastern...
The trend of milder weather continued for hunters passing through southeast Montana check stations Sunday. Hunter traffic was a bit slower than average, but harvest rates were a mixed bag. Hysham check station Overall the number of hunters passing through the Hysham station was down. Although harvest was down, hunters seemed to be enjoying the pleasant weather, and most hunters had an opportunity to harvest an animal. A total of 107 hunters came through, which is about 30...
Montana Department of Revenue staff told a legislative committee Monday that next year's reappraisal cycle could produce a partial repeat of last year's jarring tax spike as the state's surging real estate market continues to translate into higher residential taxes. The department expects the market value of the average Montana residential property to be reappraised at 21% higher when it completes next year's reappraisal cycle. A staff economist said Monday that if the...
Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced Montana’s unemployment rate reached its 40th consecutive month of unemployment at or below 3.4%. In October, Montana’s unemployment rate was 3.3%, while the national rate was 4.1%. “Since 2020, Montanans have consistently said they want pro-jobs, pro-family, pro-business policies,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Working with the legislature, we’ve delivered. We must build on our momentum by help hardworking taxpayers keep more of what they earn, recruit new investment, and...
Republicans have swept the Montana Public Service Commission election, winning each of the three seats open this cycle and maintaining the GOP's domination of the commission. Commissioners are tasked with balancing the financial health of investor-owned utilities with the interests of their customers, who cannot shop for other providers. During this election cycle, voters in many of Montana's largest cities - Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Butte and Helena - were asked to...
Harold Arvik was born in Park Rapids, Minnesota in 1943, and is well known for being half Norwegian and half Swede and all that those titles entail! He grew up on a small dairy farm near Park Rapids and dreamed of being a real cowboy in Montana. As soon as he graduated high school, he and a buddy headed west to see about that dream. The friends landed in Custer, Montana, and Harold took a harvest job on a sugar beet farm. On that farm Harold met his future wife, Belva, who...
Though he was born in New York City, spent some childhood years in Texas, and lived much of his adult life in Wisconsin, D.J. O'Malley was the quintessential Montana cowboy both in substance and style. Dominick John (D.J.) O'Malley, also known as Dominick White, the N Bar N Kid, and Kid White, was born in New York City in 1867 to a Civil War veteran father who died from his wounds when D.J. was small. His mother remarried a soldier, Charles White. The family was posted to...
Senate and House Republicans, selecting leaders who will preside over the 2025 Legislature, chose Senator-elect Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, as Senate president and Rep. Brandon Ler, R-Savage, as speaker of the House in caucuses Tuesday. The GOP holds majorities in both chambers for the eighth straight session of the biennial Legislature. Democrats chose Sen. Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, and Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula, as minority leaders of their respective caucuses. The full...
To celebrate our hunting heritage in Montana, Gov. Greg Gianforte launched the third annual Youth Hunting Story Contest in August for Montana youth and apprentice hunters ages 10 to 17. The deadline to enter the contest is Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. To enter the contest, hunters must submit a story of no more than 500 words and a photo from their 2024 hunt. Hunters must be Montana residents and licensed hunters or apprentice hunters between the ages of 10 and 17. Eligible entries include harvesting any legal game, furbearer...
FIRST TEAM Madeline Moline, Circle, 11 Emma Murphy, Circle, 10 Skyler Lawrence, Jordan, 10 Mya Jorgensen, Savage, 12 Macyn McDowell, Broadus, 10 Gracie Phipps, Jordan, 11 Miley Pilgram, Savage, 11 Meryssa Price, Forsyth, 12 Charlie Moline, Cicle, 10 Maddie Zimmer, Broadus, 12 SECOND TEAM Cambry Conradson, Savage, 12 Kambrie Kountz, Circle, 12 Ashley Eaton, Terry, 9 Remi Pederson, Forsyth, 11 Alyssa Llewellyn, Wibaux, 12 Nasya O'Connor, Ekalaka, 11 Jodi Gibson, Jordan, 12...
November 15 @ Wibaux Ekalaka B 4 4 4 14 Wibaux B 13 19 36 36 Ekalaka B: Trey Tauck 4, Kaden Loudermilk 4, Jenry Walker 4, Zavier Allison 2. Ekalaka A 12 21 33 39 Wibaux A 5 8 10 14 Ekalaka A: Cortland O'Connor 13, Jaxen Walker 11, Ben Enos 4, Bentley Jardee 4, Landry Shepherd 3, Grady Stieg 2, Joby Owen 2. November 16 vs. Broadus Ekalaka B 0 1 6 12 Broadus B 12 16 21 27 Ekalaka B: Zavier Allson 3, Joby Owen 2, Brandon Rosales Ramirez 2, Jenry Walker 2, Trey Tauck 2, Kaden Loudermilk 1. Ekalaka A 14 16 27 35 Broadus A 7 14...
November 15 @ Wibaux Ekalaka B 8 12 14 18 Wibaux B 11 15 19 23 Ekalaka B: Holly Walker 14, Peighton Matthews 2, Cora Wright 2. Ekalaka A 0 2 4 17 Wibaux A 16 26 35 45 Ekalaka A: Cai Jesperson 9, Lily Schallenberger 5, Kinley Miller 1, Peighton Matthews 1, Holly Walker 1. November 16 vs. Broadus Ekalaka B 6 10 10 12 Broadus B 6 20 27 37 Ekalaka B: Holly Walker 6, Daisey Kratzer 4, Peighton Matthews 2 Ekalaka A 0 2 4 5 Broadus A 18 32 40 56 Ekalaka A: Holly Walker 2, Cai Jesperson 2, Selah Johnston...
November 8 at Forsyth Ekalaka B: 0 4 16 20 Forsyth B: 19 21 48 56 Ekalaka B: Zavier Allison 6, Max Phelps 5, Kaden Loudermilk 3, Bentley Jardee 2, Jenry Walker 2, Judd Walker 2. Ekalaka A 7 9 15 20 Forsyth A 26 41 61 68 Ekalaka A: Jaxen Walker 9, Bentley Jardee 5, Trey Tauck 2, Grady Stieg 2, Jenry Walker 2 November 9 vs. Plevna Ekalaka B 3 5 9 19 Plevna B 12 23 35 37 Ekalaka B: Joby Owen 7, Bentley Jardee 4, Judd Walker 2, Jenry Walker 2, Zavier Allison 2, Gavin Reynolds 2. Ekalaka A 2 6 12 16 Plevna A 12 24 28 34 Ekalaka...
November 8 at Forsyth Ekalaka B 4 6 8 14 Forsyth B 4 8 18 20 Ekalaka B: Holly Walker 8, Peighton Matthews 2, Daisey Kratzer 2, Cora Wright 2. Ekalaka A 5 5 7 11 Forsyth A 6 12 22 30 Ekalaka A: Holly Walker 4, Lily Schallenberger 3, Cai Jesperson 2, Aubri Ashbrook 2. November 9 vs. Plevna Ekalaka B 6 11 11 21 Plevna B 4 14 25 30 Ekalaka B: Holly Walker 11, Peighton Matthews 10. Ekalaka A: 9 11 13 14 Plevna A 9 16 22 27 Ekalaka A: Aubri Ashbrook 6, Vera Strub 2, Cai Jesperson 2, Peighton Matthews 2, Lilli McCabe 1, Lily...
Having been elected to the Montana Senate, I wanted to give you a few updates. Even though there’s not a super majority this time, I’m encouraged to say we’ll have a conservative coalition this session and my hope is that we will stick together on the contentious bills we face. I anticipate another busy year with bills. The committees aren’t finalized yet, but the possibilities for me at this time appear to be Business & Labor, State Administration, Fish, Wildlife & Parks, or Energy & Technology. We’ll see whether...
Celia Jean (Bickerdyke) Welch, 84, died peacefully with Jacki and Sue by her side at the Spearfish Canyon Healthcare on November 7, 2024. Celia was born to Eugene and Naomi (Fern) Bruner Bickerdyke in Belle Fourche, SD on September 3, 1940, joining a brother, James. She spent her childhood along the banks of Cottonwood Creek in Carter County near the community of Capitol, Montana. Celia participated in 4-H for 10 years, with horses being her number one interest and lifelong...
Elmer Eugene Nettleton passed away on June 19, 2024, at Edgewood Assisted living facility of natural causes at 95 years old. Elmer was born January 2, 1929, in Butte MT, the oldest of four children of Katie and Clifford Nettleton Elmer grew up on the Schule Ranch located in Montana City, Mt. He attended elementary school in Montana City with his younger sister Marie, numerous cousins and the Palmer family. He also attended Helena Senior High School. In the summer of 1951...
Ruth Nettleton passed away on November 13, 2024 Ruth Malmquist Nettleton was born on April 13, 1931, to Gus and Lima Griffin Malmquist in Ekalaka, MT. She was raised on the ranch 20 miles northwest of Ekalaka on H7 Creek. Ruth attended grade school at the O'Fallon School and graduated from Carter County High School in 1949. Shortly after graduating, she began working in Miles City. Her older sister and her husband, Jean and Elwood Lynch, came to visit and talked her into...
Funeral Service for Janet Enos, 101, of Baker will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 22, 2024 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker with Pastor Rod Enos officiating. Burial will follow at Medicine Rocks Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 2024. Prayer Service starting at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 2024. Janet passed away peacefully on November 15, 2024 at Dahl Memorial in Ekalaka, MT. Janet was born April 12, 1923, in Houghton,...
As Thanksgiving approaches, the School Board expresses gratitude for the dedicated staff and supportive community. The board recently elected Lisa Borchgrevink as Chair and Mike Ashbrook as Vice Chair. Staff Morale and Community Input The board received results of a recent staff climate survey. While the overall results were positive, the board recognizes the importance of continued improvement. To further enhance communication and collaboration, the district plans to seek...
Hello God, it's me, Mara: You know, Lord, sometimes while out shopping, it can be quite interesting when passing by several others who are/were chatting away. One gal seemed to do the most chatting and mentioned how overwhelmed she was, just thinking about the future and all the problems that she and her hubby had to tackle – which all seemed, right then, that they were way too big. Her friend then spoke and said, "Marty, you sit right near me in church, didn't you hear...
When I see all the pictures of trophy deer, elk, and moose that people have shot and posted on social media, I start missing my hunting camp experiences. Hunting camp cooking was a delightful experience! I got up at 3 a.m., tried not to singe my bangs lighting the kerosene lamps, fired up the wood stove, cooked all day, prepared elk heart appetizers, waited anxiously for hunters to arrive several hours past the optimum serving time of the entrees, and packed 50 gallons of...
October, 2024 Tuesday, the first day of October, was spent doing 1 on 1's and a Bible Study with Karen. After dinner Vernalea Kittelmann spent the afternoon playing "Wild 10" with the ladies. My understanding is Faye Kennedy won the game. Wednesday morning a group went through their exercise session and from there played with a big ball. The afternoon activity was playing a game of "5 Crown". Marty's sister Janice Krietel joined the ladies and came out on top! Thursday, Jimmy Curry along with his sisters made a trip to...
November 18, 2024 Capitol and Tie Creek saw frost on the pumpkins, on Sunday morning. Things had finally gotten pretty chilly during the night. On Monday afternoon, Ronda Cordell drove to Rapid City to stay over-night at Cristen and Jayda Westling's. On Tuesday morning, Ronda had an appointment with a Rapid City dermatologist. She met Curt Zolnoski for a late breakfast after the appointment. Then, she was back to Spearfish by one-thirty for a chiropractor appointment. Diane Wear came to the ranch after work on Monday, to...
One of the nicest compliments I receive is when readers tell me that they have hung my column on their refrigerator or mailed it to someone (often anonymously) to try to make a point humorously and semi-tactfully. Since we are going into the holiday feast season, and since several readers have asked me to rerun my code of conduct for the holidays column, I am sending out this list of Grandma's house rules that might serve as a gentle reminder for family dinner etiquette....
Hello God, it's me, Mara: You know, Lord, it might be fun to go back in time (for a short time) when life moved at a slower pace. We'll leave behind: high speed internet, cell phones, telephones, T. V., GPS and electricity. Back then, for us, was daily chores: milking cows, gathering eggs, cleaning chickencoop and barn, slopping pigs, feeding bucket calves, hoeing garden and plum trees, cooking meals from scratch, and in Autumn, making jams, jellies, canning fruits,...
November 11, 2024 Ronda Cordell made a trip to the bank in Buffalo, on Monday. She was afraid the mail would be at ‘Pony Express’ speed through some far-off post office. Some of her mail has a new address, and the bank has changed her address to Capitol Rock Township with a South Dakota zip code. No one has been able to explain this change, or why this change has occurred. Ronda called the newspaper and Seaton Publishing, who tried to change the address back, but the computer would not allow the change. The letter had...
