Week of January 3, 2025
Dahl Memorial is thrilled to announce the addition of Karl Hager, FNP-C, ACNP-BC, ENP-BC, to the association's healthcare team. Hager brings a wealth of expertise and over twelve years of experience as an advanced practice provider, with certifications in Family Practice, Acute Care, and Emergency Medicine. Hager brings specific patient care skills and experience that support and advance Dahl's mission and commitment to Carter County and the communities the association...
Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association (DMHA) is making an important change to better serve our patients and ensure the long-term health of our hospital. Starting January 15, 2025, DMHA will begin collecting copays, coinsurance, and patient-responsible balances at the time of service. This change is necessary as we align with industry standards and help DMHA provide timely, transparent billing while strengthening the hospital's financial foundation. For many in our community,...
Montana is suing Yellowstone National Park over a plan to increase the number of bison in and around the park and establish greater tolerance for their presence outside its boundaries. In a press release announcing the lawsuit, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte criticized the National Park Service for how it developed the plan, describing the effort as an example of "federal overreach" and saying it was created without proper state consultation. "The National Park Service has...
Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation (EPEDC) in conjunction with Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC), Montana Food & Agriculture Development Network (FADC), and USDA Rural Development (RD) are pleased to provide an informative funding workshop on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 for small businesses and ag producers in Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota. The workshop will share helpful information and guidance for businesses and producers that are looking...
They were D.C. newcomers elected by voters tired of Washington political scandals. Max Baucus was elected to Montana’s western U.S. House District three months after Richard Nixon resigned in 1974. Jimmy Carter, a Democratic governor from the Deep South, would launch his longshot presidential campaign by the end of the year. “He was an outsider,” Baucus said Monday following Carter’s death at age 100. “People were tired of politicians in Washington, Watergate and so forth. I was part of that momentum as well, the...
This is a true story. A story that begins in Ekalaka, MT and ends-who knows where? It is about a chocolate chip cookie "family" who wanted to take a short trip from Ekalaka to Almo, KY. The story is narrated by the family leader, Head Chip, because he contains the most c.c.'s of the family. Listen now as this story of a small c.c. family unfolds with all it's mystery and intrigue. Go ahead Head Chip. "December 9th was a nice day in Ekalaka, as the weather goes. We were just taken to the Post Office and were greeted with the...
Passing family farms and ranches on to the next generation is challenging, and future changes to federal inheritance tax could make this process even more difficult and expensive. Many Montana producers have had to deal with paying the “death tax” for a business that is simply being passed down to the next generation, and this added expense is a serious challenge to the financial viability of the business. Estate planning is a complicated, time-consuming process that takes away funds and energy from producers who are...
Betty Jo Smith passed away December 6th at her daughter's home in Havre. Betty was born in 1936, the first child of Joe and Marjorie Schallenberger. She graduated from CCHS in 1955 and went to work in Miles City. There she met Don Smith and they were married in 1956. They had two daughters, Janet and Sheree, and later adopted two boys, Keith and Brian. Betty and Don spent many years as foster parents bringing over 95 children, mostly under 2 years old, into their home. She is...
Vonnie Rae Gross, 86, passed away on December 24, 2024 in Gillette, WY, surrounded by loving family members. A Celebration of life will be held at a later date in Ekalaka, Montana. Vonnie was born August 27, 1938 to Faith and Ed Allen in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. She graduated from Belle Fourche High School and married David Gross on July 30, 1956. Vonnie and Dave ranched in the Bell Tower area for many years where they raised their three children, Steve, Shelley, and...
Two years ago this month, I retired and briefly wondered whether I would be bored or not. As it turned out, I was not given the opportunity to be bored. I ended up teaching high school culinary in my time off from working at the Boutique and the ranch, and then I finished off this past year by going back to my old County Superintendent job. I have high hopes of retiring some time in the future, so at my dear friend Judy Vidack's estate sale, I bought a book that I think I had...
December 22, 2024 A Visit from a Saint ‘Twas the night before Christmas on Tie Creek and Capitol. The blizzard was blowing. It was thirty below. Our cellars were filled with bountiful glass jars of freeze dried and canned foods, and things from bazaars. Our stockings were on in a layer or two, In hopes that our toes didn’t all turn bright blue, And Grandma had on her special lined pants She won’t take off ‘till she sees new green plants. While Grandpa sat huddled two feet from the heater, Refusing to look at the...
November, 2024 With the extra activity of the season this should be noted as history not news! My apologies to our readers! Lois Kapptie celebrated her 90th birthday with family by her side enjoying cake and ice cream. Lois was the 8th baby born to Anna and William Kapptie. Lois is a "spit fire" now, I can't imagine how lively she was when she was growing up with a family of brothers! Happy Birthday Lois! November 3, daylight saving time ended, meaning our days will get shorter and our nights longer. The days will continue...
Hello God, it's me, Mara: We woke, dear, Lord, first day – NEW MONTH; also, a brand-new year! Hurry and dress, do a few things; check if there's still TEN deer! Seems they forgot their Mountain home; they LIKE hill-tops and trees. They dash and nibble here and there, or rest down on their knees. It's cold up here- it's WINTER TIME - today the sky is BLUE! A little neighbor girl's so cute, she loves to wear blue, too! 'Mike' said we ought to have a list of things we NEED TO...
With just hours until Christmas, I am in a bit of a panic. My plan this year was to buy one small gift for each person on my list to open and then give them an adventure as their big present. That seemed like a fine plan until it came down to the wire this week to decide what to book and when to book it. There are 9 of us ranging in age from 9 to 87. The adventure has to be something that is suitable for an age range of 78 years. Travel agents seem to find that requirement...
Hello God, it's me, Mara: You know, Lord, 'Sheri' shared about her one night in London – she was there for a meeting. It was pouring rain, she was late so she rushed through the streets, turned a corner and then stopped! Dozens of angels hovered above on Regent Street. Their giant shimmering wings, made of thousands of pulsing lights, stretching across the traffic. She said that it was the most amazing Christmas display she had even seen. She wasn't the only one captivated...
December 15, 2024 Snow covered the countryside this week at Capitol and on Tie Creek. There was two or three inches that gave us some very needed moisture. At first the cloudy days were dismal and cold, but things warmed up every day and soon the snow was melting on Saturday. By Sunday, we had off and on showers of December rain, even though it was barely above freezing at ground level. Alvin Cordell was enjoying the rain on Sunday. Wade Pearson had come out on Wednesday, to finish road work for Mark Baier. Alvin and Marlee...
