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The second session of Reimagining Rural will feature nationally known rural experts Becky McCray and Deb Brown, who encouraged community members to try new ideas as a way to deal with the changes we see in our small towns. Also featured in this session is a story of success from a small Montana town. "We need to be more open to new ideas," McCray said. "Iowa State University studied 99 small towns over 20 years and found that the communities that survived the best were the ones that were open...
Ekalaka is one of eleven communities across Montana chosen to participate in Reimagining Rural. The three-part program was created for small, rural Montana towns to bring fresh, new ideas about rural community vitality to the local people that make things happen. The event's first night is planned for January 29th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Carter County Museum. The program kicks off with Tara Mastel, Program Leader for Community Vitality at Montana State University Extension who will share positive...
The Carter County Museum will host Montana Conversation "Hazel Hunkins of Montana: Continuing the Fight for Women's Rights" with Kevin Kooistra on December 6, 2023. The program is at the museum, 306 N Main Street, beginning at 7 p.m.. The presentation is free and open to the public. Funding for Montana Conversations is provided by Humanities Montana through grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities United We Stand Initiative, Montana's Cultural Trust, and private donations. We are...
The Montana Department of Commerce recently announced it has awarded $1 million in grant funding to nineteen tourism entities to strengthen and diversify local and regional economies by promoting Eastern Montana as a tourism destination. The grant funding is through Brand MT's Eastern Montana Tourism Partner Initiative (EMI). "We want to showcase the scenic, diverse beauty and the unique communities that make Eastern Montana so special," said Scott Osterman, Director of the Montana Department...
Ekalaka native Marcell Bruski, 27, was recently named to The Billings Gazette's 40 Under Forty list. The Billings paper has been compiling the list of its community's best and brightest people for decades. The general 40 Under Forty article and the piece on Bruski were published on February 12th on the Gazette's website. The Eagle spoke with Bruski about her career at Big Sky Economic Development, as well as her receiving the honor earlier this week. "Big Sky Economic Development's mission is...
Ekalaka Town Council Regular Meeting Town Office: January 4, 2023 at 5 p.m. A. Call Meeting to Order at 5:01 p.m. a. Roll Call Council: MELISSA LOVEC, ANDY WRIGHT, REX MCCORD, LIBBY BARTH (ZOOM) b. Employees Present: COLBY DIEDE, LANCE BARRERE c. Appointed Officials Present: MAYOR BUCK KRATZER, CLERK TERI JUMP B. Pledge of Allegiance C. Public Comment-NONE D. Presentation of Petitions and Communications: Zoning and Permits: NONE E. Minutes from last meeting(s): read, correct (if needed) and approve. a. Council Member Lovec moved to approve...
On January 19, the Carter County Superintendent of Schools and Ekalaka Elementary hosted the county spelling bee and inaugural Noralla Thomas Memorial Geography Bee. Beginning at 9 a.m., students lined up to spell a variety of words given to them by pronouncer Vicki Fix. As rounds progressed, some students were successful while others weren't so lucky. When the final word was spelled correctly, Danner Schaffer of Hammond School was declared the winner. Danner will have the opportunity to...
Celebration of life services for Noralla Thomas, 88, will be on Friday, November 4, at the Alzada Community Hall at 11 a.m., with a catered lunch to follow. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to services. Inurnment will be at the Alzada Cemetery. Noralla Bea Edwards Thomas was born on November 10, 1933 in Ekalaka, MT to John and Florabel Harkins Wash. Noralla suffered a broken hip and passed away at the Dahl Memorial Healthcare on October 27. When Noralla was 3 weeks old her father died from a...
Carter County Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth Annual FestiFall will take place on Saturday, October 1st at the Event Center in Ekalaka. FestiFall, a fun-filled family event to kick off the fall season, was originally named by current Chamber President Eva Grimes. This year, it will again coincide with the Willa Nies Memorial Volleyball Tournament. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., families will be able to enjoy a pumpkin patch in addition to several other games. Photo and face painting booths will also be available. A panel of local judges will put their t...
Visit Southeast Montana announces the new Executive Board of Directors for 2023. Sabre Moore, chair, represents Carter County; Jessica Malone, vice-chair, represents Powder River County; Morgan Belveal, secretary-treasurer, represents Musselshell County; and Jeff Ewelt, past-chair, represents Yellowstone County. Other members of the Visit Southeast Montana Board of Directors include Beth Epley (Fallon Co.); Vicki Leesburg, Amber Malenovsky and Angela Mendoza (Custer Co.); Norma Trent (Musselshel...
On July 19, USDA Rural Development will be partnering with Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation to present a variety of small business funding opportunities at a free workshop in Ekalaka. The event will take place at Carter County Event Center, 209 West Speelmon Street, and lunch will be provided by the Carter County Chamber of Commerce. Community members are invited to hear from a variety of speakers to learn about different funding and technical assistance opportunities for small business or community projects. Topics will address...
Carter County Chamber of Commerce is once again sponsoring a Fourth of July bash on Main Street in Ekalaka on Monday, July 4, beginning at 2 p.m. The bash on main will include an array of games and activities that are fun for the entire family. Some of these activities include an array of yard games, face painting, minute-to-win it and much more. A cornhole tournament will also take place throughout the afternoon. Registration for the tourney begins at 2 p.m. A free barbecue will begin at 5 p.m. Beef for the barbecue is donated by OCC Legacy...
After electing not to produce a calendar featuring local photographs taken by local photographers last year, the Carter County Chamber of Commerce voted to print the community calendar again for 2023, due in part to high demand. The chamber plans to print the calendar early this year to catch Labor Day visitors and early hunters. If local photographers have pictures from this year or last year, they may send them to the chamber now for a chance to be featured in this year’s calendar. Photos of Carter County events, landscapes, animals and p...
Carter County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Community Wide Garage Sale is slated for Saturday, June 4 this year. The sale has been very popular for the last several years, drawing shoppers from other towns. Sign up sheets for the sale will soon be made available. The sheets will have a place to write your name, street address, items for sale, and if you are paying the $10 fee in cash or by check to the chamber. Fees charged help pay for printing and circulation of the map that shows all sale locations. The deadline for signing up is May 30. T...
Over eighty people attended a town hall meeting with Governor Greg Gianforte at Carter County Events Center last Thursday. The town hall was held as part of the governor's fifty-six county tour, which began last week. Carter County Chamber of Commerce assisted in putting the event together and multiple area businesses as well as producers brought meats, cheeses, other snacks to share. "Getting out of Helena and into our communities to visit with Montanans is my favorite part of my job, but also...
After electing not to produce a calendar featuring local photographs taken by local photographers last year, the Carter County Chamber of Commerce decided at their recent meeting to print the community calendar again for 2023, due in part to high demand. The chamber plans to print the calendar early this year to catch Labor Day visitors and early hunters. If local photographers have pictures from this year or last year, they need them. Let this article serve as notice to start taking photos of Carter County scenes, or to search through recent...
submitted by Carter County Chamber of Commerce After discussions about seemingly perennial fire concerns and the core mission of the organization, the Carter County Chamber of Commerce voted at its December 2021 meeting to discontinue its practice of facilitating fireworks displays. The Chamber will continue to support and organize those activities which follow its mission to “develop, aid, encourage and promote projects for the entire county in order to expand business and industry for the entire area.” The Community Yard Sale, FestiFall, Day...
On Monday, The Montana Department of Commerce announced more than $1 million in grant funding was awarded through its Tourism Grant Program to strengthen local economies in twenty-one communities. "These grants will serve 22 tourism and recreation projects across Montana, including unincorporated small towns, rural communities, and areas of known attractions to non-resident visitors," Commerce Director Scott Osterman said. "Not only will these funds help boost tourism locally, they will support...
Carter County Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to meet this Thursday, November 18th, at 5:50 p.m. inside Stompin’ Grounds. Members unable to attend in person may take part via phone-in or Zoom by contacting President Eva Grimes at 406-975-6444. During the chamber’s October meeting, a report on Festifall was provided by Grimes. Suggestions for next year included a cake walk and a costume contest for children to participate in. This year’s winners of the chili cook-off were Phil Cook, Terri Jump and Abbey Bruski. An update on the Veterans Park wa...
Funeral Services for Dale Boggs, 65, of Baker will be at 1 p.m., Friday, October 1, 2021 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka with burial to follow at the Beaverlodge Cemetery. Visitation for Dale will be from 4 – 6 p.m., Thursday, September 30, at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker with a prayer service being held at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue on Friday one hour prior to the service at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Dale passed away Friday, September 24, 2021 at his home in Baker. As D...
Carter County has been selected to participate in the 2021 Reimagining Rural Virtual Gathering that is designed to bring some fresh ideas about how to create a vibrant future for rural communities across Montana. It has been a challenging year and organizers hope to help local volunteers and leaders reset and reimagine a bright future for their community by bringing them together to hear some positive research and success stories about rural communities. Reimagining Rural Virtual Gathering was...
Note: This year's theme for the Days of '85 parade on Sunday, August 15 is 'Hometown Heroes.' Parade organizers chose individuals from five different categories to represent all of the hometown heroes in Ekalaka. The following articles were submitted by the individuals themselves, or their family members. EDUCATION Representative: Lynn Williams I am honored to have been chosen as Carter County's Hometown Hero for Education. My first formal education was at the Tarter School in Harding County...
Funeral Services for Lloyd Carroll, 85, of Ekalaka were held June 1, 2021 at Stevenson Funeral Home - Ekalaka with Pastor Scott Kiehn officiating. Burial followed in Beaver Lodge Cemetery. Lloyd passed away May 25, 2021 at Billing Clinic. Lloyd was born on September 14, 1935 in Ekalaka, son of Charles and Anna Ambrose (Frye) Carroll. He attended grade school in the Opeechee area and in Ekalaka and graduated from Carter County High School in Ekalaka. Lloyd married Betty Loehding on July 28, 1960...
Sign-up forms for the annual Carter County Chamber of Commerce Community Wide Garage Sale are currently available online and at the town office. The event is slated for Saturday, June 5. Sellers need to sign up and pay a $10 fee by May 26 in order to get on the map. Sign up sheets have a place to write name, street address, items for sale and a phone number. Maps showing all sale locations will then be printed and circulated around the town. Forms can also be filled out online at: https://form.jotform.com/211024259071142, or by clicking on the...
Sign-up forms for Carter County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Community Wide Garage Sale are now available at the town office. This year it will take place on Saturday, June 5. Locals interested in participating in the yard sale have until May 26 to sign up. The sheets have a place to write name, street address, items for sale and phone number. The form can also be filled out online at: https://form.jotform.com/211024259071142, or by clicking on the link posted on the chamber’s facebook page. A $10 fee to sign up, payable to the Chamber of Com...
