Your Community Builder
Your Community Builder
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 995
Another one of my teaching colleagues, Alice Bassett, has passed on to that big school in the sky where there is eternal duty free lunch. Alice's husband, Charlie Bassett, was my teaching partner for 23 years, and I taught with Alice until she retired. Alice was an amazing kindergarten teacher who suffered from very severe arthritis, which forced her to take early retirement. Although she lived with daily pain, she had an indomitable spirit. Before she came to Big Timber to...
April 22, 2024 Our countryside at Capitol and on Tie Creek is greening up. The snow showers, and the few misty rains, have helped settle the dirt, but we could use a nice long slow shower, now. It seems to be windy and cold on track meet days, so the track season has lagged behind this year. Dick and Erma Albert didn’t even leave town this week. They didn’t really need to go shopping in the Hills. Erma is back to two physical therapy sessions per week, and that is helping her lots. They both went to the Senior Citizen din...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, some of us were chatting about our life when we were kids. One friend shared that when she was about 4 years old, her mom’s friend stopped by to visit. She said, “Even at my young age, I was chatty. That is, until Mom’s friend turned to me and said, ‘You have diarrhea of the mouth.’ “She might have said it with a smile on her face, as I don’t think she really meant to insult me, but her words felt like a gut punch – even way back then. I thought to myself, ‘I guess grow-ups want me to...
submitted by Carter County Public Health To all of the Graduating Class of 2024 in Carter County, MT We are excited to announce the offering of three (3) scholarships! We take pride in our efforts through our Tobacco Prevention Program and this learning initiative is just one way in which we can support those efforts. Our scholarship is a little unique and different than others and we encourage those interested to check it out! Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. Find out more and how to apply on our Facebook p...
In the last five months I have had three cardioversions, one angiogram, and two ablations. Those procedures have made me appreciate the technological advances in treating heart issues, and it served as a general wake-up call. It seems to be the general consensus that I need to cut back on a few of my obligations, so I am working to do that. However, ranchers and farmers either have to die or go broke to get out of the business, so retiring from ranching is not really an option for us—yet. Still it is interesting to think a...
April 15, 2024 The eclipse was not total at Capitol and on Tie Creek. It was cloudy all day on Monday, so we didn’t even get a glimpse of the occasion. Karen Odell watched the NASA website, which had very good coverage of various city sightings along the path of the eclipse. She had never thought about the fact that there would be a three-hundred sixty-five degree sunset if you happened to view in line with the total eclipse. One NASA astronomer mentioned the fact that there would be a southern and a northern sunset, too, m...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, friend, ‘Ce De’, asked if she and her neighbor could pop on over, to ‘spill her guts’ – like WHAT? So, here they came. They settled in for some tea and cookies and off she went. “You know, long ago, Ally was my best friend – she’s since died and gone to heaven, but I can’t help but now and then, think about her – how great she was. Oh, maybe I’d best start out in the beginning. A ‘casual acquaintance’ invited a group of gals over, including me. Well, surprise. That day Ally, ne...
April 8, 2024 It will be darker today at Capitol and on Tie Creek. The moon will be blocking the sun, so hope everyone stays inside, saves their eyes and doesn’t look up. It won’t be a perfect eclipse here, as it will be in the eastern states. Dick and Erma Albert had a good Easter, and attended the Catholic Church service. This week the church time in Buffalo had been moved up, so that the Bison church could have a special service. The service was over in time for them to have the Breakfast Buffet at Saloon Number Thr...
There are many negative attributes of social media, but there are also posts that are truly enlightening. One such post recently led me to check out Warren Johnson’s Facebook page, which led to discovering his blog. I do not personally know Warren, but he is a larger than life character whom everyone connected with horses, rodeos, and outfitting knows about. The primary thing I knew about Warren prior to discovering his posts and blogs was that he upstaged us back in May of 2013. A Today Show film crew visited our ranch to d...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, a friend, ‘R.W’, shared how she loved to pamper herself; on and on she went. Some words were quite interesting. Tee hee. She said she loved to shower, to dry herself, using the nice thick towel Granny had given her, then she’d rub some aloe-oil on herself – oh my! She enjoyed THAT feeling. She said that then she just might get some ‘routine work’ done, wearing a mask, sometimes. She giggled, said that sometimes her ‘work’ made her feel energized and refreshed, oh, and calming also,...
submitted by Carter County Public Health April 24th Vaccine Event We are partnering with PHARM406 for a vaccine event here in Carter County. The following will be available: Pneumonia, RSV, Shingles, Covid-19. Come by the Event Center at the fairgrounds on Wednesday, April 24th, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Remember to bring photo I.D. and any insurance cards you have to use. Local WIC Clinic Dads, grandparents, pregnant and postpartum mothers, and other caregivers, who have infants and kids under age 5 in their care, can apply to the...
April 1, 2024 We are back to winter at Capitol and on Tie Creek. The moisture can’t decide if it wants to be rain or snow, but any moisture is good. The snow gathers, and melts and then gathers again. Dorothy Padden did not plant her potatoes on Easter, this year, because she decided she would not dig through snow to get to the dirt. She is usually very punctual, and has her potatoes already planted by Easter. Alvin and Marlee Cordell are checking on heifers. Their heifers are nearly done calving, and then it will be the t...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, APRIL has arrived! Since ‘farming’ is in our background, it’s delightful to hear ‘farmers’ ‘take’ about this new season. It’s also great to hear them talk about those new baby animals, cute baby bullocks being born. Oh! Listen! It sounds like the Birdies have come back. Next, we’ll see the trees are about to bud and those lovely tulips are starting to peek up through the ground, oh, and the daffodils also. When we’re close to the prairie, we’ll see what WE call prairie flowers, t...
Another teacher that I taught with for 25 years at Big Timber Grade School has gone to the great classroom in the sky. Marion Beley was a fourth generation Montanan who taught a total of 46 years with 41 of them at BTGS in the county where she was born and raised. Both of Marion’s great grandparents came to Montana in covered wagons to establish cattle and sheep ranches. This poem is my tribute to this sweet woman and great educator who epitomized “native Montanan.” Her memorial service will be held at noon in the Big Timbe...
March 25, 2024 Palm Sunday usually brings spring, but at Capitol and on Tie Creek, it brought the most snow of the winter. Dick and Erma Albert made a trip to the Hills, on Wednesday, for an oil change and shopping. They picked up some medicine for Bobbie Wahlfelt, while they were there. They got back soon enough for Erma to get to her massage appointment in Buffalo. On Friday, they both went to the Senior Citizen dinner at the Senior Center. Bobbie served ham and beans and fish. Sunday was a snowy day, but Dick and Erma got...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, a while back, a Sunday School teacher smiled as kids came in; she asked, ‘What Day is today?’ All raised their hands, she nodded, all said, ‘EASTER SUNDAY!’ ‘How did it happen’, she asked? Jake spoke: ‘My Grandma’s visiting us, she said that word comes from another language, means spring time or maybe dawn.’ Judy spoke; ‘Our family knows that day one was crucifixion, day two was burial and day three was when Jesus rose from the dead.’ Joe: ‘I can’t even imagine all that. My grandp...
As Easter approaches, and the robins return, my thoughts turn to digging out the spring and summer clothes. I look at my white flabby arms and panic. Then I look at my white flabby legs and become inspired to unload the ironing off the exercise machine, dust it off, and take it for a spin. A few moments later, my inspiration has turned to perspiration, and I begin looking for ways to justify returning to hibernation. I just received my health screening results in the mail and was delighted that none of my cholesterol levels...
March 18, 2024 It was another mild week at Capitol and on Tie Creek. There was a day of drizzle and warm rain, and by Sunday, the wind had become brisk, but the sunshine felt warm. Dick and Erma Albert made a trip to Belle Fourche for dentist appointments, on Tuesday. They discovered that all services have become exceedingly expensive. Erma had a chiropractor appointment on Wednesday, but that was in Buffalo, and she didn’t have far to travel. Thursday was ‘Pie Day’ in Buffalo, and there were pies provided for people who v...
It’s my FIRST Spring in the ranching life, We FINALLY started calving. Gathered the heifers to the lot, I’m giddy and almost laughing. We were also building a new barn To help us with this task. In fact, the welders had to stop, So we could pull a calf. As we got ready for bed that night, My feller lets me pick. “Which heifer checks would you prefer, 12 & 4, or 2 & 6? What? Wait…We get up in the night? Don’t think I read that part! I guess I’ll take the 12 & 4, And THAT was just the start. I like it best when The Boss is hom...
This past few months I have been having heart rhythm problems. Long story short, I have to have a second ablation procedure at the Missoula Heart Institute on the very day that calving starts. Now, calving doesn’t really start on the first date that the gestation calendar says it would be biologically possible. Calving usually starts days or even a couple weeks early, so often by the “first day of calving season” there are quite a few calves on the ground--especially if a storm blows in. However, we say we start calvi...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, Palm Sunday, years ago was a bit different then it is today. Several of us were together, ‘Susie’ smiled and shared: “When I was just a little kid, I remember one Palm Sunday when the Pastor mentioned there were some palms ‘twigs’ by the back door; that each one of us should each go get one. As we did, someone pushed the piano toward the backwall and a door opened. ‘Helen’ kept playing lovely music. One young guy took the lead of us with palms, we followed out the front door, acr...
March 11, 2024 The Capitol and Tie Creek weather has been warming up all week; until by Saturday and Sunday, it was a wonderful warm day to be outdoors in the beautiful calm sunshine. Dick and Erma Albert got some extra shopping done in the Hills, on Tuesday. Erma got a massage in Buffalo, on Wednesday. Friday was the taco bar at the Senior Center. Bobbie had egg sandwiches for those who were recognizing Lent on Friday. Many people had gone to Rapid City for the state girls’ basketball tournament, so there were not so many a...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, each and every one of us folks could tell of a single item that holds importance and joy that he or she would never part with. ‘Patty’ told us of a fifty-year-old recipe card that was in her mom’s handwriting. Another gal shared that her lovely pink tea-cups, long ago, were her grandma’s favorite teacups. Other folks may value treasured memories - a compliment that encouraged them, a grandchild’s giggle, or even a special insight they had gleaned for Scripture. What we often keep...
We are at the stage in our lives where we find ourselves in the bleachers every Saturday for elementary intramural basketball, because we would never miss a game of grandson basketball. Where else can you watch your grandson celebrate an assist with a breakdance move that would have made Issei swoon? (No, I do not know who Issei is, but I do know how to type into the Google search bar, “Who is the best break dancer in the world?”) Unfortunately, we have no video of Jasper bustin’ a breakdance move on the basketball court in t...
Our community is mourning the loss of Judy Vidack, who moved to Big Timber to teach at BTGS in 1969, touching the lives of hundreds of students plus parents and community members in her forty year tenure teaching elementary school. She lost a short, valiant battle with cancer on February 25, 2024. Judy, who was raised in Bozeman, Montana had a huge family with seven aunts and uncles on her mother’s side. Her second cousin is Shelly Goggins, so many readers might have known her. Judy became my friend the minute that I walked i...
