Some days are long and for some reason I have been thinking of past businesses, their location and owners. Let’s begin with the old post office building where I started to work on April 1, 1950 under Postmaster E.E. Sykes. The north side of the...

As an English teacher, I love to read. The problem is that I never have time to finish a book. In fact, since the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration back in 2004, I have been trying to read “Undaunted Courage”. My copy is dog-eared only...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, most of us believe that the Bible is Your inspired word and the foundation of our life and faith, but our behavior sometimes denies this. We have traditionally devalued history into ‘back then’ which...

submitted by Carter County Public Health Free shot clinic for kindergarten and seventh grade vaccinations. Don’t miss out! Call us at 406-775-6332 to pre-register or if you have questions. Here are more details. When: Friday, July 22, 10 a.m. - 2...

Smiles Across Montana (SAM) Coming back this month to Ekalaka! Final days to sign up your kiddo! To parents of students in Ekalaka Public School districts (K-12). Deadline to submit your form of interest is May 20. SAM will be here for their return...

The Melstone High School All-School Reunion is looming up this June, and I find it quite amazing that I have been out of high school for 45 years. Where did all that time go? The last All School Reunion I attended coincided with my thirty year...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know Lord, when we were kids back home on the ranch; we loved watching the full moon rise over the Cherry Ridges. We learned that many cultures have given names to the full moons throughout the year, each culture...

Teacher Appreciation Week is this week, and there are not enough words in the English language for me to express my appreciation for not only teachers, but the paraprofessionals, administrators, school staff members, janitors, bus drivers, and lunch...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: April showers bring May flowers, a bit of snow helps too. There’s Daffodils and red Tulips and some Flax turning Blue. Shy violets hide ‘neath dewy grass, ‘resting’ at “Violet Springs.” Birds atwitter,...

I received a message from Linda Story, Chance Story's grandmother, regarding the outpouring of love and support that readers have shown to Chance and the Story family following the rodeo accident that broke all of the bones in Chance's face except hi...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know Lord, curious things happen, now and then. A friend said that she and her hubby had started a Gratitude Book: every day they would/could write one thing for which they were thankful for. She gave a few examples...

Snow is deep — the days long, maybe do an article for you readers. In going through the Shifting Scenes Vol. III, I found two families I had been thinking about for some time. Those two were Chris and Gerda Bentz and Damian (Curly) Culver....

This last week of moisture came as a blessing and a curse. There were undoubtedly large death losses of young livestock in the areas that were hit by days of blizzard conditions, but in some areas like here in our neck of the woods, the moisture was...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know Lord, we hunger for sacred space and yearn for quiet time. We know that You are always ready and willing to meet us in that space. We must study, meditate, praise, and pray so that divine space becomes the...

submitted by Carter County Public Health We have partnered again with Smiles Across Montana to make a return visit to our community in the later part of May. This is a dental care opportunity for parents of students in Ekalaka Public School...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, William D. Longstaff (in 1882) paraphrasing Hebrews 12:14 wrote the song, “Take Time to Be Holy.” In those four verses he tells us to make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak, spending...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know Lord, another friend slipped off to You, and then this ‘piece’ showed up, author unknown. Just sharing as we grieve, knowing our dear one has gone on ahead: “Grief like a mantel covers me. We kissed goodbye...

One of the advantages of writing a weekly column for 27 years is that I have a scrapbook of my life saved on my computer. This week, my grandson Alex turned 12, so I thought I would type "Alex" in the search bar to see what stories came up about...

I was very happy to see the article in the Eagle about the meat processing plant near Belltower called OCC Legacy Cuts. Probably nobody remembers but I wrote an article for the Eagle a few years ago suggesting this very thing. It is a little...

Spring is officially here, and that signals a shift in my world. I have to shift from physical fitness activities like power walking to the break room for a snack and lifting paperclips to doing things like lugging newborn calves into a sled from...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, dear Lord, Red Velvet cake is colorful to make. Mix white frosting to spread on top, once cake’s put in to bake. Friends love to share their recipes, then share with neighbors, too. Some soup, biscuits and cook...

There is a health care crisis in America that has nothing to do with Covid. My personal health care crisis involves trying not to put myself in the position of requiring health care despite my husband's ideas. I have health insurance, but I hate to u...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know Lord, some days one awakens with a song in their heart, a smile on their lips and feel “in love” and it doesn’t even have to be Valentine’s Day or JUNE! We might just have our heart in tune. Some favorite...

submitted by Carter County Public Health Did you know in Montana drowning is the second leading cause of death in children through 17 years of age. Here are just a few Montana stats: 29 children drowned in Montana ranging from infants up through 17...