Hello, Well, the storm that was forecast for opening day of deer season wasn’t as bad as was anticipated. Although in many parts of North Dakota, it was wet enough that the trails a farmer or rancher has to drive on all winter, are full of ruts and...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, November is a ‘thankful’ time. A friend remembered when she was growing up how her Grandma always set a huge table for her dear family. “J.L.” recalled that Grandma would tell them that this was...

by Raquel Williams, RN Sorry about the hiatus, life had gotten a little too hectic with college, work and Tegan’s schedule. However, now that I have moved into the Carter County Public Health department, I plan to reach out to the people of this...

Hello, Over the years you hear lots of stories. Stories of jokes that guys have played on one another. I’ve written about them in the past. About Johnny putting the dead calf in Clarence’s pasture. And Clarence buying a pail calf and then unable...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, what would we like to thank You for on this day that You have made for us? We’re thankful for the many blessings and ‘gifts’ that You give us, including family and friends. How fun to hear ‘kids...

Dear Editor, The Carter County Food Bank would like to thank everyone for their support. We are very fortunate to have this service available to needy families. Approximately 400-500 lbs of food per month goes out. The Montana Food Bank Network...

As we were growing up in Ekalaka, Independence Day was a lot of fun and very important to us. We always went out to the Grandparents farm to celebrate. Our cousins, Hans, Gale, Ronald and Doris would always come out with their parents, Joe and...

There’ll be no more horsin’ around wearing our homemade bridles with bits and reins. No winter “horseshoes” with blocks of wood and straps to secure to our feet. We used to stand tied to fences or corrals with our “bridles” and run...

I was so sorry to hear about the death of my classmate, Donna Sjoblom Smith. I started grade school in Ekalaka in 1944 in the first grade; we had no kindergarten then. Part of my class was Donna Sjoblom. Donna was cute as could be and was smart,...

Hello, I’m not a real good fencer. You can ask my neighbors. But yesterday I was forced to build a quarter mile of four barbed-wire fence. It happened because on Saturday evening, I was rudely taken from a pinochle game to get cattle off the road....

While looking through “Shifting Scenes” to write an article, I came across an article written by Sandi Kirkwood on the family of James and Inga C. Senrud Johnstone. As I read through those I said to myself: “What interesting people, times and...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, it might be fun to go back in time (but only 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. Daily...

Hello, You know there is a saying I often heard about cowboys. “Everyone wants to be a cowboy, until they have to do cowboy ….” You can fill in the blanks. The editor doesn’t let me say it. I guess that was never truer than a deal last week....

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, sometimes we wonder when we should read Your Word? Is there a certain time to read? Pondering the question of ‘when’: should it be morning, evening, mealtime, bedtime, or maybe in time of conflict and...

Hello, This is the time of the year that I miss Pat. Pat O’Brien. He passed away several years ago after a lifetime in the cattle industry. I knew him mostly as an auctioneer. You have to understand that this is the time of the year that most...

In 1939 the Donald family moved to Ekalaka with Mrs. Donald and the children consisting of Mary, Charlie, Jessie May, Helen and Lola with George Donald coming later. The beloved horse, Kernal was brought by George and was pastured at the Downey...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, sometimes when we’re just plain tired out, we might think: ‘Rest time?” What is that? How is that going to happen when there are still so many chores waiting to get done? A friend reminded us that we...

Hello, We were lucky. Real lucky. I’m sure you have seen the stories and pictures of last week's snow storm in North Dakota. For an October storm, it was a doozy. Up to two or three feet of snow and strong winds. But we missed it here in the west....

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: Fall is fast approaching us; we feel it in the air. Its signs are all around us, too, we see them everywhere! Leaves are turning to orange and gold, they’re such a lovely sight. They don’t stay long as orange and...

Hello, You can read lots of economic forecasts. And many of them tell of an impending recession. I suppose you can put the blame wherever you want, but it seems we have recessions every ten years or so. It happens. I don’t need to read of an...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, some girl friends had gathered together and were having a great time chit chatting about when their kids were just little tots. Nearly every one of the gals had some amusing and enjoyable things to share...

Hello, Every once in awhile I run across something that makes me smile. Actually, I run across a lot of stuff that makes me smile. And smiling is good for one’s soul. A weasel walks into a bar. The bartender had never served a weasel before, and...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, a little blurb told how a Grandpa developed a delicious jelly using a powdered grape drink. He even won some blue ribbons at the country fair. He sat at the table spreading a half-inch thick serving of...

Hello, Shirley has been happily married for well over forty years. I know a lot of you realize that she is a lucky woman, but I have to remind her once in awhile. We started producing rodeos the day after our wedding. And we produced rodeos for many...