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We look back at the year 2007 |
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Wednesday, 02 January 2008 |
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Page 2 of 2
Brad Holden took 1st place in the Valier Geography Bee. Patrick Majerus was in 2nd and Keegan Widhalm 3rd. Overall Cub Scout winners at their Pinewood Derby championships were Justin Salois 1st, Michael Awtry 2nd, Ty Kallstom 3rd, and Cordell Wittmier 4th.
A story in the Great Falls Tribune about the closing of a ‘dollar’ store there and had folks wondering if the Super Dollar Store in Conrad was closing. Owner Kim Lettenga was emphatic, “We’re not closing,” she said.
The Conrad FFA was celebrating FFA Week. After four years as defending state wrestling champs, the Glasgow Scotties finally took the top spot away, with the Cowboys placing second. Colby Johnson and Scotty Schlosser won individual titles.
Kasey Brownell, a UMS eighth grader was one of two students named as a top youth volunteer in Montana. She is the daughter of Mike and Jamie Brownell.
IN MARCH, the CofC annual dinner was coming up and it was announced that Flint Rasmussen, Number One Rodeo Clown in North America would be the featured speaker.
The Cowgirls were both conference and district champions in the 1B and placed second at the divisional tournament.
Water and sewer rates were a hot topic at a city council meeting and a Rhubarb Festival had plans to team up with Whoop-Up festivities.
The Branding Iron Lanes team was pool league champions for the second year in a row. The team was made up of Dave Wentworth, Karen Diedrich, Gary Holms, Elmer Crawford, Darren Pruttis and Oscar Diedrich.
The Valier Lady Panther girls’ basketball team earned a trip to the state tournament, their first since 1992.
For the second year in a row, a Valier student won the county Spelling Bee. The top five places looked like this: Tucker VandenBos 1st, Rebecca Brown 2nd, Alexis Samsal 3rd, Karly Christofferson 4th and Jacob Gouchenour 5th.
The 42nd annual Chamber of Commerce banquet had a packed house at Norley Hall. Flint Rasmussen was the featured speaker. Stockman Bank President Dan Majerus was selected to receive the coveted UnSung Hero award. The Top Business award went to Fred and Laurie Morris, co-owners of Courtesy Ford.
Pondera County was fourth in FSA farm payments, receiving $12,672,805.
The Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser by elementary students raised over $9,000 for the PMC. Funds will be used for a new defibrillator for the ER. The top three money-getters were Sheridan Johnson, Jayde Richardson, and Preston Miller.
The CHS Business Professionals of America class did well at their state convention. Courtney Ellefsen, Angie Grubb and Evan Pearson all placed first in at least one of their events. Andy Springer took home two first places.
Carol Brownell, a fifth grade educator at UMS was named District 10 Teacher of the Year. Roxy Zomer and Becky Meier shared honors as Employee of the Year. The Conrad Lions Club donated $500 to the library to purchase large print books. Over 40 students from UMS attended the Science Fair in Missoula and word was received that Cory Morgan of Heart Butte in action in the Iraq war.
IN APRIL, Caleb Hagan was injured from a tire blast at Mountain View Co-op.
Brent Bandow and Katie Schlepp were named King and Queen of the CHS Prom. Their court consisted of Heather Newmiller and Lane Judisch, Cassie Peters and Scott Schlosser and Kelsey Zomer, and Justin Prewett.
A proposed transmission line from Canada to Great Falls was getting a lot of attention. The local FFA chapter hosted their annual Crops Seminar.
Jace Moon and Serena Johnson were in first place at the regional math contest. A public hearing on a city utility rate hike was held at Norley Hall. No one showed up to comment.
An extension was granted by the DEQ for comment time on MATL line. Callie Yeager, a CHS graduate and senior dance major at the UofM-Missoula was producing her own professional concert as part of a senior project at the Orpheum Theatre/Wiegand Auditorium.
The PMC held their annual fish fry fund-raiser at the Moose and had 345 folks show up to eat. Jason Silvernale was elected as state treasurer at the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) conclave in Billings.
The city council voted, 4-0, to raise utility rates. CHS student, Brach Newmiller, was presented with a check for over $7,600 raised by students to help with medical costs from a vehicle accident he was in.
A home-based business went to Main St. in 1999 and after eight years, Connie Bitney owner of the Dry Fork Petal Pushers closed it up to spend more time with her family.
The All-State Academic honors for basketball and wrestling were announced. Boys selected were Colby Johnson, Bryce Nelson, Brent Bandow, Josiah Moerkerke, Garrett Grubb, Austin Breding and Jaren VanDyke. Girls honored included Serena Johnson, Cassie Peters, Kelsey Zomer, Jenny Silvernale, Courtney Ellefsen, Julie Brown, Amber Keil and Brittnee Wittmier.
Levies were set for the upcoming school election and incumbent Jill Johnson was the only person to file for the three-year position. The architect firm of L’Heureux, Page, and Werner, of Great Falls, were accepted by the school district to help fashion a 20-year master plan for the schools.
The home of Cole and Tammy Heatley was damaged by second story fire and she received burn injuries to her hand.
Congressman Denny Rehberg highlighted the Lincoln-Reagan dinner at the Pondera Golf Club.
Cowboy golfer Nathan Gage drilled a hole-in-one on the sixth hole at the Marias Valley golf course. It was his first ace.
IN MAY. I-O Publisher Jack Lee celebrated his 39th year in the newspaper business. He took over the I-O in 1968.
Barbie Killion was named as the executive secretary of the Conrad Chamber of Commerce. She takes over for Shari Richter who became a real estate agent.
Pulitzer Prize winner Eric Newhouse of the Great Falls Tribune was slated to be a guest speaker at the library.
The Cowgirl golf team placed second at the divisional tournament and Andrea Spicher, Jenny Silvernale, Kylee Schlepp, Kenley King and Cassie Peters were going to the state meet. Schlepp took top individual honors. Lane Judisch was the only Cowboy golfer to qualify for the state meet.
Gas topped the $3 mark at $3.09, plus an “arm and a leg.”
Former CHS student Jason Brown bought and donated warm up jackets for the tennis team.
Thin clad Julie Brown took first place in four events at the district track meet in Great Falls. She won the 100m-200m races, the shot put and javelin.
In tennis action Amber Keil won her third divisional title, but the Cowgirls placed second, being upset by Fairfield.
PE Coach Carey Berzel retired and hung up her sneakers after 34 years of teaching kids.
The CHS Class of 2007 sent 48 graduates into the world. A 1,478- piece mosaic that took over a year to put together by the CHS art class will officially be unveiled next month.
Rhett Orcutt, an elementary student, used a six iron to hole out for his first ace on the 155-yard par three sixth hole. It was his first ace.
CHS students pocketed over $200,000 in awards and scholarships in ceremonies at the school. Dr. Rich Murack was named Chiropractor of the Year at the annual convention of chiropractic of medicine.
District 10 school trustees, Chairman Mark Gage, Jan Cater, Joe Russell, Kip Judisch, and Jill Johnson received the top board award, the Golden Gavel. It is given for showing total commitment to education of students.
After 21 years as a football coach and educator at CHS Jeff Makelky hung up his cleats to take a position as Vice Principal-AD at a Wyoming school.
CHS Troubleshooters Jordan Rasmussen and Derek VandenBos placed fifth in the mechanics tournament in Helena.
The Cowgirl softball team closed their season by going 2-2 (17-8) at the state tournament.
IN JUNE, The Conrad Lions Club celebrated 67 years of Whoop-Up tradition. Helen Elliott was the Grand Marshall of the major parade.
It was announced that Prairie View School would re-open its doors, housing fourth and fifth grade classes. Meadowlark School teacher Greg Jensen would become the PVS principal.
The PMC was forming a search committee for new CEO after Jim Christensen accepted a similar position at a medical center in Kentucky.
The search committee was made up of Jim Nelson, Joe Christians, Reta Rae Weisgram, Cheryl Bakken and Buck Traxler, as well as Mack Simpson CFO/PMC and Laura Elliott, PMC Human Resources director.
Terry Will, Jerry Naylor, Dave Howard, and Jim Hoffmann shot a 59 and won the Aussie Open at the PGC, a fund-raiser to help send Lane Judisch and Jerry Riewer to Australia.
Deputy Dick Dailey retired after serving 25 years in the Sheriff’s Department. And, Vicki Makelky retired after 21 years as a nurse at the PMC.
Attorney General Mike McGrath was in Conrad to present Connie Huffman an award for being the Montana Advocate for Victims, 2007.
Two days of super weather, a new date and more bleacher seating all helped to pack in crowds for the 67th annual Lions Club Whoop-Up Trail Days Celebration. Savanna Jo Baumann was the Whoop-Up queen. Jaclyn Thayer placed second and Michelle Thayer third.
A John Deere air driller got hung up going under an overpass on I-15 just south of Conrad. The south-bound lane of the highway was closed for several hours and traffic was routed trough Conrad.
Opal Fladstol was selected as the Conrad Senior Citizen of the Year. Louise Christiaens retired from Farm Credit Services after 20 years.
Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger presented Wilma Sanders of Conrad, and six others, a special certificate identifying them as a Montana Centenarian at a special luncheon during the 39th annual Governor’s Conference on Aging in Helena.
Sierra Richardson won a State Championship gold medal in the gymnastic events of floor exercise and the vault. She also earned a silver medal on the balance beam.
The I-O picked up some awards at the 122nd annual convention of the Montana Newspaper Association in Helena. I-O Editor Buck Traxler placed third in Best Spot News Picture and also took third in Best Sports Picture. Part-time I-O writer Chary Majerus received an Honorable Mention for a story she did on wind turbines.
Barb Fitzpatrick was named Valier Senior Citizen of the Year. Jerry Farnstrom presented a check for $440 to Terry Syvertson with proceeds from the Cops 4 Kids flag football game which will be used for Caring for Kids to purchase pool passes.
Tom Billings, playing on the Ryder Cup team for Conrad, drilled an ace at the 190-yard par three fourth hole in Cut Bank for his first ace.
IN JULY, the team of Chad Baker, TJ Bennyhoff, Danny McFarland and Calvin Schlepp scrambled to a 60 to win the eighth annual PMC golf tournament at the PGC.
However the shot of the day belonged to Jim Vollrath who used a five wood to hole out from the tee box at the 189-yard par three third hole. It was his first ace. Duane Gjesdal, Tom Billings and Buck Traxler witnessed the shot.
Mike Spicher was named MVP in the 19th annual Big Sky All-State football game played in Billings.
How hot was it in July? Conrad got up to 104 degrees during the second week of the month.
Mealy bugs were invading barley fields in the county, a lagoon system project will move ahead, after Mayor John Shevlin broke a tie vote of the council.
Grizzly Day is back on tap for Dupuyer. The council voted City workers pay raises, but aldermen and the mayor voted NO to theirs.
Clair Nelson, the daughter of Dan and Christy Nelson had a picture she painted on a Meth Project made into a book cover. Dirk Elings was honored with a 4-H State Project award for teen leadership during the Montana 4-H Congress at MSU-Bozeman.
The Sheriff’s Department received a thermal imaging unit through the Department of Homeland Security. The unit is valued at $18,000.
On a Tuesday evening two separate wrecks, involving six victims, minutes apart on I-15 had ambulance and ER crews at the PMC humming and buzzing.
IN AUGUST, it was announced by commissioner Sandy Broesder that garbage rates would be going down. The city and the county received CDBG grants for $15,000 to develop a Growth Policy.
The Conrad Dollars for Scholars announced that a recent gift from the estate of Dola McCoy has put the amount raised for DFS to over one million dollars.
Harold Olson was honored by his pharmacist peers at an annual association meeting. The Conrad Swim Team placed fourth at a divisional meet in Cut Bank. Jenny Silvernale placed first in three events. The team would go on to take sixth at the state meet. Melissa Barringer set a state record in 100m breaststroke (1:12.72) and Silvernale had two first places and a third.
Conrad along with northcentral Montana was “smoked”, it seemed, from more than one wildfire along the Rocky Mountain range.
Patti and Jennifer Orcutt and Lacey Patterson won the Women Fighting Breast Cancer tourney with a score of 58.
The Pondera County Canal and Reservoir Company has begun renovation work at the dam on the south end of Lake Frances. It was announced that Mary Ann Ries would now be a full-time county attorney. She has resigned her position as city attorney.
Conrad and the Home Café were turned into a movie set in late August. Scenes for the short film, Dry Rain-the movie was based on a book by a Great Falls author.
Fall sports, football and volleyball were having full practice sessions and the Cowboys had a new coach, Joe Moerkerke.
Curley Williamson and Denny Knickerbocker were repeat champions of the TJ Memorial golf tourney at the PGC.
IN SEPTEMBER, as school was underway, Ken Larson took the reins as new principal at CHS and Greg Jensen was the new principal at PVS.
Everett and Ruby Gemar celebrated 70 years of marriage with family and friends. ITB received $700,00 for training and working capital.
A curfew issue raised a few hairs on the backs of people’s necks; Bruce Porter became the new CEO at the hospital. A new defibrillator for the ER was on line. Funding came from the Jump Rope for Hearts and some added help from the PMC Auxiliary.
Bob Wolfe sold his accounting business to the accounting firm of Brown-Fitchner and Joylynn Kauffman was selected as the Montana winner of the Ideas Unlimited award.
The city council adopted a budget of $5.4 million, Big Brothers-Big Sisters was now serving Conrad and trees and shrubs were beginning to come out with their fall colors.
The county adopted their yearly budget. Scott Patera and Jerry Christensen, local NorthWestern energy area manager, presented a $500 donation to Librarian Carolyn Donath for new books.
A semi-truck hit a cow on I-15, another truck hit two cows almost directly across from the first accident and yet another cow was hit about a half-mile down the freeway.
School population has taken a dip and at CHS students were getting ready for Homecoming festivities.
Scotty Schlosser and Kelsey Zomer were named King and Queen for Homecoming. Other candidates included Brent Bandow and Heather Newmiller, Justin Prewett and Jerrica Harris and Lane Judisch and Katie Schlepp.
IN OCTOBER, The I-O took a little heat for asking the rhetorical, tongue in cheek question, Did Columbus really discover America?
The PMC annual Health Fair was a big success, especially with the Mercy Flight helicopter coming in. The county received $204,00 in an oil company settlement and the Harvest Festival was ready to rock Conrad.
Josephine Gossard celebrated her 103rd birthday at the PMC extended care Unit and Linda McCulloch from OPI visited schools and the museum on her “Yellow Bus” tour.
Among her staff was Tara Jensen, Deputy Communications Director at OPI in Helena. She is the daughter of Greg and Joan Jensen and went all through the Conrad school system.
The city was interviewing for a new attorney, a bird hunter was attacked by a grizzly near Dupuyer. The bear was captured and relocated.
IN NOVEMBER, the city received a safety plaque from the Montana Municipal Insurance Authority for their safety program.
The UMS seventh grade girls’ basketball team went 16-1 for the season and won their middle school tournament. The Cowgirl volleyball team placed fourth at the District meet and came on to take third at the Divisional meet.
The city hired attorney T. Kai Lee to represent them in legal matters. She is from Shelby.
The Four Leaf Clovers 4-H Club collected 712,303 aluminum tabs, weighing over 500 pounds. They will go to the Ronald McDonald House in Billings where they will be recycled.
Dakota Suta of PVS raised money for the Montana Hope project. Stockman Bank was raising pantry food through a Griz-Bobcat promotion.
Voters approved the use of mail-in ballots in the Nov. 6 general election. Sandy Syvertson and Wally McHenry were re-elected to the city council.
The PMC is in the process of looking for a new doctor after Dr. Jennifer Dodge submitted her resignation so she could move to Helena.
In other news from the PMC, a remodeling of the clinic is moving right along.
Dog breeders, Dave and Barbara Meuli of Conrad, earned a spot at a National dog show.
The end of the month saw the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas Stroll take place. A tree auction will benefit a local non-profit organization. Santa Clause has showed up for 75 years at the Stockman Bank to take wish list from young and old alike.
Don and Reta Rae Weisgram were honored for serving 30 and 40 years respectively as 4-H volunteers.
IN DECEMBER, Academic All-Staters were announced with five ladies from the volleyball being selected. They are Heather Newmiller, Katie Schlepp, Kelsey Zomer, Amanda Judisch and Jenny Silvernale.
Football players named as Academic All Stars were Luke Weisgram, Brent Bandow, Bjorn Swanson, Austin Breding, Andy Springer, Josiah Moerkerke, and Brandon Philipps.
The city has begun accepting bids for solid waste containers. Dan O’Brien, a seventh grader at UMS pulled up a rare perfect cribbage hand. It’s about the same as getting a royal flush in poker.
Conrad Town Pump presented a $500 grant to CHS; the UMS Science Olympiad team was at MSU-Bozeman. UMS students also pooled their imagination in various ways and raised $1,345 for Ray Palmer who was in an ATV accident. Thrivent Financial helped make that donation go up to $2,689.
The CofC presented funds to the Community Cancer Foundation, the Conrad Community Education Foundation, and the NU-Keil Park Project. All received $600 from proceeds of the Christmas Tree auction.
Conrad is slated to receive $752,200 for a wastewater project as part of an omnibus funding package passed by the Senate.
PVS students donated $101 to the I-O Mitten Tree. CHS students Karl Bjelland, Evan Pearson and Bryce Nelson were the first place team in the fall Montana High School Business Challenge, under the direction of Janie McFarland.
Conrad had three teams place in the top 10. Taking fifth was Sydney Phillips, Ashley Beckham, Cheney Gianarelli and Gregg Kalbas. In ninth place were Jason Silvernale, Amana Judisch, and McKenna Mielke.
The Pondera County Fund Drive was at 80 percent of their goal. The PCCFD helps 13 organizations.
The PMC announced that Ann Lindberg was the Employee of the Year. Wind projects are on the verge of booming in the county and surrounding area was a prediction made by Mark Jacobson at a recent Pachyderm meeting on the topic.
These are just a few, but certainly not all, of the stories that made up the news for 2007.
We at the I-O wish everyone the very best for the New Year and hope your news is all-good.
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