Traveling in the spirit of Christmas
NEAT TREE — A South American Christmas tree, made entirely of poinsettia plants was photographed by Habets for her wandering travel column. Photo courtesy of Cindy Habets Peterson
Special to the I-O by Cindy Habets Peterson
Several years ago, when asking the eternal holiday question “What’s on your Christmas list?”, my parents gave a new and unexpected answer: “We want you to do something for someone less fortunate. Someone who really needs help this holiday season. Give us a card telling us what you did, and that will be your gift to us.”
I admire my parents for many reasons, and this new holiday tradition is no exception. Each year it requires us to search out a person or a cause that we believe is worthy of our parents’ gift. And in requesting this gift each and every year, our parents ensure that we all remember the true spirit of Christmas – to give of ourselves, and do our part to increase peace and love in the world.
Matmen performed well at Mining City Duals
QUICK WORK — Kyle Judisch puts a move on and will pin his man, Tomas Allison of Anaconda, in 1:11 at the dual meet held in Butte over the weekend. Judisch was selected for the Cowboy Stepped It Up award for going above and beyond expectations. He ended up with a 5-2 record for the weekend. Photo courtesy of Colleen Moritz
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
The Cowboy wrestlers gained some valuable experience at the Big Sky’s premier dual tournament in Butte over the weekend.
Thursday they went up to Shelby for a matchup meet. Cut Bank, Chester, and Browning were also there participating.
Commenting on the meeting in Butte, Coach Kevin Moritz noted, The Mining City Duals have to be the premier dual event in Montana. It features all the Class AA team as well as Class A powerhouses like the Havre Blue Ponies.
Mother Nature freezes out parts of CofC Christmas Stroll
SANTA AT STOCKMAN — “Look Santa, we’re twins!” Santa listens carefully as Morgan Kersey Fuson gets ready to tell him her Christmas wish list. Santa was at Stockman Bank during the Christmas Stroll on Saturday and he most definately received an earful of Christmas ‘wishes and wants’ from the children. Over the next several issues, we will publish more ‘Santa and Me’ pictures that were captured by Adam Jerome with the I-O camera.
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
Mother Nature was not kind to Conrad on Saturday.
An uninvited Alberta Clipper roared down from Canada and played havoc with the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas Stroll.
It was almost a “Tale of Two Cities.” Some planned events went well despite temperatures that rolled off the table and fell to as much as -19 degrees (below zero) while others just simply had to be cancelled.
Never getting off the ground was the dedication of the new marquee at the Orpheum Theatre, the cardboard parade, wagon rides, and the traditional opening ceremonies and lighting of the Christmas tree at the courthouse.
A recital at the library never took place, the museum closed their doors early and crowds were sparse at times for the craft vendors at the Moose Lodge and the Pondera Village Shopping Center.
On the other hand, over 100 youngsters came to Stockman Bank to visit Santa Clause and impart their Christmas wish list on him.
While that was going on inside, Sablle Erickson, the daughter of Dustin and Mary Erickson braved the “Big Freeze” and was selling hot cocoa in front of the bank. She later moved her business to Meadowlark School where she could be in the foyer while the Kids Carnival was going on. Proceeds from her entrepreneurial enterprise went to the local Cancer Foundation.
Meanwhile, the kid’s carnival was going great guns with young people getting their faces painted, shooting hoops, tossing bean bags and having a lot of in-door fun.
The art show, upstairs at Joe’s Steakhouse had a number of folks viewing some nifty works of art. The Theatre still presented their movie.
This all leads up to the Christmas Tree auction held at the former location of G&D Hardware on Main Street.
There were 14 trees and 10 wreaths that went on the block, each and everyone decorated magnificencently.
Last year’s auction brought in $3,325, but this year on a nasty night, the trees fetched $5,795! Proceeds from the auction go towards the purchase of new Christmas street decorations.
Gary and Leo’s IGA provided meat and cheese trays and a wide variety of crackers, dips, chips, cookies and candies for bidders to munch on.
Taking a little editorial license here, even though parts of the Christmas Stroll weren’t able to be pulled off and people ventured out, only to get stuck in the snow, some more than once as they moved about, overall the Stroll was a success.
A lot of preparation and planning went into the Stroll and its new look, both from the CofC and merchants to arts and crafts people to all of the folks who braved the weather to take part in it, kudos and big pats on the back to all of you.