Photographer remembers children
When co-founder Cheryl Haggard lost her son in February of 2005, she knew that her family’s healing was going to come by remembering details about Maddux, not by forgetting that he existed.
Her husband contacted photographer and eventual co-founder Sandy Puc’ and requested her services in helping to memorialize young Maddux. Over time, memories fade, but these cherished photographs will last for generations and help show the love that was shared between this young boy and his family, no matter how brief his stay on Earth was.
From these beginnings, the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation was born. Currently there are approximately 7,000 professional photographers in 25 countries who volunteer their professional photography services to the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation.
April Spaulding of Choteau has been chosen as one of these special photographers. She will travel to area hospitals within a 100 mile radius for this special service.
“As a volunteer member of the organization, I would like to share with you how we are helping families in this community,” Spaulding said. When nurses or social workers at local hospitals call me on behalf of a family, I will pack up my gear and head to the hospital. I first offer the family my condolences on their loss or impending loss, and then I get to work, knowing that the images I capture will be one of their only connections to that child once they have said goodbye.”
Some of these babies pass away at or near birth due to genetic defects, pregnancy trauma or stillbirth. In other cases, doctors have tried everything they can to help find a cure for whatever ailment the child suffers from, but the hospital calls the photographer when all efforts have been exhausted and the family will soon be disconnecting life support. The Foundation photographer comes at the family’s request. In some cases, the photographer is able to capture the last images of this child’s time here on Earth; in other cases, the parents are more interested in seeing their child memorialized eternally at peace, meaning once the child has passed and no cords or IV’s are connected.
The Foundation believes the images of these precious children serve as an important step in the healing process and that this opportunity should be available to all in need regardless of socio-economic status. To this end, their entire network of professional photographers donates their time and talents to this noble service.
The main focus are the photo sessions for infants from 25 weeks until after birth who have been or will be lost to critical illness or stillbirth.
At the family’s request, one of the Foundation’s volunteer photographers comes to the healthcare facility and performs an onsite photo shoot. The photos are then professionally retouched and presented to the family in a DVD slideshow format with music as well as a CD of high resolution images.
To offer a supportive place for parents to grieve, the Foundation administers a Family Forum on its Web site, www.nowisleep.com.
Please direct any additional inquiries to April Spaulding Photography & Design at 406-750-8666, www.aprilspaulding.com or the Headquarters office, at 720-283-3339, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.nilmdts.org.
Her husband contacted photographer and eventual co-founder Sandy Puc’ and requested her services in helping to memorialize young Maddux. Over time, memories fade, but these cherished photographs will last for generations and help show the love that was shared between this young boy and his family, no matter how brief his stay on Earth was.
From these beginnings, the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation was born. Currently there are approximately 7,000 professional photographers in 25 countries who volunteer their professional photography services to the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation.
April Spaulding of Choteau has been chosen as one of these special photographers. She will travel to area hospitals within a 100 mile radius for this special service.
“As a volunteer member of the organization, I would like to share with you how we are helping families in this community,” Spaulding said. When nurses or social workers at local hospitals call me on behalf of a family, I will pack up my gear and head to the hospital. I first offer the family my condolences on their loss or impending loss, and then I get to work, knowing that the images I capture will be one of their only connections to that child once they have said goodbye.”
Some of these babies pass away at or near birth due to genetic defects, pregnancy trauma or stillbirth. In other cases, doctors have tried everything they can to help find a cure for whatever ailment the child suffers from, but the hospital calls the photographer when all efforts have been exhausted and the family will soon be disconnecting life support. The Foundation photographer comes at the family’s request. In some cases, the photographer is able to capture the last images of this child’s time here on Earth; in other cases, the parents are more interested in seeing their child memorialized eternally at peace, meaning once the child has passed and no cords or IV’s are connected.
The Foundation believes the images of these precious children serve as an important step in the healing process and that this opportunity should be available to all in need regardless of socio-economic status. To this end, their entire network of professional photographers donates their time and talents to this noble service.
The main focus are the photo sessions for infants from 25 weeks until after birth who have been or will be lost to critical illness or stillbirth.
At the family’s request, one of the Foundation’s volunteer photographers comes to the healthcare facility and performs an onsite photo shoot. The photos are then professionally retouched and presented to the family in a DVD slideshow format with music as well as a CD of high resolution images.
To offer a supportive place for parents to grieve, the Foundation administers a Family Forum on its Web site, www.nowisleep.com.
Please direct any additional inquiries to April Spaulding Photography & Design at 406-750-8666, www.aprilspaulding.com or the Headquarters office, at 720-283-3339, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.nilmdts.org.
Conrad opens in Choteau, sweeps Cascade at home
PUT BACK Cowgirl sophomore Olivia Campbell goes up and tips back a shot during a volleyball scrimmage held on Thursday evening. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
New coach Dale Janzen said he was pleased with the opening meet, saying “We improved steadily throughout the tournament.
The Cowgirls placed seventh out of 15 teams and played .500 ball, going 12-12.
The team opened against Broadwater, last year’s state championship and fell in two games by scores of 14-21. They also dropped two games to Three Forks by identical scores of 15-21.
After losing to Choteau, 12-21, Conrad put it all together and won 21-20. Choteau would come on to win their own tournament, going 21-3.
In Round Two of the tourney, the Cowgirls split games with Fairfield, Choteau JV, Whitehall, and Manhattan Christian schools.
Round Three saw the team drop a pair to Fairfield, come back and win two over Cascade, do the same with Sweet Grass and split with Whitehall.
Senior Samantha Fagan had a teammate roll over her and has an ankle sprain. Coach Janzen said, “She is day-to-day.”
There were no individual team statistics kept for the tournament games, only scores.
Monday night the Cowgirls hosted the Cascade Badgers and overall coach Janzen had to like what he saw.
The Cowgirls came out with a big broom and swept the Badgers off the court winning the match in straight games by scores of 25-19, 25-11, 25-21.
In the first game, sophomore Olivia Campbell came to the line with the team trailing 1-3. She put over back-to-back ace serves to gain a tie.
Later Jenny Silvernale, a senior, pounded back a kill shot for a 7-6 lead the Cowgirls would not give up. Senior setter Alyssa Keil went to the line and got them a five point run and a 23-19 lead. Sophomore Emily Weisgram was at the line for the game point and win, 25-19.
In the second game, junior Kara Bandow opened the contest at the service line. Backed by an ace and good play at the line by Silvernale, she went on a five point run and took a lead the Cowgirls would not give up, winning 25-11.
Senior outside hitter Bethany Grubb would also knock down an ace and off a nifty set from Keil; Silvernale blew back a kill shot. She also had a blocked shot at the net for a point.
There were no ties or lead changes in the game.
In the rubber game, Cascade tied the set early at 1-1 and 3-3. Silvernale came to the line and with three straight ace serves, the Cowgirls went on an eight point run and never looked back.
Campbell helped move the squad with another ace at the line and she also torched off a kill shot, coming off a neat set by Taylor Johnson.
Bandow was at the line for game point and the 25-21 win.
The Cowgirls dropped in 13 ace serves led by Campbell with four, Silvernale three and Keil two.
Of the 14 kill shots, Silvernale put over 10, Campbell and Grubb had two each.
Keil dished up 6-10 assists and Johnson had four. Silvernale blocked 4-5 shots for the Cowgirls and Grubb knocked down one.
This weekend starts the first of four straight road games for the Cowgirls as they go to Chinook for a tournament.
Possibly their toughest match will come on Sept. 18 when they play in Choteau. On Sept. 19, the Cowgirls will host the Fairfield Eagles.
Recycle your trash; its the right thing to do
By Adam Jerome, I-O Reporter
Over the course of the last year certain community members decided they would try to bring viable recycling to Pondera County. After a few meetings, these individuals created the Pondera County Recycling Coalition (PCRC).
The first event sponsored by this non-profit group was the Whoop-Up Aluminum Drive. For a first time event the drive was a success. PCRC collected 600 pounds of aluminum and got the notion of recycling back in the minds of Pondera County citizens.
Since that first event PCRC has been working on taking the next step in bringing a permanent recycling structure to the area.
Last Tuesday that next step was taken. PCRC sponsored a recycling roundtable for area residents interested in recycling as either a business or as a hobby. The turnout was phenomenal. Over 25 people showed up to ask questions and pool their ideas on recycling.
Pryor to the roundtable the coalition met and decided to hold another aluminum drive during the Conrad Centennial. There will be more on the aluminum drive in The Independent-Observer as the event nears.
After introductions by Mayor John Shevlin, Dusti Johnson from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) gave a presentation on the recycling market and gave examples of other likeminded communities who have achieved the PCRC’s end goal of making recycling a permanent fixture in Pondera County.
In the first part of her presentation, Johnson gave some interesting facts about the recycling market.
The recycling market like any other commodity is closely tied to the present economic condition. Demand for recyclables tracks closely with the markets for new products. As with most other commodities recycling has a cyclical price swing due to supply and demand. Once demand from China dried up, the prices fell to their present state.
On the home front, since spending has been scaled back due to the recession, recyclables were in less demand in the U.S. as well.
As it stands now the market for most recyclables is flat. For ferrous metals the demand is low, but the price is inching higher. For aluminum there is a slow rise in demand, yet the price has remained flat. Paper is seasonally up, and the price continues to be export led. The market for plastic is sufficient and the price is rising.
Over the course of the last year certain community members decided they would try to bring viable recycling to Pondera County. After a few meetings, these individuals created the Pondera County Recycling Coalition (PCRC).
The first event sponsored by this non-profit group was the Whoop-Up Aluminum Drive. For a first time event the drive was a success. PCRC collected 600 pounds of aluminum and got the notion of recycling back in the minds of Pondera County citizens.
Since that first event PCRC has been working on taking the next step in bringing a permanent recycling structure to the area.
Last Tuesday that next step was taken. PCRC sponsored a recycling roundtable for area residents interested in recycling as either a business or as a hobby. The turnout was phenomenal. Over 25 people showed up to ask questions and pool their ideas on recycling.
Pryor to the roundtable the coalition met and decided to hold another aluminum drive during the Conrad Centennial. There will be more on the aluminum drive in The Independent-Observer as the event nears.
After introductions by Mayor John Shevlin, Dusti Johnson from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) gave a presentation on the recycling market and gave examples of other likeminded communities who have achieved the PCRC’s end goal of making recycling a permanent fixture in Pondera County.
In the first part of her presentation, Johnson gave some interesting facts about the recycling market.
The recycling market like any other commodity is closely tied to the present economic condition. Demand for recyclables tracks closely with the markets for new products. As with most other commodities recycling has a cyclical price swing due to supply and demand. Once demand from China dried up, the prices fell to their present state.
On the home front, since spending has been scaled back due to the recession, recyclables were in less demand in the U.S. as well.
As it stands now the market for most recyclables is flat. For ferrous metals the demand is low, but the price is inching higher. For aluminum there is a slow rise in demand, yet the price has remained flat. Paper is seasonally up, and the price continues to be export led. The market for plastic is sufficient and the price is rising.