Breding takes oath as new alderman
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
Karla Breding was administered the oath of office for city council on Monday morning by Mayor John Shevlin.
Breding was already a declared candidate for the city council in the upcoming election in November and will now represent Ward I.
Councilman Gary Brown chose not to run for re-election and recently resigned his position because he and his family are moving out of the city limits.
At the last council meeting, Breding was appointed to fill out his term in office. She will be on the council for her first meeting when they meet on Sept. 8.
Breding, age 46, was born in North Dakota and moved to Montana in 1966 and to Conrad in 1975 when she was in the seventh grade.
She is a graduate of Conrad High School and went on to attend MSU-Bozeman where she majored in and received a degree Business Finance with a minor in accounting.
Over the course of years, she continued her education while she worked with the Appraisal Office and to keep up her title insurance license.
Breding has been employed for the past 11-1/2 years at Pondera County Title Company where she is the office manager and licensed Title Agent and Escrow Closer. Prior to that, she worked for 11 years in the Pondera County Appraisal office (was also the Assessor’s office in the past).
Active in the community, Breding is a member of the Conrad Community Education Foundation, Conrad Booster Club, the Pondera County Planning board, is a member of the Pondera Valley Lutheran Church and past council and calling committee member, served on the City of Conrad Growth Policy Committee and is on the Pondera Regional Port Authority Revolving Loan Committee.
In between all this Breding likes to do crafts, go boating, walking and biking and watch her children participate in sports and school activities.
Breding ran for and was elected to the City Study Commission a few years ago. She helped write the Charter that was voted in by the city voters in 2006.
“During the time I was on the study commission I learned a lot about city government,” she said, adding, “It was interesting to me and I have kept in the back of my mind the possibility of running for the council.”
That opportunity came up with this election and she decided to run for office.
Breding tells the I-O, “I don’t have any specific reasons for coming out for the position, except that I believe that we all need to be involved with our community instead of just waiting for and watching someone else do it.”
She feels there are many areas and organizations that need help to make the city and community be the best it can be.
“I think my background and my involvement in different organizations and my work experience will make me a good choice for the council,” she said.
Breding went on to add, “I think Conrad is an awesome place to live and be a part of and to call home for me and my family.”
She and her husband Everett have two children, Austin who is a sophomore at MSU and a daughter Meagan who is a sophomore at CHS.
OATH OF OFFICE Mayor John Shevlin gives the oath of office to Karla Breding, Conrads new council member, Monday morning. She was appointed to fill in for Alderman Gary Brown who tendered his resignation at the last meeting. Breding, only the second woman to be on the council, will officially begin her term in office at the Sept. 8 council meeting. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
Breding was already a declared candidate for the city council in the upcoming election in November and will now represent Ward I.
Councilman Gary Brown chose not to run for re-election and recently resigned his position because he and his family are moving out of the city limits.
At the last council meeting, Breding was appointed to fill out his term in office. She will be on the council for her first meeting when they meet on Sept. 8.
Breding, age 46, was born in North Dakota and moved to Montana in 1966 and to Conrad in 1975 when she was in the seventh grade.
She is a graduate of Conrad High School and went on to attend MSU-Bozeman where she majored in and received a degree Business Finance with a minor in accounting.
Over the course of years, she continued her education while she worked with the Appraisal Office and to keep up her title insurance license.
Breding has been employed for the past 11-1/2 years at Pondera County Title Company where she is the office manager and licensed Title Agent and Escrow Closer. Prior to that, she worked for 11 years in the Pondera County Appraisal office (was also the Assessor’s office in the past).
Active in the community, Breding is a member of the Conrad Community Education Foundation, Conrad Booster Club, the Pondera County Planning board, is a member of the Pondera Valley Lutheran Church and past council and calling committee member, served on the City of Conrad Growth Policy Committee and is on the Pondera Regional Port Authority Revolving Loan Committee.
In between all this Breding likes to do crafts, go boating, walking and biking and watch her children participate in sports and school activities.
Breding ran for and was elected to the City Study Commission a few years ago. She helped write the Charter that was voted in by the city voters in 2006.
“During the time I was on the study commission I learned a lot about city government,” she said, adding, “It was interesting to me and I have kept in the back of my mind the possibility of running for the council.”
That opportunity came up with this election and she decided to run for office.
Breding tells the I-O, “I don’t have any specific reasons for coming out for the position, except that I believe that we all need to be involved with our community instead of just waiting for and watching someone else do it.”
She feels there are many areas and organizations that need help to make the city and community be the best it can be.
“I think my background and my involvement in different organizations and my work experience will make me a good choice for the council,” she said.
Breding went on to add, “I think Conrad is an awesome place to live and be a part of and to call home for me and my family.”
She and her husband Everett have two children, Austin who is a sophomore at MSU and a daughter Meagan who is a sophomore at CHS.
Harvest Fest fast approaching
HARVEST HAS BEGUN The Orcutt brothers are hard at work. They were cutting all day last Thursday out west of town. In this particular field they were cutting a dry land Harrington variety of barley. I-O Photo by Adam Jerome
The 4th Annual Harvest Festival is set for Oct. 3.
“We are looking forward to a busy day, as the Conrad Centennial Celebration will be held Oct. 2-4,” says Barbie Killion from the Chamber of Commerce.
To get into the spirit of the Centennial Celebration the CofC is encouraging everyone to pick a decade and dress in costume on Oct. 2.
Wear your costume to Norley Hall for the “100 Years of Music” Dance to be eligible for prizes! Also, on Friday is the moment everyone has all been waiting for; the unveiling and dedication of the Old Town Clock.
Show your support and be ready for a big surprise. Don’t worry about cooking dinner that evening, instead enjoy a pulled pork dinner. It’s that time of year again to tantalize your taste buds with samples of great food during the Way Beyond Beef & Bison Cook-Off!
In the past, only beef or bison dishes were cooked up for the contest. This year the Chamber has opened the Cook-Off up, so the participants can really use their imaginations and come up with some creative dishes we haven’t seen before in the Cook-off.
Participants can enter a main dish, side dish, appetizers or desserts. So dig out your recipes, dust off your chef’s hat & iron your apron. The Cook-Off is open to individuals or businesses made up of teams vying for the bragging rights of the traveling trophy, as well as a Chamber Gift Certificate. Once again you will be given the opportunity to start your Christmas shopping early from the various wares of our local Art and Craft Vendors and Independent Sales people that will be set up on Main Street.
“What a perfect opportunity for organizations and groups to set up a booth and earn some extra funds,” Killion noted.
All vendors must be registered through the Chamber and there is still space available.
The ever popular game of cow pie bingo will be played and live entertainment will be heard from the street.
Show off your talent and sign up to be part of the entertainment line-up. The CofC is now taking registrations for the Kiss N` Squeal Contest, so if you know someone who would be a good sport for a good cause put them in “hog heaven” and nominate them (or yourself) for the Kiss N` Squeal.
Other activities for Harvest Festival include a “Celebration of the Ages” Parade, Chamber Centennial Motor Show, Beer Garden, Stagecoach Rides, Old Fashioned Children’s Games, 50/50 Raffle, Spaghetti Dinner, Dig Doug Karaoke, Wylie and the Wild West Concert and much, much more!
To participate in any of the Harvest Festival events or for additional information contact, the Chamber office at 271-7791.
Candy lady gives thanks at blood drives
CANDY LADY Marilee Stott of Choteau presents a candy kiss to Merrill Hawley during the American Red Cross blood drive Thursday at the Moose Lodge. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
All of a sudden there is brilliant woman flashing a warm smile offering you a chocolate candy kiss and her heartfelt gratitude for donating blood.
Marilee Stott, age 47, is a lady with a mission: to give thanks to those who give blood.
Her reason for this is simple. She is a leukemia cancer survivor.
She recalled that when she first became sick, she thought she had come down with the flu, but testing quickly changed that.
The first year after her diagnosis Stott had a bone marrow transplant, however, her red blood cells failed to replicate more red blood cells.
Her body began to shut down and she needed a fresh supply of blood into her system. “I have a passion for blood donors. Without them I wouldn’t have survived,” she said.
Stott goes to one or two blood drives a month in the Golden Triangle to thank those that donate the “gift of life.”
She has made a trip to Salt Lake City on her mission because originally that was where her first blood came from.
Her journey to remain cancer free continues. In the mean time, she and her husband operate a ranch near Choteau.
The couple have eight children and Stott expects to be a first-time grandmother in February, thanks to those that provide the endowment of being – blood.