Hewett named wing command chief
By Major Rick Anderson, Montana Air National Guard
Chief Master Sgt. Jayne K. Hewett of Conrad has been selected to the top enlisted officer position at the 120th Fighter Wing of the Montana Air National Guard.
She is the latest addition to Wing Commander Col. Pete Hronek’s senior leadership staff.
“My first reaction when I was told that I would be selected was one of humbleness,” said Chief Hewett moments after receiving the news. “I know the great responsibility that encompasses this position.”
Chief Hewett is the senior enlisted reserve component adviser of the military personnel appropriations program at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls.
She transitioned to the Air National Guard from the active-duty Air Force in 1986. She was first assigned to the medical group at the Montana Air National Guard, where she trained as a medical technician.
“I look forward to working for and getting to know the enlisted men and women who create this powerful force among our nation’s strength,” Chief Hewett said. “I will make it my business to visit all work areas and truly engage myself in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
She said that her philosophy as a chief stands firm: the airmen of today are the chiefs of tomorrow, and that now – more than ever leaders for guidance and support, and they should be mentioned as such.
As the wing command chief, Hewett will report directly to the wing commander on enlisted personnel issues, education, enlisted promotions, mentorship, morale, family, community relations and the esprit de corps for a 900-member enlisted force.
Her military decorations and awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, among others.
She has attended Basic Military Training airman Leadership School, Physical Therapy Specialist Technical School, Medical Services Technician Course, the NCO Academy, and the Senior NCO Academy.
Chief Hewett is a member of the Air Force Association of the National Guard of Montana.
She succeeds Command Chief Larry Seibel of Great Falls, who retired in June.
Chief Hewett and her husband Mike reside in Conrad.
Chief Master Sgt. Jayne K. Hewett of Conrad has been selected to the top enlisted officer position at the 120th Fighter Wing of the Montana Air National Guard.She is the latest addition to Wing Commander Col. Pete Hronek’s senior leadership staff.
“My first reaction when I was told that I would be selected was one of humbleness,” said Chief Hewett moments after receiving the news. “I know the great responsibility that encompasses this position.”
Chief Hewett is the senior enlisted reserve component adviser of the military personnel appropriations program at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls.
She transitioned to the Air National Guard from the active-duty Air Force in 1986. She was first assigned to the medical group at the Montana Air National Guard, where she trained as a medical technician.
“I look forward to working for and getting to know the enlisted men and women who create this powerful force among our nation’s strength,” Chief Hewett said. “I will make it my business to visit all work areas and truly engage myself in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
She said that her philosophy as a chief stands firm: the airmen of today are the chiefs of tomorrow, and that now – more than ever leaders for guidance and support, and they should be mentioned as such.
As the wing command chief, Hewett will report directly to the wing commander on enlisted personnel issues, education, enlisted promotions, mentorship, morale, family, community relations and the esprit de corps for a 900-member enlisted force.
Her military decorations and awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, among others.
She has attended Basic Military Training airman Leadership School, Physical Therapy Specialist Technical School, Medical Services Technician Course, the NCO Academy, and the Senior NCO Academy.
Chief Hewett is a member of the Air Force Association of the National Guard of Montana.
She succeeds Command Chief Larry Seibel of Great Falls, who retired in June.
Chief Hewett and her husband Mike reside in Conrad.
Recycling round table on Aug. 18
Submitted by Adele Stenson
Recycling is a concept that has been around for a long time. In rural Montana, it has traditionally been a challenging concept to put into practice due to the lack of recycling opportunities in our small communities. There is an effort in this region to change that reality and make it easier to recycle and reduce the amount of waste in our landfills.
For anyone who is interested in recycling, for profit and/or as a community service, a Recycling Round Table meeting will be held on Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Utterback Middle School library in Conrad, located at 201 S. Maryland.
The purpose of the discussion is to bring in some folks with expertise in the recycling field, who can answer questions and provide guidance to area residents who are working to develop recycling opportunities in this region.
Dusti Johnson, of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, will be on hand to discuss recycling markets, potential new opportunities, and some brand new grant funding that will be available to private, non-profit and governmental recycling entities. She is heavily involved in the recycling programs throughout the state and has a great deal of knowledge to share.
Merle and Mona Shortman, of M&M Recycling in Cut Bank, will also be featured speakers at the gathering. They have been in the recycling business for only about three years, but they have learned a lot in that time, and are willing to share anything that may help others.
In addition, there will be varying levels of recycling experience within the participants, and they will be encouraged to share knowledge throughout the evening as people have the chance to ask questions and develop new concepts.
The Round Table is free and open to everyone. The Pondera County Extension Office would appreciate a phone call or email if you plan to attend, so they can gauge the number of people for which to prepare. You may call the office at (406) 271-4054, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The event is sponsored by the Pondera County Recycling Coalition.
Another project the Coalition has taken on, in cooperation with MSU Extension offices in Pondera, Toole and Glacier counties, and the Blackfeet Reservation is developing a regional recycling flyer. This 2-page publication will attempt to list all recycling opportunities in Pondera, Toole and Glacier counties. Anyone with information to submit for this flyer should contact Adele Stenson at the number or email above by Aug. 14.
The Pondera County Recycling Coalition is also proud to announce the results of the Whoop-Up Aluminum Drive.
Nearly 600 pounds of aluminum was collected. Collection sites were located in several places around the community. A 40 cubic yard container was placed at the Pondera Village Shopping Center as well as smaller dumpster size containers at the rodeo grounds and plastic barrels placed at various locations on Main Street.
At 20 cents a pound the take was 120 dollars, not bad for material that would otherwise cost to throw away in the landfill. Proceeds will be split between the 4-H club and the coalition to use as “seed” money to continue our efforts at getting a bona fide recycling program off the ground.
The coalition decided to start with aluminum since it is recognized as an easily recyclable commodity. Many other materials are recyclable, including steel (tin) cans, glass, newspaper, office paper and cardboard.
Present economic conditions have depressed prices for these commodities but it still costs to throw them away.
FAMILY OF GOATS Looking down of the edge of a rocky precipice these mountain goats appear to be pondering their next move. Photo courtesy of Joan Farnstrom Editors Note: We understand that these goats have not much to do with recycling, but the picture was just too nice to not share!
For anyone who is interested in recycling, for profit and/or as a community service, a Recycling Round Table meeting will be held on Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Utterback Middle School library in Conrad, located at 201 S. Maryland.
The purpose of the discussion is to bring in some folks with expertise in the recycling field, who can answer questions and provide guidance to area residents who are working to develop recycling opportunities in this region.
Dusti Johnson, of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, will be on hand to discuss recycling markets, potential new opportunities, and some brand new grant funding that will be available to private, non-profit and governmental recycling entities. She is heavily involved in the recycling programs throughout the state and has a great deal of knowledge to share.
Merle and Mona Shortman, of M&M Recycling in Cut Bank, will also be featured speakers at the gathering. They have been in the recycling business for only about three years, but they have learned a lot in that time, and are willing to share anything that may help others.
In addition, there will be varying levels of recycling experience within the participants, and they will be encouraged to share knowledge throughout the evening as people have the chance to ask questions and develop new concepts.
The Round Table is free and open to everyone. The Pondera County Extension Office would appreciate a phone call or email if you plan to attend, so they can gauge the number of people for which to prepare. You may call the office at (406) 271-4054, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The event is sponsored by the Pondera County Recycling Coalition.
Another project the Coalition has taken on, in cooperation with MSU Extension offices in Pondera, Toole and Glacier counties, and the Blackfeet Reservation is developing a regional recycling flyer. This 2-page publication will attempt to list all recycling opportunities in Pondera, Toole and Glacier counties. Anyone with information to submit for this flyer should contact Adele Stenson at the number or email above by Aug. 14.
The Pondera County Recycling Coalition is also proud to announce the results of the Whoop-Up Aluminum Drive.
Nearly 600 pounds of aluminum was collected. Collection sites were located in several places around the community. A 40 cubic yard container was placed at the Pondera Village Shopping Center as well as smaller dumpster size containers at the rodeo grounds and plastic barrels placed at various locations on Main Street.
At 20 cents a pound the take was 120 dollars, not bad for material that would otherwise cost to throw away in the landfill. Proceeds will be split between the 4-H club and the coalition to use as “seed” money to continue our efforts at getting a bona fide recycling program off the ground.
The coalition decided to start with aluminum since it is recognized as an easily recyclable commodity. Many other materials are recyclable, including steel (tin) cans, glass, newspaper, office paper and cardboard.
Present economic conditions have depressed prices for these commodities but it still costs to throw them away.
Little Critter day camp is summer fun
HUMAN CRITTERS Young kids slow down long enough to have a picture taken at the Little Critter Day Camp held at the Boone and Crockett Wildlife Conservation Center west of Dupuyer recently. Photo courtesy of JoAnne Cobb
Dr. Lisa Flowers, director of conservation education organized and facilitated the outdoor learning experience to 13 area campers ages 4-9 with the assistance of JoAnne Cobb, facilities coordinator and a handful of parents and grandparents.
The youth attending came from Spirit Lake, Idaho and Montana. Campers from Montana communities included Conrad, Dupuyer, Helena, Bynum, and Choteau.
Each day the Little Critter Campers were offered a different Montana theme with associated activities:
Day one was focused on wildlife, day two was fish and day three outdoor camping. Campers engaged in a scavenger hunt during their one mile hike on the ranch’s Watchable Wildlife Trail. On the fishing day, they learned how to use a rod and reel while playing a fish identification game. After lunch everyone went fishing at the beaver ponds located on Dupuyer Creek which flows through the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch. Grasshoppers were caught and worms dug for fishing bait but no fish were caught, but a northern leopard frog was.
Day three focused on outdoor camping and how to set up a tent and how to build and care for a campfire. The campers shared camping stories and roasted their own marshmallows for “s’mores” and played a wildlife identification game called “Who Am I”?
Camper lunches and snacks were included with their registration fee and prepared by Leslie DeVries, the RWCC cook. There was a daily shuttle service to and from the towns of Conrad and Choteau to the education center.
On the final day each camper took home a camp t-shirt that they had traced and colored their favorite critter from Montana on. They also took home animal creations they had shaped from clay and painted.
One camper Eve Cobb, age four from Helena said: “I wish this camp went for at least two weeks. I had a great time”.
This summer day camp will be offered again in 2010, dates once selected will be posted on our website at www.booneandcrockett.org under the conservation education tab.
Editor’s note: This article was submitted by the Boone and Crockett Club staff.