Ray Mayers earns Pilgrim of Merit Moose award
Ray Mayers, a long-time Moose member was called to Mooseheart, Ill., the headquarters of Moose International where the Pilgrim of Merit was bestowed upon him.The Pilgrim degree of merit is the highest degree in the Moose Fraternity, “it is aspired by many-but few are chosen.”
The Conrad Moose Lodge #1687 will be honoring Mayers on Sept. 26, 4 p.m. for his many accomplishments and years of service with the lodge, the State Association and Nationally.
Pilgrims from across the state, Alberta, Canada and South Dakota will be presenting him with his official Pilgrim Degree regalia in an impressive ceremony.
He joined the Loyal Order of Moose in 1969 in Conrad. He has served as Governor four different years, was awarded the Golden Antlers in 1984, then the Fellowship Degree of Merit in 1985. As a member of the Triangle Moose Legion #113 he has held all the offices except secretary and was president in 1993-94.
Mayers has held all the offices in the Montana Moose Association except secretary and was president in 2003-04. He was on the Conrad Ritual team for 10 years and received many awards.
He was on the scholarship committee from 2006-09. In 2007 he was installed as International Moose Legion Ambassador for the State of Montana for two years.
In Chicago this past May, he was also installed as Deputy Supreme Governor for the State of Montana. Mayers is also a life member of the VFW and the Knights of Columbus.
He and his wife Flo live in Conrad. They have five children and eight grandchildren.
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.