News

Memorial Day: a tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice

 

 

Memorial Day wasn’t always called that. Originally known as Decoration Day, it dates to the end of the Civil War. That war, according to the History Channel website, claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history. 

The establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries followed the Civil War, and in the late 1860s many communities had begun holding springtime tributes to their fallen soldiers, decorating graves with flowers and reciting prayers.

‘Nancypedia’

Nancy Watts does not seek accolades. She could do without praise.

But when she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at Wednesday evening’s Lewistown Historic Preservation Awards Ceremony, she couldn’t help but smile. 

For the past 20 years, Watts has made Lewistown history a priority, as she archives photos, articles, books and more. She also connects people to their own history when they are looking for information on their family past.

Duty done: Vietnam

The year was 1969; the year 350,000 rock and roll fans descended on Woodstock, the Charles Manson cult murdered five people in California, and astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon. 

That same year, Lewistown native Tom Longshore stepped aboard the naval ship U.S.S. Virgo AE30, bound for Vietnam.

In what he refers to as “buddy recruitment,” Longshore and two of his pals (Don Bost and Bob Tiller) signed up for military service before they’d graduated from high school.

Terronez trial delayed

The trial for Jason Terronez has once again been delayed.

Jason Michael Terronez, who was initially arrested in March of 2015 for alleged sexual assault, will not face trial until at least this fall.

According to documents filed by the Montana Tenth Judicial District Court, Terronez’s attorney, Michael Sherwood, filed to withdraw as counsel in April. He also requested the court “vacate all current calendar settings and stay further proceedings for at least 30-90 days.”

City approves development proposal for Berg Lumber site

City commissioners approved a proposal from two local businessmen to develop the Berg Lumber property.

The commissioners reviewed a proposal from Advanced Electric owner Matt Burg and Weeden Construction owner Monte Weeden at Monday evening’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Burg and Weeden proposed purchasing the approximately 26-acre site for $98,000, which is approximately what the City owes on a loan from Snowy Mountain Development used to clean the site of contaminants.

Need for foster families growing in Central Montana

Sesame Street’s website invites people to meet Karli, the newest muppet, whose character is in foster care. As cute and as green as Karli is, the puppet also brings awareness to viewers that May is National Foster Care month.  

According to childwelfare.gov, “in 1988 President Reagan issued the first Presidential proclamation that established May as National Foster Care Month.”

Highlighting the month brings awareness that foster care parents are needed nationally and locally. 

Planning board approves unique zoning for annexed area

Lewistown City Planner Cathy Barta didn’t know what to expect.

Still fairly new to her job, Barta is taking on some projects that have quite a bit of history, and Thursday evening’s City-County planning board/zoning commission meeting was no exception, as the agenda included zoning of annexed areas in Castle Butte, Castle Ridge, Reservoir Drive, Roundhouse and Southland Road.

Grass Range FFA team takes state in vet tech

 

 

This year’s State FFA vet tech competition was a real Cinderella story, as Class C School Grass Range took the honors in the category. 

“This has been our goal since freshman year,” said senior Mattie Tucek, “and we did it.”

Tucek, fellow seniors Grant Finkbeiner and Reata Smith, sophomores Nola Goss and Morgan Corean, and advisor Joel King were thrilled to see their dream come true May 7 in Great Falls.

King, who started teaching at Grass Range when the FFA program was resurrected four years ago, said he’s proud of his students.

Get used to the chlorine

 

City water drinkers may need to get used to the taste of chlorine, since it is beginning to look like chlorination is here for the long term. At least that’s the conclusion of an analysis of water disinfection systems reported to the City in March. City Manager Holly Phelps, however, remains optimistic that an alternative to chlorine may be found.

Looking back after three decades in the classroom

Retiring this year, Lewistown’s Kim Miller has been teaching for about 30 years, she said, including part-time and substitute teaching. Miller retires at the end of this month from Lewistown Junior High.

Thirty years is a long time for any career; however teaching was not Miller’s first priority originally. 

“I started out in finance in college. I was interested in the stock exchange. I went there once and there was a lot of energy,” said Miller.

But after a short hiatus from college and various jobs, Miller said, “I got the [teaching] bug and decided to do it.”

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