News

Increasing smoke leads to health concerns

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Monday Lewistown’s air quality veered into the unhealthy zone for the first time this summer. Although smoke has been a daily feature for quite a while, the impact was mostly a brown tinge to the sky and reduced visibility.
Now, though, with the increase in particulates, health concerns come into play.
“Lewistown is registering air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups,” said Katie Alexander, air quality meteorologist with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
Alexander said the problem is wildfire smoke.

Lost no more

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As time passes and the old days grow further and further from reach, parts of history are often left to the imagination or speculation of those hoping to fill in the gaps. Such is true for several locals who were recently in search of an old Métis cemetery.
“I just thought it was one of those tales at first,” said Alisa Herodes, a descendent of local Métis families, the Bergers and LaFromboise.

New pastors find their calling in Lewistown

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Two pastors have accepted the challenge as the new spiritual leaders for two Lewistown churches: Central Baptist and Zion Lutheran. As of June 2021, both pastors brought experience and education to their new congregations. While only one has gone through the selection process and was recruited, the other is serving as an interim pastor.

‘It looks like the ground is moving…’

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The only bumper crop some producers are seeing this year is grasshoppers and they don’t show any signs of slowing down.
“Almost all our producers are seeing hoppers in some way, shape or form,” said Liz Bradshaw, executive director of the Fergus County Farm Service Agency.
Grasshoppers thrive in warm, dry conditions, particularly warm spring weather like this year.
“We had that late freeze in May and then it got hot and dry real quick,” said Bradshaw. “It (grasshopper crop) was definitely later in the season last year.”

Three sisters leave a lasting legacy

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Those who knew the three Moore sisters describe them the same way: very proper, very private and always together.
Born on the family place 12 miles east of Winifred, Marilyn, Ruth and Orpha grew up farming and ranching. Their parents were James Washington Moore and Josephine Violetta (Rusch) Moore. Marilyn was the oldest of the three sisters, born in 1937, followed by Ruth in 1938 and Orpha in 1940.

First time’s a charm

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4-Her Aliya Freed has finished the most difficult part of the fair: preparing.
“The hardest part is the final stretch,” said Freed, as she cared for her barrel horse, Moose, outside the riding arena at the Fergus County Fairgrounds Wednesday morning.
“It’s tough trying to get ready, and all the last minute things you have to do to make sure everything is on point and your horse is going to do its job,” she said.
The 13-year-old has been busy preparing to compete in speed events with Moose and show her 4-year-old palomino, Trigger.

City responds to concerns over McKinley Street project

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The City went back to the drawing board this week after residents raised concerns over the installation of new curb and gutter on McKinley Street.

Winnett stabbing results in death of 78-year-old man

On Thursday, July 15, at approximately 7:12 p.m., the Petroleum County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a stabbing incident in Winnett.
Upon arrival, Petroleum County Sheriff Bill Cassell discovered one person deceased, 78-year-old Larry George Patterson, and one man with a gunshot wound to his arm, Andrew Smith, 29.

Street-talking Talon has a message of faith

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Most mornings Talon Arndt can be found at his job wearing headphones and a large smile. As he goes about his daily work routine, Arndt is not listening to popular radio stations or to downloaded contemporary music, but to the Irish lilt of a preacher named Keith Malcomson. Listening to Malcolmson, Arndt reinforces the mission for his second obligation: on Tuesday and Friday afternoons as a street preacher on the corner of First and Main.
 “He has hundreds of sermons and I want to listen to each one,” said Arndt referring to the Irish televangelist.

Boom in new construction causing headaches

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Property owners, real estate agents and builders can save themselves a lot of grief, time and expense if they will just call Pam Vosen before starting construction.
Vosen runs the one-woman planning office for Fergus County, and also serves as the County’s Flood Plain Administrator. She is responsible for ensuring construction meets subdivision and flood plain rules.
“Right now we are seeing a big increase in construction, and, unfortunately, I’m seeing a lot of problems,” Vosen said.