News

Central Montana Fair theme and Fair Persons of the year announced

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With the announcement of the Central Montana Fair theme and Fair Persons of the Year recipients, the Fair Board meeting on Jan. 19 lasted over two hours, as numerous items were discussed in preparation for the 2021 Central Montana Fair.
 
Unmask the Fair for 2021
  “This year, we want to celebrate the continuation of the Fair despite COVID-19 and with the restrictions of 2020 behind us with a theme of ‘Unmask the Fair,’” said Board Chairman Candi Zion.

Gone fishing

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The Crooked Creek Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited had 37 teams compete in this year’s Central Montana Perch Derby that took place Jan. 16 and 17 on East Fork Reservoir. Many locals participated in the event, along with teams from across the state and Wyoming.
“It was a good event and we had about 10 more teams than we did last year,” said Don Pyrah of Crooked Creek Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited.
Derby organizer Kennie Williams said the group was happy to see so many teams travel from across the state.

Phillips County, APR settle bison grazing dispute

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A years-long disagreement between Phillips County livestock producers and the American Prairie Reserve over the county’s bison grazing ordinance was resolved Thursday when Phillips County Board of Adjustment members voted unanimously to accept a compromise plan created by all those involved.
The settlement agreement was worked out between attorneys for the Conservation District, APR, and the Interveners – the South Phillips County Cooperative Grazing District and the Phillips County Livestock Association.

Fisherman drowns after fall through ice at Crooked Creek

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A 72-year-old ice fisherman drowned Saturday evening when a Utility Terrain Vehicle (a side-by-side) occupied by two men fell through the ice on Fort Peck Lake.
The incident occurred near UL Bend, straight north of Cowboy Point near Crooked Creek Marina, north of Winnett. According to the Petroleum County Sheriff’s Office, four fishermen occupied two UTVs while driving back to Crooked Creek Marina around 7 p.m. when the parties drifted off course onto unsafe ice and one of the machines fell through, quickly becoming submerged.

Parents urge school board to return to 100% in-person classes

The Lewistown Public School board met on Monday, Jan. 11 with a full agenda, including a discussion about returning to 100% full capacity and a more normal school schedule.
Midway through the meeting, a congregation of parents presented their petition to return to a full capacity school day. Chairman Phil Koterba reviewed meeting protocol in an effort to allow time for each parent to express their concerns, suggestions and recommendations.

Smart cookies

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Lewistown Junior High students are again among the nation’s finest in STEM projects. They have been selected as one of the 75 semi-finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, a nationwide competition that challenges sixth through 12th grade students to apply science, technology, engineering, and math skills to find creative solutions to real-world issues impacting their local communities. Semi-finalists were chosen based on their creative and strategic proposals to solve these issues.

Same job, different courthouse

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Fergus County’s new Clerk and Recorder is already feeling right at home with the job and the location. Janel Tucek, who officially starts her new position on Wednesday, Jan. 20, leaves her old job as the Petroleum County Clerk and Recorder. She will now commute from her home in Grass Range to Lewistown instead of Winnett.
“I just have to remember to turn left instead of right at the stop sign,” she said.

Vaccine bottleneck

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Tuesday Governor Greg Gianforte announced the state has received enough doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to begin vaccinating those in the second priority group, known as Tier 1b – those age 70 and older, and younger people with certain underlying medical conditions.
Many in Tier 1b are anxious to get vaccinated, but finding out how they can do it is not so easy.

Blown away

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While wind gusts experienced across Central Montana on Wednesday didn’t quite break records, they came close. Gusts reached 77 mph at the Lewistown Airport and 95 mph at the Judith Peak weather station, according to the National Weather Service in Great Falls.
“This was the third-highest gust measured of all time in Lewistown,” said Christian Cassell, lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Great Falls. “It came close to the January record, which was set in 1967 at 81 mph. Yesterday’s wind did set a daily record, however.”

School board elections coming

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“It’s easy.”
That’s what Fergus County Superintendent of Schools Rhonda Long says about the process to become a candidate for a school board. School elections will be held in May, and the period for candidates to file is now open.
Long said there are positions available on many of the county’s school boards, including in Lewistown, Deerfield Colony, Grass Range, King Colony, Moore, Roy, Denton, Spring Creek Colony, Winifred and Ayers Colony.

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