News

Faith Builder

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It was a world movement that began with a Bible study. In 1870, Charles Taze Russell, gathered together like-minded individuals in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where questions were raised on the orthodox views of Christianity, thus beginning the Jehovah’s Witnesses branch of Christianity. The movement continues today, due in part to their door-to-door evangelical mission.

Paint the town

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The Lewistown Art Center is celebrating 50 years of “promoting and providing engaged access to art, education, and cultural appreciation for Central Montana” this year and the organization has commissioned a work of art nearly as big as the milestone – a 20-foot by 50-foot mural to be painted on the 4th Avenue exterior wall of the center.  

The mural committee is excited to announce the project, and the artist who will complete it. Former Lewistown resident Leaf Argotti has been chosen to bring her vision of Lewistown and Central Montana to life on the blank wall.

‘It’s the fellowship’

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A rap of the gavel on the dining table brought the 12 members of the Flatwillow Homemakers Club to order at the Johnke Ranch east of Winnett on Tuesday. The meeting marked nearly 950 times over 80 years that Petroleum County club members have gathered, most all of them ranch or farm wives.
Started in 1938 as the Flatwillow Home Demonstration Club, “The Club,” as it is now known, was part of a nationwide movement of the Cooperative Extension Service. At one point, nearly every named location in Central Montana had its own home demonstration club.

Local rancher makes quick recovery after cow encounter

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Sometimes the worst things happen when we least expect it, and often, when we’re in a hurry to get something done. This was the case for Wayne Martin, when he had an unexpected encounter with a cow during calving season.

Wayne considers himself “retired” but helps on the ranch north of Moore, which his son Jeff now operates.

Keeping track

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How cold is it? How much did it snow? What was yesterday’s high temperature?
To answer those questions in an area where weather is as diverse as the topography it takes a lot of keen observers. Luckily, dedicated Central Montana weather watchers exist.
Two Fergus County observers received recognition recently for their decades-long volunteer weather reporting. George Dengel of Grass Range and Peggy Gore of Lewistown received awards from the Great Falls office of the National Weather Service on April 2.

Pinwheels for Prevention

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Around the nation, Montana and in Lewistown, bright blue pinwheels can be spotted in an effort to raise awareness on the prevention of child abuse. In 2008 the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign was initiated to raise awareness on the impact child abuse has on communities. The pinwheels represent a lighthearted vision for a nation where child abuse and neglect are no longer creating startling statistics.

Visitation up or down?

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It’s safe to say 2020 was not a typical year for the Montana tourism industry. With national parks shut down, people hesitant to fly, and travel bans and border closures affecting national and international travel, impacts to tourism businesses were marked, including here in Central Montana. While the state has opened up recently and COVID case numbers are down, it’s hard to guess what this year’s tourism season holds.

Improvements continue on Machler Easement

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A bank stabilization project along Big Spring Creek is the latest improvement to the Machler Easement Fishing Access Site in Lewistown.
Work took place this week along approximately 300 feet of the creek at the west end of the easement, where a somewhat new technique was used to improve the quality of the bank.
“They’re creating what’s called an alluvial brush matrix,” said Clint Smith, fisheries biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. “It’s a relatively new method for this area.”

Selling Central Montana

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The teacher shortages plague the nation, but the Lewistown Public School System has a proactive approach towards recruiting the best that the state and the nation have to offer. Due to retirement or resignation, 15 positions need to be filled. There will be competition to recruit the most qualified candidates, especially teachers with a Special Education endorsement.

An old art carries on at Sting Saddlery

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It all started with an old saddle found at the base of a cliff.
Lewistown saddle maker Sterling Campbell was 17 when he built his first saddle and he’s never looked back.
“My brother was an outfitter in the Beartooths at the time and he found this old saddle at the bottom of a cliff,” said Campbell. “The leather was wrecked, but the tree was sound so we decided to fix it.”
The two headed to their local saddle shop, Grizzly Saddlery in Great Falls, to get the materials for the repair.

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