News

Locals volunteer to help wildfire victims

When licensed therapist Deborah Hayes Ferdinand returned to her ranch in Moccasin Saturday, she couldn’t help but feel some guilt.

Ferdinand just spent two weeks in northern California as a disaster mental health volunteer for the American Red Cross, trying to help those who lost their homes in the devastating Camp Fire that ravaged almost 19,000 buildings, businesses and homes, leaving towns such as Paradise, Concow and Magalia ravaged.

Blessings turns to Smiles: supplemental food program turning local

Blessings in a Backpack is changing things up. The program, which has provided weekend meals for kids in food insecure households for six years, is now known as Smiles, under its own 501(c)(3) non-profit status.

The change came as a result of three local women: Mandi Bailey, Kelsi Hoversland and Ashley Descheemaeker. The three are the latest in a series of organizers for the program formerly known as Blessings in a Backpack.

“Jamie (Sura) started it, Descheemaeker said. “Then Stacy Mangold, Tracy Golik and Lori Lutz took it over, and now it’s us.”

Celebration Church opens Great Christmas Giveaway Friday

 

“I am in awe,” said Noreen Langendorf of Celebration Church.  

The Great Christmas Giveaway will return for its third year and “Everything is free and to be given away.”

The doors of The Annex, at 115 West Main, open on Friday, Dec. 7 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and reopen on Saturday, Dec. 8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

“This is a really good year. With everything from furniture to clothing.” And of course, toys. 

This year to ensure all children will have a present under the tree, “tickets will be assigned in exchange for a child’s toy,” Langendorf said.  

Businessmen pleased with Tuesday’s sign ordinance meeting

The Lewistown Design Review Board held an open meeting Tuesday evening, where they held discussions and walked through the proposed sign ordinance.

“We took a different approach with this meeting,” City Planner Cathy Barta said. “We asked those who wanted to propose a change to write their name, address, phone number and section of ordinance they were interested in on a comment form.”

Those present at Tuesday’s meeting filled out comment forms, Barta said. There was also some back-and-forth between the Design Review Board and the public, which Barta said went well.

Ugh, chlorine

As people across Lewistown find their morning cups of tea or coffee ruined by the unpleasant flavor of chlorine, City Manager Holly Phelps struggles to find other ways to achieve the required goal of decontaminating the water supply.

“Partly this is coming from an EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] rule change a few years back,” Phelps said. “That federal rule change caused the State to change the way they deal with water systems by revising the coliform rule.”

Linda Rinaldi: ‘shining through’

For 25 years, Linda Rinaldi worked in the special education department at Fergus High School.

“I enjoyed every single day that I worked,” she said. “It was challenging, but very rewarding. Over the years it was fun to see the children come in as freshmen, go out as seniors and actually be successful. It was wonderful to see them go on to their next chapter, whether it was a trade, a two-year school or a four-year school.”

Council on Aging considering a bus barn

When Dale Pfau took the job as Council on Aging Executive Director this summer, he had no idea how involved the operation is, especially when it comes to transportation.

Last Monday, Pfau presented to the City Commission during the Committee of the Whole, sharing his thoughts and insights after four months on the job.

Christmas Stroll rekindles downtown excitement

Maybe it was the seasonally chilly weather. Maybe it was the Christmas lights. Or maybe it was the new energy around downtown Lewistown – including the opening of two new businesses just this past week. Whatever the reason, Friday’s Christmas Stroll was one of the best in recent memory.

“It went really well,” said Lewistown Area Chamber of Commerce Director Connie Fry. “There were lots of people downtown and all the merchants I spoke with were really happy.”

Chris Cooler, one of the event organizers, agreed the crowd was high energy.

Holiday season opens Friday with Mr. and Mrs. Claus

This weekend the Boys and Girls Club annual holiday fundraising festivities begin. The good time starts Friday with A Nite with the Clauses, and culminates with the Festival of Trees.

The Trade Center at the fairgrounds opens its doors Friday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. for Nite with the Clauses, and the price of admission is a teddy bear. Nite with the Clauses replaces the Teddy Bear Tea of years past, and offers something for everyone, including “dads and grandpas,” according to Abby Franks, Boys and Girls Club resource development director. 

Fergus students promote bike track as addition to City recreation facilities

The seniors in Fergus High School teacher Luke Brandon’s fourth period Problems of American Democracy class are taking a hands-on approach to learning about how citizens can work with local government to address community needs.

Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say the seniors are taking a “feet-on” approach, as the 11 students are proposing the construction of a pump track for the community.

Poll

How much do you expect to spend on Christmas shopping this year?