Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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With high school now in the rear-view mirror, 57 of Glasgow's best and brightest are ready to embark on the journey of adulthood. "To the Class of 2021, congratulation," said Glasgow School District Board Chair Angie Page during Saturday's commencement ceremony in the high school gymnasium. "We are so very proud of you and look forward to seeing how you all go on to have a successful and great future." Before they took their next steps into a larger world, the Glasgow High School Class of 2021...
It is hard to imagine any family living long in these United States not being touched by the ravages of war. Many good men and women have been lost in service to our country. They left behind mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, cousins and friends. For me, Memorial Day immediately reminds me of my grandmother's brother, James E. "Jimmy" Joyner, Jr. Jimmy arrived in Europe in about June 1944. He was a forward observer for an artillery unit. In his position, he was particularly hated by the enemy because his radio communiques helped...
Suicide, an ugly word representing an act of no return for both the person and those close to them. A word oft avoided in courteous conversations. A word and an act which can be ignored no longer. "I had a family member pass away from suicide and it has always been an issue I believe needs to be brought to attention," said Lynsey Reyes, of Glasgow. "It destroys the family. It has been 25 or 30 years, and the family is still impacted. I keep telling my kids, 'you do know suicide is permanent? It...
Shepherd Colver doesn't give up easily. Not even Type 1 diabetes can stop the 9-year-old from finishing his long delayed cross country bicycle trek to New York with his father, James. "In May of 2019, we started over in Anacortes, WA, and headed right to the Cascades," James said Friday morning during a send-off from Glasgow. "We spent the next seven weeks going up and over the Cascades, then through the Coulee Desert and then over the Northern Rockies. Then, when we came down into the plains,...
Glasgow Police Department Captain Tyler Edwards, formerly the assistant chief, has been appointed interim police chief upon the termination of Chief Brien Gault after 30-years of service. Gault's last day on the job was May 23. He could not be reached for comment as of press time this week. "I respect Chief Gualt's privacy, and continue to do so," said Glasgow Mayor Becky Erickson during the city council meeting Monday afternoon. "The council is going to make the deciscion of where we want to...
So far, so good. After being in veritable lock down for about a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Western Washington, and witnessing the absolute unrest gripping our nation as racial tensions exploded on American streets, I decided to come out of retirement and take up pen and ink once more. At this point in my lifetime, this country needs honest, independent journalism more than ever. It is a sacred American duty to report the news, a tradition started in the earliest days leading up to the... Full story
Chest pounding, palms sweating, muscles contracting - Chris Knodel pushed through the pain and gained the first victory in his burgeoning Strong Man career. "'It's my turn,'" he told himself May 8 during the inaugural Bozeman Strongman competition. "'It's my time to step up. All that hard work and all that training, it's here right now.' You have all this weight you are holding and it sparks something in you - do or die, fight or flight. You shut out everything else and listen to your...
Angie Page has been chosen as Glasgow School District Board chair. She succeeds Mona Amundson, who is now vice-chair. In addition, Ryan Fast and Chrissa Nelson were duly elected to the board of trustees by acclamation because there were no opposing candidates. Angie was previously elected to the board in January 2020, months prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was hard, because there was so much at the beginning of my term last year where we were dealing with problems and issues...
The mother of students at Irle Elementary is calling on the Glasgow School District Board to lift the mandatory mask mandate for pupils as vaccination rates rise and the pandemic seems to ebb. “I have been as patient as possible while waiting for all of you up there to come to your senses on this mask policy, all while my children, and most of your children, have suffered every day at school,” Tami Thompson said May 12 during the public comment portion of the school board meeting. “As an adult, I have a mind of my own, and free will. I don't...
The Three Valley Commissioners have approved a resolution opposing the federal government’s “30x30” land preservation goal. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Jan. 27 he said would help restore balance on public lands and waters, create jobs and provide a path to align the management of America’s public lands and waters with the nation’s climate, conservation and clean energy goals. “We are concerned because we have this sudden goal with huge changes,” Chairman John Fahlgren said during the regular commission meeting May 1...
The three Valley County Commissioners have lifted the burn ban, allowing farmers to burn their fields with a permit from the fire department. “A burn ban means we won't give any permits for burning,” said Chairman John Fahlgren. “With our recent rains, we've had people call us with situations where it looks like a totally safe thing to do. When we lift the burn ban, what happens is they still have to get approval through dispatch.” Dispatch all weather information before giving approval on any permits. “One of the reasons I will vote to lift t...
With suicide rates topping most other states in the nation, mental healthcare in Montana has never been more important, especially in rural areas such as Valley County. “Montana has the third highest rate of suicide in the country. It used to be fifth, but the most recent rankings have us up to third.” The prevalence of substance and alcohol abuse is a factor in comorbidity rates for many suicides, according to experts. Then, substance abuse which coexists and becomes co-morbid with the mental health issues. “But if you just narrow in on suicid...
As the raw water transmission main connecting the Missouri River with the city of Glasgow’s water treatment plant continues to erode, the city may face costly spot repairs to keep the system running, engineers say. The current 20” main — stretching 7.8 miles to a valve vault Southeast of town — was installed in 1987, and has experienced seven leaks since 2003, according to Jeff Ashley, Morrison Maierle senior process engineer. Morrison Maierle is a consulting firm which provides infrastructure planning for city, county and state governm...
Ranchers, farmers, irrigators and Native Americans have given a resounding thumbs down to a planned increase, then reduction, in water flow next year from Fort Peck Dam. The augmented flows are meant to stimulate the natural spawning cycle of the Pallid Sturgeon, one of three endangered species found in the Missouri River between Fort Peck Dam and Lake Sacajawea. The other two are the Least Tern and the Piping Plover. Area farmers are worried about how the augmented flows may result in expensive repairs or retrofits to irrigation systems,...
As a retiree, one might think Virgil Rauch would have plenty of extra time on his hands. Such an assessment would be wrong. Rauch, 69, of the Lustre area, has been repairing old school wind-up wall clocks and grandfather clocks for decades. He also cares for elderly aunts, aged 86 and 90, who live nearby the house his father, Jacob, built in the 1950s. Walking into Rauch's home for the first time, visitors will find dozens of clocks hanging in most rooms, tick-tocking away in perfect...
A citizen committee is in the process of being formed to address complaints about youths on dirt bikes disturbing the tranquility of homeowners north of Glasgow. Dirt bikers are a common sight in the undeveloped area between Airport and Skylark roads, and have been for decades, residents say. Now, a large portion of the city owned parcel of land there has been closed to public use due to liability issues and allegedly poor behavior by some riders. That leaves only the 40-acre recreation area one mile north of the city, owned by the Bureau of...
Community ire over the recent disbanding of the former Valley County Refuse District Board was on full display during the April 28 County Commissioner meeting. "To dissolve a board is your last resort," said Kristi Brabeck, Valley County Airport commissioner. "I understand everybody has personality differences. It is like a divorce. You have parents, and you have your child, which is Valley County. So, as a board who works under your guidance at will, I don't understand why it came to this....
Brian “Auzzie” Austin has been chosen to fill the new position of Valley County Refuse District Manager. Austin was formerly the Valley County Landfill manager, a position eliminated in effort to tackle massive indescrepencies with how customers countywide are assessed for refuse removal services. “Brian is doing an excellent job of managing the actual landfill part,” said Commission Chairman Paul Tweten during a public meeting April 28. “ It was not in his job description to manage the finances in the refuse district.” The three Valley Coun...
The Glasgow High School Swing Choir, a group that performs at school events and concerts, community functions, and various gigs locally, descended upon 2nd Avenue recently for a photo shoot while decked out in 60's and 70's era attire. Johnny Law stopped by briefly to check in on the odd sight, but let the teens go about their business soon after....
The Valley County Refuse District Board, in operation since 1973, is no more. During their regular meeting April 21, the three commissioners voted to disband the refuse board — effective April 23 — based on legal counsel indicating the nine member volunteer body has not had any actual legal authority in almost 25 years. “Functionally, the refuse board is an administrative orphan and there is nothing that actually creates you as board members,” Dylan J. Jensen, County Attorney, said during the meeting. “My recommendation to the commissio...
CHRIS MCDANIEL THE COURIER Many little girls dream of being royalty. For four lovely ladies, that fantasy is now a reality. "I have been dreaming for it my whole life," said Lyndsey Plummer, 6, a kindergartner who earned medals for her Vintage Wear, Casual Wear and Occupational Wear during the Our Little Miss state competition. The pageant happened April 16 to 18 in Billings. Guinevere Grace Turner was awarded Montana's Sweetheart and Prettiest Smile. Samantha Combs received medals for Leather... Full story
With ongoing drought and potential government regulations in the works, one Wolf Point bison rancher is concerned his way of life may someday be just a page in the history books. "There are a lot things going on in Montana right now that are affecting how the bison are treated," said Lyle Wall, proprietor of 5 Diamonds Bison Ranch. "Are they an amiable species, or are they wildlife? That is getting to be a real stickler. My future as a bison rancher is going to be dependent on how they...
During their regular meeting April 19, the Glasgow City Council awarded a $225,506 paving bid to Century Companies, Inc., for the 2021 Street Improvements Project, voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2021-22 wages for city employees and accepted a three year audit contract with Anderson ZurMuehlen & CO., P.C.. Century Companies, of Lewistown, was the only business to submit a bid for the project. Hardrives Construction, Inc., of Billings inquired about the project but did not submit a bid. “Century provided a reasonable bid that came in within 4.1...
Valley County will apply for $5 million in federal monies to make improvements to Duck Creek Road via the Federal Land Access Program (FLAP). “It is available to us because it accesses federal lands,” Mary Armstrong, Valley County commissioner, said during a discussion and decision meeting at the courthouse on April 14. “We have agreed to provide a $50,000 match. A13.64% match is required.” US Fish and Wildlife Services will provide about another $267,000 for the project and the Army Corps of Engineers about $220,000, Armstrong said. “In exc...
