Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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The Aug. 1 meeting of the Glasgow City Council saw the passage of Ordinance 952, restricting the number of pets in area homes to three dogs or three cats, with grandfather provisions for households containing animals currently in excess of the maximum number of pets. Members of the community instrumental in finalizing the details of the ordinance were in attendance, but remained silent during public comment periods. Mayor Erickson thanked the community for their input and support. Early in the meeting, the council also passed incremental... Full story
Emerson Drive lead singer Brad Mates spoke to the Courier in anticipation of the Canadian band's appearance with JT Hodges at the 2016 Northeast Montana Fair on July 29. “I've never been to Glasgow,” Mates explained via phone from the road, “but we've been fortunate to travel to every state and province in Canada and the U.S.” In other words, the award-winning country artists will be uniquely primed to form a first impression of the area. Considering his upbringing in Grande Prairie, Alberta, I'm sure he'll find a lot to like. Emerson Drive i...
Since the estimable Sandy Laumeyer and Pastor John Collins have expressed eloquent viewpoints on the subject of various lives mattering this week, I thought I’d wade in to clarify some of the language involved and discuss the basic semantics related to Black Lives Matter. The award-winning Laumeyer makes the point here that all lives do indeed matter, a notion I take as utterly sincere, guileless and kind. St. Marie’s popular pastor walked all the way into Glasgow on Monday carrying a sign signaling, among other things, solidarity with law enf...
The Valley County Sheriff's Office has concluded its search for the body of a Colorado man reported missing in mid-June. A truck owned by Robert J. Willenborg, 59, of Buena Vista, Colo., was discovered submerged in the Missouri River near Boy Scout Park by a local boater on June 12. No remains have been found, but Sheriff Meier told the Courier, "He's there, but we couldn't find him and we've suspended the search." Members of the Tri-County Search & Rescue dog team contributed to the search...
There was a heck of a turnout at the official opening ceremony for the Northeast Montana Veterans Memorial Park on July 4. Kelly Siefert from The Buzz, commented that it was the busiest event he'd seen at Fort Peck since the 1970s. As attendees located parking and took their seats, Hailey Stone sang and played piano, followed by members of the GHS band, who performed "The Star Spangled Banner," (dressed to the nines in full regalia). After an invocation from Mr. Jason Myers, Master of...
When I spoke with Glasgow's Sarah Schindler at the Busted Knuckle on June 16, she was well within striking distance of completing her ride across Montana to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Contemplating her goal of crossing the North Dakota state line, she grinned and said, "I'm so close I can taste it." Three weeks later, Schindler says, "I feel like my work is just starting. Suicide prevention starts with us on an every day level, from being kind and understanding people, to...
The first time I walked into Leona Knutson's Sweet Memories on Montana Street in Hinsdale, it was half by accident. Noticing a sign for coffee and ice cream on the otherwise sleepy thoroughfare, I swooped in for a pick-me-up, only to be confronted with something like a full-service eatery and two of the nicest people in Northeast Montana. I say something like full service because Leona and husband Lonnie (Swede) have a limited, rotating food menu: Just one breakfast dish per day and a short...
In response to mounting challenges in resident care at Glasgow’s Valley View Home, Health Management Services, the management company hired to run the facility in 2014, has fired at least one long-term employee in recent days. With as many as three local individuals falling victim to what HMS’s Karly Kruckenberg described as “personnel changes,” questions abound regarding VVH’s staffing capacity and HMS’s longterm plans for the much-loved local institution. Following a troubling quality assurance review by state inspectors (see “Valley Vie...
Local favorite Pam L. Veis delivers a muddled effort with her directorial debut for the Fort Peck Summer Theatre. And who minds a little muddle? Under the circumstances, probably no one. Man of La Mancha is a well-known show, thankfully, and actor James Rio's Quixote hits most of the high notes needed to satisfy a friendly audience. That said, Veis' staging leaves key sections of the text needlessly confusing for those unfamiliar with this admirable work. To put a fine point on it, the... Full story
The Valley County Sheriff’s Office is currently seeking information regarding the whereabouts of Robert J. Willenborg, 59, of Buena Vista, Colo. Valley County Search & Rescue assisted in the removal of Willenborg’s vehicle, a white pickup truck, from the Missouri River near Boy Scout Park, where it was discovered submerged by a local boater on June 12. Willenborg is described as 6 feet tall and approximately 200 pounds. Sheriff Meier confirmed the man’s status as missing and presumed drowned. The Sheriff’s Office can reached at 228-433... Full story
It was a good weekend in Whitefish for the Courier and an even better one for visiting dearly-missed relatives on both sides of the state for me. In the former category, Sean R. Heavey hefted three awards at the 2016 Montana Newspaper Association convention for Best News Photo (first place), Best Feature Photo (first) and Best Lifestyles Photo (third), while I carried away first place for Best Editorial. There were publications with more awards to collect (get over yourselves, Flathead Beacon), but our little broadsheet was warmly received and...
Some theatregoers will have noticed a review of Fort Peck Summer Theatre’s new show in the Lifestyles section of this edition (Page 8A). Fewer still may have noticed my byline. In any case, it’s official: I’ll be your theatre critic for the season. Gwendolyne Honrud did a great job last year, but is pursuing greener pastures and the task is left to me. I intend to let my writing on the subject speak for itself, but with this first attempt, it deserves mentioning that I’m actually an experienced critic in the wider world outside of Montana...
Sincerity on stage trumps training every time. Especially with musical theatre. This rule holds true with Fort Peck Summer Theatre’s The Last Five Years, starring Daniel and Courtney Crary as a married couple whose respective narratives pass each other in time from opposing states of estrangement and engagement (interestingly, our stars are a married couple from New York in real life). Both actors carry their weight admirably, though Courtney, who doubles as Musical Director for the show, s... Full story
The latest incarnation of the Milk River Motorsports Demolition Derby saw increases in both attendance and participation on May 28 at the Valley County fairgrounds. Organizers Josh Thompson, Garth Loftsgaard and Rob Brunelle made some date changes and other fine tuning that paid off, with 21 cars entering competition (up from 10 in June, 2015) and more than 700 spectators in the stands. Milk River is currently in its fourth year as the nonprofit in charge of the derby. According to secretary...
The race for Montana House of Representatives District 33 has been heating up in recent weeks. As the primary voting deadline approaches, Courier readers have been asking questions about a bulk mailer sent out district-wide by candidate Michael Burns on May 4. The mailer, which is split into two sections, makes contentious claims about Burns' Republican opponent, Malta's Casey Knudsen, and his stances on various issues. To clear the air of rumor and speculation, we've taken your concerns straight to the source for further clarification. The...
Sheriff Glen Meier spoke with area media on May 10 about the first five years of Valley County's new detention center. According to Meier, the undertaking has been a successful one. In the fiscal year leading up the the jail's completion (2010-11), the county's budget for the detention center exceeded its income by close to $200,000 without adjustments. As of the 2015-16 fiscal year, that discrepancy has been reduced to a mere $71,000, putting the jail closer to running entirely in the black. According to Meier, the remaining two months in the...
Wheatgrass Artist of the Month Andy Fahlgren has made an unscheduled visit to Glasgow from Portland, Ore., this week, bringing with him several new oil paintings for display. Fahlgren is a Valley County native whose works reflects a continued fascination with Northeastern Montana. He paints in an expressive, classic style, with subjects ranging from prairie birds and cattle to portraits of recognizable local figures. This is the first time his work has been on public display. According to...
Members of the Valley County Sheriff's Office and the Tri Agency Task Force arrested Shannon Ray Emeline (36, male) on a warrant for criminal possession of dangerous drugs out of Yellowstone County on April 22. Emeline was initially held on a $10,000 bond. According to Sheriff Glen Meier, officers conducted a search of the premises at 390 A Hickory Street in St. Marie and discovered illegal narcotics and a large amount of cash. Following the search, Emeline's bond was increased to $100,000 on...
Council members attended to old and ongoing business at the May 2 Glasgow City Council meeting. Among the items on the agenda were a bid opening for the purchase of a new mower for use at the cemetery, the payment of claims, a series of budgetary resolutions, and updates on ongoing efforts to secure grant monies. During department head reports, Mayor Becky Erickson made special mention of a Small System Award for Outstanding Operation, Maintenance and Administration of a Wastewater Treatment...
Cheryl, Lois and Stephen Grobel hosted a Scholarship Dinner April 16 at the Cottonwood Inn & Suites. Approximately 60 people were in attendance, including current and former scholarship recipients, Mayor Becky Erickson and members of the community. The Grobel Scholarship Trust is marking its 16th year awarding financial gifts to area nursing students, many of whom spoke movingly at the event about the impact the family's generosity has had on their lives. The scholarship was created by the late...
Various local projects have received assistance recently via grants from the Valley County Community Foundation. A total of $16,067 has been awarded in all. The grants are intended for projects assisting young people, the elderly, and infrastructure, explained Glasgow’s Sam Waters, who chairs the Grant Committee. The following groups have received funding thus far: $2,000 to the Allies of Scouting to purchase roofing materials for the dining hall/main lodge and the rest room at Boy Scout Park on the Missouri River, $2,000 to the City-County L...
Some meetings of the Glasgow City Council are busier than newspaper reports in the Courier reflect. With various grants pending and the potential acquisition of the Valley Court Apartments in the works, this is one of those weeks. At the April 4 meeting, the council approved resolutions to advertise a call for bids for a new lawn mower to be used by athe cemetery department, and authorization for the submission of the Community Development Block Grant program non-competitive grant application, as well as the release of police department funds...
It's hard to imagine a family less interested in publicity, but that didn't stop Penny Strommen and her husband Eliot from making time when we came calling. They opened their doors gladly for a couple of out-of-town scribblers and one of Glasgow's first-rate photographers during the past week. When I drove into town to take the job as your new managing editor nearly a year ago, the Strommens' iconic white school house at the crossroads in Vandalia was the first place I made a point of visiting....
According to statistics from Montana’s Supreme Court, there were 42 new child abuse cases reported in Valley County in 2015. That is more new cases of child abuse than in 2013 and 2014 combined, and 55 percent more cases than 2012, the previous worst year on record. The flood of cases has swamped the child welfare system, according to Mark Douglass, local director for Court Appointed Special Advocates, an organization which trains and coordinates everyday citizens to speak out for abused children. “CASA in Montana began on the Hi-Line, but in...
City of Glasgow Public Works Director Robert Kompel asks the public to be aware of changes to the city ordinance on fencing, which took effect last summer. The changes listed in Ordinance No. 953 impact the construction of fences at corners and intersections within city limits. Kompel reports an uptick in fencing related calls to Montana 811, the national number designated by the Federal Communications Commission to help protect do-it-yourselfers, landscapers and contractors from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working...
