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  • Lustre News

    Vivian Wall, For the Courier|Nov 6, 2024

    Nov. 1 Tori Bell and her daughter McKenna received a surprising call Oct. 20, from Make A Wish Foundation. McKenna was given her wish of a camper, provided by CamperWorld in Billings in recognition of her fight with cancer. On Oct 25, Lustre hosted Frontier School where the Jr High girls won 24-15, and the Jr High boys won 37-28. Both teams played hard. LGS jamboree girls lost a heart-breaker by one point, 19-20. The LGS jamboree boys lost 15-23. They are improving their skills. Thank you...

  • Lustre News

    Vivian Wall, For the Courier|Oct 30, 2024

    Oct. 18 The NorVal Dinner 2024 honoring Ron Reddig was held Oct. 22, at the LCHS. The LCHS Alumni provided the meal as an Alumni Fundraiser. The New Covenant Quartet presented a special concert at the MB Church on Oct. 27. There will be an Open House "Meet-n-Greet" with Timothy and Annika Lenihan, Saturday, Nov. 9, between 7 and 9 p.m. at the Lustre MB Parsonage. Pastor Frank officiated at his son's wedding, held in Red Lodge on Oct. 12. Students enjoyed a break during MEA weekend. Jamboree bask...

  • Are Your Heirs Ready To Receive An Inheritance?

    Edward Jones Financial Advisor CFP Arron Franzen, For the Courier|Oct 30, 2024

    In the popular imagination, receiving an inheritance always sounds like a good thing — after all, who doesn’t want a financial windfall? And inheritances can certainly be life-altering events. But they can cause challenges, so you’ll want to help your heirs be prepared. To assist in this preparation, try to address some key questions affecting your heirs: • Do they know what’s in your estate plans? Your family and other heirs will be much better prepared to deal with an inheritance if they know what to expect. That’s why it’s so important that...

  • Saving For College? Or Retirement?

    Edward Jones Financial Advisor CFP Arron Franzen, For the Courier|Oct 23, 2024

    If you’re a parent, you want to do everything you can to help your children succeed in life. Therefore, you might think that one of the best things you can do is to save for your children’s college education. And this is certainly admirable, but could it conflict with your ability to prepare for another key goal — your own retirement? Of course, this would not be a problem if you had unlimited means, but most of us don’t fall into that category. So, given the financial resources and income you do have, how should you approach the college...

  • Lustre News

    Vivian Wall, For the Courier|Oct 23, 2024

    Oct. 11, 2024 The New Covenant Quartet, a Southern Gospel group is coming to the MB Church for a concert on Sun. Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. Dr. Jim Solberg, Senior National Advisor for Bridges For Peace, and author of Sinai Speaks, was the speaker for the MB Church Harvest Festival on Oct 6 through 8. He and his family lived 25 years in Israel as the Director of Bridges for Peace from which he just retired and lives in Florida, despite the hurricanes. A beautiful Harvest Video was presented by Brooke...

  • Vote For Solid Investment Strategies

    Edward Jones Financial Advisor CFP Arron Franzen, For the Courier|Oct 16, 2024

    With the presidential election just a few weeks away, the public is naturally interested in not just the outcome but what the results will mean for issues of national importance. As a citizen, you likely share these concerns — but how about as an investor? After the votes are counted — or even before — should you make some moves in anticipation of possible changes in policy? Let’s look at the big picture first, through the lens of history. The financial markets have performed well — and at times, not so well — under Democratic and Republican...

  • Take Advantage Of Open Enrollment

    Edward Jones Financial Advisor CFP Arron Franzen, For the Courier|Oct 9, 2024

    If you work for a midsize or large company, you may soon be able to review your employee benefits package, as we are entering the open enrollment season. So, consider your options carefully, with an eye toward making changes appropriate for your needs. Here are some of the key areas to look at: • Retirement plan – Depending on your employer, you could change your 401(k) or similar retirement plan at any time of the year, but you might want to use the open enrollment season to review your contribution amounts. If your salary has gone up ove...

  • Lustre News

    Vivian Wall, For the Courier|Oct 9, 2024

    Oct. 4, 2024 Fall is here, with a low of 31 degrees this past night. Coyotes were heard in the morn with their plaintiff cry. Pablo and Judy Perez were chapel speakers at LCHS on Sept 26, and held a Friday evening meeting at the EMB Church. They spoke on missions on Sunday morning and afternoon at the EMB Harvest-Missions Festival, with a meal served between. They serve in Quito, Ecuador, with Mesa Global which is based in Charlotte, N.C. "Pablo preached in Spanish and Judy translated it into...

  • Marathon Days

    Mary Honrud, For the Courier|Oct 2, 2024

    We took some time off last week. Dennis and I celebrated his birthday by going to Billings. There was some shopping, a nice supper, and the next day he had his Vette serviced. And there was a bit more shopping. The "change oil soon" light came on shortly before we arrived. That trip took care of two days I could have been getting some "put the garden to bed" chores done. I knew we were doing that trip, so I had a couple marathon days earlier in the week. I repotted so many houseplants my hands g...

  • Watch Out For Investment Scams

    Edward Jones Financial Advisor CFP Arron Franzen, For the Courier|Oct 2, 2024

    When you invest, you’ll find that knowledge is power. The more you know about your investment choices, and who is offering them, the better prepared you’ll be to make good decisions. And this diligence can also help protect you against investment scams. How widespread is this activity? Consider this: Investment fraud losses totaled more than $4.5 billion in 2023, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report. Here are some common types of scams: • Cryptocurrency – Not all cryptocurrency offers are scams, but many are. The scammers will cont...

  • Lustre News

    Vivian Wall, For the Courier|Oct 2, 2024

    Sept 27, 2024 The Lustre Jr. High Volleyball Lions hosted the Frontier School Jr High Volleyball Mustangs on Sept 21 in their last home game with the song "God's Not Dead" greeting fans. The Lions took the set 25-17, 25-17 (with the teams tying repeatedly along the way), and 15-3. The Jamboree teams split their games. It was a good evening to enjoy the students improving their skills. Jones and Melissa Cumpio came Sept. 12 to be LCHS's new dorm parents from the Philippines. They have two...

  • Time To Finish

    Mary Honrud, For the Courier|Sep 25, 2024

    Someone once said all good things must come to an end. I wish that someone was wrong. It's getting serious up here: Dennis tells me our thermometer showed 36° early Sunday morning. While that didn't give us frost, some neighbors (within a 10-mile radius) had a layer of white on their vehicles. I'm so not ready for that. While I do like wearing cute sweaters, I really don't want to have to wear "real" shoes. Let me stay in my sandals. And I don't want to have to turn on the heat yet (but I have p...

  • Do You Need To Fear Retirement?

    Edward Jones Financial Advisor CFP Arron Franzen, For the Courier|Sep 25, 2024

    If you’re planning to retire in a few years, are you looking forward to it? Or are you somewhat apprehensive? Are you asking yourself: “What sort of retirement can I afford?” It’s a good question — because the answer can make a big difference in your ability to enjoy life as a retiree. And retirement can indeed be enjoyable, exciting and fun. Consider this from a recent survey by Edward Jones and AgeWave: A majority of respondents said retirement should be looked at as a whole new chapter of life, and not just a time for rest and relaxatio...

  • Lustre News

    Vivian Wall, For the Courier|Sep 25, 2024

    Sept 20, 2024 The EMB Harvest Festival is next Sunday, Sept. 29. The special guest speakers are Pablo and Judy (Wiens) Perez. The MB Harvest Festival is Oct. 6. Awana began Sept 11 in Lustre and has a good attendance. Dawson Olfert is the commander. I apologize that the spelling was incorrect last week for Kash, Gavin and Hannah Pankratz in their class school pictures. The LCHS Varsity girls played Glasgow JV on Sept. 7, winning in five games. They played Wolf Point JV Saturday, Sept. 7, at...

  • A Bit Of Rest

    Mary Honrud, For the Courier|Sep 18, 2024

    Since we finished the wheat harvest over a week ago, we've been taking life a bit slower. Although we did resume morning walks together. Dennis was walking by himself before harvest, but I've joined him now. The garden is still in full production mode, and fall with its cooler temps, is looming. I'm going to have to get myself revved up again. There's so much to accomplish before the first frost hits in our area. Typically that happens any day now. And rain is in the forecast. I did get almost...

  • Know The Risks Of Investing – And Not Investing

    Edward Jones Financial Advisor CFP Arron Franzen, For the Courier|Sep 18, 2024

    Investing involves risk — and so does not investing. You should know how both these types of risk can affect your ability to reach your financial goals. Let’s start with the risks associated with investing. There’s not a single investment risk because different types of investments carry different types of risk. Here’s a look at three investment categories and some of the risks connected with them: • Stocks – When you invest in stocks or stock-based mutual funds, you will incur the risk that the value of your investments may decline. St...

  • Busy, Busy, Busy

    Mary Honrud, For the Courier|Sep 11, 2024

    Mary Honrud / For the Courier We spent the past week (plus a few days - there were some weather delays) harvesting our wheat crop. I really appreciate the Courier holding over my column from two weeks ago. It freed up a bit of my time so instead of writing I was cooking. I usually cram in my writing Sunday evenings (as I'm doing with this column) after spending the afternoon golfing. At least that's what I do in the summer. Last week I played piano for church (service is at 11 a.m.), then came...

  • Lustre News

    Vivian Wall, For the Courier|Sep 11, 2024

    Sept. 6, 2024 The LCHS held a Rest and Relaxation Day at the Fort Peck pavilion on Aug. 28. The speaker was Mr. Nathan Lu who spoke on "What's Your Spiritual Health Like?" He asked the students to draw a tree picturing how they evaluated themselves. That was among the various activities that "drew students together into a unity as a student body," Mr. Burkhard declared. "It was a very good day," and he was pleased with their deportment and how they cleaned and worked together. On the first day...

  • Should You Be A Global Investor?

    Edward Jones Financial Advisor CFP Arron Franzen, For the Courier|Sep 11, 2024

    Investment opportunities don’t stop at the U.S. border. But what should you know about investing internationally? To begin with, what is an international investment? Essentially, it’s an investment in companies based outside the United States. Investors can purchase individual foreign stocks, but many people choose international mutual funds or international exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which can be traded like stocks and track a specific market index. It’s also possible to invest in bonds issued by foreign governments or entities. Howev...

  • Zucchini Overload

    Mary Honrud, For the Courier|Sep 4, 2024

    Editor's Note: Mary submitted this column on Aug. 25. It has been many years since I planted zucchini, and so I forgot how prolific they can be. Luckily, a small section of my brain flashed a warning so I only put in one plant. That single plant is doing its best to out-produce every other plant in my garden. I haven't foisted any onto friends (yet!), nor have I dropped any onto neighbors doorsteps or into unlocked cars on Front Street. I'm not saying that couldn't happen... This past week I mad...

  • What Can Insurance Do For You?

    Edward Jones Financial Advisor CFP Arron Franzen, For the Courier|Sep 4, 2024

    It’s probably not on your calendar, but September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. And it’s indeed a pretty good idea to be aware of what life insurance can do for you. Life insurance can help you in two main ways. First, life insurance policies offer a death benefit that can assist your family if you’re no longer around. And second, some types of life insurance offer the chance to build cash value, which can work for you during your lifetime. Let’s look at the death benefit first. If something were to happen to you, your life insuran...

  • Lustre News

    Vivian Wall, For the Courier|Sep 4, 2024

    Aug. 30 We want to thank the families who have hosted the dorm students from before school began until the dorm parents, Mr. & Mrs. Jones Cumpios, are able to come from the Philippines. They have their papers and have been able to make the travel arrangements now. Principal Bob Burkhart welcomed the parents and community to the Aug. 25 at the opening program of LCHS. He introduced this year's theme "Walk Worthy," based on Colossians 1:10. It says, "That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully ple...

  • Lustre News

    Vivian Wall, For the Courier|Aug 28, 2024

    Aug. 24, 2024 High winds and sudden rains impeded harvest efforts this week. We got 4/10 of an inch on Tuesday, in time for busses to go on muddy roads for their first day of school. The temps were in the 90s. Wednesday, Aug. 21,, the schools began with a good enrollment, 42 students in Lustre Grade School and 36 in LCHS. I doubt that many of the grade school students were too excited to start school, and the kindergaten-grade two gave a hearty "NO" to my question if they were glad to be at...

  • Retirees Must Identify And Manage Income Sources

    Edward Jones Financial Advisor CFP Arron Franzen, For the Courier|Aug 28, 2024

    During your working years, you know where your income is coming from because you’re working. But once you retire, you’ll have to identify your income sources, know how much you can expect from them and know how to manage them to help support a retirement that could last two or three decades. So, where will your retirement income come from? And what decisions will you need to make about these income sources? Consider the following: • Retirement accounts – If you’ve regularly contributed to an IRA and a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retire...

  • Lustre News

    Vivian Wall, For the Courier|Aug 21, 2024

    Aug. 16, 2024 Smoke from the forest fires in western Montana and Wyoming came in behind the cool breeze on Wednesday evening so that the smoke was evident Thursday morning. Our skies have remained hazy. Wheat Harvest has begun. We can begin planning school clothes and Harvest Festivals. We extend many thanks to Ken Zerbe for coming to the aid of our area farmers needing combine repairs. Lustre Repair has been a blessing to our community for years, and we are so thankful. School for both LGS and LCHS begins Wednesday, Aug. 21. The teachers are...

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