Yesterday's Memories

10 Years Ago:

Wednesday July 3, 2013

It would be hard to miss this railroad project. Wooden ties have been laid out along the tracks from Glasgow to Wolf Point for weeks. Motels in Glasgow are full of railroad people and derailment specialists have filled camping spaces with company RVs. Road master Damon Fry out of Williston is in charge of this big maintenance project. He said that the Glasgow to Wolf Point segment started June 9 and is scheduled to finish July 14. Some 65,000 ties will be changed on this 50-mile stretch.

Bob "Sparky" Hanson, chief of Long Run Fire Department, is the new president of the Montana State Volunteer Firefighters Association. He took up his duties at the 61st MSVFFA convention held June 13-15 in Corvalis. Hanson will now represent the 420 fire departments and around 10,000 volunteer firefighters in the state of Montana.

When filing for municipal elections closed on June 27, it was apparent that interest in serving local office is high. The slate of candidates in Glasgow runs three deep of two of the city's wards and the mayor will have to do some campaigning to keep his seat.

Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus are calling on FEMA to quickly provide federal disaster assistance to Montanans affected by May and June's historic flooding – including those in Valley County. In calling for prompt action, Tester and Baucus highlighted the severity and widespread nature of the damage caused by the spring storms. Some areas in Central and Eastern Montana received up to six times their normal amount of rainfall for the time period.

The most complete Glasgow Kiwanis Swim Team yet mustered enough strength for second place in Plentywood over the weekend. The two-day meet saw 34 Glasgow swimmers compete, the most the team has had so far this season. The results were immediate as Glasgow only fell to Sidney despite the long practices during the week.

Fishing teams can expect a full payout at the 26th annual Governor's Cup set for July 11-13, as the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce decided to pay back 100 percent of tournament fees. Prior to this year, 80 percent of all fees were paid back in winnings. From 1998 to 2002, the Gov. Cup reached its maximum of 200 teams competing, causing the tournament organizers to keep a long waiting list. Enrollment after this period dwindled to a record low in 2007 of 69 entrants, and as of last year the tournament reached a seven year high of 105 entrants, but the organizers weren't satisfied. Their hope is that raising the prize money will attract more entrants to the tournament.

25 Years Ago:

Thursday July 9, 1998

An episode of Bill Jordan's "Realtree Outdoors" show shot near Glasgow last fall will air on TNN on Sunday, July 12, at 5 p.m. Former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro tight end Jay Novacek was Jordan's guest as they tried some early season bowhunting along the Milk River west of Hinsdale. Outdoor Writer Greg Tinsley joined in the hunt, where all three bagged a whitetail.

Glasgow residents may be surprised to learn the city's preliminary 1998 – 1999 budget is expected to be $1,800,311 less than last year's final budget. The council has adopted the preliminary budget with proposed expenditures of $4,194,892 – down from last year's budget of $5,995,203.

John Degel, an award winning Montana journalist, became editor of the "Glasgow Courier" July 7. A native Montanan and Vietnam veteran, Degel, 48, has been involved with newspapers for 25 years as a writer, photographer, cartoonist and editor. He comes to the "Courier" from a position as editor of the "West Yellowstone News."

For the better part of two hours residents of Lasar Drive and Scotty Court appeared before the City Council requesting assistance in getting the two streets paved. The residents are requesting assistance in establishing a Special Improvement District (SID) to pave Lasar Drive, from Hwy. 2 to Ayr St., and Scotty Court to remove a constant irritant and safety hazard caused by rain runoff and dust. Residents in the area have been complaining for years of the road which washes out each time the area experiences a heavy rain.

Jared Albus of Hinsdale caught the state record carp on Nelson Reservoir, May 24, when out fishing with Shawn and Dale White. Albus, who was bored of fishing with a pole, used a 65 pound compound bow to catch the 40.2 pound carp, beating the 1997 record of 39.77 pounds set by Robert Reishus who also used a bow.

Tad Schye of Malta has been selected as Class B Coach of the Year for the Girls' Track and Field division for the 1997-1998 spring sports season. He was selected by a vote of members of the Montana Coaches Association involved in spring sports, according to Ralph Halverson, executive director of the M.C.A.

Mark Combs is very pleased with the way the Eastern State Bambino Tournament went in Glasgow over the weekend as the team fought its way to a second place finish behind Glendive. Nine teams consisting of between 12 to 15 players for the four day tournament.

Hungry people can find delicatessen delights in downtown Glasgow at the new Soma-Dis Deli, at 502 Second Avenue South, below Nels Kent. Owners Kevin and Hope Farr have remodeled the large area with antiques and plants in the deep windowsills. There are well spaced tables where customers can enjoy their food, or it can be made for take out.

Seniors will find it convenient to get a gentle workout the next time they visit the senior centers. Colleen Pankratz, of the Council on Aging said treadmills and exercise bicycles have been installed, paid for by contributors and a grant under the Older Americans Acts.

Members of the Montana Arts Council convened in Helena on June 13 to distribute federal and state funding for the arts. The new Arts Are Central to our Communities program is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, which was fully matched by the 1998 Legislature. Glasgow received a $15,000 grant.

50 Years Ago:

Thursday July 5, 1973

The Tampico Post Office closed its doors for the last time Saturday after serving the community for more than 60 years. The closure came after the announcement of the resignation of Mrs. Dorothy Martin, postmaster. Mrs. Martin was appointed acting postmaster Sept. 1, 1968, after the retirement of Richard Motzkau. She was named postmaster May 29, 1971.

A drive will soon be launched to build a new $500 - $600,000 unit at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow that will utilize the facilities of the two newest additions on the structure and bring the hospital up to modern day requirements demanded by state and national health and fire requirements.

Bruce C. Perryman has been named president/executive director of the Mountain-Plains Education and Economic Development Program, Inc. The announcement of Perryman's appointment to the executive capacity was made by Montana State Senator Gordon Bollinger, Mountain-Plains Board Chairman at the regular board of directors meeting held June 26 at Glasgow. Mountain-Plains, a non-profit corporation headquartered at Glasgow Air Force Base, administers a grant for a national research and development model (Model IV) in residential career education under the sponsorship of the National Institute of Education.

Glasgow won the first place trophy in the "Over 30" Slowpitch Softball tournament in Havre, June 30 and July 1. The Glasgow team won four straight games to capture first place. The scores for the games were as follows: Glasgow 31 – Sizzler Steakhouse of Great Falls 6; Glasgow 17 – Havre All Stars 4; Glasgow 16 – Joe's Hamm's of Great Falls 8; and Glasgow 11 – Joe's Hamm's 6.

Trophy winners at the 11th annual horseshoe tournament Sunday in Fort Peck were announced by Bing Burns. Ira Jenson of Culbertson, former state champion, won the Class A championship, Bud Day of Lewiston was second. Other champions include: Reserve's Les Neilson for Class B; Wolf Point's Bill Busse for Class C; Terry's Curtis Volkman for Class D; and Wolf Point's Wallace Sexton for Class E.

75 Years Ago:

Thursday July 8, 1948

"Reckless operation of watercraft, horseplay, intoxication or overloading of boats will not be permitted, and will be cause for refusal of permission for future operation of boats on the reservoir," according to notice issued to all boat operators on the Fort Peck Reservoir by Col. E. H. Walter, Fort Peck district engineer, Wednesday. Colonel Walter also stressed that, "Fort Peck reservoir is subject to sudden, violent winds, which make it extremely dangerous.

Donkey softball hit the spot here Tuesday night when a trained troupe of the vicious beasts gave a large gathering at the Fairgrounds an evening full of chuckles and laughter, and for the riders nothing but bow legs and saddle sores (if there had been saddles). Although the program consisted of several things, the main event was a four-inning softball tilt which saw the Legionnaires outriding the VFW for a 2 to 1 victory. Prop Strader was the big gun. He took the mound for the Legion and allowed but one run on three hits while mixing up numerous pitches that included a creeping slowball, a knuckle that didn't and a Jackass that just wouldn't go to first base.

The ease with which a 14-year-old boy passed three forged checks in Glasgow business places the past week emphasizes the need for more care and caution in accepting and cashing checks, Sheriff Mason Melvin said. The boy secured a total of $42 in the three places. In all cases, the Sheriff said, the checks were accepted without question and the boy received the full cash amount of each, not attempting the usual tactics of buying something then offering a check.

What Lloyd "Slim" Johnson, manager, believes is a Montana record was made at the Glasgow Salesyard Thursday when one grass steer went at $33.10 per hundredweight. "This is a record for our salesyard, and we do not believe the figure has been equalled in Montana," Manager Johnson said. "We have seen notice of some fed livestock going in the $33 bracket, but this is the first time to our knowledge of grass stuff reaching that figure."

Walter Powell came in first in the seventeen-mile Hinsdale-Saco relay horse race Sunday morning before the Hinsdale Rodeo, making the course in one hour, 15 minutes, and 17 seconds. He crossed the finish line on the country road near the Beaven's corner shortly before 10:30 a.m.

The Glasgow American Legion Juniors were booted back to second place, a half-game back of Fort Peck, when they dropped a 7 to 5 contest to the Beavers in a game her Sunday afternoon. Passed balls and errors helped bring the downfall of the local nine. Five of the Fort Peck runs were unearned, while Mick Luckman pitched creditable ball, allowing but six hits while striking out 11. Marv Kuebler, Fort Peck hurler, was also doing a superb job on the mound. He limited the Glasgow hitters to but four blows although giving up four earned runs.