Yesterday's Memories

Compiled by Michelle Bigelbach

The Courier

10 Years Ago

Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014

There are some pretty hardcore Scottie fans in Glasgow who might be a little excited about a new development. The Glasgow High School Booster Club has been working on the process to get Scottie license plates available. The sporty license plate would be available for current students, parents and alumni across the state and will help bring funds to the booster club. Ruth Anne Hutcheson explained that the booster club helps raise funds for scholarships, uniforms, equipment and other needs for families that have kids participating in extracurricular activities.

NWS Glasgow Warning Coordinator Meteorologist Tanja Fransen explained that they had a pretty busy weekend tracking the storm, but residents were given a 24-hour warning on the flooding that occurred. The rainfall from Aug. 21-24 totaled around 8 inches in some areas. The precipitations were caused by a very slow-moving low-pressure system that had a high-pressure system on to the east and west. The system carried a lot of moisture. "This was very unusual for August," Fransen said. "The last time there was flooding in early fall or late summer was in October of 1986." The precipitation and storm system also broke sev­eral records set for this time of year. Sunday's high of 52 degrees was the second coldest daytime high on record for an August day. In 1992, the record was set in August with a temp of 47 degrees for the high. The rain that fell in four days was the most rain to ever occur at the NWS Glasgow, with 5.26 inches recorded. On Saturday, Aug. 23, the rainfall record of 2.41 inches beat the record of 0.84 inches set in 1932.

Ready for some football? Football pickin'? The Courier's 47th annual football contest – or what's known as the 47th annual – kicks off this week. Along the way in contest history, some bad math occurred. We show the debut contest on Sept. 6, 1966 – 48 years ago. However, the contest was on the disabled list and inactive during the 2009 season – so 47th will have to do. The contest is again a fixture on Courierland's fall sports scene, a weekly ritual for many who predict winners in each of the 21 weekly games and stuff their bal­lots in the box on The Courier's front counter. Each high school, college and pro game again will be sponsored by a local business advertiser over the next 10 weeks. The contest's format and design won it an advertising award in the Montana Newspaper Association's annual judging a couple of years ago – and that look remains.

(Editor's Note – This year we are celebrating the 55th Annual Contest. See the ballot on page 12)

There are several new faces at the Opheim School this year. Joining Superintendent Tony Warren are Pam Schugart, who is the new administrative secretary. In the kitchen, Robin Carroll is the new head cook. Shane Bartochi graduated from the University of Montana in Mis­soula in June and is the new PE, health and guidance teacher. He will also be coaching volleyball, basketball and track. Joel King is the new Ag education and special education teacher. In the elementary, Anne Welch will be teaching grades one and two. She came to Opheim from Hinsdale, where she had taught for two years.

25 Years Ago

Thursday, Sept. 2, 1999

The asbestos contamination at the abandoned Opheim Radar Station in north Valley County has finally been cleaned up. Funds and personnel from the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers accomplished the task, finishing the job by burying building materials in two pits on site. All that remains on the 55-acre site are some concrete slabs and crumbling asphalt streets. Valley County will be able to have it appraised and sell it, years after it was seized for unpaid taxes totaling $29,769. "I am excited and relieved we finally got this accomplished," said Eleanor Pratt, chairman of the Valley County Commission.

Glasgow High School science teacher Gordon Hahn, selected for Disney's American Teacher Awards, will be honored at a ceremony cablecast from Hollywood. Hahn is among only 39 teachers chosen from the more than 75,000 nominations for this award. He was nominated by a student. Each honoree will receive $2,500, as will their schools. There are no obligations attached with either honoarium, but principals are encouraged to consider using the funds to enhance professional development within their schools.

Taking first place in the Co-Ed Softball Tournament held at Fort Peck, Aug. 21 and 22 was the Oasis team. The Oasis defeated Triple A Glass in the championship game, 11-9. The tournament was sponsored by the Nashua High School boys and girls basketball players as a fundraiser for basketball equipment. Members of the team were Michael Myrick, Kris Koessl, Jeff Kalinski, Joel Smith, John Fischer, Tracy Waarvik, Brittney Archambeault, Tori Partridge, Cami Garsjo and Erin Archambeault.

Glasgow can boast about the accuracy record of its National Weather Service office. It is the smallest of the 121 forecast offices in the weather service and short-staffed at that, but they were tops last season and this season in accuracy of severe weather warnings, according to station chief Jim Rea. He said since the new station opened in 1995, they have always been in the top 10. "It's because we work at it," Rea said.

The Valley County Democrats have awarded four $600 scholarships to Valley County students. Melani S. Garsjo, a 1996 graduate of Glasgow High School, is a senior at MSU-Northern studying civil engineering tech and design drafting tech. Patrick Gilchrist is a 1997 graduate of Glasgow High School. He is a junior at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, majoring in atmospheric science. Kimberly Snyder, a 1997 graduate of Glasgow High School is a junior at the University of Wyoming. She is working towards a BS degree in finance and plans to work in this field. Barbara Wagner is a 1997 graduate of Nashua High School. She is a junior at College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., majoring in political science and economics.

50 Years Ago

Thursday, Aug. 29, 1974

President Gerald Ford's signing of a bill last week "thawing out" federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds frozen by the Nixon administration is considered a major break through for Nemont Manor, the $2 million retirement home proposed in Glasgow. The concept of a retirement home for elderly, able-bodied northeastern Montana was begun in 1972. Under the sponsorship of the Masonic Order of Glasgow, officers and directors of the project were elected and plans for the retirement home took shape, under the direction of executive director D.L. "Ike" Knudsen, of Glasgow.

Kari Helland, six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Helland, of Glasgow, proves that you can eat sweet corn without getting your fingers all sticky during last Sunday's Elk's Picnic held in Kiwanis Park at Fort Peck. Jack Lair and Vic Heier served just a portion of the capacity crowd of Elks Club members and their families that consumed over 700 pounds of beef barbecued over an open pit for the affair by Leo Larsen.

Operation Update Chairman O.E. Markle announced this week that two key positions in the hospital fund drive organization have been filled by prominent Glasgow businessmen. Accepting the position of chairman of the advance gifts committee is Gene Etchart and as chairman of the special gifts division is Ed Swanson. Etchart, in stressing the importance of a new modern hospital said, "Our hospital is one of the essentials needed to maintain Valley County as a full community and it is up to the community to assist in this effort to keep adequate medical care services available to its citizens." Expressing his feelings about the importance of Operations Update to the residents of Valley County Swanson said, "I feel that any person that has their health has nothing to worry about. As a community it is our duty to provide the finest possible medical facilities for Valley County to ensure everyone's good health."

The Hinsdale School has received notice that DeWayne Yeoman, a senior, placed fifth in livestock judging at the Great Falls Fair. Four senior boys from Hinsdale competed. Four sophomore boys from Hinsdale FFA tied for third place in all around judging at the Midland Empire Fair. The Hinsdale team, Marc Aberg, Paul Dull, Steve Lacock and Marlin Mogan tied with the Missoula FFA team which placed first in Great Falls. Forty FFA and 4-H teams competed.

Accepting special Kiwanis Awards for their respective 4-H Clubs are Marie Fewer, president of Cherry Creek Club and Dean Neubauer, president of Highland's 4-H Club, a tie, $45; Marito of Japan, who visited 4-H members here; Jackie Nelson, secretary of the Tampico Boys Club, $30; Jeanette Sweeting, president of the Frazer Futurettes, $20; and Shirley Fewer, Valley County 4-H Council vice president. The awards were presented at the Kiwanis meeting.