View From The Bridge 9/2/09

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
by Muncie Morger
9/2/09

LONGHORNS
What a great turnout for the first game of the season at Centerville. The team certainly had a great deal of support from their devoted families and fans. Who even knew there was a Centerville and where it was? We now know and it lies in a little secluded valley just south of Great Falls. While sitting in the stands, we were facing a high hill. There were horses on the hill and they put on quite a show galloping down the hill to the water trough. It became very hot as the afternoon wore on and it was a long game. One would think that it would be shorter as everything else is shorter…the width and length of the field (a try here at a little humor.)

It is very uncomfortable when anyone of the players is injured and there were a few of those incidences. To the injured players, get lots of good rest, and we will see you again this coming Friday night at our home field. It must take a bit of adjustment on your part, to play 8-man instead of 11-man. Go horns, we are so proud of you.

COMMUNITY BUS
I have the names, this past week, of six (6) people who would like to ride the Community Bus to the away football games. I need seven (7) more commitments before any arrangements can be made. Perhaps I was not very clear about who could ride the bus…it was not just for seniors but for anyone who would like to ride.

There are two (2) Varsity away games. The first is with Belt (Friday, October 2) and Chester (Friday, October 23) at 7:30 in the evening which means driving back to Fort Benton in the dark. The other away Varsity game at 1:00 p.m. is in Stanford (Saturday, September 12.) If there is a need for the bus for JV games, you will have to contact me to make the arrangements. Just remember that you will need thirteen (13) people.

PHOTOGRAPHERS
Did you happen to see the group of photographers around town and camped in the Park at the end of last week? They were from the University of Montana’s Journalism Department doing a photo documentary about Fort Benton. There were twelve (12) specific photographic assignments such as following Burnt Spoon on his Old Fort Tour, following the EMT’s, following Bob Doerk to see the Hornaday Buffalo/Archives offices, and the Golden Age Center to mention a few.

I was able to converse with two photographers. The first was a young woman, Emily, who had just moved to Montana eight days before. I told her how lucky she was to be in the most wonderful town in Montana before any other town. She came from North Carolina to Missoula to the University of Montana and it was quite an adventure for her. She was in awe of our state but was a bit apprehensive about the winters. She came from an area were they do not know snow. Since I was not sure about Missoula winters, I could not assure her that she could handle it. Does Missoula have Chinooks?

I met the second photographer at the Studio Salon. Austin was assigned to work with the EMT’s and had come into the shop with Debbie Gessaman to talk with Kim Pimperton. They had an EMT call at 5:30 that morning and they were a wee bit tired. I asked if he knew William Marcus who produces the “Backroads of Montana” program for PBS. (If you do not watch this program, you are missing a real treat. It usually comes on Saturday at 5:30 on PBS.) The young man said, “No, but I covered all the back roads in the Knees yesterday.” Emily said she would contact me with the web site that they were setting up. The pictures they took should be on that web site soon. Will keep you informed.

MEMORIAL PLAQUES
The Memorial Plaques were being held because two of the benches are not yet in place (at the Ag Center…not the Levee…to whom it may concern.) Today (Sunday) I took the list and the plaques to Myrna and Denny Allen (my super-gluers) for application to the benches and tables. The weather is a consideration and barring very hot or rainy weather, the plaques will be on soon. When you take your walks or have a picnic lunch at a table, please remember those loved ones named on the plaques. The plaques (they are 8 in. x 10 in.) on Mary Tanner’s table across from the Freeze (where she used to sit when she had an ice cream treat) and at the Sunrise Bluffs are a history lesson. Her daughters did a wonderful job of writing a tribute of her fascinating story.

RAGLAND GROCERY
At Marion Smith’s funeral luncheon, Madeline Ragland introduced me to her daughter, Ginger who lives in Townsend, MT in the summer and Peoria, AZ during the terrible blizzard time in MT during the winter (this statement is for all those unlucky people who do not live here.) She wanted to tell me how pleased the family was that their Memorial Bench was placed across the street from where the grocery store was located. (It is the bench next to the Old Bridge and the grocery store was in the back end of the Benton State Bank building.)

She then related a story about the Old Bridge and the Ragland Grocery Store. When the farmers came across the bridge with their truckloads of grain, they would stop in front of the grocery store and Madeline would take their hand written lists from them. Upon the farmers return from the elevator, the orders would be delivered right to the truck so they did not have to get out of the vehicle. Those were the days that were known as “The Good Old Days.” That is a great story and I again urged the Raglands to bring their stories and pictures to the Joel Overholser Research Center for the archives. This goes for all of you who are interested in preserving the history of your family, Fort Benton, Chouteau County and the State of Montana.

SEPTEMBER
It is my favorite month of the year. It is still summer by the calendar but the nights are cool. All the meetings start so one can visit with their friends they may not have seen all summer. Actually, we cannot say that here in Fort Benton, can we because we had so many activities going on these last few months. However, it begins a flurry of activities that will last until next summer. There is no slowing down time, so enjoy every minute of every day. The leaves on the trees will slowly begin to turn and before you know it, they are ablaze with color. It is time to get your snow shovels from their storage place and put the snow/ice scrappers in your vehicles (just in case.) Have your antifreeze checked and your “survival kit” to contain a flashlight (extra batteries), a candle, matches, a blanket or two, a shovel, a covered pail with sand and most of all…food. Don’t you just hate it when I remind you of things like this?

SO LONG FOR NOW
If you smiled all day on Tuesday, September 1st, then keep up the good work. Along with the smile, do one good deed a day even if it is a phone call to a friend, someone who has been ill or someone in need. God bless America, Fort Benton, Chouteau County, and Montana.