View From The Bridge 1/12/2011

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
1/12/11

LABELS FOR EDUCATION
Do you save “Labels for Education” that are on cans and boxes of grocery items? This article is an awareness alert to remind you readers the benefits for the Fort Benton Elementary School. It is not a new concept but one that perhaps when not brought to mind, can slip your mind. The Labels for Education has been in effect for many years to earn educational merchandise for schools. The last time these labels were turned in from the Elementary School, it netted the school $100.00.

These labels are on cans of Campbell soups, jars of Prego Sauces, Spaghettio’s, Pepperich Farms products, Swanson products, V-8, Post cereals, Bic products, and Pop- Secret. There are also many other services that provide coverage and more on that next week when Karen Giles and Corrine Davis (the school rep for the labels) have checked out the possibilities.

In Sunday’s Tribune coupon pages, there was an ad (look for it) for 100 bonus points if you register with eLabelsForEducation.com. Go to the website if you want to check it out for yourself. As far as I can understand, you will get a Swipe Shopper card application at the service desk of the store where you shop. Lots more on this next week but in the meanwhile…collect those labels.

For years, I took the whole Campbell soup labels to the Elementary School. It was about a year ago that I learned that I only needed to cut out the Label for Education. If you have been saving these labels, please turn them into the school by February 18th. Credit is given to the schools twice a year and that is the deadline for this six-month period. Talk about it to your friends and neighbors because they may already have labels saved or will begin saving. Let us see how much better we can do than $100.00.

VETERANS PHOTOS
You are procrastinating Folks. You have promised me photos and bios and I am still waiting to hear from you. I need 5 x 7 vertical black/white or colored photos of your Veteran or Serviceperson and if possible in uniform. Also, as important are the biographies and by this I mean a record of their service. Include date of induction, where they were stationed, overseas duty, and discharge date. Other pertinent information should also be included. If you have sent pictures and not the bios, I need them now as my committee and I are ready to put them on special paper and then into a special notebook.

The photos (135 at this time) have all been scanned and prepared for hanging. The next step in the process is to type in the bios. If I do not hear from you about the bios, I will be printing your names in the View. Unfortunately, I did not tell the other collection places, (The Sunrise Bluffs, The Research/Ag Center and the River Press staff,) to obtain a name and telephone number from the person bringing the photos in. Therefore, I have no way to get in touch with many of the photos. I have the names but cannot find a family to match the name in the phone book. If you brought in a picture without a bio, please contact me. My phone number is in the book (after 2:00 p.m.) I will appreciate it.

WEATHER, WETHER OR NOT
The following will be some quotes from Old-Timers:

Doris Rowe: “I wish I had stayed in AZ where I was at Christmas time. I just came in the house (Monday afternoon) where I was shoveling snow. I do not mind except for the ice. I am not housebound because a dear friend bought me some spike type things to fit on the bottom of my shoes. I can go to the Post Office, the Price Rite, and I can drive to other places.”

Judy Hazen: “Winter has never been my cup of tea. I have never been interested in winter sports like snowmobiling, skiing, skating, and making a snowman. I am not housebound because I have to get out everyday. It has been quite a few winters since Fort Benton has had it this bad.”

Dusty Kuehner: “I hate winter! I try not to be too cranky about it because complaining doesn’t help anyone but, the fact is, I hate it! The snow is beautiful but I’ve had enough after the first inch. When people say, “Since you hate winter why don’t you go south during the bad weather?” What would I do there? I’d have to take half of Fort Benton with me because the people I want to be with are here. I am grateful for the sun, which ignores snow and cold. While I don’t usually wish time away, I am ready for spring.”

Wally Morger: “ It’s abominable. We have been spoiled for quite a few years and we were due for this snow accumulation. I don’t ever remember in my 87 years, of this much snow, this early, and piled as high as it is.”

Muncie: “We are somewhat house-bound, not because of the snow but because of the ice. We have had to cancel appointments and the drive into Great Falls for a doctor and a VA appointment last Wednesday was a nightmare driving experience. I misunderstood a road conditions report in the morning that the roads were not good from Fort Benton to the 18 Mile curve. It was just the opposite. Just past Carter, the wind began blowing and drifting snow across the road. By the time we reached the 18 Mile curve, we could not see the road. It was that way all the way to Great Falls. The trip home about 10:00 p.m. was even worse. There were two vehicles off the road…one just happened and the other was being towed out. I could only drive 35m.p.h. When we reached Carter, I shifted out of 4-wheel drive and continued at 60m.p.h. to home. It only took us 1 ½ hrs.”

SO LONG FOR NOW
Keep busy, do lots of catching up, keep smiling, and do not get cranky like Dusty. It does not help a bit but we love her anyway. I would go south with her and half of Fort Benton. According to reports, it is going to turn really cold in the coming days. A week from Friday is Pie Day at the Golden Age and that will be a wonderful blues chaser.

GOD BLESS AMERICA