A View From The Bridge 8/30/17

VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
By Muncie
8/30/17

SUMMER
Did your summer go too quickly as mine? Was it too hot for you? Are you looking forward to fall? I get the same answer from everyone I talk to. “Yes, yes, and yes!”

Looking around I see the Kiddos back in school and the pool closed. These are sure answers to why the summer passed so quickly. The days go by and there is nothing we can do but enjoy…not or cold.

We in Fort Benton have a lot to look forward to; Farmers Market, Labor Day, Bingo, Chouteau County Performing Arts, Halloween, Country Christmas, to mention a few. In your families there will be birthday and anniversary celebrations. Make each and every one count.

I would just like to see happy and content people with smiling faces. There are so many of you with the most wonderful talents. Put them to work for your community and remember I love you no matter what.

LABOR DAY
What does it mean? I only knew that back in Michigan there was a huge parade in the morning and picnics everywhere in the afternoon. So, as I am curious I checked the internet and found the following…Labor Day, the first Monday of September, is the creation of the labor Movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of the American worker.

It constitutes a national yearly tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and the well-being of our country. The first state to pass legislation was Oregon and that began a series of states to do the same. Finally on June 28th of 1894 Congress passed legislation making it a national holiday. (So while you are enjoying your picnic or other kind of celebration that day, remember how it started, what it means, and give thanks for what we have in our country.)

RESTORING
I am really thrilled with the restoring of the old buildings in town. My gratitude goes out to those brave, hard- working individuals who are so willing to save our heritage.

I watch HGTV (Home and Garden TV) often and it is amazing to watch restorers tear a building apart and put it back together again.

I would mention names but I am afraid that I would miss someone. I can count at least 8 and that does not include homes that have been remodeled.

Volunteering at the Visitors Center, I have talked to families that have come to Fort Benton to look for a home. They drive up and down the streets checking out the condition of upkeep. It means a lot when you are investing in purchasing a home.

Our town was called charming recently by an author. It is that and let’s keep it that way with a little work on lawns and landscapes.

FISHERMEN AND WOMEN
I made a phone call to Fish, Wildlife, and Parks in Helena this morning. I wanted to know how many men and women purchased fishing licenses. I was given the figures for 2016 and was amazed. An awesome figure for women was 71,559 and 181,654 men paid for licenses. That is a whopping 253.213 that equates to a quarter of the state’s population. (These figures do not include out of state numbers.)

My next question would be, “How many fish were caught?” I do not think there is an answer to that question but it would be interesting to know.

I also wonder, per capita, how Montana relates to other states. I think I have had enough researching for today. Happy fishing to all and to all happy eating.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, POLICE OFFICERS, EMT’s AND FIRE FIGHTERS. (I am giving up on suggesting that you wear red on Fridays, put a green bulb in your porch light, and fly the American Flag. It doesn’t seem to be making any influence, as a committee sold approximately 350 Support Our Troops shirts and I rarely see one being worn on Fridays. What happened to all of them? I can understand that it would be too much of an effort to put a green bulb in your porch light. However, I cannot understand why you would not fly an American Flag especially after what happened a few weeks ago. I won’t mention those three items again. I promise