View From The Bridge 9-26-18

VIEW from the BRIDGE
By Muncie
9/26/18

BUS/VAN NEWS
The bus is off and running on October 2nd and pickup is at the Chouteau County Library. The time is 8:00 AM to 8:l5 AM. and will return to Fort Benton by 3:00 PM.

Make your appointments from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00. Call Kellie at the Court House to make arrangements. Her number is 622-3022.  Have a wonderful trip.

ONLY IN MONTANA
This following article was posted on the internet from a Jessica Wick who is a writer and travel enthusiast.

“The remarkable bridge in Montana that everyone should visit at least once,” is the beginning of the Facebook article.

If you know anything about Montana history, you know that Fort Benton plays a huge role in it. Once the last fur trading post on the Upper Missouri, this little city is a historic gem. While you are there exploring all the landmarks and sights, don’t forget to check out the iconic bridge.

The iconic Benton Bridge spans the Missouri River and is visible the entire riverfront area.

The bridge dates all the way back to 1888. Originally, the structure was used as a toll bridge to connect Judith River Basin trade with the Great Northern Railroad and Missouri River shipping. That is why it earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Vehicles have not been allowed on the bridge since 1963 and as you can see, hat is a good thing. Pedestrians however, are welcome, and the views from the bridge are gorgeous. The bridge is only one of the historical landmarks in Fort Benton

It is known as the Bridge to No Where because it ends abruptly. Once you cross it, you’ll be on the other side of the river with no road or path before you.

Every Montana should see Fort Benton at least once, especially this beautiful bridge.

MUNCIE’S INVITATION
Once you have visited Fort Benton you will want to return again and again. Our Agricultural Museum the old time Village, the Museum of the Upper Missouri, the rebuilt Old Fort Benton with its art gallery, and the fabulous Upper Missouri River Interpretive Center.

Tickets are for two days so come for a minication (a new word I made up). There are wonderful accommodations available. Check out our website and Hope to see you soon before the leaves are gone with the wind.

FASHION SHOW
On Sunday September 30th there will be a ladies afternoon at the Wake Cup Coffee Shop at 3:00 p.m.  A Fall Fashion Show will get you better prepared for fall. It will cheer you up and renew your spirits.

There is nothing better than a new dress, blouse, vest, or jacket to make you want to get out and about.

So, invite a family member or your best friend to come along and enjoy a pleasant afternoon. You will be home before dark and in time for an entire evening relaxed.
Make plans now by putting this date on your calendar. See you there.

LIONS CLUB
At our monthly meeting last week, we were pleasantly surprised by the visit of Verna Love. She will be the head of Lions Clubs next year and is now in Dillion, MT.  She was a delight to listen to and the information she passed on to us was incredible. She praised our Club as the best one that she had ever visited.

Her story about her coming to Montana from CA on business is one I am passing along. She had never been to Montana before and actually did not know where it was. That is usually the case with people from back east. I did the same thing in 1987 when my daughter called and said she was getting married and moving to Great Falls, MT. I said, “Where?”  I had never met anyone from Montana and when I drove across the country from the Detroit area to California, I crossed through Utah.

She arrived in our state and immediately falls in love with it. She called her sister to pick up her car at the airport and she still does not have her car back after six years.

She was very excited about what our Lions and Lionesses were accomplishing. Her praise was that we were the most active club in Montana. We hope that she returns soon.

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
I am in complete awe of what I listened to at the annual meeting last week. Organizations brought in their grant applications to the C.I.A. Board members. The applications were read aloud with the requests for grants from Lippard Clawiter for projects they were doing. Who knew! There are so many projects going on that no one is aware of but enjoyed by all. I know that they do not want to blow their own horns and so they quietly do small and large projects.

In December when the grants have been approved, there will be an ad in the River Press giving the names of the organizations, their projects and the amount their grant was approved for.

Did you residents in Carter know that there is a committee that is restoring your Community Hall? Give them a hand because there will be some sort of job that you can do.

Did you residents of Loma know that the Earth Science Museum could use volunteers to keep it open for visitors? Give them a few hours a week. Give back to your community.

Fort Benton can always use volunteers and there are always projects going on. At this time there is work being done on the Baker House. It is the oldest home in Montana and it is very old. The porch and sidewalk leading to the porch were replaced this summer by an Eagle Scout. However, the material was supplied by the C.I.A.

The C.I.A. recently had a membership drive and it was not as successful as in previous years. Would you reconsider your donation to the C.I.A.?

If you are disgruntled about something that is going on in town then come to the C.I.A. meeting and let it be known.

This next statement will get me a lot of friends I am sure. “Those that complain the most, do the least.” If you have something to complain about, then try to come up with a solution. As President Lincoln once said, “You can please some of the people some of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot please all of the people all of the time.”

Unless you put your 2 cents worth of ideas, it will either get done not to your liking or not done at all. Put all this unsolicited nonsense in your hat and think about it. Are you giving back to your community?

NEW BUSINESS
The Rustic Mercantile will be opening on Friday, October 12th. It will feature Antiques and  Home Décor. The location is in the, what I call the mini mall, old schoolhouse. That is the former home of the Wake Cup Coffee Shoppe.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIRE FIGHTERS, AND EMT’s.