View From The Bridge 8/14/13

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
8/14/13

OOPS!
Due to a lack of communication, the hundred year old photo of the cottonwood trees was not printed although no one called me about it being missing.   (I will blame Tim and Tim can blame me.)  If you remember the pictures was shown to me by Jack Lepley who found it in the Ag Museum archives.  I counted approximately 30 trees and today there are 16 trees remaining.  They are over 100 years old and are not in the best of condition.  Several of them are going to be removed. 

The arborist is returning soon and will use a lift truck to further assess the condition of the trees.  It will probably take place in the fall.  It is a “wait and see situation.”  I am not a “wait and see” person.  I am impatient and want it done yesterday.  I need to learn patience.  Can anyone help me with that?

SCHOOLHOUSE AUTHOR
 Charlotte Caldwell is returning to Fort Benton on Friday, August 16th.  She will be at the Chouteau County Library at 2:00 p.m.  The Friends of the Library’s motto is, “Be a friend and bring a friend.”  We love our Friends time each month from September to May.  Charlotte’s book is what is called a coffee table book.  It is a treasure about still standing schoolhouses in Montana and should be displayed for everyone to see.   

LIONS COMMUNITY CALENDAR
 I have missed my calendar and am happy to report that they have been printed and will be available for delivery before September.  If you had forgotten to order your calendar, there is an adequate supply for you to avail yourself of.  If you are new in town or have never known about this fund raising project of the Lions Club, and wish to be on next years calendar, please call Larry Bauer at 622-2003.  It is very nice to have folks in town wish you a happy birthday, happy anniversary, or any other happy occasion.  I just have to add this and it is that everyone knows my birthday.  If you do not, it is 9/9/29 and it will be two years since Garth Brooks gave me his guitar.  Actually he did not contact me on my last birthday.  He must be kind of busy with his farm and three daughters to remember my 15 minutes of fame.  Oh well, I do not fuss over his birthday either.
 
The Lions appreciate your support of their fund raising projects.

CHOUTEAU COUNTY FAIR
Think musical notes, “Meet me in Fort Benton, Benton, meet me at the Fair. Don’t tell me the lights are shining, anywhere but there.”  The 101st Fair is here at last and deserves a lot of support from the community.  There is so much to do if you just peek into all the buildings.  I said it before and I’ll say it again, the best part is visiting with family, friends, and neighbors.  In the winter we do not see them because it is too cold.  In the summer we do not see them because it is too hot.  Come on, make up your mind to get to the Fair and have the best time you can possibly have.  It won’t be around again until next year.

WELCOME WAGON
Did you know that we have a Welcome Wagon in Fort Benton?  If you know of a new resident to Fort Benton, please give Nancy LaChapelle a jingle at 868-6210.  She will arrange a visit and give them a little bag of goodies.  One of the best goodies is a free pass to the Museums (including the Village,), the Old Fort Benton, and the Upper Missouri Interpretive Center.  It cannot get any better than that.

MEMORIAL BENCH PROJECT
The Memorial Bench and Table project has come to a close.  This does not mean however, that you cannot do a Memorial Bench or Table.  There have been three more requests for memorials and what I can do is give you free advice on how to go about it.   You can also consult with Skip Ross about where a bench or table could be placed. Please feel free to contact us. 

Another option is a memorial tree if you have a memorial in mind.  On the Levee it would have to be a male cottonwood but in any other location it would be a tree of your choice.  There are also brass tree plaques.  We had a flowering crab tree planted in front of the high school in memory of daughter, Audra Morger Bonilla, and Jeanette takes loving care of it.  It is growing well and soon will provide shade on office windows.  Perhaps benches last longer but at the present time we need trees.  Keep this in mind because you never know when you may need the information.

ANGELS AMONG US
Yes, there are.  Their names are EMTs, Volunteer Firemen, Meal-on-Wheel food deliverers, Visitor Information Center Greeters, every volunteer of all non-profit organization, and any other volunteers.  You are the “Do Good-ers,” of the community and I do not know what we would do without you.  Please know that even though you do not always get thanked, we do appreciate you and I award you all “Angel,” awards.  You may not receive it today or tomorrow, but someday you will.  Thank you again for all you do.

VISITORS CENTER
At the Center there is a set of children’s chairs and a small table.  One of the chairs was badly broken and the repair jobs were botched so it could not be glued one more time.  I gave the chair to Wayne Hampton and a few days later he delivered it to my home.  He managed to attach the chair back by somehow getting the old glue and wood chips out of the holes.  It looks just great and there is now a place for two children to sit instead of one.  We sure appreciate you Wayne.  I imagine that if Wayne can make a harp, he is good at repairing chairs.

OUR LADY OF THE ROCKIES
Kathy and Cal Nelson recently returned from a trip that included going to the top of a 9,000 ft. mountain to see our Lady of the Rockies and the Chapel.  The Chapel walls include the names of thousands of women in memory.   Kathy was thrilled to find her mother’s name.  They are listed alphabetically by the year of passing.

When I visited Our Lady about 15 years ago, there were 17,000 names listed.  I called the office to see if someone could tell me how many names there are now.  I was not able to find the information I wanted.  I’ll try again but not on a weekend because those in the know were not there.  I believe that there must be thousands more names in the 15 years since I was there.

The “BACKROADS of Montana” on PBS features an interesting segment on the building of Our Lady some 30 years ago.  If you are planning a trip to the Butte area, visit Our Lady.  She looks so tiny up on top of that mountain but you will look like an ant when you stand below her.  It is an inspiring trip.  (Sorry, you male readers, you will have to build your own memorial.)

MT – LOVE IT OR LEAVE!
I did have one person tell me that they really enjoyed the quotes.  Here is the 3rd one for a good laugh.  “You say our lakes smell bad to you.  They smell like money to us.  Ger over it.” 
GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, and WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS.

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
5/9/12

MOTHER’S DAY
Please remember your Mom on Mother’s Day.  I see a bit of a conflict with Fort Benton High School Graduation on the same day; however, I know that you will work it out.  In my opinion, the best thing you can do is not make her cook breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Either take her out or cook for her.  Also, do not let her wash a single dish, load the dishwasher, or unload the dishwasher.  This is strictly my opinion and is what I would enjoy.  I hope all you mothers agree with me. Happy Mothers Day and enjoy every minute of the day just doing nothing. You can make it up on Father’s Day next month.

PLANTER PROJECT
Don Hazen filled the planter this past week with natural grass and plants.  It looks just as beautiful as I knew it would.  There will be some colorful flowers planted soon.  A drip line has yet to be installed and some cracks in the cement filled in.  It is ready for Memorial Day. Take a ride by and look.  What a difference from those overgrown junipers and telephone poles.

This project was initiated by the F.B.I.  They are an outshoot of the C.I.A.  The C.I.A. is The Community Improvement Association and the F.B.I. is The Fort Benton Idealists committee.  The General Federation of Woman’s Clubs supported the project financially with monies from a fundraiser.  The F.B.I. appreciates their financial support that lends itself to the beautification of our city.

I also want to mention the fabulous job the Fort Benton High School students did on Longhorn Day.  If it were not for you students, none of it would be done.  It is just too big a job for a few individuals.  You all know how I feel about beautification and clean-up.  Just wanted you all to know how your energies made Fort Benton a better place in which to reside.

SERVICE HONORED
Have any of you with a United States Service record ever had anyone say thank you for that service?  I have thanked Servicemen and women in Great Falls when I see them on the street.  I ask them if they have been deployed or if they are about to be deployed. However, I never thought about thanking the old timers until the Service Photo Program began.

Last Saturday evening we went out for dinner.  Greg Bouchard brought a young man over to our table and introduced him.  Greg also informed us that this young man was paying for our dinner.  He wanted to thank Wally for his service and that he appreciated what our protectors have done and are doing for our country.  He himself had never been in the service but his father was a WWII Veteran. This man, his wife, and daughter live in Great Falls and were just passing through.  We were in the right place at the right time.  I hope that you readers realize how this kindness affected our life.

I think that I have thanked all the participants in the Service Photo Project but I want to thank them again.  The best part of the whole project was the reading of the bios.  I would like to again, invite you to the Sunrise Bluffs on Memorial Day to view the pictures and listen to a veteran from each war tell a short story.  We owe them the privilege of speaking English instead of Japanese or German.  We owe them the everlasting remembrance of those that died for our country.  That is why we celebrate Memorial Day.  Celebrate it with thanksgiving for the country we have today.

We had to have a clock repaired last week and when I came out of the World of Time, there was a man talking to Wally who was waiting in the car.  It turns out that he is the owner of the Army and Navy Surplus store, opened about six months ago, next to the World of Time.  He and his daughter saw our license plate and stopped to chat. When I told him about the Photo Project and the plans for the reception we had planned for Memorial Day, he said that he would be here in Fort Benton that day.  He has a great admiration for our United States Services.  His daughter took our picture to show to her friends at school.  She will make them aware of what WWII was all about.  We, again, were in the right place at the right time.

MAY 5th
I have to tell some secrets here that happened that evening.  Cindy Lenington was at Ma’s with family and friends celebrating her birthday, Marta Ferguson was celebrating her birthday with her parents, Judy and Doug, who will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary at the end of the month.  It was a fun evening   Sing “Happy Birthday” to Cindy and Marta the next time you see them. They deserve many kudos from the community.  To Judy and Doug…you should write a book on “How to Stay Married for 50 Years.”  I am sure it would be a best seller for the young people today.  The divorce rate is out of hand with that rate pushing way past 50%.  Enough said.

LEVEE TRAIL

When I walked the Trail last Friday, as usual I met someone who visits Fort Benton often.  She lives in Havre and each time she goes by on the highway, she drops down into town.  She thinks that Fort Benton is the best little town around.  She walks the Trail from one end to the other with her dog, Pearl, who is blind.  She said so many complimentary things about our town that I wished I could record them so everyone could listen.  She had been in Great Falls for two days conducting a workshop and was anxious to get out and stretch after sitting for a length
of time.

I left her at the Grand Union corner and we both said we would like to meet each other again someday.  I invited her to Summer Celebration and asked her to watch the newspaper for other events, times, and dates.  She is very involved in her community organizations and just joined the Chamber of Commerce in Havre.  She will read this article on the Fort Benton web site.

MEMORIAL BENCH PROJECT
I am finally wrapping up this project.  It was closed almost a year ago however, there were some plaques that needed replacing.  They were ordered but were not picked up from Identity Printing because colder winter weather had set in.  The Allen’s tried to apply the plaques when we had a warm spell a few weeks ago and found that the cement was still too cold.  They will try again tomorrow.  That plus closing out the accounts will be the end of an era.  Those benches will be there long after we are gone.  Strangers will look at the names and wonder who these people were and what they had to do with the community.  It will be the same situation with the bricks in the Shep Courtyard. It will be a part of history and I am grateful to all those who purchased benches and tables.  They beautified the Levee Trail and are used often by runners, walkers, and bicyclist.
 
ADOPT-a-PLOT
There are still several plots to be adopted.  Jim and Caroleen Willets graciously offered to adopt one.  Now is the time to “just do it.”  Weeds are growing and the plots need to be fertilized.  Several plots are just cleanup and not much maintenance.  Aren’t you anxious to get your fingers into the dirt?

NY TIRES
All right Ed Fike, what does NY stand for in the name of your store? Well, I found out today that it is Now
Your Tire Store.  Many people I spoke with panicked when they heard that the tire store was going out of business.  Where would we be able to have a tire fixed or purchase new tires when needed?  We wanted to shop local of course.
 
I had two tires that kept losing air and I purposely waited for May 1st. I saw the ad in the River Press that it was opening day for NY Tires. I meandered over to NY on opening day and found that I did not have too much of a problem.  The tires were repaired with a suggestion that I may need two tires by next winter.  (I thoroughly agreed with that suggestion.)

The surprise about that visit was the new owner is Ed Fike.  I knew the face but could not remember where I knew him.  It turned out that he and Wally were inducted into the American Legion at the same time.  Ed is easy to deal with and a responsible young man.  He assured me that he would be joining the Chamber of Commerce. Good luck Ed.  I was completely satisfied with your service.

P.B.S.
Two weeks from today, (Wednesday May 23rd,) will be the airing of the segment about Wayne Hampton.  This is just a reminder to put it on your calendar.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS.