View From The Bridge 7/31/19

VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
By Muncie
7-31-19

THE CROSSING CHOIR
Two-time Grammy Award winning Choir “The Crossing Choir” from Philadelphia, PA will be performing in the lobby of the Grand Union Hotel on Wednesday July 31, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. You won’t want to miss this fantastic performance.

SUMMERTIME
It is here at last with huge heat waves. Are you finding that “the livin’ is easy”? Several folks said to me that they would like to bottle up the heat for next winter. (I’ll buy some stock in that if you come up with the solution.) There is not much moving around in town. Readers must be holed up with their air conditioning, if you are lucky enough to have it.

For several weeks I could not figure out why my Weather Stations were reading the same temperature outside as inside. I finally realized that the outside gadgets were inside because I brought them in to install new batteries and hadn’t taken them back outside. They were immediately up to par when I returned them outside and they now read the same as the weather on the Fort Benton web site. I have a difficult time keeping up with this modern day tech stuff. (I enjoyed my new computer until we came to odds about spell check. Did we older folks spell words differently than today? I always end up in my old dictionary. I also have trouble with words like apps and, download, and help. I can never find the help that I need. Oh well, I am so fortunate that I have Bethany, Conlee, Zack, and Sharalee who edit for me. (Keep up the good work with my sincere gratitude. 

CINNAMON ROLLS
Last Friday was the best turnout for Cinnamon Rolls at the Golden Age Senior Center ever. Betty baked 3 huge baking sheets of the rolls and there was only one left. You are Queen of the Cinnamon Rolls Betty and we all love you. I am not taking any credit but several people did tell me that they were there because I wrote about it the week before. Thank you Bill for showing up because of the View. I will remind you readers next month

WHAT I DISCOVERED
I have five bird feeders but I only fill one of them.  It is located in the front of my living room window. The others four are off the deck in the back of the apartment. I stopped filling those a long time ago because large black birds would come to feed and chase the little birds away. For several months this past spring I did not have any birds at all. Then all of a sudden they began visiting the feeder every day.

Again the same problem arose where the big black birds would chase the little ones away. I finally realized what was happening. I was filling the feeder with a pint of sunflower seeds and a pint of regular bird seed. One day I forgot to put in the sunflower seeds and no big birds came to feed.  The little finches, sparrows, and barn swallows fed easily. I really enjoy watching them fly in and out. I just wish that I was able to hear their songs like I used to hear the meadowlarks while on the mail route.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
This yearly entertainment in the Fort Benton Park is on its way. On Thursday August 8th at 6:00 p.m. the performance will begin. At 5:00 p.m. Farmer’s Market and a Taste of Chouteau County, with lots of food to enjoy, will also be in the park. You can enjoy all the great food while you enjoy the actors and actresses do their thing.
             
So, come on along with your lawn chairs and a good appetite. If I remember correctly there are wonderful pieces of pie available amongst other good food to please everyone’s menu choice.
             
Do you realize how fortunate we are here in the small town of Fort Benton to have events going on all the time?  I hope that you are taking advantage of the work that goes into getting these events together. It is all volunteer work and many hours are put into the planning. A huge thanks  to all those events planners because without you no events would be happening.

VISITORS CENTER
I checked with one of the regular volunteers at the Visitors Center and he seemed to think that Visitors (some call them tourists,) have increased this year. If you did not know, the Visitors come from all over the world. I miss my time at the Center because of that reason. (I retired this season.) I miss their stories and adventures. I still have the pleasure of talking to Visitors when I am downtown. If they have the museum tags on I engage them in conversation. I spoke to a lovely young woman, now from California, but born and raised in Shelby, Mt.
She had a Montana Map and said she plans to visit every little city in Montana. She had always wanted to visit Fort Benton but had never had the opportunity. She was so interesting and I wish we had a longer time to visit.
             
She like so many people went by us on Highway 87 but never dropped down to the best kept secret in Montana, that being Fort Benton. I hope that our new signs on the highway interest Visitors to drove down a few miles to see how beautiful the “Birthplace of Montana” offers. However, the best way to get the word out is by word of mouth so talk it up readers…loud and clear.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREMEN AND WOMEN, FIRE FIGHTERS AND EMT’S.

View From The Bridge 8/5/15

VIEW from the BRIDGE
By Muncie
8/5/15

AUGUST MOON
What a treat to see the Full (Blue) Moon on the 29th of July. The sky was perfectly clear that evening and it rose above the bluffs about 9:30 or thereabouts. By midnight it was high in the sky and that was the last I saw of it. This month it will be full on the 29th again.

The August Moon is called the Sturgeon Moon. The fishing tribes were given credit for naming the moon because sturgeon, a large fish, was readily caught in the Great Lakes and other large bodies of water. Another name is the Full Red Moon because as it rises it appears to be reddish through any sultry haze. Other tribes called it the Green Corn Moon or the Grain Moon.

RATTLESNAKES
I made a trip to the Sheriff’s office that houses the fascinating room where the 911 calls come in. I was checking to check out that my Freedom Alert was working properly.

The week before Summer Celebration I told you the story about a young boy who was bitten by a rattler in Big Sandy. The Responders could not reach him and Mercy Flight was called to transport him to Great Falls.

That was the weekend of the Big Sandy High School reunion where three of my granddaughters graduated. When they returned from the festivities, I asked if anyone mentioned the boy who was bitten. No one heard any reports nor was there any info in the newspapers.

Last Friday when I went to the Sheriff’s office, I asked about the boy who was bitten. The reason the Mercy Flight had to transport him was because he was on a canoe trip on the remote part of the Missouri River. He is doing fine and that is a little more information than I knew before. Did you remember the incident?

SHAKESPEARE in the PARK
The year has rolled around again and Thursday you can enjoy the Taste of Chouteau County, the Farmer’s Market, and Shakespeare in the Park in the Old Fort Benton Park. I refer to it as a dinner theatre. Choose your dinner from a great menu of local restaurants and local food vendors and then enjoy the performance. What more could you ask for, lounging on your own chairs and eating outdoors? (Remember your bug spray.)

The weather promises to be much cooler than it was at Summer Celebration time. Enjoy because the next entertainment will be the Chouteau County Performing Arts starting in October.

CCPA
Mentioning the Chouteau County Performing Arts above reminds me that season tickets are now available. They are discounted if you buy before the first performance. There will be a CCPA table at Thursday festivities at the Old Fort Park. I would like to see every seat sold out at the Fort Benton Elementary School. If you have not yet seen the newly upholster seats, you have a pleasant surprise. They are beautiful as well as very comfortable.

The dates and performers were listed in last week’s edition. The schedule looks fantastic and you have a choice to pick and choose the ones you would like to attend. However, buy a seasons ticket to support the CCPA. See you there.

WALKING
I am walking at the Ag Museum every day now because the high school is closed. They are working on the floors and want them to dry for two weeks because that is when football practice begins. Can you believe that school begins this month and there will be a football game? I am looking forward to the end of the month because it will be cooling off. (Sorry Kids, the summer is going so quickly.)

Since I walk at the Ag Museum, I will be seeing football practice out there on the football field. In case you are not familiar with Fort Benton, the High School football field is across the street from the Ag Museum.

I am starting the View on Saturday, the 1st, and at 5:00 p.m. my three weather stations registered 102 degrees. It is way too hot for me and perhaps next summer I will have to spend it in Iceland. Who is coming with me?

SUKOKU
Hey River Press. Thank you for that puzzle two weeks ago. (You didn’t have one last week.) That is my kind of puzzle. I never got into crossword puzzles. I am not smarter than a 5th grader. I really enjoyed my Sukoku and hope you find space to do it again. Anyone else out amongst you readers who would comment on it?

CATHOLIC RECTORY
It is obvious that most people in Fort Benton think that I know everything. Honestly, I do not and only stumble onto bits of information here, there and everywhere. I was told a couple of weeks ago that “Muncie can get things stirred up.) Yes, I am curious but usually get answers long before I began to look for them.

As for the Catholic Church Rectory, I did delve into what is happening because I was being inundated with questions about it. I called the Fultz’s today and Diana was most gracious as to my “nosey” questions.

Yes, the rectory is ready to move having been detached from the foundation. They are waiting on the moving company to set a date. I had read in the River Press a paragraph about not being able to move the buildings down the street. They were to be moved down the alley.  ????? What was that all about? What alley?

Diana clarified the situation by telling that the garage will be moved first down the alley to 16th St. and then to St. Charles north. That will make room to move the rectory the same way.

I told Diana that most everyone wants to watch. We should make a big event out of it with food and drinks along the way as we follow along. (I hope it isn’t scheduled for a hot day.)  So, now you know what I know and just learned. The event is something to look forward to. It isn’t often that a house is moved.

The next move is up to the hospital/clinic. I have been told that there will be another public hearing. We are up in the air about when and what there is to learn.

50’s HOME SCHOOLED
My father taught me JUSTICE. “One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.” (I wish I had a dime for every time I heard that.)

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, OUR POLICE FORCES, and WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS.

View From The Bridge 8/3/2011

VIEW from the BRIDGE
By Muncie
8/3/11

AND THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN
Last Wednesday afternoon, the walls of the building behind the Laundromat fell with a huge thunder like sound. It appeared to me that there were about six men working that afternoon. Formerly, two workers had done most of the leveling work. The walls were gutted and all that remained were the support structures for the roof and of course the roof.

They began removing the back wall structures and when the final one was removed, the back half of the roof collapsed. I missed seeing it by seconds as I had just driven by, parked in our driveway, and gotten out of the truck when I heard the thunder sound.

The roof then was supported by the front structures. I did see the front part of the roof collapse when they removed those front structures. It was not quite as loud but it was a remarkable sight. It is a feeling of missing something that we have been looking at every day for years. Change is the name of the game.

The question I would like to clarify (it has been asked of me many times,) “Is that building an historic one?” The answer is a bit vague however; it is not on the National Registry of Historic buildings. Court House information established that it is 111 years old having been built in 1900. It is historic in structure but not in any other capacity. Owners of private property can do what they wish with their property and the decision was made because of the poor condition of the building. (There were many critters and creatures squatting as if they belonged there.)

Did you know that property in Fort Benton was not zoned until 1978? Amazing fact. Eight individuals have owned that corner property since that time. I would have to go back to the Courthouse to find information about who owned it from 1900 to 1978. I will check on that at another time.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL
This is just a reminder because it is the same day as the River Press is due out. On the 10th of August, the Golden Age Senior Center is having a really true, homemade ice cream social. It will be from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

It is a fundraiser for the Center and your support is welcome. It is not just for seniors. Youngsters and mothers with children are welcome. I know how the kiddos love ice cream. It will acquaint them with the seniors and the Center. It is like gramma and grandpa’s place. See you there.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
Another reminder about the dates of this event and The Taste of Chouteau County. It will be Thursday, the 11th of August at 5:00 p.m. for The Taste of Chouteau County and 6:00 p.m. for Shakespeare in the Park. The reminder is because you may not pick up your River Press from the Post Office until Thursday. You also might read it until evening and then it would be too late to get to the Old Fort Park.

Show your support for these events that require hours of preparation by not only the actors/actresses but for our Fort Benton volunteers who make all the arrangements. I should also include the businesses who provide the food for The Taste of Chouteau County and the vendors who participate in the Farmers Market.

We have a unique little town. Most of the visitors who visit here would like to move here. We have a beautiful town and we are out of reach historically with any other city in Montana. I know that you know about those descriptions but it is a reminder to reflect on it occasionally.

If you have ever lived in a big city, you know what I am talking about when I say that you have no space to breathe. You travel from one city into the next. I had a visitor on Sunday who came from the Detroit area as I did. We talked about going on I-75, which runs from the Michigan Upper Peninsula to Florida. As you travel north from Detroit to the Mackinaw Bridge on I-75, you are on a divided highway. There are trees, trees, and more trees on both sides of the road. It is boring, boring, and more boring a ride. You have to exit the freeway to all the towns that cannot be seen from the highway.

It is not like driving to Great Falls and seeing five mountain ranges. On a good day, you can see the Rockies. It is not like coming over the hill at Highway 87 at 9th St. or 15th St. and seeing Great Falls, the Missouri River, spread out below you. It is not like the drive to Helena that I have heard it is most beautiful canyon road in the United States. In fact, the ride to anywhere in Montana is spectacular. Let us count our blessings for Fort Benton and Montana.

TRAVEL MONTANA
A while back, I talked about the afternoon quite a few of us spent learning about “Get Lost in Montana and Found.” Passed out was a descriptive sheet of “Through the Years, Generations at a Glance.” It was most interesting to read about the differences in the generations and I am going to share bits of it at a time because there is so much information.

I will start with the descriptions of the four different categories. The first are the Traditionalists who were born before 1945. Our motto was “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” The second group is the Baby Boomers who were born between 1945 and 1964. Their motto is “Never trust anyone over…60.” The third group is the X Generation born between 1965 and 1980. Their motto is “Is it going to be on the test.” (I do not quite understand that however perhaps someone from that generation will explain it to me.) The fourth group is the Millennials born after 1980. Their motto is “How can I make a difference?” Now, that I understand and applaud them. They are doing an excellent job in the world and are making a difference.

More next week. Are you interested?

AROUND TOWN
To those of you who live elsewhere and do not check the Weather Channel regularly, Fort Benton has been hot. Some love it and some do not. Whatever is your choice, we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. We have had rain, no drought conditions and lots of sunshine. We have had a couple of serious thunder bumpers, a hail storm, the electricity out once for about 45 minutes, and lights have flickered several times. All in all, it has been a fairly normal summer.

Who can believe that school will be starting this month? Since I have a grandson at Carroll College, I know the first football game is September 3rd. He is due back to Helena on the 9th of this month.

I am already thinking about what kind of winter we will have this year. Will it be a repeat?

I found a card in the box with my business cards. It reads, “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.”

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS.

View From The Bridge 7/27/2011

”VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
7/27/11

AGAIN AND AGAIN
By the time, you read this there will be only three or four days left in July. The summer is flying by and harvests are a month behind. If you like it hot, you have gotten your wish. If you do not like it hot, you have to tolerate without too much complaint. After all, we all did want the warm weather after that ungracious winter and spring. Just about the time we thaw out, it will be cold again, so enjoy.

THE COUNTY SHOPPE
Just caught the 5:30 newscast on Friday evening and saw Wanda Diekhans, one of the coop founders, being interviewed. There were several good shots of a variety of artist’s work shown. That ought to bring a few art lovers to visit Fort Benton. Let’s keep wishing all of the artists good luck with their endeavor. It was a great deal of work to set up and decorate. Actually, word of mouth is the best advertisement. I have always said that appearance is everything and The County Shoppe is on top of it.

A NEW ENTREPRENEUR
The Thrift Shop business is being taken over by Vivian Cameron on August 1st. She plans being open Thursday, August the 4th. The regular business hours will be on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Vi will have an Open House as soon as she gets settled.

This business needed a woman’s touch and appearance is everything. She will be adding a “Kiddies Corner,” where children can amuse themselves with books and small games while their parents look around. She plans on a “Brides Aisle,” small furniture, and household items.

Fort Benton needs this type of business and let us support her efforts. Nice clean clothing in good condition and actually every item that is clean and in good condition is welcome.

SOCIAL EVENTS

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
The month of August is going to be an exciting time around town. Shakespeare in the Park (The Merchant of Venice,) will again be presented in Old Fort Park in conjunction with Taste of Chouteau County on Thursday, August 11th.

Last Saturday on PBS program, Backroads of Montana accompanied the Shakespeare in the Parks troupe to Birney, MT. Birney is the smallest community to host the tour and according to the narration, everyone participates. The troupe’s sponsors (I cannot remember their names) have been doing it for over thirty years. Each year as different actors/actresses show up, they become family. They are housed, fed, and made to feel at home. Their hostess was even making last minute phone calls to be sure that every person in town showed up at the performance.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL
The Golden Age Senior Center is having an Ice Cream Social on Wednesday the 10th of August from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Listen up folks. This is homemade ice cream and it is awesome. Put the date on your calendar and do not miss this once a year event. Invite everyone you know.

CHOUTEAU COUNTY FAIR
The following week will be the Chouteau County Fair. High spots for me are the Pig Wrestling, The Ringling Five, and the Demolition Derby. However, there is so much more for everyone including the kiddos. Spread the word amongst your family and friends and let us do everything we can to keep this 99-year-old tradition going. Next year will be the 100th anniversary and we cannot let it go away.

The Fair actually begins on Wednesday the 17th of August with the Ringling Five sponsored by the 4-H Clubs. If you have never heard the Ringling Five, you have a real treat in store. They have performed in Fort Benton several times before and you will thoroughly enjoy every minute of their show.

Thursday will introduce a new event and that is a “Bar-B-Q Showdown,” sponsored by The Grocery Store in Big Sandy. I expect that this event will show off all the cooking expertise of our male population. I have often heard some bragging about what experts they are with a steak. This is their chance to see what they can do with a brisket. For details on how to get in on the action, see last weeks River Press.

Of course, the big one for the parents and grandparents is the Pig Wrestling on Friday evening. Let us really support this event this year as last year was a total loss in revenue for the Fair. I cannot imagine that there is anyone that does not know what happened last year. The whole affair was even on the national news. Go pig wrestlers.

The “Play with Gravity” duo sounds exciting but will find me sitting on pins and needles. I will check it out though and just cover my eyes if I cannot stand to watch.

Saturday night will feature a Rodeo and Sunday will end the Fair with the Demolition Derby.

Oh, I forgot to mention the best part of the Fair and that is FAIR FOOD. Everyone I know feels the same about eating food (and lots of it,) that we do not normally eat during the rest of the year. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner for five whole days and again ladies, you do not have to cook for those five days. What fun especially not having to do dishes. There is such a variety of food that you do not have to eat the same thing twice. Go for it…it is only once a year. See you there.

FREEDOM WALK PLEDGES
The American Legion Post 26 of Fort Benton and the Post 102 of Geraldine are holding the Walk on Sunday the 11th of September. It will be the 10th anniversary of 9-11. A Bar-B-Q will honor those who died but area active duty and retired veterans and their families.

Preparations are now being planned and your donations will be most welcome. The Legion has an article in this copy of the River Press for further details.

The Legion will also be working with me to encourage residents to purchase and fly an American Flag on their homes. Ten years ago this would not have been a difficult task and we encourage you to show your patriotism especially at this time of year.

SMALL WORLD STORY
The Visitors Information Center Coordinator, Ruth Carlstrom, passed on this small world story to me this past week.

A visitor from North Carolina came in to the Center who was interested in the Shep story. When she returned home from her trip, she called the Center and Ruth happened to answer the phone. She related the following story to Ruth.

The following Sunday after the woman returned home, the minister at her church told the story of the Faithful Dog in his sermon. He was commenting on the faithfulness of the animal and comparing it to faithfulness that his congregation should strive for in their lives.

The woman went to the minister’s office after the service and told him that the dog’s name was Shep. He asked how she knew that and she told him that she had just returned from the site of Shep’s burial place, the Shep monument, and the brick courtyard.

Her phone call to Ruth was a request for more Shep brochures, Shep booklets, and Shep charms. Now, I would like to know how the minister in North Carolina heard about Shep. It’s a small, small world.

SO LONG FOR NOW
Have a great week and look forward to upcoming events. Drive carefully and think about what you are going to do before you do it. Don’t even think about school starting again. Don’t get too much sun, relax, and enjoy every minute of every day.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS