INSIDE
REALTORS
Ruff Real Estate LLC........ 4 Koefod Agency................. 6 Northern Land................ 11 Property West................. 17 Flynn Realty................... 19 Keller Williams................ 30 Havre Realty................... 32 Havre Hi-Line Realty...... 34
OFFICE
(406) 265-6795 • 1-800-993-2459
PUBLISHER EDITOR
Stacy Mantle smantle@havredailynews.com
COPY EDITOR
Pam Burke
DESIGN
Stacy Mantle Melanie Gilman Taylor Faulkinberry
ADVERTISING SALES
Jennifer Thompson Hannah Somers
John Kelleher jkelleher@havredailynews.com
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES Mike Hartman mhartman@havredailynews.com
FEATURES
Hi-Line on Real Estate..8-10 Powwow: Custom to Contemporary ...................................13-16 Nate Ramsbacher.......20-21 Great Northern Fair.....24-27
H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
For advertising information, contact Havre Daily News 119 Second Street P.O. Box 431 Havre, MT 59501 406-265-6795
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LIVING MAGAZINE 3
1230 McKinley Avenue ~ $76,000
929 3rd Avenue ~ $125,000
1011 19th Street ~ $165,000
This remarkable split level home is in great condition, a great neighborhood and a great buy. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, recreation room down stairs, double garage and all the appliances stay.
A very very well kept mobile with three bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Sits on its own lot and has big double garage with nice alley access.
Beautiful shop and great home. All new windows, new paint inside and out! With three bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, oversized shop with high sidewalls and all insulated and finished.
3666 28th Avenue SE ~ $167,000
Fresh Remodel with new Furnace, A/C unit, Carpet, Bathrooms, Kitchen and Fence. Double gararge, 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. A very pretty home with great views of town and South Havre.
Beautifully remolded 3 bedroom home. Brand new kitchen, updated bathrooms, and refinished hard wood floors. You must see for yourself what this home owner has done for this home and yard.
325 14th Street West ~ $229,500
55+ Living Town Home BRAND NEW!
1.4 Acres, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Horse friendly acreage. Awesome views from the new deck!
11 Beaver Creek Blvd ~ $215,000
This home was custom built by the owner of a lumber yard and no expense was spared, they don’t make em like that anymore. It is a very, very nice home, 3 bedrooms on the main, master bedroom has master bath, formal dining room to entertain, an over sized double garage and maybe the nicest yard in town!
14 Knob Rd ~ $184,000
A quiet neighborhood for this family home with laundry on the main, 3+1 bedroom, 3 bathroom, w/dbl attached garage. This recently updated home is a good buy for anyone that appreciates the value of nice, quiet nieghborhood.
520 6th Avenue ~ $189,000
2235 9th Avenue
3 bed, 2 bath with double garage. Still time to pick out colors!
Offered at $288,000
460 Lincoln Avenue in Big Sandy
Awesome big heated shop, double garage, two bedrooms on the main, two non-conforming down, big home 1,560 on the main, downstairs 1,080, beautiful yard on two lots with bathrooms and kitchen recently updated.
3+ Acres on Hwy 2 & Airport Road Realtor Owned. $99,000
25+/- Acres
Great possibility for a new Havre Subdivision or build your private estate in town.
36+ Acres in town on Water Tank Road heading to Highland Park offered at $69,700 l 1+ Acre on 2nd Street West asking $18,500 l 3.1 Acres adjacent to Washington and Jefferson Avenue in Highland Park. May split out acre. $90,900
P.O. Box 2150 • Suite A • Havre, MT 59501
CALL uS FOR ALL yOuR REAL ESTATE NEEDS
1310 12th Ave ~ $369,500
Open concept floor plan, master suite, partial basement, brick exterior. Triple heated garge on large corner lot. RV parking, custom built. Over 3,000 sq. ft. on main floor! Becky Ross, Realtor, 390-2599 to view.
1630 Northern Heights Drive $330,000
Newer 2 story home with full basement. Master suite + 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths. Main floor utilities. Formal dining, updated kitchen. 3 stall garage, deck, sprinklers. Becky Ross, Realtor, 390-2599 to view.
1337 Blvd Ave ~ $210,000
Great location in Highland Park! 4 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms with a 2 car garage and a huge shop in the back. Call today for your private showing of this house. Jeff Healy 265-6766 or 390-1966
502 3rd Ave ~ $199,000
609 Montana Ave ~ $129,900
133 8th Street ~ $129,900
Hardwood floors, 3 + 1 bedrooms, 2 baths on corner lot. Garage, sprinklers, 2 fireplaces. Great yard, patio. Call Becky Ross 390-2599 to view.
This gracious and lovely 2 story, 5 bedroom home, with 3.5 baths has just been offered for sale. The owner has created a nice private suite on part of the main floor, so if you are looking for a little income, or a place for a family member to live while occupying the rest of the home, this would be ideal! Full basement and second level are finished and feature sun rooms. Many lovely details throughout. Full basement is partially finished. Serious inquiries only, please. Contact Becky Ross to view: 390-2599
Offered at $310,000
Call Becky at 390-2599 to view.
11 Spruce Drive ~ $189,500
Lovely home on corner lot in historic downtown area. 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths. Formal dining room, large kitchen, main floor utilities. Garage, fenced yard, sprinklers. Call Becky Ross, Realtor at 390-2599
Efficient floor plan in this nice home with loft. 1 bedroom on main floor, 2 in basement. 1 bath. Newer double garage that is lined and has an overhead heater with workshop area. New driveway in back. Storage shed, fenced yard with patio enclosed with chain link fencing. Call Becky Ross 390-2599 to view.
535 2nd Avenue ~ $310,000
Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home with panoramic views on 1.728 acres! This lovely home with designer touches has over 1700 sq. ft. on the main floor. Walk-out daylight basement and a Tower Room Suite. Dbl garage + carport and lots of parking.
721 15th Street ~ $136,900
Updated and well maintained. Split level with 2 bedrooms up & 2 down. New kitchen, 2 fireplaces, daylight basement. Large yard, covered patio, garage and sprinklers. Becky Ross 390-2599
Well cared for home in south-end on nice sized lot with detached garage. Updated bathrooms, some hardwood floors, large dining area. Full basement with family room, laundry, bath and 2 non-conforming bedrooms. Big yard with basketball pad in back. Covered front porch entrance, and patio in back. Call Becky Ross, Realtor, 390-2599
1231 3rd Street ~ $64,500
NEW LISTING .. with 3 bedrooms and one bath over all. Main floor is 1014 sq' and basement is 231 sq'. Lot is 26'x140'. Call Jeff Healy, Realtor, 390-1966
726 6th Avenue ~ $350,000
Beautiful historical brick home completely gutted and remodeled in 2006. Jacuzzi tub, master shower with 5 shower heads, hardwood and tile floors. All new windows, wiring insulation! Everything! Beautiful landscaped yard with underground sprinklers. Detached 3 stall new garage and detached original single garage, too! Entire home has radiant heat floors. Garage floor tubing is in for floor heat. Just needs a boiler. Realtor owned property. Call Jeff Healy, Realtor, 390-1966
Beaver Creek Golf Course
903 Montana Ave ~ $123,500 Great location near MSU Northern. Corner lot with off street parking. 2 bedrooms & 1 bath upstairs. Another 2 bedrooms, bath, family room and laundry room in the basement. Big kitchen with room for a table, sliding doors to a deck and fenced yard. Central air, front covered porch, new steel siding, roof is newer and more updates. Investors could make money with this as a rental property, too! Call Becky Ross, Realtor, 390-2599
Prime Commercial opportunity! Owner is willing to sell golf course and/or building/restaurant separate at a great price! Call for details! Jeff Healy 390-1966 or 1-800-823-2767 or e-mail Jeff@Koefod.com
Building Site or Pasture Land
125 2nd Ave. NW in Rudyard
Nice 1972 MH 14x66 with 2 large additions on corner lot. Detached heated double garage/shop. Fireplace, large deck. Please call Becky Ross 390-2599.
80 acres of unimproved ground East side of Saddle Butte. Fenced, Panoramic views! Great place for horse lovers, plan your new home! Easy access from Clear Creek Rd. Please call Becky Ross 390-2599.
710 6th Avenue ~ E. Gildford GREAT PRICE! $50,000 GREAT HOME located on the Hi-Line. Listed by Jeff Healy, call 390-1966.
310 10th Avenue ~ $89,000
Call Becky Ross 390-2599 to set your appt.
40 acres of land East of Saddle Butte. Great building site or other recreational uses. Please call Becky Ross 390-2599.
Realtors: Becky Ross ~ 390-2599 • Jeff Healy ~ 390-1966 • Tom Healy, Broker/Owner E-mail: Koefod@koefod.com • Web Site: www.koefod.com
-Line The Hi-Line is seeing good things for both sellers and buyers
W
BY PAM BURKE hile the national housing market has seen extremes in positive and negative numbers in recent years, the Hi-Line market remains at a steady, slow increase, providing ample opportunity for both sellers and buyers to take advantage of low interest rates.
“Our market is always very stable,” said Jim Anderson, president of Northern Land and Realty Corp. in Havre, “but I would say that we have a very strong market right now.” Anderson said that not only are traditionally big employers on the Hi-Line, such as Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Northern Montana Hospital, hiring but so, too, are relatively new organizations like the U.S. Border Patrol
and Homeland Security. Agriculture is doing well, also, he said, noting that ag businesses in the area are adding people and new facilities. “When you look at all of those, that’s a very vibrant economic engine … ,” he said. “We have jobs (in the Hi-Line area) which attract buyers. And we have historically low interest rates which are fueling buyers to purchase.” When the U.S. housing bubble burst in late 2006 and early 2007 and the economy failed right behind, stories abounded of people losing their homes or second residences. Many families were caught in the financial turmoil, and they and the housing market have yet to recover in many parts of the nation. But this extreme, between excessive financing and subsequent financial and economic hardship, was not seen along the Hi-Line, said Anderson. “Havre is always a little bit lagging
behind the national market, which can be a good thing because we don’t necessarily see the peaks or the valleys that the nation market sees,” he said, adding that “Havre’s market is just a slow and steady growth market so in relation to the nation market we have some correlations but I would say ... we’re certainly seeing some appreciation in our real estate market place, but it’s at the low end of the appreciation spectrum just because we’re slow and steady.” National standards for real estate financing was criticized and scrutinized and eventually the process was revamped Heather Adkins, real estate loan officer at Stockman Bank, said she doesn’t think the U.S. will see another housing market bubble. “After the housing crisis happened they weeded out a lot of the continued on page 9
continued from page 8 companies that were the cause of it,” she said, and regulations have changed to require state identification as a real estate loan officer. “I think it weeds out a lot, and there’s been a lot of change for the disclosures,” she said. “We have to be within a tolerance level so there is no what they consider red-tape lining: You can’t hide fees anymore. “People just didn’t understand what they were paying for … . You have to be pretty consistent on your fees and what fees are charged,” she added. In the end, though, Adkins believes that the Hi-Line is pretty insulated from any major issues in the housing market because of the hometown effect.
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People just didn’t understand what they were paying for … . You have to be pretty consistent on your fees and what fees are charged. }
–– Heather Adkins Real Estate Loan Officer at Stockman Bank “In Havre, especially our Hi-Line area, I don’t believe we’ve been tragically hit by the industry with the housing crisis. We, as loan officers in Havre, we all just do our very, very best to make sure that we’ve made good loans throughout the years to make sure we don’t end up with that type of deal or get hit by the economy.” One of the few problems cropping up this year is more of an issue for buyers than for sellers. Experts in the Hi-Line real estate arena agree that the area is experiencing an anomaly in which there is a shortage of homes on the market. The number of homes for sale on the Hi-Line, like anywhere, usually picks up as the weather gets nice, said Becky Wimmer, owner and real estate agent at Property West LLC and president of Havre Hi-Line Board of Realtors, but this year the numbers just aren’t there. “(The real estate market is) good right now, but really tight for the number of listings we have — we’re low on inventory, so it’s kind of a strugH AV R E D A I LY N E W S
gle finding the right house for the right person,” she said. “Our inventory is certainly lower than historic,” said Anderson, “and part of that is because there is very good buyer activity and part of it is, as with the rest of the country, no one has built any homes for the last two or three years because of the economic uncertainties. “I just think we’ve had a reasonable number of people move into the area — for a variety of reasons — so we’ve absorbed a lot of inventory, and we haven’t created any new inventory per se, so we just have a real shortage of inventory,” he added. “I would say, for the most part, people are moving up and down (buying bigger and smaller homes) as normal, it’s just that we haven’t added any new inventory.” But there’s good news for buyers. “Interest rates are really great right now. It’s a super time to buy,” Wimmer said, adding that at least part of the reason behind the lack of realtor listings may be that “there’s a number of people who have just decided to sell on their own.” “A lot of it can be just fine if you’re doing a for sale by owner,” said Wimmer, but she and real estate professionals agree that buying without a real estate agent has both pros and cons. A private sale doesn’t include an agent fee in the selling price, but that also means the process is without the benefits for which that fee pays. Wimmer pointed out that real estate agents will sort through all the area listings for those that meet the buyers’ criteria and price range; provide an easily found Internet presence for people looking to relocate to find homes on the market; and will help sellers and buyers walk through the buysell process with experienced attention to purchasing contingencies and safe guards to make the purchase process go smoothly. Whether buyers go through a real estate agent or not, Anderson recommends that firsttime home buyers attend Homebuyer Education Classes through NeighborWorks Montana, to familiarize themselves with the process. It’s also good for buyers to find a lending institution they are comfortable with and get prequalified for a loan to see just how much they can afford to spend on a home, said Anderson. Prequalifying may be a little longer process for people who have just moved into a new job or better paying position, the experts agreed, because lenders will want to see some longevity on the job before feeling comfortable lending money. Depending on employment probationary periods and the type of job, this could be three to six months or even a year. Anderson said financing could be even harder to get right away for people starting their own business, until they can show documentation of income and stability of the business. “People are still getting mortgages,” he said, adding that the process is “just more difficult — but the juice is probably worth a squeeze when you can get the interest rates you’re getting right now.” As for sellers, the experts recommend concentrating on presentation to help buyers better appreciate the home.
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The Home Buying Process
The home buying process in general is pretty straight-forward, said Becky Wimmer, owner and real estate agent at Property West LLC and president of Havre Hi-line Board of Realtors, but it can take 45 to 60 days to complete the following steps: • Get prequalified with a lender • Talk with a real estate agent about, or formulate a list of, criteria for house options, such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms, location and size • View homes that fit needs and price range • Make an offer on a house — an agreement to purchase • Seller accepts, counters or rejects offer • Come to an agreement on price — buy/sell agreement • Get a home inspection — price can be renegotiated based on inspection • Deliver the buy/sell agreement to the lender who formulates a loan package and has an appraisal of the home completed—the final home price can be renegotiated based on appraisal • Purchase home • Move in. Whether home buyers work with an agent, or work through the process directly with the seller, Jim Anderson, president of Northern Land and Realty Corp., recommends first-time home buyers take a Homebuyers Education Class. Taught by local professionals, the classes are eight to nine hours long over two evenings through a partnership between NeighborWorks Montana and North Central Montana Resources Conservation and Development. Potential home buyers are walked through the financing, mortgage and home buying process to the post-sale period, including tips on predatory lending and possible qualification for down payment and closing cost assistance for home buyers in rural areas, says the North Central RC&D website. For more information about the Homebuyer Ed classes, go online to http:// northcentralrcd.org or http://www.nwmt. org. J U LY 2 0 1 3
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continued from page 9 “Kitchens and bathrooms,” Wimmer said, are good investments for people intending to sell, “and paint is the cheapest fix of all.” Anderson agrees in part, though he’s hesitant to recommend major investments in the property. “If you are a home owner and you want to put your home on the market in a week, the best thing you can do is have a clean home, and fresh paint makes a huge difference,” he said. “Clean always sells,” he added, “and mow your lawn — curb appeal sells.” Anderson doesn’t often recommend spending thousands of dollars on capital improvements because in general, he said, he doesn’t see a correlation between remodeling investment and the return on the expense, though it might help sell the house quicker if that is a priority. “Whereas a gallon of paint and some hot water and soap, you always get more than your money’s worth. Any time a property looks cared for, it makes someone else want to care for it.” Adkins said she and other area loan officers are seeing homes in the $100,000 to $180,000 range moving most quickly in today’s economic atmosphere, but, she added, people should not turn away a home that needs some work because loans are available to help finance the purchase of a home that might need such things as carpet, windows, appliances or a roof. “If they like the soundness of the home, and they like the structure, but it’s just all cosmetic things that they’re worried about ... they can surely ask,” she said, “because we have loan programs out there that can help them get those homes.
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If you are a home owner and you want to put your home on the market in a week, the best thing you can do is have a clean home, and fresh paint makes a huge difference. }
–– Jim Anderson President of Northern Land and Realty Corp. in Havre 1 0 L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E J U LY 2 0 1 3
Agricultural and Commercial Investment Purchasing agricultural and commercial property is a little different from buying a home because buyers are generally investing enough money that they need a pay back from the property, not just a nice place to live. And the payback isn’t just from the resale price, but also from the daily operation of the property. Agricultural property is a particularly good investment, said Jim Anderson, real estate agent and president of Northern Land and Realty Corp., because the payback from this type of investment can be significant. “They feel it’s very safe, and it’s providing a level of return that’s higher than, say, holding the money in a traditional CD or something like that,” he said. “It provides a reasonable return without the risk of putting the money into the stock market or other commodity or capitol type market.” He said that statewide outside investors have been purchasing agricultural properties and leasing the grounds to local producers “at a competitive rental rate.” But that doesn’t mean local buyers couldn’t do the same, even first-time agricultural land buyers. “The (Beginning Farmers and Ranchers) Program that is administered through the Farm Service Agency has been a tremendous asset to helping beginning farmers and ranchers get their foot in the door,” he said, adding that the investment factor has made ag land a little scarce, but “we’ve been very fortunate, I think, in our area that we’ve been able to put a good number of new producers out on the landscape.” Becky Wimmer, owner and real estate agent at Property West LLC and president of Havre Hi-Line Board of Realtors, said that along with looking at business records, potential buyers need to see records detailing agricultural information, including water
availability, bushels per acre, tillable acreage and number of cattle per acre pastures can sustain. Commercial property, Anderson said, “is always a little more difficult to get a feel for because commercial tends to have a longer cycle … . We’ve certainly seen some commercial activity, but it’s no more or less than I would say at historic levels. “The big commercial we all hear about is happening further east,” he added. And this is due to the oil boom in the Bakken region. Still, a business can be a good investment and the purchasing process is much the same, Wimmer said, just ask to see as many business records, like customer counts, volume and overhead, as the seller will make available. “If it’s an operating business — as well as like a farm or ranch — there’s a lot of other information that you will need as a buyer,” she said. “You will need business information, profit and loss statements and such. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that you would run the business the same way, but it gives you some information as far as what potential is there with that business or farm.”
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JUST LISTED!
1601 Juniper Drive
725 11th Street
3 bed, 2 bath, charming old-style 1 1/2 story home with just over 2,000 sq ft of living, features covered front porch, fenced front yard, metal single car garage/storage building, great off-street parking!
4 bed, 2 bath, split-level home in a great location & move-in ready! Home features beautiful new kitchen with stainless steel appliances & a very bright daylight basement with a living room & laundry area. Located on a corner lot with underground sprinklers and a detached double car garage.
St. Thomas the Apostle CCD Center ~ 210 1st Avenue SE Harlem, MT Contact Jim Anderson for more info.
Acres North of Havre
960 acres North of Havre, consisting of 814 acres cropland, building site & grain bins. Contact Jim Anderson for more info.
Harlem Hay Farm
1639 1st Street
2 bed, 1 bath, double-wide mobile home, covered patio area, nicely landscaped fenced yard with underground sprinklers, great off-street parking, detached single car garage, located on a spacious corner lot.
320 acres m/l east of Harlem, approximately 300 acres of irrigated cropland, historically a very productive farm. Includes updated home, shop & support buildings; additional acreage available. Contact Jim Anderson for more info.
211 1st Street W~Harlem
2 bed, 2 bath, 1 1/2 story home, attached carport, nice yard with sprinkler system. Contact Jim Anderson for more info.
Residential Lots
2 nice, private one acre lots with great views, close to town, perfect for building! Can be purchased together or separately. Contact Toni for more info.
Dead River Farm/Ranch
200+ acres with irrigated hay & pasture, barn, corrals, cross fenced with multiple pastures, home with great mountain view from covered deck, borders US Hwy 2. Priced at $245,000
960 Blvd Avenue
8 bed, 2 bath home, over 3,000 sq ft, all brick, double car garage, large lot with great parking, tons of potential!
520 6th Street
Commercial/church building in a great location just off of 5th avenue, features new water line & lots of space with numerous possibilities. Don’t miss out on this great commercial investment at $72,000-sellers are very motivated! Over 6,000 sq. ft. on main level.
935 4th Street ~ $97,500
Main floor features 2 beds, 1 bath + master suite, utilities, room for additional apartment & 2 attached 1-stall garages. Spacious basement includes large rec room & additional bath-finish to suit your needs! Truly unique home with nearly 6,000 sq ft of space and many possibilities!
830 24th Avenue NE
Turn-key car & truck wash/oil change business, includes large service garage, automatic and self-service wash bays, lots of equipment and inventory included! Contact Robin for more info.
Give us a call for all your country property inquiries! 120 River Road - Property includes large shop & storage/warehouse buildings, located on approx. 2 acres along the Milk River. Great Investment!
810 24th Avenue SE
Steel shop with over 7,000 sq ft, built in 2007 with hot water floor heat, located on two acres with good road frontage and great off-street parking and private well-potential tenant in place. Contact Russ Getten for more info.
Need Farm & Ranch Listings, We have Buyers!
S
BY PAM BURKE
teeped in tradition, the modern competitive powwow produces a riot of colors, sounds, scents, movement and people, but the competition aspect also creates its own series of questions about the affect of money on tradition. At powwows, Native American dancers compete in different categories of tradition-based dances
Of the five categories of powwow dancing — grass dance, traditional, jingle dress, fancy shawl and fancy feather — H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
which each require a specific style of movement, regalia and music while judges evaluate their dance form, rhythm and attire. Prizes and money are awarded to the winners in the separate categories. “The powwow today has been redefined from its original origin,” said Lloyd Top Sky who is of Ojibwe, which is the traditional name of the Chippewa, and Cree
four were adapted from dances in various regions of North America, and only the grass dance has a direct connection to the traditional dance of the tribes in the north-central Montana area.
descent. “The origin was once a religious and also a warrior activity, and it was considered a ceremony. “In a way, it’s becoming a sport rather than the cultural entity of where it came from,” he added. “So when you call it industry it fits in there.” And he likened the powwow to a rodeo with different categories of competition, judges and winners taking home a check.
“It was like an activity, the circle — which would be the grass dance — that was the place people would meet, and they would have a large gathering of community people,” Top Sky
said. “A person might come home from a war in the old days, and they were honored there for their accomplishments in whatever fac-
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LIVING MAGAZINE 13
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tor they were involved in that war,” such as the capturing of something from a different tribe or from settlers. “If they had a powwow (in older times), they’d call it a dance, just a dance,” said Top Sky who teaches Native American languages, history and culture at Montana State University-Northern in Havre and at Stone Child College on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation before that. The word powwow is not even from north-central Montana tribes, said Top Sky. As he understands, the Boyscouts of America took the word “obah-moh” from the Algonquin language, and the pronunciation was altered through usage by those unfamiliar with the original language until it was pronounced “powwow.” Top Sky said somebody would say “‘We’re going to have a dance July the Fourth, come over,’ well, everybody knew right away it was going to be an Indian dance or the grass dance. … They knew what a dance was and that’s all it was at one time.” “It was called a dance — not the dance, but a dance.” And while the competitive aspect of the modern powwow is a major change, others have occurred over the generations. For a time, while the U.S. cavalry was still enforcing federal laws in the West, Top Sky said, the Indians would take the cavalry bass drum as they left a battle. “They captured a drum from the cavalry, and they recognized that as a symbol that drove the soldiers ... a power of the cavalry to instill in them to fight in bravery,” said Top Sky, adding that for some time the tribes incorporated the bass drum into their own ceremonies to gain that bravery. The Indians, he said, eventually went back to using traditional drum made of buffalo hide stretched over a hollowed out log. It was women who created the next big change in grass dancing, Top Sky added. “It was a man’s dance because in the grass dance it was all societies made of men (with) no women in those societies because those societies practiced police power in the camps, they practiced the hunting, the fighting with other tribes,” he said, and they protected the camps. Because the women were not warriors or fighters, they were not in the battles to then be honored with a grass dance. Their traditional role was outside the circle and for support only, he said, but World War II changed all that. “Some of the women joined the armed forces and when they came home from battle what could they do but honor them through the grass dance because of their accomplishments through war,” he said, and gradually these women were allowed to dance with the men. Eventually the dance was seen as a socializing venue and that changed it altogether, he said. Top Sky said it was in the 1960s that he first heard of people earning money for their dancing prowess at a grass dance. “The first-place prize was $25 in the ’60s here in Rocky Boy, as I remember,” he said, adding that the amount is not much compared with present-day powwows where “you have $2,000 for first.” continued on page 15 1 4 L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E J U LY 2 0 1 3
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Top Sky remembers his father saying that in his day men might dance against friends or visitors in a friendly rivalry, but the only prize was bragging rights, not money.
By the early to mid-1970s George Horse Capture Jr., who is of the White Clay People, or Assiniboine, had made his way from Southern California where he was raised in his early years, up to Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and still lives there near Hays. He remembers the powwows of that era as great social events. “For me, it was really social and kind of independence and kind of learning who I am,” he said. “In the old days, there was a different kind of courtship, you might say — a lot of etiquette, a lot of rules and a lot of supervision. And the gatherings a long time ago, I think, that
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was where young people could smile at each other and still be considered within that realm of
etiquette, but it was just a celebration of life. “As I settled down, and out to Hays, and even out to here (the social aspect didn't change). You go around and you just eat at people’s camps and visit and laugh and drink coffee and smoke cigarettes and just watch the dancers.” Using terms like social networking, and scrutinizing modern youths’ fixation with technology, Horse Capture sees a strong benefit to powwows. “The real root of (the powwow) is social and that has always been the root and I see it all the time,” he said. “You build up ties with different tribes or different individuals that you might have not had before. You maintain ties. And especially nowadays with TV and Internet that keep us from socializing ... during powwow season its seems like that’s when everybody puts down their iPods and gets away from their satellite TV and do what you might call truly enjoy life.”
Top Sky said he has worries about lost culture. “It’s not what it used to be. It’s leaned more to a powwow industry. I don’t know if it’s bad. I think the society of American Indian has adopted monetary gain as a priority anymore because of the economic times. I
think that’s how it should be best understood.” But he sees the benefit of the modern powwow. “It’s keeping the identity, not culture. It’s the identity of us,” he said. “I think it’s good. It’s good and some place to go, some place to identify with,” he said. “(It helps us) remain a group of people on this reservation that have an identity. We haven’t lost our identity. A lot of us still have our language, still have our customs and values. We’re the supporting force of that Native American, or that tribalism, ... we’re the foundation of that still. Without that small percentage we are, we’re not going to be anybody, just going to be a group of people that went right into the melting pot.”
Both men, when interviewed, respectfully acknowledged that there opinions and perspectives were their own. Top Sky, who spoke about the benefit of the teachings of his grandparent and greatgrandparents who practiced the tribal ways of their ancestors and passed them down to him, was careful to point out that he speaks only for himself and not the whole tribe.
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Horse Capture simply said: “This is just my opinion.” And the point they are making is important not just because the two men don’t want to give the impression that they are presenting themselves as singular authorities on their cultures or tribes, but also because, in their words, their cultures “have many facets” and are “living cultures.” They see the conundrum of their tribes’ and reservations’ situation in trying to go forward without losing the past which was so abruptly altered with the European American advancement into the west not so many generations ago. Horse Capture embraces the vitality and changes that younger generations bring to the culture. “Now that it’s the younger people’s turn behind the steering wheel, I wonder what kind of adventure they’re going to take us on, and I look forward to the ride,” he said. But he also explained how he appreciated subtle touches in a powwow last season that brought back traditions and values of older style dances, includ-
ing giving old-fashioned hard candy to the little children. Powwow organizers also declared one dance “old style,” which required dancers to evaluate their own dancing and pull themselves from the dance when they noticed a personal error, rather than waiting for a judge’s decision. “With old style there’s that principle to disqualify yourself for an error like in an honor system,” he said. “I really liked them tidbits like that. “Everything changes and everything alters, and I watch a lot of these young people and they’re putting a lot of emphasis on culture and tradition and I enjoy that,” he said. “I enjoy them. They’re just bringing back a few more older things into the powwow scene so, even though we’re moving forward in one sense, they’re not forgetting their past.” It’s the subtleties that help Top Sky keep his perspective on the issue of tradition versus modern change. He expressed pride in his nephew who, when originally approached for an interview,
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deferred questions to Top Sky because he himself was not an elder and to speak on these matters would be disrespectful. “We still identify with that level of understanding,” Top Sky said, of tradition and protocol and respect for elders. “We have a living culture. We still have people that still remember, that still have practice, and still have experience and the knowledge that belong (in a more traditional) time and are still here,” he said. “That’s why we have powwow. It’s allowable to go ahead and violate
tradition. I guess that’s the key. That’s why we have powwow, so we don’t call it grass dance.” (Author's note: I want to thank Lloyd Top Sky and George Horse Capture Jr. for helping teach me a little more about the culture and traditions of their respective tribes. Any errors or misrepresentations of information in this article are my own and do not reflect their generous efforts to help me understand.)
Milk River Indian Days, July 25-28 Fort Belknap Indian Reservation 406-353-2601 Rocky Boy Powwow, Aug. 1-4 Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation 406-395-4679 Hays Powwow, Aug. 8-11 Fort Belknap Indian Reservation 406-353-2601
H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
523 7th Avenue ~ $129,000 Cozy 2 bedroom, 2 bath and newly updated home. Living room has hardwood and large family room. Too cute to pass up.
25 3rd St West - Kremlin $149,000 Great home and great shop! Located in the quiet little town of Kremlin is where you will find this gem! Large lot and on a corner. Kitchen has been updated and there is a deck off of the dining area.
1006 Lincoln Ave ~ $159,900 2+3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with main floor laundry. Double car garage, covered patio.
1109 6th Street ~ $149,900 505 15th Avenue ~ $149,900 Spacious 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bath home with updated kitchen accented with laminate wood floors in kitchen and living area. Cozy wood burning fireplace w/stone fascia compliments this inviting home. French doors off the kitchen lead to a covered patio adorned w/lattice. The three plus garage allow room for all of your vehicle needs. Basement offers plenty of entertaining room with large family and recreation room, plus storage galore. Set your sites on your business with a private office with built in desk. Egress windows a plus to the 4th bedroom and laundry.
1100 7th Street ~ $169,900 Nice family home in a quiet location. Fenced yard and underground sprinklers. 4 bedroom, 2 bath.
438 2nd Avenue ~ $153,000 Adorable 5 bedroom, 2 bath home situated in the heart of Havre. This home offers original hardwood floors throughout, stain glass windows and all the charm of the historic district. Dramatic staircase, claw foot tub, new sink/toilet/fixtures, 2 car garage and street parking. New H/W,W/S updated wiring, security system, French doors in family room and much more.
Spacious home situated on a fenced lot and wood deck for entertaining. This 4 bedroom (2 up/2 non-conforming) 2 bath home has been updated with newer kitchen accented w/tile floors, main floor laundry, laminate floors in downstairs bedrooms, and new carpet in basement family room. Vacant and easy to show.
1011 20th Street ~ $165,000 1319 11th Street ~ $179,900 Beautiful Condo in Glo-Ed, 3+bedroom, 3.5 bath, hot tub and fenced in backyard.
Fabulous south end home offers a backyard that is truly as entertainers dream! 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. Two car heated garage to satisfy the mechanic in you!
1620 Pine Drive ~ $259,900
1240 Blvd Ave ~ $212,000 Super spacious home with vaulted ceilings and fireplace. Huge yard with extra parking in the back yard for all of your toys. 5 bedroom and 2 bath home with a two car garage.
900 4th Avenue ~ $242,000 This home is a one of a kind 3700 sq ft historical home. 4 bedroom and 2 baths, it has room to roam. Many newer updated - siding, boiler, roofing and flooring. This home has a 3 car heated garage. Partial basement with family room.
2625 36th St SE ~ $249,000
Beautiful master suite takes the complete 3rd level, incredible hard wood floors in bedrooms on 2nd level, and a large rec-room in basement, addition on main level is very spacious and light. 3 fireplaces to keep you comfy in the cold of winter.
Amazing view! Three miles from Havre on one acre. Unique 3 bedroom and 1 1/2 bath with lots of space and windows. Two car garage.
INCOME PROPERTIES Investment income, excellent rental history! Multi-family duplex located on east side of town, two bedroom, 1 bath units.
7000 Blk 2nd St NW ~ $15,000
2 2nd St ~ $265,000 COMMERCIAL BUILDING! Vacant and ready to go! Enough room inside to do just about anything you want. Storefront opportunity for retail space! This Building is +/- 8570 sq'. Lot size is 90'x140' = 12,600 sq. feet.
Land located just a few miles west of town in the Tillman subdivision. Make your new place in Havre just mintues from town. Ownership has changed hands and DOM is 910 actual days. Seller makes no warranties on the avaliblity of water. Buyer is responsible for all utility and water hook ups. Plat map and current CCR's avaliable at Property West office.
1010 and 1012 3rd Street $74,950
1014 3rd Street ~ $53,400 1026 3rd Steet ~ $25,000 Total rehab project! Two bedroom, 1 bath home with 2 non-conforming bedrooms in basement. Huge potential for investment purposes after rehab.
Investment income- single bedroom, one bath house located on east side of town.
214 7th Avenue ~ $72,325 Investment income, excellent rental history! Two bedrooms, 1 bath home located just minutes from town.
LOTS FOR SALE
Vacant Land For Sale~$125,000
Approx 5.34 acres located 3.5 miles West of Havre, MT on Hwy 2.This property is fenced, includes a well & 2 metal sheds. Zoned Commercial/Residential. Electrical also runs across this property.
2.129 Acres Located West of Nortwestern Energy near Holiday Village Mall ~ $150,000 Fenced w/gates, includes well.
4 Acre Lot West of Torgerson Implement ~ $395,000 Ready to build on.
Corner Lot Brandon Estates All utilities to corner of lot.
$42,000 Call Janis Flynn @ 265-9400
22 Spruce Drive ~ $229,000
Very nice, clean 4 bdrm, 1 3/4 bath split-level home. 2 fireplaces, large laundry, great yard with covered deck & single attached garage. Good neighborhood.
Call Janis Flynn @ 265-9400
47300 County Rd 100 S $329,000
Beautiful, 6 bedrooms, 2 bath country home with a view. 20+ acres in the foot hills of the Bear Paw Mountains. Fenced, perfect for horses. Reservoir.
Call Janis Flynn at 265-7845
969 Dana Rd ~ Big Sandy $250,000
4 bdrm, 2 bath, 2 level older style home, oversized 3 stall garage, nice quonset plus shop. All on +/- 20 acres, 7 miles South of Big Sandy, MT, just off pavement. Nice trees, great view & awesome neighbors.
Call Janis Flynn @ 265-9400
801 7th Street ~ $179,900
Wonderful 4 bdrm, 1 3/4 bath home. Eat in kitchen with tile floor, custom tile in bsmt. bath, large laundry & egress windows in bsmt bdrms. Large 3 stall shop.
Call John Carlson @ 390-1381
509 1st Street ~ Hingham, MT $64,500 2 bdrm, 1 bath spacious home with country kitchen & large living room. Fenced yard, perennial garden, mature trees, RV & equipment parking in rear & 4 stall garage/shop.
Call Janis Flynn @ 265-9400
4612 Judith Landing Rd Big Sandy, MT
+/- 80 Acres-inculdes approx. 10 cultivated, 10 homesite & 60 for livestock, 4 bdrm, 2 bath home with attached garage. 1 large heated & insulated 40x50 shop, 1 large 40x80 garage/shop, 1 large 40x64 polebarn & 1 opensided 32x96 storage unit (1997). A 2 bedrm bed & breakfast cottage completes this ranchette.
Call Janis Flynn @ 265-9400 for more information.
1260 Cleveland Ave ~ $99,987 Clean, ready to move into 2 bdrm home with attached single garage. One level living.
Call John Carlson @ 390-1381
2303 Old Post Rd ~ $139,000
3 bdrm, 2 bath 2001 28x56 Nashua home located off Old Post Rd w/2 stall garage. Master bdrm with walk-in closet, bath w/ separate garden tub & shower. Lots of room for kids, toys & pets on approx 1 acre.
Well maintained split level 4 bdrm, 1 3/4 bath home in Chinook. Private back yard & deck, large single attached garage & 2 large storage sheds.
Call John Carlson at 390-1381
316 Main St. N. - Rudyard, MT ~ $37,500 4 bdrm, 2 bath home located on large lot with 3 stall garage.
Call Derek Fraser at 262-4603
215 2nd St. East ~ Joplin, MT $39,500 4 bdrm, 1 bath home with double garage.
Call John Carlson @ 390-1381
Call Derek Fraser at 262-4603
928 2nd Street ~ $105,000
103 3rd St. W. ~ Inverness, MT $99,900
3 bdrms, 1 bath home on double lot with 3 stall garage (includes loft). Original hardwood flooring in living/dining areas. Built in terrarium in living room. Large back yard w/greenhouse.
Call Jeanie Cole @ 945-0931
3-Plex Unit ~ 118 6th Ave
Nice 3-plex Unit ~ $155,000 1-3 bdrm & 2 single units. Very little yard, all brick & double garage.
Call Janis Flynn @ 265-9400
Call Nick or Janis at Flynn
Manuel subdivision
Approx. 1.5 acre parcels available on Beaver Creek Rd. located 7.5 miles South of Havre. Includes: roads, electrical & phone to lot, good water, wells included in some lots, & great view. Priced at $25,000 to $37,500
Call Janis Flynn @ 265-9400
Location! Location! Location!
Commercial Property Building +/- 6300 sf ~ $155,000 on 1st St. Havre, MT Warehouse +/- 8250 sf ~ $95,000 + off street parking Rent front half of building ~ $1500 per mo.
Call Nick Pyrak @ 390-2867
600 1st Street ~ $575,000
313 9th St W ~ Chinook, MT $136,500
834 5th Street ~ $97,900
Approx. 300 acres of fenced grassland w/ reservoir. Includes approx. 100 acres CRP. Located 7.5 miles north of Savoy, MT.
Siesta Motel
Call Paul Kuka @ 265-7845
2+2 bdrm, 1 3/4 bath home near park & school. 1 non-conforming sleeping area & den in bsmt. Single stall garage.
LAND FOR SALE
LAND FOR SALE ~ $125,000
345 Whitetail Lane ~ Chinook $300,000
23 unit motel with Hwy #2/1st Street frontage. Very clean, (5 star rating) family atmosphere. Recent updates, downtown location.
Call Ken Nelson at (406) 439-0595
Very nicely remodeled Restaurant/Bar/ Casino between Fort Benton & Great Falls, MT. Great business & includes an updated 3 bdrm, 2 bath home for only $295,000
5 bdrm, (1 non-conforming) 2 bath handicapped accessible home. Includes a 35x40 heated & insulated shop + 35x40 extension to the shop that could also be a 3 stall garage. Many updates to this country style home. 31 Acres along the Milk River with county maintained road to the house.
358 Michigan Ave ~ Big Sandy, MT $107,900 5 bdrm, 3 bath 2 story home. Located on large lot, near elementary school & city pool. 1 stall garage & large shed.
Call John Carlson at 390-1381
Call Janis Flynn @ 265-9400
Rockin K Bar
Call Ken Nelson @ 406-439-0595
Oil City Saloon ~ Shelby, MT Full liquor license, full kitchen & 6 newly remodeled apartments.
Call Ken Nelson @ 406-439-0595
Pastime Bar/Restaurant/Casino A booming business in Chinook, MT
Beautifully remodeled 3 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath home w/ good water & shop + outbldgs.
Call Ken Nelson @ 406-439-0595
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
Bullhook Bottoms Casino + Liquor Store ~ $700,000
184 Lehfeldt Ave ~ Big Sandy, MT $29,000 1 bdrm, 1 bath updated home. Large lot, good appliances & new furnace. Includes double garage.
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
INCOME PROPERTY 415 2nd Street (4-plex) ~ $110,000 Recent updates & 17% return!
A large Commercial property that includes a Casino & Liquor License on 1st Street/Hwy 2 frontage in Havre, MT
Call Ken Nelson @ 406-439-0595 or Larry Martinson @ 390-1509
Nate Ramsbacher
Much of his volunteering started when he began going to the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line
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BY JOHN KELLEHER
s long as he can remember, Nate Ramsbacher has been helping out one way or another. It’s something he learned early in life from his parents. He has developed that skill of volunteering over his 18 years, and the recent Havre High School graduate has received several awards from different groups for his work. Volunteering has made him keep up his positive attitude, he said. “Always keep your head up high,” he said. “Always look for the best in things.” That attitude has prompted him to take part in numerous civic projects, in the community and at school. He will keep up his volunteering tradition when he attends the University of Montana in Missoula this fall, where he will study psychology and biology. Much of his volunteering started when he began going to the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, just as it opened more than a decade ago. At first, he did what every other young person did at the club — played pool and basketball. But soon he got into the study room, did his work and started helping others with their homework. Then came the Torch Club and Keystone Club, groups that encourage community service and leadership. These groups got him involved in service inside and outside the club. With Keystone Club, he was involved in several projects, including raising money for a homeless shelter in Great Falls. He went to Florida to help clean up a children’s school “to make it a safe place for them.”
Fighting tobacco use
At the Boys & Girls Club, he joined reACT!, a youth group that fights tobacco abuse. They took part in several anti-tobacco projects, but the key effort for him was going to Helena, where his group succeeded in convincing legislators to support the Indoor Clean Air Act that further limited smoking indoors. Today he hopes to guide young people and help them make good choices as they grow up. “I really love children, so I enjoy this,” he said. His love of children continued on page 21
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prompted another volunteer project. Working through Van Orsdel United Methodist Church, he has worked in the annual ELF project, where food is collected for needy people. And he’s been involved in the Giving Tree that helps ensure young people in Havre get gifts at Christmas. His work has not gone unnoticed. He was awarded the President’s Community Service Award, the highest award given to volunteers in the United States. And then he received the Sue Swan Community Service Award, created by Swan’s family to honor her for her considerable volunteer work. “That was a great honor for me,” he said. He said his work is a way of giving back to the community and the school system he loves. “Havre was a great place to grow up,” he said. And while he is looking forward to going to Missoula, he will miss Havre High School, where he has also been active in numerous projects. “I wish I could be a senior again,” he said. “It was one of the best times of my life.” He’s been in the Blue Pony Band for several years as a percussionist and a section leader.
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He’s been delighted to see the band improve over the years. “Mr. Johnke should get all the credit,” he said of David Johnke, the band director. “He has been great.” Nate looks back his entire high school career with delight. Teachers have been great to him, he said. He is especially fond of John Ita, Victoria Proctor and Johnke. He has done all of this volunteering and still maintained a 3.7 grade-point average, and, he has a job. Nate works at McDonalds part time during the school year and full time during the summer.
Sue Swan reflects
There were several applicants for the Sue Swan scholarship. People had to write a 300-word essay on volunteerism. Swan, who has spent many hours volunteering her time, and her family reviewed all the applicants. It was a tough choice, but, she said, Nate stood out. “The thing that impressed me was that he spent so much time at the Boys & Girls Club,” she said. “He did so much, and was still able to maintain such a good grade-point average.”
More young people would be doing more community service if they understood the importance of their hometown, she said. “My take is that these kids don’t realize what the community has done for them” she said. She knows that many young people will leave town, but she hopes that when they return to visit families or for class reunions, they will take time out to
do some volunteer work to pay back to their community. As for Nate, she’s sure he will continue working in volunteer projects. “I’m sure he will have a lot more organizations that he can jump into at Missoula,” she said. “He just needs to find out what he likes doing,” she said. “He’s a pretty remarkable man,” Swan said.
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A Fair Job Done Well Preparations for the Great Northern Fair taking place July 17-21 are on schedule
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BY PAM BURKE
hile it’s old wisdom that says nothing good comes easy, the sentiment aptly describes the efforts to put together a mid-size smalltown county fair. For Tim Solomon, Hill County’s Great Northern Fairgrounds manager, assisted by Linda Ferguson, the fair secretary for the past 20 years, the Great Northern Fair is a yearlong pursuit, and this year has been a time of change with efforts to maintain the fair’s traditions while meeting today’s challenges. Solomon said that the preparations for the July 17-21 fair are on schedule, despite the long search for a new carnival provider and the changes to evening entertain-
ment after one of the longstanding events canceled for 2013. “The carnival is one big change this year, Solomon said. After having a few problems
with the carnival in 2012, Solomon got word from other fair managers that they were having even bigger problems with the company, and these issues concerned Solomon and the fair board members. “After us, last year’s carnival kind of fell apart, and he had problems in most the other places he played for the summer,” said Solomon, adding that “we were early in the season and he was kind of together yet. As he moved along ... he didn’t meet the ride requirements and as the summer went on it got worse ... so we canceled our contract with him and went out for continued on page 25
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bids with a new carnival. “We have Brown’s (Amusements), and from everything I see it’s good, and they have a good reputation,” he added. The process of finding a carnival company is fairly involved, Solomon said, because for economic reasons carnivals want to play the bigger venues for a better chance of income to cover their costs of operation and travel. “You got to consider them carnivals run off a huge generator and the price of diesel — not only to run the carnival but to move the carnival as far as all them rides traveling between. So a big cost is fuel cost, and they just can’t operate in smaller scales to make it cost effective. “It’s harder for small fairs to find (carnivals). They’re out there, but they’re wanting to play bigger fairs to make money,” he said. “Ours, we’re big enough that we had other carnivals at least bid us.” And Solomon and the fair board wanted to try to help neighboring, smaller, fairs get onto a carnival’s route, which is another money-saver for carnival companies because a good route keeps them from wasting fuel and time criss-crossing the state. So time was spent coordinating schedules and looking at options for other towns as well, he said, but it “ended up in the end not really working well for Shelby” because their fair dates coincide with Hill County’s. “So we’re one of the bigger (carnivals) along the Hi-Line now,” he said, and while he regrets that it may have come at Shelby’s expense this year, he’s still realistic enough to be grateful that Hill County’s carnival may be beneficial to the Great Northern Fair if people in small towns really want their carnival fix. “I hate to wish anyone bad, but I hope they come here instead of Great Falls.” While securing a contract with a carnival provider falls under the many duties the fair manager is directly responsible for, a large number of the other fair activities are enjoyed by fair-goers only because local organizations and groups take on the responsibility to make them happen. For those, Solomon and the fair board are responsible for helping coordinate the scheduling H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
RIDES
and meeting any needs that fall under the purview of the facility manager. For example, the concessions — each serving someones favorite fair foods — are provided by an array of local clubs, groups, teams and organizations. Whether or not these concession stands have enough food supplies is not the fair manager’s problem — for which he is undoubtedly thankful considering the number of concessions every year. However, whether or not those stands have needed amenities — like power, which is supplied to all concessions, and sewer access, which is limited — is contractually his problem. This year’s fair will have all the standard food booths, Solomon said, but he’s still in negotiations over a possible new concession because it requires water and sewer hookups and those services are “maxed.” “We provide water to most of them, but we don’t have sewer hookups in a lot of areas,” he said. “So right along where the main group are, there is (sewer access) and that’s why they’re kind of in a row, to add other ones off in different areas.” Fortunately, he added, some of the concessions don’t require a sewer hookup because of the way they are set up, or the foods they serve. “And power, yeah, that’s a problem, but we’ve been able to work out most of the power problems to them. It’s old power and it’s kind of scary sometimes,” he said, and recalled a time nearly two decades ago when a power line burned through its connection to a pole and fell to the midway sparking. “Boy a lot of us remember that one.” Still, the problem was fixed, the concessions served onward and the fair-goers were happy. But it’s not only the concessions which require coordination with multiple groups. The 4-H youth agricultural program, which holds its annual competition and manages the largest food concession facility at the fair, has a committee that liaises with the fair board and Solomon, but it also has several layers of committees that organize the many activities for continued on page 26
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which the organization is responsible. And each evening grandstand entertainment event has a committee that organizes and puts on the events, in coordination with the fair manager, along with each of the other events. For example, for several years the order of go for the evening events started with the Junior Rodeo Wednesday, then two nights of sanctioned rodeo, the truck pull, and finally the demolition derby. All the horse and livestock events were together because the arena was prepared the same way for them, the motor-vehicle events were together for their similar arena needs. And the demolition derby came last because broken car parts are difficult to clean out quickly and they could be harmful to rodeo animals and competitors or the tires for vehicles in the truck pull. After the truck pull organizers pulled out of the fair for 2013, there was some jockeying for position in that Saturday night time slot among grandstand event organizers. Neither Solomon nor the fair board dictates the nights that evening events are held, so the organizers of the events, the fair board and Solomon all worked out a scheduling solution. In the end, the organizers for the rodeo events shifted their schedules to one day later, and a new event is debuting Wednesday evening. “We’re starting off with a pig wrestling (contest) that we’ve never had before,” Solomon said, adding that this has been a popular attraction for years at the Blaine County Fair, which runs the previous weekend. Solomon said local teams of all ages, which can be sponsored by a business or organization, will compete for prizes, by trying to catch a greased pig. The fair is working with a group out of Wyoming which supplies the final rules, the wrestling arena and pigs of varying sizes to suit the teams’ age groups. Thursday evening will be the Junior Rodeo that starts at 5 p.m. and is open to all area youths. The Great Northern Rodeo, which is Northern Rodeo Association sanctioned and accepts all Indian
gREAT NORTHERN FAIR SCHEDuLE Wednesday, July 17
Noon – Carnival and food stands open 6 p.m. – Pig Wrestling Midnight – Carnival Closes
Thursday, July 18
2 p.m. – Carnival Opens 5 p.m. – grandstand Entertainment Jr. Rodeo 9 p.m. – Exhibit buildings close Midnight – Carnival Closes
Friday, July 19
Noon – Exhibit buildings and food stands open 2 p.m. – Carnival Opens 7 p.m. – grandstand Entertainment NRA and NIRA Rodeo 9 p.m. – II Amendment Concert 9 p.m. – Exhibit buildings close Midnight – Carnival Closes
rodeo association cards, begins at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday. This year a concert featuring the band II Amendment will follow Saturday’s rodeo. An evening concert is something that the fair hasn't had for a while. Sunday night’s Jaycees Demolition Derby, starting at 5 p.m., caps the fair events. Of course, 4-H competi-
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Saturday, July 20
Noon – Carnival, Exhibits and food stands open 7 p.m. – grandstand Entertainment NRA and NIRA Rodeo 9 p.m. – II Amendment Concert 9 p.m. – Exhibit buildings close Midnight – Carnival Closes
Sunday, July 21
Noon – Exhibit buildings and food stands open 2 p.m. – Carnival Opens 5 p.m. – grandstand Entertainment – Jaycees Demolition Derby 11 p.m. – Carnival and great Northern Fair close
tions will be featured throughout the fair, ending with the market livestock auction and premium money pay-out Sunday. This is the same day the open competitions will be available to take home and premium money paid out. Also during the fair, vendors will have booths filled with their wares and in
formation. Although the free entertainment won’t include an animal exhibit this year, comedy ventrilcontinued on page 27
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oquist Jim Adams will be performing throughout the days on the free stage, and clown Pippy will be wandering the grounds creating balloon animals. “We’re part of the Rocky Mountain Fair Association, and so we go to the convention every year and there’s all kinds of acts. You could hire big names down to little acts,” Solomon said about finding and booking the acts. “you try to ... help them route around the state because it’s costly for them to travel. “We all get together and kind of talk about it with other fairs, too. You kind of work together with a little of everyone to get the acts.” It is this spirit of cooperation among community that makes a county fair — that shows its heart — whether it's cooperating
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among county fairs across the state or cooperating among all the participating groups and individuals who put on the events. That cooperation is what will keep this size county fair going. It provides a uniquely rural way to bring people together, whether it’s everyday neighbors or people who are back in town for a visit. “It’s kind of a celebration to get people together,” Solomon said, “and it’s kind of one of the big events in a community along the Hi-Line that is when you see all your neighbors and the people you only see once a year. … It’s 4-H wrap up of their year and we have events for people to enjoy while they’re together. “That’s what it’s all about.”
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921 7th Ave ~ $112,000
Nice home to come home to, inviting Ranch style offering convenience and charm. Easy to love floor plan, cozy fireplace, friendly deck, master suite and two bedrooms in basement. Nice price too, won't last long!
118 6th Ave ~ $195,000
Multi-family dwelling units with 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, basement, den/office, dining room. Two parking garages in back. On a lot of 62x60.
600 1st St Siesta ~ $575,000
Price Reduced! 23 Unit motel w/1st Street (Hwy 2) frontage. Very clean, with family atmosphere. Recent updates, downtown location, dining & shopping available. Washers/Dryers.
921 1st St
Archies Auto Body commercial building with three city lots next to US HWY 2. Three foot chain link fences, two dug outs, with possibility to add on. 1 bathroom, centrail air, and carport.
210 1st St. NW, Rudyard, MT
Nice single family home built in 1912, with 3 bedrooms, 1 bath. Has central air and basement. On a lot of 50x140 with an enclosed porch.
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DING SALE PEN
2556 Old Post Road
Beautiful Brick Home on an Awesome View Lot of Bears Paw Mt...one acre plus. Features, overall 5 bed/4 bath, 2 fireplaces with water features. Large Gourmet kitchen, swimming pool & sauna. Triple car garage with breezeway to house, underground sprinklers & manicured yard. Many other features too numerous to mention. Call today for your personal showing.
803 11th Street ~ $108,900
Nice South end home with 2 bedrooms w/possible 3rd in basement, 2 3/4 bath. Main floor has most of the original hardwood flooring. Open kitchen/dining area and main laundry room. Open spacious floor plan. DING SALE PEN
419 19th St.
Investment Property Close to University 1011 & 1013 3rd Ave Duplex with separate owners for each unit. Sell individually or buy both for a total income package. 1011 has 2 bedrooms & partial basement. Unit 1013 has 3 bedrooms & partial basement. Shared enclosed back porch.
Warm & Inviting home in a great south-end location. 3+bedrooms (master bed has cozy deck) & over all, 1 3/4 bath, large rock (gas) fireplace in living room, open concept throughout this property. Nice family room w/office area in basement. Underground sprinklers, newer roof, potting shed & double garage(heated).
Investment package coming into our inventory soon. Keep your eye on newspaper or website. We might be a smaller office but we have a great track record for getting listings & sales completed! Call us today for your free market opinion. With interest rates down it is a great time to List & Buy. We are a full service Business.
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LIVING MAGAZINE 33
406-945-9039
www.havrehilinerealty.net
632 14th Ave #42 Clear Creek Court $22,900 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1983 mobile home on a rented lot, laminate  oors, appliances included.
Homes are Selling, Listings are Needed! Sale Pending! 326 1st Ave Sale Pending! $78,900
Sale Pending! 1260 11th St N Sale Pending! $73,000 Sale Pending! 139 McNamara Ave Sale Pending!
$69,900
28 Beaver Creek Blvd 1 ~ $138,000 4 bedroom, 2 bath, double garage home.
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527 3rd St ~ $62,900 2 bedroom, 1 bath. Down town location.
Sale Pending! 815 6th Ave Sale Pending! $115,000
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