FCT16

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Fallon County

T IMES BAKER, MONTANA

$1.00

January 8, 2021

Vitalant Blood Drive

Vitalant Blood Drive will be Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, from 12:30-6 p.m. at the Baker Senior Citizen Center, 420 W. Montana Ave. Please call Ella Arnell at 406-778-3829 to make your appointment. Walk-ins are always welcome. For more information or to schedule a donation call 877-258-4825 or visit vitalant.org. Remember to bring your ID, eat a good meal and drink lots of fluids. Masks are required.

Bank of Baker Locals help start New Year with a bang donations Staff Report

Jodi Varner (left) presented Carla Brown with a donation for the Community Cupboard from the Bank of Baker.

2021 started and 2020 ended with a bang in Baker. It may have been about five minutes of fireworks along the shore of Baker Lake, but a small group helped set up the celebration with a fundraiser. Local youth pastor, Joe Epley, set up a fireworks stand along Highway 12 earlier in the day with volunteers and others as an effort to raise money for their youth center. It may have been a first, having a New Year fireworks show and selling fireworks, but it is something that Joe said he would like to do again, weather permitting. “We had done fireworks in the summer every year in Baker with a full stand... for about seven, eight or nine years, if not a little longer,” he explained Tuesday. “We had never done New Year’s fireworks. This year, we just decided that … since the weather was so incredibly mild this winter, we decided to give it a try. There had been community interest before in selling fireworks for New Years Eve. Some people really do love to ring in the holiday that way,” Joe explained. “It probably isn’t going to happen every year because of the weather, but we can definitely try it when we can,” he said. The fireworks show by the lake was something new also. “In conjunction with that (selling fireworks) … we made a show by the lake at midnight. It was softly advertised on social media so that people could take advantage of that.

“Selling was a one-two punch, with lighting off (fireworks) at midnight the other half of that,” he said. “All the proceeds go the Baker Youth Community Center and help us do what we do with students all year – do fun events and sometimes church events.” The stand was very successful. “The fundraiser was successful. We didn’t have any expectations because we had never done it before. It was good and we had some traction. Several people walked up to the stand and said it was great that we were open. That was cool to see. “At the show, we had a good turnout. We had some neighbors around the lake that told me that they really enjoyed watching (the fireworks) at their homes. We had people in cars lining the parking lot. There was a mix of ages – some families and some teenagers there,” Joe explained. “It was a good mix of people. Because we had never done it before, we were happy with whatever happened and we thought the turnout was just fine.” Ground zero for the fireworks show was near the parking lot and gazebo along the lakeshore, he said. Joe praised the assistance of Craig Shipman in putting on the fireworks show. “Craig is a local fireworks enthusiast. He helped us rig up the (fireworks) trailer. So the success of the show was squarely on his shoulders. The fact that it went off so well I really attribute to his help.” According to Joe, the group coordinated with the local police, sheriff and fire departments regard both the sales and the

fireworks show. “We made sure we cleared all the channels legally and made sure they were aware of what we were doing. They said as long as the weather was good, they were more than happy to say yes.” The group felt they had the safety measures in place to have a good show, he added. Joe said that he and the others behind the event hope to do it again whenever there is mild weather for the holiday. In addition, he said that the youth center would also like to partner with Shipman during the Fourth of July fireworks show to help that grow. “It is a way to give back and do something fun,” he explained. At the fireworks stand, it was some of the biggest proving to be the most popular – especially one called ‘Screaming Hawk Artillery’ that was very loud and very pretty. I sold out of them very quickly.” The stand was only open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Years Eve. “The selling window in the state of Montana for fireworks is a little shorter. So, we just opened one day – New Year’s Eve.” The fireworks show was only about four and a half minutes and started right at midnight, he added. He has already plans for the future. “If we can go bigger and better, that will be a lot of fun,” Joe added. Joe said that his ‘wacky waving arm-flailing inflatable Tube Man’ helped bring people into the fireworks stand. He had a crew of about four handling the stand – including T.J. Gilmore, Tieler Soumas, and Ivan Loutzenhiser.

2020 Year in Review continued

Jodi Varner (left) presented Gamma Beta Sorority members Patti Brookes and Lanae Bretzel with a donation for the Christmas Wishes program from the Bank of Baker. The Baker Fire Department along with the Fallon County EMS Service conducted ice rescue training on the evening of Dec. 16. Todd Olmsted with Technical Rescue Options from Colstrip, assisted with the training. The Baker Fire Department would like to remind the public about being out on the lake to use cation on the ice.

Ice on Baker Lake

Richard A. Menger, MS, REHS

CAUTION: Because of the extremely mild winter thus far and the placement of three (3) air diffusers adjacent to the permanent fishing dock at the northeast corner of Baker Lake, ice thicknesses range from 8” to open water. Ice fishermen and other outdoor recreationist please use EXTREME caution when on the ice.

TODAY’S FORECAST

May 22 -- The graduating class of 2020 certainly had a unique graduation ceremony. Superintendent Aaron Skogen delivered the commencement address to the students who were seated in the Schillinger Stadium - with the proper “social distancing” limits imposed. Immediate family members were seated in the grandstands and friends and other family members lined the fence of the stadium to listen to the ceremony and to cheer on the graduating class. Our local radio station, KFLN, sponsored a live broadcast of the ceremony and the NFHS network streamed the event. There were four Valedictorians, Katie Wang, Caleb Ploeger, Alissa Schell and Rachel Rost, and one Salutatorian, Lena Kennel. The remaining Top Ten of the Class of 2020, Shelby Moore, Halle Burdick, Mattie Mastel, Macee Hadley and Javan Kesinger, were recognized for their dedication and commitment to their education. After the local police department and fire department led the Senior Graduation Parade throughout the town. . .For Jade Melby, the end of decades working in the Industrial Arts program at Baker won’t be an ending now that he is retiring from teacher. He plans to keep busy with his business, Melby’s Seamless Gutters. . .Fallon County will be hosting the state high school rodeo championships starting June 1, as long as the event complies with state guidelines established by the governor and state health officials. . .There will be no Memorial Day services at Bonnivale Cemetery or Union Cemetery this Memorial Day due to social distancing from Coronavirus. . .Both the county and city offices opened back up to the public May 11 as the state of Montana continues to reopen in stages after the Covid-19 hit the Treasure State. . .Governor Bull-

Obits...................................................2

Cougar Track.......................................5

High: 34 Low: 18

Year in Review................................1&6

Classifieds...........................................6

Mostly Sunny

Spartan Scroll.....................................4

Files of the Times...............................3

ock announces Montana to enter Phase Two of reopening plan on June 1. . . High temperature May 19 was 83. Low temperature May 14 was 43. . . Will Rost was named Montana’s MOS-Word Champion. It is the first time that a student from Baker was earned this award. May 29 -- Headline: Budget forces city to close Recreation Department. At its May 20 city council meeting the City of Baker announced that in addition to recent layoffs, the Recreation Department would be closing on May 22. . .Cindy Quade will be retiring at the end of the school year from the Baker School District. Quade has spent decades working as a school counselor in southeastern Montana. She worked for 24 years in Ekalaka and another 15 years in Baker. . .Picture: Linda Rost, 2020 Montana Teacher of the Year was on CNN on May 21 to discuss how the coronavirus is impacting education. . .Montana High School Rodeo 2020 State Finals in Baker will begin May 31. . .High temperature May 20 was 81. Low temperature May 26 was 40. June 5 -- Fallon County Primary Election Unofficial results for County Commissioner District I were: Kevin J. Braun (R) 286, Sandra N. Kinsey (R) 193, Justin Owen Klauzer (R) 146, Brian G. O’Connor (R) 256, JoDee Pratt (R) 38, Melissa “Missy” Thielen (R) 30, Bill Wyrick (R) 122, Steven P. Zachmann (R) 111. . .The swimming pool at Baker High School prepares to open. The pool as gone through repairs and cleaning and has been closed because of Covid-19. Darby Waldbillig hopes the pool will be open within two to three weeks. . .High temperature May 31 was 92. Low temperature May 30 was 51. . .Fallon Medical Complex was presented recognition

by the Montana Health Research & Education Foundation HIIN Project (MHREF) together with the American Hospital Association Center for Health Innovation for diligent work and authentic collaboration with patients, clinicians and partners resulting in unprecedented impact on patient safety in Montana Hospitals. June 12 -- Headline: Darlene Hornung honored as Baker’s Citizen of the Year. At the June 3 City Council meeting Mayor JoDee Pratt made the presentation. . .City Council puts water main project up for rebid. At the June 3 meeting, the council members unanimously decided to reject the only bid they have gotten on the project. Instead, it will be put out for a rebid with the hopes of getting more savings with multiple bidders. . .The Montana High School Rodeo Championships closed the 2020 season in style in Baker Saturday. Colton Turbiville of nearby Rhame, ND, was able to claim a state championship with a win by one point in cow cutting. . .High temperature June 5 was 79. Low temperature June 9 was 44. . . Classic Cruisers Car Club yearly car show was canceled due to Covid-19. So they decided to go on a short cruise. They had 21 cars participate, and it was a very enjoyable cruise. . .Five Baker High School golfers competed in the 2020 Junior Golf Tournament that was held June 3 at the Town and Country Club in Miles City. Konner Flint place 1st (76); Jaxson Tronstad placed 2nd (95); Camryn Collins place 2nd (98); Rory Lingle placed 2nd (99) and Hallie Flint placed 2nd (119). June 19 -- Brandon Schmidt, formerly of Baker, is at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles waiting for a heart transplant. It will be his second. He is also waiting for a visit by his mother and other family members because visita-

Check out our Facebook page or Website for updates. www.falloncountyextra.com

See REVIEW Page 6

For up-to-the-minute news visit falloncountyextra.com We want to hear from you: See how to contact us on Page 3 Vol. 105 No. 02

7th Annual SE Montana Coyote Calling Contest January 15 & 16 Sign up Friday at The Corner 5 - 7 p.m. • Landowners Welcome

tion is not permitted under California’s current COVID-19 rules. . . New signs have been placed along Highway 7 and Highway 12 giving directions to some of the many recreation options surrounding Baker Lake. . .High temperature June 13 was 94. Low temperature June 10 was 39. . .Baker Lions Club planted flowers at Centennial Park. June 26 -- Although the City of Baker has suspended its Recreation Department in a cost-cutting battle with the loss of revenues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it still was supported by members of the City Council and almost two dozen residents attending the June 17 meeting in the Fallon County Courthouse. The closure of the recreation department will be a hardship for the community, especially with the families that have children. . .Parkview Retirement Complex residents learn about renovation plans and found out they have some decisions to make. . .Picture: COVID-19 drive thru testing was done in Baker on June 23 in the Fallon County Health Department parking lot. They completed 116 tests. . . The Tri Area Racing Association hosted the first 2020 sanctioned race by Montana Short Course Off Road Racing on June 20. . .High temperature June 23 was 85. Low temperature June 19 was 36. . .Former Baker resident Brandon Schmidt has received a new heart. The transplant operation took place June 21 after a donor heart was located and passed an inspection before it was transported to Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. . .Picture: Centennial Park is beautifully maintained by Carl Hepperle of the Lions Club. Angie, Sadie and Sylvia Rabbitt volunteered their time to paint the cement pillars as a surprise for Carl. . .Con-

For more information call:

Dustin @ 406-851-1932 Trevor @ 406-853-8587

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