T IMES
December 20, 2019
BAKER, MONTANA
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The Fallon County Times will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25 for Christmas and Jan. 1, for New Years. Deadline for news and advertising for the Dec. 27 issue will be Friday, Dec. 20 and the Jan. 3, 2020 issue deadline will be Friday, Dec. 27, at 2p.m. Have a safe and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year with family and friends.
“Christmas is just the Beginning” By Pastor Josh McLachlan,
First Baptist Church
Christmas is just around the corner. As I write this, Christmas is just under two weeks away. It seems like everyone is counting down; some people have paper rings strung through the house, some use a wipe off board, while others
have their own clever ways of counting down. Even Walmart has a flip chart that displays in big writing “13 days” until Christmas. (I think it is supposed to encourage you to buy your gifts while you can and not be one of those shoppers that procrastinate.) Before Christmas there is a huge build up of excitement. Plans are made for trips, extra visitors, parties and of course presents. (I have a few small plans of my own.) I too am
excited for the 25th of December. It’s the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, and it’s an extra day off with my family. What happens after Christmas? For one: Life gets busy again. Someone is assigned the not-so-fun tasks of putting away the Christmas ornaments (usually my wife), getting rid of the Christmas tree and storing the Christmas decorations for another year. (that’s my job) For two: After
Santa time at the Baker Fire Hall Staff Report
Santa had his hands full Dec. 11 when he stopped by the Baker Fire Hall, just west of town. And it wasn’t just with lollipops and listening to secret requests for gifts. “I’ve done that a couple of times,” the Santa said. “Overall, it was really very good. There were about 75 to 90 kids that came in with 25 families or so,” he said. One thing which helped to draw the children in for their visit with Santa was the chance to go into the back of the Baker Fire Hall where the fire engines were stored. “That is a pretty easy sell for most kids that age,” Santa added. “They want to see the fire trucks. “One of the kids told me he wanted one
Christmas, many people feel the blues. They feel let down. They have built up Christmas as the finale, as if it were the best event ever, and ultimately in the end, it doesn’t satisfy. It ultimately doesn’t in itself bring true and lasting happiness. Christmas as a day, was never meant to do that. It’s just the 25th day of a cold month of the year (At least in Montana). Jesus didn’t come to earth to make mankind
happy one day a year because now they have an excuse to get together, put up decorations, and receive presents. Jesus had something else in mind. John 10:10b tells us, Jesus came to give us life, and have it to the full. Jesus came to offer us the eternal life we can’t have without Jesus. Jesus came to bring hope to the world, to give our lives true and lasting purpose and meaning. That purpose and meaning can only be found
in Jesus. So, if you find yourself sitting around after Christmas, feeling the “Christmas Blues”…because the parties are all done, your friends have all left, and the gifts are all open, why don’t you turn to Jesus. He came to give you real, meaningful, and everlasting life. “Christmas is just the beginning”.
Aidyn age 3 & Kira age 1 Parents: Skyla and Dustin Varner
of the fire trucks for Christmas,” Santa added, with a chuckle. It was a good evening outing for the kids, he added, with getting to visit with Santa for the kids and the parents getting photos of the children with Santa. He also praised the work of his elf during the visit, helping with the kids who were a little afraid of a bearded man in a red suit. “They could see her face.” In addition to a photo, the kids left with candy canes and a goodie bag. “Most of them just hang onto it (the cane) and then go after it when they leave Santa,” he explained. “Some of them don’t know for sure (what’s going on), but it was a good night,” he added.
Illegal oil dumping damaging Baker sewer system
Staff Report
Illegal dumping is causing thousands of dollars in damage to the City of Baker sewer system, according to a release from the Fallon County Environmental Health Department. A complaint has been filed with the Montana Depart-
TODAY’S FORECAST High: 45 Low: 31
ment of Environmental Quality over used motor oil being dumped into the city’s sewer system. The City of Baker requested testing, with the results showing used motor oil has been put into the sewer system. A carbon scan analysis has been completed showing Files of the Times..............2 Obituaries.........................3 Cougar Tracks....................5
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samples taken from North Baker Sewage & Water District manholes and lift station are used motor oil. That dumping of used motor oil into the system has forced the city to spend money and man-hours in cleaning, but also could cause more damage, according the release. “The discharge could also damage our biological breakdown systems in the lagoon system,” the spokesman added. In addition, when the perpetrators are found, they can be fined up to $25,000 a day, with penalties added for corrections of damaged controls systems and laboratory costs for the carbon scan, Richard Menger of the Fallon County Environmental Health Office warned. “If the dumping continues into the spring, I am going to have to notify the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) because they have pre-treatment laws about water. Once they get in, then the fines really go up.” He also urged anyone discharging used motor oil into the Baker sewer to cease and
Spartan Scroll...................6 Classifieds........................9 Coloring Contest.............10 Christmas Edition......11-20
desist all illegal activities immediately. “I don’t want to see anybody put out of business, but I do want the activity stopped. I am basically just giving them a warning,” Menger added. “I am also worried about the lagoon itself. In addition to the sewer lines having to be cleaned, the lagoon system itself could have been damaged,” he said, noting that his office will have to wait and see if the damage
continues. The contamination of the system started about two years ago and was noticed by the city’s shop foreman, Menger said. “At that time, it was just a small amount...but it was still present. “Apparently someone has been doing it for at least a couple of years.” The amount of used motor oil is significant and could become very costly for the city to handle, he said. “I wouldn’t even try to
See DUMPING Page 7
Barth winner of Baker Chamber promotion
The second winner of the Be A Winner! Shop In Baker! promotion, sponsored by the Baker Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, was Deb Barth of Baker. She received $100 in Baker Bucks.
Christmas Worship guide page 11 Russell’s Clothing
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estimate the number of gallons,” Menger added. “It is not just one or two hundred gallons or anything like that. It is far in excess of that. It is a significant amount.” The damage to the system could be very extensive and very expensive if the dumping continues, Menger explained. If it affects Cell #1 in the system, the costs could be much, much larger. “That re-
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