The Big Timber Pioneer (Big Timber, Mont.) 1983-current, December 26, 2003, Image 1

2 0 0 4 H A P P Y N E W Y E A R ! ! ! Serving Big Timber & Sweet Grass County, Montana Vol. 115, No. 9 - Dec. 26 , 2003 - Jan. II T r u d g i n g f o r w a r d t o 2 0 0 4 The war in Iraq was by far the most significant news occurrence of 2003. /'* we followed events happening half a world away wc cifso took note o f things going on in our own community. We hope you enjoy the following account o f 2003 News to Remember. — The Pioneer Staff JANUARY January 3-9 Elizabeth Ulmen, a graduate of SGHS, was selected Eastern Washington University’s Teacher of the Month for November. Legislative issues were published in the Pioneer. The Sweet Grass County Local Emergency Planning ; Committee licgan pre-disaster plan- ’ ning and created a subcommittee to create and write a plan. January 10-16 The Deputy Chairman of MMC Norilsk Nickel met with the Sweet Grass County Commissioners to discuss the effects of the Russian mining company taking over the majority interest in Stillwater Mining Company. Jonathan Lee Hansen was charged in District Court with two offenses - tampering with records or information, a felony, and theft o f identity, a misde­ meanor. Russell Hope was hospital­ ized in Billings following an acci­ dent involving horses at his ranch Big Timber’s Friends of the Library received an anonymous donation of stock valued at approxi­ mately $2,500. According to state Senator John Esp, the final plan for redistricting should be approved by April or May and would be in effect for the 2004 election. January 8 marked the 50th anniversary' of the donation of six Charles M. Russell C h a r i * O t * r t y P h o t o paintings to the Montana State Historical Society by the late Colonel Wallis Huidekopcr. January 17-23 The Big Timber City Council spent over an hour talking about sewer rates for city residents, then decided to further research commer­ cial rates and the impact of each business on the city’s sewer system. The Third Annual Montana Cowboy Poetry Wintcrcamp was being held at the American Legion. The Federal Trade Commission requested addi­ tional information from Stillwater Mining Company and MMC Norilsk Nickel as part of its routine investi­ gation of mergers and acquisitions. A brief biography of Big Timber philanthropist Colonel Wallis Huidekopcr was published. The body of Donald A. Jennings, 50, was discovered on the west edge o f .. Big Timber. The sound of an explod­ ing semi-truck tire brought many residents on the northeastern edge of Big Timber out of their homes. The first in a series of monthly articles on Lewis and Gaik, put together b> the SGHS A.P. English class, related Thomas Jefferson's proposal of exploration to Congress. January 24-30 The America Reads Program, coordinated by Big Brother Big Sister of Big Timber, offered grade school students a new opportunity to have fun while learning. Sweet, Grass County Commissioners com­ pleted their review of the updated County Growth Policy and submit­ ted their proposed revisions to the Planning Board. The Big Timber FFA Crop» team placed first and the Sales and Service team finished fifth at the KMON contest held m Great Falls. Kevin and Teresa Niehenkc were the new owners of Sunrise Espresso. January 3 1 -February 6 Because of a spill resulting from an accident involving a pickup truck driven by Robert Banner and a semi-truck carrying liquid fertiliser, the interstate around Big Timber w as closed for approximately live hours Snow in the mountains, as ol January 28. was a little more than half of normal for this time of year The Fanil Bureau organization des­ ignated February' 6 as Food Check- Out Day. A feature article on Sacajawea was reprinted from the December 24, 1936 issue of the Pioneer. The Big Timber FFA Mechanics team won first place at Lewistown Mechanics contest, with Fritz Baird and Kevin Lunghus taking first and second individually. A safety train­ ing session was held for Sweet Grass County Courthouse employees. A 29-year old man was allegedly shot in the leg by a second person, and an investigation was ongoing. FEBRUARY February 7-13 The Carnegie Public Library Board of Trustees and the Library Renovation and Expansion Committee invited the community to view the schematic design for an 1, 2004 addition to (he library and give their comments on the plans. Cuts in the Montana State Library's budget by the 2003 Legislative session could sctiously affect the Big Timber Carnegie Library The Reed Point chapter of Family. Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) planned several activities to promote their organization during National FCCLA week The U S. Forest Service Rural Community Assistance program approved two of three grants applied for in Sweet Grass County—$20,000 towards a multipurpose building at the fair­ grounds and $20,000 towards a new bathhouse at the city pool. February 14-20 Linda Larson won first place in the Pioneer's photo contest with a picture taken by her grandmother in 1927 of Linda’s uncle, George Center. and his friends Corrinc. Misty Mack and Nichole Plaggemeyer attended the Montana 4-H Citizenship Seminar held in Helena The Big Timber FFA Floriculture icani of Megan Da we. Nichole Plaggemeyer. Karin Lunghus and Susan Bolstad placed third in the State Career Development Event in Deer Lodge. A log cabin built in 1902. which bad been purchased from Beulah I orstcr and her son Gene, was icnovated by Gary and Donna Hurkness. When Dale Wood took a friend bow hunting in the Crazy Mountains lust September, he didn't realize a mountain lion would make it a Friday the 13th to remember. Eric Svcnson was selected to repre­ sent Rccd Point High School at the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Seminar in Missoula. Leah Plaggemeyer, a senior at the University of Montana-Western, was once again a member of the Women's Basketball team. February 21-27 A Stillwater Mining Company employee was reported missing when he failed to return home; later someone contacted the Sweet Grass Sheriff’s Office to report they had spoken to the man’s mother, who Continued on p a g e 8