Baxter
Black is coming back
Poet
will fuel Lewistown’s own cowboy poetry “phenomenon”
by
M.K. FRENCH
News-Argus Staff Writer
The “lifestyle:” whether they love it,
hate it, or cuss it, Central Montanans commit
to it. Poet Baxter Black finds this rural way of life “magical” and hopes to
draw people to it by sharing glimpses of it in his poetry. Black and other
poets will make their way to Lewistown’s annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering, August
16-19 to entertain local audiences.
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| Photo courtesy of Baxter Black |
In an interview from his home in Arizona , Black spoke
fondly of the gathering, recalling his previous stays at the Yogo Inn, and even
a 2 a.m. outing to have breakfast at the Empire. He looks forward to his
upcoming participation in the event, saying that [we] “live in the right place”
for a cowboy poetry celebration, because the lifestyle is “authentic.” Black explained that because of the genuine
nature of the people and the work they do, such a gathering will ideally “draw
people to the country where we live” and let them take part in the enchantment
of the lifestyle. “The West has its own mystique, as do the people, and their
stories ring true because they are.” It
is here and other places like it that poet Baxter Black finds the people,
animals, and stories that he chooses to “immortalize” in verse.
It makes sense that Black knows all about
the life—he lives it. Despite his busy
career as an entertainer, writer, and radio personality, Black was formally
trained as a veterinarian, which certainly helps him to run his own cows on 24
sections of rugged Arizona
property. Before even discussing his
poetry, Black lovingly, though humbly, spoke of his place and his animals,
describing with passion a time when he had to chase down a calf and brand him
in the brush, “the old, way—the cowboy way.” One can almost picture Black
riding through the unforgiving mesquite, brandishing a rope in pursuit of a
squirrelly calf—his sidekick, Francisco hot on his heels. Though he modestly
claims that he’s “not a very good cowboy,” he included his experiences in Montana as a set of
“grand” adventures, in which he gets to be “in the company of [them].”
Informally, Black was trained as a
musician and aspired to be a songwriter.
Though he did not have as much success as he had hoped in that endeavor,
his ability to compose verses led to his own contributions in what he called
the “Cowboy Poetry” phenomenon. Black
said that in the early phase of entertaining others with his poetry, he and
only a handful of other poets finally got “lucky” when they were invited to
appear on the Johnny Carson show. Ironically, though the content was funny, it
was the first time that people took cowboy poets seriously. These appearances (and, he joked, the timing
of “Urban Cowboy”) helped to change the image. This phenomenon ultimately led
to several cowboy poetry events around the country, including Lewistown’s,
which he recalled was among the earliest and best.
Black spoke with equal passion about his
own poems, which he said were a way to “set in stone” the stories of the people
he encounters in rural America .
He said they are important in that they allow those people to look at
themselves with a skeptical eye, and still have fun. He said that it’s human
nature to “run over ourselves, get bucked off and smacked down.” In response, his work provides a way of
“pulling [a person’s] leg and getting away with it.” The poems represent the
best and worst of those characters and events, spun with a light-hearted
sentiment.
It’s obvious that Black is himself a
genuine article. He will come to Lewistown as lead entertainer for the
gathering talent, which will be showcased on Saturday, August 18. More
information about the event can be obtained at
www.montanacowboypoetrygathering.com.
Hay
shortage troubles Central Montana Ag community
by
M.K. FRENCH
News-Argus Staff Writer
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| Photo by M.K. French |
The sun might
be shining, but many aren’t making hay. An unfortunate convergence of
circumstances and conditions seems to be to blame for the hay shortage and
resulting high prices that have area ranchers very concerned.
According to
Darren Crawford, an agent with the Fergus County Extension office, “hay prices are much higher than in previous
years.” This, he said, is because
“there’s just not a lot of hay.” Crawford
said some desperate cattle producers from the southern part of the state and
way down into Wyoming
are looking for hay here, and not having much luck. “Some of them just have zero hay, and no
grazing,” he said sympathetically. Despite a couple of “good hay years”
recently, we’ve also had some long winters, when ranchers have had to feed
their livestock “from November until April.” This has apparently expended much
of the surplus hay that ranchers may have had.
According to
the Weekly Montana Hay Report released on Friday, August 10, “Local as well as
out of state buyers [are] aggressively pursuing all classes of hay. Hay produces [sic] continue to comment on
water supply worries, with many electing to retain their hay for higher prices
or for their own use.” The report, generated in Billings , lists prices for various classes of
hay. The highest prices listed are for Alfalfa hay, with small squares that are
classified as “good to premium” fetching $250 dollars per ton, and large bales
of the same classification are valued at any where from $180 to $200 dollars
per ton.
Rumors of hay
“hoarding” have many ranchers wondering how they will have enough feed to get
through the winter. Crawford said, “I’m
not sure I’d call it ‘hoarding,’ but many are reluctant to sell because they
have been bitten too many times.” He
said that many diversified ranchers and farmers who produce a hay crop may only
have enough to “take care of their own cattle through the winter,” and he said
that’s the best case scenario.
Some might
not be so lucky. Crawford pointed out that those who knew they had a need and
sought hay earlier this year may have been fortunate enough to find the extra
hay, but the latecomers are having to search further and further north, in
areas like Malta , Glasgow , and Plentywood—possibly even up into Canada —where
rainfall has been more abundant. Crawford said that livestock producers may
have to hope for a second cutting of hay or a short winter. He expressed some
degree of faith in those with lots of experience with these kinds of
conditions, saying that those who had stored surpluses “will be glad they did
this year.”
Local hay
producers Dave and Anne Leininger have certainly taken a hit this year,
estimating their hay crop to be about 50 percent of what it normally is. Dave pointed out that though people might
think that hay producers would be ecstatic over rising hay prices, they forget
that [producers] are also having difficulties, having “only half as much hay to
sell.”
Dave, who’s
been keeping daily records of temperature and other weather conditions, said,
“I’ll tell you exactly why it’s this way.
May ninth, it was nearly 80 degrees. Then on May eleventh, it was 20
degrees…The hay got the go signal, then it got stunted, frozen.” His wife,
Anne, a partner in the operation, also pointed out that “we’re in drought
conditions.” She said with no grass going back for the cattle to eat now, many
ranchers are having to start feeding hay already.
The
Leiningers are also trying their hardest to be optimistic about the situation,
though they temper it with caution. Anne said, “you just never know what will
happen--hail, storms, you name it.” Dave
said it’s unwise for producers to sell hay “before it’s in the bale.” He likened
it to the old cliché about counting chickens before they’re hatched. They’re
hoping that their pivot irrigation system will provide a second cutting so they
will have some hay to meet the demands.
For more
information about the hay market, visit www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports.
‘They
are not forgotten’
Disabled
veterans carry message to Lewistown, across nation
by
M.K. FRENCH
News-Argus Staff Writer
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| Photo by M.K. French |
“The Long Road Home” for
veterans is as much a state of mind as it is a literal journey. Several
disabled veterans are cycling across the country on this aptly named expedition
to prove to themselves and others that they are capable, relevant individuals,
and other veterans can be too, despite any obstacles they may face.
Though largely symbolic, the
quest will surely be a grueling physical challenge. It began at Ocean Shores , Wash. where
veterans representing different branches, conflicts, and causes “baptized their
bikes in the ocean,” and set out for their destination, Washington D.C.
The veterans
sought respite and sanctuary at the Celebration
Community Church
The “Long Road Home Project”
was founded by civilian Casey Miller, who previously undertook his own
cathartic journey across the country, from Portland
Ore. to Boston ,
Mass.
Glenn “Junior” Fretz, a 41 year-old
U.S. Army veteran of Desert Storm, is riding his hand bike across the nation
for those who either never made it home, or those that have been “lost” since
returning home. Fretz explained that
many veterans, including himself, wind up forgotten and homeless during the gap
between their discharge and when their benefits take effect. He hopes that he can gain support for
“Operation First Response,” a program that provides assistance to veterans
immediately upon discharge. Fretz said he lived for a period in a “shack” in Guam , after an accident in 1994, struggling day to day.
He credits his family and other veterans with similar stories for helping him
to recover his sense of relevance and stability.
Colleen Bushnell says that
some military members are fighting a hidden battle against the aftermath of
sexual assaults that occur during service. Bushnell herself is riding in the
project to gain awareness for this issue, which she says is not sufficiently
being addressed in the military today. Bushnell said that as a result of two
separate physical assaults she endured while serving in the Air Force, she was
diagnosed with a personality disorder and medically discharged. Subsequently,
she not only lost her income and became homeless, but she lost custody of her
two sons. On her road to recovery, she hopes to become an advocate for “those
[victims] who are ostracized or labeled with mental illness.” She said just
like in this physical challenge, veterans need other veterans “to cheer each
other on” in life.
Steve Taylor spent 26 years
in the military, serving in operations
Desert Taylor was diagnosed with
a neurological disorder similar to Multiple Sclerosis in 2004. He said he “was almost ready to retire, to
come home,” when he became partially paralyzed by the disease. Taylor and the
other riders agreed that navigating post-service life can be difficult for any
veterans, who may suffer from both physical and “invisible wounds” of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder. Taylor ’s
biggest motivation is having the opportunity to talk to veterans and also the
family members of active service men and women along the way. He said he wants
them to know that there is help available, and that “they are not forgotten.”
The veteran athletes will
continue their journey southward, making their way across Montana
through Billings and into South Dakota . A map of their journey and more information
about the project can be found at www.longroadhomeproject.com, or on their
Facebook page, “Long Road Home Project.”
Architect’s
garden thrives in historic district
by
M.K. FRENCH
News-Argus Staff Writer
Jeff Shelden’s garden is the
picture of organic precision. While those descriptors may seem contradictory,
his lovely plot at the corner of 2nd and Boulevard is just that. Shelden, an architect, has achieved a mix of
meticulous order and unbridled verdure that is, very simply, charming.
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| Photo by M.K. French |
Shelden has lived in
Lewistown for the past 30 years with his wife Lois, a photographer. The
couple’s garden is a lovely complement to their spacious brick home in the
historic “silk-stocking district.” Sheldon originally shared the garden space
with a neighbor, who sold him the adjoining lot. In the planning phase three
years ago, it was Sheldon’s intention to create a “traditional garden” that
would serve as “an accent to the neighborhood.”
With exactitude that ancient
builders would admire, Sheldon laid out his garden giving consideration to the
best angles for light. He explained that
since the lots are laid out “on a 45,” he accordingly designated his patches
for each plant to be slightly “askew.”
All plant varieties thrive in their own cozy, south-facing wooden
parallelogram, each graduating away from the others by equal distances and
level to each other.
There is plenty of diversity
in this fertile microcosm: produce ranges from vegetables like winter squash,
Swiss Kale, beets, tomatoes, and onions, to fruits like gooseberries and
raspberries that Sheldon enjoys on his cereal. The greenery is collectively
contained by a delightful white picket fence, the pattern for which Sheldon
traced from a picket he admired at Bannack
State Park
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| Photo by M.K. French |
Shelden describes the care of
his garden as very “low-maintenance.”
The fence is constructed with a cellular polystyrene material, which
makes painting the fence every year unnecessary. The plants are bedded with a
weed-proof lining to make tending the garden easier. He has used a “lasagna method” of layering
materials in the soil, which doesn’t need roto-tilling because it doesn’t get
packed down. To walk in the garden is a joy: the spaces between each lush crop
create a tidy network of paths made of wood chips, which prevent muddy feet of
caretakers or visitors.
Although he has never added
it up, Shelden estimates that his garden yields a couple of thousand dollars in
fresh produce every year for his family’s use. Of special note is the pepper
variety he found in North Dakota
and the fresh mint for making mojitos.
by
M.K. French
News-Argus Staff Writer
As a result of lightning storms on
Monday, eight new fires were set ablaze in Central Montana .
Fortunately, all but one was extinguished, that one is west of the Crooked
Creek region of the Fort Peck Reservoir. Two helicopters descended on Lewistown
on Wednesday afternoon in order to fuel the aircraft and brief the crews on
details about the fire, which at that point had already consumed 5500 acres.
Bob Farrell, supervisor of aviation at
the local Bureau of Land Management office, explained that three federal
agencies, including the BLM, Forest Service, and Bureau of Indian affairs, as
well as personnel from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and
Conservation, and Saskatchewan, Canada, were working together to handle this
and other fires around the state.
The two helicopters are classified as
“heavies:” one, a monstrous white Chinook, and the other an impressive orange
Erickson Air Crane. Their purpose is to capture large amounts of water from a
natural source via either a “bambi bucket” or a hose and tank, which will then
be used in extinguishing the fire. |
| Photo by M.K. French |
The helicopters each require a crew of
six to eight people, including two pilots, a crew chief, a flight manager, and
two drivers at the minimum. The crew
chief of the Air Crane, Ryan Demerritt, only had time for a quick snack while
he serviced the helicopter. He said
their crew has had a “busy, busy fire season,” in New
Mexico , Arizona , and here in Montana . Pilot Scott “Yuki” Yukimura described the
unpredictable and fast-paced nature of their summer season. At the time of the
interview the members of this particular crew still had no details about where,
exactly, they were going. They were on
their way to get a quick lunch and sort out the details of their
accommodations. The only sure thing that
was they would be lifting off and on their way to a fire imminently. Yukimura had plenty of confidence in his
ride, saying, “she’s big, she’s bad, she’s beautiful.”
Elder
exploitation on the rise in Fergus
County
Local
social worker takes action
by
M.K. FRENCH
News-Argus Staff Writer
$2.9 billion dollars: that’s
the estimated monetary cost of elder financial abuse in the United States
every year, according to a 2011 study commissioned by the MetLife Mature Market
Institute. Laura Tucek says that elders in Central Montana
are not immune. In fact, Tucek says that referrals about elder exploitation in
this area have become startlingly “extensive.”
As an Adult Protective
Services Social Worker for Fergus, Petroleum, Wheatland, and Judth Basin
In a meeting on July 26 of
the Partnership for Elder Protection in Billings ,
Tucek introduced a proposition for legislation with two main goals. The first
is to “make it illegal for a compensated caregiver to become beneficiary, Power
of Attorney, added to a Last Will and Testament; or receive any gifts valued
above $50.” The second is to prevent abusers from preying on the elderly by
making it mandatory for previous employers to report abuse by caregivers. Tucek said, “Not only are these employers not
required to do this, they are discouraged from doing so for fear of litigation.”
Tucek cites this failure to report abuse as a reason for undiscovered,
recurrent abuse.
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| Photo courtesy Laura Tucek |
Tucek said examples of
exploitation that she’s seeing range from misuse of funds by caregivers from
their client’s personal bank accounts to losses of property such as vehicles
and homes that are either sold drastically below market value or sometimes
signed over outright. She said signs of this abuse often involve suspicious
activity in the clients’ financial affairs, such as forged checks, large
withdrawals or transfers of funds from accounts, low quality of care when the
client can afford better, missing belongings, and perhaps the most devastating:
unpaid bills which can result in discontinued utilities or even eviction
notices.
Tucek’s concern seems
merited. According to the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse,
a whopping seventy percent of the nation’s wealth is controlled by people over
50. This coveted wealth is often the accumulation of a lifetime of work by an
elder and/or their spouse. Some people may think of predators only as
opportunistic strangers in the form of crafty telemarketers, charity workers,
or new-found “best friends.” However, the perpetrators of such abuse are,
according to Tucek, many times the very person that the victim depends upon the
most: the caregiver.
According to elder advocates,
family members often provide much of the care that elderly persons
receive. This may be reassuring in many
cases—but not so in others. The number of caregivers who are family members is
on the rise, according to Robert Blancato, the National Coordinator for the
Elder Justice Coalition. Blancato was
the keynote speaker at an Elder Abuse conference in Billings in May, which was co-sponsored by
AARP. In an interview from his office in Washington, D.C., Blancato explained
that an estimated 6 million elders become victims of abuse—and a good portion
of that abuse is occurring at the hands of family members.
Apparently, local elders are
part of that statistic. Two separate civil cases have been filed in Fergus County
Tucek explained that,
unfortunately, she is seeing these kinds of cases more frequently, and hopes
that she can get other elder advocates and legislators in her corner. She believes that there is an “imbalance of
power” that exists in the caregiver/elder relationship, which makes it
difficult to navigate the legal waters.
She explained that regardless of an elder’s capacity to make decisions,
they are sometimes motivated by other factors and give in to the demands of
would-be abusers. She said elders
sometimes feel a sense of gratitude that abusers take advantage of by accepting
more than is appropriate in the way of gifts or compensation.
Tucek said, “Elderly people may be embarrassed or even
afraid of what may happen to them if they deny belongings or property to a
caregiver. When [the caregiver] is the only person standing between [the elder]
and the nursing home, they are going to give them what they want.”
Besides dedicated social
workers like Tucek and her “commendable” efforts to stop abuse, Blancato said
that APS and other state agencies need additional financial support to stop abuse. Blancato said that such funding would help
provide two keys to solving the problem: improved screening and training of
caregivers.
Blancato said that in a
recent pilot program, seven states were granted funds as part of the Elder
Justice Act. Those funds were allocated
to run background checks on potential caregivers. The results were telling.
Approximately 9,000 applicants for caregiver positions were denied jobs based
on the results of their background check.
Tucek praised the reputable healthcare
agencies and institutions that conscientiously include a background check as
part of employment screening for caregivers, but explained that it doesn’t
always happen. She said it becomes “tricky” when you’re dealing with a higher
and higher demand for in-home care, especially in rural Montana . According to Tucek, there is no
legal requirement in the state of Montana
for employers to run background checks on potential “compensated caregivers.”
With her proposal, Tucek hopes to initiate a change to improve these practices.
More information on elder abuse and how
to prevent it, visit www.preventelderabuse.org.
Yogo
Inn and Art Center
Guests
enjoy a rootin’ tootin’ time
by
M.K. FRENCH
News-Argus Staff Writer
Guests in western duds turned out at the
Yogo Inn to solve a murder, while feasting on “Buzzard Bait, Fricasseed
Scorpions, and Cactus-Wrapped Polecat.” A western-themed murder mystery dinner
was hosted at the Yogo Inn on Friday evening. The event, a fundraiser
benefiting the Lewistown
Art Center
In addition to the dinner catered by the
Yogo Inn, the audience members were treated to an interactive show, performed
by actors of The Murder Mystery Company of Grand Rapids, Mich. Hotel manager
Tony Brown organized the food and entertainment for the event, while Nadine
Robertson and Mary Haight of the Art Center coordinated the fund-raising
activities, which included “Punch a Cowboy,” a fifty-fifty raffle, and a silent
auction. Both local and out-of-town
businesses donated the prizes, which included tickets to the Fifth Avenue
Theater in Seattle
to see ‘Rent,” a night’s stay at the Yogo Inn, a decorative mirror, fresh
salmon, and many others. Jessica Ferguson, Diana Harris, and Linda Tullis of
the Art Center
Philip Anderson of The Murder Mystery
Company played “The Mayor,” and also served as a facilitator, instructing the
guests who were lucky enough to be chosen as additional characters to
participate in the mystery. He greeted
the guests with a welcoming drawl, showing them to tables. Other accomplices
included the likes of “Dickie Quick-Pistol,” a gunslinger played by Rachel
Flurry; “Dee Fraud,” a Pinkerton Detective played by Steven Hilton; and “Sandy
Crack,” a reporter played by David Gasperina.
The company has many locations throughout the United Sates. They perform in several cities, and also
travel to special venues such as the one held at the Yogo Inn.
The western accent was clearly
contagious. The diners were even provided with a “Wild Wild West Guide to
Slang” so they could “learn ta speak like a grizzled, 1877 cowpoke.” Their task was to sort out all the
“scuttlebutt” to figure out whichever “ornery mudsill” caused the “fuss.”
Robertson said the guests themselves really “hammed it up.” She said that Bob Steinman, owner of the Yogo
Inn and sponsor of the event, “thoroughly enjoyed being killed.” Robertson described the evening as a great
success, for not only the funds generated for the Art Center
by
M.K. FRENCH
News-Argus Staff Writer
If you like wholesome food,
chances are, you also like materials and gifts that are handmade and homespun.
If you’re looking for such, a visit to the back of The Pantry at 317 Main Street
will surely fill your daily cozy quota.
Owner Karla Butcher has
repainted and repurposed an area in the back of her health food store that now
bears the moniker of ‘Sweet Thyme Boutique.’ The new area of her store is
dedicated to gifts and items that
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| Photo by M.K. French |
Butcher also wants to support
homegrown businesses, especially those in this state. She’s had the business
since 1976, and explained that though it can be tough to own a business during
an economic downturn, she’s one of the “lucky ones.” She said, “Things may have
slowed down a bit, but we’re still here.” Butcher hopes to help other small
companies “trying to make a go of it.”
If you want to visit the
‘Sweet Thyme Boutique’ at The Pantry, stop in between 9-5:30, Monday through
Saturday.
Local artist will showcase her art; ‘root out’ other artists in
new gallery
by M.K. FRENCH
News-Argus Staff Writer
Carol Woolsey has gotten
quite serious in her relationship with art—so much so that she describes
herself as being “married to it.” This native
of Lewistown has taken it to the next level by opening Caye Fine Art, a new
gallery located at 111 4th Avenue
South .
 |
| Photo by M.K. French |
Woolsey, who got her early
education here in Lewistown, went on to study a variety of disciplines at Arizona State University Lewistown School District
She certainly seems to have
accomplished an inviting place for artists and patrons alike. Her gallery,
though small, features cleverly displayed works by local talent. Visitors are
immediately greeted with a window display of western-themed handmade silver
flasks, followed by her piquant “tree of jewels”—a display for her jewelry with
designs borrowed from nature. Rings that are nested in delicate cocktail
glasses are also fashioned around organic, free-form shaped stones from Peru and
elsewhere. Yogo sapphires will figure prominently in her jewelry. The flasks,
which begin as raw sheets of silver, display images catering to a variety of
tastes, but have a distinct western flair. Now, her flasks and jewelry will be
displayed alongside painted driftwood by Adam Grensten, photography by Sue Moseman,
and boot art by Cindy Salvi, and numerous works by other artisans.
Woolsey said she was most
motivated to open a gallery because of her own passion for art, but also a
desire to mentor others who need encouragement and guidance to gain exposure
for their artwork. She described her own
struggles in becoming a full-time artist.
She expressed a concern for the difficulties artists have when trying to
make it, citing financial support and confidence to be chief among them.
“Artists are a funny bunch,” she said.
She explained, “many artists need to be rooted out” and “pushed,”
because they lack the confidence to place something so personal out into the
public eye, especially for purchase. Woolsey also wants to promote arts
education—she herself teaches silversmith classes in the winter. She feels that it is the responsibility of
gallery owners to promote a love of art, and its creators, to the public.
Woolsey strives to create
“clean, simple, well-constructed pieces, combining texture and different applications.” Plenty of pieces that fit that bill will be
on display during the Yogo Sapphire Trunk Show and Art Stomp on Saturday, July
14th.
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