Superior Meats awarded Community Development Block Grant

HELENA, Mont. – The Department of Commerce announced on July 12 that it will award $629,892 in federal funds for three community development projects.

Passport in Time New and old memories merge during program

It was the 23rd annual Passport in Time Project at the Savenac Historical Tree Nursery located at Haugan during the weekend of July 13-15. During that time, more than 30 volunteers showed up from all over the United States to paint, build and landscape the area.

Emergency Planning Committee meets, adds several new members

Familiar faces with new titles were seen at the monthly Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting on July 12. Donna Richter has been named the new assistant fire chief. She is joining current Superior Fire Department Chief Steve Temple. Temple took over as fire chief from Rob Torrey earlier this year after Torrey stepped down from the position.

Superior Meats to use CDBG loan to expand business

At Superior Meats, an entire pig sits prepped and ready on a stainless steel table in the back room. Waiting to be roasted and become the celebrated main course at an upcoming wedding reception. Next to the table, employee Russell Anderson throws hams into a tumbler. The hams had just been infused with brine in a machine where they are taken by a conveyor belt to an infusion device. A device which has several long prongs that pierce the meat and fills it with brine.

Community Notes

With temps in the 90s forest service officials have raised the Fire Danger Rating to high, meaning any fire start has a high chance of quickly becoming widespread. They have closed Outdoor Burning by Permit. All burn permits for yard debris, agriculture and wildland burning are now invalid. Campfires are still allowed in proper fire rings.

Ronald Stortz Jr.

Ronald Stortz Jr. passed away suddenly on July 8, 2018, at age 51.

Firework burns embankment near Superior's Memorial Bridge

Fireworks continued to shoot into the air as approximately a dozen members from the Superior Volunteer Fire Department fought to put out a July 4 grass fire in Superior. The call came into Mineral County dispatch around 11 p.m., where Superior Fire Chief Steve Temple and volunteer Calvin Berry arrived at the scene.

District Ranger Johnson and West Zone Team recognized for work

The second annual Montana Counties Forest Summit was held in early May, where two awards were presented to Mineral County nominees. One went to Superior District Ranger Carole Johnson, and the other to the West Zone NEPA Team.

Candidate: I-185 initiative deserves your support

I-185, the Healthy Montana Initiative, was submitted statewide to all Montana counties’ Clerk & Recorders Offices on Friday, June 22, 2018, with more than 42,000 signatures, and those signatures are now in the process of being verified. Since only 25,468 signatures were needed with a sufficient number from each of a minimum of 34 house districts, it is very likely that the initiative will be accepted and then placed on this fall’s ballot at the general election.

Community Notes

Are you ready for the Mineral County “Smokin’ Hot” Fair? It is just around the corner!

Hospital welcomes McNeese as interim CEO

Mineral Community Hospital welcomed interim Chief Executive Officer Steve McNeese to their team last week.

Fourth of July 'is a blast'

July 4 is an American favorite holiday, full of family gatherings, barbecue dinners, apple pie and fireworks, lots and lots of fireworks.

Superior home gets a new paint job, thanks to local volunteers

Last week around 20 people showed up at an old house for a party in Superior. But this was no ordinary party, it was actually a painting party arranged by the United Methodist Women’s group. They decided to start an annual mission project to paint a house a year in Superior.

This date in history

Beloved mail carrier retires after 40 years

More than 50 people gathered at the Mineral County Fairgrounds 4-H Building to wish Frances Higgs farewell at her retirement party on Saturday in Superior. After 40 years of delivering mail in and around Superior, Frances has decided to hang up her United States Postal Service mail bag. She just turned 80 years old, and works by a contract that is renewed every six years. If she were to renew it, she would be working until she was 86, said Superior Postmaster Liz Asay.

Bumper crop: Morel mushroom picking season ending

Alongside Quartz Creek Road at the Tarkio exit, a small table covered by a white canopy was set up next to a refrigerated truck. A sign with purple and pink letters reads, “Mushroom Buyer Jessica.” Jessica Cruz, along with her sons Timo, 16, and Lucas, 11, and her Asian partner simply referred to as “Q,” sit in lawn chairs - waiting for pickers to show up with baskets full of morel mushrooms.

Community Notes

St. Regis will hold its All-Class Reunion on July 21 with a Saturday potluck starting at 11 a.m. in the community park. There will also be a breakfast on Sunday at 9 a.m. at the St. Regis School. Volunteers are needed. Call Ron Forest at (406) 678-4255.

Community Notes

Free pancake breakfast served at the St. Regis School cafeteria from 8-10 a.m. Donations accepted. Followed by a parade through town which starts at 11 a.m. Free food and fun for all ages in the park from noon-3 p.m. Free fireworks on display in the park, beginning at dusk. Bring chairs or blankets,

Energy Partners in Superior under new management

Energy Partners in Superior has a new general manager, Garth Riebe. He stepped in after long-time manager Kirby Smith left Energy Partners to pursue other opportunities. Kirby had been with the company for over 30 years and the transition is a big one, Riebe said.

Mineral Community Hospital highlights brain injury display

A new display from the Brain Injury Alliance of Montana is featured in the lobby of the Mineral Community Hospital in Superior. The display contains five across rows of different masks painted by brain injury survivors. Some are colorful and artistic, some are dark and grim, and all tell the story of a traumatic brain injury survivor.