Community Notes

Wednesday, Aug. 1

Superior students invited to participate in All-Stars Band Festival

Debbie Merrill is the band instructor for the Superior School District and is very proud of every one of her students, especially the four who were recently invited to participate in the All-Stars Band Festival.

Larry Bennett is the 'Road Report Guy'

“Hit the road, Jack” … so the beloved 1961 Ray Charles tune goes.

Mineral County Library shares "Tails and Tales" in Superior

Invited guests will bring an animal for the group to meet as an explanation of the species will be shared and then an age-appropriate book will be read to them, usually about the critter.

Mineral County housing market remains hot

The morning coffee-clutch subjects have gone from bare shelves, back to wolves. Then to the price of fuel to election predications and to the new houses being built and local subdivision rumors in the last 30 days.

Community Calendar

Community Calendar

Stakeholders get started on Cedar-Thom

If the Sanders Mineral Forest Coalition was happy with taking a big step forward by adopting their first project in Mineral County at their March meeting, they will now have to be satisfied with a slow laborious crawl if they want to see the project come to fruition.

Billon-dollar rocket saved thanks to Superior alum

A searing heat pounded down on a fire crew as winds pulled flames 70 feet into the air and caused an archway over the road above them. Power lines burst overhead in the rising flames. In the distance they heard explosions and saw trees blow up as unexploded ordnance, or UXO’s, ignited from the fire. On an air force launchpad located 800 yards away sat an Atlas Five rocket carrying a Google Satellite worth nearly $1 billion.

Forest Service streamlines projects as budget cuts deepen

Forest Service projects with the Superior and Ninemile districts are slowing down as winter sets in and fire crews are leaving the area District Rangers, Carole Johnson from Superior and Ann Hadlow from Ninemile reported at a recent Mineral County Commissioners’ meeting held on Nov. 16.

St. Regis, Superior students receive safety gear

More than 1,800 Montana high school students in construction trade and industry classes at 17 different schools will be that much safer this school year through Montana State Fund’s Growing a Safer Montana equipment grants program, including St. Regis and Superior high schools.

Wrestling, basketball seasons underway

Wrestling

'Lights On' Afterschool programs celebrate successes

From learning how to sew a button onto a shirt to designing a spacesuit for NASA, afterschool programs across Mineral County offer a wide array of activities for students.

'Birds of a Feather' in Superior

For Superior High School Montana History Professor and Play Director Cathleen Kuchera the best part of producing a play every year is “getting to watch the students shine” and this year’s production of the play ‘Birds of a Feather’ was no different – for two nights the high school students took to the stage and shone. Preparation for play, which takes place in the suburbs and revolves around a series of showdowns between Leonna Crump (played by Hannah Hollenback) and her new neighbors – group of “hill-folk,” began two and a half months ago with Kuchera holding tryouts. “We had a shorter amount of time to put this play together – just over two months - and by play standards it is about a week less than what a director would like,” Kuchera said. “I hold a meeting for all interested parties about three months out to inform the students of my expectations. The play requires dedication and hard work, and the biggest part of the dedication is showing up to practice and memorizing your lines. Drama is not for the weak in body or mind.” After auditions, the group of student actors begins an intensive rehearsal regime – practicing over two hours a day to make sure the actors are prepared for their time to shine. “It is not like traditional sports where you have a number of games – we have only two shots at this,” Kuchera said. Another aspect of the preparation is, as Kuchera called it, “in the details” and the group works on finding all of the props and costumes as well as setting up the stage for the performance. “I do get pretty lucky in the fact that our set is painted by the advanced art class under Mrs. Kelly’s supervision – for which I am extremely thankful,” Kuchera said. The months of long practices lead to show time and on May 3 and 4 the student-actors entertained packed houses in the multi-purpose room of the high-school with the story of Leona Crump and her judgemental nature and sharpness being taken to the limit by her new neighbors. “I feel the performances went excellent,” Kuchera said. “Every single one of them did exactly what they were supposed to do – they rolled with the punches. I cannot express how proud I am with my cast and crew.” Although the ending of the play is “always bittersweet” for Kuchera, seeing the students shine and break out of their shells is something she cherishes. “When the students participate in the play and receive the praise they obviously deserve, I begin to see this confidence that wasn’t there before,” Kuchera said. “I say this almost every year, but the dramatic productions are so important because it provides students with an opportunity to express their artistic talents and be noticed for their skills.”

Fire training heats up

SUPERIOR – The fire blazed fiercely propelling thick gray smoke into the air. Firefighters quickly got to work as they worked on a car fire.

Superior residents remember Kennedy assassination

Hot Springs volleyball plays well at Districts

HOT SPRINGS – The Lady Savage Heat competed in District competition this weekend and were able to capture third place.

Soaring towards state

Superior High School senior Nicole Stroot is flying high in the long jump this season for the Bobcats. Her key to success? A lot of mental toughness and heart.

Hard work and depth keys as Bobcat season approaches

Theatre performances coming to Mineral County

Two performances are coming to Mineral County this week. On Thursday, August 19, behind the high school, Julius Caesar will be performed as part of Montana's Shakespeare in the Parks 38th Season. Then, on August 21, in the St. Regis Community Park, get ready for some Adventures on the Western Stage. Both performances are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and are free to audiences.

Horse riders clean trails

Five trucks rolled into Superior on Saturday, June 12, each with a horse trailer in tow. The vehicles were headed up to the Thompson Creek Trailhead just outside of Superior. But these horsemen and women from around Ronan didn't come all the way down just to go for a leisurely horseback ride. Rather they had come to spend the day clearing branches off the trail and spent the day working to open the trail up for other users.