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Town & Country Festival 2012

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Celebrating Hometown Heroes Attitude of gratitude EMS Firemen Military Police Volunteers and more Saturday, June 23, 2012 Fun Run Sidewalk Sales Pet Parade Parade 3 on 3 basketball Entertainment, face painting, petting zoo and more Free Feed Memorial Ranch Rodeo Dance 310 2nd Ave. NE, Sidney, Montana 433-2403 • www.sidneyherald.com Wednesday, June 20, 2012 Special Supplement to the
Transcript
Page 1: Town & Country Festival 2012

Celebrating Hometown Heroes

Attitude of gratitude

EMSFiremenMilitaryPoliceVolunteersand more

Saturday, June 23, 2012Fun RunSidewalk SalesPet ParadeParade3 on 3 basketballEntertainment, face painting, petting zoo and moreFree FeedMemorial Ranch RodeoDance

310 2nd Ave. NE, Sidney, Montana 433-2403 • www.sidneyherald.com

Wednesday, June 20, 2012Special Supplement to the

Page 2: Town & Country Festival 2012

Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. every day ~ 203 2nd St. NW,

Sidney ~ 482-3737 • Fax: 482-3739

Major Credit Cards Accepted ~ Montana owned and operated

America’s Wounded Warriors Need our Support.

Make a donation Today!

Town & Country Festival2 Wednesday, june 20, 2012 sidney Herald

By Bill Vander Weelesidney Herald

A parade, music and plenty of sales are all on tap for this year’s Town and Country Festival to be held in Sidney Satur-day.

“Saluting Hometown Heroes.” Officials encour-age participants of the parade to make floats to honor the firefighters, law enforcement, the military and EMTs. It’s also hoped that some of these heroes take part in the parade.

The day will kick off with HealthWorks’ an-nual fun run. Registra-tion begins at 7 a.m. in the HealthWorks’ parking lot, and the race will start at 8 a.m.

The Kid’s Run will begin at 8:15 a.m. All participants receive a 2012 T-shirt. There will be

cash prizes for the overall men’s and women’s runs. HealthWorks is located on the Sidney Health Cen-ter campus.

The parade, usually the largest of the year in Sid-ney, kicks off at 9:30 a.m. from the Reynolds/Pami-da parking lot. People interested in entering a float should register with the Sidney Chamber by calling 433-1916.

At that same time, the pet parade, organized by the Sidney Jaycees, begins at Veterans Memo-rial Park. Be sure to have your favorite dog, cat or other animal be a part of the fun.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be plenty of sidewalk sales along with children’s games in Sidney’s downtown area. Activities will include face painting and a pet-

ting zoo.The jumping castle will

be located in the former Lalonde Hotel parking lot.

Penny Filler, one of the festival’s organizers, says 12 Direct Sellers have already signed up as downtown vendors.

A new feature this year will be a three-on-three basketball tournament to be held near the court-house starting at 10 a.m.

Free entertainment on the downtown stage, starting at 10 a.m., will feature gymnastics, mar-tial arts and the Cutting Edge Dance Studio.

This year’s free meal, which begins at 11:30 a.m., is sponsored by Pa-cific Steel and Recycling.

At the fairgrounds, the Neal Hermanson Ranch Rodeo will take place. The ranch rodeo team

has been sanctioned with the NILE. This year’s winning team will get a chance to compete at the NILE Championship Ranch Rodeo in Billings. The winning team will have a chance to go onto the Working Ranch Cow-boy’s Association world finals in November in Amarillo, Texas.

Lil’ Buckaroo spon-sored by the MonDak Area Stockgrowers are scheduled for 2 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

The day will end with a dance and beer garden at the fairgrounds. The Bucky Beaver Ground Grippers will begin enter-taining at 8 p.m.

Sponsors of the Town & Country Festival are Pa-cific Steel and Recycling, Seitz Insurance, Sidney Herald, Hiland Partners, Sidney Health Center, Tri

County Implement and the Sidney Area Chamber

of Commerce and Agri-culture.

Town & Country Festival salutes ‘hometown heroes’

The Jaycees’ pet parade begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park.

Page 3: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country FestivalSIDNEY HERALD WEDNESDAY, juNE 20, 2012 3

After being successful for the past several years, the Neal Hermanson Memorial Ranch Rodeo is back again this year at the Richland County Fairgrounds.

A calcutta is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, right before the rodeo action starts. The event will feature 10 teams again this year.

“We always try to have 10, that’s as many as we can handle,” Nikki Win-ter, rodeo organizer, said.

This year’s winning team will get a chance to compete at the NILE Championship Ranch Ro-deo in Billings. The win-ning team there will have a chance to go onto the Working Ranch Cowboy’s Association world finals in November in Amarillo, Texas.

The ranch horse compe-tition for youngsters will begin at 9 a.m. Events

will include dry work or reining, cow work and roping.

Along with the youth division, there also will be divisions for young-

sters under the age of 13 and students ages 14-18 this year. There will be $1,000 awarded in scholar-ships for each division.

Ranch rodeo returns Saturday

Cooper McNally at last year’s event.

Page 4: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival4 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2012 SIDNEY HERALD

216 14th Ave. SW • Sidney, MT 406-488-2100 • www.sidneyhealth.org

to all of the EMS volunteers and to the EMS employers for allowing the volunteers to leave and respond to emergency calls. Without both, our EMS services wouldn’t be possible!

Thank you...

Our volunteer firemen are AWESOME!

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart!Thank you for giving from your heart.

406-488-4898 ~ 1405 4th St. S.W., Sidney ~ West Side Professional Center

Anton Veverka won a silver medal in the pentathlon event during the 2011Special Olympics in Athens, Greece. Pentathlon athletes compete in long jump, high jump, shot put and 100 meter & 400 meter races. Anton was one of only 10

athletes from around the world and one of just two from the U.S. competing in this demanding event. We are extremely proud of Anton for representing the U.S. so well in Athens last summer!

Welcome to Sidney’s Town & Country Festival!

Honoring Hometown Hero Anton Veverka, Richey

Thank You to all of our Volunteers!

221 2nd St. NW • Sidney, MT • 406-488-2273 • www.foundationforcommunitycare.org

Thank you to our board of directors,

event committees members and

office volunteers helping to

promote the Foundation’s mission

to ensure the continuance and

quality of local healthcare services!

Pacifi c Steel and Recycling is this year’s sponsor of the free meal during the Town and Country Festival.

The Ranger Lounge will cater the meal with its famous chicken, potato salad and baked beans, starting at 11:30 a.m. in Sidney’s downtown area.

It was a year of great accomplishment for Pacifi c since its new facility was re-cently completed. The company thanks the community for its support and what better way than during the Town and

Country Festival.Pacifi c is located at 35023 County Road

123, southeast of Sidney.Construction began Aug. 17, 2011.

Manager Will Colson said a grand open-ing is tentatively planned for the week of July 9.

“The weather was so nice it allowed us to get so much done,” Kelly Aldridge, who was recently promoted to Williston branch manager, said. “It’s going to be more state-of-the-art equipment than we

did have.”Colson added, “It’s going to be a lot

more customer friendly.”They note the facility will be extreme-

ly well contained.Aldridge explains Pacifi c completes

two forms of services. Because of re-cycling, the company sells scrap metal. The business also sells new steel.

“Really, we are one of the best green-type of companies there are,” Aldridge

said. “Everything is contained.”Pacifi c has been doing business in the

area for 71 years.Colson added, “Pacifi c is a strong

supporter of the community. And we’re excited about the positive changes this facility brings.”

The commitment that Pacifi c made with this next facility shows that the company wants to be in Richland County for many years to come.

Pacifi c to provide free chicken meal Saturday

Pacifi c employees include, from left, Ryan Ingram, Dwanye Emly, Mary Buske, Kelly Aldridge, Trenlin Propp, Josh Kohl, Will Colson, Brad Harris and Brent Harris. Not pictured are George Olvera and Sam Todd.

Page 5: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country FestivalSIDNEY HERALD WEDNESDAY, juNE 20, 2012 5

The quality of life in our community is enhanced by its many law enforcement, firemen and EMS providers.

Thank you all!

120 E. Main, Sidney • 433-4370101 S. Merrill Ave., Glendive

406-377-3645

Hours: 9-5:30 Weekdays • 9-4 Sat.

Welcome to the Town & Country

Festival!

Sat., June 23

All Clearance

Items

By Samantha JohnSonSIDNEY HERALD

The town of Sidney was born on April 21, 1911, with 55 votes for incorporating it as a town and one vote against. During that time, there were approxi-mately 386 residents, and the concern for law enforcement arose. They needed someone to turn to when problems too big to handle on their own came up.

So on June 12, 1911, Jack Carberry was appointed as city marshall. Unfortunately, he died of typhoid fever later that same year and Roy Heiner filled his position. In 1913, the first volunteer fire department was started in Sidney, and Fred “Cop” Hurst became the local fire chief as well as the first chief of police in 1915 when Sidney was incorporated as a city.

During this time, the law enforcement drove their own

vehicles, and bars had their own communication systems. Lights were placed outside of a bar and if there was need for an officer to arrive, they flipped on the light and the patrolling officer would see the light and stop in to find out what the trouble was. Hurst continued to serve until 1941. Louie Whited replaced him and was followed by Bud Atchison in 1949. Later that year, street lights were added. Henry Dooley served a short time in 1950, and Chris Hansen replaced him that year and served until 1953.

Communications went through another upgrade with the emergence of telephones and telephone operators. People would call the operator and ask for the police. In turn, the operator would turn on a light that was on Main Street and patrolling police would know to call in to the operator to find out what his call was.

In 1955, both Ollie Barns and

Earl Mauge served for a short time followed by Jim Moore who served until 1968.

John P. Schmitt became acting chief in 1968 and was confirmed as chief in 1969.

In January 1981, Frank DiFonzo was appointed chief and he’s serves to present day. Before DiFonzo was appointed chief, he worked for Highway Patrol for seven years and the Sidney Police Department for

three years prior. Captain Robert Burnison

has been on the force for 38 years and has witnessed a lot of changes. He recalls when “we used to know everyone in this town” and then the influx due to the oil booms made that nearly impossible. Busy times used to be between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. when bars would empty and rowdy locals would need escorts home; now the officers are busy nearly 24/7.

Burnison remembers when there were only two squad cars when he started in 1974. Now every officer has his or her own vehicle. Up to three vehicles get upgraded and replaced every year, out with the old and in with the new. Burnison states the Sidney Police Department is “unique: we’ve always had a good working relationship between the department and the sheriff ’s office,” and calls it “a young department.” Along with Burnison and DiFonzo

there are two sergeants and about six police officers.

All are eager to help with the community, and it extends to the school system where drug education is held by officers who attend class rooms and speak to grades from junior high up.

Due to intense training where officers are sent to an academy in Helena for 12 weeks, the amount of officers can barely keep up with the influx of this oil boom. Gen-eral calls last year at the end of May was around 1,025 with 103 arrests. This year at the end of May, 1,503 calls were made along with 189 arrests. There have been 52 DUIs this year alone, and Burnison says “that’s way more than we had last year.”

Law enforcement will continue to train their officers and will be looking forward to helping the community in any way they can.

Sidney Police Department features strong history

Fred Hurst was Sidney’s first chief of police.

Page 6: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival6 Wednesday, june 20, 2012 sidney Herald

406.433.3355 ~ 119 S. Central • SidneyMon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

www.carpentersstorehaus.comwww.gloriasdiscovery.org

Your local Bible Book Store. If we don’t have it, we will

order it for you.

Come see us at our

Saturday, June 23, 9 a.m.Bargains Galore!

By Samantha JohnSonsidney Herald

In 1973, a group of people formed the ambulance service. A hearse was the first vehicle they used to safely trans-port patients to the hospital. The second director of the Emergency Medical Ser-vice (EMS), Earl Neff, had a huge part in setting up the EMS, writing rules and setting standards that the EMS follows to this day.

Butch Renders picked up the position

after Neff and during that time, many medical and technological advances were made, complete with actual ambu-lances and radio systems.

In 1996, Renders asked Josh King to step forward to lead the EMS. King, who at 8 years old witnessed a horrible car accident where many died, was inspired to help people and quickly jumped on the opportunity to join.

With 15 and a half years of experience now under his belt, he states “the goal is to provide the best care possible.” This

goes beyond just transporting people to the hospital. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are trained for 150 hours with first responder education which includes CPR and first aid, along with life saving techniques involving intravenous medicines, oxygen tanks and Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs).

The county supplies the vehicles and Dr. Edward Bergin, the medical direc-tor, works closely with Sidney Health Center, Dr. Pete Council and Dr. Linda Klein in researching new and upcoming

equipment and commu-nication upgrades. With careful research, the Richland County Am-bulance Service (RCAS) has the most advanced ambulances and commu-nication equipment in Montana, along with the most trained and well prepared EMTs.

Between three to four responders go along for each call. The call volume has risen in the past couple of years due to Sidney being the second biggest oil com-munity after Williston.

RCAS has five ambulances, two in Sid-ney and one each in Fairview, Lambert and Savage. The ambulances are packed with life saving equipment that is fully sterilized and fully bolted down along with hand rails, new lock systems and a network of radio transmitters and satel-lite phones.

“The focus is on provider and patient safety,” King says. He also adds that “the EMTs do a great job and due to their employers and trainers, the Richland County EMS is possible.”

Group begins Sidney’s ambulance service in 1973‘the Emts do a great job and due

to their employers and trainers,

the Richland County EmS

is possible.’

Josh Kingemergency Medical services director

Earl neff

Page 7: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country FestivalSIDNEY HERALD WEDNESDAY, juNE 20, 2012 7

Thank you to the Emergency Service Employees and Volunteers in the Municipality. You enrich the lives

of all who are lucky enough to live here. We hope you enjoy many

more years helping this community be the best it can be.

By Louisa BarBer SIDNEY HERALD

According to Sidney history reports, after the town suffered a devastating loss to its two-story school, residents de-cided it was time for a firefighting force.

Within a month, the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department formed with 17 charter members on Jan. 24, 1913. Minutes from the first official meeting show the elec-tion of officers: fire chief Fred “Cop” Hurst, who was also the first police chief; assistant chief Doc Adams; and secretary Harry Ketchem.

The vast majority of the men who were some of the first to serve on the fire department have long since passed, but there are still some who can recall serving more than 40 years ago. They’re a tight-knit group, men who form bonds because they depend on each other put-ting their lives at risk so that others can be saved. These are men who keep in touch, who gather for special occasions at the fire hall, who reminisce. Not just anyone can be a firefighter, they must be accepted by the group through a vote. And as such, these men form a “broth-

erhood.”Holger Baadsgaard, a firefighter from

1962-1982, remembers a department that had no uniforms. “That was normal because there was no fire gear,” he said. His employers at the Sidney Cleaners and Laundry offered free clothes wash-ings after the men came back from fire fighting. The department had three trucks, one of which was an old Ford equipped with a tank of water and a pump.

The department would gain little advancements until the 1980s when then-Sidney fire chief Terry Verhas-selt helped to bring in better firefighter safety through new gear including breathing apparatuses and communica-tion devices. “We went through a major change right there,” he said. Verhasselt managed to bring in a new radio system for Richland County. The department worked on state and federal grants to in-stall a tower between Sidney and Lam-bert on Montana Highway 200. “We not only did our department but we did the entire county,” Verhasselt said. Every firefighter received a radio and pager to notify them of a fire; prior to that, only

the fire whistle would tell them.“We would respond no matter what

time of day,” Verhasselt said. He recalls a fire at 1 a.m. in the winter. When the department got on the scene it was “fully involved;” the men had a difficult time trying to fetch water, most looking like ice statues. “I remember thinking, ‘That’s dedication,” he said. “There’s a tremendous amount of effort being a volunteer fire department.”

Former firefighter Bill Harper, who served from 1970-1990, including 10 years as the rural county fire chief, re-members the men he worked with. “We had some real dedicated individuals who went through our ranks,” he said, despite a “bare bones” operation.

That dedication came in handy when the men fought a large fire for several days. The grass fire started in Wibaux and moved north between Intake and Savage when it jumped the river. “We had extremely strong winds from the southeast,” he said. The fire moved toward Lambert as the men from the surrounding areas came to help. “It seems to me that it was in the 100,000-acre range,” Harper said. There were

three other fires going on at the same time too. “Our trucks and our manpow-er were quite limited.”

Baadsgaard remembers there were five fires in his first four days on the job. One fire was at a pig slaughterhouse in southeast Sidney. The fire was in the smokehouse, and it had a unique smell. “It smelled very good,” he said. “It smelled like it was time to eat!” Another fire wasn’t as pleasant. It was at a pig farm near Richland Park; 700 pigs died. “That’s the way these fires are. Nothing good comes out of it.”

Baadsgaard says it’s the “old tim-ers” who got the fire department on the “right track” and it’s only improved since. “I think it’s a good organization. I’m glad I was one,” he said.

Today, firefighters are often thought of as American heroes, but if you ask Baadsgaard and probably any other cur-rent and former firefighter, they’re not that at all. “None of them guys think like that. It’s just a job that has to be done, and it’s a service to the commu-nity,” he said.

[email protected]

sidney Fire Department nears 100th year anniversary

Page 8: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival8 Wednesday, june 20, 2012 sidney Herald

Enjoy Town & Country Festival!

Honoring hometown heroes!

Thank you for your service!

• Bill Brenner, CPA • Terry Averett, CPA121 S. Central Avenue, Sidney • 433-5464 • Fax: 433-6016

www.bacopc.com • [email protected] 8 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F Closed 12-1 p.m.

Offering a full range of accounting, income tax, computer consulting, payroll, estate planning, retirement planning

and administration and auditing services.

Certified Public Accountants

By Steve Hamelsidney Herald

For 40 years, Savage’s Gary Nelson has volunteered as an emergency medi-cal technician.

He is the longest-tenured EMT in the small community’s ambulance service, which currently has six EMTs.

The Savage EMTs are part of the Richland County ambulance service,

which serves the entire county, and Nel-son believes the county is lucky to have such a dedicated group of volunteer emergency medical personnel.

“This part of the world is really blessed with EMS people,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of excellent equipment, good training and our communities sup-port us.”

Being a member of the Richland

Savage man volunteers as firefighter, emt

Gary Nelson with his grandsons, Logan, left, and Owen.

See NelSoN, page 9

Page 9: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country FestivalSIDNEY HERALD WEDNESDAY, juNE 20, 2012 9

Our Hometown Heroes are PRICELESS!

3 kinds of pricingred, white and blue.

fair and square.

everyday pricesno need for couponsno weekend sales.red prices mean greatprices everyday.

best pricesmark your calendars,every 1st and 3rd fridaywe mark it way downsee it in blue and grab it quick!

month-long valuesthe best stuff of the month on sale for the entire month. just lookfor the white price

downtown sidney - 406.433.1103

Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday 12 - 5 p.m.

www.richlandfcu.com406-482-2704

201 W. Holly, Sidney406-787-5890

18 East 2nd St., Culbertson

“Gary’s integrity, honesty and commitment are priceless,”

Tracie KenyonPresident/CEO of the Montana Credit

Union Network

Gary SchoeppA true volunteer and leader

Our community hometown hero!*RFCU board for 25 years*Chamber of Commerce board*Richland Economic Development

board*Sidney School Board*Kiwanis Club

Welcome to Town & Country

Festival

Open 10:30 a.m. Mon. - Sat.616 South Central in Sidney

406.433.7827Stop in while you’re in town.

Celebrating our hometown

heroes!

County ambulance service is a 24-7 job. Nelson wears his pager at all times and has often been pulled away from work or answered a call in the middle of the night. He has the luxury of being self-employed, but he said other employ-ers who allow their EMTs to leave work are vital to the health and safety of the county’s residents.

“I just want to thank all our employ-ers for letting us do our job, because if you have a job where your employer says, no, you can’t go, that would take a lot of our people away from us,” Nelson said. “We’re gone a lot sometimes, and somebody has to pay the bills. If you lose your help it’s hard to pay your bills, so these people are donating quite a bit to let somebody walk off the job to help somebody else.”

Nelson first became an EMT in the early 1970s when he joined the Bellevue (Iowa) ambulance service. He said he doesn’t recall a specific reason for his decision to join the ambulance crew. He simply saw a need and decided to fill it. “This course was offered, so I took the course to give us one more EMT at that service,” he said. “I tried to fill that need in that part of the world.”

Originally from the Sidney area, Nel-son returned home to Richland County in 1977 when he and a partner pur-chased Valley Garage in Savage. Shortly after moving from Iowa, Nelson became a Montana EMT. Since then, he’s added several endorsements to his basic EMT training, and is now certified to start an IV and administer medication to pa-tients. Every two years, he is required to re-certify as an EMT by taking 48 hours of training and attending a refresher course, which lasts an entire weekend.

Nelson and Savage’s other five EMTs, Lee Roy Schmierer, Justin Schmierer, Darren Hurley, Kylee Lange and Jason Nelson, are also members of the Savage

Fire Department, and Nelson said the training they receive as EMTs helps them as firefighters and vice versa. “You’re training on your communica-tion end of it, instant command issues,” he said. “A lot of that training is the same training. You use it on every run you go on.

“Any incident, search and rescue or whatever, you need somebody in charge. You need to have a command system and people that are trained in it. Savage

is fortunate.”At 64 years old, Nelson said he knows

retirement can’t be too far off, but he intends to volunteer as an EMT as long as he is capable of doing the job because the work is so rewarding.

“Just being able to help my neigh-bors and friends, that’s probably the most rewarding thing,” he said. “There just isn’t anything better than helping somebody.”

Nelson: He started EMT volunteer work while living in Iowafrom page 8 ‘Just being able to help my

neighbors and friends, that’s

probably the most

rewarding thing.’

gary NelsonSavage firefighter

Page 10: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival10 Wednesday, june 20, 2012 sidney Herald

A centennial committee is being formed for Richland County’s

100th birthday in 2014.Go to the Richland County web ad on the Sidney Herald website and fi ll out the form, or pick up an application at

the Clerk and Recorder’s offi ce.

SAVE THIS DATE!

Richland County’s Centennial June 13-15, 2014

Richland County, MontanaDiscover the Richness

www.richland.org

Richland County Recognizes

Every Hometown Hero

Thank you for your commitment to giving your time and talents to

our communities!

Dream Big!

Sidney-Richland County Library!121 3rd Ave. NW, Sidney ~ 406.433.1917

Thanks for all your support and hard work!

Library Hometown HeroesBuilding a brighter future, with learning and technology for all

Sidney-Richland County volunteer library boardPaul Turek, ChairRobin HernandezDon NollmeyerLacey HutchensRob KnottsRenee GossLibrary foundation members:Joe BradleyKaren RedlinJulie GossNicole Killick

Fun run kicks off festivalHealthWorks will have its annual fun run starting at 8 a.m. Saturday at Sidney Health Center. Registration begins at 7 a.m.

Page 11: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country FestivalSIDNEY HERALD WEDNESDAY, juNE 20, 2012 11

An event dedicated to recognizing, supporting and thanking our emergency

service providers including police, � re, EMT, military personnel and veterans.

� ank you for strengthening our community!

Come celebrate our Hometown Heroes at this year’s Town and Country Festival

Check us out on the Webwww.reynoldsmarket.com

Serving You Since 1925.

Now on Facebook!

American VolunteersCitizens giving their time without any expectations of repayment is part of what makes our community and our country a great place to live. From coaches to chamber volunteers to fi remen to EMTs, volunteers fi ll in the cracks. There is really no limit to the way you can get involved in the community and

become one of our “Hometown Heroes.” Thanks to all who give so much of their time!

406-433-2305 433-1902 Meat Dept.

433-5181 Produce Dept. Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sun. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.1151 South Central, Sidney

We accept Visa, Master Card & Discover Card.We bag and carry out your groceries.

By Steve HamelSIDNEY HERALD

Serving in Sidney’s Volunteer Fire Department is supposed to be a 20-year commitment, but for several Sidney fire-fighters, including John Seitz, 20 years just isn’t enough time.

Seitz joined the Sidney Fire Depart-ment in 1985 when he was 24 years old, following in the footsteps of his father

and grandfather, who were also Sidney firefighters. He spent 26 years with the department before stepping down in April of last year.

But after just a few months, Seitz real-ized he wasn’t ready to retire. “At that time, I just thought it was time, and I figured the wife and I were just going to take off and do a little bit more motorcy-cle riding,” he said. “When the summer

was over, I just missed it too much. With the comments that some of the guys made, I just felt I still had something to offer, so I came back.”

Seitz re-joined the department in January, and is one of six members of the fire department who have already

served more than the required 20 years.Part of the reason Seitz was unable to

walk away was because the fire depart-ment been in his life for so long. As a kid, he would follow fire trucks down the street on his bicycle and attend the department’s picnics with his family. “It’s just been a part of my life forever,” he said.

He also returned to the department because he wants to help the next gen-eration of volunteer firefighters. “I’ve been on the department longer than some of these guys have been alive,”

Seitz said. “I want to help some of the younger guys along, help with their training, and I guess be somewhat of a mentor to the younger guys.”

While the fire department is a volun-teer organization, it requires a huge commitment. Seitz has answered fire calls in the middle of the night and has been pulled out of numerous family functions. “It still says volunteer on the door, but unless it’s something that’s very pressing, most everybody will drop

Seitz family has outstanding history with fire department

John Seitz has been a member of the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department for 26 years.

‘It’s just been a part of

my life forever.’

John SeitzSidney firefighter

See SeItz, pAgE 12

Page 12: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival12 Wednesday, june 20, 2012 sidney Herald

Drilling and Production2320 South Central Ave., Sidney

406-482-4000

The quality of life is enhanced by our many “Hometown Heroes”

Law Enforcement * Fire Department * EMS * Military * Volunteers

For all that you do to contribute to our communities, we thank you.

122 South Central, Sidney, MT • 406-433-5825

Surprise savings, come in check them out! Sat., June 23 • Opening 9 a.m.

Hours: Monday-Friday 10-5Saturday 10-3

Town & Country Festival

Celebrating Hometown Heroes!

Huge

what they’re doing and take off for the fire,” Seitz said. “That’s what I want to instill in some of the younger guys.”

During the day, Seitz is an agent at Seitz Insurance, conveniently located around the corner from the fire hall. When his pager goes off in the middle of the night, he gets help from his wife, Tanya, who springs into action, opens the garage door, starts his truck and turns on the fire light. “I just get up, throw my clothes on and jump in the ve-hicle that’s already started,” Seitz said. “And she’s been doing it pretty much since the start.”

Two of the biggest fires Seitz can re-member were fires at the Lalonde Hotel and Thirud Office Supply. When electri-cal problems caused the Lalonde Hotel to catch fire in 1999, Seitz estimates the department was on the scene for 18 hours. The fire caused severe damage to the building, which had to be torn down two years later.

Seitz was driving on I-94 north of Ter-ry when Thirud Office Supply caught fire in 2005. Seitz said he could see the smoke from his vehicle and rushed back to Sidney to help contain the blaze. “I

think I made it from almost Terry to here in about an hour,” he said.

Part of what makes fighting fires so addicting for Seitz is the camaraderie among among the crew. Despite their differences, the old-timers and newcom-ers enjoy each other’s company.

“We’ve got a wide variety of people on the department, and for the most part everybody has a good time,” Seitz said. “Everybody gets along, everybody watches out for each other.”

While he enjoys being around the crew, Seitz said the thing that keeps him going is the fulfillment he gets from helping others.

“With everything the community has given to me, it’s a small bit that I can give back to the community,” he said. “When you can go out there and you can protect somebody’s property, save somebody that’s been into a car wreck or something like that, comfort some-body that’s lost what they’ve lost, it’s heart-warming to be able to give back something to the community.”

For that reason, Seitz said he would encourage anyone to join the fire de-partment, provided they’re willing to make the 20-year commitment.

“You want people that are going to be here for the long term so that you build

the camaraderie and the friendships within the department,” he said.

Seitz: Being on fire department is giving back to communityfrom page 11

John Seitz, right, helps to cook french toast during this year’s fire department’s fundraising breakfast.

Page 13: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival SIDNEY HERALD WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2012 13

433-4FUN (4386) • 105 E. Main, Sidney ~ www.partycentralandgifts.com

•Yankee Candles•Children’s select party supplies

Alan Moos, U.S. Army

Our Hero!Town & Country

Saturday 9 a.m.

We carry all of your recreational

needs!• Fishing Tackle

• Bait• Coolers

• Ice• Snack Foods

809 East Main, Sidney406- 433-3400

for the choice you made to give us our freedom.

Spirits Wines MixersMixersMixers

Your only local retail liquor sales outlet!

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

809 East Main, Sidney406- 433-2862

Travis Rosaaen, SergeantSidney Police Department

Since 1921

Niehenke Welding, Inc.312 North Central Avenue, Sidney406-433-1007

Welcome to the Town & Country Festivalhonoring Hometown Heroes!

402 E. Main, Sidney ~ 406-482-1420 402 E. Main, Sidney ~ 406-482-1420

Nyle Obergfell for your work as a Montana Highway Patrol o� cer and for your service

with the Montana National Guard in Afghanistan!

Hometown Hero Here and Abroad

BY STEVE HAMELSIDNEY HERALD

All of Richland County’s volunteer emergency medical technicians have a reason for joining the ambulance service.

For Bonny Stevens, it was a good ex-perience being brought to the hospital by EMTs in 2004. “They made me feel at ease and took me to the hospital,” she said.

Three years later, with the encour-agement of her family and Richland County Ambulance director Josh King, Stevens took the plunge and earned her EMT certifi cation.

Unlike Fairview, Savage and Lambert EMTs, who are on call 24 hours a day, Sidney EMTs work scheduled shifts. Stevens works the night shift, respond-ing to ambulance calls from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

She’s had plenty of sleepless nights

as a result, but after fi ve years as an EMT, she said she plans to continue as long as she is physically and mentally able.

“It really makes you feel good that you made a difference in somebody’s life, and made them feel good in a time of crisis,” Stevens said.

Stevens added she would encourage others to join the ambulance service because it is an opportunity to help others and become part of the county’s

EMS team, which Stevens describes as a “big family.”

Stevens’ experience has been so posi-tive, that a year after she became an EMT, her mom decided to become one as well. Her mom recently retired from the ambulance crew after about four years.

“If you enjoy helping people and tak-ing care of people, I would encourage you to join,” Stevens said.

Because of EMT duties, local woman has many sleepless nights

Page 14: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival14 Wednesday, june 20, 2012 sidney Herald

1991 West Holly, Sidney ~ 406.488.4657

Residential • Commercial• Service All Brands • Boilers • Custom Sheet Metal

Geothermal Heat PumpsYour authorized full service Trane® dealer.

Welcome to Town & Country Festival

Honoring our Hometown Heroes

Thank you for your service!

Sidney Carburetor & Electric303 N. Central Ave., Sidney • 482-3302

Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m • Bennett Folstad & Bill Neiss

Volunteers are the heart of our Communities!

Sidney Tax Service, Inc.Doug Lang • Craig Price • Bill Zimmerman

406-433-3131 115 2nd St. NE, Sidney

Thank you Volunteers! Your time is precious to us... Your thoughtfulness the best... We value each minute you contribute `cause our volunteers are a grade above the rest!

“Vet

erans

of

Fore

ign W

ars

VFWPOST 4099

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Hours:10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Mon. - Sat.433-9982 • 124 2nd Ave. N.E., Sidney

to the men and women who protect and serve our communities & country.

Scenes from last year’s parade

Page 15: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country FestivalSIDNEY HERALD WEDNESDAY, juNE 20, 2012 15

205 10th Ave. SE, Sidney 433-1590

West Building at Sidney Red-E-Mix

M-F 7 a.m. - 5 p.mAfter Hours 406-478-3116

For the first time, area law enforce-ment took part in a “polar plunge” in 2011.

The goal of the event was to raise funds for Montana Special Olympics.

“We’re calling it Freezin’ for a Rea-son,” Bob Burnison, one of the event’s organizers, said at the time.

Law enforcement and others, includ-ing firefighters, received pledges in or-der to jump into the freezing cold water

the day after Thanksgiving.Of the money raised, 70 percent went

to Richland County Special Olympics athletes and the other 30 percent went to the Montana Special Olympics pro-gram.

Each May, law enforcement walk, run, or ride bicycles in the Torch Run to raise support and funds for Special Olympics.

Law Enforcement big supporter of Special Olympics

Bob Burnison of the Sidney Police Department falls into the water during the “polar plunge.”

Page 16: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival16 Wednesday, june 20, 2012 sidney Herald

Upper Missouri G & TElectric Cooperative, Inc.

111 2nd Ave. SWPO Box 1069, Sidney, MT

A sod shanty on a hillside near Lambert, in Eastern Montana, was Cornelius “Cornie or C.R.” Thiessen’s

home his first three years in Montana. The Thies-sen family had journeyed to Montana in 1913 by emigrant train and wagon the last 30 miles. Thies-sen was three years old.

The ranch where the Thiessen family first settled had no electricity or telephones. He knew rural life could be better and easier and he devoted a good portion of his adult life to making that happen. Returning to raise cattle and grain after

college, Thiessen saw Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric Association, Sidney, MT, begin to build the first rural electric lines in Montana. Unfortu-nately, the lines did not extend to the area where his family and neighbors lived unless they were within half a mile of the line. In 1944, the Thies-sens moved to a home where there was electricity.

His neighbors nominated him to serve on the Lower Yellowstone board in 1945 to seek area-wide electric coverage.

Thiessen continued to serve on that board for the next 39 years. He also was an incorporator and board member of both Upper Missouri G & T and Basin Electric Power Cooperative.

Welcome to Town & Country Festival Honoring Hometown Heroes

C.R. Thiessen

Advancing Rural America’s Success

Rob Breuer - Relationship ManagerPenny Brown - Financial Specialist

Kim Stebbins-MartiniOperations Manager

123 North Central Ave., Sidney, MT

www.farm-credit.com406-433-3920

Ò Thank you for your dedication and service to our community.Ó

By Samantha JohnSonsidney Herald

In 2001, the Regal Eagle opened. Along with baseball, football and other sports decor sits the wall dedicated to the Sid-ney Volunteer Fire Department.

The wall contains four sets of helmets and patches surrounding them. The helmets and patches came from used equipment and uniforms from the fire department.

Whenever the fire department got new uniforms, their patches came off and they can donate them to the Regal Eagle or keep them.

Whoever wanted to give up their patch for the wall simply left it with the Regal Eagle, and he did the rest. Names like Torgerson, Carroll, Siverston, McGah-an, Balcer, Hurst, Thomas, Christenson, Cavanaugh, Heck, Franklin, Gilbert, Savage, Hill, Lemieux and Whitney line the wall in a tribute to the fire depart-

ment members; a few retired, the rest still on duty.

The wall is a good reminder to the

patrons who visit the Regal Eagle of the hard working Sidney Volunteer Fire Department.

regal eagle honors firefighters

samantHa joHnson | sidney Herald

Part of the fire department’s tribute wall.

Page 17: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country FestivalSIDNEY HERALD WEDNESDAY, juNE 20, 2012 17

Thanks to all who serve with gratitude and appreciation!

606 S Central Ave, Sidney406-433-1818

January - April Mon-Fri 9-6 & Sat 9-5May - December Tues 10-3 or by appt.

106 East Railroad Ave, Plentywood 406-765-1742

January - April Mon - Fri 10-5

Volunteering: a great way to

change the world.608 E. Main St. Sidney

433-2910

Mon.-Fri. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

215 East Main Street, Sidney 1-800-482-1810 • 433-1810

By Violet tharpFLAgS oF HoNoR

Sidney is home to a unique program called “The Flags of Honor,” which originated in 1965. This program origi-nally began as a community effort with members of 13 civic organizations who made the decision to ask members of the community to donate any casket flags from deceased veterans. The or-ganizers were able to obtain 83 flags for the first Memorial Day parade in 1966.

Materials and labor were donated to make bins for the flags, agate name plates, flag poles and people willing to be caretakers of the flags. On Memo-rial Day, the flags were displayed in the original Nutter Park located on Fourth Street S.E. and a grand parade through Sidney included members of the com-munity carrying the flags. Veterans’ Day was also the sight of the parade of casket flags. During the remainder of the year the flags were stored in the basement of City Hall until 1989.

The original organizers of the Flags of Honor had dwindled in number, and the number of flags became too numer-ous for the original caretakers, the World War I Ladies Auxiliary. In 1975,

the remain-ing ladies approached the Ladies Auxiliary VFW to as-sume the job of caretak-ers for the 200 flags. It soon became apparent the job was more efficient with only a couple people. The storage area in the base-ment of City Hall was

overcrowded and had problems with humidity.

In the mid ‘80s efforts began to find a new home for the “Flags of Honor,” and several years later it became a reality.

The entire facility is located in what was called Central Park, now Veterans Park, and consists of public bathrooms, a stage area, a concessions area and a storage room for the city. This was completed with the help of several dif-

ferent organizations. Community mem-bers were asked for financial and labor donations to make the existing Flag Room a reality. Glen and Leona Van-derhoof and Violet Tharp spent many hours planning and painting the room, moving the flags and making new name plates for the flags. The city of Sidney assisted in installing the cabinets. The first program at the new facility was in 1989 with 289 flags and enough cabinets to house them until more funds were raised.

The Flags of Honor room is humidity

controlled and home to 611 flags behind glass doors. Once a year, the flags are rearranged in alphabetically order.

With the death of Leona Vanderhoof in 2009, the current caretakers are Vio-let Tharp and Margaret Bradley.

Because of the number of flags, approximately 130 flags are displayed in Veterans Park on Memorial Day. Various organizations have made it possible for new benches in front of the stage area, sidewalks and a new statue of former Gov. Donald Nutter, a Sidney native.

Flags of honor helps community remember veterans

Page 18: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival18 Wednesday, june 20, 2012 sidney Herald

Saluting our Hometown Heroes

with our

Treat Your Hero to

Chocolate!

• Carpet • Vinyl Floors• Bedding • Furniture

•Window Treatments

Thank you, Volunteers are

EVERYDAY HEROES strengthening

our community.

1555 S. Central, Sidney Across from McDonalds

433-3025

Enjoy the savings during Town & Country Festival, Sat. June 23!

Free entertainmentFree entertainment on the downtown stage, starting at 10 a.m., will feature gymnastics, martial arts and dancing.

Page 19: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival SIDNEY HERALD WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2012 19

Mitchell’s can fix it, lift it, haul it...

Mitchell’s is a great place to work!

ONE NATION UNDER GOD

In memory of Jody Verhasselt for his many years of

service with theSidney Volunteer Fire

Department.Thank You!

www.mitchellsoilfieldservice.com 202 E. Main, Sidney ~ 406-433-4554

HEROESHEROESHEROESHonoring all hometown

at the Town & Country Festival

BY STEVE HAMELSIDNEY HERALD

One of three emergency medical tech-nicians in Fairview, Pam Unterseher was inspired to obtain EMT certifi ca-tion 25 years ago after a friend’s son was killed in a car wreck and there was no ambulance in Fairview to respond to the scene.

Fairview received its ambulance service through Sidney, but after the wreck, Unterseher and other Fairview residents decided it was time to get an ambulance of their own. “We talked around the town with a few people and decided we needed to get an ambulance in town,” Unterseher said.

After discussing the issue with Richland County offi cials, the county promised to purchase an ambulance for Fairview if the town could get at least fi ve EMTs. A group of about 12 Fair-view residents took an EMT training course. Five passed the test, and a few months later, Fairview received its fi rst ambulance.

Of Fairview’s initial class of EMTs, Unterseher is the only one who still volunteers as an EMT in Fairview. It’s a time-consuming community service,

but Unterseher says it’s worth it. “Many times you go sleepless because you have ambulance calls during the night time,” she said. “Dur-ing the day time there’s missed meals and missed holidays, but in the long run it works.

“I love it. I enjoy being able to help other people. You live in Fairview, there’s no hospital here and you still want to be a part of some-thing, so this allowed me to be part of the hospital and the medical fi eld with-out driving back and forth to Sidney on a daily basis.”

Unterseher’s paying job is at W.L. Neu Construction, but she said she’s free to leave work when there’s an ambulance call. “When the pager goes off, I go,” she said. “I’m very lucky. It’s been very important for me that Mark and Sheila (Neu) have allowed me to go.”

A few years ago, Unterseher added all fi ve endorsements to her EMT training. She is certifi ed to start IVs, administer medication, and operate monitoring equipment, including a pole oximeter, a blood glucose monitor and manual

defi brillation.While many think of being an EMT

as a bloody job, Unterseher said there’s really not that much blood involved, and she would recommend the job to anyone looking to help out in their community. “There’s probably 60 of us in the county, and it’s like having another family,” she said. “We work together, we cry together, we visit together and we’re there for each other all the time.”

No one else in her family is an EMT, but Unterseher’s son, who works in the Air Force, is trained to administer fi rst aid in the fi eld. “He says it’s my fault he does that,” she said.

While Fairview currently has just three EMTs, Unterseher said four new fi rst responders recently joined the EMS team. Fairview’s ambulance ser-vice also works closely with the Fair-view Fire Department, which drives EMTs to accident sites.

Fairview woman says being EMT is worth it for community

Pam Unterseher

Senior Living at its Best• Security• Three Meals a Day• Wellness Monitoring• Activities• Transportation • Services for Individual Needs

Thank you for your service!

1015 7th Avenue SW • Sidney, MT • 406-488-4682 • Visit us online: www.lodgeatlonetree.org

Ray Qualley & Walter Young, Heroes from World War II

Page 20: Town & Country Festival 2012

Town & Country Festival20 Wednesday, june 20, 2012 sidney Herald

Celebrating Our Hometown Heroes

433-1301 • Sidneywww.pacifi c-steel.com

Serving the MonDak Area for

over 70 years!

It’s our way of saying Thank You

Free Feed Sponsored by

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featuring

Mike’s famous chickenduring the

Town & Country FestivalSaturday, June 23, 11:30 a.m.

Main Street, Sidney


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