MONTANA

September 2015

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

The chain gang

Colorful hair styles cross generations
Life after politics
Invention a big help for farriers

INSIDE

Savvy Senior.............................................Page 3
Opinion.....................................................Page 4
Bookshelf..................................................Page 5
Volunteering..............................................Page 18

On the Menu.............................................Page 20
Calendar....................................................Page 21
Strange But True.......................................Page 22

News Lite
Intruder takes shower, does laundry

ERIE, Pa. (AP) Pennsylvania State Police say a woman

found an intruder taking a shower and doing his laundry at her
home when she woke up. Troopers say the resident summoned
police to her home in Greene Township, near Erie.
Twenty-four-year-old Erie resident Casey James Shaffer was
arrested on charges of criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and loitering and prowling at night.

Couple rushes marriage vows to beat the stork

HOUSTON (AP) It could have been the plot of a movie: A
Houston couple improvises a hospital wedding in less than an
hour after the bride goes into labor early.
Stephanie Tallent was eight months pregnant and having an
ultrasound when she went into labor at Texas Childrens Pavilion
for Women in Houston. Fortunately she and fianc Jason Nese
had gotten their marriage license the day before. Nese fetched the

license from his car, along with a white sun dress Tallent meant
to send to the cleaners. A chaplain was called and a party of doctors, nurses and clinic staff rounded up for the wedding.
After the ceremony, Tallent was prepped for a cesarean section.
Daughter Sophia arrived a few hours later at 6 pounds 3 ounces.

Record store robbed of classic rock albums

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) The thieves that have twice hit a

Providence vintage record store took the Stairway to Heaven
and made off with Money.
The owners of What Cheer Records tell The Providence Journal a thief of more likely two people working as a team classic
rock fans apparently stole their entire collections of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd vinyl albums.
Co-owner Jennifer Daltry says the first theft took place around
Easter with an entire 15-record stack of Pink Floyd LPs, both
used originals and new reissues, were lifted while a clerk was
distracted. Then, just recently, the entire stock of Led Zeppelin
albums was taken, along with a few more Pink Floyd records
bought to replace the stolen LPs.

Choice
Matters.
New West Medicare
offers plans that keep
Montanans in mind.

AT NEW WEST MEDICARE, WE ARE MONTANANS, JUST LIKE YOU. And we know you value
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Jim Miller, creator of the syndicated Savvy

Senior information column, is a longtime
advocate of senior issues. He has been featured in
Time magazine; is author of The Savvy Senior:
The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family and
Finances for Senior Citizens; and is a regular
contributor to the NBC Today show.

Roadside assistance services

for older drivers

Dear Savvy Senior,

I would like to get my wife and I set up with some type of
roadside assistance service in case we get a flat tire or our
battery conks out. Can you recommend some good and
affordable services for retirees on a budget?
Too Old to Fix a Flat

Dear Too Old,

Getting set up with a roadside assistance service you can
call on day or night if your vehicle breaks down is a smart
idea, and can provide you and your wife some real peace of
mind. Here are some different options to look into that help
you find a plan.

Already

covered?

For years, auto clubs like AAA were the only option
drivers had when it came to roadside assistance, but today
you have lots of choices. Most roadside assistance plans
provide services like towing, flat-tire changes, jumpstarting a battery, lost-key or lockout services, fuel delivery
and help with stuck vehicles.

Before you start shopping for a roadside assistance plan,

you first need to find out if you already have coverage, or
have access to inexpensive coverage that youre not aware
of.

For example, if you drive a vehicle that is still under

warranty, theres a good chance youre already covered.
Most auto manufacturers now include comprehensive
roadside assistance coverage for free when you buy a new
or certified used car. This typically lasts as long as the basic
warranty, but not always. Be sure you check.

Also check your auto insurance provider, your credit card

issuers and cell phone service providers. Many of these
services provide different variations of roadside assistance
as add-on plans that cost only a few dollars per year, or
theyre free.

But be aware that many of these services are limited in

what they cover. When investigating these options, find out
the benefit details including: Whos covered (individuals
and vehicles); how many roadside-assistance calls are

allowed each year (three or four is typical); the average

response time per service call; and the towing rules on
where they will tow (to the nearest repair shop, or one that
you choose) and how far (about 5 miles for basic plan is
common, although some plans might cap the amount they
pay for a tow at $100 or less).

Auto

clubs

If you find that you arent covered, or you want a better

roadside plan than whats currently available to you, youll
want to check out auto/motor clubs. Most of these clubs
offer two or more levels of membership depending on how
much roadside assistance you want and are willing to pay
for, and they often provide a variety of discounts on things
like hotels, rental cars and other services.

One of the best known and longest running clubs, AAA

(aaa.com) offers comprehensive services and has an
extensive network of more than 40,000 roadside assistance
providers, which usually means fast response times. Costs
vary widely from $48 to $162 per year depending on where
you live and the plan you choose, plus an additional fee for
adding a family member.

Some other clubs to consider that may be a little less

expensive include Allstate Motor Club (allstatemotorclub.
com); AARP Roadside Assistance (aarproadside.com) for
AARP members only; Better World Club (betterworldclub.
com); BP Motor Club (www.bpmotorclub.com); Good Sam
(goodsamroadside.com); and GM Motor Club
(gmmotorclub.com).

On-demand

assistance

Another new money saving option to consider is pay-ondemand roadside assistance services like Urgently (urgent.
ly) and Honk (honkforhelp.com). If you use a smartphone
and live in their service area, these non-membership appbased services will let you call for help via smartphone, and
will only charge you for the assistance you need at a low
price.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box

5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visitSavvySenior.org.
September 2015

Opinion

Finally, at last, football season is here

September 2015

sota Vikings come back after being

gone a year with legal troubles?
Ah, yes, these questions and more
will soon be answered.
P.O. Box 2000,
401 S. Main St.,
Livingston MT 59047
Tel. (406) 222-2000
Toll-free:

(800) 345-8412

Fax: (406) 222-8580

MONTANA

This months cover of Montana Best

Times features a football chain gang,
a trio of guys who keep the game moving for Dawson County High School in
Glendive.
Its fitting they are on the cover,
because football season, at long last, is
finally here.
Weve been waiting for this day for a
long time through the numbing days
right after the Super Bowl ended, where
we wandered about for weeks in a
stunned daze with no NFL football to
watch; through the sodden days of a
Montana spring with nothing to cheer
our cold hearts; through the long, hot,
dog days of summer, whose dreary
baseball games, instead of at least giving us something to watch, just heightened our yearning for the game with the
funny-shaped ball.
Football season is coming, football
season is coming, we kept repeating to
ourselves in a hypnotic trance.
And now, it is here at last: The first
NFL game is set for Sept. 10.
Thank goodness. Like caffeine entering the bloodstream on an early morning, life will return.
And with it, answers to the questions
that haunted us since the final whistle of
Superbowl, questions like:
How many games, if any, will Tom
Brady miss for Deflategate?
Can Peyton Manning physically get
through the whole season? And could
this be the year he goes All-The-Way
and wins?
Will Tim Tebow, currently a thirdstring quarterback for the Philadelphia
Eagles, get a chance to finally shine?
Will the Seattle Seahawks defense
continue being a powerhouse?
Will Jameis Winston and Marcus
Mariotta, the first- and second-overall
draft picks, become great quarterbacks
or will they fade?
Can Adrian Peterson of the Minne-

Because football season is finally,

finally here.
Dwight Harriman,
Montana Best Times Editor

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

E-mail: montanabesttimes@livent.net Subscription rate: $25/yr.

Published monthly by Yellowstone Newspapers, Livingston, Montana
Dwight Harriman, Editor Cheyenne Crooker, Designer

Bookshelf
Still in the Saddle: The Hollywood
Western, 1969-1980
By Andrew Patrick Nelson
University of Oklahoma Press, August 2015
Softcover 264 pages $19.95 6 x 9
ISBN 13: 978-0-8061-4821-2

MSU film professor

takes a new look
at 1970s Westerns
By Montana Best Times Staff

Comes now a new book, published just last

month, that ought to be of interest to any Montanan who likes the smell of horses and leather
and watching Westerns.
By the end of the 1960s, the Hollywood West of
Tom Mix, Randolph Scott and even John Wayne
was passe or so the story goes, according to a
news release from University of Oklahoma Press,
publisher of Still in the Saddle: The Hollywood
Western, 1969-1980, by Andrew Patrick Nelson.
Many film historians and critics have argued that
movies portraying a mythic American West gave
way to revisionist films that influential filmmakers
such as Sam Peckinpah and Robert Altman made as
violent critiques of the Westerns golden years.
Yet rumors surrounding the death of the Western
have been greatly exaggerated, Nelson says in the
release. Nelson is an assistant professor of Film History
and Critical Studies in the School of Film and Photography at Montana State University-Bozeman and editor
of Contemporary Westerns: Film and Television since 1990.
Even as the Wild Bunch and John McCabe rode forth, John
Wayne remained the Westerns number one box office draw.
How, then, could there have been a revisionist reckoning at a time
when the Duke was still in the saddle?
In Still in the Saddle: The Hollywood Western, 1969-1980
Nelson offers readers a new history of the Hollywood Western in
the 1970s, a time when filmmakers tried to revive the genre by
appealing to a diverse audience that included a new generation of
socially conscious viewers. Nelson considers a comprehensive
filmography of releases from 1969 to 1980 in light of the visual
tropes and narratives developed and reworked in the genre from
the 1930s to the present.
In so doing, he reveals the complexity of what is probably the
most interesting period in Western movie history. His incisive
reevaluations of such celebrated or infamous films as The

Wild Bunch and Heavens Gate and examinations of dozens

of forgotten and neglected Westerns, including the final films of
John Wayne, demonstrate that there was more to the 1970s Western than simple revision, the release says.
Instead, we see not only important connections between canonical and lesser-known films of the period, but also continuities
between these and older Westerns. Nelson believes an ongoing,
cyclical process of regeneration thus transcends established divisions in the genres history.
Among the books currently challenging the prevailing evolutionary account of the Western, Still in the Saddle thoroughly
revises our understanding of this exciting and misunderstood
period in the Westerns history and adds innovatively and substantially to our knowledge of the genre as a whole.
Still in the Saddle is available in bookstores, from online
booksellers and directly from the University of Oklahoma Press
(800-627-7377 or www.oupress.com).
September 2015
5

Workin on the Chain Gang

Glendive trio keeps high school football games moving
MT Best Times photos by Jason Stuart

Above and on the cover: From left, Richard Berg and brothers Keith and Delon Boeckel pose for a photograph at Dawson
County High Schools Perham Field, Aug. 13.

By Jason Stuart

Montana Best Times

GLENDIVE On fall Friday nights in Glendive, theres one

team that has kept the chains moving for years.
Together, brothers Delon and Keith Boeckel along with
longtime compatriot Richard Berg have been on duty for a
couple of decades patrolling the sidelines of Dawson County
High Schools home football games. The trio serve as the chain
gang for Red Devils games, marking the down and distance to
go.

How long on the job?

The three have been working the sidelines so long that just
when they began has become a little fuzzy.
God, it seems like forever, Berg said, adding he thinks he
began working as a substitute during the 1993 season.
Delon said he began working as a substitute around 1988,
while Keith said hes been doing it for about 30 years.
In discussing the matter among themselves, the three began
reminiscing about the standout players they remember over the
years, many of whom they now know as grown men.
Thats the best way to time it, is by the kids, not the years,
Keith said.
September 2015

Working the game

Over all those years together, the three have developed a

seamless chemistry and unspoken communication in the
discharge of their game day duties.
It seems like weve worked together so long we just
instinctively know what the other guys doing, Berg said.
Having that level of communication is a valuable asset, since it
helps the three remain alert and attentive to whats going on out
on the field.
Thats important for more than just making sure theyve
marked the right spot and have the right down displayed. To a
man, all three say being alert to their surroundings is paramount
to their well-being.
You cant forget whats going on, Keith said.
Even a little 150-pound kid running at you with a helmet, if he
hits you, it could kill you, Delon said.
We make sure we get out of the way pretty quick, Berg
added.
Fortunately, none of the three have ever been walloped in an
on-field collision.
None of the three bother with any pre-season conditioning
regimens or the like. They said the physical exertion doesnt have
too much affect on them, although Keith is less enamored of
running out onto the field for measurements than he used to be.

I used to believe in measurements, but it seems like the

measurement is always on the other side of the field, he
said. Delon joked that running doesnt bother him and that hed
never need any conditioning thanks to his former career.
Im retired UPS, Ive been in shape all my life, he quipped.

Hoping for a win

In fact, the only thing that really seems to bother the three has
nothing to do with how many measurements they have to run out
for or how cold it might be, or how wet.
The only thing that weighs on their minds is that over all the
years theyve been working DCHS games, the on-the-field
product hasnt been much to write home about. Winning seasons
for the Red Devils have come few and far in between over the
last couple of decades.
In 20 years, we havent had a home playoff game, Delon
lamented.
In fact, only one of the three Keith has ever gotten to
work a playoff game, and that was one time over two decades
ago. Like the rest of the Glendive community, all three are
waiting, hoping for a winning season.
Id like to see our football program built back into a power,
Keith said.

Best seats in the house

Despite the years of lousy win-loss records, the long-time chain

gang keeps coming back year after year, largely out of the thrill,

excitement and joy they get from being in the midst of the action
under the Friday night lights.
Its the best seats in the house, Delon said. Small town
sports, theres not much else (that beats it).
You cant enjoy football more than right there, said Berg.
(The kids) get so hyped up and the adrenaline flowing, its just
kind of a fun atmosphere, added Keith. Its where the action is.
I just like the intensity and the excitement. Its just a good way to
kick off a weekend.
The group also keeps coming back because they said working
the games helps foster stronger ties to the community for them,
largely by getting to know the panoply of players who have passed
through the DCHS football program during their long tenure.
Its kind of nice to follow the kids as they grow up, Keith
said.
Its nice to see (former players) when they come back for their
10-year reunions, because you can relate to them, Berg added.
However, while altruism, aesthetics and thrills may keep them
anchored to the sidelines for season after season, the hunger for a
winner is palpable among the three, who, like every other longsuffering Red Devils fan, hope for a moment in the sun before
their time on the chain gang is done.
Id like to see a home championship game that would be
the ultimate goal, Delon said.
Reach Jason Stuart at rrreporter@rangerreview.com or (406)
377-3303.

55-year-old still competes in bareback riding

SPOKANE, Wash. Jed McKinlay

cant shake his love for the cowboy
culture. Its in his blood, a passion thats
deeper than just a pair of cowboy boots.
So no surprise when the local equine
veterinarian entered in the bareback riding
at the Asotin Pro West rodeo. Whats
surprising is McKinlay recently turned 55.
Thats an old, old man in a sport known
as the most physically demanding of all
the rodeo events.
Bull riding is dangerous, but the
cowboys just hang on, they dont have to
spur. Bareback riders are searching for a
rhythm, where they can gain control and
rake their spurs from the horses neck all
the way up its shoulder to the rigging. Half
of their score depends on this spurring
action all the while their neck and back
are whiplashed from the explosive force of
these powerful broncs bred to buck hard
and wild. Unlike in his younger days,
bareback riders now wear a neck roll to
protect their neck and spine from the
whiplash.
Thats one thing I kinda had forgotten,
McKinlay said. No matter how good it
goes, something is going to be sore.
He nonchalantly notes that he may have
cracked a rib at Newport, recently when
his bronc fell. That didnt stop him from

winning. He also won the

recent Clayton, rodeo and
took second in Cheney on a
horse he talked of like a
long-lost love. Good Times, a
mare owned by C5 Ranch in
Alberta, has bucked herself
to the National Finals Rodeo
in Las Vegas, Nev. In
Cheney, she did her part to
help McKinlay win $1,370.
McKinlay isnt old in mind,
dreams or grit. Hes happy and
healthy back on the broncs. To
him, its a way to have some
fun and more importantly
mentor younger cowboys
in an event thats seeing fewer
and fewer riders.
Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review/TNS
There are not a lot of
Jed
McKinlay,
a
horse veterinarian in Colbert,
young men craving it, he
Washington,
who
competes
in bareback riding, is
said. Thats a lot of what
shown
here
with
a
patient
at
his home. He won his
Im trying to do: pass on
tradition. I want to encourage belt buckle at a recent rodeo in Clayton, Washington.
the next generation to be
his year-younger brother, Mark.
involved and enjoy it.
I think I won district bareback riding
McKinlay grew up in Kimberly, Idaho,
but not on a ranch or in a rodeo family. He finals in 78, McKinlay said, not fully comfortable talking about his accomplishments.
was surrounded by the lifestyle, working
on ranches and riding bulls and bareback
Continued on page 19
horses in high school rodeos along with
September 2015
7

Color me

Wonderful
Colorful hair styles cross
generational barrier in Forsyth

By Chaun Scott

Montana Best Times
FORSYTH Many of us baby boomers remember, and
even long for, the days of our youth when the thought of
conforming to a stereotypical mindset was met with utter
disdain. We were the generation of colorful quaffs of hair,
where AquaRock (AquaNet Extra Superhold) stood our
hair straight and tall as we dove headlong into the slam pit
of the underground subculture of the 1980s punk
movement.
We were the generation conservatives considered the
Decline of the Western Civilization. Or were we simply
decades ahead of our time?
Today, the world seems more accepting of unusual
fashion styles. What was once considered an act of
rebellion is now considered normal.

A colorful new world

MT Best Times photos by Chaun Scott

Eighty-four-year-old Lillian Richardson, left, is pictured with Sazzy

Nothing could be truer than what is happing in Forsyth.
Scissors owner Carin Larsen, recently.
One might think a small, eastern Montana community
would be resistant to change, especially when it comes to
fashion and beauty, but each week, many of the women in
I showed up and started splashing color everywhere, said
Forsyth hold standing, weekly appointments at salons for a
Jesse
Jo.
wash and set but not just any wash and set.
Carin liked what she saw and joined Jesse Jo in her excitement
Women in Forsyth are embracing a new trend, and it happens
about color. From there, the duo broke down the generational
to be color, and lots of it. They are finding beauty in turquoise,
sizzling reds, pinks and bright blues not only that, some ladies barrier and began to color the town. Carin was soon coloring
Jesse Jos hair turquoise, purple and pink with a natural color
are using them all together.
underneath. Carin allowed Jesse Jo to color her hair as well, with
How did this happen? It is the creative styling of one of
Forsyths freshest, colorfully eccentric stylists at Sazzy Scissors,
and her talent is hitting the town by storm.
Stylist Jesse Jo Johnson, 24, moved back to Forsyth a little
over a year ago. She chose to come back to the place of her roots
after studying as a cosmetologist in Anchorage, Alaska. She said
she really enjoyed living in Alaska but her heart belonged to
Anchor Island, the Montana ranch owned by her family for
generations so she packed up her station and brought the
wonderful color stylings she had learned with her.
After working several other jobs in town, Jesse Jo landed a
Stylist Jesse Jo Johnson
station at Sazzy Scissors, introducing shop owner Carin Larsen,
66, to the color system, Elumen by Goldwell, that Jesse Jo
learned while working under the northern lights.

I showed up and started

splashing color everywhere.

September 2015

granddaughter asked me to, but I wanted to

try a washout for (my) first time.Although
Jesse Jos mom, Brenda Birky, didnt
hesitate to add color to her blond hair,
convincing her grandmother Connie
Moreland to give color a try took some
time.
I had been trying to talk Grandma
Connie into color for quite a while, and she
finally did it, Jesse Jo said.
Connie, who is sporting a turquoise faceframe, is enjoying the reaction of others
when they see her new style.
I like it I think it looks alright,
Connie said. Its funny when other people
see me. Their eyes get big but they wont
say anything negative; they just say, I see
Jesse Jo got ahold of you.
Connie said her husband, Lance, was a
little more resistant to change than she was.
My husband said I looked like I stuck
my head in a vat while bobbing for apples,
Above: Jesse Jo Johnson, right, and Carin Larson, left, are pictured with Sazzy she explained with a smirk. Its OK he
Scissors colorful clients and hairdressers.
will get over it.
Below: Jesse Jo applies a splash of color to her great-grandmother Ethelba Clarks
Carin and Jesse Jo find the greatest sense
hair.
of accomplishment by the reaction of the
community to the bright new color trend.
Its the most fun seeing the reaction you
get out of people, said Jesse Jo. Some
a pink and turquoise off-centered flower on her head, along with
really love it.
a splash of color on the other side. From then on, the two ladies
In todays more fashion-tolerant society, women in every
were hooked on color.
generation have found the courage to step outside of the black
Its like a tattoo, said Jesse Jo. Once you start, you have to
and white box, and are adding color in many unique ways
do more.
finding a way to color themselves wonderful.
The ladies excitement quickly spread. Women from virtually
every generation can now be seen with brightly colored hair,
Chaun Scott may be reached at ip-news@rangeweb.net or
including children as young as 6 to women 90 years old. Some go
(406) 346-2149.
for the gusto with a full head of color, while others prefer only
hints of color but everyone knows: They have been to see
Jesse Jo.

Breaking the generational barrier

Eighty-four-year-old Lillian Richardson would agree.

I do that quite often, said Lillian when asked if she gets
bright colors added to her silver hair.
Lillian, who owned and operated a ceramics shop near Virginia
City for over 50 years, has been adding color to her hair for the
past six months.
The first time Jesse Jo added color to my hair was just before
I was going to Thanksgiving with my family, said Lillian. Jesse
Jo asked if I wanted to add some pink and purple streaks. I had to
show it off to all my family, you know.
Lillian really enjoys seeing bright color on all the generations,
especially on those younger than her.
I like to see it on young people, said Lillian. It seems to be
all the trend now.
Lillian is not alone with her love of color. Although it took
Jesse Jo a long time to convince her 90-year-old greatgrandmother Ethelba Clark to accept the new trend, Ethelba
allowed Jesse Jo to add some color before all four generations of
women in the family took a rather colorful family photo.
Im trying it, Ethelba said. Im doing it because my
September 2015

Life

After Politics
Former state Senator
Jim Peterson is back
on the ranch but
not out to pasture

By Deb Hill

Montana Best Times
LEWISTOWN Its a big change, Jim Peterson
said, describing how he spends his days after being
term-limited out of the Montana State Senate in 2014.
Right now Im cutting wheat.
Peterson, who ranches near Buffalo in central
Montana, spent 12 years in the Legislature, first as a
representative and later in the Senate representing
District 15 in central Montana. Before that, he was a
lobbyist at the Legislature for 10 years. After 22 years
spending time with lawmakers in Helena, retirement
came as a bit of a shock to Peterson.
Its like all the lights got turned out at the same
time, Peterson said, describing how it felt to be out of
the legislative scene. You get used to the meetings, the
phone calls, the emails, to people asking for advice or
your point of view. Then, it just stops. Its hard when
you realize for some people your value was only in
being a vote.

Reflections on years in public office

Photo courtesy of Jim Peterson

Since 1992, Montana state law limits legislators to

Senator Jim Peterson, now retired, addresses lawmakers in Helena
two terms in office. While he understands the reason
wearing his cowboy tie. Peterson was term-limited out of the Legislamany support such limits, Peterson thinks there are
ture at the end of 2014, and is now working his ranch and finding new
unintended consequences.
kinds of public service.
I think Montana is the only state with both term
limits and a legislature that only meets every other
relationships developed where you could disagree with someone,
year, Peterson said. Theres a huge loss of institutional
but at the end of the meeting, you could go out for a meal
knowledge when someone is term limited out, and because of the together. Now, with electronic communication, people dont meet
large learning curve, a legislator is just getting to where they
any more and too many think compromise is weakness.
know how to get things done when they have to leave.
Peterson speaks with pride about his accomplishments as a
Term limits make the Legislature the weakest of the three
legislator.
branches of government, Peterson said. No one has analyzed
When I was president of the Senate, we did something that
the cost of that yet. Its hard to watch people making the same
hasnt ever been done we actually cut spending for the first
mistakes we talked about 10 years ago.
time, because both sides of the aisle were working as a team.
Peterson believes Montana politics have changed in the past 10 Now, with the hardline approach, no one dares work with the
years, and not in a good way.
other side. Its hard to watch that happening.
Weve gone from a partisan system in which people tried to
Peterson said his years in the Legislature allowed him to
find bipartisan solutions to one in which partisanship is the end
develop relationships all over the state.
goal and solutions are very hard to find, he said. Theres no
Its quite a network, he said. This year, though, for the first
mentoring program in the Legislature, and there probably should
time, I didnt get invited to the annual gathering in the Flathead
be.
made me feel empty. But, on the other hand, I talk to people I
When we used to meet face to face to hash things out,
served with all the time, so its not completely void.
September 2015

10

Photo courtesy of Lorraine Peterson

Jim Peterson and his wife, Lorraine, take a break from harvesting at the entrance to their ranch near Buffalo.

What comes next

Although he has a large ranch to run, and a feedlot enterprise

he started with his son, Peterson is also enjoying doing things he
has dreamed of for years.
I have a bucket list and Im checking things off, he said. For
example, this year my wife (Lorraine) and I went to the Kentucky
Derby. We had great seats, three rows up from the track, and
watched American Pharoah win.
Other things on Petersons bucket list include floating the
Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, fly-fishing and
perhaps finding a warmer climate in which to spend the winter
months.
But if you think hes given up public service, think again.
Through his nonprofit bipartisan organization, One Montana,
Peterson continues to be involved in rural issues, such as
landowner/sportsman relations. He is chairman of a group
working on adding value to Montana agricultural products, with a
goal of bringing a meat processing plant to the state.
Peterson is also working with Montana State University on
farm and ranch management curriculum, in hopes of creating an
endowed chair to work on solutions to the changing nature of
agriculture.
All of this is in addition to running the ranch, of course.
My wife keeps asking when we are going to retire, Peterson
said with a grin. But I work from a couple of mantras. One of
them is, If you are not at the table, you may be on the menu.
The other is, The world is run by those who show up.
Deb Hill may be reached at Deb Hill editor@lewistownnews.
com or (406) 535-3401.

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September 2015

11

Veterinarians
invention

helps farriers on the hoof

By Alastair Baker
Montana Best Times

RED LODGE Over the years, 43 all told, Red Lodge

veterinarian John Beug has gone through his fair share of hoof
clippers. So many clippers, in fact, that his patience finally
snapped one day after seeing another pair fall at the first hurdle
while working on a horse.
A discussion ensued among Beug, his son Justin, who is a
mechanical engineer based in Reno, Nevada, and Dr. Ellis G.
Farstvedt, a board-certified equine surgeon, about developing a

pair of nippers of hardened tool steel replaceable blades.

I thought, Bingo, and I said, Justin, you design them and
well build them, said Beug, who is semi-retired.
It took Justin just 10 minutes to come up with a design that had
outfoxed those who had tried to solve the issue before.

They can cut nails all day long

That was two years ago. Today, the company RAZR Hoof
Nippers founded from that conversation, cant keep pace
with the orders coming from farriers across the country, and

John Beug inspects a number of disposable blades used for his RAZR Hoof Nippers.
September 2015

12

MT Best Times photos by Alastair Baker

Europe and Australia.

We have orders across the world and several companies who
want to distribute them, Beug said. I have the top racetrack
farrier in the country in Florida who uses them, and he works
with horses from the Kentucky Derby to the World Champion
Stakes. Also using the clippers are the International Podiatry
Center in Kentucky. There are also farriers on the North
American Farrier team using them.
Beug attributes the success of the RAZR Hoof Nippers to a fine
quality he said you dont get in most other clippers. The RAZR
clippers are made of tool steel blades measured to 56 Rockwell
hardness an industry designation for especially high-quality
steel which means, said Beug, They can cut nails all day long.
And because the blades are disposable, they can
be removed simply with an Allen wrench. It means
the clippers will last longer than the average pair,
because if they break, they can be replaced. Should
ordinary clippers break, farriers have no choice but
to either buy another pair, which at an average price
of $250 is expensive, or have it repaired, which at a
one-time shot of $125 is also pricey.
Beugs clippers retail at $380 a pair, with a set
of disposable blades costing $70 and a lifetime
warranty on the handle and the rivet.
For farriers across the world, this is a great
benefit to their work, since they can often go
through two to three clippers a year.
One farrier owns an original (RAZR) pair,
said Beug, and has worked on over a 1,000
horses.
Beug will attend the International Hoof Care
Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio, next year to seek out
more interest and buyers.

Machine, doing work for several people and businesses in the area.
And this doesnt include several patents hes working on and
making corrective horseshoes.
Soft-spoken, probably a result of years of coaxing animals to
relax, he suggests, in an understatement, his life has been an
interesting journey.
That it has been, especially now as he has several
grandchildren to fit into his busy schedule.
To contact John Beug at RAZR Hoof Nippers, call (406) 4252815.
Reach Alastair Baker at Alastair Baker news@
carboncountynews.com or (406) 446-2222.

Other interests

Beug is busier than ever as he eases out of

veterinary work and into his other love
machining and metalworking.
Besides RAZR Hoof Nippers, he has also started
another business called JB Fabrication and

Use of an Allen wrench makes changing the RAZR disposable blades easy.

News Lite
Defense lawyer skips hearing
so wife in labor wont kill him

PITTSBURGH (AP) A Pittsburgh defense attorney got a

hearing postponed at the last minute after convincing a judge that
his wifes labor was a matter of life or his death.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports Marc Daffner was
granted a continuance after filing a blunt request with a Pittsburgh City Court magistrate.
It read: Defense counsels wife went into labor at approximately 11:15 a.m. today, and defense counsel will be killed by his
wife if he does not get to the hospital immediately.
Daffner says the district attorney and judge agreed to the move.
His client is charged with receiving stolen property.
Daffner says, I didnt have a legal reason for the continuance,
but that was the truth.

Dogs warning tips family to house fire

SPANISH SPRINGS, Nev. (AP) A Spanish Springs family

has been forced out of their home after a house fire, but authorities say no one was hurt thanks in part to a family pet.
Officials for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District say
one of the familys dogs alerted them to the fire that started on the
deck of the home in a neighborhood off the Pyramid Highway
about 11:30 p.m.
KRNV-TV reports two adults, a child and four dogs safely
evacuated before firefighters arrived and the flames spread into
the house and the attic.
Officials say the fire damaged about 40 percent of the home
north of Sparks near Rook Court and Nightingale Way.
The Red Cross is helping them find a temporary residence. The
cause of the fire remains under investigation.
September 2015

13

Health & Wellness

14

secrets every
health insurance company knows
(and you should, too)

By Sarah Klein

Prevention magazine/TNS

Calling your health-insurance provider is right up on the Most

Dreaded List with getting a colonoscopy. But there will come a
day when you cant avoid calling that toll-free number, pushing 2
for English, 4 for Claims, keying in your 47-digit Group ID
number, having your 47-digit Group ID number electronically
read back to you, and then (finally!) being told your wait time is
50 minutes. But there is a better way. We actually got through to
these insurance people (and other experts) and asked how to
make this whole process more efficient. Heres what they told us:

1. Dont call on Monday

This is like trying to get through to the Heavenly Ham store the
week before Easter. Youll be on hold forever, along with
everyone else who had questions arise over the weekend, says
Elisabeth Schuler Russell, founder and president of Patient
Navigator, LLC. Try Wednesdays, Thursdays, or early Friday
before people start wrapping up for the weekend, she says.

2. Be prepared before you call

Have your insurance card and the document in question

(medical bill or insurance company statement) handy. If youre
calling to see if an upcoming treatment will be covered, have the
diagnostic and procedural codes from your doctor. Being
prepared also means having something to do while on hold.
Multi-tasking will ease your stress.

3. Sweet-talk em

Even though your inclination may be to curse and scream when

someone finally picks up the phone, remember thats a human
being and this isnt her fault. Be collaborative and never throw
gasoline on a fire, says registered nurse and patient advocate
Teri Dreher, CEO of North Shore Patient Advocates in Chicago.
Be exceedingly polite; say thank you. Use her name, and show
the impact their assistance had, if you can. Being nice makes it
more likely theyll go the extra yard for you.

4. Understand your plan

Most people read the 101 version of their benefits, typically

a pamphlet or PDF summarizing coverage. But if youre
contesting something, youll want to have the 201 version, says
Russell. This is called the evidence of coverage or certificate
of insurance, and its typically much heftier, sometimes up to
200 pages. It may be mailed to your home or posted online, but
sometimes you have to request it. Then you can ask the rep,
September 2015

14

Could you please point me to the document youre referencing?

says Dianne Savastano, founder of Massachusetts-based
Healthassist, which helps patients navigate the insurance system.

5. Record everything

The automated voice that says, this call may be monitored...

is good advice for you, too. Note the date and time, the name of
whomever you spoke with, and any details about what they said,
so you have a documented version of the conversation just like
the insurance company does. In fact, you can record the
conversation as well.
Very few insurance-related calls are resolved in one phone
call, says Russell, so its likely youll need to reference this info
when you call back. If you can say, I talked to Jasmine on June
6 at 3 oclock, and she told me this, you may not have to explain
the whole thing from scratch.
Another option is corresponding via email. You wont have to

take (as many) notes if everything is in writing. Ask the rep if you
can follow-up via email and, if he agrees, ask if you can send a
note summarizing your phone conversation, says Savastano.

6. Insist they speak English

Insurance-world jargon can be intimidating, so dont be

embarrassed to say to a rep, Help me understand what that
means, says Scott Josephs, MD, national medical director for
Cigna Health Insurance. Here are some common terms and their
meaning (find more at Healthcare.gov/glossary):
Deductible: the amount you will pay before your plan kicks in
at the rate outlined in your benefits summary
Out-of-pocket maximum: the most you will pay before your
plan covers 100 percent of your charges
Copay: a fixed amount youre charged for health care covered
by your plan, for example $15
Allowed amount: the maximum your plan allows a doctor to
charge for payment on covered health-care services, for example,
$100 for an in-office visit. This is sometimes also called the
eligible expense, payment allowance, or negotiated rate.
Coinsurance: a percent you are charged of the allowed
amount for health care covered by your plan, for example 20
percent
Medically necessary: the health care services that meet your
insurance companys standards of what medicine is truly needed
for diagnosis and treatment

7. Get some respect

Once youve mastered some insurance jargon of your own, use

it. Using the proper terminology can communicate you mean
business, Savastano says. Could you please walk me through
how this claim was processed? is a good start. Or Could you
please detail how this claim was adjudicated according to the
benefits? Youll get some satisfaction regardless of how the
conversation turns out.

8. Ask to speak with a nurse

Thats right, many case managers at insurance companies are

registered nurses, explains Dreher, and theyre usually more
knowledgeable and sometimes even more sympathetic to your
cause. So if you need assistance with a medical question and your
customer service rep isnt being helpful, ask politely for an RN

9. Follow up

If the insurance company promises to get back to you by a

certain date, put a reminder in your calendar to follow up
immediately after you hang up, says Savastano.

10. Always get it in writing

If the insurance company is making an exception to coverage

rules, get that agreement in writing. Dreher had a client in Illinois
who needed a complicated surgery that no in-network, local
provider could perform. The most experienced surgeon was outof-network in California. The patients insurance company
verbally agreed to cover the procedure, but afterward he received
a bill that didnt line up with what had been promised.
Fortunately, he had documented every detail, and Dreher helped
him file an appeal.

11. Dont pay until these numbers match

After a medical appointment or procedure, youll receive an

explanation of benefits from your insurance provider as well
as a bill from your doctor. Both documents will specify how
much money you owe the doctor. In a perfect world, these two
numbers should match, says Russell. If they do, pay that
amount. If theres a big discrepancy, call the doctors office to
make sure it billed the insurance company correctly. Just
because $600 may be the average rate for that procedure, a
doctor could charge $1,000 simply because she did it at a
different hospital.
While insurance companies generally wont budge on
discrepancies like this, hospitals and doctors might, says Dreher.
Ask to speak with a medical advisor at the hospital or doctors
office and explain any financial stress youre under. But instead
of asking for the entire bill to be waived, offer to pay a sizeable
portion (say 50 to 60 percent). At the very least, you could get a
more reasonable payment plan, says Savastano.

12. Set up a conference call

There are strict rules protecting your privacy when it comes

to health care and health insurance and rightfully so. But
things can get frustrating when youre trying to help, say, an
aging parent. Savastano suggests a conference call between
you, your parent, and the insurance company so the rep can
validate your parents information and get her okay to speak
with you. If this is something youll be doing regularly on
behalf of a parent, consider filing a power of attorney with the
company.

13. Stop using out-of-network providers

Obviously, in an emergency you go where you must. But when

its not, using an out-of-network health-care provider is a
sacrifice, Josephs says. For out-of-network providers, your
deductibles and coinsurance are often higher, and they havent
gone through the rigorous quality criteria that we have for
in-network providers, he explains. All of which may add up to
more expense and headaches for you.

14. Know what youre buying

Half of those surveyed by Cigna in a recent poll admitted to

spending less than one hour deciding on their health insurance
coverage. You wouldnt buy a car or even plan a vacation with
that little sweat. If you get your insurance through an employer,
youre probably guilty of this, says Savastano.
Spend the time to make the choices that are right for you,
says Josephs. Be aware that choosing the employer-offered plan
with the lowest premium might not save you money. It depends
on what kind of care you need, such as behavioral health services
or prescription meds.
Open enrollment season will start soon. Dont blindly go with
last years choice. Investigate the changes and any new options.
Having the right plan and knowing it is the best way to
remove this chore from your Most Dreaded List.
For more great health tips, pick up a copy of Prevention
magazine, visit www.prevention.com, or follow us @
PreventionMag.
September 2015

15

Meet the women who rule the

aisle

By Deirdre Donahue

AARP Media/TNS

Meet the modern mavens of murder, who rule the bookshelf of

death with humor and hair-raising horror.
Just how popular are murder mysteries? Well, the reigning
queen of the genre, Mary Higgins Clark, has sold more than 100
million books in the U.S. alone a number a little smaller than
the population of Mexico. The reason is simple.
While in real-life America some 35 percent of killings go
unsolved, in fiction land you close the book with a thump,
satisfied that through grit and guile, the good guys or gals have
caught the killer and justice will be served, straight up and strong.
Who doesnt relish a 100 percent punishment rate for the wicked?
It is also appropriate that the continent that created the modern
mystery thanks to Edgar Allan Poe and his C. Auguste Dupin
detective stories today has a slew of gifted daughters to rival
those legends from across the pond, such as Agatha Christie and
P. D. James.
Meet the A-team of crime and punishment, XX-chromosome
style. Though their settings may vary, our ladies always have
crime on their minds.

JANET EVANOVICH
Alias: Jersey Girl

Modus operandi: Combines comedy with occasional killing

Background: Nobody does Jersey tude better than the Garden
States Janet Evanovich, 72. Born in South River, she began with
romance novels but by
book 12 says she ran out
of sexual positions.
Crime solver: Bighaired bounty hunter
Stephanie Plum rocked
Evanovich onto the bestseller lists in 1994, and
the series is going strong
25 books later.
Evanovich says that
although shes not Plum,
I know where she
lives.
Made her bones with:
One for the Money
21 years later, its still
hilarious.
Latest book: Wicked
Charms

September 2015

16

TESS GERRITSEN
Alias: The Doctor

Modus operandi:
Medical suspense made
scary
Background: A
graduate of Stanford
University and the
UCSF School of
Medicine, Gerritsen, 62,
has gone from doing no
harm to terrifying
readers with tales of
grisly death and medical
malfeasance. She
started writing when
she was on maternity
leave.
Crime solvers: Jane
Rizzoli is a Boston
homicide detective; Dr.
Maura Isles is a medical examiner. Gerritsens most
famous pair is played by Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander on
TNTs Rizzoli & Isles.
Made her bones with: the 1996 medical thriller Harvest,
about transplants.
Latest book: Die Again

LOUISE
PENNY
Alias: The
Canadian

Modus operandi: All

about morals as well as
murder
Background: Penny,
57, is a former Canadian
radio journalist who
draws on her countrys
culture and history to
add heft and interest to
books that are more
whydunits than
whodunits.
Crime solver:

Bilingual Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Srete du

Quebec is Canadas answer to Hercule Poirot, but sexier. The
setting is imaginary Three Pines, just across the Vermont border.
Made her bones with: Still Life and the enchanting artists,
booksellers and eccentrics of Three Pines.
Latest book: The Nature of the Beast

SARA
PARETSKY
Alias: The
Crusader

Modus operandi:
Bullet-paced plots meet
social injustice in
Chicago
Background: The
Kansas-raised Paretsky,
68, holds an MBA and a
history Ph.D. She
founded Sisters in Crime
to support women
mystery writers and
readers.
Crime solver: V.I.
Warshawski Vic
for Victoria, never victim or vamp is
an expublic defender turned P.I. Shes smart, tough and, though
often outraged, always in control.
Made her bones with: Indemnity Only. Published in January
1982, the novel remains bracing in its depiction of a fearless
female pathfinder in a rough job.
Latest book: Brush Back

SUE GRAFTON
Alias: That Alphabet P.I.

Modus operandi: Hardboiled but with a female

twist
Background: In 1982, a
new kind of gumshoe who
was nobodys helpmeet hit
the street running. A
former screenwriter,
Grafton is blasting
through the letters; X
will arrive in August.
Crime solver: P.I.
Kinsey Millhone is, says
Grafton, the author
herself but younger,
smarter and thinner. Her
fictional private eye is a
twice-divorced loner;
Grafton, 75, has been

married over 20 years.

Made her bones with ... A Is for Alibi, which introduced
readers to the town of Santa Teresa, aka Santa Barbara,
California.
Latest Book: X

MARY
HIGGINS
CLARK
Alias: Queen of
Suspense

Modus operandi:
Deftly teases readers
into scaring themselves
Background: It all
started in 1975 when
Clark, a widow with
five young children,
published her first
mystery. Some 40
years and 49 books
later, Clark, 87,
remains the monarch
of American mystery.
Crime Solvers: Varied
Made her bones with: the blockbuster Where Are the
Children? Clark fictionalized the 1965 headline tale of Alice
Crimmins, the Queens, New York, mother who was accused of
killing her two children. Two publishers rejected the novel
because it featured children in jeopardy.
Latest book: The Melody Lingers On
EDITORS NOTE: Deirdre Donahue is consulting book editor
for AARP Media. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization
that helps people 50 and older improve the quality of their lives.
News and information on health, money, politics, entertainment
and more can be found at AARP.org.

Great News for Seniors 62 yrs of Age & Older!

COMFORTABLE & AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS
Accepting Applications for Independent Seniors

Call (406) 248-9117 1439 Main Street Billings, MT

Rent Based on Income, HUD 202 PRAC
Live On-Site Community Administrator
Free Laundry On-Site Parking
Mailboxes on Premises
Electric, Gas, Water, Sewer, & Trash
Included in Rent
Community Room Available for Social
Gatherings & Meetings

September 2015

17

RSVP

Below is a list of volunteer openings available through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in
communities across southern Montana. To learn more about RSVP, call (800) 424-8867 or TTY (800) 833-3722;
or log on to www. seniorcorps.org.

Custer and Rosebud

Counties:

- AARP Tax Assistance

program: Volunteers needed.
- Clinic Ambassador: Need
volunteers to greet patients and
visitors, providing directions
and more, two locations.
- Custer County Food Bank:
Volunteer assistants needed for
8 a.m. -1:30 p.m., MondayWednesday, to process
donations, stock shelves, and
more.
- DAV van: Drivers need to
provide transportation to
veterans.
- Historic Miles City
Academy: Urgently need
volunteers at the thrift store.
- Miles City Soup Kitchen:
Needs servers Monday Friday; pick a day of the week
you would like to serve.
- Popcorn popper: Needed
one day per week, two hours in
the morning, starting in
September
- St. Vincent DePaul:
Volunteers to assist in several
different capacities.
- VA Activities: Urgent need
for someone to help with
activities.
- WaterWorks Art Museum:
Volunteer receptionists needed,
2 hour shifts Tuesday through
Sunday; a volunteer also
needed in cataloging the art
collection, one to assist with
historic research of the
permanent art collection, and a
volunteer to assist in summer
kids classes.
If you are interested in these
or other volunteer opportunities
please contact: Betty Vail,
RSVP Director; 210 Winchester
Ave. #225, Miles City, MT
59301; phone (406) 234-0505;
email: rsvp05@midrivers.com.

Fergus and Judith Basin

Counties:

- American Reads: Recruiting

volunteers to read with
elementary students.
- Art Center: Volunteers on
Saturday
- Central Montana Museum:
Seeking additional volunteers.
- Community Cupboard
(Food Bank): Volunteers are
September 2015

18

needed to help any week

mornings as well as with
deliveries.
- Council on Aging:
Volunteers needed to assist at
the daily Grubstakes meal and
with clerical help during the
busy lunch hour.
- Library: Volunteer help
always appreciated.
- ROWL (Recycle Our Waste
Lewistown): Looking for
volunteers to join teams baling
recyclables
- Treasure Depot: Thrift store
needs volunteers to sort, hang
clothes and put other items on
display for sale.
- RSVP always has various
needs for your skills and
volunteer services in our
community.
- Current RSVP volunteers
are encouraged to turn in your
hours each month; your
contribution to the community
is greatly appreciated!
Contact: RSVP Volunteer
Coordinator Sara Wald, 404 W.
Broadway, Wells Fargo Bank
building, (upstairs), Lewistown,
MT 59457; phone (406) 5350077; email: rsvplew@
midrivers.com.

Gallatin County

- American Cancer Society

Road to Recovery: Drivers
needed for patients receiving
treatments from their home to
the hospital
- American Red Cross Blood
Drive: Two volunteer
opportunities available: an
ambassador needed to
welcome, greet, thank and
provide overview for blood
donors; and phone team
volunteers needed to remind,
recruit or thank blood donors.
Excellent customer service
skills needed, training will be
provided, flexible schedule.
- Befrienders: Befriend a
senior; visit on a regular weekly
basis.
- Belgrade Senior Center:
Meals on Wheels needs regular
and substitute drivers Monday
through Friday, to deliver meals
to seniors before noon.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters: Be
a positive role model for only a
few hours each week.

- Bozeman and Belgrade

Sacks Thrift Stores: Need
volunteers 2-3 hour shifts on
any day,Monday through
Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Bozeman Deaconess
Hospital: Volunteers needed for
the information desks in the
Atrium and the Perk,8 a.m.
through noon,noon through 4
p.m..
- Bozeman Senior Center
Foot Clinic: Retired or nearly
retired nurses are urgently
needed, 2 days a month, either
4 or 8 hour shifts.
- Galavan: Volunteer drivers
neededMonday though Friday,
10 a.m. -2 p.m.. CDL required
and Galavan will assist you in
obtaining one. Volunteers also
needed to make reminder calls
and confirm rides for the
following day.
- Gallatin Rest Home:
Volunteers wanted for visiting
the residents, sharing your
knowledge of a craft, playing
cards or reading to a resident.
- Gallatin Valley Food Bank:
Volunteers needed to deliver
commodities to seniors in their
homes once a month. Deliveries
in Belgrade are especially
needed.
- HRDC Housing Department
Ready to Rent: Curriculum for
families and individuals who
have rental barriers such as lack
of poor rental history, property
upkeep, renter responsibilities,
landlord/tenant communication
and financial priorities.
- Habitat for Humanity
Restore: Belgrade store needs
volunteers for general help,
sorting donations and assisting
customers.
- Heart of The Valley:
Compassionate volunteers
especially needed to love, play
with and cuddle cats.
- Help Center: Computer
literate volunteer interested in
entering data into a social
services database. Also
volunteers needed to make
phone calls to different
agencies/programs to make sure
database is up to date and make
safety calls to home bound
seniors.
- Jessie Wilber Gallery at The
Emerson: Volunteers needed on

Wednesday, Thursday, and

Friday to greet people at the
main desk, answer questions
and keep track of the number of
visitors.
- Museum of the Rockies:
Variety of opportunities
available such as helping in the
gift shop and more.
- RSVP Handcrafters:
Volunteers to quilt, knit, crochet
and embroider hats for chemo
patients, baby blankets and
other handmade goods once a
week (can work from home).
Items are on sale in our store in
the RSVP office at the Senior
Center or on Saturday Farmers
Markets until Sept. 13. Note:
Donated yarn needed for the
quilting, knitting and crocheting
projects.
-Three Forks Food
Bank:Volunteer needed on
Monday and/orThursdayto
help with administrative duties,
including answer phones and
questions, some paper and
computer work. Will train.
- Your unique skills and
interests are needed, without
making a long-term
commitment, in a variety of
ongoing, special, one-time
events.
Contact: Debi Casagranda,
RSVP Program Coordinator,
807 N. Tracy, Bozeman, MT
59715; phone (406) 587-5444;
fax (406) 582 8499; email:
dcasagranda@thehrdc.org

Musselshell, Golden
Valley, and Petroleum
Counties

- Food Bank: Distribute food

commodities to seniors and
others in the community; help
unload the truck as needed.
- Meals on Wheels Program:
Deliver meals to the
housebound in the community,
just one day a week for an hour
and a half, meal provided.
- MVH Museum: Volunteers
needed in many capacities such
as guides, maintenance, yard
work, historic preservation,
board meetings, record keeping
and fundraising.
- Nursing Home:
Pianoplayers and singers
neededon Friday to entertain

See RSVP, Page 18

residents, alsoassistant needed
in activities for residents to
enrich supported lifestyle.
- Senior Bus: Volunteers to
pickup folks who are unable to
drive themselves.
- Senior Center: Volunteers
are needed to provide meals,
clean up in the dining room
and/or keep records; meal
provided.
- RSVP offers maximum
flexibility and choice to its
volunteers as it matches the
personal interests and skills of
older Americans with
opportunities to serve their
communities. You choose how
and where to serve.
Volunteering is an opportunity
to learn new skills, make
friends and connect with your
community.
Contact: Shelley Halvorson,
South Central MT RSVP, 315
1/2 Main St., Ste. #1, Roundup,

MT 59072; phone (406) 3231403; fax (406) 323-4403;

email: rdprsvp2@midrivers.
com ; Facebook: South
Central MT RSVP.

Park County

- Big Brothers Big Sisters:

Mentor and positive role
models to a boy or girl needed,
1 hour a week.
- Fix-It-Brigade: Needs
volunteers of all ages and skill
levels for 2 hour tasks on your
schedule to help seniors or
veterans with small home
repairs and chores, such as
changing a light bulb, mending
a fence, cleaning up a yard.
- Livingston Depot: Needs
volunteers with people skills
as museum greeter and gift
shop attendant with basic math
skills through September 13.
Training is provided, schedules
are flexible.

- Loaves and Fishes:Volunteers needed to prepare dinner

meal on Wednesday nights.
- Main Streeter Thrift Store:
Someone who enjoys working
with the public, greet
customers, ring up purchases,
label and hang clothes and
accept donations.
- Meals on Wheels: Always
need substitute drivers to
deliver meals to seniors in
their home.
- RSVP: Need compassionate
companions to give caregivers
a break in their home on a
regular basis.
- RSVP: Has many one-time
events, including mailings and
fundraising events that require
volunteers.
- RSVP Handcrafters:
Volunteers to knit and crochet
caps and scarves for each child
at Head Start this winter, also
as gifts for children of prenatal

classes, baby hats, and afghan's

for the hospital newborns;
Sewers needed to make simple
pillowcases for our soldiers
overseas, Thursday, 1-2 p.m. at
the Senior Center.
- Senior Center: Need
volunteers, Tuesday, 1 p.m., to
cut unsold clothing into rags to
be sold for proceeds to the
center.
- Stafford Animal Shelter:
Kindhearted volunteers needed
to socialize cats and kittens,
and to walk the dogs.
- Transportation: Drivers
needed to help patients keep
their doctor appointment in
Livingston and Bozeman.
Some gas reimbursement may
be provided.
Contact: Deb Downs,
Program Coordinator, 111 So.
2nd St., Livingston, MT 59047;
phone (406) 222-2281; email:
debdowns@rsvpmt.org
Continued from page 7

I probably was the only one who stayed

on and marked them out.
Out of high school, McKinlay served a
two-year mission for the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints in Californias
San Joaquin Valley. Then he attended the
College of Southern Idaho before
transferring to the University of Wyoming,
which has a competitive college rodeo
program.
By the time he graduated with an
animal science degree, he was married
and had two daughters and was riding lots
of broncs. He graduated with a doctorate
of veterinary medicine from Washington
State University in 1990 and worked in
Alberta before opening a clinic from his
Colbert garage in 1993. He was still
riding bareback horses and had four
children.
Today, McKinlay & Peters Equine
Hospital employs five veterinarians and
has two clinics, including a state-of-the-art
equine hospital in Newman Lake.
McKinlay, whose specialty is
reproduction, jokes that hes everything
from an ER doctor to a gynecologist and
dentist. The evening interview was cut
short when his pager went off calling him
back to work.
So how does a man in his 50s decide to
rekindle his passion for riding bareback
horses, where he uses one hand to grip the
rigging, which is a heavy piece of leather

with basically a suitcase handle?

First, he must persuade his wife.
Part of it was just my love for it, he
said. Passion is maybe an appropriate
word. My uncle mentioned the word
addiction but maybe thats too strong. I
really just love the sport.
McKinlay had a soft start three years
ago when he rode two rodeos. He tore his
tendon off his bicep muscle during a ride
in Sandpoint.
I had a little surgery and had it put
back together, he said. It got me excited
I guess. Ever since I think Ive been
thinking about it.
Besides building the strength in his arm,
McKinlay trains hard to stay fit and agile.
At first he ran a lot. Then his brother
encouraged him to do wind sprints, a
logical training method because bareback
riding is ultimately a sprinters sport. Hes
embarrassed admitting he tore a hamstring
muscle. Now he bikes, lifts weights and
does a lot of pull-ups and core exercises.
Hes lost 15 pounds.
Its an event you dont want to be
packing extra weight especially when Im
physically too old to be doing it, he said.
A devout LDS church member,
McKinlay also thanks God for his return
to the bucking chutes, saying I feel it
keenly as I settle down on the back of a
bucker.
There arent a lot of guys riding at 55. A

quick look at the National Senior Pro

Rodeo Association, which doesnt have
sanctioned rodeos in the Northwest, shows
there were no cowboys in the 60 plus or
68 plus bracket who qualified as national
finals average champions. That was the
same for bull riding and saddle bronc.
Only the roping events had older
competitors. Competitors must be 40 to
compete in senior rodeos.
Jimmy Nugent, of Albuquerque, New
Mexico, is the bareback event director for
the National Senior Pro Rodeo
Association. He made his comeback in
2014 at age 49, but it was more of a live
like youre dying influence. According to
a recent article in Rodeo News, Nugent
received a kidney transplant from his twin
brother in 2011. After three years of
recovery and working out, friends
encouraged him to ride broncs again.
I did miss the camaraderie and
friendships, so I came back in 2014 and
had a great time, he said. Im having
more fun than Ive ever had.
McKinlay is having fun too, looking
forward to riding in Coeur dAlene and at
the Spokane County Interstate Fair Rodeo
in September. He said most everyone is
supportive and that hes blessed to have so
much encouragement.
There are the worry warts too, he
laughed. But that is just a way of saying I
love you.
September 2015
19

On The Menu
Warm day / cool day
recipes
With Jim Durfey

September is a Jekyll & Hyde month in Montana. An early morning frost will make you
reach for that wool jacket thats been buried in the far reaches of your closet all summer.
The next day might bring summer heat that will make you wish you were at the swimming pool.
The recipes below will work regardless of the weather. Venison burgers can be grilled outside or in a skillet on top
of the stove. The flavor is greatly enhanced, of course, if the meat is cooked over coals or on a propane grill.
The secret to cooking any burger is to cook it thoroughly but just long enough so that its still juicy. My fatherin-law used to order his burgers rare. He always enjoyed a juicy burger, but I always wondered if it stayed on the
grill long enough to kill the bad stuff in the meat. I like my burgers pink not red in the middle. Burgers can
be thoroughly cooked and still be juicy, even if there isnt any pink left in the burger.

Grilled Venison Burgers

1 1/2 lbs. ground venison
1/2 c. onion, chopped fine
5 shakes Worcestershire sauce
Salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients and form into four patties. Place
on the grill that has been oiled. Flip so both sides have
grill marks. Remove when just cooked through but still
juicy. Toast buns on the grill.

No Bake Smores Bars

1 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. Nutella
7 oz. marshmallow creme
1 c. mini marshmallows, toasted
2 chocolate bars, chopped
2 tbsp. butter
3 c. mini marshmallows
3 c. crispy rice cereal
Mix together graham crackers crumbs, melted butter,
powdered sugar, and vanilla to make a thick dough. Press
the dough into the bottom of an 8 x 8 pan that is lined
with foil and greased. Spoon marshmallow creme on top
of bottom layer. Grease spatula with cooking spray.
Gently spread marshmallow creme out.
For top layer, toast one cup mini marshmallows with
kitchen torch or under broiler on baking sheet covered
with parchment paper. While toasted marshmallows cool,
melt butter in microwave in large bowl. Add three cups
mini marshmallows and stir to coat. Return to microwave
for 45 seconds. Stir until smooth. Add crispy rice cereal
September 2015

20

and stir to coat. Stir in toasted mini marshmallows and

chocolate pieces. Use greased spatula to spread crispy rice
mixture over marshmallow creme. Gently press into
marshmallow creme.
Cover pan and place in the fridge until ready to serve. Cut
into slices and watch marshmallow cream slowly start to
ooze out to the center. These No Bake Smores Bars are
perfect to serve grandkids.

Peachy Keen Margaritas

1 c. fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, halved
1/2 c. peach nectar
2 oz. tequila
2 oz. peach liqueur
1 c. ice
Peach wedge for garnish
Mint sprigs for garnish
Combine first five ingredients in blender. Blend until ice
is broken into small pieces. Pour into large glass with ice.
Garnish with peach wedge and mint sprig. If its a real hot
day, put glass into the freezer for 20 minutes before
serving. Garnish glass rims with salt if desired.

Ice Cream with Liqueur

(The ice cream is cold, but the liqueur will take the chill off
of the dessert).
Vanilla ice cream
Your favorite liqueur (hazelnut, coffee, almond,
cranberry to name a few).
Put modest size proportion of ice cream in a bowl. Pour
two tablespoons liqueur over the top of ice cream. Serve
immediately.

September 2015 Calendar

 Wednesday, Sept. 2

Wednesday, Sept. 9
Farmers Market, 4:30-7:30 p.m.,
Livingston

Farmers Market, 4:30-7:30 p.m.,

Livingston

 Thursday, Sept. 10

Beaverhead County Fair, through

Sept. 6, Dillon

The Brewery Follies, through Sept. 26,

Virginia City

 Thursday, Sept. 3

Historic Walking Tour of Downtown

Red Lodge, every other Thursday 5-6
p.m., through Sept. 17, Red Lodge

 Friday, Sept. 4

Labor Day Weekend Kickoff, Dillon

Festival of the Thread, through Sept. 6,
Shane Center, Livingston
Farmers Market, Fridays through Sept.
25, Red Lodge

 Saturday, Sept. 5

Farmers Market, Absarokee

Jaycee Labor Day Rodeo and
Concert, through Sept. 7, Dillon
Farmers Market, Saturdays through
Oct. 10, Glendive
Last Best Fest through Sept. 6,
downtown, Livingston
Nevada City Living History
Weekends, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., through
Sept. 27, Lantern Tours start at 9:30
p.m., Nevada City

 Sunday, Sept. 6

Labor Day Rodeo, through Sept. 7,

White Sulphur Springs

 Monday, Sept. 7

An Evening with Terry Bradshaw,

MSU, Billings

 Friday, Sept. 11

Wild and Scenic Film Festival, 7 p.m.,

Yellowstone Association building,
Gardiner

 Friday, Sept. 18

Bozeman Maze, through Oct. 31,

Mandeville Lane, Bozeman

Community Whole-Hog BBQ, VFW

Club, Glendive

Glendive Gun Show, through Sept. 20,

Glendive

 Saturday, Sept. 12

Miles City Bluegrass Festival, through

Sept. 20, Eastern Montana Fairgrounds,
Miles City

Big Bear 5K and 8K Stampede Trail

Run, 9 a.m., Eagle Creek Campground,
Gardiner
Black Knights Rising, 8 p.m., Retro
Theatre, Glendive
Regional Ranch Rodeo Finals,
Fairgrounds, Glendive
Retro Reboot Vintage Market
fundraiser, 9 a.m., Big Horn County
Fairgrounds, Hardin
Charlie Russell Chew Choo Dinner
Train, 4 p.m., Hanover Boarding
Station, Lewistown
26th Annual Chokecherry Festival
and Run, 9 a.m., downtown Lewistown
High Plains Classics Car Show, 11
a.m., Riverside Park, Miles City
The Nitty Gritty Climb, Red Lodge
Absaroka Winds, Bozeman Symphony
Far Afield, 7 p.m., Elling House,
Virginia City

 Sunday, Sept. 13

Bridge Day, Eyer Park, Glendive

Montana Bale Trail What the Hay,
Highway 239, Hobson

Labor Day Arts Fair, Red Lodge

40th Annual Utica Day Fair, 10 a.m.-4

p.m., Utica Women's Clubhouse, Hobson

 Tuesday, Sept. 8

 Wednesday, Sept. 16

Farmers Market, Tuesdays through

Sept. 22, Bogert Park, Bozeman

 Thursday, Sept. 17

Farmers Market, 4:30-7:30 p.m.,

Livingston

 Saturday, Sept. 19

Demolition Derby, Fairgrounds,

Glendive
Charlie Russell Chew Choo Dinner
Train, 4 p.m., Hanover Boarding
Station, Lewistown

 Wednesday, Sept. 23

Farmers Market, 4:30-7:30 p.m.,

Livingston

 Thursday, Sept. 24

Montana History Conference: Hit the

Trail to Bozeman, through Sept. 26,
Hilton Garden Inn, Bozeman
Archaeological Research in
Yellowstone National Park, 7 p.m.,
Carbon County Historical Society and
Museum, Red Lodge

 Friday, Sept. 25

Livingston Art Walk, downtown

Livingston
40th Annual Art Auction, 7:30 p.m.
WaterWorks Art Museum, Miles City

 Sunday, Sept. 27

Pleasant Valley Homemakers

fundraiser (full turkey meal, silent
auction), 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monarch/
Neihart Community Senior Center in
Neihart
September 2015

21

By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.

Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at strangetrue@cs.com

NASCAR pit crews must be top athletes

Q. They dont need to be athletes,
just behave like them. Then they might
be part of a winning team as they chase
the checkered flag. Who are they?
A. A pit crew at a NASCAR race, says
Gemma McLuckie in Ohio State
Universitys Inspire magazine. When
former pit crew member Ryan Patton
looks at a six-man NASCAR crew, he
sees a set of athletic body types: A tirechanger is lean like a defensive back, tirecarriers are more like running backs and
safety linebackers, a chassis-changer
jackman is more a defensive-end-type
guy.
Previously, drivers with the best cars
won, and teams with the most sponsors
had the best equipment..., Patton says.
But once NASCAR leveled the playing
field, today the human element is critical,
since for every one-and-a-half second
delay in the pit, cars still on the track gain
a 150-yard lead. The goal for the crew:
refuel, retire, repair and readjust in under
12 seconds.
As a tire carrier for six-time NASCAR
Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, the
62, 205-pound Patton hefts 30-80
pound, handmade Goodyear Eagles over
the wall in a down-to-the-second routine
to replace the worn ones. To stay in
shape for the 36 Spring Cup events, the pit
crew works out with trainers almost year
round, doing strength conditioning four
times a week. The crew also practices
under conditions simulating the
idiosyncrasies of the next track, for
example, whether its rough or smooth.
Cars go faster on new tires, Patton
explains, so pit stops can make or break a
race, since even having to change only
two tires instead of all four saves about six
seconds.
As Patton concludes: In NASCAR, only
one car out of 43 gets the checkered flag.
You have to have a perfect storm to win.
September 2015

22

Q. Youve read palindromes such as

do geese see god, step not on pets,
pull up if i pull up, madam im
adam, a santa lived as a devil at
nasa. These sentences read the same
in both directions. Now whats unusual
about the following: Sator arepo tenet
opera rotas?

of tiny bubbles that then burst. As they

burst, the bubbles then release chemicals
from the soil a kind of aromatic fizz.

A. Its a Latin palindromic sentence

from the 2nd century CE which
commonly translates to Arepo the sower
(farmer) holds the wheels with effort. It
gave rise to the so-called Templar magic
square after the Order of the
Templars with the letters placed in a
five-by-five square arrangement.
Amazingly, you can read the sentence in
all directions back and forth and up
and down!

Q. How did a demonstration on the

moon, of all places, confirm a scientific
theory posed over four centuries ago?

S A T O
A R E P
T E N E
O P E R
R O T A

R
O
T
A
S

This magic square is very old its

been found in excavations of the Roman
city of Pompeii, which had been buried in
the ashes of Vesuvius. In medieval times,
people attributed magic properties to it
and used it as a spell to protect against
witchcraft. In 1937, five examples were
discovered in Mesopotamia, and others in
Britain, Egypt, Cappadocia and Hungary.
Q. Why does rain falling after a dry
spell offer up such an earthy aroma,
almost like a perfume? Scientists seem
to have just sniffed this one out.
A. The earthy smell, called petrichor,
seems to spring from chemicals in the soil,
but the actual mechanism remained a
mystery, says Andrew Grant in Science
News magazine. Now a new study by
MIT mechanical engineers Cullen Buie
and Youngsoo Joung, using high-speed
cameras on water droplets, suggests that
each droplet on contact releases a cascade

It all lives up to its name petrichor,

from the Greek petros for stone and
ichor for flowing like blood in the
veins of the gods.

A. In 1589, it is said, Galileo Galilei

simultaneously released both a heavy ball
and a light one from atop the Leaning
Tower of Pisa and air resistance being
negligible compared to the balls weights
they landed on the ground below at the
same time. Thus, the famed Italian
astronomer demonstrated the equivalence
principle at the heart of general relativity,
stating that bodies fall at the same rate
through a gravitational field regardless of
their mass or structure, says Adam
Hadhazy in Discover magazine. This
principle also holds that the same results
should obtain regardless of where and
when in the universe the experiments take
place.
Fast forward to the moon in 1971
when Apollo 15 astronaut Dave Scott let
a hammer and a feather fall at the same
time and with no air present to flutter the
feather, the objects struck the lunar
surface simultaneously. Before returning
home, Apollo astronauts left behind
fancy mirrors capable of bouncing lasers
off the moon to measure its position
relative to Earth precise to fourhundredths of an inch! These readings
have offered a rigorous test of the falling
equivalently concept, as well as its
related notion that natures laws must
apply equally everywhere. To date,
decades of data from these lunar laser
ranging experiments have agreed with
general relativity down to trillionths of a
percent.

Q. When can baseball be a real drag?

A. Make that aerodynamic drag in the sense of air friction
slowing the ball as it moves through the Earths atmosphere, says
Aaron Santos in Ballparking: Practical Math for Impractical
Sports Questions. When we hear about a top pitching prospect
lighting up the radar gun, we should all wonder where the
measurement was taken. Because of air friction, the speed of

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the pitch drops during the 0.4 second or so the ball is in flight. A
measurement taken when the ball leaves the pitchers hand will
give a faster reading than one taken when the same ball crosses
the plate.
According to baseball stats, the 2010 record-breaking fastball
of Aroldis Chapman was measured at 105 mph, but with air drag,
the ball must have been moving much faster when it left the
pitchers hand. Taking into account the density of the air, plus the
mass and cross-sectional area of the ball, a pitch starting out at
105 mph arrives at the plate traveling only 92 mph. A more
common 95-mph fastball drops to 84.5 mph. The results are
even more startling if you assume Aroldis Chapmans pitch
arrived at the plate traveling 105 mph. This means that it would
need to have left his hand traveling 140 mph!
Q. You probably like the aroma of fresh-cut grass on a
summer day. How do you think the grass likes it?
A. Grass naturally emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
that increase significantly when cut, reports American Scientist
magazine. Also known as green leaf volatiles, they are mostly
a mix of aldehyde and alcohol. The main VOC giving cut grass
its smell is (Z)-3-hexenal, readily picked up by the human nose
and detected as low as 0.25 parts per billion.
Why are these compounds formed? Perhaps, scientists
suggest, their release induces defense responses in other
neighboring plants. Also, they may stimulate formation of new
cells at the site of the wound, while some act as antibiotics,
preventing infection. Whats not to like?

Crossword

Across
1 60 Minutes symbol
10 Private Practice
star Kate
15 Whatever!
16 Its southeasternmost county is Bear
Lake
17 For the time being
18 Centrifuge component
19 Effectiveness
20 Positive
22 Purpose
24 Castle and others
25 Live Well retail
chain
28 Steering system
parts
32 Special treatment
33 Parent
35 Smooth coat
36 Current: Pref.
37 When Tony sings
Maria
38 Muppet rat named
for a movie character
39 With 2-Down,
twice-monthly phenomenon
40 It investigates RR
accidents
41 __ Era: old name
for Earths pre-life period

42 Goalies goal
43 Who __ Nation:
New Orleans Saints fans
44 Eye
46 French possessive
47 It became the TV
Guide Channel in 1999
49 Big mouth
51 Mythological
boundary
55 Like some French
vowels
59 Sluggish
60 Underlying layers
62 Where
Rudolf of Ruritania was
imprisoned
63 Get
around bigtime
64 Lake Placids county
65 Large, to
some Southwesterners

6 Whiz
7 Johnnys partner in
the 2014 Olympic figure skating telecasts
8 Nursery item
9 Circulation prefix
10 Circuit creators
11 Napping
12 Thermodynamics
topic
13 Liberty
14 Charts featuring

houses
21 Picture taker
23 Moves periodically
25 Winners reward
26 Peach mutations
27 Moonshadow
singer
29 Broadway role for
Julie
30 Cutting device
31 Former White Sox

manager Guilln
34 Needle
36 ER workers
44 Unpopular Vietnam War-financing
vehicle
45 Nice relatives
48 Mesa __ National
Park
50 Partner of all?
52 USAF E-6
53 Festive time
54 Wii alternative
56 Indian wrap
57 All-inclusive
58 Behind
61 Entrepreneur-aiding org.

Down
1 Blind piece
2 See
39-Across
3 Dust Bowl
victim
4 Gram leadin
5 Hip
September 2015

23

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701 N. 19th Ave
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