Tidbits and Tales, Part 3 From the Sweetgrass County Pioneer October 2, 1930 - February 26, 1931 From the Big Timber Pioneer, October 2, 1930: The Duck Creek club held an enjoyable session at the Sven Ollestad home on Friday evening. At the Lions club meeting held last Tuesday C.A. Caulkins, who is a charter member of the club and now about to leave for California, was presented with a beautiful Sheaffer fountain pen as a token of esteem and for the many services rendered the club. J.A. Lowry made the presentation speech. G.A. Berges and Fred Coit have reached the championship match in the local golf tourney. Owen and Clarence Loftsgarden, who were employed in Yellowstone park during the summer, left the first of the week by auto, for California. They will enter the employ of a hotel man who met them in the park. Agent Nordstrom of the Northern Pacific is arranging to build a four-room home on the west side, near the Mjelde residence. Mrs. Henry Ellingson, Sr., who had traveled by every route - boat, covered wagon, railway train, street car, etc. - had the pleasure Sunday of making her first trip in an airplane with the West-Over-Air Transport Co. She is now past 80 years of age. A farewell party was given at the Webber ranch home on the Boulder Tuesday for Mrs. Carrie Reid who is leaving soon for her home in New Jersey after a summer at the Tolhurst ranch. Twenty-one guests were there to enjoy a delicious dinner. Mrs. Webber and Mrs. Carl Ewan were hostesses. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, October 9, 1930: C.A. Caulkins and family left Saturday for Berkeley, Calif., in a new Studebaker sedan. Dr. L.H. Lintz, alderman from the second ward, was tendered a birthday surprise party by members of the city council and friends. Marie Hauge was pleasantly surprised last evening when friends gathered at the Ebert ranch to bid her farewell. Miss Hauge has been employed at the Ebert ranch this summer and will leave Sunday for her home in Big Timber. James Adams of Grey Cliff was in the city yesterday, carrying a broken left arm as a result of a back firing while he was cranking a Ford. Clarence Loftsgaarden, who with his brother Owen started last week for California, is back home and again with the Paulson Grocery. When they reached Missoula Owen decided to enter the state university a second year, so the California trip was abandoned. Fred Coit won the championship of the local golf club by defeating G.A. Berges in the final match two up. The Steppers club gave its first dance of the coming winter season at Masonic hall Monday evening. Reed Point Notes: Pete Peterson, who has been a resident of the East White Beaver community for almost twenty years, loaded his farm implements and household goods in a car Tuesday and shipped them to Ellensburg, Wash., while he and his family drove. They will try that location for farming success. Mrs. Jack McLean purchased some fine White Rock pullets of Mrs. Carl Eder last week. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, October 16, 1930: P.J. Deegan, Dr. L.H. Lintz, G.H. Howard, A.L. Phillips, J. Earl Miller and Stanley Lavold left the first of the week for a big game hunting trip in the Crazy mountains. The C.F. Ullman home was the scene of a merry party Monday when Mrs. J.H. Tower and Mrs. Mervin Sell assisted Mrs. Ullman in entertaining twelve couples at dinner, with bridge following. The Lions club will hold ladies' night for its members and guests Tuesday night at Hunters Hot Springs. Born at the Big Timber hospital, Oct. 15, to Mr. and Mrs. Donald McKenzie, a girl; to Mr. and Mrs. Oscar McLane of Big Timber, Oct. 15, a girl. Marie Hauge, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hauge, and Ole M. Ueland were married yesterday afternoon by Rev. A.A. Holbeck, witnesses being Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Johnson. Later a delicious dinner was served at the Johnson ranch. They will make their home at the ranch on Big Timber creek. A letter from John S. Forster, Jr. to his father, John S. Forster of Grey Cliff, reports that he arrived O.K. at Valkenburg, Holland, where he will enter a Jesuit college, after traveling 10,000 miles from Los Angeles. He first visited the greatest of cities, Rome, and had an audience with Pope Pius II. Miss Ellen Rein, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Rein of Melville, has had the honor of being accepted into the St. Olaf choir at Northfield, Minn. Miss Rein is a Junior at St. Olaf this year and would no doubt have accompanied the choir to Europe had she been a student there last year. Other students from Big Timber attending St. Olaf college are the Misses Hilda Rein, Lillian Grosfield and Emma Stubkjare. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, October 23, 1930: Louis Leffler caught a Rainbow trout weighing 9 pounds and 12 ounces from the Yellowstone bridge, at the foot of the Bray hill, yesterday. Word has been received here of the marriage at Portland, Ore., of Ruth Crum and L.R. Bailey. They will make their home in Oakland, Calif. The bride is a daughter of C.E. Crum of Melville. Floyd A. Bailey, Ed Franklin, Ted C. Busha and Ceryl O'Leary have the best record so far this season in this locality, for wild game hunting. Spending last week in the Buffalo Fork country, in plenty of deep snow, they got four elk and three deer, or one elk each. A.H. Arneson, president of the Citizens Bank and Trust Co., is here from his new home in Tacoma, Wash., for a business visit of one or two weeks. Dolly Voges left Thursday of last week for Oso, Minn., being met at Grand Forks, N.D., by her grandparents. Dr. and Mrs. H.C. Roquet, Eugene F. Mjelde, A. Ronald and Charle McDonnell, Luke West, John Carney and Frederick Coit were at Butte Saturday to see the prize football contest between the Grizzlies and Bobcats. Reed Point Notes: A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Oscar McLane last Wednesday night at the Big Timber hospital. Frank Harlan returned Saturday from Great Falls, where he attended the grand assembly of the IOOF as a delegate. A surprise party was tendered Mrs. H.J. Oliphant, teacher at the Kent school, Friday afternoon. Games were played and lunch served. Fifteen ladies were present. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, October 30, 1930: Mrs. W.G. Liebel was given a pleasant birthday surprise last Sunday by 75 relatives and friends. A set of handsome dishes was given as a token of high esteem. Betty Hruza entertained with a Hallowe'en party Saturday evening celebrating the birthday anniversary of Frances Chase. Raymond Lyon, playing his last year of football at the state university in Missoula, will captain the Grizzly team in their contest against the California Bears at Berkley, Calif., next Saturday. Ora Rostad, son of George Rostad, has a turnip hard to beat anywhere, which he exhibited Monday at the Pioneer office. It weighs 8 1/2 pounds, and he raised it all by himself. Mr. and Mrs. Ole Ueland, newlyweds, were given a pleasant surprise party at the Jacob Johnson ranch home on Swamp creek, Saturday evening. A large crowd passed a very delightful evening, lunch being served at midnight. The newlyweds were presented with a handsome silver set. Reed Point News: Pleun Roobol left Tuesday with a shipment of his own cattle for Chicago. Lois Findley spent the weekend with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Findley. Lois is attending school in Billings. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew McDonald autoed down from Big Timber Thursday morning. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, November 6, 1930: D.H. McKenzie returned Saturday from his trip to Milwaukee where he attended the general conference of the Evangelical church. S.P. Harvey left Tuesday by way of Salt Lake City, for Houston, Texas to spend the winter with a son of that place. He will also visit a sister at Englewood, Calif., before going to Texas. Jake O. Berg, an old timer of the Lennep country, spent the weekend with friends in this city, also paying a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Ole Birkeland at their ranch at Grey Cliff. He returned recently from a visit to his old home in Norway, and states that conditions are worse than he expected. Sunday morning at Conrad, the marriage of Miss Esther Lillian Hefty, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.N. Hefty of Wolcott, N.D., and Alvia T. Mehus of this city took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Casperson. Mrs. Casperson is a sister of the bride. The young couple arrived in Big Timber Sunday evening and will be at home Nov. 10 in the M.E. Dixon residence. Mr. Mehus came to Big Timber a few months ago to accept a position with the Sawyer store. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Dick Plaggemeyer, Nov. 6, at the Big Timber hospital, a son. Under Sheriff Whitsel, who attended the dance at Gibson Saturday night, states they had a good crowd, good music and good time. Miss Ethel Manis returned Sunday from Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spent a delightful summer and fall at the home of her sister, Mrs. R.A. Findley. Mrs. Ole Birkeland has received word of the death of her mother, Fru Olina Hoyem, at Trondheim, Norway, at the ripe age of 91 years, 10 months. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, November 13, 1930: Lonnie H. Bryan, deputy postmaster, and Zeke Buster are wild game hunting this week in the Crazy mountains. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Lowe of Big Timber, Nov. 9, a son; to Mr. and Mrs. Julian Helvik, Nov. 13, a son. Harry Hart is leading by two strokes at the completion of the first 18 holes of the local handicap tournament. He is followed by Ernest Patterson, Jack Watt and J.B. Hinds. E.O. Birkeland of Grey Cliff has returned from Chicago, where he accompanied a shipment of stock. This was his thirteenth trip to that city with stock and as a consequence he has gained a pretty intimate acquaintance with the stockyards at that place. Barney Deeney of Reed Point is now pumpman at Grey Cliff, having succeeded William Gregory, veteran employee of the Northern Pacific who had a half century of honorable service to his credit when he retired. The Sol J. Craft ranch home on the East Boulder was destroyed by fire early Friday morning. Nothing was saved, even in the way of clothing. Property of the Belle Mining Co., operated in the Crazy mountains for several years by A.G. Badger, now of California, was sold at sheriff's sale Saturday to satisfy a court judgment obtained by Walter Pinney, an employee, for $350. Reed Point Notes: Lee Miller, Floyd Farr, Bernard Deeney and B.O. Torgrimson returned Monday from a hunting trip up Deer Creek. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, November 20, 1930: Melville lost practically its business section Saturday when the two store buildings of the Melville Commerical Co. and the residence and barn of Charles Heisler burned. The fire broke out about 8 a.m. and the fire is supposed to have started in the old store. All residents turned out to fight the fire. As a result of the king and queen contest at the carnival at the high school, Betty Hruza was elected queen and Sayre Nevin, king. Both are members of the junior class. Martin Crest will leave tomorrow for San Bernardino, Calif., where he will spend the winter with a brother, Albert Crest. State University dispatch: Dick Fox of Billings was elected chief grizzly of the Bear Paws, men's honorary organization at the university. Lloyd Andrews of Big Timber was chosen left paw. Bear Paw is a service organization on the campus. At a regular meeting of the city council Monday evening, George Kearney and R.H. Wiedman, representing the Montasota and Shoshone oil companies, were heard regarding the granting of a franchise for the prospective oil well near Tin Can hill. Mrs. Harry Wordal is home from a visit with her parents at Wibaux. Rube Walberg, stalwart pitcher of the winning Philadelphia Athletics, as all pitchers are, was here Wednesday of last week on a bear hunting trip to the Boulder Mountains. His headquarters were on the Boulder at the home of Harry Kaufman, forest ranger, who also acted as guide. The hunt was successful, Walberg securing the bear. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, November 27, 1930: Mrs. Floyd West is building a modern bungalow, four rooms with dinette, on her vacant lot adjoining the Kauffman studio. Floyd Rowland, who is working at a mining claim one mile below old Independence on the upper Boulder, spent the first of the week with old friends in this city and told an interesting story of an encounter with a brown bear in September, which he finally killed but not until his own life had been endangered. When he first ran onto it he shot it through the hips, but it got away. A week later, while he was walking along a patch of brush, the bear saw him first. Mr. Rowland fired with the gun on his arm, but the bear knocked him down and fell on him. he then got the gun in a better position and fired a shot into the bear's ribs and it rolled off dead. The bear weighed 600 pounds. Steel for the two new bridges on the Boulder, near the B.A. Fleming ranch and Pinochle Inn, arrived Saturday from Minneapolis. It is now being transported to those points by Ray Traver. The only question is how he bends it to get around the sharp turns near old Kaintuck. Walter Kennedy, Lavern Duncan, Claude T. Williams and J.J. Lacklen, who left the first of the week for elk fields near Gardiner, returned yesterday minus elk. About 200 were near the border but weather was too warm to cause them to cross over for feed. Joseph Black of Grey Cliff won the Aladdin mantle lamp given away at Miller's. A peculiar case was tried in the justice court of T.K. Baker last Monday. Jacob Johnson sued Axel Arvidson for $150 damages in a collision between their autos at the corner below L.F. Douthett Co., a few weeks ago. The case went to the jury and a verdict was returned for plaintiff for $100. Justice Baker read the verdict aloud and the jury responded that was not the way they wanted it, they wanted Arvidson to have judgment for that amount. They were sent back to the jury room and returned shortly with a verdict as they wanted it. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, December 4, 1930: Auction sale of the jewelry stock of Bailey & Lamb started yesterday afternoon and drew well from the start. The place was crowded both morning and afternoon. It is expected that everything will have to be hammered off by closing time Saturday night. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bakken were pleasantly surprised Sunday, Nov. 23, at Howie by neighbors and friends, the occasion being their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. More than one-hundred people were in attendance. A table was set and a sumptuous turkey dinner was served. They were presented with a purse of silver. Rev. A.A. Holbeck made the presentation speech. At the regular meeting of the board of county commissioners this week, Dr. D. Claiborn, George O. Rostad and Ralph S. Jarrett were reappointed trustees of the Sweet Grass county high school. J.P. Wilson, a properous rancher of the West Boulder, and Mary Frelich of Elton, Park county were married in Billings last Wednesday. Upon their return to Elton they were given a royal welcome by neighbors. This was followed by a dance at McLeod Saturday night. They will make their home on the groom's ranch on the West Boulder. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Hakes of Big Timber, Nov. 27, a daughter. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, December 11, 1930: Dr. H.C. Roquet is home from Chicago, where he attended the big grain and stock show. From there he took a run down to his old home in Indiana. H.M. Louis, one of the prominent promoters of the Tin Can hill oil and gas proposition, has purchased 56 lots from Sweet Grass county, situated on the flat below the Ullman Lumber yard, and sold for delinquent taxes, for $303. Emmett Deegan, who recently sold his mail route to McLeod, and family will leave next week for Spokane to try a lower altitude for the winter. His home on the west side will be occupied by Raymond Lovelace of the Motor Inn. Andrew Johnson has reopened the Melville Commercial Co. store, recently destroyed by fire, in the old church building erected many years ago for Rev. Henry C. Canderbeek of New York, who came there as a Presbyterian minister to expound the doctrine. The stock is small, so is the church, but large enough for present needs. Reed Point Notes: George Harlan departed Wednesday morning for Billings to enter the Navy. Curtis Adams left Sunday evening for Helena. He has been elected to a positioon with the state bank examining board. Thursday evening a number of neighbors tendered Henry Ray a pleasant surprise by dropping in to play cards and to remind him that he was having a birthday. A lovely lunch, brought along, was served. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, December 18, 1930: Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Erick Mattson of Grey Cliff, Dec. 15, a daughter. E.H. Ellingson, Homer Wheeler, Raymond Lovelace and O.J. Ellingson were in Billings yesterday to attend the annual meeting of the state Willys-Knight dealers. Efforts are being made to organize a Boy Scout troop in Big Timber. Upon repeated requests of the boys and some parents, a sponsoring group was invited to back the movement. The group consists of B.F. Henry, R.A. Bray, E.A. Bieber, D.H. McKenzie and Rev. A. Roukema. The annual election of officers and banquet of Sweet Grass post no. 19, American Legion, was held at the Masonic Hall Friday evening. Officers chosen were: E.O. Busch, commander; Dick Armstrong, adjutant; H.B. Tetlie, vice commander; Maj. G.H. Goosey, finance officer; Carl E. Busse, historian; and Julius J. Gustad, chaplain. Doric lodge elected officers for the ensuing year, at a regular meeting Tuesday evening, as follows: W.A. Conwell, W.M.; Lloyd Severance, S.W.; Clyde Davis, J.W.; E.R. Patterson, secretary; W.K. Amery, treasurer; and Con Smart, junior steward. Reed Point Notes: Chester Fraser and Mack Morris went up into the Gardiner country to hunt elk Tuesday. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, December 25, 1930: The Boy Scouts met for their regular session last Wednesday evening in the basement of the EUB church. After some Scout drills a meeting was held and Lloyd Stubkjare was secretary and Gilman Aller, treasurer. It was voted that the Scouts pay dues of 10 cents per month. Mr. and Mrs. S.W. Fanning and Ed Boddy were among the Gibson residents who did their shopping in this city Saturday. Announcements are out for the marriage at St. Peter's Cathedral in Helena, Dec. 3, of Marion Agnes Hart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hart of Springdale, and Mr. Elmer Haines. The bride was born at Melville, this county, is a graduate of Sweet Grass county high school and of the State university at Missoula. Reed Point Notes: Chester Fraser returned from a hunting trip Saturday night, bringing a deer with him. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, January 1, 1931: Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Guy G. Officer, Dec. 28, a son. Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Rapstad were honored Sunday by the presence of about 100 guests who gathered to celebrate the silver wedding anniversary of this well known couple. Guests brought baskets for a splendid dinner, and a substantial remembrance was presented the happy couple by Rev. A.A. Holbeck, master of ceremonies. Official changes in county offices will come Monday of next week, January 5. At that time A.A. Lamp will be sworn in as a new member of the board of commissioners. C.A. Bishop will assume the duties of the assessor's office, and Mrs. Signa Bailey will succeed to the office of county treasurer to hold until March 4, when F.R. Hickman will start a term of two years. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, January 8, 1931: Ed Gunderson of the local fish hatchery has been transferred to the state fish hatchery at Emigrant, Park county. The annual report of J.A. Lowry, registrar of births and deaths in Sweet Grass county, shows 72 births and 40 deaths for the year 1930. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, January 15, 1931: Ralph S. Jarrett, Sweet Grass county representative in the lower house of the Montana Legislature, has been named vice- chairman of the waterways and navigation committee. Floyd Rowland came down the first of the week from Hicks Park, almost at the head of the Main Boulder, where he has been trapping during the winter. He reports about 18 inches of snow in that locality, far below average at this time of year. Harold Eklund, an experienced operator-printer, arrived Friday of last week from Red Wing, Minn. to accept a position at the Pioneer. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Homer Wheeler of this city, Janury 10, a son. A rough and tumble at the skating rink Saturday night between a Satre boy and a Scyphers boy, brought the two into police court Monday morning. They were given six weeks to make weekly reports to the sheriff's office of their conduct, one to report Saturday mornings and the other on Mondays. Chairman T.T. Olson of the board of commissioners, County Treasurer Signa Bailey and Assessor C.A. Bishop met Monday to draw the names of those eligible for jury service this year. A total of 815 were found eligible. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, January 22, 1931: Mr. and Mrs. Bert E. Green and son were visitors in the county capital Saturday from Melville. They report a snowfall of about eight inches at that point. Dr. L.W. Baskett's license tag for this year carries a well known number - 1492. Any person who can remember when Columbus discovered America should know the doctor's sedan if they see it in the ditch. Contrary to general expectation, the auction sale of James Adams, held at his dry land ranch in Dead Man's canyon Tuesday, was a rattling good bargain. Cows went as high as $70 and all farm machinery brought good prices. Articles did not go as high as they would have gone two years ago, but the prices realized showed that there are buyers with money left. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Weamer of Gibson, January 18, a son. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, January 29, 1931: Harvey Cort has placed a handsome Neon sign in front of the Cort hotel, one of the latest and most attractive designs. According to T.S. Lavold, one of the early settlers of the Melville country who was in this city yesterday, said this spring is to be a repetition of 1888. On February 10 of the year he and P.O. Fallang, deceased, were running sheep. Hills were covered with green grass, and in March there came a squall and much of it was wrecked. He also states there is no snow in the Crazy mountains to speak of. Ten cars of lambs are being shipped from this point today by Ted Swainson of Livingston, Elmer M. Arneson and C.R. McKenzie. The Arneson band bought seven cents per pound. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Christ Boe of Springdale, January 22, a son; to Mr. and Mrs. John G. Johnson of Melville, January 23, a son. Spring must be coming, Mr. Sanders was seen carrying water to his plants. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, February 5, 1931: That spring is here, not near here, is shown by reports coming in from the country. Last week Sheriff Ed Brannin found a fully developed grasshopper on the divide between Sweet Grass and Fish Creeks. The latter part of the week Mr. and Mrs. Frank Webber, driving to their ranch home above McLeod, found a live snake in the road near the Brownlee ranch. Monday Mr. and Mrs. Walter C. Dutton, driving down from the Boulder, saw a blue racer snake near the first bridge. They also report two or three robins and a crow having been seen near their ranch. Word reached Big Timber last week that the buildings on the old Peterson ranch, at one time constituting the town of Hurst, were burned. The place is located about ten miles north of Melville. George O. Campbell circulated a protest against a raise in fishing licenses, Saturday, among the businessmen. It was liberally signed and then forwarded to Senator D.V. Higbie and Representative Ralph S. Jarrett. The principal item of protest against the raise is that in times of depression it is poor policy to increase the burden. The American Legion dance at Masonic Hall Saturday night drew a good crowd, music was good, also lunch, and everybody had a good time. Four prizes were given as follows: Best lady and gentleman waltzers, Miss Signy Wullum and Bud Deeney; most appropriately dressed lady, Miss Marie Rock; best hard times character, Ted C. Busha. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, February 12, 1931: Born, to Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Gamble, February 1, a daughter; to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Scholten of Big Timber, February 9, a son. Leslie Webb, proprietor of the Big Timber cafe, is the second Big Timber merchant to install a Neon sign in front of his place of business. Like others, it shows yellow in the day time and a beautiful red at night. Carl H. Hausserman and T.B. Clark of the Stockdale district were in the city yesterday. There was a snowfall of about one and a half inches in tht country Tuesday night, also other light snowfalls, but not enough to do much good. They state it is either a wet summer or a bad drouth. Andrew Sleveland has moved his soft drink parlor from the old Club saloon building back to his former location, adjoining the Cort hotel. According to the home demonstration agent, Orpha Brown, a great deal has been accomplished since June 20 in this county in extension work. The 4-H Clothing clubs were organized with 39 members. Twenty-seven of 31 girls in four clubs completed the project, and the other club is still carrying the project. One hundred thirty-five articles were made, valued at $66. Two 4-H Baby Beef clubs were started in November with an enrollment of 15 boys and girls. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, February 19, 1931: Born, Friday, February 13, to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Braughton of this city, a daughter; February 18, to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Egerman, a son. Jack F. Leftwich, who was with the Big Timber cafe three years ago, returned the first of the week to take the job of head chef at the Roquet cafe. He has been on the west coast, has worked in some of the best hotels and cafes and has excellent recommendations from the best of them. Evidently Sweet Grass county is out of the snow belt this year. A heavy storm west of here Sunday night deposited only three inches at the Ward & Parker sawmill in the Crazy mountains. Above McLeod, on the Boulder, according to Primus A. Bruffey, there was a fall of about four inches. The only redeeming feature was that it was a real blizzard while it lasted. For failure to appear in overalls at the hard times dance of the Steppers club, the following have been penalized to the extent of providing a good meal for all members: Dr. L.H. Townsend, Guy F. Skillman, J.N. Blankenbaker, C.E. Smart, Homer Wheeler, Harold Boe, E.L. Frang, W.D. McKenzie, Dorman Kellogg, P.J. Deegan, Yule Rees, F.M. Ferris and A.L. Phillips. Dr. D. Claiborn, mentioned in the last issue of the Pioneer as chairman of the seed loans board for this country, will be assisted by County Clerk W.A. Conwell and Harold Hawks, who were named during the past week. The appointments were made by the government. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, February 26, 1931: Mr. Jorgen Ness, a lay preacher from Norway, will speak at the Lutheran church this coming Sunday night. Those who understand the language are cordially invited. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Preston Sanders of Grey Cliff, February 25, a son. Three small boys with matches are said to have been the bad combination which fired the garage of Creston L. Crest at his residence on McLeod street yesterday afternoon. The building was considerably damaged before the fire was discovered by grownups and extinguished by the fire department. Fortunately the family car was not in the garage at the time. John Norman, who is in today from his Sweet Grass ranch and who knows what he says, states this is the mildest winter in 45 years in this section. At a meeting of the Sweet Grass County Woolgrowers association in this city Monday, the following officers were elected: Ralph S. Jarrett, president. D.D. Johnson of Melville, vice president; L.L. Buchanan, secretary; Sigurd Lavold, Ole Birkeland, Hans Tjaaland and W.D. McKenzie, advisory board. A contract was entered into with Sawyers for wool sacks, probably 1,800, the sacks to cost 44 1/2 cents each, and twine 15 1/2 per pound. Club women of the county enjoyed an all day session on Saturday when the County Federation met in the high school assembly room for business routine in the forenoon, went to Big Timber cafe for lunch, and returned to the first named place for the afternoon program. Mrs. L.J. Webb, the only Gold Star mother to take the government trip to France, gave a detailed and most interesting account of her visit there.