Scobey, MT

The top three responses to improve the quality of life in Scobey and Daniels county were livable wage jobs 68%, improved economy and health care are 44 & 42% of the 105 respondents checking these items out of 8 possibilities. 38% are willing or very willing to volunteer to help with a Horizons project. That’s pretty remarkable as only 10% of those completing this survey that was published in the Daniels County Leader, the weekly newspaper, had been involved in study Circles. Of the topics listed, top issues for Scobey were 1. youth, health and education 2. economic development almost tied followed by community enhancement and housing. From January 3, 2008 to March 13, 2008 the local weekly newspaper published the results of the Horizons survey on 11- part series. It communicated to local and regional readers, what the responses to the survey thought about the past, present and future of Daniels County and how those responses felt about poverty and solutions to address it could be handled in the community.

Scobey posted the survey in its entirety in the Daniels County Leader for people to complete last December. The newspaper sports editor was disappointed that more people attended a non conference basketball game than took the few minutes to complete the survey and send it in or drop it off. The good news is, it got Mike Stebelson, the editor involved in Horizons. He has brought some items to the focus of the community via editorials or front page coverage…all for the hope of growing this small town in Northeastern MT that he loves. Now that Bobbie Roos, MSU Extension Agent is transferring to Hamilton, Mike is taking over chairing the steering committee that meets once a month on a Sunday afternoon. So 105 people or 10% responded to the survey and Mike got involved cuz he thought that’s not good enough. Addressing poverty is the key to positive growth. The diverse cross-section of people on the steering committee are making a difference and spurring action.

Pioneer Days/Dirty Shame Show Dedicated to the 1963 Chorus Line - is the byline for the cover of the Daniels County Leader this week! The Dirty Shame Belles are celebrating their 45th Birthday in 2008! It is the 42nd annual Pioneer Days and Antique Show (June 28-29) and the Dirty Shame Show (June 27-29) are both dedicated this year to a special group of 13 ladies - the original Dirty Shame Belles chorus line!

The weekend gets underway Friday, June 27th, at 7pm when the first Dirty Shame Show performs, featuring the Dirty Shame Belles dancing and kicking to the music of the Dixieland Jazz Band, which always begins playing 30 minutes prior to showtime! Rick Graetz, famed Montana publisher, labeled Pioneer Town “the best museum of its kind in the Northwest”. View the outstanding outdoor museum with 35 preserved buildings (51 in all) on 20 acres portraying early 20th centruy homestead life.

The Horizons program, partnering with the Daniels County Museum Board, Nemont, Scobey Lions, Scobey Schools, Daniels County 4H/Fairgrounds, Daniels County NRCS and the City of Scobey, along with a host of individual volunteers and groups have taken pride in preparing for this weekend! The Class of 2008 spent an entire day, working at the museum grounds to get a head start on the preparation for this weekend in particular! The group worked to take down lights from exteriors of buildings, clean inside of buildings, clean up the grounds, miscellaneous repairs and clean-up throughout the Pioneer Town area were completed throughout the day! The group of 15 young men and women believed in the cause of the community effort to the extent that they donated the remaining funds in their class account, $2,000+, to the Daniels County Museum Association.

Local people enjoy being involved in the show, volunteering at the various booths, breakfasts and ticket stands. Pioneer Town is a great place to enjoy history, visit with old and new friends, and experience a variety of good clean fun! Call the museum at 487- 5965 if you are interested in attending a show or have any questions!

Information obtained from the Daniels County Leader, Scobey

Website: (http://www.scobey.org/museum.html)

For the past two years, the Flaxville Local non-profit Development Corporation (LDC), has been working to assist in the completion of a feasibility study for the school building. The Daniels County Horizons program has been extremely supportive in helping to find some financial support and assisting in letters of support. The Horizons program has also provided activities to use as fundraisers for the continuation of congregate meals for the senior citizen community, as well as keeping the building in good shape for the future.

The Daniels County Commissioners have been supporting the congregate meal program for many years in the Flaxville community, in the school lunchroom. The community has held flea markets, card parties, raffles, written grants, as well as a variety of other fundraisers to help fund the overhead of the school building. LDC memberships have also been established to provide access to use the gym and exercise room for their personal or family use, as well as membership to the quilting/embroidery machine room. Along with the quilting/embroidery machine room, there are community members willing to educate others on the machines for safety purposes, for the person, as well as the machines!

Scott Cromwell, Studio 360 Architect, in Helena, originally of Flaxville, is completing the feasibility study. Funding for the grant has been from the Montana Community Development Block Grant source. With the combined efforts of the Flaxville Town Council, Scott Cromwell, the community and the Daniels County Horizons program, the Flaxville LDC will be holding their two year anniversary this year.

The Flaxville LDC invites all members of the community and county to attend an awareness session of the results of the feasibility study in the near future. We look forward to the findings of the study and learning if the building will be best utilized as an independent living facility.

Studio 360 website: (http://www.s360a.com./)

Throughout the trainings of the Horizons program and meetings attended by community members in the past year, Daniels County has revived support from MAP, Midwest Assistance Program, an organization dedicated to helping rural communities and tribal nations improve their environment, quality of life and achieve self-sustainability. MAP Website: (http://www.map-inc.org/states_montana.html). For many years, the Town of Flaxville has received assistance from Paul Torok, who is now working in the Western Montana area. Some Horizon members attended an educational meeting in Wolf Point and Sidney and made connections with Sandy Kust, resource development advisor for MAP, for our area, who will be working in our region.

The City of Scobey and Town of Flaxville, as well as Daniels County will have the opportunity to work with Sandy Kust in the future on projects that involve a variety of areas, such as infrastructure, as well as helping with the mission statement of MAP to help rural areas improve and be self-sustaining. We look forward to the future, working with MAP and having great resources like Sandy and Paul to assist in a variety of projects.

We have also continued using the resources of GNDC, Great Northern Development Corporation and the expertise of Linda Twitchell in Wolf Point. GNDC Website: (http://www.gndc.org/). For many years, Linda has been a great resource in our area for businesses, as well as local agencies. The purpose at Great Northern Development Corporation is to provide professional services that enable others to reach their economic goals and improve their lives! GNDC provides assistance in: Planning, Public facilities, Housing, Economic Development, Loan Packaging, Business Plan Development, as well as guidance in finding out the right person or group to contact.

With these resources on our side, we look forward to making a difference in Daniels County! Visit the websites to find out more about these great resources and feel free to share with the Horizons program your ideas at the next meeting!

Sandy Kust, resource development advisor
Ballantine, Mont.
skust@map-inc.org

Linda Twitchell,
Great Northern Development Corporation
233 Cascade St. - Wolf Point, MT 59201
info@gndc.org

It’s happened at previous meetings but now seems in bedded in the community. The city and other organizations like 911 are coming to the Horizons group to help make things happen. This Sunday it was the city that met with the horizons steering committee at their monthly meeting asking to collaborate for help with the swimming pool. The problem is the cost of running a community pool is around $34,000. Income from users generates $4000 leaving a shortfall of $30,000. It doesn’t take rocket science to see the budget draining. After brainstorming the group thought the public needed to be educated. Scobey built it’s pool 52 years ago after 2 kids drowned in the river. They were trying to solve the poverty issue (poor in spirit) offering a positive place for youth to go. The family rate is now $75/year no matter how many kids. The group suggested raising rates and offering scholarships for those who couldn’t afford it. Also they are starting with an awareness campaign featured on the front page of this week’s Daniels Co. Leader, the weekly paper. (It’s great to have the staff writer, Mike Stebleton, a strong believer that poverty reduction is the key to a thriving community, on the steering committee.) A radioathon is in the pool’s future as Scobey has generated over $700,000 in radioathons for different causes through the years. Other groups such as the food bank and 911 address system have partnered with the Horizons steering committee. They are known for making well thought out decisions with a cross section of the community; for thinking outside the box on what resources are available and making structural changes to better their community.