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.

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

On April 28, fourteen community members attended a workshop designed to help them learn more about Serving on Public Boards in Montana. Paul Lachapelle, MSU Extension Community Development Specialist, was the guest speaker. The workshop was sponsored by Montana Horizons and Scobey Horizons.

Paul takes a somewhat “dry” subject and makes it very informative and useful for community members serving in elected capacity or as appointed volunteers on county boards or city councils. The two hours flew by with lots of questions still wanting to be asked at the end of the workshop. Paul was able to distribute his handbook entitled “Serving on County Boards, Districts, Commissions and Committees in Montana - A Handbook for Members, Local Government Officials and Citizens”free to all participants. This was also made possible by Montana Horizons.

In rural communities, serving on boards, is many times a honor or a burden, depending on how an individual feels about volunteering in a community. However, serving with an understanding of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) is imperative for a board member to be effective and make a change in their community.

The attendees were all members of either a County Board or worked for local government as Mayors or clerks. Paul did an outstanding job and was held as a “Scobey captive” for a hour after the program answering many questions.

This program aided in addressing two of the Action Plans in Scobey’s Vision - Communications and Economic Development. It illustrated how boards making decisions that affect community members can be more effective when board business is conducted properly. It can also facilitate a Board to be more supportive of needs and concerns of a community due to understanding how a board is suppose to function within it’s resolutions and by-laws.

April 15 brought a great opportunity for residents of Daniels County to learn more about estate planning.  Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension Economics Specialist, gave a great presentation and many participants where busy the next day reviewing their estate plans!

During the discussions that evening, one major topic was the survival of the family farm or ranch. Many times in Rural Montana, family farms and ranches are sold due to the unplanned estate of the deceased owners.  It was mentioned this does create a poverty situation due to the need to sale or divide the property in the estate  in order to pay debt or settle an estate. 

Another issue with estate planning is the situation when the heirs are not biological family members. In today’s world of remarriages and late in life marriages, the dynamics of the family estate plan can change over night.  Several good discussions evolved on this subject.

 Planning for the future is important for all ages!  Especially when rural Montana’s Future lies in it’s citizens being as resourceful and informed as possible.

 Marsha’s program was sponsored by Montana Horizons and MSU Extension and Daniels County Horizons and Extension.

Marsha Goetting from MSU will be in Scobey April 15 at 7:00 pm in the Extension Meeting room to present info on Estate Planning.

Juniors and seniors from Scobey High School took a trip down to Glendive to visit the college. They attended different workshops showing interesting and exciting opportunities that all students could learn about, some of these included Selling on Ebay, Wine making, Buy Fresh Buy Local, Rural Tourism. Buy Fresh And Buy Local:This workshop was probably the best workshop I went to yesterday at the Horizons Getaway to Oppurtunity entrepreneur get together. It talked about keeping your business local, and not going crazy at Wal-marts. Also how we could start small time farmers markets in our small towns so that all the businesses would be local.Selling on E-bay:If you want to make a little extra cash you maybe want to consider selling on ebay. Instead of throwing away what you might think is trash, could be someone elses treasure. During this workshop, Bruce Smith, gave the rundown on how to buy and sell on e-bay. He gave many interesting tips and tidbits on what and what not to do.Wine making:For every type of wine there is a different type of grape used. The procces can be very tedious to insure the wine will be perfect. Fermenting the alcohol for wine can create a different essence to it and taste. This also depends on the amount of sugar used and fruit added to the grapes.The trip was a great success influencing the young minds of Scobey High School students. I would recommend that we should take the trip every other year so that new students can learn about different workshops.Bevy Lee and AJ Ekmescic 

The evening of Nov. 29 was a cold one outside, - 15, but a very warm and productive one at the Horizon’s Visioning Event in Scobey.  With a lot of positive energy and discussion, a Vision Statement was composed.  Bruce Smith, Dawson County Extension Agent lead the group in the photo,  giving us direction for a clear Vision for 2020.

Our vision statement is:

Scobey/Daniels County is an intergenerational clean and welcoming community that has progressive, thriving and diversified businesses. Our community has ample, affordable energy-efficient housing for all members of the community.  We have a small town atmosphere that values the education and health and well-being of the whole community through the preservation of our wealth, heritage and culture.

    A great chili supper was served and the Scobey High School Jobs for Montana Grads shared their power point presentations on their current vision of Scobey & Daniels County. At left are Kim, Summer, Bevy and Orchid enjoying an awesome supper!

Stay tuned for the next blog. Lots to share!