Donna Miller

On August 20, the Hill County Attorney's Office released an announcement that they were seeking nominations for the 4th Annual Domestic Violence Recognition Award. These steps are in preparation for October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Hill County Attorney's Office wishes to bring awareness to this critical issue. One of those awareness efforts is through the 2026 Domestic Violence Recognition Award. Nominations are being accepted now through October 9.

Montana Actors' Theatre (MAT) is seeking actors and actresses to fill their fall performance needs. With that purpose in mind, MAT will be holding auditions in the coming weeks for productions scheduled in November and December.

Members of the Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation invite Hi-Line residents, craft beer enthusiasts, and history buffs to join them on September 12 for Sweet Park Brewfest 2026. With this year's Brewfest, in addition to their fundraising work for pool and park renovations, the Foundation will also celebrate Ensign Sweet Memorial Park's 100th anniversary of hosting community traditions. The party starts at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Park's location, 800 New York Street in Chinook.

The fifth-seventh graders at Zurich Elementary School have a new teacher this year. In her 29th year as an educator, Amy Spence spent the last two years at Meadowlark Elementary School in Chinook assisting students in music, art, and guidance. She is currently making progress on a provisional teaching license as she works towards gaining her K-8 teaching credentials.

Area residents are invited to mark their calendars for October 3. That's the date scheduled for the United Way's 11th Annual Crab Boil. This signature fundraiser for the United Way of Hill County enables the organization to fulfill its mission. They are also seeking volunteers to help with a variety of tasks before, during, and after the event.

rd at work making wishes come true for teachers and students in the Chinook school system. From fundraising for such projects as fulfilling Amazon and Walmart wish lists to profiling past and present staff members, the Foundation has seen abundant activity.

Inspired by a similar project in Carbon County, a group of Blaine County residents are looking for volunteers willing to support their cross building project. The group wishes to construct 240 white memorial crosses to mark all veterans' graves at Harlem Cemetery. Anyone interested is invited to gather on September 16 at Harlem City Hall at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the project and to assist in developing a plan.

Once the Chinook Lions' Swim Team ceases competition and as the summer season melts away, the Chinook City Pool rests briefly, absent of water splashing and children laughing. Although the pool closed to the public for the season on August 14, it has begun to see visitors in the last weeks of August. Area students are accessing the facility to learn beneath the open sky.

After having to cancel in August due to miscommunication with a Humanities Montana staff member, the Blaine County Library has been able to reschedule the Montana Constitutional Roadshow. The new date coincides with the Sugarbeet Festival on Saturday, September 26, and will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the Blaine County Library Meeting Room. Refreshments will be served.

Although the Havre Trails Summerfest was slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, the crowds hadn't yet gathered by that time. Instead, a couple of crows strutted in anticipation of leftovers, vendors went through the motions of finalizing their set-up, and yellow and black CAUTION tape billowed as it cordoned off the area of Pepin Park that would soon be bustling with people, laughter, and conversation. Unfortunately, a passing rain shower at 6:00 that evening precipitated a premature ending to an otherwise "great, family-friendly atmosphere."