INSIDE
REALTORS
Keller Williams.................... 3 Koefod Agency................... 4 Northern Land.................... 6 Property West...................12 Flynn Realty.....................17 Ruff Real Estate LLC........24 Havre Hi-Line Realty........28 Keller Williams..................34
FEATURES Flooding Fixes...............8-11 Top 10 Events............. 14-19 Community Profile: Sue Swan................... 25-27
H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
OFFICE
(406) 265-6795 • 1-800-993-2459
PUBLISHER EDITOR
Stacy Mantle smantle@havredailynews.com
COPY EDITOR
Pam Burke
DESIGN
Stacy Mantle Melanie Gilman Taylor Faulkinberry
ADVERTISING SALES
Jennifer Thompson Hannah Somers
John Kelleher jkelleher@havredailynews.com
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES Mike Hartman mhartman@havredailynews.com
For advertising information, contact Havre Daily News 119 Second Street P.O. Box 431 Havre, MT 59501 406-265-6795
October 2013
LIVING MAGAZINE 3
P.O. Box 2150 • suite a • havre, mt 59501
caLL us FOr aLL yOur reaL estate Needs
6 Pike Street ~ $199,000
Quality one owner home just on the market. Very well kept home has been in the same family since it was built. Additions have been added to increase the main floor. Fireplace on each level. Formal dining room, 2 bedrooms on main with a main floor utility in the master bathroom. 2 baths on main floor, bath with shower in basement. This would make a nice income property if you sublet the basement, too! Updated steel siding, gas forced air furnace, central air, underground sprinklers and attached garage with workbench space. Great curb appeal in nice area near the University. Fully fenced back yard with trees and shrubs. call Becky ross 390-2599 to view.
62 Beaver Creek Blvd $140,000
Beautiful south end home with an open kitchen layout and lots of upgrades and a jetted tub in the upstairs bathroom! call Jeff healy 390-1966 for details!
1118 Cleveland ~ $69,600
Cozy 3 bedroom home that has been completely redone inside. New sewer line, new hardwood flooring, new paint, new cabinets and countertops in kitchen, and new tile in the bathroom and entryway! Would make a wonderful move in ready first home! call Jeff healy at 390-1966
605 4th Ave E ~ Gildford, MT $65,000
PERFECTLY MAINTAINED HOME! Located on the Hi-Line in Gildford with room for your family! Beautiful yard and deck on the east side of the home to enjoy the sunrise or sit in the shade in the afternoon. Ready to move in today! call Jeff healy 390-1966 for details!
1630 Northern Heights Drive $330,000
Newer 2 story home with full basement. Master suite + 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths. Main floor utilities. Formal dining, updated kitchen. 3 stall garage, deck, sprinklers. Becky ross, realtor, 390-2599 to view.
11 Spruce Drive ~ $184,500 Updated and well maintained. Split level with 2 bedrooms up & 2 down. New kitchen, 2 fireplaces, daylight basement. Large yard, covered patio, garage and sprinklers. Becky ross 390-2599
535 2nd Avenue ~ $299,000
This gracious and lovely 2 story, 5 bedroom home, with 3.5 baths has just been offered for sale. The owner has created a nice private suite on part of the main floor, so if you are looking for a little income, or a place for a family member to live while occupying the rest of the home, this would be ideal! Full basement and second level feature sun rooms. Many lovely details throughout. Serious inquiries only, please. contact Becky ross to view: 390-2599
1310 12th Ave ~ $369,500
Open concept floor plan, master suite, partial basement, brick exterior. Triple heated garage on large corner lot. RV parking, custom built. Over 3,000 sq. ft. on main floor! Becky ross, realtor, 390-2599 to view.
726 6th Avenue ~ $350,000
1337 Blvd Ave ~ $199,000
Great location in Highland Park! 4 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms with a 2 car garage and a huge shop in the back. Call today for your private showing of this house. Jeff healy 265-6766 or 390-1966
125 2nd Ave. NW in Rudyard
Nice 1972 MH 14x66 with 2 large additions on corner lot. Detached heated double garage/shop. Fireplace, large deck. Please call Becky ross 390-2599.
Beautiful historical brick home completely gutted and remodeled in 2006. Jacuzzi tub, master shower with 5 shower heads, hardwood and tile floors. All new windows, wiring insulation! Everything! Beautiful landscaped yard with underground sprinklers. Detached 3 stall new garage and detached original single garage, too! Entire home has radiant heat floors. Garage floor tubing is in for floor heat. Just needs a boiler. Realtor owned property. call Jeff healy, realtor, 390-1966
1231 3rd Street ~ $57,000
NEW LISTING .. with 3 bedrooms and one bath over all. Main floor is 1014 sq' and basement is 231 sq'. Lot is 26'x140'. call Jeff healy, realtor, 390-1966
502 3rd Ave ~ $199,000
Lovely home on corner lot in historic downtown area. 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths. Formal dining room, large kitchen, main floor utilities. Garage, fenced yard, sprinklers. call Becky ross, realtor at 390-2599
Building Site or Pasture Land
80 acres of unimproved ground East side of Saddle Butte. Fenced, Panoramic views! Great place for horse lovers, plan your new home! Easy access from Clear Creek Rd. Please call Becky ross 390-2599.
310 10th Avenue ~ $89,000
call Becky ross 390-2599 to set your appt.
40 Acres West side of Saddle Butte
NEW LISTING on westside of Saddle Butte Road. You can see the Sweetgrass Hills in the distance from this undeveloped land... 40 Acre parcel will be surveyed by the Seller which can be used for a building site or for pasture land. Sellers will grant a road easement across their land to access property. Utilities are nearby. No well is drilled, but some good wells are nearby. call Becky ross 390-2599 for more details.
40 Acres East of Saddle Butte Great building site or other recreational uses. Please call Becky ross 390-2599.
realtors: Becky ross ~ 390-2599 • Jeff healy ~ 390-1966 • tom healy, Broker/Owner e-mail: Koefod@koefod.com • Web site: www.koefod.com
1175 15th Street N
725 11th Street
3 bed, 2 bath, charming old-style 1 1/2 story home with just over 2,000 sq ft of living. Features a covered front porch, fenced front yard, metal single car garage/storage building and great off-street parking!
Great property just out of town! Home has 3 bed/1 bath on the main level & 2 bed/1 bath in the full basement. Property features 20 acres with corrals, stables and a good well BRING YOUR HORSES!!
6125 County Road 838 NW
1639 1st Street ~ $69,000
2 bed, 1 bath, double-wide mobile home. Covered patio area, nicely landscaped fenced yard with underground sprinklers, great off-street parking, detached single car garage all located on a spacious corner lot.
1260 Washington Avenue
2 bed, 1 bath home, main floor laundry, nice deck off the back, detached double car garage with alley access, fenced yard, sprinkler system & 2 storage sheds.
211 1st Street W~Harlem
2 bed, 2 bath, 1 1/2 story home, attached carport, nice yard with sprinkler system. Contact Jim Anderson for more info.
6 bed, 3 full baths/1 3/4 bath/1 1/2 bath, approximately 4,780 sq ft on 3 levels, large kitchen, formal dining area, formal living room, great room with fireplace off of kitchen, main floor utility room, attached triple car garage, combination shop/barn, private well; approximately 79.7 acres extending to the Milk River.
1115 Savoy Road ~ Harlem
960 Blvd Avenue
8 bed, 2 bath home, over 3,000 sq ft, all brick, double car garage, large lot with great parking, tons of potential!
520 6th Street
Commercial/church building in a great location just off of 5th avenue, features new water line & lots of space with numerous possibilities. Don’t miss out on this great commercial investment at $72,000-sellers are very motivated! Over 6,000 sq. ft. on main level.
810 24th Avenue SE
Steel shop with over 7,000 sq ft, built in 2007 with hot water floor heat, located on two acres with good road frontage and great off-street parking and private well-potential tenant in place. Contact Russ Getten for more info.
935 4th Street ~ $84,900
Main floor features 2 beds, 1 bath + master suite, utilities, room for additional apartment & 2 attached 1-stall garages. Spacious basement includes large rec room & additional bath-finish to suit your needs! Truly unique home with nearly 6,000 sq ft of space and many possibilities!
3 bed, 1 1/2 bath, nice home, detached double car garage, shop, located on a beautiful 20 acres of land along Thirty Mile Creek, lots of wildlife!
41 Outlaw Trail ~ Roundup
Lovely log home with beautiful views located just south of Roundup, features 3 beds, 2 baths, beautiful kitchen/ dining area that walks out to large sun deck, bonus room, nice pantry, 2 wood stoves, and much more! Property also includes guest cabin, greenhouse, 2 large shops, multiple storage sheds & recently drilled well.
Rudyard ~ $55,000
Updated 3 bed, 1 bath home, triple car garage, great yard.
Commercial Building
830 24th Avenue NE
Turn-key car & truck wash/oil change business, includes large service garage, automatic and self-service wash bays, lots of equipment and inventory included! Contact Robin for more info.
Commercial Lots
Commercial lots with US Highway 2 and 15th Avenue access
120 River Road - Property includes large shop & storage/warehouse buildings, located on approx. 2 acres along the Milk River. Great Investment!
Large renovated metal building, formerly known as the Plainsman Sports Bar and Steakhouse, approximately 4,392 sq ft under roof, 3.47 acres on busy US Highway 2, great parking on large lot, updated private sanitation system, private water supply, potential to convert to warehouse, residential housing, apartment complex, etc.
St. Thomas the Apostle CCD Center ~ 210 1st Avenue SE Harlem, MT Contact Jim Anderson for more info.
Harlem Hay Farm
320 acres m/l east of Harlem, approximately 300 acres of irrigated cropland, historically a very productive farm. Includes updated home, shop & support buildings; additional acreage available. Contact Jim Anderson for more info.
93 Acres East of Harlem
Approximately 3 miles East of Harlem on the south side of Savoy Road, comprised of 58 acres irrigated cropland with balance being grazing and habitat. Property features several tree rows with cottonwoods and willows, stockwater well and irrigation pump, fenced perimeter, great access!
Need Farm & Ranch Listings, We have Buyers!
A
BY PAM BURKE fter decades of low-moisture and drought across Montana, in the past three years the Hi-Line has been seeing above-average rain and snowfall that is both a blessing and curse to home owners. Though higher moisture levels have helped keep lawns, gardens, pastures and crops flourishing, it has taken its toll on some homes through both flooding and moisture seepage. Fall to earlywinter is a good time to assess the problems, repair any damage and maybe help keep this problem from occurring again.
8 LIVING MAGAZINE October 2013
Assessing the problem Water damage occurs in homes at two different levels of severity: flooding and seepage. Flooding generally lasts for a short period — or worse case, repeated short periods — but has measurable up to significant amounts of water. Seepage brings less water into the house, but lasts longer and often goes undetected until significant damage is done. Flooding signs will be obvious from the noticeable wetness, but signs of seepage can include cracked or flaking cement; warped boards; stained, chalky or black or gray speckled cement, boards, wall covering or flooring. Home owners, especially those with a basement, a crawlspace or a home situated where the ground doesn’t have good drainage
away from the base of the home, should check regularly for seepage issues or minor flooding in areas not regularly lived in, like storage areas or areas beneath stairwells, said Tyler Smith, owner of Lakeside Excavation, a company which specializes in home drainage work. Flooding can occur from within the house from broken pipes and blocked or backing up drains. Flooding from the outside comes from the big sources of water, like over-spilling waterways, rain or snow melt runoff, and water main breaks, but they also can occur if automatic lawn sprinkler systems break or regularly over-water the lawn. Seeping problems occur from leakage in and around pipes, drains, doors, windows, continued on page 9 H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
continued from page 8 vents, chimneys, rain gutters, snow piling alongside the house and cement seams or cracks. Tim Evens, owner of Tim Evens’ Carpet Care & Restoration, said that home owners want to take care of water problems sooner rather than later, but it’s probably best to hold off on any extensive remodeling until they are sure that the problem is fixed. Heading off the flood waters The best way to insure against flooding is for the builder to get the drainage right before the house is built, said Brad Lotton, owner of Lotton Construction in Havre. “It doesn’t cost much to put that drain tile in when you’re building a house,” he said. “Whether you think you need it or not, I would still put the pipe in.” For houses that are already constructed he recommended assessing the home for factors that contribute to flooding and seepage. This will tell home owners where problems are occurring, or are likely to occur, and how what to change through construction efforts. Make sure that the house has what is called “positive drainage,” which is ground sloping away from the house on all sides, including the driveway, he said, adding that people should be aware of the soil conditions at their home and in the surrounding area. Some older homes were built before it became standard practice to put gravel around the foundation, he said, and without gravel, the water doesn’t have a way to flow freely away from the house. Homes in low-lying areas, especially around water sources like a river or a creek, will generally have a high water table, meaning that water sits, runs or accumulates not far under the surface of the ground and wet conditions will cause that water to rise. On the other hand, along the Hi-Line some areas on higher ground have the same water table issues, while other hilltop areas are prone to developing natural springs in years when the ground gets fully saturated, he said. Also, home owners who have lived in an area for a long time need to be aware of changes to the area such as more neighboring homes being H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
Courtesy Photo Water runs over 1st Street in Havre during the August 2013 rain storm.
built, more automatic sprinkler systems being installed, changes to road bed heights and areas of trees being removed or any other major changes to vegetation, even fire, because bare or damaged ground doesn’t soak up as much water. Home owners who are having problems with flooding or seepage coming through their foundation will most likely need to bring in large equipment and a contractor to help fix the problem. This is where things get dirty To retrofit flood deterrent measures like foundation water sealant, drain tiles and a sump pump requires heavy equipment and a contractor. Once the foundation is exposed using equipment like a backhoe or excavator, water sealant can be applied to the cement. Tar-based sealant is meant as a water inhibitor, but neoprene sealants will make the foundation waterproof, said Lotton, adding that even wood basements can be made waterproof glue-on sealants. Sealant is not the only solution to water problems, or even the best, as Lotton pointed out that putting in drain tiles, which are actually large, perforated pipes, and gravel are relatively inexpensive once the footings are already exposed. Smith also warned against relying solely on water sealants to fix water problems. “If you waterproof something and something moves or changes or shrinks or whatever, your waterproofing no longer works and damage will result,” he said. “The only surefire solution to dealing with water,” he added, “is giving water an easier place to go that is away from your living space, and that is done with drainage basins or drain tile around the foundation of your home.” Drain tiles give the water a place to go that is easier to run into than the tight seams and cracks of a foundation. The drain tiles, which are actually perforated pipes made of high density polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride are placed in a bed of gravel one foot below the bottom of the founcontinued on page 10
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown Exterior sump pump system.
October 2013
LIVING MAGAZINE 9
continued from page 9 dation, Smith said. A drainage basin provides a large space into which that water can pool and a sump pump will pump the water through hoses or pipes to a place away from the home, such as a lower level of the property, the curb, a dry well or a containment field. Older homes with city services often had the sumps drain into the municipal sewer system, but this is no longer allowed. Home owners can have installed manually activated or automatic sumps, and ones that run on a battery backup so the water drains even if the power is out, an all-too-common occurrence in flooding situations, though homes situated on a hillside have the best safe guard because a line of drain tiles, much like a sewer drain field, can be graded away from the house to allow gravity, which always works without electricity, to pull the water away from the foundation. Lotton said that often people wait until fall to call contractors to get the work done before winter hits, and this could be a problem because fall is the time that contractors are working hard to wrap up contracts booked earlier in the year. This summer’s record amounts of moisture put many contractors behind, Lotton said, though an easy winter could allow for work to continue for a few months longer than average. The sooner homeowners call a contractor, the higher they will be on a waiting list, so the work may yet be done this year. And, Smith said, waiting until the ground dries or freezes at the surface with colder temperatures has its advantages. Heavy equipment is hard on landscaping, but if the ground is firmer, Smith said, it is betterprotected from the strain of the equipment weight and operation, and the drier dirt is more easily contained and cleaned up than mud. If landscaping or space are big issues on a project both contractors recommended finding a contractor with smaller-sized equipment called mini-excavators or mini-backhoes. Or if drain tile is already installed and all that is needed is a sump pump, then sometimes contractors can bring a jack hammer into a home’s basement and dig through the cement floor to retrofit the sump pump on the interior of the home. This, of course, is messy in the house and, Smith said, it can be expensive, but having the sump pump inside helps ward against freezing.
basc.pnnl.gov A properly sealed sump pump. Sump pumps must be covered or they will be a source for introducing moisture into the home. Sumps usually have standing water, and when that water evaporates into the air, it raises the relative humidity inside the home. High relative humidity leads to higher moisture content of wood framing, which can lead to fungal decay. From an air quality perspective, water that wets susceptible building materials and furnishings can also promote the growth of mold that can make the home's occupants sick. Moist environments also provide an attractive environment for
said. First, Evens said, remove the standing water and as much of the trapped moisture as possible, pull up the carpets, and turn on heaters and fans to start the drying process. If possible, opening windows and using a dehumidifier will also speed drying time. Restoration is simply bringing the area and materials back to a dry state, and it’s best to do this before the mold starts growing, he said. People who do not have large fans and heaters can contact their local equipment rental business for rental units, or even call restoration businesses which may have extra heaters and fans to rent out. Once heat and air circulation have been established, the key is knowing how long to keep up the drying efforts. Getting flood-damaged areas and materials 100 percent dry usually takes longer than people think, Evens said, but technicians in the restoration business can test the moisture continued on page 11
But the flood water came and left No matter what the cause of the water damage, the big thing is to get everything dried as quickly as possible, said Evens, adding that too often people end up with mold because they “don’t realize how wet walls get.” They peel up the carpet, he said, but they don’t do anything, or enough, to dry out the walls which can get wet up to 2 to 4 feet from the floor without even looking water-damaged. Evens said that one day this summer, when extensive flooding hit the area, he received more than 100 calls. “I just got to where I didn’t even answer the phone or return all the calls,” he said, because he wouldn’t have had enough time to do restoration basc.pnnl.gov work after talking to so many people. Sump pump functions. The image shows the components that make up a successful Homeowners faced with flooding and wasump pump installation. ter damage can do a lot on their own, though, he 10 LIVING MAGAZINE October 2013 H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
continued from page 10 content in the air and in materials. “It’s actually quite scientific,” said Evens, who held off becoming a certified restoration expert until he felt the technology had elevated the work from a guessing game about moisture. The sensors used can provide, with pinpoint accuracy, how many more days it will be before the flooded areas are dry. Another type of equipment that a restoration business can provide are air scrubbers that remove mold spores from the air so they don’t spread to the whole house. Oftentimes, air scrubbers are used once work has begun tearing out damaged wall and flooring materials because mold may be present in these areas. The newly exposed materials are then cleaned to help kill any mold. Do-it-yourself’ers can use a bleach solution to clean the mold, but commercial fungus-killing solutions are available. Putting the pieces back together Once the water-damaged areas and materials are 100 percent dry and mold-free, work can begin to restore a home back to a pre-flood state. This is a good time to do some research online, talk to contractors and hardware store specialists tips about not just remodeling the damaged area, but also making those repairs in a way that could help in the future should flooding occur again. For instance, a Red Cross brochure about repairing a flood-damaged home posted on the organization’s website Redcross.org suggests that wooden studs be replaced with metal ones that don’t rot when wet and will clean easily if flood-caused mold appears again, and says that if wallboard panels are installed horizontally then if flooding of less than four feet occurs only that bottom wallboard will need replacing. The site also says that leaving a 1-inch gap above the sill, that will be covered by the trim H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
board will allow receding flood waters to automatically drain out of the wall, and make a builtin space for circulating air into damp walls. These are things to consider while using the cold winter months to work inside repairing and remodeling.
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown The completely washed out side road into Jaycees and Rotary Camp in Beaver Creek Park this summer.
The resources listed below are a few that provide information about the hazards of floods, flood water and mold, water damage restoration, and remodeling a home that has been flooded and may yet get flooded again.
Resourses:
QuickDry.com If you have water on your carpet get it out as quickly as you can, pull back the carpet and get floor dryers on it. The pad may be trashed but if you can get the carpet dry you could rescue it. Start at the corner of a room after moving the furniture, to pull back.
• Local county MSU Extension Office • Redcross.org • Ready.gov • CDC.gov • EPA.gov • FEMA.gov • Also search government sites in states which have had extensive or catastriphic flooding recentley, such as New York, Colorado and Louisiana
Finding a contractor
Both Tyler Smith and Tim Evens cautioned that if a home owner is going to utilize a company for restoration and remodeling, then the home owner should make sure the company is legitimate. One way to tell, both men said, is that legitimate businesses don’t charge to provide estimates — unless the travel is extensive or considerable expense is required to get the estimate, like bringing heavy equipment to dig a spot at a foundation to see if drain tiles are properly installed and/or functioning. Evens also said that all legitimate restoration companies he knows of will provide free moisture testing and check back in if more drying time was needed. Smith said he highly recommends finding an experienced contractor for any excavation work because of multiple danger factors, like large equipment, a deep trench and often poor, wet ground conditions, and because the work is being done right next to the home.
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cabin in the Bear Paws #18 alkali springs ~ $60,000
505 15th avenue ~ $145,900
Here's your chance to get a nice cabin! Private well! Well taken care of. Hurry before it's gone.
Large 4 bedroom home offers updated kitchen, laminate flooring thru living and kitchen with French doors that lead to a covered patio accented with white lattice. Need room for your toys? This home has a detached 2+ car garage plus separate single with RV parking in rear of garages.
438 2nd avenue ~ $153,000
1019 Wilson ave ~ $155,000
Fantastic 5 bedroom, 2 bath home situated in the heart of Havre. Home offers original hardwood floors throughout, stain glass, with the charm of the historic district. Two car garage and stone patio with white picket fence.
Well maintained 4 bedroom, 2 bath home in a nice neighborhood. Fenced back yard and detached double plus single attached garage.
1319 11th street ~ $179,900 This Condo is updated and ready to move into! 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, beautiful kitchen and dining area. It also has a deck with a hot tub and fenced back yard. You have to see it to appreciate it.
1616 Juniper dr. ~ $223,000 Great home in Havre’s southend. This 5 bedroom, 2 bath home has great living space and nice sized bedrooms. Main bath features heated tile floor. New furnace installed recently.
1109 6th street ~ $145,900 Spacious home situated on a fenced lot and wood deck for entertaining. This 4 bedroom (2 up/2 non-conforming)2 bath home has new exterior paint and trim in neutral tones that accent this home. Updated with newer kitchen, tile floors, main floor laundry, laminate floors in downstairs bedrooms, and new carpet in basement family room.
1006 Lincoln ave ~ $150,000 Seller is offering a $5,000 Buyer incentive! Whether you need new carpet, appliances or help with closing costs. Take a look at this 5 bedroom (2up and 3 non conforming down) home and its possibilities! Great location.
310 centurian st ~ $170,000 1100 7th street ~ $163,900 Nice 4 bedroom 2 bath home in a quiet location. Fenced yard and underground sprinklers. Don’t pass this one up on your list!
Great home in a nice neighborhood! Two car attached garage! Two bed and bath up/two bed and bath down. Rec. room with fireplace. Private fenced backyard! Well maintained.
835 1st ave ~ $190,000 Fantastic 4-Plex unit centrally located from college, town and hospital. This investment property offers original hardwood floors in living and dining room, new paint, new light fixtures, new flooring in kitchen, bath & 2nd bedroom. Studio unit on main with private deck and neutral tones compliment this place.
2625 36th st se ~ $249,000 Amazing view! Three miles from Havre on one acre. Unique 3 bedroom and 1 1/2 bath with lots of space and windows. Two car garage.
935 6th street ~ $198,000 5 bedroom, 3 bath with an opportunity to rent out the basement. This would be perfect for you to upgrade and get help with the payments!
1025 Boulevard avenue Completely updated 3 bed, 2 bath home. Brand new kitchen with stainless steel appliances and original hardwood floors on main. Large lot with privacy fence in backyard and wood deck for entertaining. Don’t miss this fantastic home.
1220 12th street ~ $290,000 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with all new interior paint and window treatments Open floor plan with vaulted ceilings. 3 car heated garage, patio and large fenced backyard w/ underground sprinklers. Great location.
1120 10th avenue 3 bedroom 2 bath home. Newly painted inside and out with tastefull landscaping. Huge lot with carport and storage shed. Just bring the family and move in!
M
BY PAM BURKE
any communities in and around Havre put on events to celebrate the holidays — from Halloween to Christmas. These celebrations display the individual character of each town and high-
1
light the community spirit seen across north-central Montana. The events are put on by community members, for their friends, neighbors, family and visitors to celebrate the holidays. Each celebration, in some way, gives back to
The Haunted Hotel Oakland is set to test the mettle of those willing to brave the frights. Every year the Havre Jaycees, who sponsor this popular fundraising event, create a freshly frightening experience, and this year’s haunted hotel will feature new,
14 LIVING MAGAZINE October 2013
the community, enriching and supporting local service programs and organizations or civic activities. This is not a complete list of events, but it should give you a great ideas of how to kick-start your holidays this year.
even scarier surprises. Located above the Eagles Club Bar at 202 1st Street, the Haunted Hotel Oakland will be open for terrorizing Oct. 18-20 and 23-31. The hours are set from 7 to 9 p.m., but organizers stay open as long as customers are lined up to come in. The cost for admission wasn’t determined by deadline, but this money is used for the Koats for Kids programs which
works to get new and like-new coats to children at Christmas to give them a present that will keep them warm through the winter months. Anyone who donates a nonperishable food item at the ticket table gets a dollar off admission. For those too young or sensitive who still want to join in the fun can view the haunted hotel continued on page 15 H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
continued from page 14
donations are welcome and help pay for the next year’s dinner, along with donations from businesses and community members. Any leftovers are donated to the Senior Center or to the Chinook Food Pantry. Though organizers hope all diners will be able to come enjoy the dining experience with the camaraderie of friends family and neighbors, requests for delivery can be made from one week in advance, right up to serving time on Thanksgiving Day by calling 357-2648.
on Flashlight Night, Oct. 27, when the scares are toned down and everyone can bring a flashlight to use for comfort. For more information, contact T.J. Daulton at 399-3084.
2 Havre’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner brings together family, friends, neighbors and strangers to enjoy a traditional holiday meal. Started by and funded for decades through the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Thanksgiving Dinner was envisioned as an event that fosters the idea that community is a family and that sentiment is proved out every year by serving 600 to 700 meals to locals and visitors. Entirely volunteer-organized and operated — with the support of Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods whose staff cooks the turkey and bakes the buns and pies — this community dinner serves up turkey, buns, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, assorted vegetables and pumpkin pies at St. Jude Parish Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Home delivery meals, ordered during the week before Thanksgiving, are put together and delivered between 8 and 9:30 a.m. Chairperson of the 2013 Community Thanksgiving Dinner Debi Rhines said that organizers over the years have strictly adhered to the anonymous donor’s request that this be a free meal, and all donations are turned away. Should anyone manage to sneak in a payment for the meal, that money is promptly handed over to one of the local charities such as the Salvation Army or the Havre Food Bank H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
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Havre Daily News/file photo Katelyn Gooch, 7, left, and Clint Owens, 8, play last year in cobwebs in the Spider Room of the Havre Jaycees' Haunted Hotel Oakland, located above the Eagles Club.
to help these organizations at a time when they are approached by many people in need. For more information about the dinner or volunteering, call Debi at 265-6900.
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Chinook has served up its Community Thanksgiving Dinner from noon to 2 p.m. at the Chinook Senior Center, 324 Pennsylvania Street, for more than 30 years. Volunteers cook and serve a traditional meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cole slaw, rolls, cranberry relish, pies and a selection of dessert salads for about 200 people each year. Everyone is welcome to attend to enjoy the meal and conversation along with music from the Kitchen Band. Meals can also be delivered to those who cannot get out of the house. The meal is served at no cost to the diners, though free-will
Havre Daily News/file photo Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods staff prepare the turkeys for the annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner.
The Chinook Chamber of commerce will once again bring together three special Christmas events to give the Hi-Line a special treat for the holidays. Nov. 29 is the day to hit town for the Christmas Stroll, the Festival of Trees and the grand Parade of Lights. Starting at 1 p.m., local businesses will be holding Christmas open-houses with arts and crafts booths and food vendors adding their wares to the main street selections, and while their out strolling, people can stroll on in to the Blaine County Library at 94 4th Street to take in the Festival of Trees. The newest of the three events, the Festival of Trees offers a chance to win an inventive Christmas treat along with an opportunity to help some deserving local causes. Local businesses, organizations and individuals sign up to create their own themed Christmas tree, complete with decoration and presents, and donate the tree to
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the festival. From 1 to 7 p.m. the public can bid in a silent auction on a favorite tree displayed at the library. All proceeds from the winning bids go to the Chinook Food Bank, the Blaine 1 Inc. ambulance and the Chinook Garden Club. The crown jewel of the day is the Parade of Lights, with participants glowing and twinkling and dancing to Christmas tunes down Indiana Street starting at 6 p.m. The popular parade was made even bigger in 2012 when the Chamber started offering a prize for the best float. Tomi Simenson of the Chamber said she expects a prize will be offered again this year. For more information on any of theses activities, contact Simenson at 357-3858.
Havre Daily News/file photo A duo hula in the frigid Friday evening weather on the "Have A Hula-Va Holiday" float during the 26th Annual Parade of Lights in Chinook. See Friday's Hi-Line Living page for more Parade of Lights photographs.
building campaign which will be a funding match for a grant to expand the Boys & Girls Club facility. The Festival of Trees will have a change of venue this year and will be held at St. Jude Parish Center, Saturday, Nov. 30, starting at 7 p.m. Because of this location change, the free viewing time will only be from 4:30 to 5 p.m. that afternoon. Tickets for the event are $25 per person. For a ticket or further information, contact the club’s executive director, Krista Solomon during regular business hours at 406-265-6206, ext. 302. continued on page 19
to young and old. For more information about the event or to sign up to be a vendor, call Debbie Vandeberg at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce at 2654383.
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Havre’s Community Tree Lighting will take place starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at Town Square on 1st Street in downtown Havre. This event marks the start of the city’s holiday celebration. Santa lighting the living Christmas tree is the featured activity, but much more takes place to feed that community spirit. Revelers can feast on hot cocoa and cider, along with other treats provided by vendors, many of them local organizations raising money for their charities. Friends, family and neighbors can gather around a crackling fire while local groups of carolers lead the holiday musical cheer and youngsters tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Gift certificate winners will be chosen and prizes given away
Though only in its sixth year, Havre Festival of Trees has quickly become a community favorite holiday celebration. This year, 13 trees decorated with individual, and often highly creative, themes by businesses and organizations will be up for auction as a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of the HiLine. The highest bidder on each tree in a silent auction wins the tree, its decorations and accompanying gifts. The trees, though, aren’t the only draw for the evening. Organizers are serving hors d’oeuvres and rousing the crowd with a variety of lively games and a live auction. All the proceeds for the evening will go toward the
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Havre Daily News/file photo The First Presbyterian Church's "Upside Down Christmas Tree."
H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
LOTS FOR SALE Vacant Land For Sale~$125,000
7310 County Rd 462 W $799,000
Luxurious home & a piece of the country! Located on +/- 53 acres in parklike setting, approx 3 miles West of Havre. 4 bdrm, 4 bath home w/gourmet kitchen, formal dining & all the pluses. Includes pond w/ fountain, 3 wells, feed crop/pasture & Beaver Creek flowing through it. Great view, plentiful wildlife, fenced for horses & very private. Attached 3 stall garage & 44 x 48 shop/barn.
4.5 Acre Ranchette Kremlin, MT ~ $169,000
2 bdrm, 1 bath home + attached double garage. Nice deck, Kremlin water tap & 30 x 60 shop. Insulated, new siding/roof on home & shop, new windows & updates in house & garages. Barn with good corral, water & electricity. Nice landscaping & views.
Call Janis Flynn at 265-7845
47300 County Rd 100 S Havre, MT ~ $329,000
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
Bright & beautiful 4 bdrm, 2 bath home. Double garage with large parking pad, daylight basement & nice yard. Open kitchen/dining & brick fireplace. Also includes large addition behind garage.
Call/Text Ken Nelson at 406-439-0595
4 bdrm, 2 bath, 2 level older style home, oversized 3 stall garage, nice quonset plus shop. All on +/- 20 acres, 7 miles South of Big Sandy, MT, just off pavement. Nice trees, great view & awesome neighbors.
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
Call John Carlson at 390-1381
712 17th St ~ $149,900
Call Gary Toldness at 390-3155
609 Montana Ave ~ $114,900
1 bdrm, 1 bath home. 2 nonconforming bdrms in basement, heated 2 stall garage, large garden space & fruit trees
Call John Carlson at 390-1381
+/- 80 Acres-inculdes approx. 10 cultivated, 10 homesite & 60 for livestock, 4 bdrm, 2 bath home with attached garage. 1 large heated & insulated 40x50 shop, 1 large 40x80 garage/shop, 1 large 40x64 polebarn & 1 opensided 32x96 storage unit (1997). A 2 bdrm bed & breakfast cottage completes this ranchette.
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400 for more information.
509 1st Street ~ Hingham, MT $64,500
2 bdrm, 1 bath spacious home with country kitchen & large living room. Fenced yard, perennial garden, mature trees, RV & equipment parking in rear & 4 stall garage/shop.
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
Call Paul Kuka at 265-7845
928 2nd Street ~ $97,500
3 bdrms, 1 bath home on double lot with 3 stall garage (includes loft). Original hardwood flooring in living/dining areas. Built in terrarium in living room. Large back yard w/greenhouse.
529 Pennsylvania Street Chinook, MT ~ $89,900
Older Prestige home in Chinook, MT. 3 bdrm, 1 他 bath with lots of nice updates. Enclosed front porch, large wooden deck off back & large fenced yard. Off street parking in back.
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak at 265-9400
103 3rd St. W. ~ Inverness, MT ~ $99,900
408 Illinois St ~ Chinook, MT $128,000 Seller wants it gone & has lowered the price on this family style home. 5 possible bedrooms, 2 baths + family room in basement. Garage & nice back yard.
Call Paul Kuka at 265-7854 or 265-2060
3-Plex Unit ~ 118 6th Ave
184 Lehfeldt Ave ~ Big Sandy, MT ~ $29,000
358 Michigan Ave ~ Big Sandy, MT $107,900
Call Janis Flynn @ 265-9400
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
Call John Carlson at 390-1381
Nice 3-plex Unit ~ $155,000 1-3 bdrm & 2 single units. Very little yard, all brick & double garage.
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
1 bdrm, 1 bath updated home. Large lot, good appliances & new furnace. Includes double garage.
Approx. 1.5 acre parcels available on Beaver Creek Rd. located 7.5 miles South of Havre. Includes: roads, electrical & phone to lot, good water, wells included in some lots, & great view. Priced at $25,000 to $37,500
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
Approx 1 Acre just off Highway 2 East of Havre, MT For more information call Paul Kuka @ 265-7845 or 265-2060 evenings.
Approx. 240 Acres located +/- 8 miles West of Chinook, MT. Includes 82 irrigated acres. Building sites available.
Call Ken Nelson at (406) 439-0595
Income Properties 415 2nd St (4-plex) ~ $110,000 Recent updates & 17% return!
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
1206 & 1208 2nd St ~ $124,900
Nice duplex. Great fenced back yard, double garage & washer/dryer hookups.
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak at 265-7845
commercial listings Siesta Motel
600 1st Street ~ $575,000
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
Beautifully remodeled 3 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath home w/ good water & shop + outbldgs.
Call Jeanie Cole at 945-0931
LAND FOR SALE ~ $125,000
23 unit motel with Hwy #2/1st Street frontage. Very clean, (5 star rating) family atmosphere. Recent updates, downtown location. Good parking.
1236 Cleveland Ave ~ $146,900 2 bdrm, 1 3/4 bath home. 2 non-conforming bdrms in full basement, TV room & pantry/ storage. Beautiful private back yard w/ patio, shade trees, underground sprinklers & fencing. 2 carports & 3 storage sheds.
LAND FOR SALE
Acreage Along the Milk River
4612 Judith Landing Rd Big Sandy, MT
Clean 2 bdrm, 1 bath home on South end. Double garage, underground sprinklers. Close to schools & parks.
All utilities to corner of lot.
Call Janis Flynn at 265-9400
Manuel subdivision
Call Janis Flynn at 265-7845
3 bdrm, 1-3/4 bath one level home situated on just under an acre, 2 stall garage, private well, natural gas tap, lots of updates, new furnace and a/c in 2010. New metal roof on house and garage, new cabinets & countertops, large master bedroom, main bath has jetted tub.
Ready to build on.
Corner Lot Brandon Estates ~ $42,000
Call Nick or Janis at Flynn
969 Dana Rd ~ Big Sandy $250,000
1330 Blvd Ave ~ $179,900
4 Acre Lot West of Torgerson Implement ~ $395,000
Approx. 300 acres of fenced grassland w/ reservoir. Includes approx. 100 acres CRP. Located 7.5 miles north of Savoy, MT.
Beautiful, 6 bdrm, 2 bath 4080 sq ft home w/triple attached garage. Fenced with reservoir, perfect for horses on 20+ acres located near Bears Paws Mountains adjoining Beaver Creek Park. Hunting!
6867 43rd St W ~ $142,500
Approx 5.34 acres located 3.5 miles West of Havre, MT on Hwy 2.This property is fenced, includes a well & 2 metal sheds. Zoned Commercial/Residential. Electrical also runs across this property.
5 bdrm, 3 bath 2 story home. Located on large lot, near elementary school & city pool. 1 stall garage & large shed.
Oil City Saloon ~ Shelby, MT Full liquor license, full kitchen & 6 newly remodeled apartments.
Pastime Bar/Restaurant/Casino A booming business in Chinook, MT
Call Ken Nelson at 406-439-0595
Bullhook Bottoms Casino + Liquor Store ~ $650,000
A large Commercial property that includes a Casino & Liquor License on 1st Street/Hwy 2 frontage in Havre, MT
Call Ken Nelson at 406-439-0595 or Larry Martinson at 390-1509
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While the name is a tonguetwister, the celebration itself is just simple, old-fashioned fun and a great way to spend the weekend. Around 15 years ago the towns of Chouteau County pooled their efforts, resources and holiday cheer to create a unique countywide Christmas celebration that has steadily drawn more people to the area to take part in the festivities. With Christmas activities across the county, including the towns of Big Sandy, Fort Benton, Geraldine, Loma, Shonkin and Virgelle, people can spend a day or more taking in the sights, sales and community spirit. Start the weekend with the Country Christmas Social in Geraldine in the afternoon and early evening Friday and then shake it up at the dance at the Country Christmas Dance in Loma that night. Saturday and Sunday are filled with opportunities to go shopping at local businesses, arts and craft fairs, baked-goods and homemade chocolate sales, and vendor booths or to seek entertainment with music events, luncheons and dinners, a wagon ride and a parade of lights. All the events for the Chouteau County Country Christmas will be finalized by November. Check out the events calendar at VirgelleMontana.com or contact co-organizer Don Sorenson at 406-378-3110 or 800-426-2926.
The Christmas stroll in Rudyard has been bringing community members and visitors together for more than 20 years. People are welcome to visit local businesses which serve treats, but if a walk around town sounds too everyday, then revelers can hop a wagon for a hay ride. Chili and cocoa will be served at the youth center. Everyone is welcome to eat at no cost, but free-will donations are welcome, and the money goes toward a town improvement project. Lynn Hybner, one of the event organizers, said that in recent years the money has gone toward maintenance of a shelter and picnic area at the baseball park and the memorial park in town. The event date hadn't been finalized by the print deadline, but Hybner said that it is usually held the first Sunday of December, and people are welcome to call her for more information at 355-4354.
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Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown Top Photo: Cousins Tamara Allen, left, and Taeshon Scheaffer pose with Santa in Whoville costumes and in the below photo Kyle Hudon takes a picture with Santa during the 2012 Christmas event in downtown Harlem.
The Harlem Country Christmas Stroll kicks off the yuletide season Dec. 11 this year. Downtown businesses will be holding their open-house events along with vendors selling food and crafts. People will be able to enjoy a live nativity scene and a visit with Santa. Other activities for strollers taking in the festivities include a
couple competitions, one for best Christmas costume and the other for the best gift box decoration. Details of the celebration were not finalized by print date, so for more information, including on event times, the costume competition theme and setting up as a vendor, call Rod Becker at 353-2256. continued on page 20
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10 The Community Christmas Dinner in Havre is an annual holiday event that really does bring the community together for a traditional Christmas meal. Each year hundreds of people from all walks of life are fed, either at the dinner or with a meal delivered to their home and, one year, travelers snowbound in town were bused to the event by the local transit system. Organized for the last decade by the Jerry and Penny Bergren family, this year Tom Farnam, manager of Havre’s Eagles Club, volunteered to spearhead the event with a group of co-organizers and an ever-ready band of volunteers which flock to help this event. A traditional Christmas meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, roll and an assortment of vegetables, with pumpkin pie for dessert, will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eagles Club at 202 1st
Street. Anyone wanting a meal delivered can call the North Central Senior Center during regular business hours between Dec. 16 and Dec. 23 at 265-5464. The meal is free, though donations are appreciated and go toward funding the next year's meal. For more information about the dinner or volunteering, call Tom at 265-9551.
Bonus Event The Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line is bringing their inventive musical event back to Havre this fall. Dueling Pianos is a fundraising event featuring two pianist from Las Vegas that create a concert experience like no other, bantering with the crowd, playing a few songs from their own repertoire and bringing an evening’s worth of opportunity to play requests for donations and for the highest bidders. Audience members can donate money for a chance to have their requested title chosen from
Havre Daily News/file photo Judy and Tom Adams volunteer to serve food at the Havre Community Christmas Dinner.
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a tip jar, or they can help win a bidding war to have a preferred tune played while the pianists duel to inspire bids for a particular song. The musical fundraiser will be Oct. 11 at Hi-Line Lanes U.S. Highway 2 on the east end of Havre. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the event starts at 8 p.m. Organizers point out that this is an adult event with a no-host bar.
Dueling Pianos from 2012
Tickets are $25 each for general seating or $200 for a reserved table of four. Tickets are on sale at Holden’s Hot Wheels, Creative Leisure, Hi-Line Lanes and the Boys & Girls Club of the HiLine. Tickets can also be found on the club website at http:// www.bgchi-line.com. for more information, call Rachel Dean at 265-6206, ext. 322.
Courtesy Photo
H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
(Family Features) The fall months are all about color. From falling leaves to vibrant pumkins and colorful halloween treats. If you feel that your home is in need of an update, adding a little pop of color can help. Start by thinking about the colors you want to add, where color can make the most impact and just how much you need to give your home a fresh look. Here are a few tips to get you started on your adventure in color: Begin by visiting your favorite clothing boutique, stopping into a paint store or flipping through home design magazines for inspiration. Choose the looks you are most drawn to or the colors that evoke a feeling of happiness or calmness. These colors reflect your personal style and will make you feel most comfortable in your home. After picking a color palette, don't go out and paint your whole house with it, start small. Just changing your accent pillows, throws, lampshades or accessories can make a big impact when you are introducing a new color. Remember to make sure the color flows well throughout the entire space, especially if your home has an open floor plan with rooms easily visible from one to another.
Another easy way to bring color to your home is by up-
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dating artwork and wall decor. Simply moving artwork from one room to another can give your home a refreshed look. Adding some newly purchased pieces can also breathe new life into your home! If you're ready to go all out with color, it's fine to make a dramatic change. The kitchen is a great place to go big with color and it's usually the gathering place in the home. To bring bold color in the kitchen, and to set the tone for your entire home, update your cabinetry. "Colorful cabinetry can be a big commitment, but it also can set your kitchen apart in a sea of design sameness," said Sarah Reep, director of designer relations and education at KraftMaid Cabinetry. In addition to traditional wood-toned cabinetry styles, there is also a growing selection of on-trend paint and stain colors such as the new Pebble Grey paint from KraftMaid Cabinetry. Take it a step further by choosing glass doors and using a contrasting color on the inside like a sunny, warm yellow or bold teal green for the interior back panel. Cabinetry colors can add whimsy and personality to any kitchen. It can feel as though your home has been completely made over by adding just a few thoughtful touches with a few hints of color. H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
521 2nd Avenue ~ $99,000
This home has had all the updates and remodel you would expect in a stately home close to down town. There is a detached garage, 2 bedrooms, formal dining room, new windows, new flooring and all the appliances stay.
55+ Living Town Home BRAND NEW!
2235 9th Avenue
3 bed, 2 bath with double garage all on one level!
Offered at $288,000
3666 28th Avenue SE ~ $167,000 1.4 Acres, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Horse friendly acreage. Awesome views from the new deck!
421 Sagebrush Drive ~ $190,000
520 6th Avenue ~ $189,000
Beautiful new kitchen in this split entry home with awesome curb appeal and easy drive thru driveway. Three bedrooms, one a huge master, two bathrooms, large rec room big enough for the man room/kids haven and a double garage. Call Edward for showings.
1315 19th Street ~ $325,000
Classic executive home equipped with alarm system. The new master bedroom has private deck off the master and incredible views of the Bear Paw Mountains with a master bath that boasts huge soaker tub and dry sauna. A chef would be jealous of this gorgeous kitchen. Mature yard and trees have under ground sprinklers. This home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
Beautifully remolded 3 bedroom home. Brand new kitchen, updated bathrooms, and refinished hard wood floors. You must see for yourself what this home owner has done for this home and yard.
A seller allowance of $5,000 for carpet. This incredible home was custom built for the sellers. This is the first time available on the market to purchase this incredible home that boasts 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, double garage & garden with vegetable cellar. Contact Edward Ruff for your showing today.
14 Knob Rd ~ $184,000
Fresh remodel with new furnace, A/C unit, carpet, bathrooms, kitchen and fence. Double gararge, 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. A very pretty home with great views of town and South Havre.
701 9th Street ~ $329,000
1625 31st Avenue NE
Bad Lands Car Wash 413 2nd Street
Over 10,000+- Square Foot heated building with updated remodel & addition. City water and sewer to this building and several large overhead doors. The access is great and a finished railroad spur line to this property may be available.
Downtown car wash, building & car wash on 2 downtown city lots. This is a nice little cash cow.
519 3rd Street
829 6th Street North
Amazing 14 plex that really shows pride of ownership. With a great location, great price and great curb appeal. New roof done in Sept. 2013. The income this property can produce will amaze you. Contact Edward Ruff for your private showing or for more information.
This property is the past site of the Havre Concrete Block sales and brick yard. Consisting of 6 +- Acres, office, two large truck bays with nice overhead doors and tons of inside storage.
3+ Acres on Hwy 2 & Airport Road Realtor Owned. $99,000
36+ Acres in town on Water Tank Road heading to Highland Park offered at $69,700
300 Acre Bear Paw Ranch
Bear Paw Mountain Ranch with streams, springs, trees and waist high grass on 300+- Acres. This little bit of heaven borders Hill County's Beaver Creek Park.
1+ Acre on 2nd Street West asking $18,500
3.1 Acres adjacent to Washington and Jefferson Ave in Highland Park. May split out acre. $90,900
Sue Swan
The way Sue Swan sees it, people ought to give back to their community. Havre, she said, has been good to her. over the years, she has been the recipient of services from community groups that depend on volunteer help. So she is paying back Havre. Some would say she is paying back Havre in spades.
T
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BY JOHN KELLEHER
he way Sue Swan sees it, people ought to give back to their community. Havre, she said, has been good to her. over the years, she has been the recipient of services from community groups that depend on volunteer help. So she is paying back Havre. Some would say she is paying back Havre in spades.
When she was health director at Montana State UniversityNorthern and raising a family, she still found time to do volunteer work for community organizations. But since she has”retired,” she has become involved in more organizations. “She sees volunteering not as her job, but as her responsibility,.” said Lorraine Verploegen, executive director of United Way of Hill County and a Sue Swan fan. She spends countless hours volunteering for groups that help people, Verploegen said. Despite the seriousness of Swan’s volunteering jobs, she has a good time helping people. “And she has a tremendous sense of humor,” Verploegen said. United Way gave Sue the Community Service Award two years ago, to She sees volunteerunanimous acclaim. Not only is she generous with her time to the ing not as her job, Havre community, but she but as her responis great with people oneon-one, Verploegen said sibilty. she recalled that after her husband had a heart attack, Lorraine Verploegen, Sue was the first to offer executive director help. United Way of Hill County When Verploegen came in her office, Sue had
left two lap quilts — for Lorraine and one for her husband. A long way from New York Sue Swan hardly grew up in the small-town atmosphere. “I’m from New York City,” she said. She married somebody from Hill County, moved here and never looked back. She’s been here 40 years and thinks there is no place like Havre. People know people, she said. In small towns, she said, they are more willing to help one another. Her New York City friends are still confused by the move. At a recent class reunion, people shook their heads. “One person thought I’d moved to Canada,” she said. “They thought I said Manitoba.” “No,” she said. “Montana. Up there near Idaho and Washington.” In her adopted hometown of Havre, you are likely to see Sue at any number of locations. She may be at the Saturday Market, sitting at a Recycle HiLine booth touting the advantages of recycling. Or working with a new support group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Or working with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for
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Relay for Life
Sue knew a lot of people who were cancer survivors. that prompted her interest in the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life. She does a lot of work, but her public face is when she recited the names and yells encouragement to survivors who march around the track at Have High School to show the world that cancer can be beaten.
Helping grandparents
For a variety of reasons, grandparents are more likely today to be raising grandchildren. There are many benefits, but grandparents find themselves lost and confused sometimes. The new group, formed with help from Extension and the Havre High School, will help grandparents navigate the legal and emotional problems. Sue has taken training and will be a facilitators as the groups hopes to find out just what can be Helping out at Relay For Life, 2012. done to help grandparents. Sometimes, she said, grandsaid. parents face legal problems, financial difficulties or emotional adjust- “A lot of these people think they are the only ones to feel this way,” she said. ments. And there is always a generational “It’s good for people to talk tio each other.” problem. With changes in technology and social The program operates out of St. Jude mores, parents and children sometimes Thaddeus Catholic Church in Havre, but have a difficult time communicating. last year no one from St. Jude’s took part. Grandparents face a bigger generational Rather, they came from areas as far away as Chester, Harlem and Big Sandy. divide, she said.
Health literacy
Sue has taken on the task of helping parents better understand what they can do to improve their children’s health as inexpensively as possible. Simple things, such as helping parents learn how to take a temperature, is valuable. The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of times parents will use the pricy emergency room as the first stop in health care, without scaring them off from using the ER when necessary. “A lot of times parents don’t know what to do,” she said. “We don’t have a drop-in clinic.”
New Beginnings
Hospital visitations
Sue’s church, St. Jude Thaddeus, has designed a system to ensure that Catholics who are hospitalized get twice-weekly visits from parish members. A group of Catholics brings communion to the ill, prays with them and chats with them to let them know they are being thought of. Sue also regularly visits Eagles Manor to provide the same kind of services.
Recycle Hi-Line
Sue has always been concerned with the environment, and has been impressed with the work of Recycle Hi-Line, the local group that encourages recycling and other environmentally friendly programs. Using her talents of being able to talk to just about anyone, she has become the education chair for the group. Every weekend during the summer, she goes to Saturday Market, sets up a table and talks about the advantages of
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Havre Daily News/file photo
recycling — how it improves the enviroment and how it keeps things out of the landfill. Last year, she sent letters to every service group in the area offering to present a program on recycling. More than 20 groups took her up on the offer. She brings her power-point presentation and tells folks of the value of recycling. These are just some of the programs she is involved in or has been part of over the years, Verploegen said. Even in retirement, she finds time to do some paying work. She fills in at the Hill County Health Department as a nurse and helps out during vaccination programs. But volunteering comes first. “When I was working, I would fit my volunteering in between my jobs,” she said laughing. “Now I fit my jobs in between my volunteering.” Her pride and joy is her family. Jon, her baby at 32, lives in Boston with his four children. Ann, 45, lives in Atlanta with one child. Jim, 47, lives at Rocky Boy. Jon served as president the Havre High Class of 1999, and when classmates returned for their 10th anniversary, he organized an effort to help middle class
...................... Not at all a new program, New Beginnings has a two-decade tradition on the Hi-Line. Every year, Sue said, people lose their spouse to divorce or death. A variety of emotions come upon these people, she
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H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
Havre Daily News/file photo Sue Swan: Hill County Health Department Registered Nurse and Northern Montana Hospital Foot Clinic staff nurse Sue Swan thanks United Way of Hill County for being honored with the 2011 Norm Gorder Community Spirit Individual Award for her years of volunteer service during United Way's 3rd Annual Meeting and Luncheon Wednesday afternoon in Montana State University-Northern's Student Union Building. Swan also worked as Northern's student health director for many years.
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The Sue Swan Scholarship
She said she was honored when, as a retirement gift, her family established a scholarship in her honor. “I told them I didn’t need a new television set. I didn’t need a recliner or any of the type of things that people who are retiring often get,” she said. So they came up with the idea of a scholarship. She wrote the criteria, but the family insisted that the winner had to have been involved in community service. “They have to write an essay,” she said of the candidates. This was the fourth year the scholarship was awarded, and she says she still hears from the winners. H AV R E D A I LY N E W S
“If I don’t hear from them, I hear from mom and dad,” she said. She said she is glad that people continue their public service when they are in college.
Advice for others
Sue urges everyone to get involved in some kind of community service. It’s rewarding, and it’s fun,” she said. “I get so upset when I hear people say there is nothing to do in Havre,” she said. Some people might be timid about coming forward, she said. They shouldn’t be. People should just review their skills and see what kind of volunteer work they are suited for and what kind of work they enjoy. October 2013
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406-945-9039
www.havrehilinerealty.net
Let me, Kim cripps, help you with your homework!
28 Beaver creek Blvd 4 bedroom, 2 baths. Double garage, fenced in yard, and walkout basement. $138,000 326 1st ave Possibilities are endless. 2 rentals or one big 3 bdrm, 2 bath house, you decide. Fenced yard, downtown location. $79,900
1212 grant ave Needs a handy person. This 3 bdrm, 2 bath home needs plumbing repairs and a furnace update. Great location with double garage. $121,000
429 1st ave… Kim just listed a clean cottage. Downtown location with fenced yard, double garage. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, and fi nished basement. Won't last long. $90,000
1201 9th ave 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, on main fl oor. Private yard, incredible view, double garage, fi nished basement. $158,000 #14 9th street 4 bdrm, 3 bath house located close to college. This home has an open fl oor plan with all new basement windows, enced in yard and many new updates. $145,000
1516 1st st Kim just listed. Great location for a mobile home or new build. This home needs serious rehab. Sold as is. $22,000
1613 Pine drive Spacious 3 bedroom - 2 bath home, with a open fl oor plan, fenced yard, covered patio, single garage. $139,900
527 3rd st 2 bedroom, 1 bath, downtown location, appliances included. New exterior paint. $59,900
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921 7th Ave ~ $112,000
Nice home to come home to, inviting Ranch style offering convenience and charm. Easy to love floor plan, cozy fireplace, friendly deck , master suite and two bedrooms in basement. Nice price too, won't last long!
115 4th Ave W ~ $329,000 Great office, restaurant, or clinic space available with parking lot and signage. Great commercial building on HWY 2 downtown Havre. This building has a full basement with his and her bathrooms and one other bathroom upstairs.
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600 1st St Siesta ~ $575,000
Price Reduced! 23 Unit motel w/1st Street (Hwy 2) frontage. Very clean, with family atmosphere. Recent updates, downtown location, dining & shopping available. Washers/Dryers.
1237 8th Ave ~ $73,500
Priced for that investment portfolio. Multi-unit, live in one and rent out the other apartment to help pay your mortgage. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, and small fenced in yard with a mature tree. Close to some schools and College.
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