Contents REAL ESTATE LISTINGS Ruff Real Estate LLC Koefod Agency Northern Land & Realty Property West Flynn Realty Bullhook Real Estate LLC Havre Hi-Line Realty Havre Realty Forshee Agency FEATURES The Palace Bar ...The Caesar Kitchen Cache ...PJ’s Lounge Plant A Seed...Read Safe & Secure
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For advertising information, contact Havre Daily News 119 Second Street / P.O. Box 431 Havre, MT 59501 406-265-6795 Please be aware that due to the time lapsed between publications some Real Estate listings may have changed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
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338 Sagebrush Drive ~ $139,500 Great curb appeal and big fenced back yard. This home has 2 bedrooms on the main floor and 2 non-conforming down, with large rec-room down and lots of storage. Seller highly motivated all offers will be considered.
536 New York Street ~ $115,000
205 9th St. ~ $86,000
This pretty home has been meticulously maintained with newer kitchen, bathroom and main floor all in neutral colors. There is a kitchen nook as well as a formal dining room, the oversized garage is attached and heated with a little doggie door and fenced area for Fido.
This attractive home has it all for a great 2nd home in town or a good starter home. Big corner lot, 2 bedrooms up, fireplace/woodstove and garage. Stylish kitchen with all appliances + washer and dryer.
1264 Washington Ave ~ $145,000
Lot 21 Meadowlark ~ $30,000 West of Havre on a corner lot. Priced to sell.
7833 9th Street West ~ $279,000
Newer home in the country. This home has stainless steel appliances & all stay but the W,D, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with one bathroom having a lavish master bath off the master bedroom, over 2,000 sq. ft. home with a 2.5 stall attached garage.
1015 12th Street West ~ $179,000
A hard to find beautiful 4 bedroom home with fenced yard, double garage, 2 bathrooms, covered porch, Rec room/man cave with dry bar & an extra large combined kitchen dining area. This home would be great for entertaining guests.
This 3 bedroom home has main floor utilities & formal dining room, double garage with alley access & RV parking.
CREATIVE LEISURE COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRICED AT $650,000
Bad Lands Car Wash 413 2nd Street ~ $149,900 Downtown car wash, building & car wash on 2 downtown city lots. This is a nice little cash cow.
647 Rd. 860 NW PSB Sandy Creek, West Havre - $850,000
619 1st St-Box Cars Casino ~ $395,000
.72+-AC West Havre – 18,000 – Realtor Owned HWY 2 West, 1st Street West Access. Asking $18,000
2nd St. W. 1.1 AC +- – $18,500
Great return on your investment with this well established Bar and Restaurant business here in Havre, MT. This turn key operation is located on two of the busiest roads in Havre, with a food contract established, gaming, all beverage liquor license and real estate included.
The Palace Bar BY GEORGE FERGUSON
PHOTOs BY COLIN THOMPSON
Jupe Compton knows his history when it comes to Havre. Whether it’s the history and evolution of the downtown area or his vast knowledge of local sports, Compton is one of Havre’s resident historians. And that’s only fitting, because Compton is also a big part of Havre’s history. And so is his Palace Bar, which has been in his family since 1959. The bar itself has been in Havre even longer, but Compton’s dad purchased it in 1959 and ran it until Jupe bought the bar in 1974. Compton and the Palace have been a part of Havre’s downtown history ever since. Of course, the establishment itself is famous for its historic back bar, which is believed to be the oldest back bar in Montana still in its original state. Manufactured in 1903, the back bar came to Montana from St. Louis and was originally placed in a bar in Chinook, at least until the prohibition years. Then, the Weyh brothers brought the back bar to the Palace in 1933, and it has stood there ever since. While Compton didn’t start running the Palace, with its famed back bar, until the early 1970s, it has remained
as one of Montana’s, and especially Havre’s, legendary landmarks. Still in its original state, and virtually unchanged, the back bar is a special part of downtown Havre. While the back bar itself hasn’t changed, the Palace Compton owns as well as much of historic downtown Havre have through the years. At least in some ways. “This has always been a working man’s joint,” Compton said. “A lot of railroaders, farmers and ranchers, that’s always been the main clientel. And then, being downtown, you would see a lot of different people come through. There’s a lot of interesting stories and a lot of interesting history around here. “If I had kept a journal all these years, there’d be a lot of interesting things in it, that’s for sure,” he quipped. “Some of it, I couldn’t tell anybody. But, I’d say, at least three times a week, you’d see something pretty odd or strange. But it’s all fascinating. It’s a fascinating way of life.” And it’s been a big part of Compton’s way of life for a long, long time. And when you first glance at the Palace from the inside, the bar remains a throwback to the glorious olden days. It remains a classic downtown watering hole, one with warmth, history and tradition. It’s a friendly atmosphere, and a true gathering place
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“
This has always been a working man’s joint. A lot of railroaders, farmers and ranchers, that’s always been the main clientel. And then, being downtown, you would see a lot of different people come through. There’s a lot of interesting stories and a lot of interesting history around here.
“
Jupe Compton Palace Bar Owner
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Gaming machines line the wall at the Palace Bar. in the community. That’s always been important to Compton. But it also doesn’t mean things haven’t changed. Flatscreen HD televisions are now mixed on the walls with the historical farming and ranching paintings, and modern signs and bar equipment mix with the historic back
bar. And then there’s the video gaming industry, a change that Compton said was one of the most dramatic in local bar business history. “The machines came in around ’72,” Compton said. “And it really helped everybody’s business. I don’t think bars, even
today, could really make it without them. So that was a big change.” And while Compton has kept many of the Palace’s longstanding traditions, such a classic pool table, the shake-aday, old-fashioned bar stools and great customer service, among others, he’s never been resistant
A liquor cabinet lines the back wall of the Palace Bar.
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to change either. That’s evident today with the modern juke box that hangs on the Palace wall, instead of one that rests on the floor. “The juke box works off the internet,” he said. “You can play it by using your phone. It’s fantastic.” Over the years, Compton, who’s been the president of the Montana Tavern Association and is still extremely active in it, has seen downtown Havre along with the bar industry change, as well. But he also noted that some things do, and can, stay the same and that makes his business very unique. “Havre used to have between 11 and 13 bars, all right around this part of town,” Compton said. “You could walk to every one of them. Now, it seems like there’s fewer of those bars around, even though there’s the same amount of liquor licenses. So there’s fewer of those types of bars around downtown, but they’re still there with many of the casinos that have opened up over the years. “As far as this business goes, there haven’t been a lot of changes. You get a lot of the same types of customers over the years. You see the same people. But there’s just so many more regulations now,” he continued. “That’s been a big change and it’s pretty constant. And that’s OK. It’s one of those things where they don’t force you to stay in business.” But Compton has never had any intention of not staying in business. The Palace is an icon
Jupe Compton, bar owner since 1974. of Havre, and, when it comes to his bar, he says, the more things change, the more they stay the same. “I’ve always said, with Havre businesses, everything goes with agriculture,” he said. “The railroad, the hospital, the college, those are big, too, but I’ve just always felt that everything has kind of been linked with the agriculture industry. When wheat and cattle are doing well, Havre is doing well. That hasn’t changed as far as I’ve seen.” Another thing that hasn’t changed is Compton’s love for local sports, and sports in general. A quick look around the walls of the Palace, and you know what kind of fan Compton is. He loves the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cubs, and both have given him a lot of
reasons to smile of late. Of course, the Cubs won the World Series this past November, something that Compton, like so many Cubs fans had been waiting a long time to see. And while many Cubs fans watched Game 7 in his bar last month, he needed to be alone on that magical night. “You know, I went to see the Cubs play two games in Atlanta for my 70th birthday this year. It was great. I knew all summer, they were the best team. But when they fell behind 3-1, I was like, here we go again. And then that Game 7. That was something else. It was nerve-racking. I had to watch it at home, alone. I didn’t want anybody bugging me, teasing me if they happened to lose. But it was great to see them finally win it all.” Compton’s Bears
aren’t doing as well as the Cubs, but in a twist of fate, a Havre Blue Pony did play for his beloved Bears for two seasons. Very few have the love of Blue Pony football on the level Compton does, so naturally, when former Pony Marc Mariani joined the Bears, it was a thrill for him. “It was fantastic having him play for the Bears,” he said. “I didn’t get to see him in person when he played in Chicago, and I was really disappointed when they let him go. He played so well for them. But I did get to see him play against San Diego with the Titans, and I was sitting next to a bunch of people from Nashville, and when they found out I was from (Marc’s) hometown, they all said how popular Marc is in Nashville and how the whole team just loves and
respects him. He’s such a great kid.” Compton and Mariani also have something very special in common. They both helped Havre High capture state championships in football. Compton was a sophomore on Havre’s 1961 title team, a squad which recently had a 50-year reunion for that special day when the Blue Ponies beat Bozeman High. “That reunion in 2011 was a lot of fun,” Compton said. “We had a lot of really good players on that team. Great guys. That was a special day, and a special team.” Sports, especially Havre High sports have always been special to Compton, who even got to see his son Nick don the Blue and White as an HHS running back during his high school days. And to this day, Compton is
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a staunch supporter of sports of all kind in Havre, and like everything else, considers sports a big part of not only Havre’s history but the Palace’s history, too. “The whole community gets behind our sports,” Compton said. “It’s a sports town, and it doesn’t really matter what sport. It’s just a town that has always really supported sports. It’s always been a very exciting town for sports.” And while sports remain a big part of Jupe Compton’s life, his bar has been an even bigger part of it. The Palace has long stood as one of Havre’s best and most enjoyable watering holes. And a big reason why is Compton and, the way he conducts business. His way, the Palace way, includes things he learned from his dad many years ago. “First, I’ve always told my bartenders that what we are selling is service,” he said. “That’s what we really have to offer, because people don’t have to go out to bars. They can enjoy beverages at home and get them from grocery stores and things like that. So I’ve always said, we want our customers to know we appreciate their business. We appreciate that they’re here and we want to see them come back again.” Another thing, and one Compton picked up from his father, that makes the Palace stand out is that its doors are rarely closed. Occasional holidays and
The front door of the Palace Bar opens onto First Street. such, but for almost every day, from 8 a.m. until 2 a.m., the Palace doors are open. “When I was working for my dad, it was really dead one winter night and I called him and asked him if I could close up early,” Compton said. “He said: ‘well maybe around 10-to 2 (a.m.)’ I thought, that really isn’t closing up that early. But he told me, what if somebody comes and finds the door locked. Well, then that same person finds the doors locked early three or four more times,
and all of sudden, word goes around to people that are thinking about going to the Palace, and they say, it’s probably closed. He told me, keep the doors open as long as they’ll let you, and I’ve always believed in that.” Indeed. The Palace is a mainstay in downtown Havre, and the Compton way is a big reason why the grand old bar is so revered and so important to Havre. And while Compton has owned the bar now for almost 43 years, he isn’t considering retiring yet. He loves
what he does. He loves knowing the Palace doors are open to patrons every day and night, and he wants to continue to make sure the Palace remains not only an important part of Havre’s history, but its present and future, too. “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Compton said. “I taught school for one year, and I liked it, but it just wasn’t for me. This is what I love doing. I’ve loved every day I’ve spent in this place, and I just couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
The Palace Bar, 228 First Street, Havre, MT 59501, 406-265-7584
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CAESAR
Palace Bar Palace Bar owner Jupe Compton was happy to share the recipe for the Palace’s popular Caesar — which can be made into a Bloody Mary by substituting tomato juice in place of clamato juice. He did warn, with a laugh, that some patrons have reported this drink can act as a mild aphrodisiac.
PHOTOs BY COLIN THOMPSON
RECIPE
Start with a 10-ounce glass, and add however much cubed or crushed ice you want to chill your drink. Add: 1 to 1.5 ounces vodka about 5 ounces clamato juice (just leave enough room in the glass to add the remaining ingredients) 2 dashes black pepper 1 dash celery salt 1 dash Worcestershire sauce 1 dash Tabasco sauce 1 dash of green olive juice
Stir lightly
Garnish with: 1-3 green olives 1 spear asparagus Skewered onto a FEBRUARY 2017 | LIVING Havre toothpick and the Hi-Line MAGAZINE |
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plan required. LTE Advanced and LTE are available in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds are based on theoretical throughput and vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on LTE support, 12 |1DataLIVING Havre and theandHi-Line MAGAZINE | varies FEBRUARY 2017See www.apple.com/batteries for more information. contact your carrier see www.apple.com/iphone/LTE. 2Battery life by use and conďŹ guration.
STORY BY PAM BURKE PHOTOs BY COLIN THOMPSON Scott Bergren has been the owner of PJ’s Lounge Restaurant and Casino since Dec. 1, but he’s worked there since he was 12 years old when the restaurant opened in 1989 because, he said, child labor laws don’t apply to family. His dad, Jerry Bergren, bought the bar, then called White Horse Saloon, in 1970. In the building that once housed a bar — where the kitchen is now located — a barbershop, a taxi service and a cafe, Jerry expanded his bar and built a disco dance floor. Eventually, though, he took out the dance floor and put in the restaurant, Scott Bergren said. “The old disco ball is still up there above the (drop ceiling),” Scott said. “They did disco and dancing and bands and stuff back there for just a little while, then he wanted to turn it into — clean it up a little bit, get out of the blood and the guts and the fights and the skid row he called it. And he slowly turned it into what it is now.“ The business name was changed in 1979 to PJ’s. “It took him a long time to get the cleanup process done, but, yeah, in ’89 when he finally had his dream set, he put (the restaurant) in there,” Scott said. “He put his mind to it and did it and did a very good
job.” Despite his dad’s drive, the business’ success had help from another source, Bergren’s mom, Penney. PJ’s stands for Penney and Jerry’s. “It was his dream and his start, but none of it would’ve been possible without my mother, I’ll tell you that,” Bergren said. “She tried raising us for a while and said piss on it, let’s go see if I can’t do something with this down here,” he added. “She started doing the office work for Dad and ran it with a tight fist. She was really good at what she did, and I know it helped his business quite a bit. A lot.” Bergren, who has worked at every position of the staff except waiting tables and calling keno, said he doesn’t have plans to change anything, except to carry on his dad’s “name and his legacy.” “It was his dream and his bar. I don’t have any plans of changing it. I don’t have any visions of it becoming better because it can’t,” he said. “Just to be half as good as him and I’ll be happy as hell.” What makes the place special for Bergren is that it’s family oriented in both the bar and the restaurant. This starts with the employees; many have worked there for years. “We have a great crew right
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now. I’m happy as hell with them, especially the ones that have stuck by me, not only him but by me too,“ he said. “I couldn’t do it without them, wouldn’t do without ‘em.” And the homey feeling extends to the bar as well. “Bars aren’t really made anymore to make money on drunks,” he said, referring to the laws, training and liability pertaining to bars. PJ’s has many loyal customers. Some of them have been coming for decades and if they show up early in the morning they just make and serve their own coffee. “Right there is just an example of the walks of life that walk through here,“ he said, referring to customers in the bar that morning. “You got a railroader on one end, you got a construction man on the other end and you got a banker at the other end and a retired potato-chip guy at the other end.”
Ham and Bean Soup
PJ ’s Lounge
This Ham and Bean Soup is a regular part of the menu at PJ’s Restaurant. With Easter coming up, it’s a fresh way to serve up ham leftovers. The soup goes well with a variety of sandwiches and is served here with a Reuben Sandwich on rye.
RECIPE 1 1/2 pounds ham, chopped 2 cups white or navy beans 2 carrots, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped 1/2 onion, chopped fine 1/2 cup ham base 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke 1 bay leaf
Put all ingredients in a large pot, cover generously with water (about a gallon), bring to a boil and cook, covered, for one hour. Lower the temperature to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for about one more hour, stirring regularly, until beans are done. Remove bay leaf and serve. Recommendations: • Beans can be soaked overnight to shorten cooking time, but otherwise this step is not necessary. • To speed cooking time, use a blending wand to blend a just bit of the soup. This helps break down he beans. A quick burst with the wand just before serving also will add a burst of flavor to the soup, he said. • Vary the salt depending on the saltiness of the ham. FEBRUARY 2017 | LIVING Havre and the Hi-Line MAGAZINE |
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COMMERCIAL LISTINGS Lot for Sale on Hwy 2 West
1135 11TH ST.
A MUST SEE! Super roomy, 3-bedroom, 2-bath home, all on 1 level. Main floor laundry, updated beautiful maple flooring & new counter tops. Nice media room, extra living space, 2 non-conforming bedrooms and bathroom in lower level. Lots of parking!
1105 14th Street West, Havre
5 bedroom/3 bath home with modern floor plan, double car garage with attached workshop, landscaped, fenced yard with underground sprinklers and lots of offstreet parking. Covered patio, newer roof and siding, move in ready!
Commercial Building
Northern Land
6-plex apartments with 2 stall car wash. Good rental history and income. Call Cindy to schedule showing! Call Cindy to schedule showing!
HI-LINE LISTINGS
705 5th Ave. 10-plex apartment building, centrally located with a strong rental history.
240 Hermes Road, Chinook 2 bedroom/1 bath home on 1 acre. Located ¾ mile southwest of Chinook, this property has detached oversized 2+ car garage and workshop.
Commercial Lots Commercial lots located in Havre with US HW 2 and 15th Avenue access. Possible owner financing!
Budget Inn ~ Havre Multi-unit motel complex with daily, weekly & monthly rentals plus several commercial rental spaces, owner/manager accomodations & laundry facility. Located on busy US Highway 2, a great business opportunity that offers low vacancy history.
417 S. Main, Harlem 710 Summit Ave 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on one level of living. Single car attached garage, fenced backyard, great location.
3-bedrooms, 1-bath. 2-car attached garage. Nice lot.
720 9th Street
4-bedroom, 2 ½ bath home is spacious! Great open kitchen, main floor utilities and large fenced yard make this a dream home! Commercial Building
Good rental history with 2 offices.
Call Cindy to schedule showing! 606 1st West ~ Arctic Circle For Sale or Rent. Seat in dining or drive through. Great restaurant prospects or conversion to other use.
11135 River Rd.
Minutes from town, Country Living at its finest! 5061 sq. feet on 60 acres. 5-bed/4 baths, 3 fireplaces and wet bar. Home has separate living space in walk-out basement. Fencing for horses.
Local Lawn Care & Snow Removal Business With growing customer base. Turnkey with tools, equipment and vehicles. Call Jim for details!
Old Bakery Building Prime commercial building formerly used for Eddy’s Bakery, approximately 8,570 sq ft of multi-purpose retail/commercial space, multiple overhead access doors for numerous uses, excellent on-site and off-street parking, lease available.
LAND LISTINGS We have qualified buyers for farm and ranch properties.
"Looking to be your own boss? Call on our Business Listings today!"
16 | LIVING Havre and the Hi-Line MAGAZINEAPRIL | FEBRUARY 2015 | 2017 LIVING Havre and the Hi-Line MAGAZINE | 5
1110 Bullhook Dr SE ~ $599,000
6 Bedroom, 5 Bath home in a great neighborhood.
1323 36th Ave. W. ~ $373,000 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath. Beautiful home!
7013 Beaver Creek Rd. ~ $446,000 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home on 40 Acres.
611 6TH AVE. – $167,000 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath home. Beautifully updated home!
213 4th St. ~ $219,000
4 Bedroom, 3 Bath, 2 family rooms, and bonus room in basement.
1315 FORD AVE. ~ $229,500
Tri-plex.
1123 McKinley Ave. ~ $329,000 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath home.
1228 Lincoln Ave. ~ $209,900 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath home.
1230 McKinley Ave. ~ $89,000 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home.
Lot 23, 20th St. - $43,000 Land Washington Avenue ~ $75,000 FIRST time on the market a Large (2.41 acres) rectangular lot at south end of Washington. Must hook into city sewer, but choice of well or city water. Large building area, plus room for lots of animals too.
612 4th Avenue ~ $89,900 5 Bedroom, 3 Bath home.
Lot 36A & 36B KV Ande Minor Subdivision ~ $45,000
40 acres located Northwest of Havre. Beautiful views of the Milk River Valley and the Bears Paw Mountains. Land includes a well and electricity on the north side of the property. Realtor owned.
15 15th Ave. ~ $85,000
This building has 2 office areas, a large shop area, 3 garage spaces, and loft area.
from little WORDS...
big KIDS grow STORY BY PAM BURKE Backed by an ever-growing number of studies showing that the highest degree of brain development occurs from birth to 5 years old, Havre-based nonprofit program Plant a Seed ... READ! works to get books to the youngest members of the community and help parents understand and fulfill their role as their child’s first teacher during those crucial early years. “Research has been showing us now that 40 percent of the children are behind in readiness skills when they start kindergarten,” the program’s founder and executive director, Lorraine Verploegen, said, adding that teachers have been telling her that statistic is about the minimum, with about 20 percent on target and 20 percent one to two years ahead. “So when children are coming to kindergarten, that classroom teacher, that kindergarten teacher, may have
a five-year gap at kindergarten and that is just too much at the beginning of the year,” she said. While it would seem that putting in extra work at home or at school will help these kindergartners catch up to the average, this isn’t always possible because a child’s environment outside of school is out of the teacher’s control, she said. Sometimes problems at home also were brought to school, she added, and while teaching she would watch some “kids walk in in the morning and probably could figure out what had happened the night before.” Typically, those kids would start to open up by about 10 a.m. she said, but then start shutting down about 2 p.m. anticipating going home. “So we’ve lost a couple hours with those kids,” she said. She also cited a study by Children’s Reading Foundation tracking students nationwide through their sophomore year in high school that says students in the lower percentile rarely catch up. The data shows, statistically, every student advances a year’s worth of knowledge in each grade. So by the time the children
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are in their 10th year of school 40 percent are still up to three years behind and 20 percent are advanced, making the span of literacy level from seventh to 12th grade. The literacy problem is not directly related to economic level, like it would be easy to assume, she said. Verploegen worked for a time in Billings for the largest Montana school district, which had children from high-income families, she said, and saw the problem there, as well. “You will find it in every economic class,” she added. “It might be more prevalent in some economic levels than others, but you can’t make a blanket statement.” “The goal is to have the parents realize that they are their child’s first teacher and most important teacher, and they get them ready for kindergarten instead of waiting for them to get to kindergarten to learn all this stuff,” said Sandy Wilson, a former teacher who works with Verploegen.
The Program
In its most basic form, Plant a Seed ... READ! exists to get one book a month to children from birth to age 5 in Hill and Blaine counties for free. This is done through a partnership with Imagination Library and with numerous local donors who help pay the $25 per year fee for each enrolled child. But the vision is to nurture literacy and language skills in preschool-age children through family involvement. The knowl-
edge and the thought processes gained will help the children succeed in all areas of study in school and life. “I knew that (birth to
Come,” which is presented on the fifth birthday, acting as signature books each year. This means that families with more than one child will be getting
5 years old) was where everything started,” Verploegen said. “If everybody had a good education their probability of needing social services was going to be nil, or next to nothing.” All children participating in Imagination Library, a now-international program started in 1995 by Dolly Parton in her home county in East Tennessee, receive a free, ageappropriate book each month from the time of enrollment up to their fifth birthday. IL partners with many large corporations, including Penguin Publishing, which helps provide the books. IL’s board of experts chooses a set of new books each year, with only “The Little Engine That Could” and “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I
different books to share, Verploegen said. But Plant a Seed … READ! is much more than just a way to sign up for free books. “The need to intervene early is so important, and we just want to give those kids a chance so they can feel successful from day one of school and continue on — and empower parents that it is their responsibility, too,” Verploegen said, “But I keep telling them that ‘You’re not a teacher like a classroom teacher is — you’re giving your child experiences, you’re talking to your children, you’re giving them words.’” With this in mind, the program offers events, workshops and other resources for parents to learn what activities help children develop lan-
guage and use language to develop skills beyond literacy, such as math, art, science and logic. Some of the activities are specifically geared toward time set aside for a short lesson, such as reading a book out loud to a toddler and asking that child to point out the object described in the story, age-appropriate activities and story-driven questions. But much of the training shows parents different ways to incorporate teaching into everyday moments, she said, such as learning to count by helping to set the table and counting the plates and silverware. The counting lesson becomes a beginning math lesson when the child is, for example, given three plates instead of the needed four and comes to understand that one more is needed, thus starting to understand that three plus one is four, she said. One of the program’s major events, Breakfast for Literacy, will be Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Eagles Club community room from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is primarily a family event for families participating in or interested in Imagination Library, with many activities for kids and their families. However, anyone interested in volunteering or donating to the program is welcome. The event is a fundraiser, but also an awareness event that will be educational for parents and children with activities that compliment the books to show how they can be fun and educational.
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It takes a Village
While Plant a Seed … READ! is Verploegen’s brainchild, she is the first to say that it wouldn’t exist without the help of volunteers working with her and on the board along with the many sponsors that help with money and expertise. “We talk about that statement that it takes a village to raise a child,” she said. “We really have taken that to heart because any activity we do involves people from birth to seniors.” The board, formed in 2010 when the program became affiliated with Imagination Library under the Hill County United Way’s nonprofit status, are all volunteers bringing valuable experience in areas such as education, social services, legal services and website design. Through board members’ determination and efforts the program received its own nonprofit designation in 2013. Havre High School students, Key Club members, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are some of the program’s biggest supporters through volunteering. They will be helping with activities at Breakfast for Literacy and, she said, the consumer science students are hoping to make
“ the muffins. Senior citizens make small, child-sized lap quilts called reading buddy quilts for kids in day cares to cuddle during reading time. The quilts are easy to throw in the washing machine, Verploegen said. “And,” she added with a laugh, “I grab all my teaching friends, especially if they’re retired.” Along with partnering with day care providers, Plant a Seed … READ! also works with the Head Start and Early Head Start, schools and public libraries in Hill and Blaine counties providing materials, getting references and coordinating literacy promotion efforts. The program also partners with early intervention programs ECIT and Child Find, as well as local Court Appointed Special Advocates program which sponsors participation in IL for any eligible children working with CASA volunteers. Hill County Health Department’s NurseFamily Partnership which, as a part of the program that works with families with newborn babies, also sponsors the newborn’s participation in IL. Partnerships with other literacy programs, such as Read Aloud 15 Minutes and Hopa Mountain, help provide more resources
There’s no such thing as too many books.
Lorraine Verploegen, Director Plant a Seed ... READ!
for readers. Hopa Mountain’s StoryMakers program, like Imagination Library, provides high-quality books to children from birth to 5 years — four in the spring and four in the fall. It is specifically set up for native American children and programs such as WIC, county health departments and clinics which assist low-income patients. Last year, Plant a Seed … READ! received the Citizen Leadership Award from Hopa Mountain. “That was such an honor for us to be recognized by another nonprofit that works with youth,” Verploegen said.
Sponsors and Donors
Verploegen, who volunteers all her time along with the board members and Wilson, said that from the beginning area service organizations and business have generously supported the program. Imagination Library is open to everyone and free to participants, but that means the number of participants is limited to money raised through grants, fundraisers, and local sponsors and donors, which pays for each child’s $25 annual participation fee and the minimal
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“
Featured speaker and reader will be New York Times bestselling author Laura Numeroff, who has written almost 50 children’s books, including “If You Give a Moose a Muffin,” which is the inspiration for some of the activities at the event.
expenses of the program. More than 1,500 children in Hill County and 500-600 children in Blaine County are eligible for the program — and between the two, 225 children are signed up. “So we have a lot of potential,” Wilson said. Blaine County recently received a Montana Community Foundation grant, Verploegen said, so the children on their waiting list are now signed up and they will be able to add a few more to the program. Hill County has a waiting list of 25 children, but an expected donation from parents of one participant to sponsor 50 other children will help with that as well as pay next year’s fees for a few other participants, Verploegen said. This is part of the program’s Adopt a Reader campaign, she added, that gives parents a way to pay it forward for other children. Community sponsors contribute to the campaign, too, including a recent $1,000 Community Vitality from Triangle Communications that will be used to fund participation for 2017 newborn babies. The major capital campaign for Plant a Seed ... READ! will come in April, Verploegen said, but no
details had been finalized by press time.
Turning the Pages
The program is building up a library of readaloud books with related activities, Verploegen said. These packets are available to child care providers to check out from the Blaine County Library in Chinook and, Verploegen said, she hopes they will be available at the Havre-Hill County Library soon, though providers can get them from the Plant a Seed … READ! office at the HRDC Building now. Plant a Seed ... READ! may be expanding to include a third county soon. Verploegen said she and Wilson were asked to meet with interested people in Phillips County to talk about expanding the program. The intitial meeting was set for January. When the board decided to apply for and was given its own nonprofit status in 2013, that “opened many, many doors to us as far as grants,” she said, and they have started working on getting larger grants, including from Town Pump Charitable Foundation which has provided some funding to the program all along. One grant through the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation will be a game changer if it comes through, she said, because it will help them provide more training and take-home resources for parents through an early childhood literacy, parenteducation program called
Heydon Olson and Cadence Kallenberger listen to Rachel Dean MAT Chapter administrator reading Mary Poppins at the 2015 Plant a Seed ... READ! fundraiser. Ready for Kindergarten. As Plant a Seed … READ! grows, in terms of families helped, partner-
ships and services, and they are able to track participating children as they go through the system,
she said, they be able to apply the program’s data to grant applications and prove sustainability.
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335 14th St W ~ $267,000
Beautiful 2 bdrm, 2 bath home. Open living/dining/kitchen with bonus office room. 2 bed, 1 bath & storage room in basement. Nice yard & double attached garage. Located near college & hospital.
23 Pike St. ~ $225,000
Many beautiful updates in this 3 bdrm. 2 bath home on a corner lot. Natural stone fireplace, enclosed sun porch with A/C, beautiful fenced backyard & double garage.
Call Derek Fraser @ 262-4603
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 265-7845
1261 Washington Ave ~ $210,000
927 New York St~Chinook, MT $225,000
1069 Lincoln Ave. ~ $294,900
Beautiful 4 bdrm., 2 bath split level home in Highland Park. Many updates, awesome kitchen & wood burning stove in basement. Double garage shed, underground sprinklers, garden area & 82' paved driveway.
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 406-265-7845
4333 Old Post Road ~ $269,000
Updated 4 bdrm, 3 bath home on 1.68 Acres. Main floor utility, 2 garages-4 stalls, wood working area & lots of parking. All landscaped, roundabout driveway, hot tub off back of garage and great views!
Updated 3 bdrm, 2 bath home with all new appliances, nice kitchen/dining/living areas, large bedrooms, huge family room in bsmt & pellet stove. Fenced yard, storage shed & 2 stall garage.
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 406-265-7845
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 265-9400
9 Cypress Drive ~ $289,000
Beautiful updated 6 bedroom, 3 bath home with master bed/bath on main & 3 non-conforming bedrooms in day-light basement. Sliding door off master & dining area onto privacy deck. Wood fireplace & wood stove in basement. Large laundry area, 2 furnances, CA & steam shower in basement. Large living room windows with great views, landscaped yard w/ underground sprinklers, fenced back yard & attached garage. Very well cared for & never had pets. Great South End location close to schools.
712 17th St. ~ $149,000
820 1st Avenue ~ $210,000
Charming 5 bdrm, 2 bath home on 5 levels. Fireplace, hardwood floors & deck with a view. Private fenced back yard, rock gardens & double garage with access from Summit Ave & 1st Ave.
Call Ken Nelson @ 406-439-0595
Hill County Acreage~$1,015,000
3 bdrm, 1 3/4 bath home with great yard, deck off back, extra parking and playhouse/garden shed. Includes a single attached garage, plus 3 stall detached garage/shop.
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 406-265-7845
718 2nd Street~ $89,000
Cute 1 bdrm, 1 bath single level home. Nice backyard, off street parking & close to downtown.
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 265-9400
+/- 1300 acres with 660 deeded and 640 acres state lease in Hill County.
Blaine County Acreage
Call Nick Pyrak @ 390-2867
60' x 90' Shop on 3 Acres! 5400 sq. ft. Shop. Includes air compressor, oil heater, radiant heat system & 2 post hoist. Very Motivated Seller. Will consider Contract for Deed with acceptable down payment.
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 406-265-7845
LOTS/ACREAGES FOR SALE
Very nice, clean, freshly remodeled 3 bdrm, 2 bath home in Chinook, MT. New flooring, new windows/paint, all new kitchen & appliances, Jacuzzi tub and large oversized double garage.
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 406-265-7845
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 265-9400
Bullhook Bottoms Casino ~ $650,000 A large Commercial property that includes a Casino & Liquor License on 1st Street/ Hwy 2 frontage in Havre, MT.
226 2nd St. NW ~ Rudyard, MT $79,900
3 bdrm, 1 bath home in Rudyard, MT. Open floor plan, large master suite with patio & large family room with wood stove in basement. Nice updates including paint, carpets & new metal roof. Triple heated/insulated garage/shop.
Call Jeanie Cole @ 945-0931
821 Utah St. Chinook ~ $169,000
1236 2nd Street ~ $129,900
Call Nick Pyrak @ 390-2867
Updated 3 bed, 2 bath home in Chinook, MT. Large kitched and living area, den and main floor laundry. 2 stall garage, large patio & deck, all on 2 1/2 lots.
City water/sewer to curb & electrical run into back of each lot. Lots may be combined or sold seperately.
Price Reduced
Recently remodeled very nice 3 bedroom, 1 bath home. Finished basement with possible non-conforming bedroom. Large oversized detached single garage.
815 Missouri St. ~ Chinook $148,000
2 (+/-.36 Acre) City Lots For Sale In Glo Ed Area
Commercial Shop With Living Quarters In Chinook
Call Ken Nelson @ 406-439-0595
812 2nd Street ~ $99,500
1117 Pennsylvania St ~ Chinook $159,000
Call Ken Nelson @ 406-439-0595
Call Ken Nelson at 406-439-0595 or Larry Martinson @ 390-1509
+/- 160 acres located in North East Blaine County in Hogeland Area.
2 bedroom, 1 bath home with many updates. Includes a 1 bedroom, 1 bath loft apartment with separate entrance. Large detached double garage.
Call Ken Nelson @ 406-439-0595
3155 9th St. E. ~ $435,000
505 5th Street N. ~ $148,000
Nice 5 bed, 3 bath home in Highland Park. 3 bed-2 full baths up & 2 bed-1 full bath down. New flooring throughout, large deck in back and double detached garage.
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 406-265-7845
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 406-265-7845
Call Janis Flynn Pyrak @ 265-7845
1158 McKinley Ave ~ $220,000
3 bdrm., 1 bath home on South End. Fresh paint, fenced backyard and double garage. Close to schools and parks.
Large 3 bedroom, 1 bath home in Chinook. Open living, 2 fireplaces and wet bar in basement. Fenced yard, deck and double attached garage.
850 sq ft shop on .06 Acres. $75,000 Located South of Fairgrounds.
Call Ken Nelson @ 406-439-0595
4 bed, 2 bath home in Chinook, MT. Open kitchen/dining with tons of extras. Completely remodeled-newer roof, new wiring & plumbing, new insulation, new windows/doors & paint.
Call Ken Nelson @ 406-439-0595
116 15th Avenue ~ $64,900
2 bedroom and 1 bath house with fenced yard.
1438 1st Street ~ $64,900
3 bedroom and 1 bath house with fenced yard.
1015 14th St. W. ~ $289,000
Great family home on corner lot. 4 bed, 2 bath, multi level home with attached 2 stall insulated garage, underground sprinklers and A/C. New roof and new steel siding.
1426, 1426 1/4, 1426 1/2 4th Street ~ $144,900 3 rental houses with approx $1800 in monthly income.
The world awaits. (You don’t.)
Next time you travel, hop on one of our fast, daily flights to Billings Logan International for easy connections to wherever you’re going. And enjoy the ride. Havre
Glasgow
Wolf Point Sidney
49
$
from
Glendive
* each way
Billings
Enjoy the ride.
capeair.com
800-CAPE-AIR
*Including all taxes and fees. Fares are subject to availability and other conditions. Fares may change without notice, and are not guaranteed until ticketed.
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Unlock the possibilities!
406-945-9039 • www.havrehilinerealty.net Let me, Kim Cripps, help you with your homework!
425 19th St. ~ $110,000 New siding and roof. 2 bed - 1 bathvv
PRICE REDUCED!
712 16th St - $245,000 3 levels of living, double garage.
PRICE REDUCED!
428 Missouri St. Chinook MT, $41,800
3 Levels of living - Double garage. New siding.
110 4th Ave, Hingham, MT - $69,900 4 bed, spacious lot.
817 8th Street ~ $145,900 2 bed, 2 bath, plus 3 non-conforming bedrooms.
1410 5th Ave. - $125,000 3 bedrooms, 2 baths soon to have new paint and roof.
2780 Bullhook Rd. SE - $445,000 Approx. 24 acres with an Incredible View. Includes a barn, 3 bedrooms & 3 baths.
428 11th Avenue - $81,900 2 bed - 1 level
526 18th Street - $160,000 4 bed, 2 bath, new inside and out!
Acreage for Sale North of Havre - $98,000 Acreage to build your dream home! Approximately. 20 acres North of Havre with an incredible view of the Bears Paw Mountains.
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STORY BY PAM BURKE While small-town and rural living generally means residents of northcentral Montana are not in a high-crime area, it doesn’t mean this is a no-crime area, so a home surveillance or security system might be the thing to give a homeowner piece of mind. Whether to buy a surveillance system or a security system or both is a homeowner’s personal decision, probably made consulting the monthly budget, but either can provide a sense of safety at home, esperts say.
Surveillance
SAFE
and SECURE
A surveillance system simply uses video cameras to monitor the activity around a home and can store that information for review later. The systems vary a lot in price depending on quality of equipment and size of system, including the number of cameras and the amount of memory for saving images. Other than possible upgrades or repairs, the only monthly expense is the electricity for a few more electronic devices — and internet access with high downloadspeed if the system uses wireless transmission. Camera features to look for include: • Weather resistance — the difference between indoor and outdoor cameras is the housing, Casey Jones of Northwest Security Services in Chinook said, but sometimes he will use an outdoor camera indoors because it has the particular features
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the customer is looking for. On the other hand, indoor cameras cannot be used outside because they don’t have weatherproof shells. Jones said he uses cameras rated to at least minus-20 temperatures. Outdoor cameras also can be found with wipers to clear rain and heaters to melt snow on the lens, but like with any added features, these will raise the cost per camera. • Low-light sensitivity — Electronichouse.com says that the lower a camera’s lux rating, the better it can see in poor lighting or in the dark, but for total darkness, infrared illumination, or IR, is needed. Some of the problems with IR, though, have to do with picture quality. They lose color and are good up to only about 100 feet at best, Jones said, adding that some cameras can bump up the IR power when zooming in on an area, though, and that will help the picture. • Wired/wireless — Depending on the application, cameras can be found that operate hardwired to the recorder or by wireless transmission of data to suit the conditions. Hardwired can be difficult or expensive to install in remote areas, but wireless
can eat up internet bandwidth. Some digital cameras can be wired to old analog systems, too, saving money while updating the camera equipment, Jones said. • Pan-tilt-zoom — This allows the view to adjust PTZ from the system computer or even a smart phone. A variation of this feature is one that allows the user to adjust the area in which a sensor will detect motion and begin recording the full scene. • Information storage — Information is stored on a DVR, similar to those used to record TV programs, or an NVR, a network video recorder that is a similar device. The size of the memory will determine how many days of images can be stored, but some systems can be set up to minimize data by using motion sensors or lowering the number of image frames per second. Lower quality images save storage space, but the tradeoff is loss of details, Jones said, adding that some cameras can take fewer images or lower quality images until motion detection triggers high resolution mode. Camera placement is important with surveillance cameras, as is getting a system that can adequately handle the number of cameras to be operated.
Security
A security system uses sensors and detectors as an alarm system that is monitored by a central station which notifies emergency contacts in response to an alarm being set off — and these
systems have a surprisingly wide variety of dangers they can detect. Not surprising, though, is that the systems vary widely in price depending on quality of equipment, the number of alarm features and how much the central station that monitors the alarms charges. Along with detecting a door or windows being opened, security systems can detect breaking glass or a window screen tear, if someone enters through a window; motion; smoke; heat; or carbon monoxide; and water, in case a basement sump pump quits working or a refrigerator, wash machine or dish washer over flow. They can also allow remote control of lights. A basic system can be relatively inexpensive, Jones said. His basic kit for $450, includes a panel, a keypad, three wireless door sensors, one wireless motion detector and a wireless receiver. Installation fees are extra and depend on details such as the difficulty accessing areas like crawl spaces and attics for installation and distance between the keypad and the panel, which is essentially the computer. These systems can be hardwired, wireless, or a combination of the two. The important thing is that they are secure from being tampered with, work well for the customer and be as unnoticeable as possible, Jones said. The way the security system works, Jones said, is that the installer is essentially a dealer for the central station which monitors the system. If an alarm is triggered
the central station calls a phone number or numbers appropriate to the emergency. If the door alarm goes off, the home owner or designated contact is called along with the police department. If the problem is water flooding at the sump pump then the home owner and the plumber are called. Jones said that people thinking of having a surveillance or security system installed should do their research. Representatives from installation companies can give them information, give a price on installation and offer suggestions on needs and how to meet the home owner’s budget, but it is a buyer-beware market with few businesses doing this type of work in rural areas, Jones said. He recommends: • Look online at prod-
some of the customers. • If the company is a national company, ask where the service office is located because if the nearest office is across the state or farther away it will take time to get a problem taken care of, and ask who pays the service personnel’s travel expenses. • Look for online reviews, but pay attention to reviews from your area or similarly rural areas. • Do a long-term cost analysis. Many of the national companies will offer free equipment, but charge more for monthly fees to the central station, locking the customer into a five-year contract. Smaller companies will sell the equipment to the customer and charge a lower monthly fee for monitoring a security system. • Ask if it is possible to change to another central station in the future. Jones said he knows of one na-
uct reviews for the equipment being proposed for installation. • If the installation company is local, ask to talk to
tional company that won’t give customers their installation password so they cannot switch companies in the future.
Making choices
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505 15th Ave. – $159,900 415 4th Ave ~ $259,900 Great office space. Move in ready. 4 office If you're looking for a bigger house suites. Could easily convert back part to with lots of extra space this property would fit your needs. Nice 4 apartment. bedroom, 2.5 bath home. Very open floor plan consisting of spacious kitchen/dining area opening up to living room. Perfect for a large family or for entertaining.Open staircase to basement feature large bedroom, family room & office. GFA/AC, WE ACCEPT LISTINGS Double garage with a single garage, back deck & all fenced yard. Call OF ALL KINDS! today for your personal showing.
CALL TODAY FOR A MARKET ANALYSIS OF YOUR PROPERTIES!
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Being there for you.
410 11th Ave. Havre, MT – $143,000
FEATURES: Beautiful main floor, living room, great kitchen, master bathroom, nice room for an office, attached car garage.
Sheila Forshee, Broker Forshee Montana Realty Tel: 406-262-4842
OFFERING GRADUATE, BACHELOR, ASSOCIATE, AND CERTIFICATE DEGREES
CONTACT US TODAY!
www.msun.edu
800•662•6132
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