Big Sky Blog

Just did some “pruning” of the Big Sky Blogroll - removing deleted or inactive blogs. The general rule on what qualifies as “inactive” is usually six months or longer without an entry. Others have been deleted by the owners, and therefore removed from the blogroll. Thanks to Randy at the Billings Free Press for helping me out! But on a more positive note, there are some recent additions to the roster; here’s a few of them:

- Manly Thoughts: yep, genuine manly thoughts from the manly man behind the Manly Man Candle Company. There - did I work the word “man” in enough?

- The Travels of Nancy Chalmers: including some great pix!
-
Eat/Drink Great Falls: from Epicuria comes an honest account of her culinary adventures in Great Falls.

- Problem Bear: among the recent topics are paper wasps, Seeley Lake, and poetry.

- Running On Empty: the near-daily journal of a runner, with occasional pix.

- Livingston Weekly: find out what’s going on in (duh) Livingston!

As always, please let me know of any new blogs in Montana…and remember, the Big Sky Blogroll is always open if you’re looking for some “Last, Best Place” blogging!

KULR-8 in Billings is reporting that Vice President Dick Cheney was in Billings today on his way to the Big Horn River to fish for trout.

Wyoming native Cheney knows where the best fishing is, Montana!

Randy’s Billings Free Press continues to improve — he’s done a great job with it. He’s got a great layout/design, fresh content, images, tags, the whole thing. If you live in Billings - or will be visiting - you owe it to yourself to both read the Billings Free Press AND add it to your blogroll (or bookmarks).

July 30, 1969

[Billings native] Dave McNally, ace southpaw for the Baltimore Orioles, wins his seventeenth consecutive game by defeating the Kansas City Royals 4-2 in Kansas City. McNally ties the American League record set by Johnny Allen of the Cleveland Indians during the 1937 season. The streak ends on August 3, largely due to Twins pinch hitter Rich Reese’s grand slam home run. McNally’s record will last until the 1999 season, when Roger Clemons establishes a new American League record of twenty consecutive wins.

From Montana Dateline by Ellis Roberts Parry.

From an e-mail: I’m heading to Gold Creek for a cancer retreat Sept. 4 and really want to come early or stay late to see your beautiful state. I’m on a cheap budget. What would you see or do? Any suggestions for clean cheap lodging? Small towns that you would not miss? So - any ideas or suggestions?

Today’s edition of The Billings Gazette has some good stories today which are worth reading.

The first is a story about the Japanese community in 20th century Harlowton and the second is of the last Japanese native in Harlowton. The story of Henry Muneta is especially poignant since he is the father-in-law of a Big Sky blogger.

I’ll let you figure out who the blogger is.

The next story is a nice one about the Billings Bluegrass music club which has weekly jam sessions at a local Hardee’s. The Gazette also has a nice photo album to go with the story.

I wonder if the Long Time Lonesome Dogs ever play at Hardee’s?

- The 90th Annual Hill Climb will be held on Saturday. Sponsored by the Billings Motorcycle Club, these guys are either very brave, just plain crazy, or probably a little bit of both.

- Evel Knievel Days in Butte, America continue in the Mining Town; this year is bittersweet for lots of folks, as it is the first Days event since the passing of one of Montanan’s favorite sons.

- Clark Days celebrates not a famous candy bar but rather the arrival of Capt Clark at what is now known as Pompey’s Pillar.

- And the weekend’s big attraction: the Montana State Fair in Great Falls! Shameless plug: if you’re looking for stuff to do in Great Falls besides the fair, be sure to check out the Greater Falls blog.

If you’ve got $17 million dollars to spare, then the folks over at Sotheby’s Realty have got a deal for you: your very own private island estate in Montana!

Own a private island on Whitefish Lake. This estate is situated on 10 acres with incredible views and over 2600 waterfront feet. Custom built 7,554 square foot home with 3 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, attached guest apartment, attached oversized 2 car garage plus 3 car oversized garage with equal space upstairs for a work room. Indoor and out door grilling area and two guest suites makes this house the ultimate for entertaining.

According to some Googling, the house is - or was - the residence of Montana state senator Dan Weinberg.
Pretty sweet digs! Um…let me look under the sofa cushions to find the additional $16.9 million that I’ll need to snag this deal.

Soyamaven sent me this picture with this information: “Reportedly, this 9′ 1″, 97 lb. snake was recently found east of Helena, near Canyon Ferry Lake.”

I don’t know if snakes in Montana routinely grow this large…but I’d hate to meet up with one.

So…can anyone confirm or deny that this snake was indeed captured near Canyon Ferry Lake?

Need some expert advice from fellow Montanans — received the following e-mail from a friend:

My mom is looking into a teaching position in Cut Bank, Mt. From my (limited) research, I’ve been able to find that it is close to Glacier NP and is known as the coldest spot in the nation (which makes me nervous). I also see that Great Falls is the closest airport in. Anything else you can tell me about the area?

I know that it is sometimes tagged as the coldest town in the lower 48, but I think that’s a clever bit of marketing, what with the penguin and such. Not denying that it’s cold - but I think a few spots in Montana are actually a bit colder, on average.
So - what say you? Any tips, wisdom, or advice (beyond the Chamber of Commerce details) for someone who is considering moving to Cut Bank?