Shelby News

SHELBY - At any given moment, the Rev. Michael Drury can look at a terra cotta of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ intricately painted in blue and gold leaf by his great-uncle, the Rev.

CUT BANK - Rachel Waldner, 78, a head cook and kindergarten teacher at Seville Colony near Cut Bank, died of natural causes Sunday at a Shelby hospital.

TOOLE COUNTY - Toole County law enforcement officers are working to unravel an unusual and elaborate crime - the theft of a 5-by-9 steel Pegasus weighing several hundred pounds.

The Marias Museum in Shelby brings Christmas to the prairie on Dec. 8. From 5 to 8 p.m., people can visit the museum for free and enjoy a soup supper for $5. The evening activities include a nativity display, Christmas trees decorated to depict the history of local organizations, performances by local musicians and caroling.

VALIER - Alvin A. Morris, 87, of Valier, a World War II Army veteran, died of natural causes Friday at Marias Care Center in Shelby.

Merchants in smaller towns in northcentral Montana are doing their best to persuade area residents to shop locally this year through diversifying their inventories, special promotions and fun activities.

Heard from Corrections Corporation of America this week and learned several things.

- With 13 votes, Kevin council incumbent Ray Christiaens was ousted by Della Huso-Hunt (38 votes) and Curtis Stene (53 votes.) Running unopposed, Becky Gard was elected mayor with 32 votes. - Longtime Shelby Mayor Larry Bonderud was re-elected with 571 votes. Eugene Haroldson (196 votes,) Don R. Lee (179 votes) and John "Chip" Miller (192 votes) all ran uncontested for town council. - With 74 votes, Gary Iverson was re-elected mayor of Sunburst. Jacque Coolidge (76 votes) and Michael Tobin (91 votes) won two four-year terms on the Sunburst town council and Lorri Housel and Dale Diegel each received 24 votes as write-in candidates for two unexpired two-year terms.

SHELBY - Seeing the hair that normally sweeps her shoulders hit the floor shocked Toole County Sheriff Donna Matoon.

Steve Allen Bucher, 61, of Vaughn, a Navy and Army National Guard veteran, died of congestive heart failure Sunday at a Fort Harrison hospital.

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer dedicated the second phase of the largest wind energy project in the state on Wednesday.

CONRAD - Walking past the Orpheum Theatre, Helen Elliott takes a step back in time.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Former Shelby resident and Army veteran Stanley Krystkowiak, 74, died of Lou Gerhrig's disease Sept.

MISSOULA - Alice Marie O'Hara, 85, died of natural causes Saturday at her home in Missoula.

SHELBY - Some Toole County residents worried the private prison being proposed by community leaders in 1998 might turn Shelby into a prison town with higher crime rates and more families on welfare.

Sally O'Leary needs to start planning for a party at Harlem Middle School. The school made huge gains this year in reading and math on the 2009 state standardized tests, thus allowing it to make adequate yearly progress, according to the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The way that first day or week of school goes will have a lot to do with how the school year goes.

Where you live matters when it comes to children's waistlines, says a report that finds lots of options localities could and should use to fight child obesity - from easy bike paths, to luring healthier stores, to taxes on junk food.

Railroad business is down and this isn't a surprise to anyone who follows our economy.

Giant wind turbines have popped up all over Montana in recent years, and at Glacier Wind Farm near Ethridge, the completion of a new phase of construction has increased Montana's wind power by more than 200%. The Glacier Wind Farm is located between Shelby and Cut Bank.