Articles written by Patrick Johnston
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Havre High Homecoming begins today with coronation
Homecoming at Havre High School is going to look a bit different this year, with a community celebration instead of their usual assembly, a change necessitated by the school’s recent adoption of a four-day school week. The corona... — Updated 9/27/2023
First Pony Pride Award goes to Jeremiah Nitz
Havre High School Assistant Principal Jeremiah Nitz, now in his 24th year of service to the district, is the first recipient of the Pony Pride Award, a new monthly honoring of a... — Updated 9/26/2023
Hi-Line Harvest Fest draws big crowds
The newly annual Hi-Line Harvest Festival took place Friday and Saturday in Chester, with music, food, vendors, auctions and other events for adults and children, drawing an impress... — Updated 9/25/2023
Cole brings back Chester's Harvest Fest
The Harvest Fest begins in Chester today, a now-annual event revived by local resident Peyton Cole, who, in a twist of fate, unexpectedly returned to her hometown during the... — Updated 9/22/2023 Full story
County commission says it has a lot of irons in the fire
At a Hill County Officials meeting Wednesday Heather Sinclair was introduced as the new director of the Hill County Council on Aging, and, along with providing their reports, county department heads were reminded to maintain a... — Updated 9/21/2023
Sugarbeet Festival on in Chinook Saturday
The 2023 Sugarbeet Festival in Chinook will begin Saturday, a yearly festival that, this time around, will also be a celebration of the town’s new slogan, “Small town, big community.” Laine Jorgensen, the event’s press... — Updated 9/21/2023
Another quiet week for local fires
It has been another tame week for fires in this region of Montana as counties across the area report little fire activity and National Weather Service predicts a wet rest of the week. In a regional fire call Tuesday the National... — Updated 9/20/2023
Fair board discusses projects, events, contract negotiations
The Great Northern Fair Board discussed efforts to finish multiple projects on the fairgrounds by winter and ongoing contract negotiations with local 4-H, as well as upcoming events on the grounds this coming month. Board members d... — Updated 9/20/2023
Havre Beneath the Streets restoration on track for Spring
Havre Beneath the Streets may be six months away from a major restoration that will see a substantial area of the subterranean museum, closed since 2017 due to deterioration, and... — Updated 9/19/2023
Montana Fullbrighters go around the globe
Two Montana teachers, Ashley Pankratz of Dodson and Steven Riccio of Bozeman, have received the Fullbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research and will be traveling to other... — Updated 9/19/2023
Festival Days returns
See more on Festival Days events and its schedule in a special section in today’s edition. Festival Days, the area's biggest annual celebration, returns this weekend to Havre, with a parade, food, entertainment, shows, vendors... — Updated 9/15/2023
Havre Suicide Awareness Walk draws a crowd
The Hill County Suicide Awareness Coalition's ninth annual Suicide Awareness Walk was held at Montana State University-Northern Thursday night, with local residents honoring the... — Updated 9/15/2023
Park Board talks Beaver Lodge, fees, vote controversy
Editor’s note: This version corrects the quote of Hill County Park Board member Pam Wilson on Beaver Creek Park usage fees. The Hill County Park Board discussed retaking a... — Updated 9/14/2023
Quiet week so far for fires
Fire season seems to be cooling down as counties in this region of Montana report very few fires and scattered precipitation as National Weather Service predicts a light week for fire conditions in the coming week. On a weekly... — Updated 9/13/2023
Havre school board hears update on air quality project
The Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees received an update about ongoing facility improvements and enrollment, and approved policy changes along with the purchase of new... — Updated 9/13/2023
Smudge the Rez begins Wednesday on Rocky Boy
The Rocky Boy Health Center’s Smudge the Rez Tour begins Wednesday in Box Elder, an event designed to raise awareness for suicide prevention and give hope to people in the area. Melody Henry of the Rocky Boy Health Center, one... — Updated 9/11/2023
9/11 Remembrance Service in Town Square Monday
The American Legion and American Legion Riders will be holding a 9/11 Remembrance Service Monday a 9 a.m. at Town Square to honor the bravery and sacrifice of those that responded to the crisis 22 years ago and the people in Havre... — Updated 9/8/2023
Local school superintendents discuss issues districts are facing
Local public school superintendents met in Havre Thursday to talk about major problems and issues their districts are facing. Montana Sen. Shannon O'Brien, D-Missoula, a candidate f... — Updated 9/8/2023
County Commission moves forward with capital improvement plan
The Hill County Commission is taking steps to develop a capital improvement plan that will seek to address the infrastructure needs of the community, voting to submit a planning grant application to the Montana Coal Endowment... — Updated 9/8/2023
Honor Our Legacy Fashion Show returns Sept. 16
The Seventh Annual Honor Our Legacy Fashion Show is on for Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. at Northern Winz Casino, a free event for the community featuring a lineup of Indigenous fashion,... — Updated 9/6/2023
Fort Belknap nonprofit in desperate need
Harlem-based nonprofit Day Eagle Hope Project, which provides services for cancer patients and survivors in Fort Belknap and provides food to people in need in the area, is in desperate need of help itself after losing a storage... — Updated 9/5/2023
Coal Ridge fire at 1,200 acres as containment efforts continue
In the past day, the Coal Ridge Fire in Blaine County, 5 miles North of Stafford Ferry, has remained at 1,200 acres despite a day of erratic winds as firefighters establish a perimeter around most of the blaze. A release from the... — Updated 9/1/2023
Cattle return to Beaver Creek Park Tuesday
Beaver Creek Park staff and Montana Department of Transportation are again urging drivers to use caution when driving on Montana Secondary Highway 234 - Beaver Creek Highway - and... — Updated 9/1/2023
Fire in Blaine County grows despite rain and calming winds
While the Coal Ridge Fire in Blaine County has grown significantly, Tuesday night rain and calmer winds seem to have kept the fire from spreading more uncontrollably. A release from the Montana Bureau of Land Management Wednesday... — Updated 8/31/2023
MAT holds successful company audition, more to come
Montana Actors’ Theatre appears to have had a successful company audition Saturday, with more than 50 people showing up to audition for this year’s season of shows, and is setting up follow-up auditions soon. MAT Creative... — Updated 8/30/2023
