Building Spirit Through Music
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. Don’t forget to set Outdoors | 16 your clocks ahead on Saturday night. Paddlefish season is coming up. Outlaws play at State, page 15. COVERING CENTRAL MONTANA LIKE THE STARS $1.00 VOLUME 139 NUMBER 30 LEWISTOWNNEWS.COM SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 Building spirit through music Deputy Kyler Phelps stands outside the Fergus County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday during his day shift assign- ment. Photo by Katherine Sears Phelps takes on deputy role at Sheriff’s Office By KATHERINE SEARS Reporter There’s a new deputy at the Fergus County Sheriff’s Office, but it’s a familiar face. Previously working as a detention officer in the jail, Kyler Phelps said he’s always wanted to work as a deputy. “Even before high school, I knew I wanted to be a deputy, just in the aspect of helping people,” said Phelps. “My mom’s a paramed- ic, but I don’t do [as well] with wounds and blood,” he laughed. Although this role is new to Phelps, he has worked in law enforcement since he was 19. Fergus band teacher Chase Auger directs the band members to play their train horn during a break in the action at the Before working as a detention officer for the past year-and-a-half, Phelps spent seven boys’ basketball game. Photo by Doreen Heintz years working at the Nexus Treatment Center in Lewistown. He also worked in the Cascade County Juvenile Detention Center and for Great Fall Pre-Release. Auger directs FHS band through the pandemic Phelps said the experience has helped him in his new role. “I learned how to talk to people and de- By DOREEN HEINTZ | Special to the News-Argus Saturday, Feb. 27. During those three days of the tournament, Fergus’s escalate and not escalate situations,” said pep band played for four boys’ basketball games and one girls’ basket- Phelps. “It gave me a knowledge of the laws, he Fergus girls’ and boys’ basketball team were not the only ball game. too.” teams representing Lewistown at this year’s Eastern A Divi- This year the band is under the direction of Chase Auger. Auger is While his deputy responsibilities are quite sional Basketball Tournament in Billings. Although they are just a few years older than the students in the band. different than those of a detention officer, he Tnot normally known as one, the Screamin’ Eagle Pep Band is, “As a young band director, I think I relate well to my students,” said said he has a better understanding of the in many ways, a team. Just like an athletic team, a pep band spends Auger. “Probably what is hard for me is to also have a breath of system. time practicing and preparing for games. The strength of a pep band authority over them.” “When I do have to incorporate with is how well the individuals come together as a group to produce a The band students had plenty of down time in Billings during the them, I know how their job operates as well,” solid sound. tournament, so Auger set up an itinerary to help with some of that he said. This year’s pep band left Lewistown at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 in down time. order to be in Billings by 1 p.m. for the Fergus boys’ first game of the See Deputy | Page 6 tournament. The band did not return to Lewistown until 8 p.m. on See Music | Page 6 Looking back over a tough pandemic year Vulnerable populations and medical COVID-19 UPDATE workers share their struggles As of Friday, March 12, the total number of Montana COVID-19 cases since March was 101,556, an increase of 900 from last week. By DEB HILL | News-Argus Managing Editor There were 951 active cases across the state, and 99,213 people were listed as recov- “This past year has probably been one of the worst years of ered. There were 53 Montanans hospitalized my life.” with complications of COVID-19, and 1,392 Many Central Montanans can identify with Tom Darnell’s have died. Fergus County had 6 active cases assessment of the past 12 months. on Friday. Between worries about catching a new and potentially dan- Vaccinations for COVID-19 are currently gerous disease, emotional burnout, stress and self-isolation, being given to those in Phase 1B+: age 60 2020 may go down as one of the most difficult on record. and up or 16-59 with underlying medical One year ago, on March 11, Montana confirmed the first conditions. Contact the County Nurses COVID-19 case. Since then over 101,000 people across the state Office at 535-7433 for information if you live have had the disease, businesses have struggled with restric- in Fergus County, or the Central Montana tions on hours and closures, and gatherings large and small Health District (535-3983) if you live in the have been cancelled. While the arrival of vaccines is providing five other counties the district covers: Judith hope for the future, it’s been a tough 12 months, especially for Lewistown resident Tom Darnell stands outside his condo com- Basin, Musselshell, Goldenn Valley, Wheat- the more vulnerable members of the community and for plex Thursday. Darnell, who has been spending most of his time land or Petroleum. Vaccines are also avail- healthcare workers. able through Albertsons pharmacy (538- at home this past year, is looking forward to family gatherings as 6674). See Pandemic | Page 6 COVID numbers decrease. Photo by Matthew Strissel . USPS 311-120 [email protected] 406-535-3401 OBITUARIES: W. DRESSER . PAGE 2LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 Keep Montana Green regional contest winners announced reative slogans and at the state level. State win- colorful artwork illus- ners will be announced on trate the importance March 19. Cof wildfire prevention “Using art to engage Mon- in the 2021 Keep Montana tana’s next generation is an Green art contest. integral part of our fire pre- “We had some exception- vention program,” said Kristin al entries that demonstrate Sleeper, Keep Montana Green just how creative and artistic Association executive director. Montana youth are, especial- “Every year, the unique and ly as it relates to depicting impressive artwork demon- wildfire prevention,'” said strates how deeply students Clive Rooney, area manager feel about our timber, range- of the DNRC Northeastern lands, wildlife and communi- Land Office in Lewistown, ties while stressing the impor- where the posters were tance of preventing human- judged. “We are excited that caused wildfires.” we had a good turnout for this year’s contest.” The 2021 northeast The NELO regional con- Montana regional test received 528 entries from 18 teachers in 16 schools winners include: across the region of 13 coun- Primary Division, Grades ties in northeastern Mon- K-3: tana. First Place – Andrew Smels- The Keep Montana Green er, first grade, Mrs. Diane Association has sponsored Econom, Denton Public 60 art contests since 1961 School with the mission of creating Second Place – Adalida a lasting interest in prevent- Hensel, second grade, Ms. Pam ing human-caused wildland Mickelson, Ryegate School fires. Third Place – Aurora Davis, “The artwork reminds the first grade, Mrs. Jean Irish, public to be careful with fire Garfield Elementary School in and fire-causing hazards Lewistown while enjoying the state’s Honorable Mentions – forests, campgrounds and Willa Fishell, third grade, Ms. rangelands, as well as in Kim Togerson, Scobey everyday life,” said Rooney. Schools; Wyatt Schultz, first “If these prevention efforts grade, Mrs. Marti Schultz, help eliminate just one fire Home School in Grass Range; then they are well worth it, Pyper Sanofsky, third grade, saving our state’s forests, Ms. Danelle Hanson, Moore rangelands, homes and Public School. money.” Each year, the Montana Intermediate Division, DNRC and Keep Montana Grades 4-6: Green Association ask kin- First Place – Johnnie Schul- dergarten through 12th grade tz, fifth grade, Mrs. Marti students to participate in the Schultz, Home School in Grass art contest. This year’s theme, Range “Keeping Montana Green,” Second Place – Taylor Kel- and the Keep Montana Green lom, fifth grade, Ms. Meghan organization, provide educa- Gayle, Hobson School tors with a curriculum for Third Place – Ashtynn teaching students about fire Fladager, sixth grade, Ms. Kim safety, prevention and con- Torgerson, Scobey Schools servation. Honorable Mentions – The art entries are judged Kayla Carney, sixth grade, regionally where first, sec- Chole Johnson, fifth grade, ond, third and honorable and Teagen Fishell, fifth grade, mention placings are decid- Ms. Kim Torgerson, Scobey ed. Then, those entries are Schools. sent to Missoula, to be judged with five other regions’ win- Junior Division, ners. The state winners Grades 7-9: receive ribbons, cash prizes First Place – Danielle Cahill, and statewide recognition. ninth grade, Ms. Kim Torger- “Our area schools in cen- son, Scobey Schools tral and northeastern Mon- Second Place – Jersey tana have had a strong show- Smith, seventh grade, Mrs. ing in the state contest for Katie Wirtzberger, Lewistown the past several years,” said Junior High School Rooney. “We wish to praise Third Place – Mia Handran, the students for their out- ninth grade, Ms. Kim Torger- DNRC Northeastern Land Office Area Manager Clive Rooney of Lewistown, admires artwork selected as standing artwork and cre- son, Scobey Schools ativity, as well as, their teach- Honorable Mentions – Eli regional winners of the 2021 Keep Montana Green art contest. Statewide contest winners will be announced ers for taking the time to Hederman, ninth grade, Ms. in April on the website www.keepmontanagreen.com. incorporate the Keep Mon- Kim Togerson, Scobey Photo courtesy of DNRC tana Green Art Contest into Schools; Ashlynn Rodgers, their daily lessons.” seventh grade, Mrs.