. Health | 2 Community | 3 Tyler Scheer joins CMMC surgical team. Civic Center gets facelift Golden Eagles are Division Champions, page 12. COVERING CENTRAL MONTANA LIKE THE STARS $1.00 VOLUME 139 NUMBER 50 LEWISTOWNNEWS.COM SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 Local construction progresses as lumber prices skyrocket By KATHERINE SEARS | Reporter a more normal $10 range. “That ten dollar sheet is now non-existent,” said Hodik. Higher prices, more shortages and longer lead times are just Though people still need materials, Hodik said the high a few of the challenges facing the construction industry across prices have started to hurt the supply business. the nation. While the same is true for Central Montana, it isn’t “Some people aren’t buying,” said Hodik. “Or they’re trying slowing down plans to build. to find cheaper prices or cheaper alternatives, which there isn’t “It seems like it’s just as busy as ever,” said Terry Hodik, much of anymore.” manager at Bloedorn Lumber in Lewistown. “People are still The cost is one thing, and getting the materials is another, building and buying, and pricing isn’t slowing down.” with lead times on some materials going from three days to six Over the past year, lumber prices have tripled, driving up weeks. the cost of new home construction. The National Association “You definitely gotta get out ahead of it a ways,” said Newell Newell Roche, right, and Jeff Perry work on a future of Home Builders reports the jump has caused the price of an Roche, owner of Clearwater Builders LLC in Lewistown. duplex on Boulevard Thursday. Local builders are average new single-family home to increase by $35,872. Materials such as 2x4s have gone from over $3 each to over staying busy as lumber prices soar and some materi- $11, and OSB sheets are running over $70 a piece, compared to See Construction | Page 5 vals become hard to get. Photo by Katherine Sears Get out and fish Flying High Trout Unlimited offers fishing day camp in June By DEB HILL | News-Argus Managing Editor ffer, outreach coordinator for MTU. “Our first goal is a conservation piece, so kids learn While many COVID impacts have been about freshwater ecology. Our second goal for negative, here’s one that isn’t: Montana Trout the kids is that they have a good time and Unlimited will offer five conservation day learn to fish.” camps for youth, including one right here in The overarching goal of the program, Pfei- Lewistown. ffer said, is to create the next generation of Traditionally MTU has offered kids the conservation-minded anglers. opportunity to attend a nearly-week-long “Wild trout fishing is part of our Montana camp on Georgetown Lake near Phillipsburg, way of life,” he explained. “The best way to a long drive from Central Montana. build advocacy for trout and the waters they Due to the pandemic, this summer the live in is to get people out on the water. These organization changed their approach, making day camps are a really great opportunity for us access easier for local kids. to connect with younger people and give them The Lewistown clinic will be held at the some really great experiences. Not everyone Turner Environmental Center in Brewery Flats has folks that can do that.” on Sunday, June 13, for up to 10 youth, ages 11-14. “We have two primary goals,” said Bill Pfei- See Fishing | Page 5 Students of Highland Park Elementary give Fergus High School seniors, Montana Trout Unlimited Outreach Coordinator Bill Pfeiffer works with a including Conner Mannin, high fives during the annual senior walk on beginning angler at a fishing day camp held on Monture Creek by Seeley Lake. MTU will host a similar day camp on Spring Creek June 13. Thursday, May 20. Photo by Matthew Strissel Photo courtesy of Montana Trout Unlimited The stage is set…finally ‘Something for everyone’ at COVID-19 UPDATE upcoming Oak Ridge Boys show As of Friday, the total number of Mon- tana COVID-19 cases since last March By KATHERINE SEARS | Reporter 13-14 months, but we’re finally was 111,161, an increase of 601 from last seeing some light at the end of week. After a yearlong delay due to the tunnel. We are excited to There were 932 active cases across the the pandemic, Lewistown will come to Lewistown.” state, and 108,625 people were listed as finally have the opportunity to The concert was scheduled to recovered. There were 56 Montanans soak in the sounds of Grammy benefit Central Montana Medical hospitalized with complications of award winning and Country Center’s ongoing Radiology COVID-19, and 1,604 have died. Fergus Music Hall of Famers, the Oak Department upgrade, including County had 4 active cases on Friday. Ridge Boys. The concert, which the acquisition of a new 3D Mam- Vaccination clinics are being held was originally scheduled for July mogram unit and Breast Biopsy The Oak Ridge Boys will play Lewistown on Saturday, June across Central Montana. In Fergus Coun- 12 of last year, will take place at Guide System. 5, after having to cancel last year due to the pandemic. ty, contact the County Nurses Office at the Fergus Performing Arts Cen- Concert goers will get quite Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge Boys 535-7433 or go online to mtreadyclinic. ter on June 5, much to the content the treat as the band performs old org. Outside of Fergus County contact of the public and the band mem- favorites, including the hit “Elvi- “We feel like it puts new life into Cobb, well known for producing the Central Montana Health District at bers. ra,” which turns 40 years old this our fans and our show.” the work of John Prine, Chris 535-3983. One Health (formerly the Com- “You have four Oak Ridge year. The band found their way to Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson and munity Health Center, 535-6545) and Boys who are ready to go,” said “You can count on hearing the studio during the pandemic Jason Isbell. Albertsons Pharmacy (538-6674) also Richard Sterban, bass player for hits like Elvira, but we also love to record a new album with the have vaccine appointments available. the band. “We haven’t worked in doing new music,” said Sterban. popular Nashville producer Dave See Oak Ridge | Page 5 . USPS 311-120 [email protected] OBITUARIES: L. CROOK, C. MCCRAW, L. MCCURDY, J. PETERS, D. REICHMUTH . PAGE 2LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 Scheer joins CMMC as physician assistant in general surgery By KATHERINE SEARS “So I started to work Reporter toward that, over five or six years,” said Scheer. he Central Montana While attending school, Medical Center Scheer was assigned to two recently welcomed a rotations at CMMC, which Tnew physician assis- prompted him to seek a per- tant in general surgery. Tyler manent job in Lewistown. Scheer joins the CMMC team “I was really impressed after completing graduate with the care here,” said school in August through Scheer. “This hospital has Rocky Mountain College in some really good providers.” Billings. He started his current Growing up in Nebraska, position the end of April and he spent 14 years at various enjoys serving the Central jobs in Golden, Colorado. A Montana community. summer job working as a “It’s a fun patient popula- lifeguard at Lake Tahoe tion,” said Scheer. “We have a inspired him to pursue a lot of people who just want career in the medical field to get back to life, which is after realizing gaining expe- fortunate for us [as provid- rience in the medical field ers.]” would allow him to help peo- As a physician assistant in ple. general surgery, he sees patients for pre-op check ups, post surgery follow ups, assists Dr. Smith in the oper- ating room and conducts minor outpatient procedures. “I get to see patients from the first visit all the way through their care,” Scheer said. “It’s nice to get to know the patient.” Tyler Scheer stands out- He is also excited to be a side the Central Mon- resident in Lewistown. tana Medical Center on “It’s nice to be in a com- munity away from the hustle Wednesday, after begin- and bustle,” said Scheer. “It’s ning his career as a physi- a wonderful place to be.” cian assistant in general Scheer lives in Lewistown surgery at the hospital in with his wife, Kristen, who is late April. a financial analyst, and their Photo by Katherine Sears 9-month-old daughter. Slowing things down Java on the move County commissioners approve lower speed limits on roads near highway construction By DEB HILL Commissioner Carl Seilstad the County Attorney to draw lNews-Argus Managing Editor has talked with the Sheriff’s up a contract. I’ll go out a office about having deputies couple of times and check Roads were the primary out there for enforcement.” the work they are doing.” topic at Wednesday’s meet- The new reduced speed “We’ll probably see a lot ing of the Fergus County limits will be in effect until more of these,” Butcher said, commissioners. the Highway 87 project is “as people with a lot of In response to complaints completed. They are in effect money can pay to get their from residents near Moore, on Seright, Rock Creek, Crys- roads improved ahead of the commissioners approved tal Lake, Taylor and Ross when we have them sched- temporary reduced speed Fork roads. uled. There’s no real down limits on several gravel roads The commissioners also side to it, as even if we have in the area.