Joplin News

CHESTER - John Maatta's latest retirement project has kept him hammering - first building a blacksmith shop for the Liberty County Museum and now pounding out metal on an anvil to bring his work to life.

A hopping weekend is in store in Liberty County during the Liberty County Hot Rod Days.

Liberty County students have been awarded $18,400 in scholarships and it has been recommended $22,000 be contributed for community improvements through the Reiland Memorial Scholarship Fund this year.

“Today's news is encouraging, however there is still a ways to go before this is all over”

U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester today got word from the U.S. State Department that Montana native Tammi Sims will be released from a Nigerian jail this evening, according to a joint news release. via Great Falls Tribune

A spokeswoman for a Seattle-based film crew being detained in Nigeria says they may be released. via Montana's News Station

Think, Stay, Buy Local was the theme of the annual Liberty County Chamber of Commerce dinner; and a skit that provided entertainment and some food for thought. via Liberty County Times

Adrian & Janet Hawks, Galata, Montana, has been recognized nationally by the American Angus Association for having 7 registered Angus cows included in the Association's 2008 Pathfinder Report. via Liberty County Times

Sara Wolery, massage therapist, is relocating her massage practice, Healing Touch, to Joplin. via Liberty County Times

Hill County Electric Cooperative is pleased to announce they have selected Brad Duncan of Joplin as their Ambassador to represent the cooperative along with 40 other high school students from Montana and North ... via Liberty County Times

BAEZ - Son born Wednesday to Athena and Joseph Baez of Great Falls. FALCON/DRIFTWOOD - Son born Monday to Sandra Falcon and Aaron Driftwood Sr. via Great Falls Tribune

“I got into the car and drove home right then. I had been told that she had the correct number of toes and fingers, but I had to see for myself. Even if I had to be on the road the next morning at 4 a.m., I had to see my new granddaughter.”

Christmas takes on a new meaning when it's preceded by a miracle like surviving a serious auto wreck. via Great Falls Tribune

“The goal would be to provide good coverage throughout the town.”

The town of Chester, one of the Hi-Line's last small towns without reliable cell phone service, will get a new cellular tower in 2008, Alltel Wireless announced this week. via Great Falls Tribune

“The highest quality material is the older stuff”

The next time you attend a youth concert, such as Wednesday night's performance of the Missoula Youth Symphony at Hellgate High School, keep in mind that it costs a lot to stage these events. via Missoulian

“When you start talking about closing a town's school down, it's almost like the death sentence for that town”

No one likes to close a school. Doing so is a stark sign of what is happening to the community. via Great Falls Tribune

Jane Wolery, MSU Teton County Extension Agent, was honored recently at the National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences 2007 annual session. via Liberty County Times

LEWISTOWN - With remodeling complete, the Judith Cinema will play its first movie in more than a year today. via Great Falls Tribune

Liberty County Transit is expanding their local services to include trips to Chester from Joplin three times weekly to facilitate grocery shopping, hair appointments and other personal needs for residents of ... via Liberty County Times

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation this week finalized a $758,000 loan to the Hill County Water District for critical improvements to its rural water system. via Liberty County Times

Water restrictions for all Hill County Water District Users have been lifted effective September 17, 2007. via Liberty County Times

Courtney Lynn Fraser and Zachary Chase Ramberg have chosen March 15 as the date of their wedding. via Great Falls Tribune