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Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies

BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 11 months AGO
by BERL TISKUS
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March 2023, and covers Ronan City Council, schools, ag and business. Berl grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and earned a degree in English education from MSU-Billings and a degree in elementary education from the University of Montana. Since moving to Polson three decades ago, she’s worked as a substitute teacher, a reporter for the Valley Journal and a secretary for Lake County Extension. | August 29, 2024 12:00 AM

Flathead Courier, Sept. 1, 1949

Neil McAlpin wins Grand Champion honors at fair 

Neil McAlpin, junior member of McAlpin & Sons, breeders of Belted Shorthorns, showed the Grand Champion baby beef at the Lake County Junior Fair in Ronan last week. 

During the three-day show he took five Grand Championships , 12 firsts, two seconds, and four thirds.

He also won a trip to the state 4-H Club Congress with his agricultural demonstration called “Green Manure Cropping to Conserve  Our Soil and Water Resources.”

Neil had 26 entries in seven different classes at the fair. He has been in 4-H work for five years and is a member of the Blue Ribbon Producers 4-H Club.

Hospital Items from Hotel Dieu Hospital

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Leland Burchard, Polson, Baby Girl, Aug. 31

Surgical: Herb Toelke, Ronan; Miss Joyce Benson, Polson; Mrs. Chauncey P. Biffle, Polson; Mrs. Eugene Hertz, St. Ignatius; andMrs. Charles Boyd, Ronan

Tonsillectomy: Ada Connell, Polson

Medical: Mrs. Charles Kissack, Polson; Fred Fredrickson, Polson; Eugene E. Dickerson, Bigfork; John W. Clodius, Big Arm

Discharges: Mrs. Allen Smith and baby boy, Polson; Mrs. Lacock and baby boy, Polson; Mrs. Melton  Montgomery, Jr., and baby girl, Polson; Mrs. James Rother, Jr., and baby girl, Polson

Beebout sentenced

Omer Cleo Beebout, alias Daniel Williams, a parolee from San Quentin Prison, was sentenced to five years imprisonment at hard labor in the state penitentiary on Tuesday by Judge C. E. Comer on a charge of second degree assault.

Beebout pleaded guilty to the charge of assault against Marlow Miller, Ronan, who was attacked by the man Aug. 15 in Sacajawea Park. The penalty is the maximum that can be given for a second degree charge. It is presumed that upon release, Beeout will be returned to California for violation of parole. 

Capacity crowd watches amateur rodeo hands

A capacity crowd attended the second annual Ranch Hand Rodeo here last Saturday which determined which cowboys and cowgirls would compete in the national Ranch Hand Rodeo in San Francisco.

The amateur competition drew participants from all over the state and Canada. Stock furnished by ranchers in this area was said to be rougher than bucking strings used in professional shows. 

A horse owned by Dick Vinson of Big Arm won the title of “Best Bucking Horse.”  

Gordon Earle, Fernie, B.C., won the title of best all-around cowboy and was awarded boots and spurs given by Dempsey Emerson of the Mint Cigar Store. The three silver-mounted buckles went to Vern Smith, Browning, for saddle bronc riding; Spic Matthews, Browning, bareback bronc riding; and Ed Ivins, calf roping, Cardston, Alberta.

A $20 Stetson was given to Hank Brown, Darby, who was dubbed the hard luck cowboy of the day. He suffered two broken ribs and a punctured lung when he was thrown.

    



ARTICLES BY BERL TISKUS

July 30, 2026 midnight

Ronan City Council moves forward on police business, extends preliminary approval for subdivision

Ronan’s City Council dealt with lots of civic business at the July 22 meeting.

Tribal detectives and Polson police give overview of drug use in Lake County
July 23, 2026 midnight

Tribal detectives and Polson police give overview of drug use in Lake County

Polson Police Chief George Simpson and Tribal Police Chief Couture partnered with two Tribal Police Drug Investigators, Will Mesteth and Vern Fisher, to provide an overview of drug trends in the community.

Standing Arrow Celebration brings dancers, drummers and visitors to Skookum Lane
July 23, 2026 midnight

Standing Arrow Celebration brings dancers, drummers and visitors to Skookum Lane

The first grand entry of the 46th annual Standing Arrow Celebration was at 7 p.m. on July 18. The weather was sweltering, especially for dancers in full regalia. The powwow grounds had a new large tent for dancers to stand in as they waited to enter the dance arbor. Tarps attached to the arbor walls on the west side shielded spectators from the setting sun.