30 Years Ago

Thursday, January 26, 1989

Cat travels long distance to his home

Cassius Clay, a black long-haired cat, belonged to Mildred Wolff, of Brockway. He was so named because he had six toes on his front feet, making them look like boxing gloves.

He was about three and a half years old when Mildred passed away in December of 1987.

Mildred’s daughter, Pat Smith, took Cassius to live with her on the ranch, about 45 miles southwest of Broadus. In March of 1988, he disappeared from the ranch. Pat and George asked the neighbors, but no one had seen him late.

In late November, 1988 Debra Robichaeux, Mildred’s granddaughter, found him sitting of the back step of Mildred’s house in Brockway. He came to meet her, and when she picked him up she found him to be fat and heavy with no burrs in his fur.

The cat had traveled well over 200 miles across unknown county, over at least one major river - the Yellowstone, overcoming who knows how many obstacles, including dogs, hunger, thirst and wild animals to get back to what he thought of as his real home.

Cassius Clay has earned everyone’s respect and a story in the paper.

Two place at state speech, drama meet

Broadus high school Speech and Drama members brought home two prestigious medals from state competition in Great Falls over the past weekend.

Meliesa Hawley, standout scholastic student and winner of last year’s Montana State Voice of Democracy contest, placed third in Oral Interpretation. And, senior classmate Kandi Mork ended her high school career by placing seventh place in Serious Solo.

Ginger Ridenour made it in to the semifinals in Humorous Intepretation and Inke Mauthauer missed the semifinals in Original Oratory, by a single point. Shannon Rhodes, the fifth of the eight team members to qualify for state, went out in the preliminary round of action.

Competition at state is extremely tough. Each division features the top 24 students who qualified by placing in the top six at regional events.

Kathy Hawley, who coached the team this year with Inge Popelka, was ill Monday and could not be reached for comment.

“I’m just delighted that a few of the kids made it into the finals. All-around, the competition was very tough - especially the Eastern Division in Speech,” said Ms. Popelka in an interview Monday. “Everything went well - our kids wouldn’t have done so well if they hadn’t concentrated on their work. It was a good way to end the year.”

Hough to be on TV Jan. 31

Steve Hough, former local resident and now of Los Angeles, will appear in an episode of “Divorce Court”, to air on January 31.

No other information was received, with that morsel given to his mother, Jean Hough of Broadus. Those who watch the program will, no doubt, know the channel and time.

Mrs. Hough said, “It’s a small part but it is paid work and struggling young actors need all the appearances they can get - the price was good.” She added that Steven has a small role in a movie now being filmed.

Hawk Basketball team wins

The Broadus Hawks firmly established themselves as a true force in the Eastern 2-B Division with a win last week over the tough Baker Spartans.

The Hawks, with solid defense, pulled out to a 17 to 8 point first quarter lead and stretched it to 30 to 15 by the half. Baker began to rally in the third period and closed the gap to 11 points with Broadus holding a 42 to 31 point advantage. Baker was able to tighten the gap again in the fourth quarter but fell short as the buzzer sounded.

“We played really good defense and rebounded well, against a pretty good team,” said Coach Safranski. “They came back through and we had to struggle to hang on. Also, Steve Strobel made some clutch free-throws. He scored all seven of his points in the fourth quarter.

We took them out of their game with our pressure defense and we didn’t give them second shots,” the coach continued. “It was probably the best game of the year we’ve played on both ends of the court.”

Shawn Samuleson led the Broadus Hawks, with 14 points. Craig Rukavina followed with 11 points for his best offensive showing of the season. Chad Harrington contributed with eight points and Strobel and Frank Perry, with seven each. Bill Isaacs added six points and Jim McGill, three.

Perry, in yet another great effort, came down with seven rebounds, combined with five steals and four assists. Samuelson grabbed five rebounds and had one assist and Isaacs also had five rebounds. Rukavina added to the Hawk attack with three rebounds, three steals and one assist. Harrington had two rebounds and two steals and Strobel, a single steal.