30 Years Ago

Tuesday, March 9, 1989

Russiff, Lady Pioneers headed for nationals

SharLa Russiff and her Lady Pioneer Basketball team from Miles Community College won their Regional Tournament at Scottsbluff, NE, recently and are now headed for Nationals at Tyler, Texas.

SharLa Russiff, a freshman, plays an assisting role as a small forward with the Pioneers. She saw quite a bit of playing time in the Regional tourney. She scored points, rebounded well, and had several steals to her credit.

SharLa broke several school records during an outstanding high school career at Broadus. She is the daughter of Sam and Joan Russiff of Olive.

Fiddler’s Jamboree termed “the greatest”

The music and dancing at the Fiddler’s Jamboree on Sunday March 5 was the “greatest informal presentation of music and dancing that I have seen or heard in 50 years,” was the comment by one first time spectator. It was arranged in continuing activity of the District Seven Fiddler’s Association, and sponsored by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter and its ladies auxiliary at their hall.

Dale Benge emceed the program, in the absence of Delbert Hanson, association president. Musicians and dancers were ready and waiting at 2 o’clock in the evening, with a short intermission for supper, served by the VFW ladies. They also had coffee available throughout the afternoon.

The gifted violinist were Leonard Riggs, Bob Barthelmess, and Speed Melville of Miles City; Stanley Justice, Belle Fourche; Dodd Brott, Plevna, and Dale Benge, Gene Wood and Archie Richards of the local artists.

Their joy in playing was fully shared by guests. As a supper call, Dale Benge and Gene Wood did a violin duet and dancers “walked softly” as they listened.

Accompanists were equally talented, following with the violin lead without a piece of music in the house, all afternoon. They were Jean Hough at the piano, Cathy Ruland on bass guitar, Gary Lancaster, guitar, and otherwise the violinists alternated on the banjo and guitar all afternoon so there was always a five piece orchestra. Cathy Ruland had very sore finger ends Monday but said “The enjoyment of playing was worth it.”

Dale Benge and Speed Melville played throughout without a break. When they weren’t coaxing sweet music from the violin, Benge strummed the banjo and Melville chorded the steel guitar. It might be mentioned that Justice, of Belle Fourche had an especially mellow violin which sounded like one which the late Bill Traub made.

Dale and Marie Benge, who volunteered details of the pleasant afternoon, noted that there were seven members of the Fiddler’s association at hand to play, with one guest performer.

How those accompanists picked up the right notes in the crowded-with-music little platform remains a mystery, especially concerning pianist Jean Hough. The violinists would turn and give them the first notes and then they were off.

Admission charge was the very reasonable sum of $1.50 per person. A pleasant change from the modern day dances where the drinks are expected to pay admission charge and those who don’t indulge feel like gate crashers.

Charlie and Carole Barbero circulated a condolence card for guests to sign, which will be sent to Delbert Hanson in the loss of his wife. Those who signed felt privileged at the opportunity, and it was quite a chore in kindness by the Barberos as the ladies auxiliary served about 100 plates for supper, after some listeners had gone.

Another quote was, “The entire production of volunteer music, dancing to old-time songs, and serving supper at intermission, was the finest way of commemorating the centennial of Montana. Just so, might friends have gathered in 1889 with less sophisticated instruments but in the same spirit.”

It was a “do” for all ages. There were two young people learning how to dance; an attractive young rancher who danced with his Stetson on; women’s dress went from jeans and boots to dresses and dress shoes. A distinguished couple from Olive, nearing 90 years old, were happy spectators, along with other elderly people.

It was the good times of yesteryear combined with good times of today.

March has wicked lows

February was cold. March just sort of wandered in on the end of February oriented overcast skies, light snow, chill winds, and seasonable temperatures and then settled in with some wickedly low nighttime temperatures, dropping to minus 30 degrees at the LaFlamme weather station in Broadus on the evening of the 4th day.

The 27th of February had high in early morning and low of 15 degrees, but winds of up to 20 mph were clocked at the Broadus station, with one-half inch of snow. High was 15 and low was two degrees on the 28th, with continuing snow flurries and overcast lows.

Temperatures continued to drop as March arrived, and the snow increased for a total of four inches in the first three days. Highs and lows at the Broadus station for the first five days of March were: 9, minus 3; 8, minus 2; 10, minus 20; 16, minus 30, and, on Sunday the 5th, 30, minus 22 degrees. Gusting light winds and heavy overcast prevailed through the third.

For those ranchers in early calving and lambing, shelter for newborns were necessary and assumed to be practiced.