Voices From The Past

May 12, 1922

“Bill” Hicks as Parachute Jumper

“Bill” Hicks, widely known in Powder River County has accepted a contract at a flattering figure, to make a parachute jump at a celebration to be held in Glendive June 26. He will leave a Curtis standard airplane at an altitude of 4,000 feet and will trust to his proverbial luck to reach terra firma in safety. Last year a parachute jumper was dragged to death at the Glendive celebration by his failure to cut himself loose from the parachute after landing, but Hicks declares he will furnish no such spectacle to the crowds for he will have a sharp knife in his hands ready for cutting the ropes at the proper time. The Curtis standard airplane to be used in this feat is the same one that visited Broadus last fall, flying from here to Casper via Gillette. The plane and its two pilots have been in Casper during the winter and they will return to Broadus via either Sheridan or Gillette on or near June 15 and after a few days here will proceed on to Glendive, accompanied by Hicks. From Glendive the airmen will go to Williston for the July celebration and other such engagements will keep them fully occupied during the balance of the summer. Last fall Hicks was with the two aviators when they flew from Williston to Broadus via Miles City.

Hicks is a man of 51 years and has “punched” cows on Powder River since 1886. He does not seem perturbed over his coming adventure but is firmly set against any “rehearsals”. He says it won’t be the first time he has “been up in the air”, for riding steers and bronks [sp.] sometimes gives cowboys similar sensations and he says the risk is about the same.

High School Youngsters Take Game from Broadus

An interesting game of ball was played on the local diamond Sunday afternoon between teams representing the high school and Broadus and ended in favor of the high school, 16-7. Johnny Morris umpired. The score was 7 to 7 at the last of the seventh inning. In the eighth inning the high school found Boyle and scored seven runs and for good measure put two more across the plate in the ninth. Broadus was shut out in the last two innings. Carl Russell and Shipley supplied the battery for the high school and Eddie Boyle and Lawrence Thompson for Broadus. In the eighth inning Tommy Sherlock relieved Boyle on the mound for Broadus. Features of the game were provided by Cook when he stumbled over a prairie dog mound while running for a high fly, and by “High” Holt when in the outfield made a sensational catch with his mitted left hand of a long and high drive.

May 9, 1947

Bert Sullivan was Victim of Pranksters

What appeared to be a dead man lying on his bed was the first object sighted by Bert Sullivan, Mizpah rancher, when he returned to his home last Saturday after a week’s trip to Miles City. While his first impulse was to notify the sheriff, Bert finally decided to investigate closer only to find a dummy sprawling across his bed. Upon further investigation he learned that practical jokers had nailed his boots to the floor, nailed a towel to the wall, fastened his furniture with wire and last but not least placed a bear trap on the seat of the chair in front of the radio.

May 11, 1972

Local Women to Bowl on Television

A team of Broadus women bowlers, consisting of Frances Miller, Alpha Irion, Hazel Swensrud, Fern Fredrickson and Eileen Beckman went to Billings to bowl in the $2,000.00 KULR-TV Bowling Tournament at Jubilee Lanes on April 2nd.

The team did not place; however, Mrs. Miller rolled a 680 series in her singles event to qualify in the top four. Mrs. Miller unofficially tied for second place. (The scores are not verified to date).

On May 20th, at Jubilee Lanes in Billings, the top four bowlers will appear live on KULR-TV in roll-off competition.

The exact time Mrs. Miller will appear on KULR-TV is not known to date, but will appear in next week’s Examiner.

The roll-offs will begin with the third place and fourth place winners meeting with the loser out with a win of $125.00. The winner will then bowl the second place winner, with the loser out, winning $175.00. The winner of this match will then bowl the first place winner with the loser winning $300.00 and the winner of the first place taking home $500.00 and a trophy.

Mrs. Miller also bowled an all spare game in her team events and will receive a W.I.B.C. patch as her award at the closing ceremony.

Watch next week’s Examiner for the exact time of the telecast on KULR-TV, Billings.

The tournament is for teams, and men’s and women’s single event. The top four winners in the events will roll off for prize money and trophies.

May 8, 1997

Seniors Recognized for Academic Excellence

Five Powder River County District High School seniors were recognized nationally for scoring in the top ten percent among students across the nation who participated in the 1997 American College Testing (ACT) Program. Included were Bob Samuelson, Sarah Andrews, Joel Graff, Jaydee Hendrickson, and Kelsy Rumph.

“I believe that these students deserve special recognition for this academic accomplishment by honoring them with a Certificate of Outstanding Academic Performance,” said Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Nancy Keenan in a letter to Broadus High School Principal Jim Hansen. “These student scores speak highly not only of the individual students, but also of your high school. As Superintendent of Public Instruction, I would like to extend sincere congratulations on behalf of the Office of Public Instruction, the Commissioner of Higher Education, the Board of Regents, and the board of Public Education.”