Voices from the Past

May 19, 1922

The Worst Storm Known in Years

The livestock toll of last week’s storm was nearly in excess of the entire winter’s loss. Hundreds of newly-born lambs perished, valuable work horses, steers, cows and calves were chilled to death. The loss of each will mount upwards into the hundreds over the southeastern Montana area. The two-day storm commencing with a heavy rain Wednesday turning into a raging blizzard Thursday morning and was general over the entire northwest. A wind of high velocity blew from the northwest.

Locally the snowfall was light but between Broadus and Miles City snow drifted into coulees and roads forming drifts sometimes five and six feet deep. The snow abated Thursday night and the weather turned off with warmth and sunshine but parts of the snowdrifts still remained the latter part of this week.

Barbed wire fences proved the death of many head of stock, both horses and cattle. They had been turned out and when the blizzard ensued they drifted with the wind until they came to the wire barriers, caught in traps, where numbers of the dumb beasts died. Where the herds were sufficiently large they broke through the barbed wire fences and drifted sometimes as far as ten and fifteen miles to shelter. Such instances are known where the herds numbered 200 and 300 head, saving themselves from destruction by the elements. Other herds are known to have been driven by the cold blasts into the creeks and the two Powder Rivers, swimming to the opposite shores. Some cattle losses were reported by the stock plunging over cut banks in their frenzy to seek shelter. Perhaps there is a greater loss in work horses than range animals, and this is especially deplorable at this season of the year when they are so urgently needed in the spring farm work.

The telephone circuits of the Eastern Montana Telephone Company from Miles City to Stacey and Broadus remain down and considerable time and expense will also be involved in repairing the Powder River Telephone Company’s line that extends from Moorhead to Powderville.

May 16, 1947

Commencement Exercises Set for May 23

Commencement exercises for the 1947 graduating class of Broadus High School will be held in the high school auditorium on Friday evening, May 23, at 8 o’clock.

The 26th graduating class of Broadus high school will have finished their studies during the next week and the 19 members of the graduating class will receive their diplomas at the Commencement exercises.

Kenneth D. Smith, Superintendent of the Broadus schools, announced this week that the following Senior Class members will be in the graduating class: Joyce Bandy, Jean Cathey, Charlotte Clay, Roberta Embrey, Clara Lei, Emma Olson, Mary Preston, Violet Ridenour, Grace Smith, Gladys Wiechman, Glen Burton, Robert Irion, John Olson, Lawrence Powell, Roger Rumph, Albert Ullrich, Thomas Williams, Glen Yarger and Fred Gali.

Lawrence Powell, son of Mr. and Mrs. V.L. Powell, earned the distinction of being the Valedictorian of this class. His scholastic average for the four years of high school work is 95.88. Mary Preston, daughter of Mrs. E.W. Preston is the Salutatorian of her class with a four year average of 94.92.

A music concert will be given by the members of the High School Chorus and High School Band on Friday night, May 16, in the school auditorium in which the chorus, sextette and band will present some of the numbers learned by these organizations during the past year.

May 18, 1972

Co-Valedictorians Named

Miss Jody Rogge, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joy Rogge of Broadus is the co-valedictorian of Powder River High School for the 1971-72 graduating class.

Miss Rogge, with a 3.75 average, was also named to the Who’s Who in high schools and the National Honor Society. During her years in high school, Jody has been active in Pep Club, FHA and also served as student council representative, art club, girls chorus, and has been also active in 4-H. She received the Betty Crocker Homemaker of the year award and was one of the top 15 in the state competition, received two shorthand speed award and the outstanding home ec student award during her sophomore year. She served as class secretary during her freshman and senior years and on the yearbook staff for two years.

Jody plans to enter University of Montana, Missoula, in pre-nursing course next year.

Miss Patricia Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Williams of Broadus, is the co-valedictorian of the 1972 graduating class of Powder River County High School.

Miss Williams, with a 3.75 grade average, is a National Honor Society candidate and has participated in a variety of activities during her high school years. She has been active in the Pep Club, Speech Club, Drill Team, Mat Maids, and is a member of the Rainbow Girls. She also appeared in the junior class play.

Patricia has been accepted as a student at Bauer Fashion College in Arlington, Texas. She plans to enter school there this fall with hopes of becoming a model.

May 15, 1997

Ashland Woman Claims $460,791 Tri-West Prize

Dorothy Kruckeberg of Ashland on Thursday claimed her $460,791 Tri-West Lotto Jackpot from last Wednesday’s drawing.

She purchased her winning ticket at Green’s in Ashland, where she has worked for the last nine years. She plans to continue working. “I do like working there, and I like being around people,” she said.

Mrs. Kruckeberg bought a ticket for seven Tri-West Lotto drawings before she and her husband, Robert, went on vacation. When they returned, they found they had matched all six numbers from the April 30 drawing.

“I’ve been playing quick picks,” Mrs. Kruckeberg said. “But I decided to play family birth dates for the multidraw ticket. I’m sure glad I did.”

The Kruckebergs plan to share their winnings with their three grown children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

We worked hard and have been very careful over the years,” she said. “We don’t owe any bills, so we’ll be able to share with our family and make our retirement a little better.”

The Kruckebergs will celebrate their 44th wedding anniversary in June. “Now I’m married to a wealthy woman,” Robert Kruckeberg said. “It sure took me long enough, though.”