Voices from the Past

January 4, 1924

33 Below the Coldest Here

Thirty-three degrees below zero on Monday night was the coldest of the week, according to A.W. Heidel, local weather observer. On December 29th the minimum and maximum were 5 and 27 below; on the 30th 5 and 15 below; on the 31st 7 and 29 below; on January 1st 7 and 32 below; on the 2nd 10 above and 24 below. Yesterday afternoon there was a slight moderation with the temperature about 30 above but it remains to be seen whether the cold wave has passed. At Broadus the snow is about an inch deep.

January 7, 1949

Club Discussed Many Matters

Robert McCurdy, Vice President of the Powder River Commercial Club presided at the regular monthly meeting of the organization held in the Community Club rooms Monday evening, in the absence of President Jack McLees. The meeting followed a dinner served by the members of the Women’s Fellowship.

Secretary D.A. Heidel read a letter from Frank Winder of Forsyth asking the club to join with several other counties in this area in sponsoring a project to spray grasshoppers by airplane. According to the letter the cost would be .33 cents per acre with the Federal government assuming half of the cost. This would be for range land only. The members asked the secretary to get more information on the subject.

A.W. Heidel told of meeting in Helena with J.N. Whittinghill, district manager of the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph company. Heidel was assured that the telephone company will make every effort to improve the telephone service in Broadus. He was also told that Broadus was tops on the list for the installation of a dial phone system and that the company would try to get the installation in this year.

A motion was passed requesting the Bureau of Public Roads to insist that the Wyoming Highway between Alzada and Belle Fourche be reconstructed. All members agreed that this portion of the road to the Black Hills was practically impassable.

The Club also asked the Secretary to write to the Montana Highway Patrol Board asking that a Highway Patrolman be stationed in Broadus. Too many accidents caused by careless driving would be mostly overcome if a Patrolman was stationed here.

January 3rd, 1974

New Ownership

Cy and Dolly Bidwell became the new owners of Powder River Lanes this week. They purchased the business from Perry Hanson, who established the bowling alley in July, 1964.

The 10th annual bowling tournament will begin this weekend to start off the activities for the Bidwells. The first tourney session will begin Saturday January 5th and continue for the next three weekends.

Ed and Vera Allen will continue to operate the Bowlers Snack Bar.

Jaycees Play - Cast selected

“A Boy Named Sue”, a three-act comedy produced and directed by the Powder River Jaycees with an all-star cast in its first performance on January 18th.

“Sue is Steve Graff. Sue’s lifelong search for this father, Pat Reno, has a surprise ending. Pat Reno is played by an actor of television fame, Ken Gali.

Act 1 opens with Ma and Pa in their cabin in the hills. Ma, played by Darroll Zimmer, and Pa, by Cy Bidwell have a lovely young daughter named Clem who will be ably portrayed by Ron Bidwell.

Four brothers, Slim-Ed Taylor, Ole-Rick Keats, Joe-Jerry Coulter, and Pete-Mark Wetherelt appear on the scene when money and marriage come into Clem’s life.

Digger O’Dell, played by Alan Reeves and Chick and Ma Hatch, Ted Quade and Vic Ullrich, round out the cast of “characters” in this never-to-be-forgotten slapstick extravaganza.