Whitewater News for August 2, 2017

Sympathy to victims of the fires in Montana and everywhere. Again, “shout out” to firefighters everywhere and helpers.

Get well to Betty Hasler (of Malta, manager of the Phillips Transit Authority.) Dale Salveson is acting manager in her absence. I still ride the transit when I got to Malta. The transit is a real asset to the county. They go to other cities if arranged in advance. The Phillips Transit Authority will give free rides to the Phillips County Fair, call 654-5301 to schedule a pickup or see times that the buses leave from Malta and the fair on page 6A in this week’s PCN.

Sally Austin had company recently; one was a Buffington, a relative who is a doctor. His two friends also visited, all from different areas.

There was a basketball camp in Whitewater School, all last week. Among the out-of-town players were Seth and Jonathan Siewing and an Eggebrecht boy. Paul Siewing (dad) drove the boys out. We ate at the North 40, as did many others from the camp.

Days are so hot; evenings it cools off and children play and some drive “golf carts” around Whitewater. There has been a drought in most of the northeast portion of Montana which is drawing the comparison to the drought of 1930, the year of the Great Depression. Here is an excerpt from Dad’s (Harry Austin) book Pioneers of the Great Northwest:

“The year 1930 was the driest year in the history of Phillips County! The dust was blowing like snow. Dust blew in drifts, even, covering fences and other items, like machinery! Some machinery and other items were not found until years later.”

There were very little crops and there wasn’t any money to buy food! It was bad.

I will write more from Dad’s books later, but let’s hope things don’t get that bad this year.

Keep hoping and praying.

Helen Austin.