Whitewater News and Opinion for April 18, 2018

4-11. Get well wishes to those suffering from colds and flu.

Easter Sunday, baby Ost was baptized at Whitewater Lutheran Church! The church was packed with his parents, relatives, and friends. An Easter egg hunt in the snow followed. Many went out of town for Easter. The Reichelt family and Sally Austin went to Denver and Joyce (Austin) Donavens to Kremlin, Mont.

Gail (my daughter) came to church at Whitewater with me, and I cooked dinner. Challise (granddaughter) worked at McDonald’s in Glasgow!

Congratulations to Curt Reichelt on winning a “Ranger“ truck. Janet came by and took me for a wild ride in it! It is rugged and tough and can go over hills and through snowbanks!

We were at the Austin ranch and looked at the cows and calves. It sure has been a cold, hard winter, especially for calving and cows; so sad. Maybe next year they should plan to calve later. But let's hope the winter of 2019 is not as bad as 2018.

Late congratulations to Luke Lawless on his accomplishments in technology and various sports.

Happy birthday to Dallas and Jeannie Green, Thyus Olsen and all April birthdays (including me.)

Late congratulations to Rural Montana Magazine on an excellent writing award!

Well, the snow is melting slowly but the weather is still cold. It can’t last all summer, can it

Take care

Helen A.

Whitewater news 1950 or 1952 from the book “Hills Beyond Whitewater Creek Bridge,"

by Helen Austin

Whitewater bridge is flooding!

Part 2

The people came to life and moved as one. After discussion, they decided what to do. There was no way to stop the water, so they would have to stop the car. The girls were due back at five, and it was almost that now! So the good citizens of Whitewater, about 100 of them, men women and children of all ages, formed a human chain. On the north side of the swollen, flooding banks of that now violent Whitewater Creek. Some folks carried lights to wave warning; others held lanterns to flash warnings and others would shout warnings over the water's roar!

“I know they won’t be able to hear us,“ said mom. “Someone get a gun and shoot a warning!”

No sooner said than done as the men ran for their rifles and prepared to fire.

The crowd waited patiently andrestlessly and about two hours later the old blue Ford appeared on the horizon, on top of the hill, heading down towards the Creek, and the fallen bridge, with possible disaster and drowning! Could we stop them?

“Lord, let them stop and go back,” I prayed with tears in my eyes. “If you do, Lord, I won’t fight with Janet anymore, and I won’t even tattle on her!”

With the human brigade still there, going wild, waving yelling, “go back!” and flashing their lanterns and flashlights in the dark as the guns shot into the air over the den of the roaring waters.

“Go back, the bridge is gone! Go to the old ranch and stay there," the voices yelled in unison.

“I look into the hills, from whence cometh my help” the psalm ran through my mind; and as I looked, suddenly the blue Ford stopped! The girls got out, looked ahead and waive their understanding. They got back into the car and turned around to go to grandmas house at the old ranch to spend the night. They were safe! It was a miracle, someone up there likes her! The crowd went absolutely wild! We shouted and jumped up and down for joy.

“Thanks, Lord,” I said. My sister was safe, and now I would do nothing to her. (But eventually, I did fight with her!)

The Whitewater bridge was finally rebuilt, using steel girders and new wood so it would not collapse again.

Many years have past, the water still runs under the creek, and the children still dream of the hills beyond Whitewater Creek!