Whitewater News & Opinion for May 6, 2020

4-29. How is everyone surviving the COVID-19 virus? OK, I hope. Whitewater residents, like most people, are abiding by the rules. The school is still closed, and we have not had church services. The North 40 is still serving senior meals, but they are takeout only. Many thanks to the “secret surprise” donor who anonymously gave me a new water heater. Dan and Scott from Farmers and Ranchers are installing it for me. Thanks to them.

It is a blessing to have water and now hot water. Now I don’t have any excuses for letting the dishes pile up.

Welcome home to Bonnie McMullen who had been in Billings, Mont.

Happy retirement to Curt Reichelt, our propane gas man. Curt is a “gentleman farmer” at their farm near Whitewater. Good luck to him and all farmers and ranchers.

Get well to Nancy LaBrie, a former Whitewater resident, and cook at the North 40. She is now the manager at the Closet in Malta.

Congratulations to Beau Simons, a Whitewater Penguin, on being the Phillips County News Athlete of Week. He was in the paper a couple of weeks ago.

I am sending a delicious recipe for Pioneer Stew to the Phillips County News office in Malta and they can print you a copy if you want one. It is an easy recipe and only calls for beef stew meat, potatoes, carrots, peas, and corn, a turnip or a rutabaga, and onion and chopped garlic. Yummy.

It is a beautiful day here in Whitewater. Mom’s tulips and iris flowers are up. The meadowlarks are singing. Enjoy it.

5-6. I hope everyone is well and “glad you are better” to Sue Olson and Clarice Stahl.

Get well to Mike Hammond who is in the Mayo Clinic. Get well to all who are sick.

Most Montana ranchers, including here in Whitewater, have beautiful calves running and playing on the prairies. But sadly for some, their time is coming. The darling little calves will be branded and operated on. Modern technology now has different methods of branding, using ear chips as IDs. Maybe branding with fire is more traditional instead of a necessity?

PETA and the SPCA, groups who promote animal kindness, send me calendars and letters. Contact me if you would like more information.

Back in Whitewater, our schools will be using “distance learning” for the rest of this school year. Students will study and interact with their teachers online.

A big shout out to all the teachers and students who are homeschooling.

Whitewater Lutheran Church and Whitewater Baptist Church both have resumed Sunday services. The Baptist Church meets at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday and 6 p.m. on Wednesday while the Lutheran Church meets at 11:15 a.m. on Sundays.

Here is a joke to maybe make you smile:

Question: What type of market should you never take your dog to?

Answer: A flea market.

It is May so happy birthday to all May birthdays including my granddaughter Sheila of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada!

Everyone have a nice day.

Helen A.