Hi-Line Living: 2015: A year in Review

Whitacre and Farmer are on their way to preserving another historic landmark. They purchased the century-old Masonic Temple, right across the street. It was getting worse for the wear, and the Masons were unable to pay for the needed repairs.

The couple is already undertaking renovations to the building.

Havre also got attention when three colleges students were brutally stabbed the morning before graduation at Montana State University-Northern when an intruder broke into their Highland Park apartment. The students are in varying stages of recovery, and the intruder, Justice Brown, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to attempted murder.

Northern and the Havre community were in a state of shock. Fundraisers collected several thousand dollars for each of the victims.

Havre went through another scare in December when a prisoner charged with attempted murder escaped from Fort Belknap police custody just as her was being transported through downtown Havre.

Schools were placed on lockdown as were several public buildings.

On some other front, it appeared that long-smoldering disputes may be calming down. Havre Police, Hill County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Border Patrol and Montana Highway Patrol joined forces, and the suspect was captured. After a protracted delay, Fort Belknap officials vowed they would take precautions against further escapes.

Even close followers of the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation turmoil have lost count of how many times Ken St. Marks has been elected — and then removed — as chair of the Chippewa Cree Business Committee.

But the most recent re-election may stick. There has been no effort to remove him this time, and while tensions still exist, the day-to-day operations of the tribe appear to be going smoothly.

Tribe members are still waiting for more shoes to drop from the U.S. attorney’s office on further indictments against former tribal leaders charged with embezzling funds from various projects.

During the past year, former tribal council member John “Chance” Houle was sent off to prison, and Shad Huston, a Havre businessman and former school board president, is scheduled for a federal court appearance early next year.

At Northern, things also seemed to be calming down.

For years, it seemed, faculty, staff, students and administrators couldn't agree on the time of day.

But this year, a large crowd filled Hensler Auditorium as people came to the microphone one by one pleading with Montana State University President Waded Cruzado to appoint Greg Kegel the permanent chancellor.

Kegel, a veteran administrator, had a calming influence on the campus during his time as acting chancellor. He raised enough money to assure that a new diesel building will be constructed, and he is working on more several projects. He has a much more low-keyed style than his more bombastic predecessors, James Limbaugh and Frank Trocki.

Also at Northern, Dean Randy Bachmeier won his case before the Montana Human Relations Commission. Bachmeier said he was sexually harassed by the now-departed Provost Rosalyn Templeton.

Havre got bombarded by a horrible hail and wind storm on July 4. There was a tornado alert issued on the Hi-Line and several possible tornados were reported in remote sections of Hill and Blaine counties.

Millions of dollars of damage were reported in roof and siding damage to area homes. Because area roofers were not able to do all the work, contractors from throughout Montana and the nation set up shop in town — some legitimate, some not.

Farmers and ranchers suffered severe losses. Hill County was declared a disaster area because of crop losses.

This was the year that Havre residents agreed streets were in poor repair and there were too many potholes, but no one knew what to do about it.

City council majority submitted a $30 million plan that would reconstruct streets over 20 years.

Voters rejected the proposal, and city officials immediately began looking at options.

Some said they wanted to resubmit the plan, some called for a retooling of the proposal and council member Andrew Brekke, who opposed the initial proposal, said he would like to see a combination of a mill levy hike, special improvement district assessment and regular city funds used to make at least some of the repairs.

Students at Montana State University and University of Montana launched a big weather balloon from Sen. Jon Tester’s Big Sandy farm in April.

The balloon, launched by the Montana Space Grant Consortium, will gather information on a total solar eclipse of the sun on Aug. 17, 2017.

Kitty Keepers, which has been a home for lost and stray cats for many years, closed it doors.

On the brighter side, Havre’s skatepark got a facelift thanks to a hefty contribution from Big Sandy-native Jeff Ament, the bassist for Pearl Jam. Ament has built similar skateparks in his hometown and in Browning.

And, while there were many issues of more importance, there were few issues that drew more passion on each side than the controversial proposal to allow people to raise chickens in their yards.

Crowds attended City Council committee meetings, letters to the editor were written and social media posts abounded.

In the end, city council voted it down. Opponents said they would be back.