FLATWILLOW and WINNETT NEWS
Flatwillow Homemakers will be holding their first meeting after the summer break on Tuesday, September 10. It will be at Linda Gershmel’s home. It will be a summer tea party for ladies so if you have a summer hat, it would be fun to wear them to Linda’s house. We will be filling out our program booklets, dues, choosing hostesses for each month, opportunity table, and revealing secret sisters. We will also draw new secret sisters for the new year. Hope to see everyone there.
This summer we had to say goodbye to several Winnett and Petroleum County residents. Judy Bevis, who was raised in Winnett and graduated from Winnett High School passed away in July. We send our sympathy and hugs to Judy’s family and friends. She had worked at the Winnett School for 30 years before retiring in 2010. She worked in the library and then as the school secretary. We will all miss her. We also said goodbye to Bill Lowe, Bill Maxwell, Doris Maxwell, and Ron Heitz. We send our sympathy to all their friends and family. All of them made a mark on our community and we will miss all of them.
School started on August 14. It seems too early and way too hot to be in school already. Seems like the summer goes by faster and faster. Grass Range/Winnett Ranger football is back in Grass Range. We had enough kids go out for 6 man football and we have a coach and assistant coach. It is so nice to have our team back. GRW Ranger volleyball is also going on. We have a talented group of girls with coaches Reba Ahlgren and Tori Thomas. If you would like to have a fun filled Saturday, the next home game will be Saturday September 21. The GRW Rangers play Harlowton. Jr High game starts at 10:00, varsity game begins at 1:00. It is homecoming that weekend. The volleyball team also plays that day in Grass Range. Their games begin at 3:30. It should be a lot of fun that week with homecoming parade, dance, and excitement all week long.
The Winnett Booster Club along with a number of volunteers have been working hard on getting the Winnett football field back in shape. They demolished the old field, brought in semi loads of dirt and leveled the field with blades. A power/meter loop has been installed as well as a new hydrant meter pit, installed an underground sprinkler system, hydro-seed grass and install a permanent fence along Broadway Avenue. Future plans include storage shed, practice equipment, scoreboard, bleachers, lights, crow’s nest, concession area, bathroom facilities and other track and field improvements. The last home game on the old football field was in 1986 so there is a lot of work, maintenance and improvements needed to be done to get it back in shape. Thank you to the Carroll Grant from Larry Carroll which helped pay for a lot of the improvements. As of mid-August, there were 359 hours and $29,405 in kind donations. Thank you to the Booster Club for working to get this project started and to all the community members, school students, and anyone else who has taken the time to help work on the football field.
There were all kinds of activities this summer. The Booster Club held their annual poker run, there was the Winnett Fun day and pasture golf. A little bit of something for everyone.
The Johnke Ranch, Flatwillow Ranch, Murphy Ranch, and Stahl Farms all put on a dance at Flatwillow Hall for the community. It was a fun time for all. Good time to socialize, dance, visit and enjoy seeing all the neighbors and friends.
There will be an applicator’s class at the PCCC on Wednesday September 11 from 1-4:00. As long as the weather holds, Farmer’s Market will be at the PCCC every Wednesday from 4-7:00. Friday, September 13 will be cowboy music and storytelling from 6-7:30pm. The community center has something going on every week. The jam sessions at the 55 Main building are over for this year and will begin again next spring.
It has been a busy summer and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any this fall. This relentless heat, drought, grasshoppers have been hard on everyone. The latter part of next week looks like it will begin to cool off and there is a chance of precipitation. We can sure use it. Have a wonderful week!
WINNETT SENIOR NEWS
2024
August
Aug 1 - Twenty-nine seniors enjoyed a meal of potato soup grilled cheese sandwiches, stuffed celery stix, and melon cups.
Sharon won senior of the month for August. Congratulations! Thank you to Steve and Ginger Moore for the zucchini. Gary and Linda brought fresh cucumbers and squash from their garden for anyone to take. The new MT senior bulletin is here. Be sure and pick one up.
Pastor Matt of the Methodist Church is having an open house in Grass Range on August 10. The Booster Club will be having their annual poker run on August 10th. Meet at the Winnett Bar at 4:00 and then travel to several places along Petrolia Bench. Cost is $20 per entry, and there will be snacks, drinks, 50/50 at each stop. It is always a fun time and a good fundraiser for the Winnett School. Kim won the 50/50 at seniors for $9.00. Cards were enjoyed after dishes were done and chores were finished.
Aug 8 - Thirty-four seniors and ten take-out orders were here for our senior lunch. We had Ranch house meatballs, baked potatoes, green bean bake, pasta salad, and chocolate zucchini cake.
The mail-a-meal boxes are here. Be sure to pick your box up. There will be a senior board meeting week after next (August 22) after our lunch.
Thank you to Gary and Linda for the cucumbers and squash they brought. They also had two nieces with them as visitors. They are Gary’s sister Mitzi’s girls. If you haven’t been here for awhile and are coming back, or aren’t able to come to lunch, please let Patti know so she can get an idea of how many will be here for the meal. Foot clinic will be either August 21st or 22nd. Let Linda know if you need to make an appointment. She will have the information on when they will be here. Patti won the 50/50 for $10. Several stayed for the afternoon and played pinochle after clean-up was finished.
Aug 15 - Patti and Cassie fixed a delicious meal of BBQ burgers with buns, baked beans, pasta salad, chips, and pudding cups. Neither I nor Carol Ann were here so we didn’t get any details of the meeting.
Aug 22 - Thirty seniors and ten take-out orders enjoyed our birthday dinner of oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes with milk gravy, vegetable salad, cranberries, rolls, relishes, birthday cupcakes and ice cream. Thank you to Janelle for the cupcakes. August birthdays were Janelle, Ella, Murray Lou, Kim, Luann, and Diane. Happy Birthday to all.
Murray Lou brought the Area II newsletters. She shared her experience of being scammed. Area II meeting in Harlowton on September 6. Thank you to the Gershmels for the cucumbers and squash. Dellie won the 50/50 for $12.50. We lost another member of our community this month. We send our sympathy to the family and friends of Ron Heitz.
Aug 29 - We had a large turnout today for seniors. It was great to see all our tables full. There were thirty-eight seniors and ten take-out meals. We had chicken or beef croissant sandwiches, corn salad, cucumber salad and dessert clean-up.
Gary Gershmel won senior of the month for September. The new senior bulletins are out. Anyone is welcome to take one. The Area II meeting will be in two weeks in Harlowton on September 6. Gary, Linda, Kim, and Patti are planning on attending.
The card table at the back of the room is full of canned goods and other food that is free for the taking. Help yourself. Whatever is left will go to the food bank in Lewistown.
Thank you to the Gershmels for the cucumbers and squash and thank you to Preston and Haley Kiehl for the cucumbers used for the cucumber salad.
Saturday (August 31) is our first game of the football and volleyball season. The football team will play Richey/Lambert. Jr High games start at 10:00, high school games will begin at 1:00. It is also the opening weekend for the volleyball team. They will play either in the Broadview/Lavina tournament, or the Harlowton and Roy/Winifred triangular. Locations TBD and not sure of the times. Fall sports have begun.
Monday, September 2 will be graveside services for Judy Bevis and her sister Joyce Drube. The service will be at 11:00 at the Winnett cemetery with lunch to follow at the PCCC. Side dishes are welcome.
September 12, pickleball will begin at the PCCC in the Carroll Hall gym at 10:00. This is open to anyone who would like to learn to play pickleball.
Bob (who owns the Winnett Lodge) was here today after being gone all summer. Welcome back. He also won the 50/50 for $15.00. Kim has paperwork and information for anyone who is interested in a home modification grant. This is for seniors who want to modify their house for safety. You can fill out the application to see if you are eligible. Cards were played after dishes were done and clean up finished.
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