Should ANY effort be made to reinvent Sheridan County?

Reinvention is a word used more and more lately when trying to find sustainable economic and environmental solutions. And if there ever was a need for a region to be reinvented it's Eastern Montana, starting with Sheridan county. With each passing generation there's less and less of everything, but mostly people. And without people a sustainbable economy can't exist. Everybody knows about it and comments on the situation, but very few solutions are being offered. Some people do not want change. They think progress is important, but without change. Is that even possible?

Sheridan County will soon be 100 years old. Most of it's towns have faded away and others exist only because of a bar or a post office. There are many who think it won't make it to it's own birthday party, and don't believe any effort should be made to change directions. What do you think?

Dennis Ketterman

The Last Hurrah?

Sheridan County will be celebrating several significant milestone events during the next four years. Antelope, Outlook and Medicine Lake will mark their 100th birthdays in 2010, followed by Plentywood in 2012 and the county in 2013. And the question is, "will it be the last hurrah?"

At the rate Eastern Montana is losing population and with the unpredictable economic situation, 2012 could very well be the tipping point where the population simply can't sustain a local economy. And if that's not bad enough, the Mayan calendar and a host of prophets from Nostradamus to "Stella the psychic" are predicting Armageddon will occur on December 24, 2012. The bible also makes mention of it, and NASA has officially indicated that solar flare activity will be at peak during the year 2012, a cosmic phenomena that occurs every 26,000 years. It's what allegedly ended the dinosaurs party. It seems like there's always something.

It may rank up there with the Y2K computer scare in 2000. But who knows?
Whatever happens, and whatever you believe, it will be interesting coffee talk for the next four years.

In spite of the chilly winters and breezy conditions we feel there is opportunity in this corner of the world. It just hasn't been discovered yet, nor has there ever been a serious marketing effort to find out. The entire world is re-inventing their economies around the emerging green movement and renewable energy. Why not here? It's all around us.

With eye on Stella and the gang, we're betting it won't be the last hurrah. We're teaming up with Al Gober and the new Gold Dollar casino and steakhouse in Plentywood to promote a variety of events over the next four years to start the countdown NOW to all Sheridan County Centennial celebrations!
And we hope you join us!

THE PLAN

DANCE TROUPE
One of the first things we're going to do is put a "Young Face" on the entire program by organizing the "Gold Dollar Dancers," a dance troupe to serve as public relation ambassadors to help promote the entire Discover Eastern Montana project. Auditions will be held April 1 at the Gold Dollar banquet room and all ladies ages 16-25 who enjoy entertaining and would like to learn high octane line dancing and chorus line type routines are invited to audition. Part of the duties of the Nuggets is to host the weekly Centennial information mixers.

CENTENNIAL INFORMATION MIXERS
Social communications is also key to the promotion. The information mixers will tentatively be held every Friday in the Gold Dollar banquet room from 5:30 to 8:00 PM beginning April 3. They will serve as the time and place to inquiry about the promotions, pickup event information, sign up as a volunteer, register for events, mix and mingle. Gold Dollar Dancer (official name will be determined by the dance troupe) auditions will continue, plus a search for local musicians, comedians, actors and other talent will be a regular feature. Everyone is welcome! There are no fees, meetings, or obligations to attend. Just show up, kick back and have some fun! Enjoy hors d' oeuvres and happy hour priced drinks will be served.

WEEKEND LIVE MUSIC, DANCING, LESSONS and MOREPlans to have weekend live music, dancing, lessons, contests and other musical entertainment, standup comedy and dinner theaters are part of the overall plans.

THEMED EVENTS
Themed events such as Halloween, St. Patrick's, Valentine's, Oktoberfest etc. will be promoted as major events with supporting activities. Outdoor concerts, motorcycle rallies, health, fitness and job expos, festivals, farmers markets and a variety of sporting event possibilities will be explored and promoted.

We hope all Sheridan County businesses, residents, students, former residents and alumni support and get involved with this promotion, because the upside is that jobs and other economic opportunities may evolve. It might even attract former residents and others to relocate here. We'll never know until the effort is made to find out. But if something isn't done, then it very well may be the last hurrah.

Your comments and feed back are welcomed and encouraged. We would also appreciate if you would forward this onto other family members and friends, to sign up for our free newsletter to receive updates about the Countdown and other related news.

For further information please call 406-765-1401, dennisk@nemont.net, or Al Gober at the Gold Dollar 406-765-2730. We look forward to hearing from you and your comments and be sure to log onto to the websites for updates, event information and schedules.

Check the oil and tires please . . . .

This truck passed through Plentywood on it's way to the oil fields in Northern Canada. Most likely to the oil sands pit in Alberta. It was an awesome sight to say the least. It's 230 feet long and needs two pusher trucks to help it get up steep grades. I didn't see it try to make the 90 degree turn onto the Raymond Highway, but was told it had independent steering so it obviously made it. It's cargo was a piece of oil equipment that weighed over 900,000 lbs. The support crew included 4 pilot pickups, a maintenance and a boom truck with a basket. This trip probably cost more than most of us make in a year. The oil biz is booming -- expect to see a little price increase at the pumps soon. I'm counting 138 tires. How many do you get? There's more photo's on the webiste.

Ya gotta do something during P'wood winters . . . . .
Dennis

Oil and Coal Production Inquiry

I was inquiring about oil and coal production in Sheridan County. I have mineral interest and was wanting to get a feel of what and who was doing what and where? Is there anything going on in Section 26 and would anyone have info on surface owners in this section. Any info would be appreciated.

Alan Saunders
alan.saunders@arlp.com

Porn in Plentywood?

I was listening to Adam Corolla's radio program, and they had a call in on where, per capita, that the most people go on the internet to access porn. Plentywood was in the top ten. So much for the moral majority.

Clayton McCall
cmccall@arizonalogo.com

Sturgis type motorcycle rally - in Plentywood??

Rumor has it, a Sturgis type motorcycle rally is being planned in Plentywood for next summer! Not many details at this time, but considering it put Sturgis, South Dakota on the map and is responsible for millions in tax and other revenues, I'm all for it! What do you think? What's your opinion?

Dennis

Three Years and Counting?

The Sheridan County Online and the Alternatives Magazine websites are both three years old this month (August). We're not having any wild cookies and coffee celebration, but at least it's a noteworthy milestone.

They were both conceived after seeing the population and the family farms continue to decline throughout Eastern Montana. It was thought an interactive website might at least help bring awareness to the situation and even provide some solutions and possible economic opportunities, especially in the midst of the energy situation.

Well the population is still declining, even at a faster rate, about 17% a year (most in the state) and the family farms are still going to auction. No wind turbines on the horizon, no solar stations planned and most everybody is still driving across the street in monster trucks and Suv's. Life is good.

So we didn't make much of an impact, if any, after three years. Nor did I think we actually would. But it was worth a shot. And for what it's worth -- a contribution.

But the question I had when I first started the websites still lingers. How does a region survive economically without people and without revenue coming in from outside sources? Especially a rural community like Plentywood. The answer is obvious, it doesn't. Not without dramatic change and re-invention.

So how has Sheridan County survived? Well, most of it hasn't.
Comertown, Dooley, Archer now have plaques embedded in a rock indicating there once was a town supporting an economy in this area. Outlook, Flaxville, Antelope, Reserve, Raymond, Westby, Medicine Lake have a pulse, but all are taking their hits economically, and growth and progress have all but passed them by.

I read recently that 50% of the country's wealth is inherited. That wasn't so back in the 40's, 50's and 60's. Is that a good thing? It's good if you're the one receiving the inheritance. It's good if you re-invest, and some do. But according to the article, most don't. They don't even need to work. Why should they? Government subsidies, grants and other forms of bail outs and hands out has changed the way money is earned and spent. And that's why, in my opinion, the only reason Sheridan County is in an upright position. It's a no brainer. Unplug the life support system and order a plaque.

The sad part about this whole doomsday scenario is that there is so much opportunity here. It's everywhere!! I lived in Southern California for 25 years, and nearly everybody there who beat themselves up everyday on the freeways just getting back and forth to work and dealing with wall-to-wall people would dearly give up all that fun to live here (maybe not during the winter, but those other 15 days they would).

So, having said all that, why should I continue with the websites? Why should young people or anybody stay or relocate here? Will Medicine Lake and Antelope survive long enough to make it to their Centennial Celebrations in 2010 and Plentywood in 2012? The future for Sheridan County looks bleak. But what a challenge.

What is your opinion?