30 Years Ago
From the Examiner Files
August 2, 2018
Thursday, August 4, 1988
Full-fledged drought by Shirley Stuver
A final July week of sweltering heat and southeast winds brought the average high for the month to 94.03 degrees at the “cool” Broadus weather station, and also brought the admission from even the most optimistic residents that “this is a full-fledged drought.”
In computing July temperature means, it is hard to believe… but July of 1936 was even warmer, if Miles City records are valid for comparison.
Some cool nights brought the monthly minimum down to 58.41 degrees. Monthly mean was then 76.22 degrees, compared to a Miles City record 84.3 degrees for July of 1936. If official temperatures were measured on a stretch of dry prairie, where cactus stand out like sores on the earth and the only vegetation is sagebrush, the average high would come up several points.
No wonder that yards were full of beds and mattresses in 1936! There were no fans or air conditioners then and cooking was done on coal and wood stoves. Not much water to wash with either.
Precipitation at Broadus for the first seven months of the year was 3.97 inches. This compares with an official 1.55 inches at the Brown station on Powder River, across the line in Custer County, and with, no doubt, unofficial measures of about that amount in other communities. Some few areas may have had more.
This stretch of drought and heat doesn’t stand alone, however, which was also true of 1936. Two brown winters, rain which fell after the growing season, about half of the normal June rainfall for four years, and invasion of grasshoppers set the stage for the final blows.
There are many ranches where the main cow herd is still intact - intact that is after several years of cutting down and some “pasturing out,” and where calves are now going to market.
There are others, as in the Powderville community where, as several ranch wives have mentioned, “We haven’t had cows for two or three years but are just running sheep. They are making it so far but the lambs are looking droughty and may have to go to market early.”
No one statement covers the entire area, with each community having different problems as to moisture and grasshoppers, other than to say that everyone shared the heat. It could safely be said that all herds were cut, or additional pastures arranged for, in the 1986 grasshopper invasion. Most of these have been here awhile; they diversify as necessary.
Powder River is just a trickle and it is rumored that somewhere north of the county line it has come to a standstill. The flow was good during irrigation season, however.
Samuelson selected to play at BCI tourney
Shawn Samuelson has been selected to play in an international basketball tournament in Seattle, Washington, August 8 through the 13th.
Dick Ryan of Billings, who oversees the Montana BCI operation, selected the young man to play on the Montana team, after observing him in action at the Big Sky Games. Selection for the tourney was made on over-all basketball skills and attitude.
Shawn will be playing with a team of fourteen-year-old boys, most of whom are from the Billings area.
The young man is the son of Sid and Gaye Samuelson of the local community.
At six feet, two inches, he will join the Frosh Hawk basketball team this fall. He will no doubt be a great addition to the Hawks team, as was his father, an All State athlete.
There are multiple benefits accompanying an appearance in the BCI tourney, which has grown into on the nation’s premier youth basketball events.
Along with the high-level competition and exposure, BCI gives young people a chance for travel and cultural expansion, a big plus for Montanans.
Mixed golf league competition still close
The battle for the lead in the local Mixed Golf League remained close following competition last week, with the top five teams closing to within one and one-half points of each other. Jim and Peggy Vivian and Dave and Dianna Richards are tied for first place, each with 35 ½ points. Vivians finished last week with 10 ½ points and the Richards, with 13 ½.
Wayne and Anita Wetherelt finished the week with nine and one-half points and are in third place with a total of 34 1/2. Skin and Betty Collins and Glen and Shirley Burton are tied for the following two places with 34 points. The Collins had a 13-point week last time out while the Burtons gained 11 and one-half.
Other teams and the results from last week, in order of standings, are as follows: Don and Julie Gatlin, 11 points for 33 ½; Garry and Sharyn Wallace, 13 points for 32 1/2; Robert Bement and Ann Emmons, 10 ½ points for 32 1/2 (tie); Jim and Nancy Espy, 10 points for 30; Dick and Bernice Rolfson, 10 points for 28 ½; Darold and Sylvia Zimmer, six and one-half points for 28; Rick Gatlin and Mary Jane Rogge, seven points for 27 ½; John Klein and Virginia Samuelson, seven points for 27; Tom Emmons and Billie Knudson, nine points for 27 (tie); Lars Knudson and Betty Alderman 11 ½ points for 24 ½; Bob McCurdy and Kathleen Neiman, eight and one half points for 24 and Ed and Irene Gardner, eight and one-half points for 24 (tie).
Fred Ackley shot a 39 for low gross for the men while Lewis Hoffman shot a 30 for low net score. Billie Knudson had low gross score for the women with a 48. Sharyn Wallace shot a 26 for low net.
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