Powder River Examiner -

Thursday, June 8, 1989

Ridge Store moved to Broadus Museum

Among some of the late additions to the Powder River Historical Society Museum the past week was the arrival of the fixtures and some of the merchandise of the old Ridge Store, courtesy of Francis Hayes, son of the late Cecil and Catherine Hayes who operated the store and post office for a number of years.

Included in the collection is a gasoline pump dating back to the pre-visible means of measurement. Also, in the many display items are enlarged photos of Ridge citizenry posing in front of the store nearly 70 years ago, together with the recent photos at the same location with area residents attired in frontier regalia.

Another eye-catching item on loan for the summer months from the Espy family is an ornate pump organ in mint condition, complete with “piano babies”. One member of the family remarked that the organ was hauled to Texas some 100 years ago by wagon and then came up to Montana a few years ago by U-Haul!

Visitors to the Museum and Visitors Center have begun arriving in significant numbers, with over 100 registering on Memorial Day afternoon and opening day June 1. Guests so far have come from Australia, Texas and other far-flung points this early in the vacation season, expressing pleasure in the display items and interest in the tourist brochures, noting that they were attracted in part to the Center by the Commercial Club’s billboards on either side of Broadus.

The appearance of the new Montana Centennial Flag outside the Center accompanying Old Glory is a memorial given in honor of the late Mildred Miles, a longtime resident of the area.

Ladies golf leaders named

Fern Fredrickson and Ann Carroll took a first-place lead in ladies golf league competition. After the first week of action on May 31, Fern and Ann lead with 16 and one-half points.

Shirley Steadman and Betty Collins are in second place with 14 and one-half points, Dot Nalley and Louise Popp are in third with 13 and one-half points, Dawn Draine and Ione Engel and Marianne Hyatt and Sharyn Wallace are tied for fourth and fifth place with 13 points and Bernice Rolfson and Bea Collins are seated sixth with 12 and one-half points. Tied for seventh and eighth places with seven points each are Karen Gunther and Judy Collins and Sylvia Zimmer and Stephanie Best. Seated in ninth is Emily Hagedorn and Carla Considine with five and one-half points and in the tenth position is Gail Robbins and Karen Amende with three and one-half points.

Sylvia Zimmer shot a 50 for low gross and Betty Collins took low net with a 32.

McGill, reading council honored for achievement

Mrs. Patricia S. Koppman, President of the International Reading Association, recently honored the Yellowstone Reading Council during IRA’s 34th Annual Convention in New Orleans, Lousiana. The council was cited for its achievement of excellence in the Honor Council program for 1988-89 and has received this honor for two consecutive years.

Receiving the award was Sarah M. McGill, president of the council. The officers for 1988-89 include Kay Brost, vice president; Wilma Mellville, vice president-elect; and Diana Bogner, secretary-treasurer.

The Honor Council program recognizes councils which excel in the promotion of reading and a wide array of special activities related to ready and community support of literacy.

Gotfredson, Jilka both going to Colby, Kansas

Niki Gotfredson, a 1989 graduate of Powder River County High School in Broadus, has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Colby, (KS) Community College.

Gotfredson will follow her high school coach to Colby. Joan Jilka, the volleyball coach at Powder River the past three years, was named CCC volleyball coach in April. Jilka is a graduate of CCC and earned All-America honors in track while competing for the Trojans.

The 5’11” Gotfredson was the Most Valuable Player for Powder River High this past season. She led the team in kills with 80 and had a team-high of 49 blocks. Gotfredson was also the leading server on the team. She was successful on 99 percent of her service attempts. Gotfredson was a two-time member of the All Conference volleyball team at Powder River High.

“Niki has good size and her skills improved each year,” Jilka said. “She needs to improve her power hitting, but she has great potential. She was an outstanding server for us at Broadus and I think she will be an asset to the volleyball program at Colby Community College.”

Gotfredson will major in psychology at CCC. She is the daughter of Ed and Elaine Gotfredson of Broadus.