As I start to write this article I can't help but think of a loyal supporter of my Big Powder Ponderings, Monte Mallett. He was a lot of things, all good. Fren, neighbor, always willing to help, cowboy. I could go on and on, but one word that sums up Monte, he was an honest cow man and will always be missed by those that knew him.

I want to thank Billy and Joe Stuver for their input on an article I wrote and it has been put in the back house, not to read, but for the other purpose.

What a year for the ranchers here in Powder River County from putting up hay to shipping. Most of the calves are gone from the Powderville area and a lot of us didn't have to worry about soft ground as it froze up early. Could be a long winter. From what I have heard the preg testing has not been real good. Some say the high rate of open cattle is due to the sweet clover. Also a lot of reports of water damage to dikes and reservoirs. The plus side of all this is that calves are coming in heavier and the grass held up good, no big fires and a lot of hay was put up though a lot of that was poor quality.

Hunting season getting on the way and having property next to the old Brewer ranch that the Fish and Game manage is a nightmare for us. Now they allow 10 hunters a day for thirty plus days to kill the five forked horn bucks that are left. And they call that game management.

Another good Fren left the area after thirty plus years working for Pezzarossi Ranch. They asked him to quit. Chris Pluhar. I thought he was an good asset and I don't know what they will do as he kept the equipment in running order. Anyways Old Chris landed a job at NAPA and after going in and buying some supplies on a nasty day, he filled my order, did a good job and now has a good warm job for the winter, so think Pezz did him a favor.

I thought I would write about somebody in the county that maybe a few people know. I thought of Ben Minow. Now I really like old Ben and got to know him quite well from buying supplies from him and playing 500 at the hall. Though he never won very often unless he had old Fred for a partner. Anyway I wanted the inside facts about him so I called him sometime ago and told him I was thinking of writing an article on him and had a few questions. "Ben what side of the bed do you sleep on?" Ben, "my side". "Ben what do you wear in bed?" Ben, "the appropriate attire." I gave up and decided he would make a great politician. P.S. Thanks Ben for your cooperation.

The Spring Creek School is open, they have three students. The teacher has taught there before and told me she was so happy to be back in this wonderful area, from the east. Her name is Shawna Williams-Hicks. She also said she is looking forward to playing 500 at the community hall. Sure hope she doesn't get Ben for a partner.

I talked to Scott Amende and the new Happy Hour for the winter at the shop starts at four thirty week days and noon on Saturday. Also the poor guy just got back from a three day rest in Alzada. He was good enough to come over to help us with shipping. Sick and looking very run down, he said he had been sleeping too close to a crack them 3 nights and caught something.

Best Wishes from Old Fred