A cowboy stays on top of a bucking saddle bronc during the Bucking Horse Sale. Photo by Steve Allison

 

Tuesday, June 30

Dr. Rauh no longer with clinic
By Elaine Forman
Dr. Randall Rauh is no longer an employee of the Billings Clinic as of Monday, according to President of Billings Clinic Foundation and Community Relations Jim Duncan.
Rauh has been providing obstetrics and gynecology care in Miles City for about 30 years. He joined Billings Clinic when it added a wing for women’s services several years ago.
Rauh was placed on leave on May 1. The clinic spokespersons would not comment on the reasons for the leave or the releasing of Rauh.
“Billings Clinic does not comment on employee matters,” Duncan said.
“We will continue working to provide patients in the Miles City area with options for women’s health care needs,” Duncan said.
He gave no details.
In May Rauh’s patients and other supporters protested at the clinic to show their outrage over Rauh being placed on leave and their view that they were not kept informed. The clinic met with patients to talk about their concerns. Dr. Susan Gallo has been seeing some of Rauh’s patients.
Over at Holy Rosary Hospital, Dr. Robyn Alley-Hay, OB/GYN, currently is the physician onsite, since May 1.

HRH gets national patient awards
From Avatar International
Holy Rosary Healthcare has been awarded Avatar International’s Most Improved Outpatient Surgery Overall and Most Improved Outpatient Surgery Loyalty and Endorsement awards for 2008.
Avatar International is an industry leader in healthcare quality improvement services, according to a press release.
These two national awards are based on actual patient feedback and evaluations received from patients who had an outpatient surgery procedure at Holy Rosary.  Holy Rosary’s Outpatient Surgery overall scores improved from 90.88 in 2007 to 94.63 in 2008. Their Outpatient Surgery Loyalty and Endorsement scores went from 87.77 in 2007 to 93.47 in 2008.
“Holy Rosary has welcomed patient feedback for many years as an important tool to help us constantly improve various aspects of the total patient experience,” Sara Beard, RN, Director of Quality at Holy Rosary Healthcare, said.  “We’re pleased with the good work of our physicians, nurses and staff who are committed to quality patient care, and we look forward to continuing our focus in other areas of the facility on our constant journey to deliver the best care.”
In making the announcement, David Medvedeff, PharmD, MBA, CEO of Avatar, said, “Staying true to their mission and keeping patient care at the center of everything they do, Holy Rosary Healthcare listened to their patients and consistently delivered a high quality patient experience. Their efforts have certainly been acknowledged by their patients and we at Avatar applaud their accomplishment.”  
Avatar (www.avatar-intl.com), a research and consulting company based in Orlando, FL, specializes in Evidence Based Intelligent Surveys™ and Innovative Strategies™ to transform information into significant quality and efficiency of care improvement for the healthcare industry. In addition to conducting surveys, Avatar also actively engages healthcare providers in process improvement, including training in service quality.  Avatar serves healthcare organizations nationally, including small community hospitals, academic medical centers, large regional medical centers, integrated healthcare systems, long-term care and behavioral health organizations.

Monday, June 29

Good Things going down
By Joseph Boushee
Demolition began Monday on the former Good Things building, a business heavily damaged in the March 23 Main Street fire.
The work is expected to cause temporary interruptions at a neighboring business on the 700 block — John Stockhill Jewelers.
The facade of the Good Things building, including some bricks, metal trim and the upper leaded glass window sections, was removed Saturday morning. The pieces are being stored in the hopes that they will be used on another Main Street building in Miles City.
John Stockhill Jewelers owner Gary Morken said Monday morning that the store will be closed at least Tuesday. From then on, Morken said he will be notified on a day-to-day basis when the business can reopen.
Stockhills shares a wall with the Good Things building that will remain intact.
“Hopefully, when this is all done and said, we’ll still have our wall,” Morken said.
The owner said he will continue to answer calls to Stockhills, as he’s had the business phone number transfered to his cell phone.
Morken expressed his appreciation to Stockhills’ customers for their patience.
“We really appreciate everybody’s understanding. People have been so good,” he said, assuring them, that merchandise is in safe keeping
“Everything is secure in the vault.”

Friday, June 26

Area landscape, people inspire artist
By Kay Braddock
When 27-year-old David Graham looks at one of his oil paintings, he sees more than the image portrayed. From the depicted badlands used as a backdrop to the yucca plants gracing the foreground, Graham envisions the original locations and experiences that inspired each layer of his completed work.
“It all starts basically with a good photograph,” Graham said, as he explained the painting process he undertakes with each of his western-themed artworks. “I use that as a reference.”
He estimates about 5,000 photographs are stored in his computer – many of them taken during his seven years working on property about 10 miles west of Terry.
As Graham points to his work “Almost to Montana,” he describes the origins of several features within the painting, including the badland bluff, and how many of them came from his time working as a ranch hand.
The painting, commissioned by the Montana Stockgrowers Association for its recent 125th celebration in Miles City, depicts an 1800s cattle drive leading from Texas to Montana. The cattle drives helped establish Montana’s cattle industry, and brought about one of the primary reasons for MSGA’s creation - to help stop cattle rustling.
“The cattlemen were having a tough time dealing with these thieves,” Graham explained. “So they had to organize a group to handle that.”
Given artistic leeway, Graham was allowed to choose the subject matter and also selected the title for the piece. He explains he chose the cattle drive theme because it portrays the start of it all – from Montana’s origins in the cattle industry, to the cattlemen’s need to organize together in order to protect that industry.
    “The picture also depicts a trail boss sitting on a rock ledge and he is supposed to be overseeing the operation,” Graham explained. “He’s just kind of sitting up there taking everything in.”
    Graham relied on historical photographs, including those taken by the area’s well-known frontier photographer, L. A. Huffman, before beginning the piece.
    “It was just kind of in my mind and then I found historical photos to support that idea,” Graham said.
    It took the better part of a month to complete.
    “I try to be pretty diligent with my time,” Graham said, explaining he usually begins early in the morning and works till midday.
    MSGA purchased the first nine of the 25 canvas prints made. Eight of those were auctioned during the 125th celebration June 10-13.
    “I thought it was a great honor to do it,” Graham shared of being asked to produce the commemorative painting.
Artistic progression
    About a year and a half ago Graham decided to begin painting full time.
    “It’s been progressing,” Graham explains of his artistic experience.
    His interest in sketching began at an early age. By age 10 he began drawing western themes, mainly inspired by stories told to him by his grandparents. His maternal grandparents ranch near Plevna.
    Graham was born in Miles City, briefly attending grade school there. He and his family moved throughout the state during much of his growing years. The family of four lived in Bozeman, Columbus and Fort Benton.   
    After his graduation from high school in Fort Benton in 2000, his family once again chose to settle in eastern Montana.
    That decision would ultimately provide Graham with the many scenes that have inspired his work, as he and his dad worked together on property owned by Harding Land and Cattle Company.
    “No, I never took art classes in college,” Graham explained, although he did graduate with a business management degree from Montana State University.
     Graham was first introduced to the medium of oil painting in a high school art class.
    About three years ago Graham approached the Grey Fox Gallery in Bozeman about showcasing some of his work.
    “I’d gone in there before and told the guy I was an artist,” Graham recalled. They accepted four of the six paintings he showed them. Within eight months his first painting had sold.
    In several of his paintings the cowboys portrayed are depictions of family and friends. Seeing the reaction of those who recognize the people portrayed has become one of the many satisfying experiences of his work, Graham shared.

Thursday, June 25

Boggs named Montana History Teacher of the Year
For the Star
Bonnie Boggs, fifth grade teacher at Garfield Elementary School in Miles City, is the winner of the 20th Montana Statehood Centennial Bell Award as Montana History Teacher of the Year.
Boggs has taught 37 years from pre-school through college and areas of adult education. 
 A Montana native, Boggs grew up in Blackfoot, located between Browning and Cut Bank on the Blackfeet reservation where she attended grade school.  She graduated from Browning High School and received a degree in elementary education from Northern Montana College in Havre. 
 In 1972 she began her teaching career, teaching first grade in Geraldine.  After moving to Fort Benton she taught 14 years at a rural school at Loma. 
 While at Loma, one of the programs of Montana history study was “See a City in Montana.”  Over a period of eight years, she took students on an overnight trip to some of Montana’s larger cities.  They saw the sights and learned about the area.
   Boggs says she enjoys teaching Montana history in her classroom.  “I have always appreciated the ‘old things,’ the ‘old ways’ and even the ‘old individuals’ of my time as a child.
    “Growing up on the Blackfeet reservation added to that understanding.  I especially remember Mary Ground and John Tatsey.  They were both teachers of their history and I loved to listen to them tell about their lives, and their experiences. 
  “I sometimes worry about our state and where it will be 20-30-50 years from now.  But I also know that if we teach our children and make them aware of all that we have, we have nothing to fear.  They will become the generation of caretakers, lovers of the land and models of preservation.  They will become the new historians and keep history alive and well.  I believe Montana is in good hands.” 
In her nominating letter, Garfield School Principal Laurie Huffman, said, “Bonnie is a veteran teacher who sincerely cares about each of her students.  She makes her lessons come alive by addressing all of the learning styles and senses of her students.  She teaches with energy, enthusiasm and excitement that is contagious and that many younger and older staff members envy.  I wish I had more teachers just like Bonnie!”
Boggs and her 22 fifth grade students will be honored at a ceremony at the State Capitol on Monday, Nov. 9 (the day after statehood day) to ring the  Montana Statehood Centennial Bell and to receive a plaque and cash gifts from the Montana News Stations and the Sons & Daughters of Montana Pioneers.  The Office of Public Instruction is also a partner in this program.

Community disaster drill held
By Joseph Boushee
It’s early April and 22 inches of snow has fallen on Miles City.
Most roads are impassable, power outages are widespread and motorists are stranded.
This isn’t a snippet from the newspaper archives but the fictional scenario of a community-wide disaster drill that took place Thursday at the Emergency Operations Center.
City and county officials and department heads from both entities treated this drill, based on a heavy snow event, as if it were actually happening, offering briefings throughout the day on how each department was dealing with the situation.
“It is something that really could happen,” said Lee Akers, who served as Public Information Officer for the exercise. “We are trying to plan for all contingencies.”
The exercise was meant to test the disaster preparedness of city and county officials and emergency responders.
“We are preparing to be prepared,” Akers said, “in case something should happen.”
The drill was coordinated by Jim Zabrocki, director of the Custer County Disaster and Emergency Services department, in conjunction with the National Weather Service in Billings.
The drill involved Zabrocki, Akers, County Commissioner Milo Huber, County Health Department Director Wendy Richards and nurse Lindsay Faber, county sheriff’s officers, Mayor Joe Whalen, City Council President Mark Ahner, Public Works Director Bruce Larson, Water Treatment Plant Director Allen Kelm, Miles City Fire and Rescue Chief Derrick Rodgers, Miles City Police Department Assistant Chief Doug Colombik, members of the Custer County Rural Volunteer Fire Company, volunteers with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and COPS (Citizens Offering Police Support), and an American Red Cross representative.
According to the scenario, there have been numerous car accidents as a result of the inclement weather, poor visibility and winds blowing at 30 to 40 miles an hour. There are downed power lines and tree limbs and the snow continues to accumulate. In rural areas, calving and lambing season was interrupted because of the weather.
“It never hurts to be prepared,” Akers said. “Everyone in this area is used to heavy snow, but not to this extent or this late in the year.”
The mayor and county commissioners served jointly as incident commanders.
Red Cross shelters have been set up at First Baptist Church and Valley Drive Baptist Church and volunteers were preparing hot food, beverages and snacks for residents visiting the shelter and for responders.
Public Works crews were assisting the city fire and police departments to clear the roads so that emergency responders could answer calls — including stranded motorists, vehicle accidents and abandoned vehicles. Snow plow operators placed high priority on roads like Wilson Street, which leads into Holy Rosary Healthcare.
As of the morning’s briefings, water plant staff were pumping the lift stations as needed to prevent sewer backup, and noticed that water supplies were depleting.
The county health department said schools were without power and students remained in the buildings. They were staying warm, but had to wait to go home until the the roads cleared. The Red Cross was to try and distribute snacks to students.
Also in the scenario, Custer County Rural Volunteer Fire Company volunteers responded to a tanker truck accident on the Seventh Street Bridge. Residents within 1,000 feet of the scene were evacuated and a hazardous material team was to assist with the cleanup.
“The end result is that the emergency services personnel will continue to be well prepared for any emergency,” Akers said.
A disaster declaration for Custer County was submitted to the state.
The drill wrapped up Thursday afternoon.
“The city and county workers were not caught off guard, and responded admirably,” Akers wrote in a press release. “Other than a few minor communication issues, which were quickly rectified, there were no major problems. The Emergency Operations Center was set up, and officials assembled within a very short time. Significant problems were presented and addressed in a real-time manner.”
Zabrocki said the exercise a “great success.”