Donna Miller

Hosted by the Scobey Stingrays at the Roseland Park Pool, the 2026 Eastern Divisional Swim Meet took place on July 25–26 in Scobey, Montana. At that event, three Chinook Lions Swim Team members were honored. In addition to participating in a Parade of Athletes, Kolton DePriest, Walter Schoen, and Lotus Taly joined in the Senior Recognition Walks. To close out their season, the three seniors swam their final races at the State Swim Meet in Plentywood on August 1-2.

Twenty-seven swimmers represented Chinook at the 2026 Montana Federation of Swimmers State Meet in Plentywood on August 1-2. From that group, several Lions Swim Team members competing in 63 different events made a big splash-collecting a total of 26 medals and securing additional awards.

Crews at the Blaine County Fair were up early on Friday, August 7, preparing for the second full day of fair activity. From groundskeepers to 4-H and FFA members, everyone was rocking. Unfortunately, sometime after 1:00 that morning, someone must have "rocked the boat" a bit too aggressively, releasing the water from the bumper boat pool and leaving parts of the midway quite muddy.

In anticipation of what looked to be record setting heat on Saturday, August 1, when temperatures reached the 100 degree mark, the Harlem Civic Association postponed its Community Yard Sale. Although the Harlem City Park location and the time frame of 9:00-3:00 p.m. remain the same, the new date will be August 15. Set-up begins at 8:00 a.m.

With the 2026-2027 school year about to begin, the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) would like to encourage area producers and potential donors to participate in the Beef Into Schools program. Through that program, producers donate a finished animal to the school of their choice. The animal is then processed at a USDA-inspected facility and delivered back for use in student meals. Because of this initiative, meals at Chinook schools will benefit, increasing student access to high-quality protein from locally raised beef.

On August 4-5, the Chinook Branch of First Bank Montana, a Division of Glacier Bank, held a celebration. The All-American Celebration was part of the Glacier Bank's Celebrate 250 circuit tour.

Although August 30 may sound early for a Fall Festival, that is the date the Harlem Civic Association has selected in order to book the Stonebroke String Band. The event will begin at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Sunday at Harlem City Park.

One of the specialty exhibits at the Blaine County Fair during fair week, August 3-August 9, was a patriotic display of quilts and potholders created by the Block Builders Quilt Guild. Assembled in the Agriculture Hall on the Blaine County Fairgrounds, the display has an origin story that began with a feeling and a President's Challenge.

Five Havre organizations experienced the power of collaboration when they joined forces to create what they believe is certain to become an annual affair. The Stuff the Bus event on August 4 and the Back to School Bash held on August 12 were both deemed successful endeavors by representatives from the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, Bullhook Community Health Center, Havre Public Schools, The Salvation Army, and United Way of Hill County. For an event that ran from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the groups saw 100 pre-registered youth and 48 walk-ins by noon.

On Saturday, August 8, Hike Leader Dave Lewis guided a group of six hikers all from Havre on a trip along the Windy Mountain Trail in the Highwood Mountains. Before setting out, the group met at Thain Creek Campground at 9:45 a.m.