MontanaWithKids.com

Bob and the Elvis Girls at the Viva Elvis show in Las Vegas

Dateline: Terry, Montana
By: Bob van der Valk
March 3, 2010

The sad truth is I worship my heroes from afar with the hopes that some day I will get to meet them and tell them how they made a difference in my life. Condoleezza Rice is one those people and strange but true so is Elvis. (more…)

Flathead Lake Lodge has an event upcoming featuring Pat Metheny, Scott Tennant, Alex DeGrassi and more. They invite the public to join in for the upcoming Guitars & Glaciers event taking place at the Flathead Lake Lodge August 29th through September 5th, 2010. (more…)

For years now, IHOP has been the clearest face of Pancake Day, a quasi-holiday dating back at least 1,000 years. At first I thought this nationwide fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network was little more than an easy-breezy publicity stunt for this house of pancakes, so ostensibly international. I was dead wrong. This is a serious charity drive, and it serves the children well, as the results surely show. (more…)

Terry, Montana
By: Bob van der Valk

I heard an interesting tidbit at the annual Terry Roping Club meeting held recently at the Lazy JD Bar and Restaurant in Fallon, Montana.

Mark Dolatta, describing some of the local colorful Terry history, said that in Montana a gathering of four or more Indians (p.c. Native Americans) is considered a war party and you are allowed to shoot them on sight. (more…)

Zuni and Hopi, the Terry Montana Prairie Dogs, see their shadows

Dateline: Terry, Montana
Reported by: Bob van der Valk

Zuni and Hopi, the twin prairie dogs, came out of their burrow in Terry, Montana and prophesied six more frigid weeks in Montana on Friday, January 29, 2010 sharp at 4:30 pm. That is three days earlier than when their cousin Phil in Pennsylvania usually comes out for his annual prognostication on winter weather (more…)

I don’t know if you’ve ever been to a fortune teller before or have thought about going to one, but I have and let me tell you, there are some that get things so right it’s spooky and then others who just give general readings that could be meant for anyone. So, suffice it to say that I really didn’t know what to believe when I went to a fortune teller to find out what was in my future. (more…)

Greg Klevgard and his sons, Bo and Shane, from Ismay, Montana stopped by the Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe in Terry. The last time they had stopped by for lunch Greg and his family enjoyed the atmosphere so much they promised to come often. (more…)

By: Bob van der Valk

With all the talk about curbing oil demand oil producers should be thinking twice about investing in new capacity. Consumers should rejoice and environmentalists will lament because the immediate alternative will still be some product made from fossil fuel. (more…)

I just got off the phone with Mike, the general manager at Rainforest Cafe at Southcenter just outside of Seattle, Washington, and he’s told me a few things for certain. They’re only running a single day of Santa Brunch this year, and they expect to be 100% sold out. (more…)

Santa Claus meets Sinterklaas at the Stockman Bank in Terry, Montana

Dateline: Terry, Montana
December 4, 2009
By: Bob van der Valk

Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle arrived at the Festival of Lights Parade in Terry, Montana on December 1st this year. He visited with the people along the parade route as well as stopping by the shops along Logan Avenue all lit up with bright holiday lights.

Saint Nicholas getting a Montana Huckleberry candy treat from Dale and Kathy Galland at the Prairie Unique in Terry, Montana

Saint Nicholas is a legendary figure who, in many Western Cultures, brings gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24th or on his Feast Day, December 6th (Saint Nicholas Day). This legend has part of its basis in tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. (more…)

[/caption]

Aaron Flint and Bob van der Valk in front of the Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe in Terry, Montana before doing the Voices of Montana broadcast

Terry, Montana
November 29, 2009
By: Bob van der Valk

The Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe in Terry, Montana was visited by host Aaron Flint and his Voices of Montana radio show on Friday, November 27, 2009. His broadcast was beamed live from the cafe across the State of Montana on the Northern Broadcasting Network. (more…)

Sinterklaas arriving by ship in Amsterdam, Holland - Photo courtesy of www.traveladventures.org

Sinterklaas will be joining various festivities in Terry, Montana in the week prior to his day being officially celebrated as a holiday in the Netherlands.

The big celebration for kids is not Santa Claus around Christmas time in the Netherlands, or Holland as is it best known around the world, but a few weeks earlier. On December 5th each year the whole country stops and takes time out for family get togethers on Saint Nicholas Eve. (more…)

Aaron Flint Host of Voices of Montana Radio Show

Aaron Flint will be doing his Voices of Montana radio show on Friday, November 27, 2009 from Terry, Montana. He will set up to do his one hour broadcast live from the Badlands Café and Scoop Shoppe starting at 9 a.m. and will be interviewing Bob van der Valk about happenings in Terry and Prairie County.

All residents of Terry and Prairie County are invited to join Aaron Flint and Bob van der Valk at the Badlands Café. Coffee will be served compliments of Arline and Inger Koppenhaver, who are the owners of the unique retro-50’s styled restaurant with the rear end of a ’55 Chevy sticking out of the front façade of the building. (more…)

The True Saint Nicholas - Why he matters to Christmas

Dateline: Terry, Montana
November 19, 2009

Saint Nicholas will make a visit to Terry, Montana on December 5th at the Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe from 10 until 11:30 am. In Holland he is celebrated on that day and considered to be the patron and protector of children. In the Netherlands St. Nicholas is celebrated on the 5th, the eve of the day he passed away, by sharing candies (thrown in the door), chocolate initial letters, small gifts, and riddles. Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint’s horse, hoping St. Nicholas will exchange them for small gifts. Simple gift-giving in early Advent helps preserve a Christmas Day focus on the Christ Child.

Bob van der Valk and his family have been celebrating the Dutch Christmas tradition of Sinterklaas, since arriving into the United States from Holland on December 3, 1956. His daughter, Inger Koppenhaver, has many fond memories of spending Christmas Eve with her father’s family awaiting the arrival of Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas. (more…)

Tithing

Dateline: Terry, Montana
By: Bob van der Valk
November 18, 2009

Headline on page A1 in this morning’s New York Times reads “$500 Million and Apology From Goldman”. In the article, by Graham Bowley, he outlines the response to criticism over their planned year-end bonuses. Goldman Sachs said it was working with the billionaire investor Warren E. Buffett in a $500 million project to help 10,000 small businesses.

This charitable move by Goldman Sachs came a little more than a week after Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman’s chairman and chief executive, was quoted as saying that they were “doing God’s work”. The $500 million represents only 3 percent of the $16.7 billion in bonuses set aside to pay its employees this year. (more…)

The Evelyn Cameron Gallery in Terry, Montana

Juli Thorson is the Editor and Associate Publisher of the Horse & Rider Magazine

Yesterday, I was finally able to do something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time.

I got to visit the Evelyn Cameron Gallery of her pioneer photography in Terry, Montana.

Never heard of her? That’s OK–most people haven’t, even though she is in the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and was the subject of a 2005 PBS documentary. (more…)

The van der Valk Gas Price Advisory for November 13, 2009

Dateline: Terry, Montana
November 13, 2009 9:00 AM MDT
By: Bob van der Valk

The December WTI crude oil price is down almost a buck a barrel this morning and is heading south somewhere towards the lower 70’s in the next few days. This is the beginning of the end in the late season run-up for crude oil prices. West Coast spot market pipeline prices are down 4 cents for gasoline and 5 cents for diesel as well. (more…)

Prairie County MT American Legion Honor Squad - June 1960

Dateline: Terry, Montana
November 11, 2009
By: Bob van der Valk

The Prairie County American Legion Post #32 will hold their Annual Veterans Day Parade on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 2 p.m. in front of the Stockman Bank Building on Logan Avenue in Terry, Montana. (more…)

Landon Pigg and the Troth of Us with Inger Koppenhaver

Landon Pigg and the Troth of Us dropped by the Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe in Terry, Montana on Saturday afternoon November 7, 2009. He and his group were on their way from Minneapolis to Seattle and felt an urge to drink some good coffee. They also picked up a basketball and football at Netzer Trustworthy Hardware store for some athletic recreation to keep them occupied during their road trip. (more…)

The Great Northern Railroad was completed in 1893

Dateline: Terry, Montana
November 7, 2009
By: Bob van der Valk

In Wall Street parlay: “Warren, let’s do lunch next time you’re in town”. This is an invitation for Warren Buffett to visit our small town of Terry in Eastern Montana. He will discover the rich history of Terry includes being one of the original stops on the railroad line built by the Northern Pacific railroad line. (more…)

Dateline: Terry, Montana
October 26, 2009 10:30 AM MDT
By: Bob van der Valk

The two teams for the upcoming World Series of crude oil have been decided. The first team is made up of speculators and hedge fund advisors with the other team made up of the major and independent oil companies. The final outcome of this game between the Wall Street Titans and the Texas Oil Barons will decide the winner or loser, in this case the gasoline customer. Please read the remainder of this article on the player statistics after some local news about Montana fuel prices. (more…)

Goldman Sachs is lining its pockets buying political power

Dateline: Terry, Montana
October 22, 2009 4:00 AM MDT
By: Bob van der Valk

On October 21, 2009, in his remarks at the OTC Derivatives Regulation, Futures Industry Association Expo in Chicago, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Gary Gensler proposed that hedge funds, financial firms or other investment funds not be exempted from clearing requirements and all standardized OTC products should be moved onto regulated exchanges or trade execution facilities.

The CFTC also recommended changes to its oversight authority, including implementation of the “Eddie Murphy” rule, taken from the 1983 comedy movie “Trading Places”. The CFTC will extend insider trader prohibitions to include parties who receive misappropriated information from any government agency. This will be known and is referred to as the “Eddie Murphy” rule. (more…)

The following letter was posted on the web site of Senator Max Baucus at: http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=contact

You may also contact Senator Baucus at his office number (406) 365-7002

Dear Senator Baucus:

Your response to my previous message about your health care reform bill used the usual boiler plate language thrown out to the uninformed voters in Montana.

However, since we actually read newspapers and watch cable news in Terry, our small town U.S.A., we are able to obtain our information unbiased towards any point of view in the current political climate. (more…)

The Gas Guy dressed up for Halloween 2009

Dateline: Terry, Montana
October 19, 2009 2:00 PM MDT
By: Bob van der Valk

Don’t be scared when you look at the prices you are paying at the pump right now for gasoline and diesel. This winter fuel prices both gasoline and diesel will reach the same low price levels as last year.

In Montana and in the rest of the U.S., we are now already paying about 45 cents per gallon less for fuel than we did last year. Gasoline in Montana is currently averaging $2.59 with the price last year at $3.04 per gallon. (more…)

There is a lot of talk about the Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL Lights) on the market today, and some discussion about whether or not they’re a good thing overall. These have been legally mandated in other countries like Australia for years because the government feels it’s easier to make them the law rather than build more coal-fired power plants they can’t afford. But is it really cheaper for you, the consumer? Here’s a quick run-down that will show you the real costs, real savings and real benefits of letting the century-old incandescent light go the way of the dodo. (more…)

I believe this is our fourth year being invited to check out the Autumn festivities at Remlinger Farms. Our previous years have always been well above par, and this year was no exception. It was a little different though, since our kids are older, and they just keep adding on to the attractions inside the farm. (more…)

Paul and Linda Nygard from Billings, Montana enjoying breakfast at the Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe in Terry, Montana before hunting antelope in Prairie County

The van der Valk Eastern Montana Gas Price Advisory for 10-12-09

Dateline: Terry, Montana
By: Bob van der Valk
October 12, 2009 9:30 AM MDT

Hunters have been arriving in Terry by the droves since last week Friday in time for the start of the annual hunting season. They will be after herds of antelopes, which have propagated thanks to the great summer weather greening up the prairies.

They have also enjoyed seeing lower gas prices to fill up their trucks, vans and SUVs while driving to Terry from as far away as Minnesota and Idaho. The Four-Corner gas station in Terry is selling regular unleaded gasoline for only $2.479 per gallon this morning. (more…)

Dateline: Terry, Montana
October 10, 2009 4:00 PM MDT
By: Bob van der Valk

Hungry hunters will have another place to eat for breakfast in Prairie County, Montana just in time for the start of the hunting season in Eastern Montana. (more…)

Print of Custer's Last Fight - Courtesy of the New York Public Library

Hardin’s Last Stand: Battle of Big Horn with the American Private Police Force

Dateline: Terry, Montana
By: Bob van der Valk
October 9, 2009 4:00 PM MDT (updated article)

4:00 PM 10/9/09 – The American Private Police Force has pulled out of its deal with the Two Rivers Authority and will not attempt to run the Hardin Detention Facility. The announcement was made by Becky Shay during a press conference in Billings this afternoon.

The tale of woe would have continued for the Two Rivers Authority (TRA) Detention Center. This announcement came after Michael Hilton aka Captain Michael had passed along yet another one of his many tall tales through his spokesperson to the media. (more…)

Michael Cohen – Director of Operations for the Two Rivers Authority Detention Center

Dateline: Terry, Montana
October 7, 2009 4:00 PM MDT (Updated)
By: Bob van der Valk

Glenn Beck reported on this story on his show on the FOX News Channel this afternoon but apparently is not aware that the American Private Police Force in fact still has access to the Two Rivers Authority (TRA) Detention Center. Becky Shay told this writer on Sunday, October 4, 2009 that she has the keys and is in the middle of moving into the office at the jail.

The email with statement issued on Monday, October 5, 2009 by Al Peterson, the current Director with the TRA, is printed in its entirety in the comment section below this article.

What a revolting development this must be for Captain Michael Hilton. Now even his much lauded announcement of having hired the Director of Operations to run the Two Rivers Authority (TRA) Detention Center in Hardin has been totally debunked. (more…)