Talk of the Town
Froid News Wrap Up

New Mayor Appointed

Page Turners Bookclub of Froid at their Thursday lunch discussion at the Library. Holding up some good reads, are, from left to right: Penny Ryder, Rev. Louise Christensen, Sandra Fox, Sheri Harvey, Karen Murphy, and Gloria Mason.

In July Lee Vannatta was appointed Mayor of Froid to finish the term of former mayor Terry Peterson, who resigned after eight years in office. Dan Kjelshus was appointed to fill the vacancy on the council. In the November election their terms will be up for renewal.

Around Town

With the town Centennial just months away, the Centennial Committees are busy planning events and ordering souvenirs for the big celebration. Meanwhile, the Town Council is embarking on several important projects to spruce up the town and prepare for the future.

New Sidewalks

Froid has been awarded a $75,000 grant from Montana’s Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP) for new sidewalks. This program “funds transportation related projects that strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of Montana's intermodal transportation system.” For its part, the town must contribute 13 percent of the $75,000 allocation. The Froid Fire Department is donating the town’s portion of the project.

The construction bid was awarded to Century Construction of Lewistown, MT, which will install the sidewalks this fall. The sidewalks, which are handicapped accessible, will be built on the west and south sides of the new Froid Community Center and on the south side of Main Street, extending from the Mint Café toward the Annex.

Park District

The Town Council is in the process of establishing a park district for Froid that includes parks like Fjeseth Field and Northern Lights Park. This designation will allow the town to raise funds for the upkeep and maintenance of all town parks. A public hearing will be held at 6:30pm August 24 at the Community Center to discuss the plan.

Proposed Froid Library/Historical Society

Discussions at recent Town Council meetings have focused on the deteriorating condition of the building that houses Froid Public Library. While it has been an ideal setting for the past 25 years, the building has literally gone “downhill” with precipitously slanting floors, rotting foundation, moisture problems, and inadequate space for the library collection and children’s programs. Because the building is beyond repair, the library needs a new home.

A peek in the library’s back closet reveals that it is also a repository for valuable documents like old Froid newspapers, photos, historical books, and other collectibles. Creating a historical section in the new library will allow these items to be preserved and displayed, and help folks learn our town’s story.

An unexpected visitor showed up in Froid Library Aug.12-- Montana Historical Society Director Richard Sims, who offered some wisdom for the project: “Be sure you know the story you want to tell, and then choose the objects carefully!” Sims offered help from the Historical Society Staff organizing the historical section of the library.

The Town Council is researching potential sites for the library/historical society and determining how much and what kind of space is needed. A proud Froid tradition since its 1936 founding by the Women’s Club, the library has been in several locations including the Farmer’s Union Oil Station (1936), the Westland gas station (1938), the town hall (1940), the fire hall (1948), and its current home, the former Ray’s Café (1984). In 1960 the library became one of three branch libraries of Roosevelt County, serving the people of Froid and the surrounding area.