And I also stopped by Sign Pro to (finally!) deliver the prize to Harley Rider for winning the “First Snow!” contest. Sorry it took so long, Harley Rider! And while I was visiting, she showed off some of the nifty “car wraps” that the store does - check this out:

2. Rumor that a “call center” of some sort - possibly on NW Bypass? - is shutting down.

Anyone with info on either of these rumors…? Drop a comment here or use the handy Contact form - thanks!

UPDATE: looks like both rumors are no longer rumors - got confirmation that the Cellular One call center did indeed close today (sad), and learned that the pretzel place opens tomorrow (glad)!

And like the radio commercials a few months ago pointed out - you don’t have to be “perfect” to be Big Brother/Sister. And it doesn’t take too much of your time, either - just a few hours every month that can make a big difference - for you & a child.

Why the plug? Because the folks at the Great Falls BB/BS office recently reminded me about their program, and that they are desperately short of Big Brothers…and like I said, I’ve seen - up close & personal - how important a Big Brother/Sister can be. Keep reading if you’re interested…

Children Need You! Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for 50 big brothers in Great Falls

Calling all men for a good cause, and a little fun! Fifty young boys in the Great Falls area are waiting for a positive role model, and you could be a part of the solution. Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Great Falls has a long list of boys in need of a “Big Brother” to spend time with them.

“We’re asking the men of Great Falls to share their time with our children,” said Tina Cubbage, Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO. “These friendships can provide a lifetime of growing for both the kids and the mentors. We really encourage all men to volunteer to make a difference in the life of a child and the community as a whole.”

BBBS is a volunteer program designed to help youth become productive, self-reliant adults. The program works by matching children with mentors from around the community. The BBBS staff works closely with parents to make sure each child is matched with a compatible “Big.” (Volunteers are nicknamed “Big,” while the kids are called “Little.”)

It’s very easy to volunteer with BBBS. The only requirements are that “Bigs” need to be at least 19 years old and live in Great Falls or the surrounding area. They must be committed to sharing fun time with their “Little.” Married couples can participate together. Every volunteer goes through a screening process. They receive training and supervision to help the relationship grow and reach its full potential.

The time Big and Little spend together can be used to learn new hobbies, go to events, watch movies over a bowl of popcorn or play board games. Each pair decides what they want to do together. The possibilities are endless! Some local businesses offer 2-for-1 specials to support the efforts of volunteers.

The first step to becoming a Big Brother is to call 453.5521. The staff is happy to answer any questions you may have. So what are you waiting for?

OK, that’s the pitch. Look at it this way: you may not be able to start or stop the construction of a coal plant, or do anything about the traffic on 10th Avenue South, or change City Hall’s mind about raising parking meter rates…but you CAN make a big difference in our community - by making a big difference in the life of a child.

Corny? Yeah. But true. Make the call - or visit the BB-BS website for more information.

In other news…for the record, and in point of fact, and at this point in time, I personally - and with all due respect - think it’s a nightmare, and can’t wait until the end of the day, because only time will tell…we’ll just have to wait and see.

November 15, 2006: Cecile Juliette and KRTV get a shout-out!

November 15, 2007: GF Tribune publishes a front-page correction.

More archived goodness right here. Happy Saturday, everyone!

The invoice is from Murphy-Maclay hardware in downtown Great Falls, which was featured in this Retro entry.

But now…there’s a chance. Just a chance. Maybe the Star Trek legend will be reborn. Rebooted, if you will, just as the Batman legend was given new life with “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.”

I am fully prepared to be disappointed, but as long as there’s a chance that Abrams and crew get this right, I will believe. And I will be there on opening weekend.

And if you’re wondering what this has to do with Montana and Great Falls…it’s quite simple, actually, although if you’re not a Trek fan you can be forgiven for not understanding. You see, the creator of “warp drive” was (or will be) Zefram Cochran. In the year 2063. And he invented (will invent) warp drive using a converted nuclear missile, blasting off on mankind’s first warp-driven flight from a missile silo complex in north-central Montana. So without Montana - without Malmstrom - Star Trek might not even exist.

UPDATE: full story posted at KRTV - including a video clip of the performance!

Here’s a shot of Cold Hard Cash playing at “Alive @ Five” in downtown Great Falls last summer:

Check out the Cold Hard Cash website, or visit the MySpace page - you can listen to some of their music and check out pix.