Welcome back to Bear With Us, the podcast from Bear Paw Development where we share the people, places — and this time, the paranormal happenings — that make North Central Montana so special.

In this Halloween special, Julea and Sara dive into Montana’s spookiest legends, from haunted highways to mysterious creatures and eerie encounters. Joining them is their coworker (and resident skeptic) Stephanie Larson, who listens in as they try to make her believe… or at least get a little spooked.

🕯️ Stories include:
👻 The Black Horse Lake Hitchhiker
🏫 Oscar, the Ghost of Havre High
🐺 The Shunka Warak’in
🎭 The Fort Peck Theatre Haunting
🌲 The Wendigo of the Bear Paws
⚔️ The Haunting Memory of the Bear Paw Battlefield

Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, grab a blanket, turn down the lights, and enjoy this eerie tour through Montana’s ghostly side.

🎧 Bear With Us is a podcast from Bear Paw Development, highlighting the people, places, and projects that make North Central Montana shine — even in the dark.

#HauntedMontana #GhostStories #BearWithUsPodcast #MontanaLegends #SpookySeason #BearPawDevelopment

With Julea out sick, you get to step into Havre Beneath the Streets with Sara and Paul as they chat with Christy Owens, office manager and keeper of stories underground. In this episode, Shorty, Searching for Funds & Stories Underground, Christy shares how she stumbled into her role, the colorful history of Shorty Young, and the perseverance it takes to preserve one of Havre’s most unique treasures. From fundraising challenges to new “unliving” tours, discover how history, community, and creativity keep the lights on—literally—beneath the streets.

Raptor Claws, Real Community, and the Cretaceous Period 🦖✨
Join us as we sit down with Jeremiah Robinson, Director of Paleontology at the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum in Malta, Montana. From unearthing raptor teeth to caring for the crown jewel “Leonardo,” this conversation digs into the prehistoric past while celebrating the present-day community that makes discoveries possible.

We talk dinosaurs, digs, and the surprising ways paleontology fuels both curiosity and local economies. Whether you’re a lifelong dino fan or just looking for a fun story from the Hi-Line, this episode has something for you.

🔎 Highlights include:

• How a local teen accidentally discovered Montana’s T-Rex
• Why Leonardo the mummified dinosaur is world-famous
• The thrill of kids and adults digging up fossils
• How the museum connects community, tourism, and science

📍 Recorded on-site at the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum.
👤 Guest: Jeremiah Robinson
🎙️ Hosts: Sara & Julea – Bear With Us Podcast

From growing up in Chinook on Montana’s Hi-Line to founding Montana Actors Theater, teaching high school theater, raising a family, and now preparing to take his original play The Harvest all the way to New York City — Jay Pyette has lived and breathed theater for decades.

In this episode of Bear With Us, hosts Julea and Sara sit down with Jay to talk about:

• His small-town roots and how the Hi-Line shaped his work ethic
• The early days of starting Montana Actors Theater with little more than optimism and borrowed lumber
• His years teaching and building a thriving high school theater program
• How MAT grew into a cornerstone of community life in Havre
• The journey of The Harvest from local production to off-Broadway in New York

Along the way, Jay shares stories of risk-taking, resilience, and why theater matters so much to rural communities.

In this special no-guest episode, Julea and Sara flip the script and put themselves in the hot seat! From bear-themed personality icebreakers to rapid-fire questions, they share their quirks, weird talents, and unpopular food opinions (celery lovers, beware).

You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories about their first impressions of each other, favorite past podcast guests, small-town adventures, and the unique work they do in community and economic development. Plus, they dish on their current obsessions, future plans, and some hilarious “only in Montana” moments.

Whether you’re here for the laughs, the small-town charm, or just to find out what bear you might be, this episode is pure unscripted fun.

🎧 Listen now and tell us in the comments: What kind of bear are YOU?

#BearWithUs #Podcast #SmallTownLife #Montana #CommunityDevelopment #BehindTheScenes #PodcastHosts

In this episode of Bear With Us, we sit down with Joette Woods—Liberty County Commissioner and current president of the Montana Association of Counties (MACo). From her early days as an EMT to her current role representing rural Montana on state and national stages, Joette shares what it's really like to serve in local government. We talk about small-town resilience, the challenge of budgeting with limited resources, why listening matters, and how to lift others up without needing credit. This one’s full of heart and Hi-line wisdom.

In this episode, Julea and Sara sit down with Kati Purkett from the Hill County MSU Extension Office to explore the powerhouse behind local youth development—4-H—and all the incredible programs the Extension office offers. From food safety classes and culinary education to youth mental health, livestock projects, and the Great Northern Fair, Kati shares how Extension touches nearly every corner of our community.

We also dive into the beloved 4-H Chuck Wagon, what goes into raising animals for auction, why MontGuides are a hidden gem, and how to rent one of the best event spaces in town. Whether you're a fair junkie, former 4-Her, or just curious about rural community life, this episode is packed with stories, laughs, and local pride.

🐷 🐮 🍟 Come for the cheese fries, stay for the impact.

Find Hill County MSU Extension on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MSUHillCountyExtension/

Want to learn more about the Extension Office? Check out their website!

https://www.montana.edu/extension/hill/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLkrnFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0OFBjZFNGVDJ0UFBwTjBVAR5cT74YR4gQxAvL5K0bkBDlqf1djNJHWo9hlEhB4TOSJ5bEC8WdDX3HKzqYgg_aem_KAzBN1uQwkwpDMJt5mNJAQ

In this episode of Bear With Us, we’re joined by Heather DePriest, Board President of Chinook’s Friends of the Pool and Park. Heather shares how her kids bringing home a literal piece of the town pool kickstarted a major community project. From that moment on, she and a dedicated group of volunteers have been working hard to save and upgrade Chinook’s beloved pool and park. We talk about their big goals, the challenges of pool funding (spoiler: it’s tough), and their upcoming BrewFest fundraiser—complete with beer, music, and good vibes. If you love small towns doing big things, this one’s for you.

For tickets to Brewfest, info on the foundation or to make a donation, please visit https://chinookfriends.org/ or connect with them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/friendsfoundationchinook