1

A Ne

wslet

ter fo

r Mid-

Rivers

Mem

bers &

Cust

omers

Nick Schultz, Grass Range, District 1Donald Kimmel, Roundup District 2Dennis Green, Cohagen District 3 & Vice PresiidentGene Engen, Circle District 4 & Sec./Tres.Dave Rice, W. Glendive, District 5

Craig Johnson, W. Sidney District 6 & PresidentRobert B. Reukauf, Terry District 7 Dane Castleberry, Ekalaka District 8 Alan Sevier, Glendive, District 9

Mid-Rivers Trustees

• General Manager’s Update• Employee of the Year: Rocky Burman• Take Control of Your Account with SmartHub• 2015 Mid-Rivers Scholarship Recipients• Mid-Rivers Annual Meeting Held in Winnett• Tech Tip: Are You on the Right Internt Plan?• Additional Listings • Directory Correction• Call to Report a Service Trouble• Get Your Business in the 2016 Directory

Inside this Issue:

Michael Candelaria

Mid-Rivers has implemented several exciting changes lately and we are pleased to continue offering our customers excellent customer service and t e l e c om mu n i c at i on s services. Mid-Rivers has a great team of local employees who work hard every day to make sure our customers are the receiving the service they deserve.

One of the most recent changes Mid-Rivers has implemented is to update and significantly reduce prices on our cellular plans. We have lowered the price on our cellular voice and data plans while increasing the amount of monthly data customers receive. As a thank-you to our loyal customers, these changes were automatic to Mid-Rivers cellular customers on the Rancher, Regional Choice and Nationwide Ultimate plans. Many Mid-Rivers cellular customers saw decreases of $20 or more on their June bills. These changes should also greatly reduce data overage charges some customers were experiencing, with 5GB of data now available for only $19.95 per month.

These plan changes, along with the implementation in recent years of NATIONWIDE voice, messaging and 4G LTE data services and the latest cellular devices, make Mid-Rivers Cellular a viable choice for meeting all your mobile communications needs. If

you are unhappy with your current cellular provider or just interested in supporting your LOCAL provider for cellular service, please give Mid-Rivers’ cellular services a try.

We have the power of the nation’s largest network combined with the value of local service and support and rates that can’t be beat.

In addition to lowering the price on our cellular plans, Mid-Rivers has done away with the requirement for two-year cellular contracts. We understand that your cellular needs change often, and now you are free to change your plan and device as you want. Customers are now able to purchase any cellular phone, including the latest smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S®6 edge and Galaxy S®6, with $0 down on approved credit.

I am happy to share with you that Mid-Rivers is also now able to offer Internet download speeds up to 50 Mpbs to residential customers in Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney and Fairview, with plans to make this speed available to residential customers in Glendive before the end of the year.

Announcing Improved Cellular Plans & Faster Internet Speeds

General Manager’s Update:

Continued on next page.

464-7311

485-2028

2

Random Telephone Numbers Prize

Ten telephone numbers of Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative members are listed throughout this issue of 411. If one of these phone numbers is yours, you are eligible for a $10 credit applied to your next Mid-Rivers bill. Call Mid-Rivers at 1-800-452-2288 to get this $10 credit.

Bill Payment Information• Please include your bill stub with your payment.• For your convenience, Mid-Rivers offers Automatic Bank

Deduct. Payments can be taken out of your checking or savings account.

• You can drop off your payment at your LOCAL Mid-Rivers Office or mail it in the pre-addressed envelope included with your billing statement

• Access your Mid-Rivers Account and submit a payment using SmartHub. Simply Log on to www.midrivers.com and click on “SmartHub”

• Call 1-888-817-3862 for 24/7 Secure Payments by phone

One free, easy call gets your utility lines markedAND helps protect you from injury and expense.

Call 811 or visit call811.com for more information.

Featured Photo: The featured photo for the 2015 Summer 411 was submitted to Mid-Rivers by Matt Tiedje. Matt titled this photo depicting horses running among oil wells, “Eastern Montana.”

Employee of the Year

Rocky Burman, District Supervisor from Miles City, has been selected as the Employee of the Year. Rocky was presented with his award at the Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Annual Meeting in Winnett on May 27, 2015. Congratulations Rocky!

We encourage our customers in these communities and other towns throughout our area to contact us if you need faster Internet speeds. Internet applications have changed drastically over the last few years, so if you have not recently upgraded your Internet plan now is a good time to do so.

Getting these faster speeds out to customers in our rural areas continues to be a challenge, but we are placing more fiber and expanding the reach of our broadband services every day. As a rural cooperative, Mid-Rivers has always looked to Federal support to help us provide affordable services to rural customers. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently working to revise programs which previously supported the expansion and maintenance of landline telephone services, to include funding to aid in the expansion of broadband in rural areas. We know that these changes are coming, however at this time we are unsure of what they will look like and exactly what they will mean for our rural customers in need of better Internet services. The FCC plans to release their final ruling on broadband Internet support by the end of 2015.

As a final note, please remember to CALL BEFORE YOU DIG with your summer 2015 construction projects, and have a safe and happy summer!

General Manager’s Update Continued...

Always Call Before You Dig.

One easy call gets your utility lines marked and helps protect you from injury and expense.

Safe Digging Is No Accident: Always Call 811 Before You Dig

Visit call811.com for more information.

486-5501

488-1061

3

Mid-Rivers Communications offers two low-income telephone assistance programs known as Lifeline & Link-Up. Lifeline provides Federal Universal Service support to reduce monthly service charges paid by qualifying low-income residential customers. Link-Up provides Federal Universal Service support to reduce service connection and line extension charges paid by qualifying low-income residential customers residing on Tribal lands. Mid-Rivers also offers toll blocking, a service that prevents long distance calling from your telephone. For more information please contact your nearest Mid-Rivers customer service office, call Mid-Rivers at 1-800-452-2288, or visit http://www.midrivers.com/low-income-assistance/.

Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Have you signed up for SmartHub, Mid-Rivers’ account management tool? SmartHub can make your life just a little bit easier by allowing you to manage these services online 24/7:

Landline Phone• Current customers with phone

service can easily modify their long distance carrier.• Current customers with phone service can easily select

the following call block options:• 3rd Party Calls• Collect Calls• International Calls• 900 Calls

• Current Mid-Rivers customers without phone service can easily add new phone service and select a number from a list of phone numbers based upon the town the customer lives in.

Caller ID (Landline Phone)• Customers who currently have the Caller ID – Name &

Number option can easily add Call Waiting. • Current customers that do not have Caller ID can easily

select either the Caller ID Name & Number or Caller ID Name & Number w/ Call Waiting options. The customer must ensure that they have a phone which will support caller ID display.

Voicemail (Landline Phone)• Customers who currently have basic voicemail service

can easily upgrade their service to enhanced voicemail, which will allow for an additional 15 minute message capacity from basic service, additional 30 second message length from basic service, 20 more messages from basic service and an additional 7 days of storage from basic service for new and used messages.

• Customers with voicemail can easily modify how many rings before voicemail picks up.

• Landline telephone customers who do not have voicemail service can easily add voicemail services.

Internet• Customers who have Mid-Rivers Internet can easily

upgrade their Internet speed. • Current customers who are still on a grandfathered plan

can easily upgrade their service to a new Internet plan.• Current Mid-Rivers customers without Internet service

can request new Internet service based upon what is available at their service location.

TV• Customers who currently have Cable TV from Mid-Rivers can request additional DVR or Set-Top boxes for their home (choices will vary depending on the customer’s plan).

• Customers who are on a Digital Advantage Plan (available in select areas) can add HomeHUB, Mid-Rivers’ Whole Home DVR Service.

• Customers who have MegaVue® Digital or Digital Advantage Television can easily request the HD add-on package containing:

• Universal HD• AXS TV• HD Net Movies• Velocity HD

• Customers with access to premium channels can easily modify their premium programming selections.

Trouble Reporting• Customers who have signed up for SmartHub can easily

submit service trouble reports online. • For customers who have installed the SmartHub app on

their smartphone, troubles can be submitted through the app. To submit a trouble ticket using the smartphone app, select the “Service Status” option after opening the app. You can then click on “Report a problem” to send a message to Mid-Rivers about your service trouble.

• The SmartHub Trouble Ticket feature sends a message directly to the Technical Assistance Center, Mid-Rivers’ 24/7/365 support center. Trouble Ticket messages are then handled by a trained dispatch technician.

Access SmartHub today on your computer by going to https://midrivers.smarthub.coop/, or download the SmartHub app from the Google Play Store on your Android device or the App Store on your iPad or iPhone. SmartHub is FREE, and all it takes to get set up is a valid e-mail address! You can use your Mid-Rivers email address (yourusername@midrivers.com) or any other valid email that you prefer (such as a gmail or Hotmail account).

Take control of your account and save time with SmartHub!

Certain features may only be available in select areas.

Take Control of Your Account with SmartHub Today!

4

Abby Belus Amie Taylor Austin Stradley Autumn Rehbein

Bryan Claypool Charles McRae Colton Tousignant

Danielle Gregg Eathan Carda Emalie Kleinsasser

Faith Vitt Hannah Cooley Holly Papineau Jacob Iverson

Jaena Cotter Jase Rost Kadie Heinle Kaitlyn Stickel Kimber Krausz Kortney Mayer Kylee Goroski

Laina Raisler Megan Ryan Meghan Brence Rachael Oliver Rylee Stewart Shelby Atchison Solenn Jacobsen

Stefan Slehofer Stephanie Heaps

Tienna Canen Tiffany Benner Timothy Regan Tucker Heller Paityn Ripley-Maher

2015 Mid-Rivers Higher Education Scholarship RecipientsThe thirty-five students below have received $1,000 scholarships from

the Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc..

Congratulations! 525-3231535-4231

5

Annual Meeting Held in Winnett, MT

on May 27, 2015Members of the Mid-Rivers

Telephone Cooperative, Inc. gathered in the Winnett High School Gymnasium on Wednesday, May 27, 2015. Items of business included voting on two by-law amendments ( Article V Section 4 and Article VI Section 4), election of three members to the cooperative’s board of trustees, informing members of the cooperative’s financial performance and future plans, and awarding 12 scholarships to area students.

Mid-Rivers’ General Manager, Michael Candelaria, provided an update on the current issues that the cooperative is facing, primarily those which will impact broadband services.

Craig Dyk, Mid-Rivers’ Accounting Manager, presented the cooperative’s 2014 audit report and reported the financial condition of the cooperative to be good. Rocky Burman, a Mid-Rivers District Supervisor from Miles City, was honored with the “John Lutter Employee of the Year Award.” Mr. Lutter, who retired from Mid-Rivers in 2005 after nearly 34 years of dedicated service, was in attendance to present Rocky with his award.

The election of trustees resulted with Don Kimmel (District 2), and Dennis Green (District 3) being re-elected to three-year terms and Nick Schultz (District 1) was newly elected to the Mid-Rivers Board of Trustees.

The members at the meeting voted to pass both by-law amendments. The first amendment to pass decreased the required quorum to hold an official cooperative meeting from 150 members to 50 members. The second

amendment to pass changes the election process for Mid-Rivers trustees. This amendment does away with the need for a nomination committee as individuals seeking candidacy may now be nominated by presenting to the cooperative a petition signed by 5 members, or by nomination from the floor at the cooperative’s Annual Meeting. This amendment

will also allow for the need of only one candidate per district instead of the previously required two per district.

To read the amended by-laws, go to www.midrivers.com.

Mid-Rivers continued its commitment to education by awarding twelve $500 scholarships through a drawing of students in attendance at the meeting. These twelve scholarships are offered to any student who has not previously received a scholarship from Mid-Rivers and is attending a higher education institution in the fall of 2015, whose parent or guardian is a member of the Cooperative. Through this drawing and the 35 competitive scholarships awarded earlier in the year, Mid-Rivers was able to contribute to the educational futures of 47 students. Winners of the 2015 scholarship drawing were Elizabeth Armstrong, Roundup; Emilie Vraspir, Roundup; Logan Sluggett, Winnett; Austen Wemmer, Miles City; William Dorwart, Glendive; Travis Fortner, Winnett; Shavon Phipps, Jordan; Brady Varner, Baker; Scott Olson, Lewistown; Brittany Murnion, Winnett; Clay Sluggett, Roy; and Channa Leigh Clarin, Circle.

At the Board of Trustees’ organizational meeting held after the Annual Meeting, Craig Johnson was elected as Mid-Rivers’ president, Dennis Green was elected Vice President, and Gene Engen was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer.

Visit www.midrivers.com to see a short clip from the Annual Meeting.

Tech Tip: Are You on the Right Internet Plan?When selecting a

Mid-Rivers Internet plan, consider how you will be using your Internet connection, and how many devices you will have connected at a time. Mid-Rivers recommends at least 1.5 to 4 Mbps per device that will be connected. To stream a television show over the Internet, it is recommended to have at least 4 Mbps of Internet available to the device streaming the content.

The total Internet speed that is provided to each of your devices is split among the number of devices using that connection. For example, if you have the Choice Internet plan with an 8 Mbps download speed and you only have

a laptop connected to the Internet, that laptop is getting the full 8 Mpbs of speed. However, when a family member connects their tablet to this same connection and the tablet begins using 4 Mbps of the available 8 Mbps, that leaves the person on the laptop with 4 Mbps. Each additional device that is connected will take a portion of the total available speed, reducing the speed available to each of your individual devices. As you add devices to your home or work network, make sure to consider that

you may need to move up to a higher Internet plan.

Pictured above are the recipients of $500.00 scholarships awarded by drawing at the Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Annual Meeting which was held in

Winnett, MT on May 27, 2015557-2576

568-2294

6

Baker Hanley Zachery.............(406)778-2505Lyson Britney ................(406)778-7367Peck Michael .................(406)778-8008Waterland David & Sarah .....................(406)778-7878

CircleHansen Cristina ............(406)485-3374Strobel George ..............(406)485-2322

East FairviewRidgeview Park Dore Water Depot .....(701)844-2221

EkalakaHorn Daya Ananda ......(406)775-6363Johnson Lois ..................(406)775-6563Nathan Chris & Kathy .(406)775-6052Poppema Valarie ...........(406)775-6957

FairviewCentury Companies Inc .......................(406)742-5500

FallonEaton Shane & Tylene ..(406)486-5564

GlendiveAg Pro Solutions ...........(406)377-4572Canen Robert & Keylee (406)377-4427Carr Claire .....................(406)377-2338Crisafulli Angelo ...........(406)377-1522Horizon Energy Services ......................(406)377-5031Shoopman Victoria ......(406)377-6996Tennant Pat & Cindy ....(406)377-5129The Glendive Campground ..................(406)377-6721Yost Logan .....................(406)377-2853

Grass RangeHedman Inc ...................(406)428-1110

Jordan .....................................................Brink Kelly & Sherry ....(406)557-9524McCoy Wes & Deverie .(406)557-9998

LavinaRoss J A ..........................(406)636-4487

LewistownBeard Allen ....................(406)535-6513Beddall Nathan .............(406)535-4248Blumhardt Brett & Dana ......................(406)535-1057Carrell Brandon & Stacey ....................(406)535-0108

Lewistown Cont.Chair Salon ....................(406)535-8194Claver Ronald & Jean ...(406)535-2128Davidson Angie ............(406)535-3363Ford Jessica ....................(406)535-5604Haugen Tracey ..............(406)535-3363Jones J .............................(406)535-8336Keyser Ruth ...................(406)535-6531Klapwyk Bill & Tami ....(406)535-5402Ludeman Randy & Sandi ......................(406)535-3182Noel Robert G ...............(406)535-2934Picco Phillip & Megan .(406)535-5721Pond, George & Seena .(406)535-5918R & S Extinguishers ......(406)535-5484Seilstad S ........................(406)535-2187Solberg Scot & Chelsea (406)535-4369Step Inc ..........................(406)535-9759Thaxter Janice ................(406)535-4730Trask Rhonda ................(406)535-7056Vanek Donald C ...........(406)535-7887WWC Engineering .......(406)535-5020

MelstoneGavne Jeff & Melissa ....(406)358-2242McCleary Matt & Jeralee ......................(406)358-2328

Miles CityBlack Joleene .................(406)234-1378Elliott Samantha ...........(406)234-0517Gierke I ..........................(406)234-4886Hollowell Dan & Sue ....(406)234-5535Horseshoe Saloon & Casino .................(406)234-5825Hotter Ricky & Ashley .(406)234-6647Cade Botts .....................(406)234-4844Keller McKensie ............(406)234-4844Kings Tyler & Lindsey .(406)234-8020Kluesner Dusty & Heather ...................(406)234-2930Miles City Sport & Spine ......................(406)234-6278Multi County Marketing ......................(406)234-6000New Trendz Salon ........(406)234-2905Now And Then Signs & Designs .........(406)234-5667Raymond Liam .............(406)234-3070Smith J & N ...................(406)234-0826Watson Kate ..................(406)234-4031

MusselshellCarpenter Ricky Bobbie .......................(406)947-5950Fay Steven & Mary .......(406)947-2421Klein Stephen ................(406)947-5597Melby Linda ..................(406)947-5544

Musselshell Cont.Mury Colton ..................(406)947-5947

PlevnaRudicel Gregory & Melissa ...................(406)772-5153

RicheySponheim Paul & Cindy .......................(406)773-5133Willer Lon & Geri .........(406)773-5471

Rock SpringsAl Olsen .........................(406)354-1104

RoundupAdolph Brett ..................(406)323-8109Ali Musah Labaran & Stephanie ..........(406)323-4133Apple Thomas & Taylor (406)323-4848A Tilted Tulip ................(406)323-3597Buonocore Teresa .........(406)323-3528Crabtree Mark & Cindy ........................(406)323-1897Douglass Dillon ............(406)323-3799Harris Thomas & Deana .......................(406)323-1312Kelly Thad ......................(406)323-4491KQLJLP ..........................(406)323-8100Oddy Ted .......................(406)323-1020Richard T .......................(406)323-4182Roundup Drive In ........(406)323-4745Timberman Bill .............(406)323-8099Willis Robin ...................(406)323-8678Young Dennis & Kathy (406)323-8663

RyegateLangwell Russ & Mary .(406)568-2997Myllymaki Gary & Lydia ......................(406)568-2917

SavageHafemann Enrique .......(406)776-2120Quale Eileen ..................(406)776-2145

SidneyBorchert Charles ...........(406)488-3171Catspaw Contracting LLC ....................(406)433-8032Cayko Tana ....................(406)488-2684Engstrom Richard ........(406)488-8114Hill Chester & Lanett ...(406)488-3032Lueck Roselyn ...............(406)488-5206Mainstay Suites .............(406)488-1000Miller Helen M .............(406)488-1090Old Dominion Freight Line .................(406)433-1700

Additional Listings March 19, 2015 - July 2, 2015

7

Sidney Cont.Pipestone Mechanical Inc .....................(406)433-4707Ruth G ............................(406)488-2857Saddle Up .......................(406)433-2629Shopko Hometown .......(406)433-3080Under Pressure Washing Llc ................(406)433-1082

South Wolf Point4 Oh 6 Photography .....(406)525-3742Gibby Jordan & Jennifer .......................(406)525-3157Rabenberg John & Helen ......................(406)525-3526

West GlendiveHammons Jacqueline Wells ..................(406)687-3175Sportsman Pat & Amanda ....................(406)687-7528Stroh Greg .....................(406)687-3347

West SidneyAdvanced Solutions Inc (406)798-3864Lloyd Justin ...................(406)798-0650McGinnis Colby ............(406)798-3586Roan Joe & Becki Jo .....(406)798-7784Thiessen Dwight E & Diana .................(406)798-3815

WibauxEnkey David ..................(406)796-0613Harris Patsy ...................(406)796-9942Labar Martt & Lindsey (406)796-2936Woodard Monte ............(406)796-2800

WinnettBogunovich Tom & Barb ......................(406)429-6248Brady Brenda.................(406)429-2298Kiehl Preston .................(406)429-6836Milroy Justin .................(406)429-5040Torgerson Justin & Lacy .......................(406)429-5171

Additional Listings March 19, 2015 - July 2, 2015

Directory CorrectionThe following listing was omitted in error from the 2015 Mid-Rivers Directory.Billing Tommy L. and Dale Ann Townhouse, Jordan 557-6232

583-7794

8

P.O. Box 280Circle, MT 59215-0280

PRESORTED STDAUTO

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDLewistown, MT

PERMIT NO. 181

COMMUNICATIONS

Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc., d.b.a.The 411 Newsletter is published for the benefit of members and customers of

Mid-Rivers Communications

575-4030