Pizza Ranch

Pizza Ranch is holding open interviews through Aug. 20.

The interviews are open:

• Aug. 15 through 7 p.m.
• Aug. 16: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Aug. 17: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Aug. 18: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Aug. 19: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Aug. 20: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

You do not need an appointment but complete an application online beforehand.

Enter through the back of the restaurant which faces 10th Avenue South, through the door next to the “red slice.”

Tim Mazzaferro, chief operating officer for the regional Pizza Ranch franchise, told The Electric that they haven’t yet set an opening date.

Business Bites: Howard’s delivery; Buffalo Blanc car show; Wholesome Hal’s for sale; Big Sky Sips going mobile; Second Saturday; MDSB parking lot sale; Movie in the Park

Touch-A-Truck

Junior League of Great Falls is hosting their fifth annual Touch-a-Truck Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

It’s a free, family friendly event on Central Avenue downtown.

Spark! Children’s Museum will have a pop-up during the event.

Spark! Children’s Museum has hired new director

Skate Jam

The Riverside Railyard Skate Jam is Aug. 16 from 4-10 p.m.

Windsor Plywood

Windsor Plywood is closing.

Mike Wedekind, the general manager, told The Electric that the store would be open for customers through the end of August.

The building is listed for sale.

Business Bites: “Does anybody know what’s being built…”

Library events

The Great Falls Public Library is wrapping up its summer reading programs with two celebrations on Aug. 16.

The kids/teens summer reading celebration is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Library Park, weather permitting.

Everyone who earned at least one prize for their reading is invited to celebrate by making a tie-dye t-shirt and enjoy a free ice cream treat.

The party is geared toward kids/teens who participated in the summer reading events, but it is open to all and ice cream will be available to all.

The winner of the Library Loot Boxes grand prize will be announced at noon and doesn’t need to be present to win.

Business Bites: Great Clips, vintage shop, Pizza Ranch, wine tasting, GF Theatre Company season announcement; new L&C Foundation director; and more

The youth summer reading program is funded by the Great Falls Public Library Foundation and Marshall Orthodontics.

Library Loot Boxes are funded by a Keep Kids Reading Grant from the Town Pump Charitable Foundation.

In the event of bad weather, the celebration will be moved inside to the Cordingley Room.

The adult summer reading after party is 5-8 p.m. at Annie’s Tap House, 112 Central Ave. with live music from Joe Ryan starting at 5 p.m.

A round of library trivia will be at 6 p.m. with facts about GFPL and general library knowledge.

Food will be available from the Okii Eats food truck and the library is providing food tickets to the first 33 people in the door.

Winners of the adult summer reading prizes will be announced and will be contacted if not present.

The adult summer reading was funded by the Great Falls Public Library Foundation, Scheels and TDS Fiber.

Business Bites: Hometana’s new location; basketball facility; economic development conference; summer open house; counseling office moves; Cost Cutters closing

Upper Missouri Waterkeeper fundraiser

Upper Missouri Waterkeeper is hosting a Raise a Pint night at the Mighty Mo on Aug. 18 from 5-8 p.m.

For every pint sold, $1 will support their work defending fishable, swimmable, drinkable, clean water across 25,000 square miles of Montana’s Upper Missouri River Basin, including the Smith and Sun River subbasins and the Missouri through Great Falls.

The event will includes a raffle and a representative available to discuss water issues in the Upper Missouri Basin, their Save Wild Trout Science Campaign, and ongoing legal efforts—including a recent lawsuit to protect in-stream flows.

Business Bites: KellerGeist event space opening; pilates, boutique trunk show; Kegs and Eggs; Chik-fil-A update; Hopper and Ro switch; and more

Great Falls Rapids Swim Team fundraiser

The Great Falls Rapids Swim Team is holding an Okotberfest fundraiser Sept. 13 at The Newberry.

The beer and wine tasting event will benefit the year-round competitive swim team.

Tickets are on sale here.

New HR director for GFPS

Melanie Houge has been hired as the new human resources director for Great Falls Public Schools.

District officials interviewed four candidates for the position on Aug. 11 out of a pool of 18 applicants.

Hougue starts Sept. 3, pending school board approval.

Business Bites: Best Wok reopen; Ramble Inn for sale; Peres Food Basket; summer sidewalk sale and more

Houge has worked at the University of Providence since 2012, moving into human resources
in January 2020 and becoming the department director in August 2021. She also taught human resources management as an adjunct instructor and previously led teams focused on student admissions and recruitment, according to GFPS.

She holds a master’s degree in management with a specialization in human resources and a bachelors in organizational communication.

She and her husband Kyle Houge, both raised in Great Falls, have a daughter, Gwendolyn, who is a rising junior at Great Falls High.

Longtime GFPS budget officer, Montana educator, retiring this summer

Houge will replace Luke Diekhans as he assumes the role of GFPS’ business operations director this month Brian Patrick retires.

Got a business bite? Email it to jenn@theelectricgf.com with ‘business bite’ in the subject line and the details in the body of the email in text form.