Extreme Makeover—Town Sized

ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” has one town thinking of doing it for their entire downtown. Big Sandy, Montana (population 800) has decided that they need to remake themselves into Wild West theme. And they’ve taken steps to do just that.

Even though the show generally works on individual houses for struggling, deserving families, Marlys Bitz head of Big Sandy’s Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is giving it a shot. Big Sandy like lots of small rural towns, is fighting for survival. There are empty buildings in the downtown area and three other businesses are for sale. Bitz said, “I was worried about the domino effect,” as she explained how towns lose their grocery store, then their doctor and finally, very slowly simply disappear. With a CAN DO attitude she said, “What is the worst thing that could happen? They don’t come.”

They’ve held art auctions, raised funds from the local Rotary Club, and tried other ways to put Big Sandy “back on the map.” Hopefully, Extreme Makeover will give them another boost.

Bitz and the citizens of Big Sandy again showed to me the determination, drive and pulling together of so many small towns.