You know you're from Glendive when

You have neighbors like this!

Kind hearts help Holdermans
By Melissa Smith
Ranger-Review Staff Writer

When Denise Lorenz got home Wednesday night and saw a crew across the street working to help a local man meet a deadline for a community decay violation, she knew she had to do something to help.

Jim Holderman had been given until Wednesday to tighten spaces between the boards on his fence and clean up the weeds on his Rosser Street property or face up to a $500 fine for each day the work was not done.

“It was cold out and it was getting dark,” Lorenz said. “They had a bunch of people over there, and they were trying so hard to get it done, and I just wanted to help.”

Without skills for the work they were doing, Lorenz listened to a nurturing instinct inside of her and cooked a hot meal of biscuits and gravy for the workers.

“I had some fresh sausage, and I thought, ‘That’s what I can do. That can be my contribution,’” she said.
Lorenz was just one of several people who had a heart for Holderman and his wife and wanted to help them meet their deadline.

Rolly Anvik said he was reading a story about the deadline in Sunday’s Ranger-Review and decided to take action.
He drove by the property Sunday morning and when no one was there, called and talked to Holderman’s wife, Mary Ann, who he has known for nearly 50 years. Jim Holderman was at church.

“I just called and asked if I could come by and help,” Anvik said.

“I read the article and I just thought, ‘If this guy’s got less than a week, then he’s going to have to have some help.’”
Between Sunday and Wednesday, Holderman said, he was amazed at the outpouring of support that helped him meet his deadline to avoid prosecution and fines.

Numerous people just showed up to help, he said, nearly all unplanned. While he knew Anvik well, Holderman said there were others who just wanted to help, such as Gary Wetzel, Paul Shearer and Neil Hoff.
Holderman said he also received several calls of support and prayers.

“People just kept calling and they just kept showing up, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’ It was so unexpected. It was just such a good feeling to have people come over. I was so grateful.”

Mary Ann Holderman, who was sick and unable to help work, said she was touched by the love they got from the community.

“I was moved,” she said. “I was just thinking, ‘That’s the Glendive I remember growing up in. Those are the kind of people I remember being here. That’s the reason I moved back and stayed here.’”

The Holdermans have been under fire since April when they first started moving old vehicles on to the lot for restoration.
They have been prosecuted and fined for a junk vehicle ordinance violation and have spent thousands of dollars to come in to compliance with zoning, junk vehicle and community decay laws.

Mayor Jerry Jimison confirmed Friday that they are now in compliance with city code.

Holderman credits the kind-hearted help of friends for making that happen.
“If they wouldn’t have come, we wouldn’t have gotten as much done,” he said. “It was just great.”
“It doesn’t matter what the issues are in the neighborhood,”

Lorenz said of her motivation to help. “People are always good people.”

What a fine group of people!