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Vol. 18, No. 24
March 2, 2022
Dozens of prisoners file lawsuits for inadequate living conditions News by Valley Journal Staff
Water pg. 2
Museum pg. 8
Sports pg. 13
LAKE COUNTY — More than two dozen prisoners have filed lawsuits against various officials in the City of Polson and Lake County and the entities themselves in the past six months in regard to conditions at the Lake County Jail. A judge in federal court in Missoula has ordered attorney Tim Bechtold to represent the plaintiffs and consolidate the cases into one. “Right now, it is not a class action,” Bechtold said. Bechtold has until the end of March of consolidate the cases. He’s spoken with around 20 inmates so far and says the “their primary concern is conditions of confinement.” In the individual lawsuits filed, prisoners say they are complaining about inadequate housing and overcrowding, inadequate right to religion, inadequate access to the law library, inadequate fire safety equipment, and inadequate representation by public defenders. While some of the individual cases ask for compensatory damages of $1,500 for each day spent in the jail and punitive damages of $1.5 million per defendant, Bechtold noted that there are strong limitations on claims against government en-
SUMMER GODDARD / VALLEY JOURNAL
The county jail was previously sued for inadequate conditions in 1995, ending with the county agreeing to make changes to correct the problems.
tities. For instance, the Federal Tort Claims Act prohibits punitive damages being awarded in cases against the government. The consolidated cases will likely focus more on injunctive relief, Bechtold said. The Lake County Jail was previously sued in 1995 by prisoners alleging inadequate conditions. That lawsuit ended in a consent decree with the county agreeing to make changes correcting problems in the w w w.va l le yj our na l.net
jail. Bechtold says the changes agreed to in the consent decree were not implemented. “Many conditions are similar to what was at issue in 1995,” Bechtold said. The county did make an attempt in recent years to fund jail improvements. In 2020 county voters cast 4,638 votes against a levy that would have raised $2.5 million annually over the next 20 years to expand the jail and the Lake County
Courthouse. Those in favor of the initiative only totaled 2,446 votes. The county is also currently waiting for a response from Governor Greg Gianforte’s office after sending him a letter on Feb. 8, asking for relief for the burden of funding Public Law 280. This law allows Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal members to be prosecuted through the local county courts. see page 2
jail from page 1
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are the only Montana tribe that opted into this system when it first came available in the 1960s. Other tribes in Montana prosecute felonies through federal courts. According to a legislative fiscal note, in 2019, 70 percent of felony prosecutions in Lake County were of tribal members, accounting for more than $4 million in costs annually to the county. County Commissioner Gale Decker told tribal council in February that while the county agrees that the system is the best framework for law enforcement on the reservation, it is eating away at the county’s annual funding, with associated costs totaling 40-60% of the budget in recent years according to Decker. The letter to Gianforte says the situation “has now reached critical mass,” and calls the law an unfunded mandate. The letter asked for $4 million be sent to the county and asked for a meeting with Gianforte within 60 days. If there is no development on the issue in that time, the county may file a lawsuit. The Valley Journal followed up with the commissioners and asked if any funding received via the state might be used on the jail. “Due to the potential litigation, the Commissioners will not have any comment about conditions in the detention center,” Decker said in an email. “Until the County receives a settlement amount from the state and ongoing funding, decisions about where those dollars might be spent are premature. The Commissioners have stated that any funding could be used in a variety of ways. There are many needs in the County and the Commissioners will consider all of those if dollars become available.”
vj 2 - March 2, 2022
DNRC helps navigate register water use registration By Kristi Niemeyer for Valley Journal
LAKE COUNTY — I’ve been in sleuth-mode lately. With the Flathead Reservation Water Management Board fully formed and a deadline of March 16 looming to register “existing uses” of water with the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), I’ve been navigating the confusing turf of water rights documentation. Why the rush? The water rights compact settlement went into effect Sept. 17, 2021, which opened a 180day window for non-tribal water users to file existing water uses on the reservation with the DNRC. After that date, any filings will be made directly with the board, which is now the sole authority for all water right permitting and changes within the Flathead Indian Reservation. According to Arne Wick, the DNRC’s Compact Implementation Program Manager, Montanans have had many prior opportunities to file water claims on the reservation, dating back at least to the 1980s. They can continue to file for existing and new uses with the water board. “It’s not like the door closes on March 16,” says Wick. “There’s a whole new authority where people will be able to get their water rights processed through the board. We’re trying to catch up to backlog of these registrations for previous uses under the state authority, but after the
KRISTI NIEMEYER / VALLEY JOURNAL
Pictured above are the remnants of a ranch on Irvine Flats Road near Polson, where a windmill once hoisted water from the ground. Under the Flathead Reservation Water Compact, landowners have until March 16 to file pre-existing groundwater uses with the state. After that date, they’ll file directly with the new Flathead Reservation Water Management Board.
effective date it’s all blended under the board’s authority.” He views the water board as having the potential to settle mettlesome issues that have been lingering for more than a quarter century, since the state ceased authorizing new uses pending the outcome of compact negotiations with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. “Both state and tribal – everybody’s under the same authority with the board and they have water rights administrative options available to them that have not existed for 25 years,” Wick explains. “That’s a big improvement.” My question is this: how does one discover if an 80acre farm south of Charlo, occupied at least since 1937, has a water right filed for its Valley Journal
domestic well? And, if there are no documents on file, how do we create them? I began looking for guidance on the DNRC website, which keeps an extensive list of water forms and filings. For an overview of the steps I needed to take, I started here: dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/ water/water-compact-implementation-program/confederated-salish-and-kootenai-tribes-compact/registrations-of-existing-uses-under-the-cskt-water-compact-and-ordinance. My next stop was the Water Rights Query System (wrqs.dnrc.mt.gov/), which allows you to search by county, under the landowner’s name. Nothing materialized, so I searched for the property on the
Montana Cadastral webpage, svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral, and found three helpful ingredients: the geocode and property description (also available on tax records) and a printable map of the property that’s required for filing. Next came a visit to the Lake County Courthouse to see if a previous property owner had filed for water rights on the well. Although we did get a list of previous owners, we found no documentation pertaining to water use. Since we’ve owned the ranch since 1979, my co-sleuth asked the owners before us (who now live about a mile away) if a well was present on the property when they bought it in 1969. It was. And offspring of the see page 5
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This Week’s Weather Forecast Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
March 3
March 4
March 5
March 6
March 7
45°/38°
41°/32°
37°/25°
36°/22°
34°/19°
33°/17°
Light Rain 4% chance precipitation
Light Rain 12% chance precipitation
Rain/Snow 36% chance precipitation
Mostly Cloudy 24% chance precipitation
Mostly Cloudy 15% chance precipitation
Wednesday
Thursday
March 2
Tuesday March 8
Partly Cloudy 24% chance precipitation
34/18°
Mostly Cloudy 21% chance precipitation
Flathead Lake Level 2884.22 ft WED
03/02
7:16 am
6:20 pm
7:46 am
6:29 pm
THUR
03/03
7:14 am
6:21 pm
8:06 am
7:45 pm
FRI
03/04
7:12 am
6:23 pm
8:24 am
8:58 pm
SAT
03/05
7:10 am
6:24 pm
8:42 am
10:10 pm
SUN
03/06
7:08 am
6:26 pm
9:00 am
11:19 pm
MON
03/07
7:06 am
6:27 pm
9:20 am
none
TUES
03/08
7:04 am
6:29 pm
9:43 am
12:28 am
Valley Journal
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Today in History March 2, 2021 High 48° F Low 28° F Precipitation 0.0 inches Record High 66° F Record Low -8 March 2, 2022 - 3
contents Filing for water rights ....5
Courts .........................20
CSKT regulations .........8
Births ..........................21
Valley Views ................10
Calendar .....................23
Sports .........................13
Classifieds ..................24
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Valley Journal The Valley Journal newspaper (PE 23-190) is published weekly by Valley Journal LLC. Periodicals postage paid at Ronan, MT. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Distribution is by mail subscription ($59 per year in Lake County, MT; $74 per year elsewhere in U.S.) and by newsstand sales. Postmaster: send address changes to Valley Journal, P.O. Box 326, Ronan, MT. 59864. Your homegrown newspaper serves residents of Lake 4 - March 2, 2022
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2022 County and the Flathead Indian Reservation. Deadline for display advertising is 2 p.m.Thursday. Deadline for news submissions, calendar items, classifieds and legal advertising is noon Friday, for the following week’s newspaper. News, letters to the editor and calendar submissions may be sent by email to: vjeditor@valleyjournal.net. Classified and legal advertisements requests should be emailed to: vjmail@valleyjournal.net. All print subscriptions include full access to online news, Valley Journal
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DNRC from page 2
owners before that confirmed that they also had running water in the 60s. All of this was in preparation to file a “use right” using form 222 for groundwater developed before Jan. 1, 1962. That would have required “substantiation documents” preferably from someone who knew when that use began. That was a stumbling block, since no one seemed to know when the well was first drilled. When I posed this question to Wick, he told me this conundrum “is common in the adjudication process. If you’re talking about a domestic well or stock well used historically you could go with ‘to the best of my knowledge,’ do a bucket measurement or the best estimate you can (to determine volume),” he said. “The point is to accurately represent the historic use and if you need to take a contemporary measurement for that based on an existing
system that’s acceptable information and it just needs to be documented and described.” Fortunately, we unearthed something even better with help from Kathy Olsen, manager of the DNRC’s Kalispell Regional Office. She noted that many water filings are no longer kept at the Clerk and Recorder’s Office where they were originally filed. However, those documents are now stored online at mediaserver.dnrc.mt.gov/survey/groundwater.html. I followed the link, clicked on Lake County, located the filings for our township and range, used the list of previous owners from the courthouse and the property description, and found a Declaration of Vested Groundwater Rights, filed Jan. 10, 1964. According to that document, the well was dug in 1948. Eureka! While this simplifies our application process considerably, it still left me with some what-ifs. Here are the questions I posed, and Olsen’s answers, beginning with
“
Both state and tribal... have the same water rights administrative options available to them that have not existed for 25 years.”
- DNRC Program Manager Arne Wick
the one that led me to the DNRC groundwater filings: 1. Although we’ve tracked down the owners of the property dating back to 1937, we’ve only verified use beginning in 1966. It’s not that hard to get a statement from the owner we bought it from in 1979, stating that a well existed on the premises during their 10-year tenure. Is that sufficient? DNRC: If use was between 1962 and July 1, 1973, the owner of the property had to file at the courthouse. Those filings can be found at mediaserver.dnrc. mt.gov/survey/groundwater.html. You need the owner name and legal land description to find documents if they were
filed. There should be two pages per filing and both pages need to be attached to the 222F. 2. According to the DNRC, if the well was developed after Jan. 1, 1962 and before July 1, 1973, and not recorded at the county courthouse, we need an Application for a Domestic Allowance form from the Flathead Reservation Water Management Board (FRWMB), which has no forms available yet. Your advice? DNRC: If there was no such filing, you can fill out Form 602 (described on the DNRC website as “previously unfiled uses of water that were put to use before Sept. 17, 2021 and exempt from state permit requirements”).
3. According to a story in the Char-Koosta News, dated Feb. 17, for those who miss the filing deadline of March 16, their applications for existing use will be addressed “among new uses, which will be permitted under the purview and authority of the FRWMB.” Does that mean that those who don’t file on time are basically filing an application for new use, despite the well or stock-water possibly having been in use for several decades? DNRC: That is correct. Thus the importance for getting eligible uses (prior to the compact effective date of Sept. 17, 2021) into the DNRC by March 16, 2022. 4. I’ve also had inquiries from people who have been pumping water from the lake for irrigation and domestic use for decades. Do they use this same form (222) for preexisting domestic use or is there another route they should take? DNRC: If they are taking water for any use via pump from a surface
water source and have not previously filed, they will have to wait for the Office of the Engineer to then file on those uses. (The FRWMB plans to begin advertising for the crucial position of water engineer soon.) With the March 16 deadline looming, Olsen says her office in Kalispell has been “very busy with phone calls and walk-ins from the Reservation.” Personally, I found the DNRC staff to be very knowledgeable and helpful. For filing assistance in Flathead, Lake and Sanders counties, call 406-752-2288; for Missoula County, call 406721-4284. The FRWMB will meet from 1-3 p.m. March 3 via Zoom for a work session devoted to board orientation on the compact, the Unitary Administration and Management Ordinance and the water rights registration process. To watch the public portion, head to https://bit.ly/FRWMB-Mtg4.
vj
Ronan acquires new property next to city park Story and Photo by Taylor Davison / Valley Journal
RONAN — The Ronan Revitalization Committee announced during a Feb. 22 meeting that the city of Ronan was recently able to purchase property behind the Second Chance Saloon. “We’ve been trying to buy that property for years,” Public Works Director Dan Miller commented. The three city lots Ronan purchased have been elusive for years due to the complexity of their ownership. Owned by multiple members of a family, all owner parties had to agree to sell at the same time and agree to sign off on the negotiated price. The final offer the city made was for $35,000.
Valley Journal
“It would have been more if it were building lots,” Miller explained. Approximately 70% of the new land purchased for the park exists in the floodplain, leaving it underwater for a portion of the year. The first step will be to clean up the property. Mowing has begun, but tree maintenance and other safety measures still need to be taken. A few ideas for the property are being floated around, such as a natural amphitheater due to the slope and curve of the land, but nothing has been decided on yet. The park committee of the city council will begin meeting this year in late spring or early summer to continue use discussions. March 2, 2022 - 5
CSKT division offers Q&A on projects tied to Water Compact Story and Photo by Taylor Davison / Valley Journal
RONAN — The Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes Division of Engineering and Water Resources held an event last week to answer questions about ongoing projects tied to the CSKT Water Compact. The four-hour event was meant to be informal, allowing attendees to come as their schedule allowed to ask about elements of the Compact in the way it pertained to the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project (FIIP). Most who attended arrived within the first hour and asked for a simple overview. Seth Makepeace and Jace Smith presented. Adaptive management, the process to preserve flexibility to continuously manage and improve the allocation of water between instream flows and reservoir levels, was explained to be fundamental to the Compact. It reflects the dynamic nature of the water supply, allowing recommendations within the year to changes to instream flow (ISF) or FIIP Water Use Rights (RDAs) or move schedules forward or back based on changing conditions, allowing for project improvements. Operational improvements, actions to improve the correspondence between headworks diversion and crop demand, were explained to improve net irrigation project efficiency. Water measurements, sup6 - March 2, 2022
ply management tools such as forecasting, and stock water mitigation will impact ISF flow schedules and RDA diversion schedules in effect. The rehabilitation and betterment of irrigation facilities to improve water management and operational control were also highlighted. Some specifics of work being investigated in the Jocko River were explained, such as obtaining cost metrics for the constructability of different piping materials that experience minimal corrosion, as well as a test drive of radial gates being run in North Fork Jocko due to the rain bursts there. As far as timelines for projects in Jocko, and upcoming plans for Charlo, definitive answers could not be given. In addition to construction challenges such as material shortages and extended delivery times, the division is currently understaffed, in need of hydrologists able to work onsite. Makepeace explained that, unlike engineers, they are not comfortable contracting out to
hydrologists because the projects need more handson management from people familiar with the specific sites. “Humans make mistakes,” Smith added. “We’re doing our best to weed those out as much as possible.” Another goal of the Compact is to assure the FIIP instream flow and RDA allocation can be functionally and objectively administered. The division is looking to support an online dashboard to allow irrigators to remotely control waterflow. The division currently lacks the staff to complete this endeavor, but is determined to roll it out at some point in the future. “This just doesn’t happen overnight by any means,” Makepeace said. Formation of the Unitary Management Ordinance (UMO) board was also discussed. A unique feature in the United States, the board was formed due to the checkerboard nature of the reservation water rights. The board will have four main functions: First, the board will be
tasked with allocating new appropriations, both for water rights that do not need mitigation to offset different water rights such as private wells, and for appropriations required to mitigate adverse effects to existing water rights. Second, they will handle water rights changes of use, such as surface versus groundwater allocations. Third, the board will hold endorsement responsibility for appeals. Finally, the UMO will be used when interpretation in water rights laws and disputes is needed. The UMO board will also be able to mediate disputes between private irrigated properties that are within the project. First, however, they will need to establish a permanent location and begin hiring staff. Finally, Makepeace emphasized the approaching Unitary Administration and Management Ordinance March 16 deadline for landowners to register certain types of previously unrecorded water uses with the board. The division has issued several reminders since the Compact was passed, but some are still unaware of the ticking clock. For assistance in land registration or for more information, visit the DNRC’s CSKT Water Compact website at http://dnrc. mt.gov/divisions/water/ water-compact-implementation-program/confederated-salish-and-kootenai-tribes-compact.
Valley Journal
Local choir to appear on PBS News from Montana PBS
MONTANA — ‘Celebrate America’ is a national program designed to give our nation’s youth a life enhancing opportunity by showcasing their choirs on Public Television” said ‘Celebrate America’ founder, Tim Janis. The production and filming of this event is made possible through the hard work and dedication of music educators, schools, students, their local communities, Montana State University students & volunteers, Montana PBS, and Tim Janis. Celebrate America is open to all schools, large or small, including both public and private school choirs. “Contributing to community through the arts has always been a big part of Public Television’s role in the community,” said Janis. “I am genuinely overwhelmed by the incredible talent and professionalism each music educator brings to the table. Students demonstrate tremendous dedication in the preparation of their performance. They’re an undeniable musical force and a shining example of the commitment of today’s youth when encouraged to pursue the arts!” This year, with everyone’s health and safety a top priority, after deep consideration and consultation with the participants, Montana PBS decided to proceed with taping. Late in 2021 choirs from across Montana had selected songs and taping slots and were rehearsing for their performance. On Jan. 16 and 17, 11 of the schools were able to travel to Bozeman and performed in this year’s ‘Celebrate America’ in the Montana PBS studio on the Montana State University campus. One of the selected schools belongs to Lake County. Ronan High School Choir, under the direction of Brenna Hyvonen, will perform Kurt Bestor’s touching Prayer of the Children. “Public Television is an invaluable resource for staying connected to local programs and the community,” Janis said. “PBS programming helps to bring the community together.” Janis, Montana’s participating choirs, and Montana PBS invite you to listen, watch and ‘Celebrate America’ on March 7 at 7 p.m. MST on Montana PBS. Friends and family across the world are invited to watch online, adjusted to their local time zone.
Correction The position of Anne Engebretson was incorrectly reported in a Coats for Kids article published Feb. 23, 2022. Engebretson is the manager of Port Polson Inn. The Valley Journal regrets the error.
USDA to invest $1 billion in climate smart commodities News from USDA
BOZEMAN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is delivering on its promise to expand markets by investing $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. USDA is now accepting project applications for fiscal year 2022. “America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest owners are leading the way in implementing
climate-smart solutions across their operations,” said Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Tom Watson in Montana. “Through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, USDA will provide targeted funding to meet national and global demand and expand market opportunities for climate-smart commodities to increase the competitive advantage of American producers. We want a broad array of agriculture and forestry to see themselves in this effort, including small and historically underserved producers as well as early adopters.” For the purposes of this funding opportunity, a climate-smart commodity is defined as an agricultural commodity that is produced using agricul-
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tural (farming, ranching or forestry) practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon. Funding will be provided to partners through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation for pilot projects to provide incentives to producers and landowners to: - Implement climate-smart production practices, activities, and systems on working lands. - Measure/quantify, monitor and verify the carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits associated with those practices. - Develop markets and promote the resulting climate-smart commodities. How to Apply: The primary applicant must be an entity, not an individual. A range of public and private enti-
ties may apply, including: county, city or township governments; special district governments; state governments; small businesses; for profit organizations other than small businesses; Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) (other than institutions of higher education); nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) (other than institutions of higher education); private institutions of higher education, or public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. Funding will be provided in two funding pools, and applicants must submit their applications via grants.gov by 11:59 p.m.
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EST on April 8 for the first funding pool (proposals from $5 million to $100 million), and May 27 for the second funding pool (proposals from $250,000 to $4,999,999). Proposals must provide plans to: - Pilot implementation of climate-smart agriculture and/or forestry practices on a large-scale, including meaningful involvement of small and/or historically underserved producers. - Quantify, monitor, report and verify climate results. - Develop markets and promote climate-smart commodities generated as a result of project activities. USDA is committed to equity in program delivery and is specifically seeking proposals from entities serving all types of pro-
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ducers, including small or historically underserved producers. Providing sufficient incentives to encourage producer participation and generating both verifiable greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration benefits are critical to project success and will be considered in the evaluation criteria. More Information: Visit: usda.gov/ climate-smart-commodities for additional information, including details on Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities and resources to support your application. USDA published a Request for Information in September 2021 seeking public comment and input on design of this new initiative and used the nearly 400 comments received to inform this funding opportunity.
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March 2, 2022 - 7
Ninepipes Museum shares storage need, community comes through By Taylor Davison Valley Journal
RONAN — The Ninepipes Museum received a new storage shed last week thanks to the combined efforts of a supportive community. The ever-growing museum has been using their basement to store ladders and tools alongside important storage sections for both their gift shop and their collections. The multiuse space is also where they work on the preservation and cataloguing of museum items. “We’re really stacked for storage here,” Jo Cheff of the Ninepipe Museum stated. “(A storage shed) is much needed.” Through a newsletter, the museum spread word to their members that they needed funds for the project. One long time member, Dick Moore, stepped up and funded the approximate $7,000 needed for materials. According to Jo, the 97-year-old Moore has helped the museum with funding time and again, stopping by periodically in the past to ask what needed doing in the institution.
COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO
Upper level construction students of Ronan High School built the shed for the museum from scratch.
Each week, a different student would act as foreman to direct the construction process.
He even contributed to the roofing and renovation of an historic cabin in Jocko a few years back, simply asking them what they needed to finish the project. “He’s been a really wonderful supporter of the museum,” Jo said. “A really great guy.” Once the museum had the funding, Jo reached out to Hap Cheff, a shop teacher at Ronan High School, to see if his students would be
class periods. Hap said students figured out and drew up the floorplan and cut list for the 10- by 16-foot structure themselves. Each week, one student took a turn as foreman of the job. They would line out what needed to be completed over the next few days, and have their turn being the boss before switching out with another student. Once it was finished, Draggin’ Wagon Towing
willing to build their shed. RHS students are no stranger to community projects. They’ve built bunkbeds for local foster care, campus storage buildings, and bridges for a Ronan park. The students have also contributed to the Ninepipes Museum in the past by building picnic tables and a few wooden displays. They agreed to take on the project for only the cost of materials.
“I like trying to get them real-world application projects,” Happ said. “Usually when it’s for a nonprofit, it gives them a reason to build it instead of just for a grade. They get the experience, they get a grade, and they do some good for the community.” The storage shed took the level two and three construction classes about two and a half months to complete over their 50-minute
delivered the shed from the high school to its new home at Ninepipes Museum for a reduced fee as a community service late last week. With the project completed, students can be proud of their work. “We try to do what we can,” Hap said of their community involvement. “It gives (the students) a purpose for doing what they’re doing, and they rally behind it too.”
Hunting, fishing license year begins March 1 News from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks
MONTANA — The 2022 license year opens March 1, which means that is the day you can buy new hunting and fishing licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1. 8 - March 2, 2022
Applications for most species – deer, elk, antelope, deer B, elk B, antelope B, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, turkey – can be made beginning March 1. This spring Fish, Wildlife & Parks will be launching the new MyFWP mobile app that will store and display licenses, permits, and digital carcass tags, known as E-Tags, which can
be used in the field without cellular service. The new app will be released soon with more information on how to download and use it. To use the app, hunters and anglers will need a MyFWP account, which is a secure and convenient digital profile that stores licenses, permits and related information. To create a new account, Valley Journal
visit: fwp.mt.gov. Users need to make sure to link their ALS number to the MyFWP account to ensure their hunting and fishing licenses are attached to their MyFWP account. Hunters will also still have the option to print copies of licenses they purchase online or at FWP offices. Also new for the 2022 license
year: — Hunters have the option to donate their drawing refund to the block management program. — Bonus points can now only be purchased by applicants that are eligible to apply for licenses (bonus points can no see page 9
Conservation fee increase for tribal lands in effect News from Fish, Wildlife, Recreation & Conservation
PABLO — Due to the increase in recreation pressure on CSKT Tribal lands, including developed and primitive sites, it was determined a conservation permit fee increase was necessary in all resident categories. Fee increases will be used for additional game wardens and outdoor recreation staff to help maintain tribal lands for future generations. Changes for March 1 through Feb. 28, 2023: By order of CS&KT Tribal Council violators will be prosecuted under MCA:45-6-203 Criminal Trespass. Part I, 2022-23 Reservation Licensing, Section 1. Form of Licenses and Duplicates:
hunting, fishing license
from page 8
longer be purchased by youth less than the age of 12). — Preference points fee for nonresidents is now $100 instead — A nonresident planning to hunt with an outfitter can purchase a second preference point for the Nonresident Combo drawing. Remember to have your outfitter information with you at the time you apply. — Applicants purchasing a conservation license can now opt out of donating 25 cents of that fee to Search and Rescue. — Hunters and an-
– Camping Stamp 18 and Older: For all categories of residences – camping stamp cost $100. Camping license not required while camping with a member spouse or parent. – Residents of the Reservation: Annual Conservation License $40 Disabled License $37 – Non-Residents of the Reservation: Annual Conservation License for both age categories $100 3-Day Conservation License $80 3-Day Combined Conservation/Fishing License $105 Disabled License $100 – Non-Residents of the State of Montana:
glers can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website beginning at 5 a.m. on March 1; simply click on “Buy and Apply.” Most FWP offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. If people have questions, the FWP licensing call center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March 1 through April 1; after April 1, the hours will return to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The call center can be reached at 406-444-2950. Remember, if you’re applying for a special license or permit, you will need to have a valid email address.
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Annual Conservation License for both age categories $100 3-Day Conservation License $80 1-Day Combined Conservation /Fishing License $80 3-Day Conservation/Fishing License $146 Disabled License $100 Fees for fishing, including Flathead Lake have not changed. There has also been no fee increases for non-member bird hunting on the reservation. The Following Areas in Part IV, Recreation Regulations are closed for CS&KT member use only. May be accompanied by an immediate family member (a spouse or parent) with a valid conservation permit in their possession.
Part IV, Recreation Regulations, Section 2C: Closed Areas for CS&KT Member Use Only – Twin Lakes Recreation Area – Hog Heaven Range & Chief Cliff Area, described as: All tribally owned lands west of Highway 93 from the Reservation northern boundary to the intersection of Highway 28, and lands north of said intersection and following Highway 28 westerly to the intersection of the Brown’s Meadow Road, and lands east of the Brown’s Meadow Road (or all tribally owned lands served or accessed by the Hog Heaven forest tribal road system (H-1000 to H-4000 numbered tribal forest roads). – Portion of the North Sal-
ish Range known as Irvine Lookout Area, described as: All tribally owned forested and range lands served or accessed by the Irvine forest tribal road system (I-1000 to I-6000 numbered tribal forest roads) Part IV, Recreation Regulations, Section 7. B. 3. – “Safe Harbor Marsh” prohibited boat or floatation devices water bodies. Contact Amanda Bourdon, Permit Agent, Stephanie Gillin, Information & Education Program, Dan McClure, Fish & Game Tribal Warden Chief or Whisper Camel-Means, Division Manager at 883-2888 if you have questions regarding the Hunting, Fishing and Recreation Regulations for the 2022-2023 season.
d o n’t get
left in the
dark read public notices www.MontanaPublicNotices.com Valley Journal
March 2, 2022 - 9
valley views Like, what do you mean? P
icture this, you are like sitting with a group of like your friends and you start to pick up on like this pattern of saying like. But like why do we say like so much? Starting in the 1850s, the word “like” made its appearance more frequently in literature - a trend that continued steadily until the 1950s. That’s when “like” was picked up by the young and rebellious Beat Generation. Members of this Silent Generation counterculture movement introduced the word into their speech repetitively to symbolize their affiliation to the broader group. Using “like” became rather ubiquitous and subsequently aspired as shorthand or a stereotype in popular culture for the disdained group. Movies and early animated films in the 1950s frequently implemented this trope. Such slang spread around
the country before the defining trait. “Valley trend of injecting extra Speak” emerged-a socio“likes” went mostly dorlect or collection of slang mant. and alternate pronunciFast forward to the ation used by a specific 1970s when a new pheclass of people. Valley nomenon transpired on Speak included many the west phrases coast. A new that have group, Valley become Girls, adoptwidespread ed the “like” since like habit. Valley “Totally,” Girls were “Take a socioecoa chill nomic subpill,” and ben there culture that “Psych!” DONE that emerged The ValBen Stone in the upley Speak Media Production, Valley Journal per-midsociolect dle-class remained teenage and 20-somelargely a regional phething girls of San Fernomenon until a musinando Valley of Southern cian named Frank Zappa California. Members of released a song mocking this subculture were char- the trend - aptly named acterized by congregating “Valley Girl.” The song in malls and sporting hit the charts, and was a very definite sense adopted as an anthem of style, catered to by by the very girls Zappa emerging consumerism. meant to poke fun at. However, Valley Girls’ “Valley Girl” was even way of speaking was their nominated for a Gram-
Scraping the paint I
’ve taken up a new hobby: painting. I don’t paint walls or houses. I keep it smaller - to canvases, coasters and such. It’s not painting like you might think. My new leisure pursuit involves no brushes or rollers. What it lacks in
10 - March 2, 2022
brushes, this technique paint consistency and letmakes up for in paint. I ting it all just flow where literally pour it may. it onto the It’s called acrylic pour canvas and let it flow. I painting and Jill Pertler Syndicated columnist might spin it. it’s rather I might blow addictive. It on it with a allows you blow dryer or a straw, but to create art without the what it comes down to is control that art typically
Slices of Life
my! After the break-out success of the song, the California-based entertainment industry jumped on the bandwagon. Valley Girl tropes began popping up in movies and TV shows targeted at younger demographics. The modern teenager was birthed into the cultural consciousness. Thus “like” was seeping into North American English. Unlike its first major debut in the ‘50s, “like” continued its longevity as a fixture of speech. At first, the English word “like” presented with only two meanings: to feel attracted towards and secondly, similar to. But, over the last 150 years, “like” has expanded to four new distinct meanings, each one highly functional when speaking. The first…happened “like a month ago.” Or the quotative usage, “And he was like hello.” Thirdly,
“like” serves as a filler word similar to “um.” Lastly the word can apply stress or emphasis to something “like a lot.” All of this utility makes “like” a helpful tool in numerous conversational situations. The extensive use of “like” is often portrayed as an example of how younger generations are “ruining” the English language. While I do agree that English is changing, I believe the term “ruin” is being needlessly dramatic. Languages naturally evolve over time. Early English is borderline unintelligible to us today because of this process. If you don’t believe me, just look up a book called “The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye” by William Caxton published in 1473. Some people will bemoan and grumble about the continued evolution of English linguistics, but I prefer
encompasses - although the more involved and knowledgeable I become in the process, the more I realize the lack of control is but an illusion. It is control without control, which is the epitome of art, not to mention cool. It’s been a real learning curve. Continues to be,
for that matter. One thing I’ve come to understand is that not every piece is a masterpiece. Welcome to the world of Rembrandt and Da Vinci, not that I’d know for sure, but I suspect most artists – even the great ones – had their share of
Valley Journal
see page 11
to look at it through the lens of fascination. We are witnessing something unusual as new ways to verbally articulate and express ourselves are being uncovered. Like, how incredible is that!
LETTER POLICY
Letters to the editor are welcome. The content is the opinion of the letter writer and not the newspaper. The decision to publish letters is made by the editor. Letters must be 350 words or less. A writer will only be published twice per month. Letters may be edited for content or length, or may not be published if considered libelous, in poor taste, spiteful, self-promotional or of limited interest to the general readership. Space limitations also dictate when or if letters are published. Letters must be signed by the author and name, address and phone number must be included – phone number is for verification purposes only. Letters from organizations must include the name of at least one author. Please limit “thank you” letters to four people/organizations or less. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday to publish the following week. Opinions expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the newspaper.
paint from page 10
learning curves. This happens a lot in acrylic pour painting - at least if you are me. It was hard, at first to acknowledge that I’d painted a failure. None of us wants to create a failure. But, I could tell that I’d pushed the paint too far. Maybe the colors got muddy. Maybe they flowed where they weren’t supposed to flow. Maybe they just looked plain
letters
Montanans spend too much on rent
Editor, Montana has become a prime destination for out-of-state residents looking for homes in a state that has close access to pristine rivers, stunning hiking trails, and abundant wildlife. Between 2010 and 2020, Montana’s population grew 10%. Housing availability has not caught up to this rapid increase in population. According to Greg Hertz, over that same time span the number of housing units has only increased by 7%. Because of this, prices have soared exponentially. In 2010, the average monthly rent for a studio apartment in Montana was $444. By 2020, that number skyrocketed to $588, which RentData. org states was a 30% increase. Montanans simply
old meh. Whatever the outcome, many of mine didn’t measure up to expectations. At first, I left them to dry, hoping maybe they’d somehow improve themselves during the process. Naivety is often a gift. It keeps us going when others might look our way and roll their eyes. After a few dried failures and my own eye rolls, I realized I was only wasting canvases and paint n- and those things aren’t free. My naivety flew out the
spend too much on rent. Although it is recommended that no one spend over 30% of their monthly income on housing, almost 70% of renters surveyed in 2021 by MontPIRG exceed this mark. This problem is perpetuated by inadequate renters rights legislation. As long as landlords issue a notice “at least 15 days before the expiration of the month, (they may) change the terms of the lease to take effect at the expiration of the month” (Montana Code 70-26109). This means that as long as landlords notify renters of a price increase, they may increase rent to any amount whatsoever. Montanans saw a boom in population as out-of-state residents are drawn to our world class fishing, biking, and hiking areas. This, paired with a lack in housing development, caused a massive increase in rent
window and was replaced by pragmatism. Creating beauty is one thing, wasting money is another. It was then that I learned the art - and the practicality - of the scrape. If I didn’t want to waste a canvas, I realized had to kill my own darlings (to coin a phrase from Stephen King). As much as I wanted to love my canvas creations, I knew they weren’t going to hang on anyone’s wall - not even my own. So, I had to scrape them.
prices. It is time for the Montana legislature to pass sensible legislation that protects renters from unreasonable price increase. By filling out a renter survey with MontPIRG, you can help us to compile data that demonstrates how severe this problem is. Wyatt Balius Missoula
Maybe it could be simple Editor, I was happy to read all the contributions to last week’s paper in regards to building community (An Evolution in Community) and other generally quality contributions from community members. These last few decades, we have seen a massive erosion in social capital in our country. That means people aren’t in nearly as many clubs, social interactions have
I had to pull the paint off and start anew. It’s like everything in life. Some days it’s all good and other days it’s a scrape. But even on the most scrapiest of days, I’ve learned we shouldn’t give up. Even a scrape teaches us something new. It teaches us that even though we may need a do-over, there is still something worth saving. We are still worthy of a second or third (or fourth) try. Scraping means salvaging what we can and moving forward
declined and relationships that are built on trust and reciprocation rather than purely monetary have lessened. This means more people are unhappy, disconnected, and alone. Many of the articles and views last week built a positive theme in my mind that I’ve been thinking on for some time. As a society, we are concerned about losing our connection with one another, but we’re unsure of how to move forward. I especially enjoyed Judy Preston and Anais Starr’s
Valley Journal
with it. Pour your scraped paint into a cup and use it on another try on another day. Who knows, your next pour might be a keeper. It may ever be your most beautiful one yet. Keep pouring. Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.
“Censorship in Speech” letter. It rings a central theme to all of this disconnection in my mind: technology and pharmaceuticals. As a former Political Science major, a moderate millennial, and a social media quitter, I rarely read the news anymore, because as Judy and Anais said, “In this freedom of speech country of ours, we have had an expectation of diversity of opinion in media. Instead…we fear reprisal…” How true, especially these last two years. Don’t let the master manipula-
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tors and robots win. Go play some pickleball, go to the farmers market, and say hello to your new neighbor. I know it’s not that simple, but maybe it could be. Shay Farmer St. Ignatius
Protect the ecosystem Editor, The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is a piece of legislation that needs immediate attention. This legislation
see page 12
March 2, 2022 - 11
letters from page 11
would help secure the peace of the Blackfoot River by permanently protecting its most crucial tributaries. This bill will not only provide a protection of important ecosystems, but it will please a large diverse group of stakeholders that care about protecting the Blackfoot. The stakeholders that will benefit include fly fishermen, hunter/anglers, backpackers, local business owners, environmentalist, biologists, ranch/ farm owners, and many more. Not often you find a bill that has the potential to please all people from all walks of life regardless of background and this is one of those bills. This bill will secure the tranquility and protection of the large amount of life that utilize this area. From bears to fish and deer to songbirds this area is an extremely rich ecosystem teeming with life and it needs to be protected from any possible oil/gas development. Specifically, wildlife biologists have discovered that the Bull Trout are especially dependent on this river system being protected. In the shallow undisturbed tributaries is where Bull Trout carry out their reproduction which is critical for the survival of their species. This species is proving to be even more crucial to protect because their survival rate is an important indicator for if the ecosystem as a whole is healthy or not. All in all, The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act will protect some of the most glorious waterways in all of the Western continental United 12 - March 2, 2022
States. Passing this bill will bring Montanans together in rejoice for their beloved lands being protected. To help make an impact you can go to http://blackfootclearwater.org/ to interact with different stakeholder views and you can also go online to comment on the bill. Sierra Franklin Missoula
Responsibility for feral cats lies with us Editor, This is a copy of a letter sent to the City of Polson, Polson City Mayor, personnel overseeing city workers and to the Valley Journal. I am a Polson city resident and taxpayer. I don’t feed the gulls at the city lake park – I feed the feral cat colony – one of 4 city groups located at a city equipment shed across the street from WBC and adjacent to the local food bank. At present there is no humane program to curb and support these feral victims of man’s negligence. I am working on humane ways to address this problem. I have only been feeding at this site since this fall. Today I noticed these little guys are having to use this covered dirt area as a giant cat box. Law of life – what goes in the body as food filters out as waste. What normal cat would try to use ice and snow for a cat box? We have a humane responsibility for these Polson feral citizens. One doesn’t have to like cats to have compassion for them as an earth-sharing species. One just needs to be a bit evolved as a human being. All to say and inform you that when weather permit-
ting, I will be responsible for removing the “used dirt” and replacing it with “clean” dirt. By then this “Magic 30” colony will be taking to the fields for their cat box. Joan St. John Polson
Contribute positively Editor, These are crazy times. Is there a good answer? Read on and see what you think. Just look at our own nation. Presently we are experiencing the crises of political upheaval, angry mobs and killings. We humans immediately try to figure out who to blame. Joe Biden, as president, is of course, the chief recipient of blame. We also blame our GOP legislative branch of characters who are gripped by fear. This involves the great fear of the continuing Trump related attack process. What creates a well-functioning and peaceful nation? This, in my view, is a most critical question right now for each of us to consider. The answer comes from ‘the bottom up,’ not from ‘the top down.’ This involves me being fully aware of my own thoughts, words, and actions in this time of crisis. Am I contributing positively, or am I part of the problem? At the same time, it is necessary for our thousands of our state and federal elected leaders to be looking within themselves and getting honest with what is motivating their thoughts, words, and actions. The time is now. Bob McClellan Missoula
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Learn about cybersecurity issues News from the North Lake County Public Library
POLSON — The North Lake County Public Library will close at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, for staff training. Come in early to get your materials that day. We will re-open for our regular hours on Wednesday, March 9, from 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Upgrade Your Cybersecurity on Tuesday, March 15, from 2-3 p.m. Is your online information as secure as you think? Learn the best ways to safeguard your data and protect yourself on the web. This presentation will cover several sides of cybersecurity, including passwords, malware, privacy, data breaches and scams. On Saturday, March 19, at 10 a.m. join us for an interactive movie. We will be showing a popular animated film about a feisty Scottish Princess. Follow along and join in with interactive participation. What a great event for your whole family. The Friends of the Library will have a used book and media sale on Friday, March 25, and March 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the library’s large meeting room. Join us in the library for Story Time on Thursdays at 9:15 a.m. This program is geared toward ages 3-5 but all are welcome. We will read a few books followed by a fun craft or activity. Face masks are recommended but not required. Mondays mean Mother Goose, so join us at 9:15 a.m. at the library. Mother Goose is geared toward ages 0 to 3, but all are welcome. We encourage parents and caregivers to participate with their children for this early learning time. The doors open at 9 a.m. We will practice social distancing. Face masks are recommended but not required.
Conservation Corner
Lake County Conservation District scholarship is taking applications News from the LCCD
Do you know a Lake County resident high school senior with an interest in conservation, natural resources, and agriculture? Then check out our Future Steward Conservation Scholarship on our website: https://lakecountyconservationdistrict.org/. Award: $500.00 Application opens: 2/2/2022 Application closes: 4/15/2022 Decision will be made by: 5/15/2022
sports
Pirates nab divisional trophy, state bracket spot By Rob Zolman Valley Journal
HAMILTON — Colton Graham scored a game-high 19 points leading the Polson Pirates to a 40-36 consolation round win over the Hamilton Broncs on Saturday during the Western A Divisional Basketball tournament held in Hamilton. The win earned the Pirates a divisional third place trophy and secured a third seed bracket spot in the upcoming state tournament hosted in Missoula. On Thursday, the Pirates opened the Western A Divisional tournament with a 50-47 victory over tournament host Hamilton. The Pirates took hold of the game early by racing out to a 15-5 first quarter advantage. Graham netted 18 points, Trent Wilson added 15 points and Jarrett Wilson chipped in with 11 points for the Pirates. In Friday’s semifinal game, the Pirates fell in a close 58-51 game to the Dillon Beavers. Jarrett Wilson paced the Pirates with 17 points while Graham posted 13 points. Behind a game high 28 points from Graham on Saturday morning, the Pirates clinched a state tournament berth with a 74-64 loser-out game win over the Browning Indians.
Also scoring in double digits for Polson were Xavier Fisher with 15 points and Trent Wilson with 14 points. The consolation game was a first-round rematch with Hamilton. The Broncs led the Pirates throughout the first three quarters before Polson clawed their way back into the game for the win in the fourth quarter. Polson will open Class A State Championship Tournament action on Thursday, Mar. 10, in Missoula against the Glendive Red Devils. Also playing in the Western A Divisional were the Ronan Maidens and Polson Lady Pirates. On Thursday, the Lady Pirates fell 58-19 to the Hamilton Lady Broncs, while the Maidens struggled against the Dillon Lady Beavers 60-19. Areanna Burke was the top shooter for the Lady Pirates with 12 points while Lauryn Buhr paced the Maidens with five points. In loser-out bracket action on Friday, the Lady Pirates were defeated by the Butte Central Maroons 47-40 and the Maidens fell 50-40 to the Stevensville Lady Yellowjackets. Lady Pirate Grace Simonich and Maiden Dani Coffman each scored 10 points apiece to lead their respective teams in scoring.
Jarrett Wilson
BOB GUNDERSON PHOTO
Polson Pirate basketball players, divisional champions
Valley Journal
Colton Graham
BOB GUNDERSON PHOTO
BOB GUNDERSON PHOTO
March 2, 2022 - 13
Possible $240M return if preschool proposal becomes law New economic analysis from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids shows powerful returns on investments through early childhood measures News from Strong Nation
MONTANA — A new Fight Crime: Invest in Kids research report makes a compelling case that recent Congressional preschool investment proposals could provide a strong, long-term, net
return on investment (ROI). Montana, for example, could reap an ROI of $240 million if federal early childhood education measures become law. The report, Preschool Key to Boosting School Success and Enhancing Public Safety, noted that the proposal would allow 16,000 more children to attend preschool in Montana alone. Each one of those children represents a lifetime return on investment of slightly over $15,000, leading to the state’s $240 million ROI. Nationwide, six million additional children
would be able to attend preschool as a result of this expansion, with a long-term return on investment of $90 billion. “I truly hope our nation grabs this opportunity to make these overdue investments. This data shows the funds we invest now will be returned in lower societal costs,” said Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, a Fight Crime: Invest in Kids member. “It’s a win-win, and it’s good government policy, it’s good community policy, it’s good old-fashioned police work.” The research brief
highlights an independent cost-benefit analysis that found an average per-child societal “profit” of more than $15,000 — and applies it to the additional children served by the preschool provisions. This ROI comes via several factors, including increased test scores, which are associated with higher earnings in adulthood, as well as decreases in costs to society, such as expenses created by children being held back in school or needing special education. Decades of research show that the experiences children have in their
earliest years, during a period of critical brain growth, set the foundation for future development and success. Voluntary, quality preschool education can improve academic performance — including high school graduation — and reduce the risk that participants will become involved in crime later. Children who attend high-quality preschool are more likely to arrive at kindergarten ready to learn, with enhanced early math, language, and literacy skills. They’re also less likely to be held back in school or to need special education, and more
likely to be proficient in reading and math. Preschool participants have an increased probability of graduating from high school. Students who participate in high-quality preschool are also less likely to have behavioral infractions in elementary and middle school and to be suspended from high school. Founded in 1996, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a membership organization of thousands of police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and violence survivors who protect public safety by promoting solutions that steer kids away from crime.
There’s no place like home...
Dr. Ed Vizcarra, M.D. Board Certified in Family Medicine With Obstetrics Clinical Interests: Sports Medicine, Adolescent Medicine “With nearly 30 years in the Mission Valley, I’ve come to believe in the specialty of Family Practice Medicine. How unique it is to bring a baby into the world of a baby you brought into the world a generation before, watching them grow up and be involved in the lives and care of their parents, grandparents, even great-grandparents through the joys and despair of the complete life cycle.” - Dr. Vizcarra
Serving at: St. Luke Community Clinic - Ronan
126 6th Ave. SW | Ronan, MT | (406) 676-3600 14 - March 2, 2022
Valley Journal
Journey to Wellness initiative awarded $750,000 News from Journey to Wellness
PABLO — The community-driven, crisis intervention initiative, Journey To Wellness ( JTW), recently announced a $750,000 financial investment from the Headwaters Foundation. The investment will be distributed over the course of three years, with the intention of further developing the crisis intervention model of Journey To Wellness for the Flathead Reservation community. “Journey to Wellness is doing critical work around mental health education, prevention, and treatment on the Flathead Indian Reservation and in Lake County. In the process, they are creating a model for both preventative and mental health crisis response care,” said Headwaters Foundation CEO Brenda Solorzano. “Headwaters is honored to invest in this effort. We know that Journey to Wellness will continue to be a great partner to Headwaters and to the
community as we work together to prioritize health and wellbeing, and to reduce the social and economic barriers to health and wellbeing.” Ashlynn Fish, JTW Project Director says that with this significant investment, the project can now move in earnest toward the next phase of development. “We are taking a comprehensive look at the current services that are provided across the Flathead Reservation, then initiating conversations with other providers regarding collaborative partnership opportunities that will enhance our model, and better serve community members when they find themselves in a crisis situation.” The funding provides financial stability for the new initiative, and allows for additional staff including an Outreach Specialist, expected to be on board within the first quarter of 2022. Additionally, JTW has brought on a Salish Kootenai College student intern, and continues to broaden other collaborative
partnerships to enhance services in the community. Background: Journey To Wellness is a new initiative, vetted from a Voices & Visions community gathering, held in 2019. As part of this local event, a collective decision was made to prioritize preventative and mental health crisis response as a way to improve health outcomes of the entire community. As part of the community event, nearly 200 participants from various entities within the Flathead Reservation and Lake County, both tribal and non-tribal, engaged to identify solutions to the community’s most pressing health challenges. This conversation resulted in the community voting on one initiative to fund moving forward, now called Journey To Wellness. This project focuses on mental health crisis intervention and prevention. For more information about JTW, please visit www.JourneyToMentalWellness.org.
Addiction does not discriminate.
Department of Revenue reminds property owners of upcoming important deadlines News from the Department of Revenue
HELENA — The Montana Department of Revenue would like to remind owners of real and personal property about these upcoming important deadlines: April 15 - Property Tax Assistance Program The Property Tax Assistance Program (PTAP) provides property tax relief to anyone who meets the qualifications and there is no age restriction. To qualify for this program, taxpayers must own and occupy their home as their primary residence and meet the income requirements which range up to $23,385 for a single person and up to $31,181 for households with more than one owner occupant. Applications are due by April 15 for Tax Year 2022. Montana Disabled Veteran Property Tax Relief Montana Disabled Veteran (MDV) Property Tax Relief helps qualifying 100 percent disabled veterans and their surviving spouses Similar to PTAP, taxpayers must own and occupy their home as their primary residence and meet the income requirements, which range up from $54,067 for a single person, $62,385 for a married couple, to $47,136 for a surviving spouse. Applications are due by April 15 for Tax Year 2022. For applications and forms, taxpayers are encouraged to go online to MTRevenue.gov or contact a Department of Revenue field office. For questions and more information about qualifications, visit MTRevenue.gov, or call 406-444-6900, or use the Montana Relay at 711 for the hearing impaired.
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Valley Journal
March 2, 2022 - 15
ROB ZOLMAN / VALLEY JOURNAL
Benny Harlow
By Rob Zolman Valley Journal
Kooper Page
Arlee, Mission battle in divisional bracket match up
RONAN — Cross-county rivals Arlee Warriors and Mission Bulldogs battled in loser out bracket action Friday morning during the Western B Divisional Tournament hosted at the Ronan Events Center. In Saturdays’ post season match-up, Mission prevailed over Arlee 6557, subsequently ending the 2021-2022 season for 16 - March 2, 2022
ROB ZOLMAN / VALLEY JOURNAL
Zoran LaFrombois
the Warriors. The Bulldogs held a 14-point margin lead at 40-26 as both teams raced into the locker room at the half. A furious third-quarter 24-9 scoring onslaught by the Warriors gave them a slim one-point 50-49 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs out paced the Warriors 16-7 in the fourth quarter for the victory. Jadence Peone led the Bulldogs in scoring
with 22 points, followed by Zoran LaFrombois with 20 points and Ross McPherson with 12 points. For the Warriors, Levi Fullerton scored a team high 22 points and Benny Harlow netted 13 points. Both Mission Valley teams opened the tournament on Thursday with losses; the Warriors fell 62-44 to the Bigfork Vikings while the Bulldogs were defeated by the Missoula Loyola Rams
63-49. Arlee’s Harlow led all scorers with a game high 19 points and LaFrombois scored a Mission team high 14 points. Also for the Bulldogs, McPherson scored 13 points and Cederick McDonald chipped in with 10 points. In Saturday morning’s loser-out game against Florence-Carlton Falcons, McDonald scored a Bulldogs’ team high 28 points in a 76-62 loss to the Falcons.
Valley Journal
The Bulldogs finished the overall season with a 18-5 win-loss record. On Thursday, the Mission Lady Bulldogs came up short during the first round of the Western B Divisional Tournament with a 54-42 loss to the Florence-Carlton Lady Falcons. Kason Page led the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points. Both Kooper Page and Madyson Currie scored a game high 17
CHRISTA UMPHREY PHOTO
points apiece, helping the Lady Bulldogs to a 66-47 win over the Deer Lodge Lady Wardens in a loser-out game on Friday. Also for the Lady Bulldogs, Kason Page booked 15 points. Saturday morning, the Lady Bulldogs season came to an end in a 5542 loss to the Eureka Lady Lions. Currie paced the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points followed by Kason Page with 10 points.
Charlo wraps up season at divisionals By Rob Zolman Valley Journal
FRENCHTOWN — On Thursday afternoon, during the Western C Divisional basketball tournament hosted in Frenchtown, the Charlo Vikings and Lady Vikings opened tournament action against the Manhattan Christian Eagles and Lady Eagles. The Lady Vikings fell 43-30 to the Lady Eagles, while the Vikings were outpaced by the Eagles 76-32. Hayleigh Smith scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Lady Vikings in the first round lost to Manhattan Christian. In Friday morning’s loser-out contest, Mila
Hawk scored 26 points and Kassidi Cox had 17 points as the scrappy Lady Vikings battled the West Yellowstone Lady Wolverines in a four-overtime affair, which ended in a heartbreaking 66-62 fourpoint loss for Charlo. The Lady Vikings end their 2021-2022 girls’ basketball season with an overall record of 17-5 and as second place finishers in the 14C District tournament. On the Vikings’ side of the court, Keaton Piedalue scored a team high 11 points and Coyle Nagy booked 10 points against the unbeaten Eagles. In loser-out action on Friday, the Vikings re-
bounded from their firstround loss with a 58-51 taming of the Darby Tigers. Piedalue posted a Viking team high 22 points, Stetson Reum added 13, and Tucker Love chipped in with 12 points. Saturday morning looking to advance into the midafternoon consolation game, Charlo fell short to the Harrison-Willow Creek Wildcats 48-41. In the season ending loss, Piedalue scored a Charlo team high 19 points. The Vikings finish the year as 14C District tournament runner ups and an overall record of 13-10.
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Missoula • Pablo • Kalispell • Whitefish
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
For Inform mation Ca all • We eekd dayss: 406-275-2792 • We eeke end ds 406-675-500
10:00 AM
Pablo
52001 US Hwy 93, Pablo 406-275-2792 • Weekends 406-675-5000
Missoula
11:30 AM
1660 W Broadway St • 406-549-2339
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20750 US Hwy 93, Missoula• 406-275-2792
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ROB ZOLMAN / VALLEY JOURNAL
Hayleigh Smith
ROB ZOLMAN / VALLEY JOURNAL
Keaton Piedalue
Valley Journal
March 2, 2022 - 17
PUZZLES LOS ANGELES TIMES SUNDAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE
“Juicy Tidbits” By Katrina Lee
ACROSS 1 12 16 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 27 29 30 32 36 39 40 41 42 43 48 51 53 56 57 59 61 63 64 66 67 69
Often abbreviated reaction to information overload Ukulele ridge “Gotcha” sounds Starter Indian flatbread Laser pointer chaser Altruism Most of the 2010s Span of a scale with three sharps That, in Madrid Gucci of fashion “Elements of Algebra” author “Don’t back down, bro!” Completely different situation Certain carton components Reunion attendees CafŽ freebie “Don’t think so” Nos. for alums Comparative data diagram “The Misery Index” network Bulgarian’s neighbor Type of diet that might replace potatoes with cauliflower New Deal agcy. “High Rollers” co-host __ Lee Grams Alert on the road __ in Charlie “Play it cool” Prefix with treat or giving Blow a fuse Sellers of KAFFEREP cinnamon buns
70 74 75 77 78 80 81 84 85 86 87 89 91 92 95 97 99 100 102 106 112 113 114 115 117 118 120 125 126 127 128 129 130
Middle-earth ring bearer Following Tokyo airport Apple runs on it Raggedy Hot state How three nursery-rhyme merchants went to sea Trailer follower Laker legend, familiarly Votes against Soybeans served in the pod Gawk at With 6-Down, Rudolph’s guiding light Dad’s referral? Boarding precedes it: Abbr. Penicillium, e.g. Half a martial art Kendrick with a Pulitzer On the lam RŽsumŽ alert about an unfinished goal Like a romantic dinner, in Paris Chef’s protection Word with words or chance Org. with many returns Paris gal pal Most sentimental Total removals Maiden name preceder __-Ball “The Crocodile” of early tennis ID on many returns Post “Give me some gossip!” ... and a hint to this puzzle’s sets of circles, which affect four Across answers
DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 22 24 28 31 33 34 35 37 38 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
What Rickey Henderson often beat Chinese for “black dragon” NIAID director Luzon, for one: Abbr. JFK predecessor See 91-Across Thompson of Marvel movies Beat it Night before ___ Technica: tech news website Make drinkable, as seawater 70-Across nephew “Mr. __”: Rami Malek drama ORD posting Zoom annoyance Amtrak speedster Sultan’s group Intimidate, with “down” Identical Foretell Paris article Trivia night settings Flings “That’s wrong __ many levels” Like some remedies Hammer parts “Ghost Story” author Peter Forbid Flood shelter 23andMe discovery “Thank the Lord!” Got a move on Instruction “__ Holiday”: opening section of Copland’s “Rodeo” First woman to be named Doctor of the Church, briefly
QUICKSILVER EXPRESSO TAKE A BREAK!
51999 US 93 • PABLO 18 - March 2, 2022
52 54 55 58 60 62 65 66 68 71 72 73 76 79 82 83 84 88 90 93 94 96 98 100 101 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 116 119 121 122 123 124
__ B’rith Tory adversary __ de’ Medici, first de facto Lord of Florence Berry in a bowl Garlic genus Get plastered Piedmont bubbly Classic U.K. sports cars Prepare, as beans Fett in “The Mandalorian” De __: again Stain Short on iron, maybe Serf of Sparta Ruckus Cap with a pompon Convened in Idea that spreads in a culture “First Lady of Song” Entrance porch Teen dystopian novel narrator Hanukkah top Duchamp, for one CD precursors Lets out, say Channel changer Kind of pig that’s not a pig They can be tricky to run into Daybreaks Foil relatives Putting __ Designer Ashley Like some cornered kings “You know the __” 90-Down’s improv Just make, with “out” Good name, briefly “Star Wars” nickname German “Alas!” __ the line
©2022 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
CRYPTO-QUOTE One letter stands in for another. Single letters, apostrophes, word length and formation of the words are all hints. Each week the key is different.
IJU PILEDXUF TI TCU ZUELUU TCAT IJU QIXUF. - PLAJGIDF ZU QA LIGCUPIYGAYQZ Ben Stone / Valley Journal
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WEEKLY HOROSCOPE
By: Magi Helena for the Week of Feb. 27, 2022 ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your desires to reach the heights may be inspired by new information. You might be focused on gaining recognition in your career in the week ahead. By remaining diligent and hardworking you can achieve your objectives.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You may struggle to be generous if other people in your life seem unappreciative. Friends and coworkers can offer the sociability you may crave as the week unfolds. Remain loyal to your loved ones and to your principles.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Conversations and ideas can be powerfully on point. You may be confronted by someone who seems to want to control every outcome. Try to persuade that person into accepting your vision and ingenious approach.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Although you might be under pressure to perform like a workhorse, you’re unlikely to lose ground with a romantic partner. In the week ahead, your social life should thrive because you have chances to work with a variety of people.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A partner may be perceptive. The combination of their vision and wisdom and your original ideas can become a formula for success. Everything can go well in the week ahead, but you should not let down your guard.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your widening network of social contacts can be a suitable foundation for success in the week ahead. You might be swept up in a set of innovative ideas or feel the need to emulate a successful friend.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You might be dazzled by the great ideas of a partner or loved one. In the week ahead, achieving your ambitions may be foremost in your mind. You can benefit from listening to someone’s wise advice.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are likely willing to compromise so that you can get along with others. It may be easier than usual to accept circumstances over which you have no control. Your home could become a hub of social activities in the upcoming week.
SUDOKU
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Make hay while the sun shines. Meet friendly people and make new friends under happy stars. In the first part of the week, you could have opportunities to express your diverse knowledge and wisdom.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Opportunity may only knock once, but trouble can walk in unannounced. A chance to achieve your most important goals may appear in the first part of the week. What you think is pure fun could be worthwhile in the end.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You might hesitate to dive into a new project now, but success in the week ahead may rely on advance preparation. Someone might give you the encouragement to embrace an opportunity to make more money. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Wisdom arrives in many forms. You may be content to sit on the sidelines and let someone else get the glory. In the week to come, you could receive recognition for sound decisions or for making an acceptable compromise.
COMICS
©2022 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
©2022 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
Answers in Classifieds Valley Journal
March 2, 2022 - 19
courts Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal
George found guilty of rape POLSON — An Elmo man has been found guilty of rape by way of a plea agreement. Tristan Tesh Palouse George, Tristan 22, enGeorge tered a “no contest” plea at District Court in Polson Feb. 24 to sexual intercourse without consent. In a “no contest” plea, a defendant concedes the case based on the state’s evidence. It still results in a convic-
tion. According to court records, on June 23, 2021, a woman reported to law enforcement that she had been raped by George, an acquaintance she knew from high school. She told responding investigators that she and George had met up through social media and agreed to hang out at the Elmo docks that day. She said after consuming alcohol together she momentarily “blacked out.” She said the next thing she remembered was George touching her inappropriately before blacking out again. When she awakened a
Zimmerer pleads not guilty to strangulation, kidnapping
second time, George was pulling off her pants and proceeding to rape her. She said she was too intoxicated to give consent or fully understand what was happening. George’s attorney, Justin Kalmbach of Polson, told the court that his client was intoxicated when the incident occurred and didn’t remember what happened, thus the “no contest” plea. The plea agreement calls for a joint recommendation of sentencing being deferred for six years. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set sentencing for April 14. George is at liberty.
Three inmates charged with criminal mischief News from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office
POLSON — On Feb. 23 at around 7 p.m., three inmates in the Lake County Detention Center intentionally damaged a bunk in one of the cell blocks. Donald While McLeod causing 20 - March 2, 2022
this damage, one of the inmates sustained a minor cut to his head and was transported to the Joseph hospital Couture by detention staff to staple the injury. The inmates responsible for the damage are Marcus Azure, 37, of Ronan, Joseph
Couture, 30, of Ronan, and Donald Mcleod, 32, of Ronan. All have been cited for misdemeanor criminal mischief by Flathead Tribal Police. They Marcus remain in Azure the Lake County Jail on their current criminal cases.
POLSON — A Polson man is facing a trial in July on domestic abuse charges. Susep Victor Zimmerer, 22, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on Feb. 16 to felony charges of strangulation of a partner or family member, assault, and kidnapping. According to court records, on Jan. 31 a woman arrived at the emergency room of Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson to be treated for injuries consistent with being assaulted. The woman had suffered numerous injuries including a lip laceration, broken tooth, extensive bruising throughout her upper extremities, bruising on her
arms, and redness on her neck. The alleged victim told investigators that she was asleep when her boyfriend, Zimmerer, hit her left thigh. She said she attempted to grab her purse to leave but Zimmerer took her purse and wouldn’t let her leave. She said he continued to assault her in “cycles” from about 2 to 5 a.m. At one point she said she’d thought she would die. She said Zimmerer, after pinning her down, became tired and apologized. He said he wouldn’t hurt her anymore and asked her not to tell anyone. She said they went back to bed after that. District Judge James Manley set this case for trial July 18.
$6M investment in Rapid Workforce Training announced News from the office of Governor Gianforte
HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced a $6 million investment to develop Montana’s workforce and equip hardworking Montanans with in-demand skills. “As our economy grows, so are opportunities to work in a good-paying job right here in Montana,” Governor Gianforte said. “By making smart, targeted investments in rapid training programs, we can equip hardworking Montanans with the skills they need to thrive in today’s workforce and help Montana employers meet their workforce needs.” The $6 million grant was awarded to Accelerate Montana, a collaborative
Valley Journal
partnership led by the University of Montana. Accelerate Montana will establish a series of rapid retraining and upskilling programs that will train up to 5,000 Montanans in sectors such as construction, health care, manufacturing, and infrastructure. Accelerate Montana will jump-start the programs by partnering with high schools and private, public, and tribal colleges across the state to develop or adapt trainings to meet the needs for skilled positions across priority industries in Montana. The grant was issued by the Department of Labor & Industry using federal pandemic recovery dollars following the unanimous bipartisan recommendation of the state’s ARPA Economic
Transformation and Stabilization and Workforce Development Advisory Commission. “Employers of jobs requiring specialized skills across Montana need workers,” Montana Department of Labor & Industry Commissioner Laurie Esau said. “This investment will be a shot in the arm for Montana’s economy and strengthen our workforce in key industries across the state.” “The lifeblood of any business is its employees,” Montana Department of Commerce Director Scott Osterman said. “This program can be adapted to industry and market needs, delivered virtually or in-person, thereby allowing private and public entities the ability see page 21
Rapid Workforce from page 20
to meet the needs of workers and employers swiftly and efficiently.” Funding from the grant will support program set-up, coordination, promotion, training delivery, course fees, instruction, and case management support. Funds will be directed towards industry-specific training programs and institutions with a demonstrated ability to attract enrollees and employer commitments. “Accelerate Montana is excited to work with employers, education and training institutions, and key stakeholders statewide to connect Montanans with skilled training programs and wide-ranging career opportunities,” Paul Gladen, Director of Accelerate Montana, said. For more information on the rapid retraining programs, visit: https:// www.acceleratemt.com/ rtp-montana-summit.
vj
births Freya Peel POLSON — Freya Ann Peel was born on Jan. 31, 2022, at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center’s Nesting Place, measuring 19 inches long and weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Freya’s parents are Hope and Samuel Peel of Polson. Maternal grandFreya parents are Kurt and Traci Peel Johnson. Paternal grandparents are Dennis and Lissa Peel.
Seeley Withrow POLSON — Seeley James Withrow was born on Jan. 10, 2022, at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center’s Nesting Place. She was 18 and 3/4 inches long and weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces. Seeley’s parents are Melinda and Ian Withrow of Polson. Seeley Maternal grandparents Withrow are Bob and Sandi Owen.
Maternal great-grandparents are Robert E. and Jewell Lee. Paternal grandparents are Emily Withrow and Patric Severtson. Paternal great-grandparents are Jim and Georgia Withrow.
Arthur Aman RONAN — Arthur Charles Aman was born on Feb. 17, 2022, at the St. Luke Community Healthcare New Beginnings Birth Center. He weighed 8 pounds, 15 ounces. Parents are Zachary Aman and Lindsay Barnes of Ronan. Paternal grandparents are Brent and DeDe Aman of Arthur Polson. Maternal grandAman parents are Shannon and Jennifer Barnes of Ronan. Arthur joins his sibling, Layla.
Cerian Harris POLSON — Cerian Paul Harris was born on Sept. 12, 2021, at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center’s Nesting Place
Pet o f
Meet. . .
Haze
This is Haze. He is about 6 yrs old. He is a very sweet mellow calm boy who loves one on one attention. His best placement would have no males in the household.
in Polson. He was 21 inches long and weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces. His parents are Madison Harris and Jordan Roberts. Cerian is welcomed by siblings, Serendipity, Jeremiah and Ruby. Maternal grandparents are Tracy Cerian Shaw and the late Paul Harris Harris. Paternal grandparents are Rhesa and Keith Roberts.
Laci Hall RONAN — Laci Drew Hall was born on Feb. 15, 2022, at the St. Luke New Beginnings Birth Center. She weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces. Parents are Jacob and Kelli Hall of Hot Springs. Paternal grandparLaci ents are Brian Hall of Hot Hall Springs and Kathi Hall of Ronan. Maternal grandparents are Don and Linda Wood of San Tan Valley, Arizona.
the w eek
contact
Mission Valley Animal Shelter call 883-5312 or visit our Facebook page!
Haze Sponsored by
Bishop Insurance Polson: 302 1st St. W. Ste. 102 • 883-5372 Ronan: 209 Main Street SW • 676-5300
bishopinsurance.com Valley Journal
883-8970 March 2, 2022 - 21
seniors Dixon By Heather Rush for the Valley Journal
DIXON — Dixon Senior Center continues to serve our community and hopes everyone is staying happy and healthy. All are invited to come enjoy dinner. Meals will be served Monday and Thursday evenings at 5 p.m. Meals are $4 per serving and are deliverable to Dixon residents upon request. We are also accepting take-out meal requests for $5 per serving. The menu: — Thursday, March 3: spaghetti, garlic toast, salad, dessert — Monday, March 7: French dip, oven fries, vegetable tray, dessert — Thursday, March 10: chili, cornbread, dessert Pinochle will be back in the spring. We will take a break during the winter for the safety of our seniors. Feel welcome to place an order in advance by calling 406-246-3310. All ages are always welcome.
Polson By Pete Mangels for the Valley Journal
POLSON — The Polson Senior Center serves the senior citizens of the Polson area and beyond. Our organization is committed to serving citizens in their ‘golden years.’ It sure sounds better than ‘graying’ or ‘sagging’ years. Activities: We are having a raffle to win a beautifully 22 - March 2, 2022
crafted, crocheted queen or king bed spread. Tickets are on sale at the Polson Senior Center for $1 each or six tickets for $5. March is named after the Mars, protector of Rome; deity of war and in the earlier calendars the first month of the year, but during the Julien calendar the months of January and February were added. I’m thinking of the old adage “in like a lion and out like a lamb” as a folk descriptive of March weather patterns. Whatever the weather in Montana, just wait five minutes and it will change. The first day of spring, which is March 20 this year. However, if you live in Australia, it’s the first day of fall. Crazy, isn’t it? Snow in Australia on the 4th of July! Hey! I can remember snow in Polson on the same date. Didn’t stick but it was snow, not ash from a forest fire like last year. Tax assistance by trained personnel is available for free at the center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays through April 14. Call for a reservation to alleviate wait times. Last year the count was about 550 people using the service at the Polson Senior Center. This year we are likely to exceed 600. Walk-ins are welcome. File early. Exercise for mobility: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 10:30– 11:30 a.m. Bridge: Tuesdays and Fridays - postponed. Call the center or come in to place your name on the players list Mahjong: Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. (multiple tables) Pinochle: Thursdays, 12:30
p.m. (earlier or later if you wish). We play 3, 4, or 5 players per table. We coach. Bingo: Fridays, 7 p.m. We had 28 players last Friday. Lots of fun, prizes, snacks, and a chance to yell that special word as loud as you can. Hearing clinic: Every third Thursday of each month, (March 10) from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Veterans’ rep: The first Friday of each month, (March 4) and third Tuesday of each month,(March 15) from 10 a.m.-noon Pool: Come in with a friend and practice for fun and bragging rights. Open table during business hours. Call us at 406-883-4735, email us at: polsonseniorcenter@gmail.com or visit us at 504 Third Ave. E. We are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Lunch is available from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays for $5. We deliver to shut-ins. Menu: — Wednesday, Mar. 2: chicken Alfredo, noodles, mixed veggies, cinnamon apples, fruit Jell-O, cookie — Thursday, Mar. 3: jellied pork loin, rice, stir fry veggies, pear/cheese salad, crisp — Friday, Mar. 4: pulled barbecue beef, baked beans, beets, coleslaw, apple sauce cake — Monday, Mar. 7: corn chowder, egg salad sandwich, green salad, cobbler — Tuesday, Mar. 8: cowboy breakfast sausage, carrots, Watergate salad, fruit bar — Wednesday, Mar. 9: Salisbury steak, potatoes, gravy, corn, veggie Jell-O, chocolate pudding Valley Journal
— Thursday, Mar. 10: ham loaf, sweet potatoes, green beans, colored pasta salad, pears
Ronan By Auggie Peterson for the Valley Journal
RONAN — The Ronan Senior Center is open for meals three days a week serving from noon to 1 p.m. Come join us for a good meal and conversation with old friends. If you would like the AARP people to do your taxes, please bring them into the center and we will see they get to Polson to get done and returned to the Ronan Senior Center. Our menu for the week: — Wednesday, March 2: lasagna, French bread, salad dessert — Friday, March 4: barbecue chicken, roast potatoes, salad, dessert — March 7: taco bar, dessert — March 9: sloppy Joes salad, dessert — March 11: sweet sour chicken. Salad and dessert — March 14: pulled pork sandwich, potatoes, salad, dessert — March 16: corn beef, cabbage, salad, dessert Don’t forget we are serving our Sunday dinner meal on March 13 starting at noon and served until 1:30 p.m. It will be pork roast. Come join us after church. Have a happy St. Patty’s day and be sure to wear green. Be careful of the ice and drive safely.
MT Shakespeare in the Parks celebrates 50th season News from the MSU News Service
BOZEMAN — Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, a program of Montana State University, has announced the plays the troupe will perform for its 50th season. The season officially kicked off in February with Montana Shakes! performing “Bottom’s Dream” for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The summer tour will feature productions of “King Lear” and “Twelfth Night” across Montana and neighboring states. This fall, Shakespeare in the Schools will perform “Macbeth” for students across the state. The schedule will be announced at a later date. “To be celebrating 50 seasons of amazing performances is truly a special accomplishment,” said Kevin Asselin, executive artistic director of MSIP. “Our greatest pleasure comes from knowing that audiences can discover the magic of Shakespeare, where universal truths of mankind are united through stories that stretch beyond space and time.” The Montana Shakes! production of “Bottom’s Dream” went on the road this winter for performances in 60 schools. Written by award-winning playwright, director and MSIP alumnus Matt Foss, the production is based on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It tells the story of Nicky Bottom who, along with her three misfit friends, set out to prove they can tell their own version of this classic tale of magic and mayhem using a lot of imagination and a lot of trash. In addition to their free summer and winter tours, MSIP provides robust educational programs through its summer camp, Shakespeare in the Schools program and Montana Shakes! interactive plays and workshops. Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is an outreach program of the MSU College of Arts and Architecture. Ushering Shakespeare’s immortal stories of life, love and tragedy into a modern era, MSIP is dedicated to preserving the cultural traditions of theater and literature.
calendar Thursday, March 3
see extended calendar at www.valleyjournal.net
eligible, you must own or work for a for-profit small business with ten or fewer employees located in Lake, Mineral or Sanders County. Entrepreneurs who are planning to start a business are also eligible. If you’d like to enroll, call us at 406-676-5928.
Ronan Chamber to meet NINEPIPES — Join the Ronan Area Chamber of Commerce for their March 3 meeting at the Ninepipes Lodge at noon. Mayor Chris Adler will be the presenter.
Saturday, March 5
Friday, March 4
Clinic on ice fishing offered for women
Learn to talk through conflict
LAKE MARY RONAN — The Montana Wildlife Federation Artemis Sportswomen invite interested people to the first annual Montana Women’s Ice Fishing Clinic on Lake Mary Ronan scheduled for Saturday, March 5, from 6 a.m. until dark. This one-day event is meant to nurture new and experienced ice anglers alike, build community and help women feel confident on the ice. Though experienced anglers will be present to help with set-up and to give fishing tips, the Women’s Ice Fishing Clinic is not a guided outing. It is not guaranteed success. It is, however,
ZOOM/KALISPELL — “Conflict Resolution for Better Teams” will be taught on March 4 (Zoom option) at Flathead Valley Community College. Conflict continues to be the largest people-challenge we have. Test your conflict resolution meter – how you and others respond to conflict – and learn techniques to effectively talk through conflict with others on your team. Through a partnership with FVCC, Mission West Community Development Partners offers the chance to attend these workshops free of charge. We will enroll you in the workshops and pay the fee. To be
guaranteed fun. You must register in advance to attend. Secure your spot now with a $10 participation fee: www.eventbrite.com/e/ montana-womens-ice-fishingclinic-lake-mary-ronan-tickets-238539858137 All ice fishing equipment, shelters, coffee and tea on the ice, and lunch are included. Fishing Licenses are required. If you need one they can be purchased from any sporting goods shop or online through Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks at: https://fwp.mt.gov/ buyandapply/fishinglicenses Email any and all questions to Morgan Marks at morgan@ mtwf.org or call 406-403-4464
Tuesday, March 8 Horsemen meet in Ronan RONAN — Mission West Community Development offers free workshops to help you learn the skills you need to help your business succeed. The Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen will have their next monthly meeting at the VFW on Round Butte Rd. on March 8, at 7:30
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‘God Leads Us’ theme for meal gathering POLSON — Good Shepherd Lutheran Church invites everyone to our series of the 23rd Psalm. The theme for Wednesday, March 9, is “God Leads Us.” In a verse that is simple to read and harder to follow, we confess that God will lead us along paths that provide life for us and all of creation. So let’s follow the trail that Jesus is blazing before us. Whether we’re happy with our own path or stumbling on uprooted branches, God is leading us throughout our daily lives. Soup and bread are served at the church, 409 Fourth Ave. E, at 5:30 p.m. followed by a message of trust and hope at 6:15 p.m. The
Attend Lake County Spring Job Fair POLSON — Plan to attend the 2022 Lake County Spring Job Fair on Wednesday, March 9, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Red Lion Inn & Suites, 209 Ridgewater Drive. If you are looking for a new career or searching for a summer job, this is the place to be. For more information, contact Job Service Polson at 406-8837880.
Free QuickBooks workshop offered ZOOM — Mission West Community Development offers free workshops to help you learn the skills you need to help your business succeed. QuickBooks Level I (Desktop version), will be taught on March 9, from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. via ZOOM. This workshop introduces you to QuickBooks Desktop basic uses and features. To register go to: https://lccdc.ecenterdirect.com/ and click on training events.
Property valuation staff may visit your property during the upcoming tax year to conduct an on-site review for property tax purposes. Please notify your local DOR field office in writing within 30 days of this publication if you wish to be present. For an appointment or further information, contact your local DOR field office. For locations and contact information, visit MTRevenue.gov or call (406) 444-6900.
406 FOR
Wednesday, March 9
meal is free.
Property Assessment Visits
2X2 $406 | 2x3 $650 | 2X4 $1,100 | 2X5 $1,500
REACH
p.m. There will be a discussion about our up and coming class on First Aid and CPR scheduled for March 26. This class will be for club members and/or new members, so come to the March 8 meeting to find out the particulars. Hope to see you there.
406
$
Valley Journal
March 2, 2022 - 23
classifieds Announcements Auctions MACK RANCH EQUIPMENT ONLINE ONLY AUCTION, Lewistown, MT. Stock, Grain & Flatbed trailers, Livestock equip. Bidding Closes: 2 pm, Thurs., Mar. 10th. See Catalog and bid @ www.ShobeAuction.com, 406-538-5125.
Lost & Found Found: Unique bracelet outside Lake County Courthouse on 2/18. Call 883-5367 to identify.
Special Notices Requests for Qualifications are being solicited by the Seeley Lake Missoula County Sewer District to seek design/ build professionals for a sewage collection/treatment project. Full RFQ is available at Seeleysewer.org
Wanted WANTED TO BUY Guns and/or ammunition, old or new. Whole estates/collections or single pieces. Fair prices paid. 207-4641
Employment Help wanted Mail Services Manager. Montana State University – Bozeman. For complete job announcement and application procedures, click on: https:// jobs.montana.edu/- postings/28730. Equal Opportunity Employer, Veterans/Disabled. Work Control Dispatcher **Recent Wage Increase** Montana State University – Bozeman. For complete job announcement and application procedures, click on: https:// jobs.montana.- edu/postings/26096 Equal Opportunity Employer, Veterans/Disabled.
Classified ads work! Call us today. 406-676-8989 24 - March 2, 2022
HYDROLOGIC TECHNICIAN/ HYDROGRAPHER I (MAY BE HIRED ON A CONTRACT) NATURAL RESOURCE DEPARTMENT The successful applicant must have two (2) years of college education or one (1) year of college with physical science background, or a high school diploma or G.E.D and one year of experience in natural resources data collection. Must possess a valid driver’s license and be insurable under the Tribes insurance policy. Also, must wear Tribal Government identification and safety apparel when conducting field activities. Required to complete a certified defensive driving course by the Department. All applicants are required to submit a Tribal application, copy of relevant transcript and/ or certificate, a copy of a valid driver’s license and proof of Tribal enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of DD214 must be submitted. This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a mandatory six (6) month probationary period. $17.70 to $20.34 (DOE) plus benefits. To apply, contact Personnel at 406-675-2700 Ext. #1259/1040. Tribal applications are also available online at csktribes.org. Closing date will be Thursday, Mar. 17th, 2022 @ 5:30 p.m. CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.
ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE WANTED Hate desk jobs? Enjoy meeting new people and engaging with your community? Join our award-winning staff. Help local businesses bring their message to an engaged readership! Ideal candidate is self-motivated, goal oriented with marketing savvy. Pay is commission-based: 20-25% DOE. Mileage, cell phone allowance and shared healthcare membership paid monthly. Reliable, insured transportation, cell phone, basic computer skills including sending and receiving of attachments via email required. Serious inquiries only. Send letter of interest and resume with three references to summer@ valleyjournal.net. COMMUNITY GROUNDSKEEPER SALISH KOOTENAI HOUSING AUTHORITY Re-Advertised Due to Shortage of Applicants The successful applicant must have a high school diploma or G.E.D with experience in the operation of all equipment used in the course of the duties. Considerable knowledge of maintenance and repair methods used in housing industry. Knowledge of carpentry, electrical, plumbing and preventive maintenance and repair of vehicles, equipment and tools. Knowledge of materials used to perform related tasks. Primary and specialized skills in the operation and maintenance of all equipment used in the course of work. Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing. Ability to give and take direction. Ability to perform duties in adverse conditions. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees and individuals in private industry. Ability to work under stressful conditions. Ability to work in all types of weather conditions. Must be physically capable
to perform strenuous tasks in adverse weather conditions. Must possess a valid Montana driver’s license with no alcohol related convictions for the last three years. Must be able to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License if requested. All applicants must submit a Tribal application, a copy of academic transcript, a copy of current valid driver’s license, and proof of enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of DD214 must be submitted. This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a mandatory six (6) months probationary period. Salary range is $14.96 to $17.16 per hour and includes benefits. To apply, contact Personnel at (406) 675-2700 Ext. 1029. Tribal applications are also available online at csktribes. org. Closing date will be Thursday, March 17th, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER. Operator – In – Training. Montana State University – Bozeman. For complete job announcement and application procedures, click on: https:// jobs.montana.edu/- postings/28601. Equal Opportunity Employer, Veterans/Disabled MEDICAL ASSISTANT (CERTIFIED) - 1 or more positions - TRIBAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT The successful applicant must be a graduate of a Certified Medical Assistant program with experience in a clinic setting. Licensed as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Preferred experience: Knowledge with confidential departments. Experienced with electronic health record applications. Medical terminology and understanding healthcare workflows. Knowledge of McKesson/Dragon
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software Knowledge of electronic prescribing programs and software. Knowledge of behavioral health software and documentation processes. All applicants must be proficient and have a strong working knowledge of electronic health record systems, clinical software, and Microsoft Office applications. Must pass a prehire drug screen and random drug screens while employed. Must pass a background check. All applicants must submit a Tribal application, copy of academic transcript and/or training certificate, a copy of current valid driver’s license, completed supplemental background questionnaire, proof of enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT, and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of DD214 must be submitted. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test. Salary range is $15.64 to $17.98, plus benefits. May be employed under contract. To apply, contact Personnel at (406) 675-2700 Ext. 1040, or personnel@cskt. org. Tribal applications are also available online at www. csktribes.org. The closing date will be Thursday, March 10, 2022 @ 5:30 p.m. (MST). CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER. Maintenance Plumber (Journeyman Plumber). Montana State University – Bozeman. For complete job announcement and application procedures, click on: https://jobs.montana. edu/- postings/28476. Equal Opportunity Employer, Veterans/Disabled. CLINIC NURSE (LEVEL I OR LEVEL II) TRIBAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT (1 or more positions) The successful applicant must possess for Level I — Associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with six months experience as a registered nurse in a compa-
rable area of specialty. Prefer experience with electronic health record applications. For Level II — Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with six months experience as a registered nurse in a comparable area of specialty. Prefer experience with electronic health record applications. Preferred experience: Knowledge with confidential departments. Experienced with electronic health record applications. Medical terminology and understanding healthcare workflows. Knowledge of electronic prescribing programs and software. Knowledge of behavioral health software and documentation processes. All applicants must be proficient and have a strong working knowledge of electronic health record systems, clinical software, and Microsoft Office applications. Must possess a current Montana State R. N. license. Basic Life Support Certification. Existing or new National Provider Number. All applicants must submit a Tribal application, copy of academic transcript and/or training certificate, a copy of current valid driver’s license, completed supplemental background questionnaire, proof of enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT, and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of DD214 must be submitted. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test. Salary range is $29.21 to $33.58, plus benefits, may be employed under contract. To apply, contact Personnel at (406) 675-2700 Ext. 1040 or personnel@cskt.org. Tribal applications are also available online at www.csktribes.org. The closing date will be Thursday, March 10, 2022 @ 5:30 p.m. (MST). CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER. Legal Notices are welcome. Deadline is Friday at noon! 406-676-8989
classifieds Miscellaneous Pets & Supplies Use ItchNoMore® shampoo on dogs & cats to relieve secondary dermatitis, treat yeast infections, & eliminate doggy odor. At Tractor Supply® (www.fleabeacon.com)
Vehicles Miscellaneous INVENTORY CLEARANCE SALE Auto /Truck Starters and Alternators. 305 units, all remanufactured and tested for earlier vehicles, prior to 2000. Closing business. Selling off all rebuilt starters and alternators at 55% off retail. If your car or truck in 1997 or older, at this price you can afford to have a spare. Call Jerry at 406-207-4641.
Public Notices Legals Legals The Board of Lake County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 10:00 am in the Commis-
sioners Chambers of the Lake County Courthouse, for the purpose of taking public comment on the Resolution listed below. If you would like to make a comment regarding the resolution but are unable to attend the public hearing, please email lakecommissioners@- lakemt.gov with Resolution 2212 as the subject line, or by mail to: Board of Lake County Commissioners, 106 4th Avenue East, Polson, MT 59860. RESOLUTION OF INTENT 22-12 Resolution of Intention to Call for an Election for a Mill Levy for the Lake County Cemetery District WHEREAS, the Lake County Cemetery District, on Wednesday January 19, 2022, made a request to the Board of County Commissioners to place a mill levy on the taxable property within the Cemetery District for the purpose of installing public restrooms at the Mountain View Cemetery in Ronan and St Ignatius Pleasant View Cemetery as well as a maintenance shop for the Polson Lakeview Cemetery; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 7-6-2521 of the Montana Code Annotated, a Board of County Commissioners has the authority to levy a tax annually on the taxable property of the County for County public or governmental purposes that is necessary to defray current expenses and may levy taxes that are required to be levied by special or local statutes; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 7-14-2507 MCA, the qualified electors in the election will be individuals that possess all of the qualifications required of electors under the general election laws of Montana and are (1) residents of the area subject to the proposed levy; or (2) the owners of taxable property located in the area subject to the proposed levy. Those property owners who are not residents of the area subject to the proposed levy but own property that will be subject to the levy may vote in the mill levy election provided the individual elector is qualified to vote in any county in the State of Montana and files proof of the registration with the Lake County election administrator at least 20 days prior to the election; and, WHEREAS, properties located in Ferndale and Swan Lake will not be subject to this levy; and WHEREAS, the amount of the levy shall be 3 mills; and WHEREAS, the approximate amount of dollars raised by
the levy will be $200,000.00 yearly; and WHEREAS, the levy shall be for a period of two years; and WHEREAS, the impact of the levy election on a home valued at $100,000 will be $4.05 yearly, and the impact on a home valued at $200,000 will be $8.10 yearly; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, a public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, April 4, 2022, at 10:00 am in the Commissioners Chambers, located at 106, 4th Avenue East, Polson, MT 59860, room 211, to hear testimony from interested persons on whether an election should be held for a mil levy for the Lake County Cemetery District and any other matter relating to this levy request. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2022. BOARD OF LAKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS /s/Gale Decker, Chairman s/Steve Stanley, Member /s/William D. Barron, Member Attest: /s/ Katie Harding, Clerk & Recorder March 2, 9 and 16, 2022 MNAXLP RESOLUTION 22-13 SETTING LOAD LIMITS ON LAKE COUNTY ROADS Whereas, it appears that damage is being caused to the county roads and that excessive weight loads and; are causing such damage;
weight limit of 350 pounds per inch of tire width shall be the maximum allowed for the following roads: DISTRICT 1: Addy Lane, Salmon Prairie Road, Swan Dive Road, Crane Mountain Road, South Ferndale Dr., Bug Creek Road, Rainbow Drive, Rippling Waters Drive. Sunburst Drive, Wapiti Lane, Trinkus Lane, Kelly Dr., Halverson Rd, Woods Bay Homesites, Red Gate Road, Sylvan Drive, Orchard Lane (Woods Bay) Finley Point Road, Fulkerson Lane, Turtle Lake Road Haack Road, Orchard Lane (Polson), Dubay Road, Ridge Road, South Hills Drive, Schafer Road, Skyline Drive, North Reservoir Road, Minesinger Trail, Mountain View Road, Bisson Lane, Mary B Lane, Zelezny Road, Rimrock Road, Silver Salmon Shores, Rollins Lakeshore Drive, Cedar Hills Lane, Dayton Townsites, Black Lake Road, Lake Mary Ronan Road, Big Meadows Road, Big Lodge Road, Alexander Lane, Liddell Drive, Meadowlark Lane, Walking Horse Lane, Skipping Rock Lane, Melita Island Road, Acacia Lane, Silver Rock Pines Subdivision, Jette Meadows Subdivision, Jette Lake Subdivision, Flathead View Drive, Tower Road, Gingras Springs Road, Fox Road, Bay Point Road, Rocky Point Road, Kings Point Road, Sunrise Drive, Irvine Flats Road, Highland Drive, Lake View Drive, Ponderilla Hills, Kerr Dam Road, Forman Road, Eli Gap Road, Valley View Road, Mud Lake Trail, Pablo West Road, Light Road, Leighton Road, Carbine Road, O’Brien Road, Pablo Townsite, Old U.S. 93, Clairmont Road, Courville Trail, N. Crow Road, N. Foothills Drive, Emory Road, Canal Road, Canyon Mill Road, Stagecoach Land, Mud Creek Lane, Little Bitterroot Road, Spring Creek Road, Rocky Shores Road; DISTRICT 2: Price Lane, Mcleod Road, Blodgett Lane, Terrace Lake see page 26
Whereas, the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County Montana sitting in regular session this 16th day of February 2022, pursuant to MCA 61 – 10 – 128, find and determine that it is necessary for the protection and preservation of the county roads to fix and establish a weight limit for loads passing over said County roads; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the maximum
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classifieds Legals cont. from page 25 Road, Timberlane Road, Sloan Road, Mink Lane, Bouchard Road, Rocky Butte Road, Mollman Pass Trail, Morris Road, Eagle Pass Trail, Herak Road, Moise Valley Road, Olsen Road, Charlo Townsite, Red Horn Road, Dublin Gulch Road, Logan Road, Airport Road, Foothills Road, St. Mary’s Lake Road, Mission Creek Road, Watson Road, Allison Road, Hillside Road, Mission Dam Road, Chalwain Road, Repass Trail, North Valley Creek Road, White Coyote Road, Martz Road, McCleod Road, Dumontier Road, Teresa Adams Lane, Coldwater Lane, Oxford Lane, Jock Road (FAS559), Arlee Townsite, Finley Creek Road, S. Couture Loop, Combs Lane. THESE LOAD LIMITS WILL GO IN EFFECT MARCH 1, 2022. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2022. BOARD OF LAKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS /s/ Gale Decker, Chairman s/ Steve Stanley, Member
s/ William D. Barron, Member Attest: /s/ Katie Harding, Clerk & Recorder March 2, 2022 MNAXLP IN THE TRIBAL COURT OF THE CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES OF THE FLATHEAD RESERVATION JULIE CAJUNE, Plaintiff, vs. SPENCER SIAS, Defendant. CAUSE NO. 21-0288-CV SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION THE CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES SENDS GREETINGS TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT: You are hereby summoned to answer or otherwise respond to the above-captioned Petition filed in Tribal Court. You have 15 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Tribal holidays) from the last date of publication of this Summons in which to file your written answer with the Tribal Court. If you fail to answer or defend within the time provided under law, a default judgment may be entered against you.
Plaintiff/Plaintiff Attorney: Julie Cajune Address: 24601 Finley Lake Rd. Arlee, MT 59821 This Summons By Publication is issued pursuant to Title 1, Chapter 2, Part 7, Rule 9(3), of the CS&KT Laws Codified. Dated this 8th day of February, 2022. By: Malia Hamel Deputy Clerk of Court February 23 and March 2, 2022 MNAXLP John A. Mercer Turnage Mercer & Wall, PLLP Attorneys at Law 312 1st St E Polson, MT 59860 Telephone: 406-883-5367 jmercer@turnagemercerwall.com MONTANA TWENTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, LAKE COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: SHARON L. ANDERSON, Deceased. Cause No.: DP-21-35 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That the undersigned has been appointed as Personal Representative of the above-entitled estate, and that the address of the Personal Representative is set forth below. All creditors of the decedent having claims against the decedent’s estate must present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice, or be forever barred as creditors of the decedent. A written statement of the claim indicating its basis, the name and address of the claimant, and the amount claimed, may be filed with the Clerk of the District Court, at Polson, Lake County, Montana, or mailed, Return Receipt Requested, to the Personal Representative, c/o TURNAGE MERCER & WALL, PLLP, Attorneys for the Personal Representative, at 312 1st St E, Polson, MT 59860. /s/ Terry C. Anderson Terry C. Anderson Personal Representative Estate of SHARON L. ANDERSON, Deceased.
MNAXLP
PUBLIC NOTICE
Montana 20th Judicial District Court, Lake County In the matter of the Name Change of Ronald James Schroeder; Ronald James Schroeder, Petitioner. Cause No: DV-22-18 Dept. No. 2001 Judge James A. Manley NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE This is notice that Petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Ronald James Schroeder to Ronald James Bishop. The hearing will be on April 6, 2022, at 10:00 am. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Lake County. Dated: January 27, 2022. James A. Manley District Court
The Board of Lake County Commissioners did January 5, 13, 19, 26, and February 2, 2022, approve claims for payment in the amount of $29,928,756.54 for the period of January 1, 2022, through January 31, 2022. The full and complete claims lists are available for public review in the Courthouse in the Clerk and Recorder’s Office. Individual requests for personal copies will be accepted by the Clerk and Recorder, Lake County Courthouse, Polson, MT. Signed this 28th day of January 2022. BOARD OF LAKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS /s/ Gale Decker, Chairman March 2, 2022 MNAXLP PUBLIC NOTICE
By Mary Rensvold Deputy Clerk of Court Feb. 23, Mar. 2, 9 & 16, 2022 MNAXLP
The Lake County E911 Committee implemented an addressing system for Enhanced 911 Emergency Services in 2003. To assist navigation and location see page 27
March 2, 9 and 16, 2022
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public notices Legals cont’d from pg. 26 efforts, the E911 Committee has established that private lanes shared by three (3) or more residences shall have a unique name. The Board of Lake County Commissioners will hold a public meeting March 22, 2022 at 10:00 am in the Commissioners Chambers of the Lake County Courthouse located at 106 4th Avenue East, Polson MT, Room 211, for the purpose of taking public comment on the naming of the private road. *Private Drive located off of Chalwain Road in St. Ignatius, MT *Private Drive located off of Black Lake Road in the Lake Mary Ronan area *Private road to be built off of Gray Wolf Drive **Maps of the area are available for review by request to lakecommissioners@lakemt.gov. If you would like to comment, but are unable to attend the public hearing, you may send comment to: Lake County Commissioners 106 4th Avenue East Polson, MT 59860 Or lakecommissioners@lakemt.gov March 2 and 9, 2022 MNAXLP INVITATION TO BID
istration Office, 421 Andrew St. NW, Ronan, MT 59864, by Friday, March 11, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. Local Time. Bids received after this time will not be accepted. Bids should be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “High School HVAC Replacement.” All interested parties are invited to attend. Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud immediately after specified closing for: The Ronan High School HVAC Replacement Project which consists of the replacement of the majority of the HVAC systems for the high school, upgrading the electrical service to the high school, adding a boiler to and re-piping the boiler plant, and replacing a rooftop unit and steam reheat coils in the northeast portion of the middle school. All Bids must be on a lump sum basis; segregated Bids will not be accepted. A site walk-thru at the school will be held Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. Local Time at the Ronan High School Front Entry. All Bidders are encouraged to attend. Bids shall be submitted on the form provided with the Project Manual. Drawings and Project Manual may be examined at any of the Montana Builders Exchanges. Drawings and Project Manual may be printed upon request and upon payment at current printing rates of the establishment, and will be available starting Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The responsibility for obtaining enough information for Bidding purposes from the complete Contract Documents shall remain with the party requesting Documents. Addenda and Prior Approvals will be distributed through the Builders’ Exchange.
PROJECT: Ronan High School HVAC Replacement FOR YOUR ACCOUNTINGBidNEEDS ProjectALL No.: RONANSD_HSME Security in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the Bid must accomIDUCIARY NCOME AX REPARATION F I T P OWNER: Ronan School District #30 pany each Bid in accordance with the 421 Andrew St. NW STATEMENT PREPARATION FINANCIAL Instructions to Bidders. Ronan, MT 59864 QUARTERLYThe REPORTS Contractor shall comply with all ENGINEER: C T A , I n c . d b a fair labor practices and shall meet the NDIVIDUAL AND USINESS I B Cushing Terrell requirements of the State of Montana 306 Railroad St, Suite 104 INCOME TAX PREPARATION Prevailing Wage rates and Gross ReMissoula, MT 59802 ceipts Tax. A Bid Bond for ten percent Phone: (406) 728-9522 BOOKKEEPING (10%) of the bid, and a Performance Bond for one hundred percent (100%) PAYROLL Sealed Bids will be received, at of the bid will be required. 211 Main Polson, MT School District No. 30, Street District Admin(406) 883-4368 • (406) 883-9250
No Bidder may withdraw their Bid for at least thirty (30) days after the scheduled time for receipt of Bids except as noted in the Instruction to Bidders.
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The Project will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to waive irregularities, to evaluate the bids submitted and to accept the proposal which best serves the interest of the school district. Feb. 3 & Mar. 2, 2022 MNAXLP 2022 ELECTION RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees for the Ronan/Pablo Elementary School District No. 30 and the Ronan High School District No. 30, shall call for the election of two (2) trustees from District 30-2 to serve for a three (3) year term. The voting shall be by mail ballot election, with the election date of May 3, 2022. If the number of candidates filing for a position or filing a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate under MCA 13-10-211 is equal to the number of positions to be elected, the trustees may give notice that an election will not be held. (MCA 20-3-313). February 23 & March 3, 2022 MNAXLP
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