Election results

Unofficial results for municipal elections announced

by Kristi Niemeyer for the Valley Journal

LAKE COUNTY — Excitement and optimism were the themes struck by three incoming mayors chosen by voters during last Tuesday’s municipal elections in Lake County. The vote saw two incumbent mayors lose their seats and the race for a council seat in Ronan end in a tie vote.

According to unofficial results posted Nov. 2 by the Lake County Election Office, Daren Incashola was elected mayor of St. Ignatius, edging out incumbent Steve McCollum by 10 votes (90 to 80); and councilman Chris Adler unseated longtime Ronan Mayor Kim Aipperspach 155 to 125, with 57 votes going to Robert Sager.

Both Adler and Incashola are currently serving on their respective city councils, which will be tasked with finding replacement representatives for the New Year.

“I’m very excited and humbled by the opportunity to serve as mayor,” said Incashola. “I am looking forward to working with the council and hope to find a way to have more community involvement.”

He’s midway through his second term as a councilman, and works in the IT department at the Lake County Courthouse, after serving as a detention officer, dispatcher and reserve deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s office. Incashola also served as a volunteer fireman in St. Ignatius and as an EMT with Mission Valley Ambulance.

Adler, who works as a mechanic for Polson School District and serves as Ronan Fire Chief, thanked voters for turning out and congratulated all of Tuesday’s race winners across the county.

“Now let’s get ready to work together on up-and-coming challenges that we will surely face,” he said.

Also in Ronan, incumbent councilwoman Marilynn Tanner and Ryan Corum each received 68 votes in their quest to represent Ward 1. Allysen Jones was chosen to serve as Ronan city judge with 192 votes, while Zachariah Miller posted 134.

According to Lake County Election Administrator Toni Kramer, the Ronan tie may be resolved when provisional ballots are counted Monday (after press-time). Votes are certified at 10 a.m. Wednesday during the official canvass.

In Polson, Eric Huffine will become mayor in January after earning 621 votes vs. 542 for Rachel Wanderscheid. Incumbent Paul Briney did not file for reelection.

“It’s exciting to know I have an opportunity to make a difference,” Huffine said over the roar of the Polson Pirates’ playoff football game on Saturday. The local entrepreneur owns Riverside Recreation, a boat rental adjacent to Riverside Park, and Wall and Slab, a concrete construction business.

In Polson’s Ward 1, Jake Holley bested Jen Ruggless, 110 to 86 to replace outgoing commissioner Lou Marcello. In Ward 2, Laura Dever, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in July, outpaced David Coffman, 253-219. Brodie Moll, who was unopposed for a second term as Ward 3 commissioner, received 361 votes.

Voters who reside outside of incorporated communities overwhelmingly passed the Rural Maintenance Mill Levy, 3,064 to 1,951. The four-mill levy will be collected in two installments of two mills each, beginning in November 2022, and is expected to raise about $221,241 annually. Those funds are used to buy the oil needed to chip-seal surfaces on the county’s 1,200-mile network of gravel and paved roads.

Lake County voters cast a total of 6,710 ballots in last week’s election.

“I’m very excited and humbled by the opportunity to serve as mayor.”

- DAREN INCASHOLA, NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR OF ST. IGNATIUS

Lawsuit challenges vaccine mandate for Montana employers

News from Governor Gianforte

HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte issued the following statement on Nov. 5 supporting a lawsuit filed by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, other state attorneys general, and employers seeking to block President Biden’s illegal vaccine mandate for private employers:

“President Biden’s heavy-handed vaccine mandate is illegal in Montana, and I stand with Montana employers and Attorney General Knudsen as he joins other states to challenge the president’s unlawful overreach,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Not only does President Biden’s mandate violate Montana law banning vaccine-based discrimination, but also it will further strain Montana employers already facing a worker shortage. We will use all tools at our disposal to protect Montanans against this gross, unprecedented federal overreach.”

The lawsuit challenges the federal vaccine mandate issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Pres. Biden’s Emergency Temporary Standard mandates employers, with 100 or more employees, require their workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The Biden OSHA mandate will apply to 142,000 private-sector workers in Montana, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

Sharon Whitworth

Polson woman jailed, charged for intentionally killing another woman with her vehicle

News from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office

POLSON — On Oct. 31, just before 6 p.m., Lake County 911 took a report of a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on Huckleberry Lane, southeast of Polson. Lake County Deputies and Montana Highway Patrol were dispatched to the scene. Their investigation determined that the operator of the vehicle, identified as 56-year-old Sharon Whitworth, of Polson, intentionally ran over 63-year-old Tonya Charles, of Polson, causing her death. Whitworth was jailed on a charge of deliberate homicide and remains in the Lake County Detention Center. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office sends our condolences to Ms. Charles’s family. No further information on the investigation will be released at this time.

Identity of Ronan woman killed in single vehicle crash released

News from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office

RONAN — The woman who was killed on Oct. 26, in the single-vehicle crash on Timberlane Road, east of Ronan, is 37 year-old, Emily Pinkston, of Ronan. The body of Ms. Pinkston has been examined by the State Medical Examiner to aid the Lake County Sheriff/Coroner’s Office in identifying the cause of death. The Montana Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office extends our condolences to the family of Ms. Pinkston.

COVID-19 third leading cause of death in Montana

News from DPHHS

The Department of Public Health and Human Services has released a new report that ranks COVID-19 associated deaths as the third leading cause of death in 2020 and will likely hold the same ranking for 2021.

State health officials note the death record information for 2021 is considered provisional information and will be finalized later in 2022. Also, it’s possible the 2021 leading causes of death rankings could change as death certificate data are finalized.

“As more data becomes available, DPHHS continues to produce reports such as this to demonstrate the impact of COVID-19 in Montana,” DPHHS Director Adam Meier said. “While Montanans may not be surprised by the reports’ findings, it serves as a reminder about the importance of getting the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. DPHHS strongly recommends that all eligible Montanans get vaccinated against COVID-19. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider or a pharmacist.”

The report reviewed data of COVID-19 deaths occurring Jan. 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2021, from death certificates reported to DPHHS as of mid-October. During that time period, there were 2,100 COVID-19 deaths identified among Montana residents.

Some groups of people in Montana have been affected by the pandemic more than others. The COVID-19 mortality rate among American Indian/Alaska Native residents in Montana was four times greater than white Montana residents. And, AI/AN residents died of COVID-19 at younger ages than white residents; the median age at death was 68 years for AI/AN residents and 80 years among white residents.

“I can’t stress enough that these COVID-19 related deaths are almost entirely preventable,” said DPHHS acting State Medical Officer Dr. Maggie Cook-Shimanek. “Vaccination is the best protection against COVID-19 infection and at preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes, such as hospitalization and death. We continue to urge eligible Montanans who have not gotten vaccinated to get vaccinated, and for those who are eligible, to get the booster shot to ensure they have adequate protection against the virus.”

Players

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each other and go over scenes between play practices. “I’ve been amazed with this cast,” he adds. “They just want this to be so good, so right on – it’s unusual and very encouraging.”

The Lewings tapped Mike Gillpatrick, who lives near St. Ignatius, for the lead role. He’s a veteran of several Port Polson Players productions, including “Dirty Work at the Crossroads,” “12 Angry Men” and “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

“He’s built for live theatre,” says Lewing. “He’s quick, takes direction and delves into the character. And he’s the only one we know of who looks a lot like Thomas Meagher.”

Fans of the Players will see other veterans on stage, including Jim and Jeanie Siragusa, Les Lundeen, John Glueckert and, of course, the Lewings. Newcomers tread the boards too, including Ann Peacock who portrays Meagher’s second wife, Libby.

With six decades under his belt as a performer, Lewing considers the musical “the biggest and most promising thing I’ve done for quite awhile.”

He also credits his wife and co-creator. “Karen has been right there every step of the way. She’s pulled me through the doubting times and has been a tireless warrior on this project,” he says. “She believes in it, she’s passionate about it, and of course she never does anything half way. If she decides to take on a project it’s done ’til it’s done.”

Even after the last show on Nov. 21, the Lewings hope their creation lives on, possibly as a touring production, and hopefully on stage in 2023 where Meagher’s life began. Meanwhile, there are plenty more historical characters “who have these tremendous stories that no one knows about. I’m always on the look out for that.”

“You just try to affect your own part of the world and do what you were made to do,” he says. It’s a sentiment that would have made the Irish patriot proud.

“No Coward’s Epitaph” premieres at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 1121. For reservations, call 883-9212 or visit www. portpolsonplayers.com.

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PHOTO BY KAREN LEWING / PORT POLSON PLAYERS Meagher met his second wife, Elizabeth, at a soiree in New York, eighteen months after his first wife died. His fellow conspirator, John Mitchel, escaped Van Diemen’s land shortly after Meagher and, with his wife and family, joined Thomas there. Pictured from left are Marty Mazurek (as Jenny Mitchell), Mike Gillpatrick (as Thomas Francis Meagher), Ann Peacock (as Libby Meagher), and John Glueckert as John Mitchell.

Call early for Polson’s annual Thanksgiving

POLSON — This year’s Thanksgiving dinner will be prepared at the Mission Valley Elk’s Lodge at 512 Main Street in Polson. Delivery or curbside pickup will be available by reservation. The number to call for your 2021 Thanksgiving meal order is: 406-471-7076. Please call and make reservations for a meal as early as possible, so that we make certain that anyone who would enjoy a meal receives one. We anticipate an increase from last year, so please help us by calling early.

We will be open for pickup and delivery from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thanksgiving day, Thursday, Nov. 25. As always, there is no charge for our “from scratch” made dinner, but we gratefully accept donations. Any questions, comments and reservations can be made at 406-471-7076.

Non-profits invited to participate in Holiday re-TREEt

RONAN — Area non-profits are invited to fundraise for their organization by participating in a tree decorating contest. Decorate a tree and help build a forest scene inside the Ronan Community Center for the annual Lights Under the Big Sky family weekends. Three places will be paid. For more information call Patti at 406-676-4925.

Flathead Irrigation District meeting date changed

RONAN — Flathead Irrigation District has voted to move their monthly meeting, due to Thanksgiving, to Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m. at the, Lake County Extension Office, 303 Third Street E. Enter through back door by the kitchen.

Farm Service Committee Elections Underway

WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin mailing ballots this week for the Farm Service Agency county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. To be counted, producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or be postmarked by Dec. 6, 2021.

Virtual presentations for U.S. Hwy. 93 planned

News from the Montana Department of Transportation

RONAN — The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) would like to announce and invite the public to an open house to learn about the final design of the reconstruction of about 1.7 miles of U.S. Hwy. 93, just north of Ronan. The project begins at Round Butte Road and extends north 1.7 miles, ending just past Spring Creek Road.

The open house will be comprised of two identical virtual presentations that will take place on Monday, Nov. 15, from 5-6 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 12-1 p.m. Email Laura.Langdon@ kljeng.com or call 406594-5775 to RSVP.

Proposed work includes widening the highway to four lanes, a new shareduse path that connects with the existing path to Pablo, the realignment of Third Avenue and Old Hwy 93 into one intersection with a traffic signal, and a closure of the Spring Creek Road intersection with U.S. Hwy. 93.

The open houses on Nov. 15, 16 will serve as a key opportunity to have a conversation about the upcoming work and answer questions from the community.

An important part of properly planning for future projects is partnering with the community. The Montana Department of Transportation welcomes the public to comment on the proposed project. Comments may be submitted online at http:// www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/ comment_forms.shtml or in writing to Montana Department of Transportation, Missoula office at PO Box 7039, Missoula, MT 59807-7039. Please note that comments are for project UPN 1744019.

The public is encouraged to contact Missoula District Administrator Bob Vosen at 406-5235802 or Project Design Engineer Miki Lloyd at 406-444-9200.

MDT’s mission is to serve the public by providing a transportation system and services that emphasize quality, safety, cost effectiveness, economic vitality, and sensitivity to the environment. MDT inspects and oversees some 4,500 bridges and 25,000 lane miles of highways, as well as rail and air services, that connect residents and communities across the state. Over the past four years, MDT has awarded almost 500 construction projects for transportation infrastructure totaling nearly $1.2 billion. In the last decade, MDT projects have generated tens of thousands of jobs and more than $3.4 billion that spur the economy, which includes payments to consultants, contractors, utility companies and other MDT partners that help build and maintain Montana’s roadways.

Virtual open houses are planned for Monday, Nov. 15 from 5-6 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 12-1 p.m.