News Briefs
Dec. 31
Orange paintballs cause damage
Several signs around the Polson area were vandalized last week by orange paintballs, Polson Police Chief Doug Chase said.
“The person responsible is still at large, presumable still armed with the paintball gun,” Chase said. “We hope this is not a sign of things to come.”
Chase warned that once the person is caught, they will be charged will multiple counts of vandalism.
“If they’re under 18, we’ll ask the youth court to sentence them to restoration and make them clean it all up,” he said. “If they’re over 18, they’ll still be charged with vandalism and it will be up to the court to decide what will happen.”
-Reporter Aimee Niles
Running truck ‘stolen’
In the evening hours of Dec. 27, a pick-up truck was stolen from Third Ave. W. in Polson. The driver had left the truck running with the keys in the ignition, Polson Police Chief Doug Chase said.
Polson police located the truck nearby.
Chase said that leaving the keys in a running vehicle is not only illegal, but dangerous.
“Someone could hop in and take a joy ride, and ignore police when they try and stop them,” Chase said. “Then it becomes a chase scenario. That’s dangerous for police as well as the public.”
In the cold winter months, Chase said if you must leave your car running, get an extra key and lock the doors so someone can’t take the vehicle.
“It’s safer for you as well as for the general public,” he said.
-Reporter Aimee Niles
Mission man wins lotto
Tim Krantz, of St. Ignatius, has claimed a $1,000 prize on the Lottery’s Scratch Bingo game called Bingo Buck. Krantz bought his winning ticket at the Town Pump in Plains.
He initially thought the ticket was worth $55, and was very surprised to find out it was actually a bigger prize.
“I looked at it and didn’t see the X. I am thrilled,” he said. The Montana Lottery was created by referendum in 1986.
In the past 22 years, it has paid out more than $355 million in prizes and returned more than $162 million to the state.
-Courtesy of Montana Lottery
Polson/Flathead Lake KOA receives awards
The Polson/Flathead Lake KOA Campground, owned and operated by Paul and Carlisa London, has been recognized as being among the “best of the best” in the Kampgrounds of America system that includes more than 470 campgrounds in North America.
The campground received both the 2009 Kampgrounds of America Founder’s Award and the President’s Award at a special ceremony recently at KOA’s Annual International Convention in Houston, Texas.
The KOA President’s Award is given annually to campgrounds that receive the highest customer service scores from their campers on KOA’s Kamper Satisfaction Survey. The Kamper Satisfaction Survey is sent to nearly 250,000 KOA campers each year, asking them specific questions about their stay at a particular KOA campground. Each campground must also pass an annual quality inspection, which also factors into the award.
The KOA Founder’s Award gives special recognition to a select group of President’s Award recipients who receive the very best Kamper Satisfaction Survey scores in the KOA system. The award is named for KOA founder Dave Drum, who created the first KOA campground on the shores of the Yellowstone River in Billings, in 1962.
“KOA campground owners who receive these awards are truly operating the very best parks in the world,” KOA Chief Operating Officer Pat Hittmeier said. “They take great pride in providing an excellent camping experience for their guests, and we take great pride that they are part of our KOA family.”
- Courtesy of KOA
Bat used in fight
On the evening of Dec. 27, Polson police responded to reports of a large fight happening on the 200 block of 9th Avenue.
Doug Chase, police chief, said eight to 12 people were involved and there were reports of a baseball bat being used in the fray. One woman reported being hit by the bat, but refused medical attention, he said.
The people involved were tribal members and the case was handed over to Tribal Law and Order, Chase said.
-Reporter Aimee Niles