News Briefs

July 2

County awarded $500k development loan

The Lake County Community Development Corporation in Ronan, was selected to receive a $500,000 loan to establish a revolving loan program for small and emerging businesses in Lake, Mineral and Sanders counties and to serve the Flathead Indian Reservation. The region has faced double-digit unemployment due to timber and technology sector layoffs, and these funds will be used to support new employment opportunities in the three-county area, a United States Department of Agriculture press release said.

USDA’s funding is expected to create or save more than 80 jobs.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week the count was one of a selection of 11 organizations to receive $6.9 million in loans to spur economic development and create or save an estimated 465 jobs in rural communities.

Funding of each recipient is contingent upon the borrower meeting the conditions of the loan agreement.

-Courtesy of USDA

Crossett begins in Polson

Polson city manager Todd Crossett made his debut at a special commission meeting on Monday, and was welcomed by the city council with the unanimous passage of a motion for his two-year appointment.

Crossett, who is coming from Sandpoint, Idaho, began in Polson on June 15 and takes the reins from interim city manager James Raymond, who held the position while the council went through three rounds of hiring beginning in 2008.

Crossett’s schedule so far has been full of budget discussions, as he and city officials wrap up 2008-09 budget amendment issues and begin work on 2009-10 budget.

Jumping into meetings with officials has been helpful, allowing him open dialogue with a variety of people. He said the goal is to keep momentum going forward and to keep the follow through for ongoing key projects to remain on track.

“There are a lot of good things going on,” Crossett said after the meeting. “In general, the council and community seem to be forward thinking. That’s the first challenge, starting to think of ways to be proactive. . . A lot of communities get stuck in retroactive mode.”

During the meeting, the council first discussed, and later unanimously passed, budget amendments that needed to be made for the 2008-09 budget. Shortfalls from things like the extended city manger search made it necessary to bring funds from reserves.

In preliminary budget talks, the council heard “conservative” assumptions on needs, costs and revenue projections. Officials won’t have concrete numbers until at least September, and the understanding is that talks will come down to cutting wants and prioritizing needs.

The numbers out now are a “scaled down version,” Crossett said. More will be known as meetings continue and numbers are finalized.

- Reporter Jenna Cederberg

PETA request denied in Polson

A Polson rehabilitation facility denied a nationally-know animal rights group’s request last week to stop serving chicken on its menu, after a story in the Missoulian highlighted the used of two chickens as therapy animals there.

“I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and our more than 2 million members and supporters worldwide about the two chickens — Alex, a rooster, and Carlita, a hen — who recently visited Polson Health and Rehabilitation Center. I hope that the experience has shown residents and staff members that chickens have unique individual personalities (just as dogs, cats, and humans do) and that they are friends, not food. To honor Alex and Carlita, will you please scratch chicken flesh off the menu at your facility?” the letter from PETA director Sarah King read.

Polson Health and Rehabilitation Center director Debbie Siegfried didn’t hesitate to dismiss the letter. Chicken will remain on the menu.

“It’s their (the residents’) right to select their meals, it’s our job to provide what makes them happy, and what makes them happy is, occasionally, chicken. . . That is what we do an what we will continue to do,” Siegfried said on Thursday. “Their addressing a place where long-term Montanas, elderly people, choose their menu. It’s their right and their menu.”

The letter argued: “. . . chickens have unique individual personalities (just as dogs, cats, and humans do) and that they are friends, not food. To honor Alex and Carlita, will you please scratch chicken flesh off the menu at your facility?”

“I just want to say, we live in Montana,” Siegfried said.

-Reporter Jenna

Cederberg

Sheriff looking for reserve deputy recruits

The Lake County Sheriff’s office is starting its reserve deputy academy in September, and will host an orientation session on July 13 for people interested in becoming reserve deputies.

Reserve deputies serve at the request of the Sheriff’s office, and are utilized from everything to going on patrol to cover full-time deputy shifts, to providing security and coverage at community and school events, to securing major crime scenes so that they can be processed by detectives, among many duties. Currently about a dozen reserve deputies provide up to 200 man-hours of coverage each month, and the Sheriff’s office is looking to expand that roster.

The Lake County Sheriff’s office reserve deputy academy is one of the best in the state. While state law requires a minimum of 88 hours of training to be a reserve deputy, the Lake County reserve academy spans more than 175 classroom hours, coupled with 200 hours of patrol time under the supervision of a full-time deputy before a reserve’s training is considered to be complete. It is one of the most comprehensive of its kind in the state.

Many current full-time deputies and detectives got their careers started as reserve deputies, and the Lake County Sheriff’s office routinely encourages reserves to apply for full-time jobs when they become available. Applicants for the reserve academy should be aware that as reserves, they are expected to purchase their own uniform, utility belt, and other equipment that can cost hundreds of dollars, and are expected to volunteer 12 hours a month. The program isn’t for everyone, but reserve deputies get a tremendous amount of satisfaction from serving the community and it provides a great opportunity for those who have an interest in law enforcement.

The Sheriff’s office will be hosting an orientation session for interested people at the third-floor conference room in the courthouse, at 7 PM on Monday, July 13. Current reserve and full-time deputies will be on hand to tell you more about the program and answer your questions. Due to the requirements of the job, and the amount of training involved, family members of interested candidates are encouraged to attend, too. Applications will be available after the meeting.

If you cannot attend the meeting, but would still like an application or more information, contact Undersheriff Jay Doyle at 883-7301. Applications are due July 24.

-Courtesy of Ethan Smith

Ronan students win awards

Jessica Bykari, Jamie Engeldrum and Shane McMillan of Ronan have been awarded scholarships from The University of Montana.

Bykari, a 2007 graduate of Ronan High School, received a $2,000 James and Olive M. Rector Memorial Scholarship. Her parents are Jim and Dorrene Bykari of Ronan.

The scholarship was established in 1967 by Ann Rector Williams in memory of her parents.

Engeldrum, a 2009 graduate of Ronan High School, received a $1,750 French Family Scholarship. He will major in human biology at UM. His parents are Phil Engeldrum and Linda Hertz of Ronan.

The Dorothy E. French Memorial Scholarship was established in 2000 by John and Joan French in memory of John’s wife and Joan’s mother. Upon John French’s death in April 2005, the fund name was changed to the French Family Scholarship.

McMillan, a UM senior in photojournalism and German, received a $1,400 Myre-McGaugh Scholarship. He is a 2004 graduate of Ronan High School and the son of Bruce and Eileen McMillan of Ronan.

The Myre-McGaugh Fund was established in 1985 by John and Hilda McGaugh in memory of Hilda’s parents, Mary Jane and Peter Myre.

-Courtesy of scholarship board