News Briefs
May 14
Polson pair pleads to food stamp fraud charges
MISSOULA — Chad Brooks, 36, and Michelle Brooks, 45, residents of Polson, appeared and pleaded not guilty to charges of theft of government property and food stamp fraud in a Missoula District Court last week. They are currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, they each face possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.
-Courtesy of the U.S. District Attorney’s office
Comments positive at bridge meeting
POLSON — Phase I of the repaving of the northbound lane of the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge remains on schedule, construction crew representatives said at the second biweekly public comment meeting last week.
Few residents showed up at the meeting to make comments, those who did were enthusiastic about the setup and flow of construction.
“I expected the worst,” resident John Laimbeer said. “This is great. It’s just wonderful.”
Laimbeer imagined trips across the bridge would take up to a half hour, but said he’s getting across the bridge four times a day without significant delays.
Project supervisor Booy Desjarlais said again that they’ve seen no problems with traffic flow. He noted that the manually operated traffic control and light system run by Western Traffic Control of Missoula has setup.
Western traffic employees monitor the bridge 24-hours a day using binoculars and web cams attached to the traffic lights at the bridge ends.
This is the first project Westner had used this system, representative Jeff Hollenbeck said.
The hydrodemolition portion of the project was completed by Tuesday night last week. Two inches of concrete bridge surface were removed from the lane. During the final phase of the project, three inches of latex-infused concrete will replace the old surface.
The project end date remains set for May 29, Desjarlais said.
Phase II is set to begin in early September, when crews will begn work on the southbound lane.
-Reporter Jenna Cederberg
Russell to lead Polson trustees
Current Polson School Board of Trustees chairman Mark Russell was unanimously appointed to lead the board for the coming year at the regular board meeting on Monday. Trustee Vernon Finley was also re-appointed as vice chair by his fellow trustees. Clerk Pam Owen was unanimously re-appointed clerk of the board.
Trustees Brian Havlovick, Theresa Taylor and Caryl Cox were all re-elected to three-year board terms at the May 5 Lake County District elections. Out of 6,964 registered voters, 705 voted in the Polson trustee election for a voter turnout of 10.1 percent.
Acting superintendent Bill Appleton said that, again, the only news on the budget was that there was no news. A special budget meeting scheduled for May 18 will be a better point to discuss the budget, he said, as Governor Brian Schweitzer has until May 15 to sign the budget approved by the 2009 Montana Legislature.
The board also recognized and said goodbye to two retiring teachers, Harold Lair and Linda Anderson, and one trustee, Bob Hanson. Each was awarded a gift at the meeting. Lair is retiring after 36 years as an educator, he has spent 28 of it in Polson. Lair will continue to teach driver’s education.
Anderson has been with the schools for 25 years, and Hanson it retiring his position as the high school board of trustees after nine years on the board.
During another agenda item, the board approved the declaration of vacancy for Hanson’s position. Because no candidates ran for the position, the board must now accept applications and fill the spot in the next 60 days.
The board approved Energy Partners bid for the district’s propane.
The board will meet again for its monthly meeting at 5 p.m. on June 8 n the district conference room.
-Reporter Jenna Cederberg