News Briefs
May 28
Mission school board incumbents sworn in
ST. IGNATIUS — Incumbent St. Ignatius trustees Maxine Whitson and Teri Dinnell ran unopposed for their school board trustees and were sworn in at the May 12 meeting.
Board clerk Neil Easter was also appointed to another term at the administrative staff position.
Other agenda items included the approval of Lloyd Philips for hire as the head high school boys basketball coach, from a field of three interviewed candidates.
The board also approved Susan Weaslehead and Connie Trudeau as middle school volleyball coaches for the 2009-10 school year.
The board’s next summer season meetings are reported to be held on June 16, July 21 and August 18. Graduation for St. Ignatius High School is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 31.
- Reporter Ty Hampton
Lulow sentenced for SS fraud
MISSOULA — Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced last week that during a federal court session in Helena, on May 21, before Senior U.S. District Judge Justin L. Quackenbush, Roberty Wayne Lulow of Ronan would be sentencecd to a term of five years probation, with a special assessment of $100 and restitution of $16,939.40.
Lulow was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to Social Security fraud/theft. According to records, Lulow’s mother began receiving Social Security retirement insurance benefit payments in September 1978, based upon her husband’s earnings. When he passed away in April 2004, the benefits changed to surviving spouse’s benefits.
After his mother passed away on Nov. 5, 2004, the Social Security Administration was not advised of L.D.L.’s death. As of April 3, 2007, SSA was still depositing $607 per month into her account with Community Bank in Ronan, an account which she held jointly with Robert.
Between December 2004 and April 2007, SSA made 29 deposits, totaling $16,939.40, into the account with Community Bank. The posthumously deposited funds in the account were expended regularly through a series of checks and telephone transactions.
Robert conceded after some interviewing that he had financial problems around the time of his mother’s death due to a failed business. He stated that he regularly transferred the funds deposited into this account for his mother to his own personal account with Community Bank. He further stated that he “used and abused” his mother’s money and that he “misused my mom’s funds” despite the fact that he knew they should have ceased upon her death. Robert maintained that he intended to repay SSA when he was back on his feet financially.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad prosecuted the case for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General.
-Courtesy of the U.S. District Attorney’s office
McDonald honored by FVCC
Flathead Valley Community College President Jane Karas presented her fourth annual Montana Mentor Award to Joseph McDonald, president of Salish Kootenai College, during the college’s 41st commencement on May 15. The award was created in 2006 to honor a community leader who every day inspires with their leadership, vision, integrity and passion and exemplifies the meaning of mentor.
McDonald is the founder and president of Salish Kootenai College.
Under his leadership, the college moved from its initial home as a satellite campus of FVCC in Kalispell to a campus consisting of 53 major modern buildings situated on 128 contiguous acres in Pablo. Prior to the college, McDonald worked as a high school principal and assistant superintendent from 1968 through 1976 in Ronan and created the first Native American Studies program in Montana Public Schools.
Karas recognized McDonald for his role as a mentor to students across the state of Montana, to educators across many nations and to many elected officials from sovereign nations, the state of Montana and Washington, D.C.
She regarded McDonald as a “great role model not only for his friends and relatives but for all Indian country.”
Karas acknowledged him for providing her advice and support when she became the new president of FVCC and when she was appointed commissioner on the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. McDonald is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including The University of Montana’s highest recognition—an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, The University of Montana Foundation’s “Fifty Greatest Grizzlies,” The University of Montana Department of Educational Leadership Excellence Award, Montana Ambassadors Michael P. Malone Educator of the Year Award, Montana Governor’s Humanity Award, Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame, Distinguished Alumus of the University of Montana and Western Montana College and Montana’s 100 Most Influential People of the 1900s.
He holds honorary doctorate degrees from Gonzaga University in Washington and Montana State University.
-Courtesy of FVCC
Starkel graduates from ASU
Cambrie Starkel graduated from Arizona State University on May 13, 2009. Cambrie graduated with highest honors, summa cum laude, with a BSE. in Biomedical Engineering with an emphasis in Molecular and Cellular Engineering from the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering on May 15. She plans to intern in Phoenix for a year at Vomaris Innovations, followed by graduate school in the fall of 2010.
-Courtesy of the Starkels
Calling all cancer survivors
Are you a cancer survivor or know someone who is?
All cancer survivors and their families are invited to participate in the 13th Annual Lake County Relay for Life.
This year’s relay will be held on Saturday, June 20, to Sunday, June 21 at the Polson High School Track. Prior to the opening ceremony, all cancer survivors are invited to a reception celebrating life beginning at 4:30 p.m. From the reception the survivors will be gathered for a survivor photo at 5:45 p.m. The opening ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. and is dedicated to those living with cancer. After the opening ceremony, survivors lead the first lap around the track, their family and friends join in for the second lap, followed by a parade of teams for the third lap. T-shirts and a photo will be provided to all cancer survivors at no cost.
If you would like to participate in the Relay, please complete the form below and mail to the address provided or call Gayle Wilhelm, 471-1452 or Etta Moore, 883-3077 with your information.
Survivors do not have to belong to a team in order to participate in the Relay!
The American Cancer Society uses funds raised at Relay For Life to further local efforts in cancer research, education, advocacy and services.
-Courtesy of Relay organizers