News Briefs
Oct. 15
Cooperative council holds workshop
Last Wednesday and Thursday, members of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council — a council made up of every aspect of the criminal justice system, from law enforcement to judges of both the tribe and county officials — hosted a planning workshop to discuss the possibility of developing a multi-jurisdictional jail to address tribal and county needs.
At a previous meeting of the CJCC, both Lake County and Tribal officials said their own systems were overwhelmed by current needs.
Tribal Law and Order just received a $1.3 million grant to fund improvements to their jail, and tribal police chief Craige Couture said he was encouraged by the CJCC to apply for the grant.
“If the CJCC is successful and we are able to build a combination jail, when that happens [the tribe] is going to have an empty facility that can house overflow or juveniles—which is something the county doesn’t have,” Couture said.
The situation is unique in Lake County with the county and tribe working together for a jail, he said.
“If this happens, I think we’ll be the only ones in the country with this kind of arrangement,” he said.
The workshop was funded by the National Institute for Corrections. The information gathered during the workshop will be used for planning purposes for the tribe, county and state when considering new jail facilities. The tribe is the only one that currently has solid plans for jail improvements.
-Reporter Aimee Niles
Flu season begins mildly for Polson
During the Polson School District’s monthly meeting, school nurse, Millie Nesladek gave the board an update on the H1N1 flu and the precautions schools are taking to help prevent the spread of the flu.
Precautions include educating the staff and students about the flu and adding VIREX disinfectant spray bottles and cleaning cloths to all classrooms.
Several cases of the H1N1 flu have been confirmed in the district. The Lake County Public Health Department officials said that all current cases of the flu are the H1N1, fortunately the cases have been mild so far.
During his report, Superintendent David Whitesell reported that many students are out sick, though not necessarily from the H1N1 flu. An informational web page on the flu has been created on the district website, http://www.polson.k12.mt.us/flu.html.
-Courtesy of Marsha Anson
Internet classes popular
The Internet is everywhere these days and some young people seem born to use it. But for many of the older generation the World Wide Web is a World Wide Mystery. To demystify the Internet, Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative has launched the Easy Access Internet Program, a program that starts with the basics of navigating the Internet and will evolve into more advanced subjects in spring 2010. Last Tuesday, Blackfoot rolled into downtown Thompson Falls and hosted their workshop event at the Internet Kitchen with much success.
The free, 2-hour Internet Training Class was created and funded by Blackfoot and designed by computer training expert Denise Todd-Loran, owner of Watercolor Computer Training in Missoula. While the workshop was created with senior citizens in mind, all ages are welcome to attend. Loran will be leading the workshops in several communities in October, including Arlee Senior Center on Oct. 15.
To find answers to this and many more questions, Blackfoot will be bringing the Easy Access program back to St. Ignatius, Plains, Thompson Falls, Superior, Arlee, Seeley Lake, Philipsburg, Clinton and Elliston in the spring of 2010. If you are interested in attending next year’s workshop, contact Kate Olney at 541-5020 or easyaccess@blackfoot.com.
-Courtesy of Blackfoot
Communications