News briefs, July 1
Growingthunder earns scholarship
Marita Growingthunder, of Polson, is a recipient of the Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program, recognizing kids nationwide for making a difference in their communities through volunteering. Two youths from Montana will each receive a $50 gift card and recognition certificate from Kohl's to reward efforts that have made a positive impact on their communities.
These winners qualify for the chance to receive a $1,000 regional scholarship for post-secondary education, which Kohl's will award in July. Of the more than 200 regional winners, 10 national winners will each receive a total of $10,000 in scholarships, and Kohl's will donate $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on each national winner's behalf. In total, Kohl's will award more than 2,100 nominees with more than $410,000 in scholarships and prizes this year, at a time when escalated demand for aid has required students at some of the nation's most affluent and giving colleges to take on an increased financial burden to pay for their education.
-Courtesy of Christie Itzin
McAvoy earns Doctorate
Sarah McAvoy, of Ronan, graduated with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Minnesota on May 7. During her junior year of medical school, she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honors society. This award is given to five percent of the graduating class and is based on academic achievement, scholarship and leadership. Sarah has been actively involved in clinical research prior to and during medical school and has published several papers in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genomic instability in cancer.
McAvoy will specialize in Radiation Oncology. She will complete a one-year general medicine internship at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn., which will be followed by four years of advanced specialty training at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
-Courtesy of Jan McAvoy
Polson "Senior Corps" program receives grant
The Governor's Office of Community Service (www.serve.mt.gov) announced today that ‘Western Montana Area VI Agency on Aging' (westernmontanaagingservices.org) will receive a ‘National Significance federal grant award of $23,500 dollars from the Corporation of National and Community Service, an independent federal agency. The competition for this grant award was very high with only 48 programs being awarded nationwide.
The funding will support 78 RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) volunteers and allow ‘Western Montana Area VI Agency on Aging' to expand to Lincoln and Sanders Counties.
The focus of the volunteer expansion efforts will be; a) to support caregivers of seniors through regular telephone contact or respite visits, and b) reading help for children who need extra support, mainly in the Polson School District, including an innovative "pet partners" program where children read to therapeutic dogs, which helps to increase interest in and motivation for reading.
Authorized under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the ‘National Significance' grant awards will expand and better target federal resources toward national, state and local challenges.
-Courtesy of Jennifer Lawson
Staples wins award
A Polson High School Alum is named Television On-Air Broadcaster of the Year.
Anchor, reporter, producer for KXLF-TV in Butte, Laurel Staples, was named the winner if the top E.B. Craney Award Saturday in Whitefish at the Montana Broadcasters Association's annual convention at Grouse Mountain Lodge.
Staples graduated from Polson High School in 1983 and received her degree in radio-television from the University of Montana in Missoula in 1988. She is the winner of the 2009 E.B. Craney award for Program of the Year for coverage of the Mansfield Metcalf Dinner in Butte that featured then presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. She was the 2008 E.B Craney award runner-up for Program of the Year for Face the State - Evel Knievel.
She is the daughter of Mary Lindell of Polson and the late T.C. Lindell.
-Courtesy of Laurel Staples
Polson resident honored at MSU commencement
Darryl Dupuis, of Polson, recently attended his 50-year reunion at Montana State University in Bozeman and was honored with an anniversary degree at the commencement exercises in May.
Dupuis earned a degree in education and spent his career as a teacher, coach and middle school principal.
-Courtesy of Rose Hanson
Master gardening assistance available
The Lake County Master Gardening Program trains volunteers to provide technical assistance and information about gardening and yard and garden maintenance to the citizens of Lake County under the direction of the Montana State University Extension Agency.
As a part of this program, volunteers share their knowledge and skills through public education and by providing technical assistance to community based gardening related projects.
Currently the Master Gardening Program is accepting applications for projects that are in need of volunteer assistance. In order to be considered, a project must involve some aspect of gardening, yard maintenance, or public education. Applications can be obtained at the Lake County Extension Office located at 300 3rd Ave NW in Ronan or by calling 676-4271.
-Courtesy of Pat Bristol
Lane joins St. Joe's team
St. Joseph Medical Center is pleased to welcome Robyn Lane as its new Community Education Coordinator. Lane brings her considerable executive experience, integrity and energetic outlook to the newly created position.
The sole focus of her activities will be to increase overall awareness of the benefits provided by the Medical Center, its outstanding Medical staff and the comprehensive listing of services offered locally within our community.
Prior to moving to Polson, her Phoenix based businesses were listed in the "Top 25 Women Owned Business" for five consecutive years prior to their acquisition in 2005.
Lane has worked with the St. Joseph's staff in an administrative role for the past year, before accepting this new position.
-Courtesy of
Robyn Cantrell Lane