Community Notes

Mitch Factor Comedy Show

Mitch Factor, one of the top Indian comedians in the United States, will be presenting his show “Celebration of Life” today, Thursday, Sept. 27 at the St. Ignatius Community Center/Fitness Center. The event will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The presentation is free to the public and is a family-oriented event.

Free Community Dinner

We would like to cordially invite all members of the community to join us for a Free Community Dinner today, Thursday, Sept. 27 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Fellowship Baptist Church of Polson. We will be serving a variety of Mexican dishes, homemade desserts and beverages. Please join us for an evening of good food and fellowship. We are located on the corner of 7th Avenue and Main Street, across the street from the HCP building. We hope to see you there!

School and Community Workshop

A free workshop and lunch will be held on Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the topic will be “Creating Inclusive Schools and Communities.” and will be held at Mission Valley UMC at the top of Post Creek Hill north of St. Ignatius. The event will be facilitated by Heidi Wallace of the National Coalition Building Institute (Missoula). We welcome folks from all communities on the Reservation from Arlee to Hot Springs to Elmo. Pre-registration is encouraged. Please call Cathy at 745-4259 by Sept. 28 to register. Four (4) CEU’s are accredited by the following:  OPI, LCSW, LMFT, LCPC, LAC, Daycare providers (MTECP), Early Childhood Instructors, Nurses, Course POST credits for Law Enforcement. Let’s work together to build a strong community! Sponsored by The Flathead Reservation Human Rights Coalition, Inc. Box 111, Ronan, MT 59864, Phone:  824-2821 or 745-3303, frhrc.wordpress.com/   or  facebook.com/frhrc1.

Dixon School Child Find

A free Developmental and Preschool Screening Clinic for infants to children 5 years of age will be held in the Dixon and Charlo School Districts on Monday, Oct. 1 in the Dixon Preschool from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and in the Charlo Elementary School from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Please call your school to schedule an appointment for your child’s screening or to receive more information. The free screenings will include gross motor, fine motor, language concepts, communication skills, communication concepts, hearing and vision screening. Dixon Preschool can be reached at 246-3566, and Charlo Elementary can be reached at 644-2206.

Walk to School Day

Join the Ronan community in celebrating International Walk to School Day, Wednesday, Oct. 3. Come walk to school with Monte the University of Montana mascot, and Ronan Superintendent Andy Holmlund, as they lead the way in healthy lifestyles. Walking to school is a great way to be a part of a global event to promote health and improve air quality. Various agencies will be providing morning breakfast foods and fun giveaways from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. near school walking routes. If you live too far or ride the bus, get dropped off at the Ronan Park across from the fire hall and walk with Monte & Mr. Holmlund at 7:45 a.m. For more information please call Jennifer at the Ronan Parks Department at 676-4231.

Community Dance

The next scheduled dance is Oct. 3, the place is the Elks Lodge in Polson from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Treats are back on the schedule again and are very appreciated. Ken’s Country Combo will be playing the tunes with requests accepted. Bring all your friends and have a rousing good time! 

Pachyderm Club

Jack Stivers, Lake County Extension Agent, will be the featured speaker at the Friday, Sept. 28 meeting of the Lake County Pachyderm Club to be held at the Rural Fire Dept. Building on Airport Road west of the bridge in Polson.  The business meeting begins at 12 noon and adjourns at 1 p.m.

Stivers will be sharing his experiences from a summer trip to Kenya and Tanzania, where he volunteered at an orphanage and its farm.

The meeting begins with a social time at 11:30 a.m. and attendees are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. Anyone is welcome to attend. Call Penny Jarecki, 883-2248.

Candidate Forum

Polson Chamber of Commerce’s candidate forum will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Big Sky Bistro at 325 Main Street, Polson. Appetizers, coffee and water will be provided. For more info, contact the chamber at (406) 883-5969.

Wellness Presentation

Join us for Engaging Employees in Wellness with Paula Miller, PHR, WHP. This presentation consists of an overview of creating a wellness program that works and further addresses building momentum within the organization to sustain a long-term wellness initiative. Examples and samples will demonstrate the process and its workings. The presentation will be held Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Big Sky Bistro & Art Bar, 325 Main Street in Polson. There is no charge to attend. This event is sponsored by the Lake County Job Service Employers Committee and Lake County Society for Human Resource Management. Please RSVP to Blakely at the Lake County Job Service at 883-7880 or bphillips@mt.gov.

Community Barn Dance in Ronan 

The Boys and Girls Club is hosting a Community Barn Dance from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Ronan Community Center on Oct. 13. We will have a square dance caller, jazz band and spaghetti dinner. Bring your whole family – there is fun for everyone! Call Brenda Dennis at 883-0600 with any questions. There is no cover charge, but donations will be taken and all proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of our community. Hope to see you there!

Bison Range Hours

The National Bison Range’s new fall hours are now in effect. The Visitor Center will be open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The scenic drives will be open from 6:30 a.m. to dark, with the actual closing time for the Main Gate changing frequently as the sun sets earlier every day. Visitors will need to begin the Red Sleep Mountain Drive by 6 p.m.to be able to finish before the main gate closes. This 19-mile, one-way gravel road takes about 1½ to 2 hours to drive. The shorter Buffalo Prairie Drive takes about 20 to 30 minutes.  Questions? Contact Bison Range Visitor Center at 406-644-2211.

Fall Mack Days

The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes are sponsoring 2012 Fall Mack Days on Flathead Lake. It will be held Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays except for the last 10 days will be straight fishing days. Great prizes and a fish fry will be held on November 11 for all participants and their families at Blue Bay with the award ceremony at 5 p.m. Anglers may enter on the website www.mackdays.com, pick up applications at area sporting goods stores or call in their entries to 406-883-2888 ext. 7294. Entries will not be mailed out. Good Luck! Contact: CSKT 406-883-2888 Ex: 7294

Candidate Forum

The Big Arm Association has invited the two candidates for Senate District 6, the two candidates for House District 11 and the two candidates for Lake County Commissioner to a forum in Big Arm. The forum will be held Thursday, Oct. 18 at the Big Arm Historic School. The historic school, on 7th Street, will be open from 6:30 p.m. and will start with an informal meet and greet over coffee. The forum will begin at 7 p.m. with Paul Maurer as moderator. Each candidate will have two minutes to introduce themselves and will be given time to answer questions generated from local residents. We anticipate the forum will be at least one hour. After the forum we will serve coffee and dessert. Please call if you need further information, 849-6628.