Communities unite for Easter activities

Old Man Winter refused to lessen his grip and give way to spring over the weekend, causing one local event to cancel on a short notice.

The 23rd annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Mission Mountain Enterprises was scheduled to take place at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan Saturday morning, but when organizers arrived at 9 a.m. to start hiding eggs, they were met with 4-5 inches of accumulation.

“It was still snowing sideways” at that time, Jeanne Jackson, leader of Twice But Nice, said Monday afternoon.

She said she doesn’t recall a time when the hunt was cancelled due to weather or any other reason.

“It was a bummer,” she said.

Each year, businesses in and around Ronan help sponsor the event, which Jackson said is routine.

“They (the businesses) know what we need” each year to put the event on.

Previously, the egg hunt was held at Bockman Park but due to flooding this year, it was going to be held at the county fairgrounds.

The sketchy weather didn’t stop Peter Cottontail as he made his way through the Mission Valley over the weekend, stopping at Safeway in Polson along the way.

Helping the Easter Bunny get to the store were volunteers from the Polson Rural Fire Department.

For 19 years, Polson resident Nancy Hausermann has organized an Easter event, which she funds herself along with donations and small fundraisers throughout the community.

The annual event began when Hausermann gave children from the Head Start school baskets, and each year it has grown, she said.

Due to health reasons, Hausermann said this year marked her last coordinating the event.

There’s no qualifying in terms of which child can receive a basket, she explained.

“There’s no discrimination. It’s just for kids in general.”

Through the years, Hausermann has raised money for veterans, residents who have needed help and local organizations.

“It’s just been a lot of things” where people have been in need and she’s helped, she said.

Polson Rural Fire Department Captain Drew Hoel said that whenever Hausermann needs help, the firefighters make it a point to help her, as a way to show support not only to her, but the community as well.

“She’s done an excellent job” of helping the community, Hoel said.

Whenever Hausermann needs help with one of her fundraisers, Hoel said that the department is beside her, ready to help.

This year, volunteer firefighters helped Hausermann and the Easter Bunny pass out 425 baskets.

Several years ago, she had more than 700 baskets, and just the right amount of children passed through the event.

“Every year, we always seem to have enough,” she said with a laugh.

In Arlee, the Matt family hosted an annual Easter Egg hunt, a tradition for the town.

For 18 years, matriarch Betty Matt and family has organized the event with help from sponsors including the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, S&K Gaming and Rod’s Harvest Foods, along with donations from community residents.

This year, Blackfoot Telephone Company and the Salish & Kootenai Housing Authority in Pablo donated to the event.

Matt’s daughter, Wendy Adams and her husband, Bill, started the hunt in their backyard and through the years have moved it to the pow wow grounds and now this year the commmunity center.

Each year, Adams said “more kids kept coming,” prompting a larger spot where children could roam, looking for their treats.

This year, 161 kids registered to participate, but organizers counted 252 total.

“It turned out really good.” Adams said.