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October 22, 2009
Melea Burke/Valley Journal
Rebecca Stipe, a St. Luke Community Healthcare employee who's also an expectant mother, receives an injection of H1N1 flu vaccine Tuesday. Pregnant women, infants, people who live with infants and children with health conditions are among the first groups to receive the vaccine.
H1N1 virus spreads throughout Lake County
By Berl Tiskus,
Melea Burke and
Kate Haake
Valley Journal
Local schools are doing their best to keep kids in school and swine flu out. While student absentee rates are up due in part to the spread of H1N1, school officials are not considering closing the doors, as schools in other parts of the state have done.
H1N1 is the only flu virus circulating right now, according to Lake County Public Health Nurse Jami Lynch, who said flu season is just getting started in the Mission Valley.
The numbers of people sick with the flu “has really ebbed and flowed,” Lynch said.
The Tribal and Lake County Health Departments are working in conjunction with local schools to keep schools open. The only reason a school would close would be if the entire staff was also sick, Lynch said.
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Ronan city council approves annexation of commercial property
Kate Haake/Valley Journal
Harry Whalen with the Montana Rural Water Systems addresses the Ronan City Council about the increase of sewer rates.
Valley Journal
RONAN — The Ronan city council voted to amend the resolution to annex 67 acres of Sherman & Sherman property at a city council meeting last Tuesday.
The council approved the annexation of a smaller portion — only 27 acres south of the city between 9th and 10th Avenues.
“We are learning as we do this,” Miller said.
After checking with the department of revenue, Miller said that the city would actually collect a little more taxes from the 27-acre annexation rather than the 67-acre annexation.
Sherman & Sherman also consulted the city council on a boundary line adjustment to ensure that the first lot of the property could be sold to an interested party.
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Man dies after truck rolls in North Crow hay field
By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
RONAN — Dan Hochhalter, a 39-year old man who formerly lived in Ronan, died due to injuries sustained in a one-vehicle crash early Tuesday morning northeast of Ronan.
According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Shad Anderson, two men were driving in a freshly cut hay field south of Canyon Mills Road outside of Ronan when they spotted a deer in the headlights and turned the truck sharply to the left in order to view the deer more closely.
The sharp turn caused the 1984 Dodge truck to roll three-quarters of a turn, landing on the driver’s side.
The passenger and the driver were not wearing their seatbelts, and alcohol involvement is still under investigation, Anderson said.
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Water upgrade saves Pablo pretty penny
 Kate Haake/Valley Journal
A truck is halted for a split second before being motioned to move on. The improvements to the water and sewer system periodically block roadways in Pablo.
Valley Journal
PABLO — Without raising water rates, the Pablo/Lake County Water and Sewer District is spending $1,286,847 on improvements to the Pablo water system.
“This is a major upgrade that will increase our capacity to provide clean, drinkable water to our customers,” Pablo/Lake County Water and Sewer operator Patrick Sorrell said.
The 110-day project started three weeks ago and is funded partially by savings and partially by stimulus money. When the stimulus packages were introduced, the Pablo/ Lake County Water and Sewer District was one of the few systems in the state that was already ready to go with $333,847 saved.
The district received $203,000 from a SRF loan and $750,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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Crossett presents information on proposed resort tax
Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal
Polson City Manager Todd Crossett answers a question at the Oct. 14 informational presentation on the proposed resort tax in Polson. The resort tax proposal will be on Polson voters' ballot Nov. 3.
By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — About 40 people showed up for Polson City Manager Todd Crossett’s informational presentation on the resort tax at Polson High School on Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. The resort tax will be on the ballot for Polson voters on Nov. 3.
Crossett said the resort tax was “not my personal agenda; I’ve been in the city four months.”
Crossett’s PowerPoint presentation on the resort tax described the tax as a local option sales tax, capped at 3 percent. A resort tax needs to be approved by the voters and can be collected by certain Montana communities of 5,500 people or fewer at the time the resort tax was passed.
A resort tax, according to the PowerPoint, is one of the limited local funding options allowed by the sate. Other funding options include passing a levy or raising property taxes. If passed, 20 percent of monies raised from the resort tax would be used to reduce property tax as well as keep local control and accountability.
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Health Fair fun way to stay active, healthy
 Kate Haake/Valley Journal
There were lots of fun, healthy activities and informational booths to take in at the "Just do it for our kids health" health fair in Pablo.
By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
PABLO — On Friday, the Salish and Kootenai Tribal Health Department kicked off flu season with “Just do it for our kids health” health fair, complete with fun activities, dreaded flu shots and information for children and parents on healthy lifestyles.
“We focus on prevention,” Tribal Health Educator Margene Asay said.
With less than $30,000 from a Montana State University nutrition and fitness grant, the department is preparing to give similar fairs each month focusing on preventative health.
The fair was composed of different stations, starting with the mouth and the teeth and giving way to the heart, the stomach and skeletal system.
Some stations gave away toothbrushes, bags, halloween costumes and healthy foods, such as cheese and granola bars and toothbrushes.
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More news ...
‣ Election 2009 - Ronan residents to choose judge, council members
‣ Election 2009 - Candidates vie for city council, mayor positions in St. Ignatius
‣ Election 2009 - DeVries, Marchello run for Polson Mayor
‣ Election 2009 - Polson Ward 2 (4-year seat) candidates profiled
‣ Election 2009 - Polson Ward 2 (2-year seat) candidates profiled
‣ Election 2009 - Polson Ward 3 candidates profiled
‣ Election 2009 - Unofficial Tribal Council primary election results
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