| January 21, 2010
Native artist uses art, stories to encourage kids
Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal
Monte Yellow Bird tells a coyote story to a class full of third-graders. Yellow Bird and his wife, Emily, were at Linderman Elementary School last week serving as artists in residence.
By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — “Jump over the enemy,” Monte Yellow Bird, Sr., said, quoting his uncle. The “enemy” is someone who tells you you can’t achieve or become whoever you would like to be Monte told a group of fourth graders.
Monte, an internationally renowned artist, and his wife Emily, were at Linderman Elementary School during the week of Jan. 11 to 14. Originally from White Shield, N.D., Monte is a Native American, a member of the Arikara Hidatsa Nation.
The Yellow Birds were at Linderman to help the second, third and fourth graders create herds of mud ponies and dozens of warrior shields.
But art was not the only subject Monte talked about with the students. Monte and Emily told coyote stories and discussed family heritage, goals and dreams with the students.
Second and third graders made mud ponies after hearing the story “The Mud Pony” retold by Caron Lee Cohen and illustrated by Shonto Begay, second and third graders made mud ponies.
Mud ponies, Monte said, are based on traditional Pawnee stories. These stories are “poor boy stories of leadership” Monte said, about aspiring to greater things. In the story, a poor boy wants a pony ..........
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Arlee celebrates completion of new fire hall
Melea Burke/Valley Journal
Members of the Arlee Volunteer Fire Department gather in front of the new fire hall before a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday.
By Melea Burke
Valley Journal
ARLEE — Despite the chilly, drizzly fog that settled over Arlee Saturday, a festive air surrounded the new fire hall as the community gathered to celebrate the completion of the facility.
The building represents countless hours of planning and hard work that started back in 2001, when the fire board learned that the expansion of U.S. Highway 93 would cut off access to the existing facility that had housed the department for more than 50 years.
“Now here it is, January of 2010, and we’re able to move in to our new fire hall,” fire board president Susan Black said at Saturday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We have a fire station that meets the needs of our hardworking, well-trained emergency (personnel).
“We have so many people to thank.”
Beginning in 2001, the board met with .........
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SKC helps local children remember MLK, celebrate diversity
Kate Haake/Valley Journal
Kaidyan Phoenix, one of the children in attendance from the Head Start Program, had the opportunity to participate in an activity at the Diversity Fair on Wednesday. Phoenix along with other members of her class drew pictures that were ironed on a green and off-white quilt.
Valley Journal
PABLO — For elementary students in Lake County, keeping the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. alive became an interactive, hands-on experience last Thursday.
More than 400 children came to the Diversity Fair at Salish Kootenai College, which was part of the week-long program “Celebrate the Dream.”
Children swarmed the tables set up with diversity-themed art projects, including quilt-making, drawing, print making and weaving. Some children even left with their very own prints of Martin Luther King Jr. and God’s eye crafts.
“For the kids, it’s a good opportunity to really see and understand that there are different cultures in the community,” Diversity Fair co-organizer and MLK committee member, Co Carew said. “People can express their culture through the arts.”
America Nieves Morale came to the “Diversity Fair” armed with ...........
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Fishing areas reopen in valley
Valley Journal
The water levels in Kicking Horse, Ninepipe, and Pablo Reservoirs are all presently above minimum recreational pool levels. The Tribal Fisheries Program announced the reopening to fishing in these reservoirs effective immediately in Kicking Horse Reservoir, while Ninepipe and Pablo Reservoirs reopened on Jan. 16, following the end of waterfowl hunting season Jan. 15.
Anglers are reminded that there are daylight restrictions for fishing at Ninepipe and Pablo Reservoir. Fishing is legal from daylight to dusk.
Tribal Fisheries Program maintains a minimum pool level in St. Mary’s Lake to facilitate access into the spawning tributary which is Dry Lake Creek. In November, after bull trout have moved into Dry Lake Creek to spawn and returned to St. Mary’s Lake,........
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Seniors enjoy virtual bowling in St. Ignatius
Melea Burke/Valley Journal
Lois Delaney releases a ball during a Wii bowling session Monday at the St. Ignatius Senior Citizens Center.
Valley Journal
ST. IGNATIUS — You’d think a junior high girls’ group was having a party, with all the squeals and giggles coming from inside the St. Ignatius Senior Citizens Center Monday morning. But it was just a bunch of senior ladies enjoying their weekly Wii bowling session, a tradition that started several months ago when the senior center received a grant from the St. Ignatius Old Town Commission to purchase a Wii game system, flat screen television and TV stand.
The idea was that the Wii would provide members with a fun way to get some exercise, by playing Wii Sports and using the Wii Fit program. While there aren't any workout classes scheduled yet, the games have been a big hit at the center.
"For now it's just fun," board member Mack McConnell said. “They haven’t set up a league yet, (but) the same gals get together every Monday."
They play three games, rotating out players (four people can bowl at a time) so everyone gets.......
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High school principal candidates interview, visit Polson
By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Rob Hankins, Jim Howard, Thom Peck and Tom Wissink took a look at Polson and Polson High School on Jan. 14 and 15.
The four men were in town to interview for the position of Polson High School Principal.
According to Polson Superintendent David Whitesell, the four candidates were winnowed out of the 23 applications received for the position.
School District #23 staff got a chance to meet and visit with Hankins and Howard on Jan. 13 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the PHS Library. Peck and Wissink got their turn on Jan. 14 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Hankins is superintendent of .......
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York leaves Linderman for OPI position
Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal
Steve York, Principal at Linderman Elementary School, stops to visit in the hall. York and Cherie Stobie are visiting each classroom to let the students know Stobie will be stepping into York’s position.
By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Linderman Elementary School Principal Steve York will be leaving School District #23. York’s last day will be Jan. 22, and he starts his new job at the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) on Feb. 1. York’s title at OPI will be Deputy Director/Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services.
“I’m really sad to go,” York said from his light-filled office.
“This school, this district, this community, the whole valley is very near and dear to my heart,” York added.
York said his main comforter in leaving the job is that he’ll be helping all of Montana’s kids. He had nothing but praise for his professional staff of “teachers who go way above and beyond, who are confident, supportive and are truly making a difference in the life of kids. They have a tremendous amount of ability and a lot to share. ”
The Linderman staff will miss him, too.
Third grade teacher Chris Fischer said, ........
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