POLSON — Join in on Saturday, Jan. 12, for the first 3-mile jog of the year. Pre-register by Jan. 4 at www.polsonrunning.com to receive a hat. Packet pickup is Friday, Jan. 11 from 6-8 p.m. at Polson Physical Therapy. Starting line is Saturday, at Century 21 Big Sky Real Estate at 8 a.m., with the walk/run to begin at 9 a.m. Registration fee is $15 with a hat or $10 without a hat. Proceeds benefit Mission Valley Aquatics. Call (406) 883-8322 for more information.

PABLO — The People’s Center invites you to an exhibit opening featuring cradleboards and baby carriers. The exhibit takes place on Jan. 16 from 4-6 p.m. at the center in Pablo.

Come and see the many different styles of cradleboards and baby carriers used by the Salish, Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai people and other Native American/Indian tribes across the United States and Canada. See the beautiful craftsmanship, beading, and sewing for cradleboards still used today. The exhibit runs from Jan. 16 to June 6.

For more information call (406) 675-0160.

POLSON — The first community dance will be held on Jan. 16 at the Elks Club from 7-10 p.m. Tunes will be played by Ken’s Country Combo. Requests are welcome, as are treats.

CHARLO — The Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana will hold its 13th annual black tie dinner on Thursday, Jan. 17, at the Allentown Restaurant in the Ninepipes Lodge. Start your evening with a complimentary tour of the museum at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m.  

Dan Gallagher from the American Legion “Forgotten Warriors” Post 101 will be the guest speaker. Gallagher is a graduate of Charlo High School and the University of Montana and is a Vietnam veteran and veterans advocate. He can be heard on KUFM’s “Veterans Viewpoint” and was honored with the 2012 Peacemaker Award by the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center and the Missoula Peace Quilters.

Students from Charlo School will sing a few patriotic songs in honor of the patriotic theme of this year’s fundraiser, and Diane Torres will also provide musical entertainment. A silent auction rounds out the evening’s events. Tickets for the fundraiser are $45 each. Entree choices include prime rib, chicken or salmon, and reservations can be made by calling the museum at (406) 644-3435.

PABLO —The SKC President’s Lecture Series welcomes Regina Sievert, whose lecture title is “Windows into Culturally Congruent Instruction.” The lecture takes place Friday, Jan. 18, at the Arlee/Charlo Theatre from 12-1 p.m. and is open to the public.

POLSON - Western Montana Stockmen’s Association will hold their annual winter meeting on Saturday, Jan. 19. at the KwaTaqNuq Resort and Casino.

The business meeting will begin at 2 p.m. followed by happy hour at 5 p.m. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and then there will be music for dancing. 

Although the event is almost sold out, a few tickets are available at the door. 

LONE PINE — Flathead Irrigation Project irrigators and other interested parties are invited to a meeting called by the Western Montana Water Users Association on Monday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Lone Pine Hall. The meeting presentation will provide information on the proposals put forth by the Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission relative to the quantification of the reserved water rights for the Confedrated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the WMWUA efforts to protect the water rights of irrigators and others that will adversely be affected by the existing proposal. The water compact will affect not only project irrigators but, as presently written, will impact almost all water users in Western Montana.

POLSON — The regular meeting of the Polson Board of Education will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, at the district office, 111 Fourth Ave. E.

CHARLO — The Kuilix chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, at Hope Stockstad’s home in Charlo. Her phone number is (406) 644-2933. Call her if you need directions.  Prospective members are welcome.

CHARLO — National Honor Society students will host a Charlo community blood drive on Wednesday, Jan. 23, from 1-6 p.m. in the multipurpose room at the school.

To schedule an appointment or for more information, please contact Sharon Hertz at (406) 644-2206 ext. 245.

RONAN — Concerned Citizens of Western Montana will be holding a meeting to update the public on the CSKT reserved water rights compact expected to go to the Montana legislature for ratification in 2013.

The meeting will take place at the Ronan High School auditorium, 130 Third Ave. W., Ronan, from 6:30-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23. Join us to learn more about the water compact documents and to hear a differing point of view on this issue. Dr. Kate Vandemoer, a hydrologist from Arizona will do a presentation and a representative of the Western Montana Water Users Association will update you on their organization’s efforts to ensure an equitable agreement for irrigators. For more information call (406) 626-3353 or email us at montanasovereign@gmail.com.

CHARLO — Fort Connah Restoration Society will hold its annual meeting at 5:30 p.m., on Jan. 24 at Ninepipes (Allentown) Restaurant. Prospective members are welcome.

BIG ARM — The Big Arm Association will host the Humanities Montana Speakers Bureau program “The Fur Trade in Montana” with Dr. E. B. Eiselein on Friday, Jan. 25. The program will be at Big Arm Historic School, starting with a potluck at 6 p.m. and the presentation at 7 p.m. The presentation is free and open to the public. Partial funding for the speakers bureau program is provided by a legislative grant from Montana’s Cultural Trust and the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

Eiselein teaches Native American Studies at Flathead Valley Community College. Writing under his Indian name “Speaks Lightning,” he has produced about 20 books dealing with various aspects of Indian culture, history and spirituality. His books about Montana’s Indian nations include “Montana’s Indian Cultures” and “Indian Montana: A Winter Count.” He currently serves as the senior historian for Native American Netroots. He has a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Arizona. He is of Canadian Anishinabe descent. 

For more information, please call Alison at (406) 849-6628.