April 15 Briefly

Food, diaper drive to benefit Libby pantry

Libby Care Center residents are sponsoring a food and diaper drive for the Libby Food Pantry.

For those who can donate, items can be dropped off at 308 E. Third St. weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Donations will be accepted until April 30.

For more information, call 293-6285.

Stakeholders change meeting to May 14

The Kootenai Forest Stakeholders will next meet on May 14 at 6 p.m. at Flathead Valley Community College-Lincoln County Campus in Libby.

The board voted to change the date of the next meeting because of a conflict on Thursday with the Montanore Mine Project’s open house meeting.

Fundraiser set for Jones to go ‘Down Under’

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser to help send Steph Jones to Australia to participate in an international sports tournament is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. on Friday, April 17, at the Kootenai Senior Center in Troy.

The cost is $5 for adults, $4 for students and $3 for seniors and kids. The dinner will include spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, dessert and soda pop.

Jones, currently a senior at Troy High School, is trying to raise money to go to Australia this summer to play in a football all-star game at the Down Under Games.

New system interrupts MV office on Monday

The Lincoln County Motor Vehicle staff will be able to provide only very limited services on Monday, April 20 due to final preparations for the implementation of a new computer system, treasurer Nancy Trotter Sutton announced.

No title work or registration renewals will be completed on that day because  of limited use of the new system. Motor vehicle transactions will resume on Tuesday, April 21, but motor vehicle staffers ask to allow for extra time to complete transactions.

The change involves deployment of the MERLIN system. An acronym for Montana Enchanced Registration and Licensing Information Network, the new system is designed to streamline the various motor vehicle department processes.

On the Net: For more on MERLIN, go online to: www.doj.mt.gov/driving/merlinproject/

Yaak Rod and Gun Club plans safety course

The Yaak Rod and Gun Club is planning to hold a hunter safety course on April 18-19 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Those who sign up for the course should plan to pack a lunch.

To sign up or for more information, call Keith Haggerty at 295-5159.

Rehberg staffer available in Libby on April 16

U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg announced his congressional field representative, Larry Anderson, will be conducting traveling office hours in Libby on Thursday, April 16, at 2 p.m., at Libby City Hall.

The public is invited to express their viewpoints on specific issues and legislation, or to inquire about federal assistance and programs. Constituents are free to drop by the location or call Anderson in Rehberg’s Missoula District office for an appointment at 406-543-9550.

Auxiliary post scholarship deadline is May 31

The deadline to apply for four $500 special-assistance scholarships from the VFW John E. Freeman Auxiliary Post No. 5514 is May 31.

The scholarships, which were provided from the Clyde E. Mason Jr. Scholarship Fundraiser in October, will be announced in June and can go toward any trade school, college or university.

To receive an application, those interested may send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Fran Stanton, P.O. Box 445, Troy, MT 59935.

For more information, call Stanton at 295-4542 (no calls after 9 p.m.).

Traumatic brain injury group to meet

North Valley Support Group’s traumatic brain injury meetings are set for Tuesday, April 21 in Libby and Wednesday, April 22 in Troy.

The group will meet at 5:30 p.m., on April 21 at the Families in Partnership offices, 83 Collins Ave., in Libby, and at 6 p.m. on April 22 at Kootenai Senior Center in Troy.

The meetings are intended for people with brain injuries and family members to meet and talk about education, understanding and resources. Support groups provide confidentiality and empathy of experiences of other head injury survivors.

The April meeting will cover concussions in sports, use of helmets, mild traumatic brain injury, the “Jell-O Science Project” and discussion of the spring raffle.

For information, call Don Walker in Libby (293-6518) or Laura Wilde in Troy (295-9753).

Free tobacco cessation program available

St. John’s Lutheran Hospital and the Center for Asbestos Related Disease have teamed up to provide a free tobacco cessation program for the community.

The 90-minute class will provide information about creating a quitting plan, medications that might be helpful and cessation resources through the Montana Tobacco Quit Line, and other help.

The next meeting is at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 20, in the conference room at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby.

For more information, call Susan Horelick at 293-0164.

Troy students’ play coming to Libby

“Cinderella! Cinderella!” is coming to Libby Care Center on Friday, April 10 at 2 p.m.

Besides care center residents, visitors from Achievements will be on hand for the performance. The general public is also invited to attend.

Under the guidance of Keith Meyers, the show features students from the New Horizons Learning Center – an after-school program in Troy.