Friends of Scotchman Peaks to open office in downtown Libby

Next Wednesday, Nov. 20, will be a busy day for two new neighbors in downtown Libby, as the Montana Wilderness Association and Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will host an open house at their new office.

The office, which is Suite 205 at 108 E. 4th St. is open from noon to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

 Then, Scotchman Peaks will sponsor a double-action symposium on bears featuring both Wayne Kasworm and Kim Annis at the VFW beginning at 6 p.m.

The new office, located upstairs in the old bank building at the corner of 4th and Mineral, will provide a Lincoln County base for the Montana Wilderness Association and Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, both of which have been involved in land and economic issues in the local area for some time.

“We’ve had a Lincoln County representative since we put on staff in 2009,” said Sandy Compton, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness program coordinator. “First, Charlie Clough and now Molly Montana Kieran. And for the past three years, we’ve been stewardship partners with the Kootenai National Forest on Three Rivers and the Cabinet. We thought it was a good idea to have a work space and a downtown presence in Libby, too.”

Compton will be the chief occupant of the office to begin with, maintaining hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through the winter. Montana Wilderness Association representative Amy Robinson, who is headquartered in Whitefish, will use the space when she visits Libby, and Kieran will spend a half day a week there.

“The office will be a place where people who want to learn about the work of the Friends and Montana Wilderness Association can come and do so in person,” said Compton “You can learn a lot about us online, but it’s always good to have a real live person to talk to. We invite anyone interested to stop by.”

To reach the new office, use the Fourth Street entrance and follow the signs. Light refreshments will be served during the open house.

For the bear presentation, also on Nov. 20, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will provide pizza and the VFW will have beverages available. Social hour begins at 6 p.m., and the presentation begins at 7 p.m. The VFW Club is at 114 W 2nd St.

For more information, contact sandy@scotchmanpeaks.org