Special Olympics Torch Run comes through county

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is once again coordinating the local leg of the Montana Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. The run is to raise funds and awareness of Special Olympics.

Law enforcement officers across the state will hit the streets, highways and byways of Big Sky country as they carry the Flame of Hope across Montana to the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics Montana State Summer games in Billings on May14.

Traditionally, the Torch Run kicks off in Lincoln County. This year, local law enforcement officers and other community members will be running and biking across the county on Tuesday, April 29.

Two legs run through Lincoln County.

One begins Tuesday at the Idaho state line on U.S. Highway 2 at 7 a.m., passing through Troy at about 8:30 a.m., and arriving at Les Schwab Tire in Libby at about 11 a.m. for a short event with Sheriff Roby Bowe and local Olympians. The torch will move through Libby to Town Pump. The leg finishes at Happy’s Inn.

Community members are encouraged to run or bike at any point in the event.

The second leg begins at Port Rooseville on U.S. Highway 93 at 9:30 a.m., passing 4-Corners at 10 a.m. The leg eventually ends in Whitefish.

Local agencies involved include the Sheriff’s Office, Libby Police, Eureka Police, Troy Police, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana Highway Patrol and the U.S. Border Patrol.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.