Briefs - August 15, 2014
Troy, Libby schools start again
Morrison Principal Diane Rewerts welcomes all elementary students and parents to a new year. The elementary office is now open, and every parent of a kindergarten-through-sixth grade student is required to come in one day next week, from Monday, Aug. 18 to Wednesday, Aug. 20, to complete paperwork and receive teacher and classroom assignments. The office will be open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday and from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
School begins at 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Classroom supply lists are available at the Elementary School’s office and administrative office, Kootenai Drug and the Sandpoint Wal-Mart store. Students riding the bus should contact Keith Haggerty, the district’s transportation director, at 293-1170 to check for approximate pick-up and drop-off times and locations.
The Morrison open house is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2. There will be a dinner served from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., followed by a presentation for parents from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Classroom visits and teacher presentations will be from 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Libby Public Schools’ start date is Aug. 28. Libby Elementary’s open house is 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 27. Libby Middle School’s open house is 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 27. Libby High School’s open house is 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 27. The Central School’s open house was 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 14.
No fall classes for Libby Ballet
Lori Stevens will not be teaching ballet classes for the fall of 2014. In a statement, Stevens said she has decided to take the fall off to take care of health issues and personal business in Missoula where she lives. She said plans will be made for spring 2015 in December.
Shakespeare play performed in Libby
Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” will be performed at 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Asa Wood Elementary amphitheatre. The play is sponsored by the Rotary Club of the Kootenai Valley and is performed by the Montana Shakespeare in the Parks organization. The performance is free, and refreshments are welcome.
Ignite the Nites comes to Libby
Ignite the Nites, one of Libby’s most popular events, is set to burn through town this weekend. This staple of Libby local life includes car burnouts, a Friday night cruise and other types of entertainment. The events will be held Thursday, Aug. 14, Friday, Aug. 15 and Saturday, Aug. 16.
Two groups sue Spring Creek mine
Two environmental groups are suing to block expansion of the Spring Creek coal mine in Montana.
The Northern Plains Resource Council and the Western Organization of Resource Councils filed the lawsuit Thursday in federal court, naming Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and the U.S. Office of Surface Mining as defendants.
The groups claim the Interior Department did not seek public input through an environmental review before approving the expansion. They also say Cloud Peak Energy has reclaimed very little of the land already disturbed from its existing mining operations.
New Mexico-based WildEarth Guardians also is suing to stop the Spring Creek mining. Attorney General Tim Fox has intervened in that lawsuit, saying blocking the mining would deprive the state of millions of dollars.
Landowners offered new wolf-management tool
According to a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks release, the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission recently adopted rules and an annual wolf quota completing the process necessary to allow private landowners to take a limited number of wolves per year that potentially threaten livestock, domestic dogs or human safety.
The rule was adopted to comply with Senate Bill 200, a new state law passed by the Montana Legislature last year.
President Obama calls for inquiry into STL shooting
Associated Press — President Barack Obama on Thursday said there is no excuse for excessive use of force by police in a St. Louis suburb against crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teenager shot by a white police officer.
Obama said there was “no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights” and also criticized police for arresting two journalists covering the racially-charged clashes.