Area Briefs

Dental hygienist

rejoins the CHC

Naomi Nash, a registered dental hygienist, is joining the Northwest Community Health Center’s dental team.  

Nash previously worked for the Northwest Community Health Center in a part-time capacity and is now returning as a full-time clinician.  

Maria Clemons, the health center’s executive director, is excited about Nash joining the staff.

“I am thrilled to have Naomi back on staff,” Clemons said. “She brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, and her dedication to quality care is a perfect fit for our organization.”     

Nash is a longtime resident of Libby and has been a practicing dental hygienist for nearly 30 years.

Quilt guild to host

open house Monday

The Kootenai Valley Quilt Guild is hosting an open house Monday, March 10, at Christ Lutheran Church.

Beginning at 6 p.m. at the Fellowship Room, the open house will include a dinner and exhibition tables, which will include no-sew gift boxes, mini classes, sculpted fabric bowls and scrapbooks.

The open house is free.

For more information, call President Mabel Edington at 293-3316.

Irish Fair scheduled

for this Saturday

The 19th Annual Libby Irish Fair is this Saturday, March 8, at the Memorial Center.

There will be an arts and crafts fair from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., which includes various drawings and music.

Daytime admission is free.

In the evening, the music of Bridges Home will entertain. Tickets for this concert are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

For more information, go to www.libbyirishfair.org or call 293-6407.

Derailment closes

U.S. Highway 93

OLNEY — A BNSF Railway train derailment in western Montana sent 45 empty coal cars off the tracks and closed a portion of U.S. Highway 93 near the town of Olney.

BNSF spokesman Matthew Jones says no one was injured when the eastbound train went off the tracks at about 3 p.m. Saturday.

Some of the derailed cars are on a bridge over the highway.

Jones says crews are working to clear the tracks and expect the road and tracks to be open by Sunday evening.

Amtrak’s Empire Builder travels on those tracks. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says trains will be held in Spokane, Wash., and Whitefish until the tracks are cleared.

Illegal fish stocking

is FWP initiative

GREAT FALLS — State officials are considering a plan aimed at stopping the illegal stocking of fish into public waters.

The Great Falls Tribune reports that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has created a draft rule outlining how officials will respond to an unauthorized placement of fish in streams or lakes.

The proposed rule would have the agency launching an inquiry within 30 days of a discovery of the fish.

The agency would also develop a plan to remove the fish or suppress them, including using nets, electrofishing and chemicals.

Recent illegal stockings include northern pike in the Upper Missouri River near Toston and walleye in Noxon Rapids Reservoir in northwestern Montana.