In Brief

KVCS students deliver Easter art to care center

March 11 was Ski Day for Kootenai Valley Christian School. Some students traveled to ski at Blacktail Mountain, while other students remained at KVCS and created Easter art projects. Artists had a choice of watercolor painting or making a grapevine wreath. The Easter art pieces were distributed by the students at the Libby Care Center to residents and staff.

Cradle to Graduation Initiative hits Libby schools

The Graduation Matters initiative has focused efforts on Montana Office of Public Instruction Preschool Matters. Graduation Matters Libby is welcoming new babies into the community by giving them Future Logger onesies and a refrigerator magnet with some ideas for parents on how to help their babies brain develop in  the most important year of the child’s life. Funds for the gifts were provided through the Graduation Matters grant.

Libby Public Schools opened its first preschool this year with great success. There are two classrooms that can serve up to 18 students per class. Registration for next year is taking place now. Please contact the Central Office for more information.

Libby driver services offers expanded hours

The State of Montana is pleased to announce an increase in the availability of service for Lincoln County Residents.  Starting Monday, March 21, 2016, the Libby Driver Service office will have the following hours: Monday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on Thursday and from 12 noon until 1 p.m. every day.

The first and third Wednesdays are reserved for CDL Skills testing, so the office may be closed those mornings.

For services other than renewals and ID cards, appointments are required. Appointments can be made by calling 1-866-450-8034 or by going online at dojmt.gov/driving.  Walk-ins will be worked in around appointments as we are able to, appointments are encouraged.

The office is located at 418 Main Avenue across from the Post Office parking lot. At this time, driver services does not accept cards for payment, cash or check is welcome.

IRS offers tax prep assistance

The Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers that they may be eligible to receive free tax help at more than 12,000 preparation sites available nationwide. The sites, generally located at community and neighborhood centers, provide tax assistance to taxpayers with low- and moderate-incomes and the elderly.

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to individuals who generally make 54,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and individuals with limited English proficiency who need assistance in preparing their taxes. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those who are 60 and older. VITA and TCE volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS to help with many tax questions, including credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a significant tax credit for workers who earned $53,267 or less in 2015. 

Hospital seeking health fair vendors

Cabinet Peaks Medical Center is once again gearing up for their annual health fair.  The fair takes place on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the Libby Memorial Events Center and celebrates health and wellness with the community by bringing together numerous displays, activities, and screenings.

“We are once again inviting health and wellness related organizations and businesses who want to bring awareness to their products and services to be a part of the fair,” stated Kate Stephens, Marketing Manager at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center.  “We have always encouraged our vendors to do more than just display their goods by putting together fun and interactive exhibits.  The more interactive and fun the booth is, the more fair-goers will remember about each vendor’s goods and services.”

Exhibit space rental is $30 for vendors who are selling items and $10 for those who are displaying and educating.  On the day of the fair, the doors will open at 9:30 am, and the fair is free and open to the public until 12:30pm.

“With hundreds of people attending the fair each year, it’s an extremely inexpensive way to get your health and wellness word out in our community,” added Stephens.  “We only have a limited number of exhibit spaces available, so if businesses or individuals are interested, I encourage them to contact us as soon as possible.”

Proceeds from the fair go right back into the event to help offset the cost of facility rental.  If you are interested in entering a booth at the 2016 Cabinet Peaks Medical Center Health Fair, please contact Paula Collins at 283-7221 or pcol2@cabinetpeaks.org.