New rules see more businesses closing doors

Gov. Steve Bullock cranked up social distancing mandates another notch with a March 26 stay-at-home directive intended to “buy time for healthcare workers on the frontline” by requiring the temporary closing of all Montana businesses and operations considered non-essential.

The governor’s order led to additional business closings in Lincoln County.

Bullock’s directive came as cases of COVID-19 increased in Montana. The order took effect at 12:01 a.m. March 28 and will continue through April 10.

Initially, employees with Libby’s Sports Center determined after a few phone calls that the store would be able to keep its doors open under the governor’s guidelines.

“They have told us we can stay open for now,” said Gary Halvorson, store manager, on March 27. “I guess they want people to get out and recreate.”

Yet subsequent direction from the state clarified that the store could sell only guns and ammunition. Bullock’s directive had said that an essential business activity could include “firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers for purposes of safety and security.”

It was a different story for Northwest Motorsports a few blocks down California Avenue.

“We’re shutting down tomorrow,” said Brian Gilmore, general manager, on March 27.

He said Northwest Motorsports has seven employees. The business sells motorcycles, ATVs, boats, snowmobiles and more.

Nearby, Valerie Souther, owner of the Rivermist home store and gift shop, said she decided March 27 to temporarily close. She said she is 70 years old and the closing could help her avoid exposure to the virus.

The Kootenai National Forest announced March 27 that it is closing 35 developed recreation sites. The campgrounds will be closed indefinitely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forest Service said.

“The health and safety of visitors, as well as Forest Service employees and volunteers, is paramount during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Kootenai National Forest said in a news release.

For a complete list of closures, go to www.fs.usda.gov/kootenai.

The closures do not impact other recreation areas on the Kootenai, including trails, trailheads, dispersed camping sites or lake access sites. However, toilets at these sites will be closed based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Kootenai Falls site remains open.

The Forest Service asked people to refrain from high-risk activities such as rock-climbing, noting that search and rescue and law enforcement response could be limited because of COVID-19.

Chad Benson, supervisor of Kootenai National Forest, said the Forest Service encourages people to get outside during a stressful time but asked that they recreate responsibly and follow guidelines for social distancing.

The Forest Service said personal firewood cutting will be free to the general public from April 1 through June 1 on the Kootenai National Forest. No permit will be required. Woodcutters can take up to 12 cords of firewood for personal use. Personal firewood cutting allows individuals to removed downed timber or standing dead trees only.

Owners of regional child care facilities recently described varying impacts of the shutdown of public schools in Lincoln County and social distancing mandates tied to COVID-19 that have resulted in employment layoffs of some parents.

Some facilities reported increased demand and others said their daily headcount has declined because parents who have been laid off are now home with their children and reluctant to spend money on childcare.

Bobbie Becquart, a co-owner of Mama Bears daycare in Troy, said on March 23 that the facility had four children in its care that day. Mama Bears’ daily maximum capacity is 12.

Becquart said Mama Bears would typically be close to maximum capacity this time of year as parents who have been on seasonal layoffs return to the workforce. Now, she said, layoffs tied to COVID-19 social distancing requirements have resulted in parents being at home with their children.

“Honestly, I’m kind of upset about it because we were just beginning to recover from the winter,” she said.

Becquart said Mama Bears routinely focuses on sanitizing the daycare but said COVID-19 has just amped hand washing and other measures.

In Libby, Stephine LaCoss said her Lil Logger Child Care had experienced increased demand with school closings. Lil Logger, which also has a maximum capacity of 12 children, had too many parents wanting to place their children and not enough spots, LaCoss said.

She has parents working in jobs considered essential, such as healthcare and banking, and that none of these parents had been laid off as of March 23.

Still, LaCoss acknowledged that many parents are stressed because of the uncertainties tied to COVID-19 and that it is important for Lil Logger to emphasize normalcy and consistency.

On March 15, Gov. Steve Bullock ordered the closings of Montana’s public schools until March 27. On March 24, he extended the closings through April 10.

His directive also continued until April 10 the suspension of dine-in food service and the closing of bars, casinos, health clubs, gyms and other businesses where people gather. Those closures have resulted in some layoffs in Lincoln County.