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Polson Driver Education program gets new car

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POLSON —Polson Driver’s Education received a new car for their program in January from a Kalispell motor company.

Kalispell Toyota donated the new car, a pale green Toyota Camry with only 20,000 miles on its odometer.

Polson superintendent David Whitesell said John Hauss, who handles local advertising for Kalispell Toyota, approached him about ways the dealership could help Polson schools.

Hauss said the two men talked about different needs, including a reader board downtown, but after Whitesell thought about the matter for a week, he decided the district needed to update the driver’s education program. Whitesell asked Hauss, “If you would, could you give us a car?”

Kalispell Toyota’s owner Gerrid Gandrud agreed to the request.

Thoroughly inspected by the dealership and fitted with necessary additions, Polson student drivers now have a newer Camry to practice driving in.

“It has pedals (for driver’s education purposes), side air bags and more room in the back seat for kids who are riding,” Whitesell said. “It’s a huge upgrade.”

Driver’s education instructor Harold Lair also said he is thankful for the newer car.

Kalispell Toyota just wanted to help out, Hauss said. The business believes in a fair price and taking really good care of their customers. If a dealership does that, customers will keep coming back, he noted.

In the meantime, Polson students will learn to drive in a newer, safer vehicle.

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