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Ronan schoolchildren walk and roll to school with Monte

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RONAN — School buses for the Ronan school district were nearly empty on Oct. 2, but superintendent Andy Holmlund was not bothered by the absences. 

“Just for today, it’s okay,” Holmlund said. 

Instead of riding the bus, approximately 300 students, parents, teachers, and Holmlund walked from Bockman Park to their schools with special guest Monte, the University of Montana mascot. The “Ronan Walks and Rolls” event was part of the National Walk/Bike To School initiative. 

“(The event) is an amazing community outreach to encourage healthy options to get to school,” Holmlund said. 

Students were given backpacks and T-shirts from the Ronan Parks and Recreation department. Plums, yogurt and other healthy snacks were available thanks to the generosity of the CSKT Fitness Staff, Lake County DUI Task Force, St. Luke Community Health Care Network, Women4Wellness, Mission Mart, Food Corp at Mission Mountain Food Enterprises, Kicking Horse Job Corps and Walmart. 

The star of the show was Monte, who arrived and immediately sprang into action by planting hugs and kisses on a toddler. The giant bear cartwheeled, hugged, piggybacked, and horseplayed with children along the way to Ronan Middle School and K. William Harvey Elementary School. 

Getting children outside and moving is important, commented Ronan Parks Board Secretary Carlene Bockman.

“In this day of all the electronics and TVs, kids forget it’s fun to be outside and that it makes you feel good too,” Bockman said. 

Gigi Yazzie, a Ronan Fitness Center employee, said kids need to learn the importance of exercise. 

“I think this is a great idea that at least one day a year kids can get excited about walking to school,” Yazzie said. 

 The annual Walks and Rolls event has been getting kids excited every year since 2009. It is unknown if the program will continue after event organizer and parks director Jennifer Rolfsness’s position was eliminated by Ronan City Council last week. 

Parent and school counselor Tammy Young said having Monte along the way helped draw families to the event. 

“My son is a Monte fanatic,” Young said. “As soon as I told him Monte was coming, he was chomping a the bit for weeks.” 

Teenager Kevon Cole said volunteering with others from Kicking Horse Job Corps was fun, but meeting the bandana-wearing bear was also a great experience.

“Monte is awesome,” Cole said.

 

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