RONAN — Ronan Library will host a bookmark contest for children and teenagers from Dec. 14-Jan. 15. Prizes will be awarded the winners based on originality, creativity and neatness. Pick up entry forms at the library. Please call 406-676-3682 for more information.

POLSON — The Lake County Job Service Executive Committee general meeting for January will be held Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 8:30 a.m. at First Interstate Bank in Polson. Lyn Hellegaard, executive director of Missoula Ravalli Transportation Management Association and Montana Transit Association, will discuss the findings of a transportation study that identifies local needs, transit service provider coordination and barriers, and a new voucher program.

In her 16 years in transportation, she’s helped develop tribal transportation, assisted regional providers to obtain financial and technical assistance, worked on veteran transportation issues and collaborated to pass legislation favorable to Montana.

RONAN — Vince and Mindi will perform at the Ronan Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. Vince and Mindi are a musical duet performing Western and American Roots music. They draw from swing, cowboy, bluegrass and old-time with some original material. Tickets may be purchased in Ronan at True Value and R & R Health Care Solutions and in Polson at First Interstate Bank and The Vine and Tap. For more information call 406-887-2739.

POLSON – Who doesn’t like rubber duckies? The January Parents as Teachers Community Connection will be all about rubber duckies. Open to the public, this fun event will include snacks, rubber duckie races and storytime. Kids will be able to take a book home with them too. Come join us from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Lake County Public Health Department, 802 Main St. Call LCPH at 406-883-7288, for more information.

POLSON – A Resource Roundtable will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at noon. Our meeting will include new ideas, new opportunities, and some surprises for the New Year. Come join the conversation at the Lake County Health Department Conference Room. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to help us with the meal count.

RONAN — The VFW Auxiliary meeting is scheduled the second Wednesday of the month, Jan. 13, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Ronan. 

New members welcome.  For more information, call 406-676-3380.

POLSON — Come out and support the Polson Pirate Wrestlers for a meet at the Polson High School Gymnasium on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m. against Columbia Falls. This is the Pirate Wrestlers last home meet.

POLSON — Come to the Masumola Club Winterfest on Thursday, Jan. 14. Social hour starts at 5:45 p.m. and dinner will commence around 6:30 p.m. Hosts will provide sloppy Joes, buns, beer and ice. Please bring a dish to share. Suggested food distribution is: A-H: “Favorite” Super Bowl appetizer; 

I-O: salad or side dish; 

P-Z: dessert.

POLSON — Give blood in Polson at St. Joseph Medical Center’s Byrnes Conference Room, 6 Thirteenth Ave. E, on Friday, Jan. 15, from 10:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Call to schedule your appointment at 406-883-8273-ext. 87273. The need is constant and the gratification is instant.

BIG ARM — The Big Arm Association will sponsor a Game Day on Saturday, Jan. 16, from 2-4 p.m. at the historic Big Arm School. Bring your favorite board game or card game to play with friends and neighbors. You are welcomed to bring a dessert or snack to share. If games aren’t your thing, just come on down and socialize. For more information, please call Nancy Foster at 406-849-5064

ST. IGNATIUS —  The Flathead Reservation Human Rights Coalition announces a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday will be held on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Mission Valley United Methodist Church, top of Post Creek Hill. Dustin Monroe, CEO of Native Generational Change will be the keynote speaker and The Crown of the Continent Choir of Kalispell will provide music. Winners of the MLK Essay Contest will be announced and after the program, a reception will be held in the Friendship Hall where refreshments will be served and prizes will be awarded. The public is cordially invited to attend this free event.

POLSON — Come out and support the Polson Pirates basketball teams on Saturday, Jan. 16 against Libby High School at Linderman Gymnasium. Freshman game starts at 1 p.m. and JV game is at 2:30 p.m. and varsity basketball begins at 4 p.m. Freshman and JV games may be played at other sites. For more information, go to the Polson High School website.

POLSON — Come out and support the Polson Lady Pirates basketball teams on Saturday, Jan. 16 against Libby High School in the Linderman Gymnasium. Freshman game starts at 1 p.m. and the JV game begins at 2:30 p.m. with the varsity game at 5:30 p.m. Freshman and JV games may be played at other sites. For more information, go to the Polson High School website. 

POLSON — Mission Valley Christian Academy would like to invite you to join us on Sunday, Jan. 17, for a delicious brunch catered by Vista Linda.  Doors open at noon and brunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. Susan Gianforte, wife of Greg Gianforte, who is currently running for Governor of Montana, will be our featured guest speaker this year. Susan will share her passion and experience with Christian education. There will be a time for questions after Susan’s presentation. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at MVCA, 406-886-6858.

POLSON — The January meeting of the JO’M Indian Education Committee (IEC) will be held Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Cherry Valley School. We will eat at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria, and we will meet at 6 p.m. in the library. Childcare will be provided.

Topics include revision of by-laws, graduation incentives, needs assessment and more.

The IEC meeting is usually on the third Monday of the month, but because there isn’t school on those days in January and February this year, the IEC meeting is scheduled for the evening of the following school day. The February meeting will be held Tuesday Feb. 16 at Linderman Elementary. Eating/meeting rooms will be announced. 

POLSON — Missoula Self Help Law Center will be in Polson on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the North Lake County Public Library from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome all day or to schedule an appointment please call 406-258-3428.

POLSON — Come out and support the Polson Pirates basketball teams on Tuesday, Jan. 19 against Glacier High School at Linderman Gymnasium. Freshman game starts at 4:15 p.m. and JV game is at 5:45 p.m. and the varsity game is at 7:30 p.m.  For more information, go to the Polson High School website.

POLSON — Lake County Democrats will hold a business meeting Wednesday, Jan. 20, to discuss issues regarding the upcoming 2016 election. The meeting will be at the North Lake County Public Library in Polson. A social with refreshments will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by the business meeting starting at 7 p.m. If you have questions, call 406-599-4087.

POLSON — The Lake County Commissioners will hold a hearing regarding the density map and regulations on Jan. 20 at 10:30 a.m. in the Commissioner’s Office, room 211, in the County Courthouse, 106 Fourth Ave. E. The meeting was rescheduled from Dec. 17.

POLSON — The Polson Kiwanis Club meet the first and third Thursdays of each month at the KwaTaqNuk Resort, Koostatah Room from noon-1 p.m. Our speaker on Jan. 21 will be Ann Marie McNeel, Director from CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). 

The advocates are the “voice” for abused and neglected children in the court system. Come and listen; you may decide you would like to volunteer as an advocate for CASA.

POLSON — The January Polson Chamber SPLASH will be held on Jan. 21 to help Polson Physical Therapy celebrate their new location at 103 Whitewater, Suite D.  The networking event will begin at 5 p.m. and will include a grand opening ribbon cutting. The monthly SPLASH offers participants the chance to interact with other businessmen and women while learning more about the featured business(s) every month. For additional information about this and other Chamber programs, visit: www.polsonchamber.com or call 406-883-5969.     

NINEPIPE – Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana will hold their 16th annual Black Tie Dinner on Thursday, Jan. 21, starting at 5 p.m. A complimentary museum visit and a no-host social for friends to meet and visit before the main event will take place at Ninepipes. Dinner will start at 7 p.m. with our guest speaker, noted historian and author Ellen Baumler. Baumler is author of “Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan.”  The evening’s topic is titled, “Ripples in a Pond: The Ronan Family Legacy.” Cathy Gillhouse will feature two students from her new venture, the Mission Valley Children’s Choir. Seating is limited. Tickets are $50 per person. Call the museum at 406-644-3435 and leave your name and phone number for us to call you back. 

RONAN — The Mission Valley Subnetwork of the Missoula Business Women’s Network will meet Thursday, Jan. 21 from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Lake County Community Development Building, 407 W Main Street. Justine Morris-Wagner will present, “Prosper and Thrive.  Let’s make 2016 Your Year.” Lunch sponsor for this meeting will be Launa Benson from Extreme Weed & Pest. Please RSVP by Jan. 19.

HOT SPRINGS — The Montucky Hillbillies will play their bluegrass music at the Symes Hotel in Hot Springs from 8-10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 22.

POLSON — An open house will be held Friday, Jan. 22, to celebrate the retirement of Duane Lutke as Director of the Western Montana Area VI Agency on Aging. You are invited to the Red Lion Inn from 3-5:30 p.m. Come enjoy refreshments and wish Duane well on his next chapter in life.

HOT SPRINGS — Enjoy Andrea Harsell’s Americana music at the Symes Hotel in Hot Springs from 8-10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23.

RONAN – The Mission Mountain Quilt Guild will hold a workshop on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the LDS Church in Ronan. We will work on the ribbons for the 2016 Quilt Show from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with a potluck lunch. Please bring your sewing machine and supplies. For anyone interested, the board meeting will be at 9 a.m. that same day. All are welcome. If you have any questions, please call 406-212-6205.