The Valley Journal

Melea Burke/Valley Journal

Tensions run high as students wait for their turn to step up to the microphone during the spelling bee.

By Melea Burke
Valley Journal
After seven rounds, only two spellers remained under the lights in the Ronan Performing Arts Center last Thursday night.
Charlo eighth-grader Timber Munson had just been eliminated when she misspelled “tragic,” and victory was close for Polson eighth-grader Cody Baer and Ronan seventh-grader Gabriel Azure, the two remaining contestants in the Lake County Spelling Bee. Surrounded by empty chairs left by their 41 fallen competitors, the boys stood quietly on stage, waiting for the next challenge from pronouncer Marilynn Tanner. Each student knew it would only take one slip of the tongue to end the standoff, and as the rounds wore on, the tension grew.
Curriculum, bruin, gazpacho, percolate — the judge held up the dreaded “incorrect” sign, and one boy held his breath as the other stepped up to the microphone.
“Round 14. Credentials,” Tanner read.
Baer spelled the word correctly, and the pressure was on for ..........
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Kate Haake/Valley Journal

Jordan Stasso, Acorn Holdstheenemy and Rodney First Strike, played an honor song on the drum for students honored at the Upward Bound and Gear Up reception. The trio form a drum group called Montana Nights.

By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
PABLO — Students and their families packed the cafeteria of the Joe McDonald building on the Salish and Kootenai College campus for the Upward Bound and Gear Up reception last Wednesday.
The reception honored those students involved in the college preparatory programs and those who have achieved academic success in various educational endeavors.
“The reason why the programs are so successful is because these people spend so much one on one time with the kids and support them in who they want to be,” Upward Bound and GEAR UP Grant Director Heather Licht said.
The people Licht is referring to are the Upward Bound and Gear Up instructors, Sandra Dubruin, Aric Cooksley, Joanne Morrow, Rhiannon Liberty and Zoe Lilja.
The instructors work with the high school students in the multi-faceted program, that is a combination of ..........
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Kate Haake/Valley Journal

Nike Executive Sam McCracken speaks to students and community members about the N7 shoe built for a Native American and the Nike N7 fund.

By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
PABLO — Sam McCracken’s message is clear — everybody leaves a footprint. So leave a positive, healthy footprint on your community.
Last Wednesday, a wide array of students and community members came to listen to McCracken, a general manager at Nike and the brains behind the Nike N7 fund.
N7, named for a Native American belief that an individual must consider the impact he or she has on seven generations, is a program that supports 19 different athletic clubs for Native American youth.
All the profits from two lines of N7 shoes are funneled through the N7 fund to support the sport programs in Native American communities.
McCracken couldn’t say if any local sports programs were supported by the N7 fund, but McCracken believes that sport is a way to bring about a ..........
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Valley Journal
People interested in improving the education of our children are needed. Local districts are grateful for the hours of dedication and volunteer service provided by the school trustees. This is truly an opportunity to make a difference in your local community.
The Lake County Superintendent of Schools announces that all Lake County school districts are seeking interested and qualified people to serve as trustees. The deadline for filing is March 25. Annual school trustee elections will be held Tuesday, May 4.
Interested candidates may obtain the trustee nomination petition from the school district clerk. Signatures of a minimum of five registered, resident, active voters are needed to validate the candidate’s petition. First Class Polson and Ronan districts require a minimum of 20 signatures. The petition must then be filed with the school clerk who will verify candidate and petition signers are school district residents and active registered Lake County voters.
If you are not sure of your voter status (active or inactive) call the Lake County Elections Office at 883-7268. Once validated, the candidate’s name will appear on the school ballot for the May election if an election is required.
Trustee terms are for three years unless noted otherwise. Note that all appointed trustees must run in the next election for the remainder of their term. Only a portion of the board is up for election yearly to maintain board continuity.
Trustee terms expiring with the May election include ..........
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