The Valley Journal

Jim Blow/Valley Journal

Children wait patiently at the starting line for the signal to begin the egg hunt at Boettcher Park in Polson.

By Berl Tiskus and Kate Haake
Valley Journal
The Easter bunny had lots of helpers around the Mission Valley on Saturday, April 3.
The ladies of the Alpha Upsilon Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi cleaned, stuffed and hid close to 5,000 plastic Easter eggs on the beginning-to-green lawns at Boettcher Park. Businesses around Polson donated coupons, candy and quarters from First Interstate Bank to fill the eggs and provide an Easter basket loaded with goodies for one lucky child in each age group. The Easter bunny was available for photo opportunities, and the Betas passed out bright pinwheels. As usual the egg hunt began at 9 a.m., and all the eggs were nabbed by 9:02 a.m.
After the Beta egg hunt, many families headed straight to Linderman cafeteria for the Blessings and Baskets Easter event which began at 10 a.m. A line snaked across the playground at Linderman, around the school by the gym, across the parking lot and almost to ..........
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Kate Haake/Valley Journal

Allen Metzger, center, listens to the judge during his hearing last week. As part of a plea agreement, Metzger pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of negligent homicide.

By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
POLSON — Allen Metzger changed his plea from not guilty to no contest after the deliberate homicide charges were reduced to negligent homicide charges.
Metzger was charged with the stabbing of a Ronan man on Aug. 16, 2009, at the Valley Club in Ronan.
He was released on a $25,000 bond in December.
He also pleaded no contest to carrying a concealed weapon.
"He believes he acted in self-defense," Metzger's attorney Lance Jasper said.
Metzger and James Finch were involved in an altercation in the bathroom of the bar that resulted in the stabbing and death of Finch.
Jasper said that Metzger decided to enter into a plea agreement with the Lake County Attorney's Office based on the needs of Metzger's family. The agreement would enable Metzger to ..........
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Kate Haake/Valley Journal

Katie Snyder cuts Kiana King's hair on Friday at the salon's old location.

By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
RONAN — Judy Meeks is moved to tears. She turns away from her hair station in her little salon and faces the women that are getting their nails done.
It's the last day of work in the old building that housed Town and Country Beauty Salon. The sun is streaming in the windows and the tiny salon is filled with clients and passers-by, soaking in the small-town beauty shop atmosphere.
"I am having a hard time with it because I don't like change," Meeks chokes out. "But it will be a good change."
Meeks is only moving her salon a couple doors down to a new location, but the building holds sentimental value for her.
"My kids were raised here," Meeks said.
The building, constructed in 1912 originally housed a barber shop and ..........
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Kate Haake/Valley Journal

Plants are spaced apart in a local growing operation for several medical marijuana users.

Part two of the series looks at how law enforcement agencies and local governments are preparing to deal with the use and dissemination of medical marijuana.

By Berl Tiskus, Melea Burke, Kate Haake
Valley Journal
While the Montana Medical Marijuana Act is an easy read, it doesn’t take long to figure out that the issues involved are much more complicated than one might think.
After the state legislature passed Initiative 148 in 2004, change came slowly until last fall. The recent boom in Montana’s medical marijuana industry can most likely be attributed to an October 2009 statement by the Obama administration that the federal government would not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws. Still, under federal law, marijuana is a Schedule I drug, and drug offenders can be prosecuted if caught. The situation is especially confusing on the Flathead Indian Reservation, where tribal, local, state and federal governments all have some jurisdiction...........
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Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal

Polson city manager Todd Crossett talks with several attendees at last week's informational meeting on a transportation grant.

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
About 40 people attended the first of many public meetings on the Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery or TIGER Grant held on March 30 at 6:30 p.m. in Linderman gym in Polson.
Lake County Commissioners Paddy Trusler and Bill Barron and Polson City Manager Todd Crossett presented information on the $12 million grant. The grant is a partnership including Lake County, the City of Polson, the City of Ronan, the Town of St. Ignatius, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Lake County Community Development.
The original grant application was for $16 million so receiving $12 million meant the project had to be downsized. Trusler said the group is still focusing on the total rebuild of Skyline Drive for approximately $9 million. Some of the other projects considered for the remaining $3 million are: one mile of pedestrian/bike path from the end of Caffrey Road to Highway 93, a two-mile extension from the end of the walking path on Round Butte Road to connect with Back Road, Main Street in Ronan and chip sealing Carbine Road or Pablo West into Pablo, approximately four miles.
"Connectivity is always a key," Trusler said. ..........
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Kate Haake/Valley Journal

A valley resident, one of the many individuals now authorized to grow, possess and use medical marijuana, displays some of the buds used for medicinal purposes. Local growth and commercial distribution of medical marijuana is a growing issue facing local governments.

By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
“Last dance with Mary Jane, one more time to kill the pain,” Tom Petty sings in his hit song “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.” The song was released in 1993, just three years before California would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes and 11 years prior to its legalization in Montana.
One can assume that Petty was not referring to some pretty girlfriend named Mary Jane in the song, nor was he referencing an actual physical pain that he was feeling. No, rest assured, Mr. Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers were singing about self-medicating their emotional turmoil with marijuana.
Intentional or not, the lyrics are indicative of a wave that would start to sweep the nation a few years later. Thirteen states followed California’s lead and legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, attempting to ease the physical pain of patients suffering diseases ranging from glaucoma to epilepsy.
On Nov. 2, 2004, 62 percent of Montana voters approved Initiative 148, the Medical Marijuana Act, which allows patients with a “debilitating medical condition” access to marijuana and also allows caregivers to “undertake the responsibility for managing the well-being of a person with respect to the medical use of marijuana.”
In short, the state of Montana legalized the production, sale and distribution of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
This article is the first in a series that provides an overview of where medical marijuana use stands and how many questions remain about its use, sale and distribution. These articles will explore the effects medical marijuana is having in the community, as well as ask some of the questions that remain unanswered. ..........
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By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
RONAN — In the second storm water meeting in March, city council members, and engineers Shari Johnson and Collette Anderson agreed to apply for a Treasure State Endowment Program Grant for $500,000 in order to improve the city’s storm water system.
Johnson reviewed the existing storm water infrastructure in Ronan, explaining the current issues the city needs to address. Currently, Ronan uses a few open storm water mains and a ditch for collection. The majority of the storm water receives no treatment, but there is a mechanical separator along U.S. Highway 93 and a French drain.
Johnson reported that the system does not comply with the Department of Environmental Quality and the pipes are undersized. She also noted that there is minimal treatment to the water before it enters Spring Creek.
The water samples, which were collected recently, showed evidence of coliform bacteria, nitrates, phosphates, lead, copper, zinc and suspended solids.
Johnson noted that the results represent only ..........
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Jim Blow/Valley Journal

A riveted crowd of youngsters watch three cars zip down the track during one of the early heats of last week's Ronan Pinewood Derby competition, hosted by Packs 40 and 56.

By Jim Blow
Valley Journal
Hot rods streaked through the normally quiet east side of town in Ronan last Wednesday night ... and a few of them were seen over in Plains on Saturday.
Though they weren't pealing rubber or revving up loud engines, Ronan and Charlo Cub Scout Packs 40 and 56 put together their best racers for last Wednesday night's Pinewood Derby. Wooden racers ranged from designs of simple rectangular blocks of wood to intricate carvings of shapes that hinted of Indy 500 cars.
But all of the cars sported the same basics of wooden body, two axles with simple black wheels, and some weights to bring them up to the same weight — 5 ounces. Weights ranged from lead slabs to quarters for good luck, while paint gave the bodies the final touch of personality, including a lucky number or the car's name.
The two Packs hosted the event at Ronan's LDS Church in a large room that was split down the middle by an elevated aluminum track, starting at about four feet off the floor and ending on the carpet at the other end of the 40-foot room. Throngs of speed-hungry fans lined ..........
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Valley Journal
DOVES (Domestic Violence Education & Services) has scheduled a series of local events to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a national effort to promote sexual assault awareness and domestic violence prevention throughout April.
“Sexual Assault Awareness month is an excellent opportunity to bring attention to the sexual assault cases and domestic violence that affects women, men and children in Lake County and the Flathead Reservation every day,” said Executive Director Jenifer Blumberg. “Sexual assault and domestic violence incidents take place on a regular basis, and it is vitally important to increase community awareness. It’s like the saying goes, ‘If you ignore it, normalize it or laugh at it, you support it.”
From April 1 to 15, businesses in Polson, Pablo, Ronan and St. Ignatius will host life-size red silhouettes representing women or children in Montana who were killed by ..........
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Jim Blow/Valley Journal

Nash Neimeyer deftly delivers a fluffy pancake to his mouth with a butter knife at the RVFD Pancake Feed. Neimeyer and his family had their fill of pancakes, waffles, sausages eggs, and biscuits and gravy.

By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
RONAN — A frenzy of firefighters cooked up a storm on Saturday and Sunday at the annual Pancake Feed. Feeding more than 1,000 people, the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department happily spent their weekend in the Ronan Community Center kitchen preparing a pancake breakfast that included sausages, eggs, waffles, biscuits and gravy, and of course the RFD’s legendary pancakes.
“It went really well,” Ronan firefighter Mike Bartel said. “It was actually pretty smooth for us. I think most of those guys who do the cooking have got it down to an art.”
The motley crew of charming firefighters pitched in from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, not including all the setup and preparation on Friday and early Saturday. They hosted an array of guests from Polson to Arlee and beyond, including travelers just passing through.
The breakfast was $5 per person or $20 per family and the fire department accepted ..........
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By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
RONAN — A public hazard is not the first thing to come to mind when spotting road kill along the highway — but it was an issue prioritized by the SKC Wildlife Management and the Montana Department of Transportation when they designed 35 animal crossings along U.S. Highway 93.
“If you get your wildlife off the highway, you increase your public safety,” Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Wildlife Biologist Whisper Camel said at the Highway 93 Animal Crossings presentation on Thursday.
The presentation, sponsored by the Ronan Parent Teacher Association, was held at the Ronan Performing Arts Center and attended by a few local families.
Camel showed pictures of black bears, dear, mountain lions, river otters, coyotes and many more animals using the various structures designed to keep animals off the road. The images were captured on film by the numerous cameras placed along the animal crossing areas.
The cameras have motion and infra-red sensors enabling them to snap pictures at animals scurrying, crawling or flying by. ..........
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Kate Haake/Valley Journal

Ronan High School students observe the tragic scene of an accident during Ghost Out, as student council member Abby Luke walks toward the two-vehicle collision. Ghost Out is held every four years to remind students of the dangers of drinking and driving.

By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
RONAN — A gruesome scene horrified the Ronan student body into an eerie silence on Thursday. A body on the ground, teenagers mangled and unconscious, slumped over steering wheels and seats, and the Grim Reaper lurking about, taking his time to select his two victims. The drunk driver, dazed but unharmed, stumbled out of his car to surmise the damages caused by his reckless behavior.
The scene acted out by Ronan High School students and local law enforcement and emergency response agencies was a haunting finale of the day’s Ghost Out event.
In an attempt to warn kids about the dangers of drinking and driving, school administrators, the Ronan High School Student Council and emergency response agencies worked together to stage Ghost Out, which culminated with a lifelike replica of a two-vehicle wreck.
Ghost Out lets students experience first hand the ..........
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Kate Haake/Valley Journal

Dottie McWelch and her three daughters drove up from Hot Springs to parade down Main Street on St. Patrick’s Day in a 1963 green Volkswagen Bug.

By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
Ronan was out to paint the town green on Wednesday at the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.
The crowd, sprinkled with the luck of the Irish and armed with shamrocks waited anxiously for the St. Patrick’s Day parade to start at 5:30 p.m. Whispering in anticipation, the parade’s audience speculated about the presence of the green horse. Last year, the green horse had been a definite crowd pleaser, but with it’s passing, residents questioned whether or not a green horse would make an appearance.
As the parade began, children and their parents lined the streets armed with bags and rushed to where the candy was thrown from the trucks, vans, buses and, yes, the green horse. A great sigh of relief went through the crowd as the animal — dyed green for the occasion — ..........
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Kate Haake/Valley Journal

Jennifer Cote addresses the Ronan City Council at Monday’s meeting. Cote has been working on the city’s audit for 2007-2008.

By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
RONAN — At a Ronan City Council meeting on Monday, city officials announced that only one week after its completion, the Spring Creek Lift Station experienced major mechanical problems.
“The sewage continued to come in, but the (pump) did not turn on,” Public Works Director Kevin Templer said. “I wasn’t happy because that’s why we spent all the money to rebuild the station.”
Templer explained that city workers found the sewage overflowing at the station on Monday, March 15.
When the pumps malfunctioned on Sunday, March 14 city officials were not notified by the redundancy system, which is designed to call city officials via a..........
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Heidi Trytten photo

A Ronan residence at 313 5th Ave SW burned and collapsed on Saturday morning when the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department set the condemned house on fire. The fire crews used the opportunity to conduct training.

By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
RONAN — A condemned house in Ronan went up in flames on Saturday when members of the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department carried out an order from the city to burn the two story residence at 313 5th Ave SW.
The house described by neighbors as a “big ugly green thing” was as an eyesore for the community. Saturday morning residents of Fifth Ave. SW watched as Ronan firefighters threw flares into the house that had been thoroughly inspected and checked for squatters before being set on fire.
“We did a room by room inspection,” fire fighter Dan Miller said. “We had someone watching both sides.”
Miller explained that the firefighters set up posts around the house, ensuring that no one entered the house before the firefighters set it on fire.
The structure was also inspected by ..........
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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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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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