Cabinet Peaks Hires New Senior Life Solutions Manager
Submitted by Paula Collins
Cabinet Peaks Medical Center is pleased to welcome a new manager, Riley Black, BSN, to Senior Life Solutions. Cabinet Peaks Medical Center’s Senior Life Solutions program is an intensive outpatient group counseling program. It is designed to meet the unique needs of older adults over the age of sixty-five struggling with depression and anxiety often related to aging.
Black holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from MSU Northern and has been in the healthcare field as a Registered Nurse since 2016. Black is currently in graduate school to obtain her Doctor of Nursing from MSU Bozeman. She will graduate in 2024 and continue in healthcare as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
New Manager, Riley Black, BSN,
Born at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, Black has worked in Libby and healthcare as a CNA, MA, phlebotomist, and RN. She has experience in public health, family medicine, long term care nursing, and now in geriatric psychiatry. Her most recent position at Libby Care Center of Cascadia immersed her in a completely different field of nursing and expanded her interest in wound care and hospice/palliative care.
When asked about her plans for Senior Life Solutions, Black explained,” We have a lot of growing to do! Senior life solutions is a unique program and anytime something is specialty tailored for a certain population, extraordinary and wonderful outcomes can happen. We are excited to expand and improve our capacity to reach seniors needing this intimate service to assist with any mental health needs and ultimately improve their quality of life during what should be the golden years of life.“
“I am thrilled to have Riley on our team,” stated Tadd Greenfield, CEO of Cabinet Peaks Medical Center. “I’m confident she’ll do an outstanding job and look forward to seeing the Senior Life Solutions Program continue to grow and to serve our community in a positive way.”
Black and her husband, Seth, have a 4-year-old daughter, Maizey, show loves the parks and the farmer’s market. Riley and Seth both have family in Libby, which allows them to spend time at home, surrounded by family. “At home we raise laying hens, and we love our garden,” said Black. “In the winter we enjoy skiing and snowshoeing in the beautiful Libby area.”
For more information on the Senior Life Solutions Program, please call 283-6890
Montana Outfitters And Guides Association Calling for Expedited Permitting Flexibility
Submitted by Lyndsey Medsker
Guides, Outfitters Need Immediate Alternatives to Operate on Public Lands Due to Catastrophic Flooding.
In a letter sent to the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, Montana Senators Tester and Daines urged flexibility in the permitting process to avoid severe economic damage to Montana’s rural communities and small businesses impacted by last week’s catastrophic funding in the Yellowstone region.
Mac Minard, Executive Director of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, supports this effort and underscores the need for expedited permitting to allow for flexibility as the busy summer season begins.
“Montana’s outfitters and guides continue to hemorrhage revenue daily and are scrambling to come up with alternatives to be able pay staff and service their clients,” said Minard. “Rafting guides have identified new access points, backcountry guides are looking for alternative trailheads, fishing guides need new put-ins and walk in options. While they are coming up with creative solutions to try and save their summer season, it’s up to BLM and USFS to allow for the temporary permitting changes.”
Patrick Sipp, of Flying Pig Adventures, is one of many guides working on an immediate solution to benefit his business as the rest of the Gardiner community.
“Flooding has left us unable to access our typical take-out for our half day rafting trips,” said Sipp. “While we are actively refunding customers, we are hoping to be able to run trips again soon and salvage a portion of the summer. To do this, we need to be granted immediate, temporary access to other take-outs until we identify another viable alternative.”
In addition to calling for permitting flexibility, MOGA is advocating to reopen the Yellowstone River for public use and is hopeful this is a top priority of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.