Additional White-tailed deer
suspected positive for CWD in Libby area
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks collected samples from the white-tailed bucks as part of a game damage hunt on private property on the west side of Libby near the Kootenai River. The Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado tested the samples and identified them to be suspected of CWD infection and will run second tests for confirmation.
If confirmed, the new results mark nine detections of CWD out of 123 samples submitted for testing in the Libby area this year. The positive detections have all involved white-tailed deer.
In response to the CWD detections, FWP has established the Libby CWD Management Zone, which encompasses roughly 10 miles around the detection sites.
All deer, elk and moose harvested within the Libby CWD Management Zone must be checked and sampled within 3 days of harvest. Hunters who quarter or bone out their animal in the field must bring the head for sampling. This fall FWP will pay for sampling for hunters who collect their own samples and send them to the FWP lab in Bozeman. For more info on how to submit samples, visit fwp.mt.gov/cwd.
Before Oct. 26, hunters who successfully harvest an animal in the Libby CWD Management Zone are required to bring the head to the FWP Libby Office, 385 Fish Hatchery Rd. A collection site will be set up for hunters to self-report and submit the head for testing.
During general big game season (Oct. 26 to Dec. 1), the Libby Special CWD Hunt Sampling Station (Montana Department of Transportation shop on US Hwy 2, mile marker 35) will be open every day from 11 a.m. – 1½ hours after sunset. Hunters are only required to stop at the Sampling Station if they harvested an animal in the Libby CWD Management Zone. The Canoe Gulch Check Station will be open weekends from 11 a.m. – 1½ hours after sunset during the general season and all hunters, with or without game, passing the check station must stop.
Hunters will be required to document the exact location of the kill inside the Libby CWD Management Zone. Animals will be tagged with a unique identification number. Hunters can use that identification number to look up test results on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov/CWD. Test results are usually available within three weeks. Hunters who harvest an animal that tests positive for CWD may receive a replacement 2019 license.
To reduce the spread of CWD, whole carcasses, whole heads or spinal columns cannot be taken out of the Libby CWD Management Zone unless the animal has tested negative for CWD. Hunters are strongly encouraged to dispose of hides, bones and trimmings at approved landfills such as the such as the Lincoln County Landfill. The spinal column may be left at the kill site but require landowner permission if on private land. If the carcass is processed within the CWD Management Zone, any brain and spinal parts must be discarded in the Lincoln County Landfill.
Following the guidelines of Montana’s CWD Management Plan, FWP is scheduling a Special CWD Hunt in the Libby area this fall. FWP sold 600 white-tailed deer antlerless B licenses that can only be used in the Libby CWD Management Zone, which includes portions of Hunting Districts 100, 103, and 104. The hunt will occur at the same time as the archery and general hunting season and follow the same regulations for dates, weapon restrictions, and access.
Submitted by Dillon Tabish
Kootenai
Valley Quilt Guild quilter of the year
Kootenai Valley Quilt Guild is proud to announce their 2019 Quilter of the Year. Johanna (Joke-pronounced Yo-ka) Ackerman has been selected to be part of a long list of outstanding, giving, people to share that title. Joke has spent her “sewing life” giving the fruits of her labor to others, as gifts, donations, and for fundraisers.
Growing up in the Netherlands she started sewing as a young girl, learning from her mother along with the skills of knitting and crocheting. She learned on her grandmother’s treadle machine, making doll clothes gradually moving on to simple garments and aprons.
In 1962, her family moved to the United States, set up their new lives, and she finished school and got married. She made clothes for her children until her daughter, who was in 2nd or 3rd grade declared, “I’m NOT wearing anymore homemade clothes!!!!” While living in California she had several different jobs and at one of them met a friend who shared her interest in “crafty” projects. She started her “second” life of sewing. In the early 90’s she started quilting in earnest and took many classes, read books, and asked a lot of questions. During that decade she traveled with her husband in their motorhome and sewed while her husband would dune buggy. After retiring in 2002, she and her husband traveled, eventually arriving in Libby in 2005. In 2007 she and her husband Dan, built a dream home for the purpose of housing her sewing room, affectionately called her “she sanctuary” by Dan.
Joke joined the KVQG 11 years ago and hit the ground running and has learned a lot by taking classes, going to retreats and chairing the local quilt show. Several years ago she joined the Columbia Falls Quilt Guild. She loves being around what she calls “great” people who are active in the community, and do community projects and fundraisers. Through the years Joke has made many projects, among them quilts, wall hangings, table runners, and placemats most for gifts to family and friends. One gift she is especially proud of is a Quilt of Valor for her cousin in California for Christmas. He and his wife lost their home in the Paradise fire and there is not a more deserving person as far as she is concerned. Joke and her husband have 5 children, 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. She says her 4 daughters quilt a “little”.
As can be seen Joke is a very deserving honoree. She is a jokester, fun to be around, loves anything bicycle, has a great Christmas village collection and above all is a generous and kind spirit. To quote Joke her life is “sew happy days……”.
Submitted by Paula Darko-Hensler
Annual
Pinochle
Marathon
Libby Senior Center is once again having their double deck pinochle marathon for experienced players. It will begin October 21, 2019 and continue until the end of February 2020. Players play 4 – 5 games in each group with a cost of $1.50 each person per game. Games may be played at the center or in participants’ homes.
There will be a potluck on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 1:00pm. Awards will be presented within each group to the top players and small prizes given to those players with the lowest scores. Following the potluck and presentations, those participants attending will play cards until around 5:00pm.
For more information or to register, please contact the Libby Senior Center prior to October 14, 2019 by calling 293-7222 or stopping by at 206 East 2nd Street, Libby, Montana.
Submitted by Dedi Coy
Money for city departments in fiscal year 2020
Money for city departments in fiscal year 2020 is as follows.
For tax-supported funds:
Animal Control- $12,000
City Court- $41,463
Executive Services- $53,418
Facilities Administration- $115,340
Financial Services- $37,359
Fire- $109,609
Inspections- $6,223
Legal services- $39,643
Parks/Cemetery- $86,469
Planning- $5,000
Police- $479,786
Sidewalk and Curb- $40,000
Street- $153,293
Other Allocated Costs- $35,000
Total general fund- $1,214,600
The figures above do not include:
Fire Relief- $53,877
Lighting Maintenance District- $59,000
Special Improvement District- $2,146
Street Maintenance District- $273,021
Non-tax supported funds:
Community Development- $99,975
Gas Tax- $54,994
Gas Tax HB 473- $64,043
International Paper Settlement- $223,120
Sewer Fund- $616,166
Water Fund- $3,019,217
The overall total of funds is $5, 682,162.
Incident on Quartz
Mountain Road updated
A 71 year old man lost his life last Sunday, Sept. 1, in a seemingly freakish accident. The man was traveling northbound by ATV on Quartz Mountain Road at about 3:30 p.m. when a falling tree struck his head. Montana Highway Patrol say the falling of the tree was caused by people nearby who were collecting firewood. Drugs or alcohol are not suspected of playing a role in this incident.
Five days after the accident, the man was identified as James Robert Freeburn, a 71 year old Libby resident. Freeburn was reportedly warned by a flagger of the falling tree but continued forward. Montana Highway Patrol say Freeburn was not wearing a helmet at the time the incident.
By Dawn Manchester
Cabinet Peaks Clinic introduced Behavioral Health Program
Cabinet Peaks Clinic has recently added an Integrated Behavioral Health Program, along with provider Elaine Maggi, Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC), to its Family Medicine Practice.
Integrated behavioral health care, or IBH, is an emerging field within the wider practice of high-quality, coordinated health care, according to Integration Academy. In the broadest use of the term, IBH can describe any situation in which behavioral health and medical providers work together.
“IBH blends care in one setting for medical conditions and related behavioral health factors that affect health and well-being and is a rapidly emerging shift in the practice of high-quality health care,” stated Catherine McDonald, Clinic Administrator at Cabinet Peaks Clinics. “Providers practicing IBH recognize that both medical and behavioral health factors are important parts of a person’s overall health.”
In an IBH program, medical and behavioral health clinicians work together as a team to address a patient’s concerns. Care is delivered by these integrated teams in the primary care setting unless patients request or require specialty services. The advantage of these programs is better coordination and communication while working toward one set of overall health goals.
According to the American Hospital Association, the benefits of Integrated Care and integrating behavioral health in primary care provides the opportunity to improve health outcomes and patient experience without substantially increasing healthcare costs.
Elaine Maggi will serve as the Behavioral Health Consultant at Cabinet Peaks Clinic. The BHC role is a behavioral health provider who operates in a consultative role within a primary care team, utilizing and providing behavioral interventions, who provides recommendations regarding behavioral interventions to the referring primary care providers, and who conducts brief interventions with referred patients on behalf of the referring primary care provider. According to Maggi, IBH aims to improve overall health outcomes for patients by improving access to efficient and effective behavioral health support within the primary care clinics.
“I look at IBH as a way to treat holistically with mind and body for wellness,” stated Maggi.”
Elaine completed her undergraduate at the University of Montana – Missoula and her Graduate Program at Walla Walla University. She has worked in Alaska, South Carolina, and Montana as a Social Services provider and Psychotherapist. She is familiar with the area having been born and raised in Troy, MT.
For more information on the IBH program, please call Cabinet Peaks Clinic at 283-6850.
Submitted by Kate Stephens
Vice President position
vacancy
announcement
Troy Chamber of Commerce is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of Vice President.
The vice president shall act in close coordination with the Chamber President as the official spokesperson for the Troy Chamber of Commerce, representing the Chamber to the community. The Vice President represents the business and professional leaders in activities and serves as
a liaison between the Troy Chamber of Commerce and external entities. The Vice President shall in the absence of the President preside at all chamber meetings. The qualified candidate must have a strong desire to serve the needs of the business community of Troy. If interested, please submit a
letter of interest to:
PO Box 3005, Troy MT 59935
Troy Chamber Commerce