News Briefs

Friends of
Scotchman Peaks Wilderness seeks scholarship
entries
Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) offers an annual scholarship for the best essay written by a graduating senior on the theme “A most memorable Wilderness experience.” This scholarship is offered in ten different schools around the Scotchman Peaks, including Libby, Libby Alternative, and Troy High Schools in Montana. The best essay for each school receives a $300 scholarship to be spent in any manner the recipient wishes. The best essay overall receives an extra $300.
There are no scholastic or community requirements for this scholarship. The application can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/FSPWScholar ship2018 or ask the school counselor office for a copy.
The deadline for essay entries is April 13, 2018.

Trout Unlimited to host March 14 meeting about
local water
contamination
The Kootenai River and Lake Koocanusa provides some great fishing and recreational fun, but what happens when coalmine pollution from British Columbia, Canada start tipping the balance?
University of Montana professor Dr. Ric Hauer and senior scientist Erin Sexton will talk about what makes a river great for trout, and what happens when coal mine pollution affects fish and other aquatic life.
The Kootenai Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited will host this panel presentation at the Ponderosa Room, 952 E. Spruce St., in Libby, Montana, on Wednesday, March 14, from 7 until 9 p.m.
“Our guests will present some of the latest science or river ecology and how trout rivers really function,” said Chapter president Mike Rooney. “We’ll also learn more about the current health of the Kootenai River and what the science data shows.”
The Teck Resources coalmines in the upper Elk River of British Columbia, a tributary of the Kootenai River, produce large volumes of fractured waste rock that is dumped into adjacent drainages. Snowmelt and rainwater drain through these rock piles and pick up contaminants that end up in the Elk River and then the Kootenai.
Data collected by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks shows that the concentrations of these contaminants, and particularly selenium, in the water and fish tissue are rising steadily, and occasionally exceed the United States’ standards.
Dr. Hauer and Ms. Sexton will show how mountain rivers like the Elk and Kootenai work.

CPMC seeks
vendors for annual health fair
Cabinet Peaks Medical Center is once again gearing up for their annual health fair. The fair takes place on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Libby Memorial Events Center and celebrates health and wellness with the community by bringing together numerous displays, activities, and screenings.
“We are once again inviting health and wellness related organizations and businesses who want to bring awareness to their health and wellness products and services to be a part of the fair,” stated Kate Stephens, Marketing Manager at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center. “We have always encouraged our vendors to do more than just display their goods by putting together fun and interactive exhibits. The more interactive and fun the booth is, the more fair-goers will remember about each vendor’s goods and services.”
Exhibit space rental is $40 for vendors who are selling items and $15 for those who are displaying and educating. Additional tables are $20 each. On the day of the fair, the doors will open at 9:30 am, and the fair is free and open to the public until 12:00pm.
“With hundreds of people attending the fair each year, it’s an extremely inexpensive way to get your health and wellness word out in our community,” added Stephens. “We only have a limited number of exhibit spaces available, so if businesses or individuals are interested, I encourage them to contact us as soon as possible.”
Proceeds from the fair go right back into the event to help offset the cost of facility rental. If you are interested in entering a booth at the 2018 Cabinet Peaks Medical Center Health Fair, please contact Paula Collins at 283-7221 or paula.collins@cabinetpeaks.org.

2019 Montana teacher of the year nominations and applications now open
Superintendent Arntzen is thrilled to announce that nomination and application forms are available for the 2019 Montana Teacher of the Year Program. Members of the public can fill out a simple form to nominate a teacher. Teachers can self-nominate by filling out an application. All current and actively teaching Montanans who are making a positive difference in the lives of students are encouraged to apply.
Nomination forms are due back to the Office of Public Instruction by May 1 and completed applications are due by June 1. They can be emailed to MTTOY@mt.gov.
Applications, nomination forms, and additional information can be found at: http://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Teaching-Learning/Montana-Teacher-of-the-Year.

MDA accepting petitions for new noxious weed
listings
The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting petitions for new plants to be added to the Montana Noxious Weed List. Interested parties who feel that a plant should be listed as a noxious weed in Montana can fill out a petition form (found at agr.mt.gov/weeds) and send it to Dave Burch at dburch@mt.gov.
“The state reviews this list biennially to identify any new plants that warrant inclusion on the noxious weed list. It is vitally important to review the list, especially when we consider the impacts noxious weeds have on our agriculture industry and lands throughout the state,” said MDA Director Ben Thomas.
All petitioners will have the opportunity to present their petition to the Montana Noxious Weed Listing Workgroup. When the workgroup convenes in November 2018 to review the plant species in this new cycle, each petitioner will be given 15 minutes to present their petition and plea the case for inclusion on the list.
Two plants that were petitioned for consideration in the 2016-2017 cycle but did not get recommended for listing were Dame’s Rocket and Common Burdock. If these species are to be re-petitioned, interested parties will be responsible for updating and providing any additional information on those plant species.

Join Flathead Electric
Cooperative for the annual
meeting
All Flathead Electric members (anyone who pays a bill to FEC) are invited to attend the Co-op’s 81st Annual Friends of
Scotchman Peaks Wilderness seeks scholarship
entries
Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) offers an annual scholarship for the best essay written by a graduating senior on the theme “A most memorable Wilderness experience.” This scholarship is offered in ten different schools around the Scotchman Peaks, including Libby, Libby Alternative, and Troy High Schools in Montana. The best essay for each school receives a $300 scholarship to be spent in any manner the recipient wishes. The best essay overall receives an extra $300.
There are no scholastic or community requirements for this scholarship. The application can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/FSPWScholar ship2018 or ask the school counselor office for a copy.
The deadline for essay entries is April 13, 2018.