February 08, 2023
Ambulance 41 placed in service at Fisher River Valley Fire Station 1. A41 was received through the MDT EMS Grant. Matching funds paid by the Fisher River Valley Fire Auxiliary. Thank You Auxiliary Members.
Courtesy of Fisher River Valley Fire/Rescue
Fisher River Valley EMT’s Rhea, Nikki and Linda decommission the old ambulance and stock the new A41 ambulance, getting it ready to place it in service– Photo Courtesy of Fisher River Valley Fire/Rescue
2023 Libby Leadership Award Winner, Gary Huntsberger
The Libby Memorial Center is proud to share that our very own Gary Huntsberger, Kootenai Heritage Council Board President, has been nominated for the 2023 Libby Leadership Award.
The Libby Leadership award was presented last Friday evening to an individual who has been inspirational in engaging others, acting as a catalyst to increase citizen involvement and increased participation in community organizations, Gary Huntsberger. This individual is a champion for working with others to create opportunities to get more people more actively involved in our community.
The Kootenai Heritage Council is grateful for the dedication which Mr. Huntsberger has displayed in championing the Libby Memorial Events Center for over two decades. (Just one of many places where he shines in strong example as an irreplaceable leader, champion, and volunteer within his community, might we add).
Courtesy of Kootenai Heritage Council, Libby
Junior Olympic Rifle Championship
On the weekend of January 21, at the Kootenai Valley Rifle Range, in Bonners Ferry, the North Idaho Junior Olympic Rifle Championship took place. The scores would be combined with competitors from southern Idaho and the State Champion declared. Shooters from the Bonners Ferry (KV), Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene clubs were represented.
The shooters compete with single shot .22 caliber rifles, using iron sights, at a distance of 50 feet indoors. In the positions of kneeling, prone and standing, they complete 20 shots in each position. To score a ten, a shooter must take out a dot not much bigger than the period at the end of this sentence.
Ellie Rutherford of the KV team, shooting in the 18–21-year-old category, was the North Idaho Champion, averaging a score of 8.9 per shot and a total score of 535 of the 600 points possible.
Meggie Kahanek was top in the 15–17-year-old category, also of the KV team, averaging a score of 8.3 per shot and a total score of 499.
Close behind was Gabriel Lester, of the Sandpoint Jr Rifle Club, with a score of 492. Gabriel was also top male shooter in the state and will receive an invitation to compete at the Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center.
Representing the KV Club, Salix Harris, from Troy Montana, and Kyalynn Comer would take the top two places in the under 15-year-old category. Salix finished with a score of 491, taking first and Kyalynn Comer would place second with a score of 452.
Scores were combined and the top shooter in Idaho, and also receiving an invitation to travel to Colorado Springs was Elija Spencer from Boise, averaging 9.5 points per shot, and a final score of 572
The teams will finish up their season with matches at the rifle ranges in Bonners Ferry, Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint. If you are interested in learning more about, or returning to, the sport of competitive shooting. Please stop by the range on Wednesday, or Thursday, evening at 6:30pm or contact Don Jordan at 208-610-0226.
Submitted by Kathy Konek
Kootenai Nordic Racing Team Prepare for Championships
Kootenai Nordic racing team representing in Invermere, B.C. over the weekend in preparation for the Western Canadian Championships
Photo Courtesy of Kootenai Nordic
Kootenai Heritage Council Presents: Dr. Daylight’s Jazz Company, Saturday, Feb. 11
Libby Memorial Events Center *Season Series Event* 7:00 pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm) Tickets in $12 advance, $15 at the door.
Advance Ticket Outlets: Homesteaders Ranch & Feed Supply, The Printing Press, Rocky Mountain Music, The Montanian, Libby Area Chamber of Commerce, Real Art Works of Troy
Dr. Daylight’s Jazz Company delights in nostalgic, entertaining Prohibition-era jazz fit for a historic club in the birthplace of jazz.
Since forming in 2018, the Lafayette, LA-based jazz ensemble has traversed traditional jazz standards and reconstructed top 40 arrangements, with a twist of jazz. Their self-titled debut album, released in 2019, combines niche jazz with pop songs ranging from “Hotel California” to the American Songbook standard, “On the Sunny Side of the Street.” The song list even includes original compositions by bandleader Jake Spinella: “Second Line Snort” and” Boudoir Blues.”
Dr. Daylight’s Jazz Company engages crowds with their rich, energetic shows. Most recently, notable crooner Spencer Racca has joined the Company and delights crowds with his Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley vocal stylings.
This Saturday’s performance will feature complimentary cupcakes, party favors, and a photo booth to commemorate the evening’s experience. This show is Family Friendly (kids admitted free with paying adult). We hope you’ll join us for an outstanding performance!
Libby Library Community Safety Lighting Upgrades
At its January meeting, the Roundup for Safety Board awarded $5,000 to the Libby Friends of the Library for community safety lighting upgrades.
The Libby Library, built in the early 1950s, is owned and operated by Lincoln County, but supported financially in many ways by the nonprofit Libby Friends of the Library. As the years have passed, the basement area of the library has become more heavily utilized, especially since publicly available computers are located there. The basement is devoid of natural light and has inadequate artificial light. Librarian Alyssa Ramirez estimated that about 5,000 patrons visit the Libby Library monthly.
Library staff is concerned about the high risk of falls in the basement and its stairwell. The lighting also makes its challenging for patrons to read book titles in the dim light, which causes people to stoop and bend in unsafe ways. In addition, much of the current library lighting is not controlled by switches, but by aging breakers.
Friends of the Library, represented by Susan Horelick, and Libby Librarian Alyssa Ramirez detailed the library’s community safety hazards to the Roundup for Safety Board. They estimated the lighting project cost at around $10,000. The Friends of the Library stated it has $5,000 available to complete the project. The Board noted the matching funds with approval in its award to the Friends of the Library.
The Roundup for Safety Board will consider February applications through January 31 and vote on them at its February 9 meeting. To learn more about the Co-op’s Roundup for Safety program, visit: Roundup for Safety – Flathead Electric Cooperative.
Courtesy of Courtney Stone