Libby Nordic Team members from left to right: Johnny Shao, Greysen Thompson, Casey Rusdal, Rowen Sherbo, Eli Moore, Silas Moore, Josiah Moore, Colter Anderson, Reed Scott and Ledger Fortner. Cody Watson is a member of the team, but is not pictured. Photo courtesy of Alan Lewis Gertenecker.
Submitted by Alan Lewis Gerstenecker
Members of the Kootenai Cross-County Ski Club’s Youth Nordic Team have been prepping for the Wolf Chase Race in Libby on Jan. 8.
Young athletes from all over the Pacific Inland Northwest will compete in the event. Libby Nordic Team members include Johnny Shao, Greysen Thompson, Casey Rusdal, Rowen Sherbo, Eli Moore, Silas Moore, Josiah Moore, Colter Anderson, Reed Scott and Ledger Fortner and Cody Watson
The team of Libby-area youths competes regional in cross-country skiing events. Their home course is the Flower Creek Trails Course, which is located at 483 Flower Creek Road.
These young skiers and others from Idaho, Washington, Montana and British Columbia will be competing in the Wolf Chase beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Flower Creek Trails Course.
There is online registration only at kootenainordic.com, just follow the prompts. There will be no race-day registration. The Kootenai Cross-Country Ski Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to healthy activity for youth and adults.
New Mayor Chuck
Ekstedt sworn into duty
New Mayor of Troy, Mr. Chuck Ekstedt, was sworn into duty last week; The previous Mayor was Mr. Dallas Carr. Photo courtesy of the City of Troy.
CDC updates and shortens recommended isolation and quarantine period for
general population
Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation for the public. People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after.
Additionally, CDC is updating the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public who is exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days.
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Bears ’n Stuff program continues to make a difference
Submitted by Cyrus Lee
Those little Teddy Bears from Washington State Prison continue to find their ways into their forever dens with kids and families in need. Businesses and individuals stepped up just before Christmas to sponsor 8 of the 15 bears that had just come to town. Those 8 bears paid a short visit to Susan Ague at the office of Child and Family Services before they went out with department specialists to join with their child.
A little dent was made in the cost of domestic violence with a $200 donation from Bears ‘n Stuff to Lincoln County Crisis Solutions. That’s the second local community donation from the dollars that come from the Teddy Bear sponsorship.
Bears ‘n Stuff is working with the United Methodist Church and the Basic Needs Store to warm community heads and bodies with crocheted caps, scarves and quilts made from locally donated yarn and cloth at the Sustainable Practice Lab at Washington State Penitentiary. Just after Christmas a stack of quilts and a bag of caps, all kid sizes, were donated to Families in Partnership.
As 2022 comes on the tiny ‘not-for-profit’, based on second chances and the ‘golden rule’, will be working to make small heartwarming Teddy Bear bundles available; ready for denning with someone looking to love them. Bears ‘n Stuff is currently showing for donation three pieces of wildlife art made by incarcerated individuals with the proceeds going to Kootenai Pets for Life as soon as we have our paws on the money.
You can learn more about Bears ‘n Stuff by calling Marge 293-0514 or Cyrus 406-293-9630.
DFS Susan & John with Bears ‘n Stuff Bears.
Barb & Marge with $200 check donated to Lincoln County Crisis Solutions to continue their work on domestic violence in our area.
One of the many quilts donated to Families in Partnership.
Photos courtesy of Cyrus Lee.
Libby Friends of the
Library Book Sale
The Libby Friends of the Library will have its next Book Sale on Friday, January 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Book Sale Room downstairs at the Library.
Come and check out all our new additions in both children’s and adult books, and audiobooks. We will have some special features as well to start off the New Year! Purchase of items is by donation, with all money received going to support programs for the Library.
Submitted by Susan Horelick