Lincoln County Unite for Youth—4th Annual Guns & Hoses Softball Event
Despite the weight of wildfire smoke which had blanketed the Kootenai Valley for days on end, spirits were high at Lincoln County Unite for Youth’s 2021 Guns & Hoses Softball Game. Over 100 members of the Libby Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD), Lincoln County Law Enforcement (LCSO), and Unite for Youth volunteers and students came together in welcoming guests to Lee Ghering field in Libby this past Thursday night. Proceeds raised from the 4th Annual Event going back into UFY funds to support and expand safe and healthy youth development activities for Lincoln County students in Grades 7 – 12.
For more photos from this year’s event, visit us on online at https://www.facebook.com/The.Montanian. (Photo by Stacy Bender)
Wilderness Living Expo 2021 set to
welcome guest speaker, Mike Lowe
On Saturday, August 15, the Libby Adventist Church will be holding its 2021 Wilderness Living Expo.
Each year the expo strives to provide valuable and
fun experiences for community members of all ages, to prepare community members for the unexpected
“natural event,” and to build confidence in both
independent living and community relationships for
turbulent times.
Joining this year’s expo will be guest speaker, Mike Rowe of Wilderness Way Adventures.
“Mike has spent the majority of his adult life learning and teaching wilderness survival skills. He served his country during the Reagan years as a SERE (Survival,
Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) instructor in the
U.S. Air Force. In 1988, Mike launched a faith-based
survival and rescue training program called Wilderness Way Adventures, where he still instructs men, women,
and children from all walks of life in the ancient and
enduring art of wilderness survival,” says History.com.
“He is a Rescue 3 International certified swift water and technical rope rescue technician and instructor as well as a certified Wilderness First Responder. Mike is a Christian, a father, a grandfather, and a fan of his wife—Barbara (aka Most Lovely),” says WildernessWayAdventures.com.
Mike spent fifty-five days “Alone” in the wilderness of northern Vancouver Island as he showcased his skills during the second season (2016) of the History Channel’s hit
series, Alone. His positive attitude, knowledge, skill, loyalty, and genuine sincerity are
profoundly demonstrated as he offers intermittent commentaries on the series episodes.
Rowe will be teaching wilderness survival tips and tricks at this year’s Wilderness Living Expo, part of a full compliment of classes offered to enhance community survival and living skills in the great outdoors. Those classes are set to include gardening, canning and preserving, forestry management, homeschooling tips, and more.
Educational fun for our younger community members will also be held. All are invited to the Libby Adventist Church, 206 Airfield Road in Libby, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15 for the 2021 Wilderness Living Expo.
“We hope to find community members of all ages are able to take advantage of this free learning experience with the common goal to not only survive, but thrive,” shared event organizers. “Come join the fun-filled day of door prizes and survival camaraderie!”
Dry, hot conditions call for special
considerations when living with wildlife
Submitted by Montana FWP
Hot, dry conditions put stress on many of our wildlife species. More than 70 percent of Montana is experiencing severe drought conditions. You can help avoid conflicts
with wildlife by following these suggestions:
Keep food and attractants away from bears.
Most of Montana is bear country.
– Heat and drought will likely reduce the amount of plants available to bears in the wild, increasing the chance they come near homes in search of easy food, such as garbage.
– Store garbage, pet food, barbeques, and livestock grain inside a building or certified
bear-resistant container.
-Remove your bird feeders and hummingbird feeders when bears aren’t hibernating.
Help birds and bears by putting feeders away in summer.
– Bird feeders can be a threat to birds this summer. To prevent the spread of disease, such as salmonella, bird enthusiasts should remove their bird feeders for the summer or clean the feeder regularly.
– Clean your feeders with warm, soapy water. Disinfect with a 10 percent bleach solution to kill the bacteria. Rinse the feeder and allow it to dry completely before using it again. Disinfect your birdbaths as well.
– If you live where there are bears, bird feeders should only be used from December to March. One pound of bird seed contains over 2,000 calories, making it irresistible to bears.
Keep wildlife wild.
– Many young animals appear helpless, but can survive without parental care.
– Wild animals have an amazing capacity to recover from injuries without human intervention.
– Catching wounded or even orphaned animals can cause more damage than good if done inappropriately.
Heat and drought are also hard on fish. Anglers can help reduce stress for fish by following these practices when catching and releasing fish, though fish may still die.
– Fish during the coolest times of day, where permitted.
– Land the fish quickly.
– Keep the fish in water as much as possible.
– Remove the hook gently. Using artificial lures with single and barbless hooks can make hook removal faster and easier.
– Let the fish recover in water before releasing it.
For information on river closures and restrictions, look online at FWP’s Restrictions and Closures webpage: fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions.