Community news
Canyon trail meeting
The Gateway to Glacier Trail organization will hold their monthly meeting in the basement meeting room at Freedom Bank, in Columbia Falls on Monday, Feb. 3, starting at 6 p.m. The goal is to complete a bike path along U.S. 2 from Coram to West Glacier and one day have a safe bike route from Columbia Falls to Glacier National Park. For more information, visit online at www.gatewaytoglaciertrail.com.
Lottery winner
A retiree in Whitefish claimed the $40,000 Powerball prize on Jan. 23. Alexander Parkhurst bought the winning ticket at Super 1 Foods in Columbia Falls, and the drawing took place on Jan. 15. Parkhurst said he and his wife have been buying Powerball tickets since 1992.
Chamber meet
The Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their monthly luncheon meeting at the Teakettle Community Hall, 235 Nucleus Avenue, in Columbia Falls, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tina Oliphant, from Montana West Economic Development, will talk about new expansion in the Columbia Falls area. Oliphant will a gap financing tool available through a partnership between MWED and the city of Columbia Falls. Lunch is $10.
Free meals
The Columbia Falls Community Kitchen, a non-denominational organization, will offer free, hot meals in the basement of St. Richard’s Catholic Church through Friday, Jan. 31, beginning at 6 p.m.
Close-Up auction
An auction to raise money to send the Columbia Falls High School’s Close-Up club to Washington, D.C. will take place at the Blue Moon Nite Club on Friday, Jan. 31, beginning at 6 p.m. Dick Taylor will be the auctioneer. For more information, contact Dan Fairbank at the high school.
Sheriff’s academy
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office will host two Sheriff’s Citizens Academy classes in 2014. The 10-week course will provide background information and the opportunity to drive fast, shoot guns and meet the officers who patrol the Flathead. The sheriff’s office will gain input from the public at the same time. Applicants must be over 18, live or work in Flathead County and have no criminal record. For more information or an application, visit online at http://flatheadcountysheriff.com or call 758-5602 or e-mail tbruyer@flathead.mt.gov.
Free film series
The Flathead Valley Community College’s Multicultural Affairs Office and the HeartLines Project will present a free two-day Salish and Kootenai film series in the large community meeting room inside the Arts and Technology Building. “Remembering the Songs,” a multi-media project that explores the music traditions of the Salish, Diné and Zuni people, will be shown on Monday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. “ReDefined Art & Identity,” which looks at the personal, cultural and professional insights of several Salish and Kootenai artists, will be shown on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. HeartLines Project executive director Julie Cajune will lead a discussion directly following each film. Raffle tickets sold at each showing for a chance to win a notebook computer will support the FVCC American Indian Student Services Office. For more information, call Mick Stemborski at 756-3945 or e-mail mstembor@fvcc.edu.
Metals class
Rod Cogliati will teach a 10-session Introductory to Metals class at the Columbia Falls High School from Jan. 31 through April 11 on Fridays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The class will cover brazing, welding and cutting. Cost is $100. Class size is limited to 10. To register, contact Robin White at 892-6500.
Scrabble tournament
Literacy Volunteers of Flathead County will hold their annual Scrabble for Literacy fundraiser tourney at the Museum at Central School in Kalispell on Saturday, Feb. 8. Players can form teams of four and compete from 10 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m. Each four-person team is asked to collect $200 in pledges. To reserve a table, call 257-7323. For more information, visit online at www.literacyflathead.org.
Free tax help
AARP Tax-Aide will provide free help in preparing and electronically filing federal and state income tax returns for low to moderate income taxpayers to anyone of any age at the Gateway Community Center in Kalispell from Feb. 3 through April 15 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All volunteers are trained and certified through the IRS and must sign a confidentiality agreement. To schedule an appointment, call 407-8355.
Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country will hold its 15th year anniversary celebration at Gardner’s Auction House, in Kalispell, on Saturday, March 8, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and dinner, games, music and an auction MC’d by Mac Bledsoe. Tickets are $50 each or a table of eight for $400. For more information, call Alan Sempf at 261-4232.
Special Olympics
Special Olympics Montana will celebrate 19 years at Whitefish Mountain Resort with the 2014 State Winter Games on Feb. 23-25. Athletes train for a minimum of eight weeks in alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing to prepare for the games. More than 300 athletes are expected, along with 150 coaches from 25 communities across Montana and nearly 250 volunteers. The Parade of Athletes will take place on Central Avenue in Whitefish on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 4 p.m. Businesses or individuals interested in tournament sponsorship can contact Jim Lawrence at 406-216-5327 or jlawrence@somt.org.