The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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The Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance has recently brought on three new EMTs. Ron Arambarri, Klara Varga, and Chelsea Woodland all took the EMT class offered in Lincoln earlier this year and have now passed their tests to join the LVA as full EMTs. "This was kinda an odd class," said Aaron Birkholz, LVA President, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the class. The three new EMTs will double the number of active EMTs for the LVA. "It's gonna help," said Birkholz. "I think...
Samantha Sechrest joins the Lincoln Public Schools for her first year as a lead teacher this year and is teaching high school English. Her high school classes cover novel studies and reading competency. Sechrest is also teaching a combo class for 7th and 8th graders which mainly concentrates on reading and writing, including handwriting. The curriculum for English students includes comparing differences between video and books, so she said she's including that in her classes,...
Drew Blubaugh is a first year teacher and is teaching health and P.E. this year at Lincoln Schools. He recently graduated from the University of Montana-Western, and also attended the University of Providence in Great Falls, where he threw shot put, discus, hammer and weight for two years. Blubaugh grew up in Montana and decided to come to Lincoln in part because it's a small town. "That's really what sold me, the small town atmosphere," said Blubaugh. "When I went into the...
Stephanie Burns joins Lincoln Public Schools as the new 4th grade teacher this year. She graduated from Montana State University Bozeman with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a specialization in early childhood education. "This is my second year teaching my own class," said Burns. "Before that, I was an assistant teacher for two and a half years." Burns taught at Lakeside Elementary as well as at a private school in Miami and is looking forward to getting back in...
As school starts up this fall, teachers work to meet student needs and assess which gaps in learning are from COVID closures last spring and which are from summer slide. Many students, particularly in younger grades, come back from summer break having experienced what's called "summer slide," a loss in knowledge and skills, particularly in reading and math. Studies show that this knowledge loss can be cumulative over grade levels as students start a little bit further behind... Full story
Danielle Cyr, Lincoln School's new pre-K teacher, attended school as a student in Lincoln from kindergarten through her senior year, and she's looking forward to her first year teaching. Cyr attended the University of Montana, Western and finished up her degree last year around early April. "When I went into student teaching, I always thought I wanted to do the younger grades," she said. After she student-taught 5th grade with Stacey Mannix, she said, "I could see myself...
Leroy Blancher has owned L&L Custom Sawing for 26 years, after he and his dad, Len, purchased the sawing equipment together. Blancher was born in Great Falls, spent some time in Chinook, then lived in Helena from the 6th grade on. He and his wife, Linda, met and married in the Marine Corps more than 37 years ago. As they were getting ready to leave the military, he traveled back and forth to Montana for two years trying to find a job. When nothing worked out, he and Linda move...
Darryan Gonzales joins the Lincoln Public Schools this year as the music teacher. Originally from Four Corners, Farmington, N.M., Gonzales was in band through middle and high school, is a classically trained clarinetist and specializes in jazz saxophone and voice. In addition, she performed in the University of Montana's Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Chamber Chorale, jazz ensembles, and served as Drum Major for two years in the Grizzly Marching Band. "As a specialist, I'm...
AirBnB and similar services allow individuals, called "hosts," to offer up second homes, cabins and spare rooms as short-term rentals. AirBnB currently shows nine listings in the Lincoln area, ranging from a private room to a camper to full cabins and houses. Several studies over the last few years have stated that AirBnB rentals can raise the rental and housing prices in a community, while also driving down the availability of long-term rentals as property owners choose to...
With less housing on the market, finding local and affordable housing can pose difficulties throughout Lewis and Clark County, and finding affordable housing brings added difficulties in Lincoln. Lewis and Clark County partnered with Helena last year to fund a new Housing Navigator position to help support county residents in finding long-term housing. Chandler Rowling, who started in the position in January, said the Housing Navigation program supports workforce housing. She...
This is the beginning of a sometimes-series about plants in Upper Blackfoot Valley. Are you interested in a particular local plant? Contact the BVD to let us know! All plant information is provided in consultation with local botanist Klara Varga. The Mahonia repens, better known locally as Oregon grape, grows across the Upper Blackfoot Valley. A plant with coarse leathery leaves, this local shrub can easily be found on a walk through Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild...
The 2020 decennial Census count started on Apr. 1. With the final day to be counted scheduled for September 30, Montana lags behind nearly every other state with a completion rate on Aug. 21 of 66.4 percent. That puts Montana in fourth to last place, above Puerto Rico, New Mexico, and South Carolina. Census data is used for a variety of purposes. The U.S. Census estimates that for every Montana resident counted (including children), the state receives approximately $2,000 in f...
The Elkhorn COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disasters) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lewis & Clark County to define the working relationship of the two organizations. The Elkhorn COAD helps coordinate the local support and disaster relief efforts for disasters in Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, and Broadwater Counties through partner organizations including the Red Cross, the Civil Air Patrol, Montana Department of Health and Human Services, the...
The Lincoln Telephone Company has been offering their "Round Up" service to support local organizations since 1999. In that time, donations have totaled more than $36,000 said Aaron Daniel, Lincoln Telephone Company manager. Customers can select to "round up" their monthly bill to the next dollar to donate funding to Lincoln organizations. Lincoln Telephone recently started promoting the opportunity for customers to round up even more, allowing them to select the additional...
Like much of Montana, the real estate market in Lincoln has been busy this summer. In other parts of the state, increased realty sales have been linked to out-of-town purchasers buying houses sight-unseen, and looking for places to get away from COVID. In Lincoln, local real estate agent Becky Garland thinks there are additional causes. "I think, just according to my business and my opinion, we're beginning to now see it increasing because of COVID," said Garland. However, she...
On Aug. 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, declaring, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." This year marks the 100th anniversary of the amendment, and organizations across the country are hosting events and celebrations in commemoration. The term suffrage, which is now defined as the right of voting or the exercise of such right, stems from the Latin, meaning a...
The Montana State Library is working to make hotspots, which will provide internet access and unlimited data, available to communities across the state through public libraries. Hotspots are small digital devices that allow users to connect cell phones, tablets and computers to wifi. The hotspots provided by MSL connect through cell towers using either Verizon or T-Mobile service, meaning the hotspot must be able to connect to a cell tower to provide internet access. The need...
Broadband internet is a big buzzword these days, as employees and students frantically started working and learning from home when businesses and schools shut down earlier this year due to COVID-19. Connection to fast and reliable internet, which is usually better with broadband, can affect students' access to materials, employees abilities to do their jobs, as well as tele-health capabilities, which can be especially important in rural communities like Lincoln. Over the past...
Longtime resident and Lincoln Telephone Company President Bob Orr has lived in Lincoln for the better part of 75 years. "I came with my folks. I was only five years old," said Orr, who moved to Lincoln in 1942. An article from Gold Pans and Singletrees shares that Orr's parents also served as caretakers for the 7-Up Ranch properties. "My dad was at that time logging," said Orr. After attending grade school in Lincoln, Orr started high school in Simms, as Lincoln didn't have a...
Phase 2 of the Reopening of the Big Sky Plan launched on June 1, and Governor Bullock's directive regarding face coverings in indoor public spaces and some outdoor events went into effect July 15. Under Montana Code Annotated 50-2-124, county health departments have responsibility for enforcing these directives as well as the ability to issue their own orders and guidance to support public health. Over the course of the last two months, county health departments have created w... Full story
Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild has gained broad national attention this spring and summer as a place to enjoy art and the outdoors through a recent article by CNN Travel, titled "9 of the US's wildest, weirdest and most spectacular outdoor art experiences." The article, which was shared on news sites from Philadelphia to Nebraska and from Virginia to Wisconsin, has brought new attention to BPSW as a tourist destination that "provides visitors a window into the... Full story
Kelly Samson has been doing hair for 24 years and has just opened her own salon called Hairway 200, in what used to be Hairitage House, on Highway 200 by the Post Office. "I decided to purchase the salon when Deb moved," said Sampson, who came to Lincoln with her family three years ago and has had family in the area for 25 years. Samson's parents, Rick Foreman and Sue Murphy, are active in the American Legion. Murphy teaches dance lessons, especially for the Fireman's Ball and...
Sports The Montana High School Association is planning to carry on with the fall sports schedules as they're currently set, said Lincoln Athletic Director Laura Allen-Bullis. She said MHSA recognizes changes will likely be coming to sports this year in response to COVID-19 and that they're working to create stages for athletics. One option MHSA is considering is offering Pixellot cameras to rural schools so schools could stream athletic competitions by subscribing to a...
The Lincoln School Board discussed different options for how school will proceed for the 2020-2021 school year during their Monday, July 13 meeting. The board made no final decisions, and the school district continues to develop and evaluate plans in light of the rapidly changing guidelines surrounding COVID-19. The school sent out a survey to parents to gather information about their wishes for how students might return to school in the fall, including school schedule... Full story
Most summers, Lincoln welcomes hikers from the Continental Divide Trail as well as cyclists from the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, many of them participating in the Tour Divide Race. This year, COVID-related closures have affected both trails. According to the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, closures of the CDT in Montana include the sections running through the Blackfeet Nation and Glacier National Park. COVID-19 restrictions also closed the GDMBR's Canadian border... Full story
