Tom Coston was elected President. A native Missoulian, he graduated from the University of Montana and has spent his entire career in the railroad industry. He is currently Marketing Manager for Montana Rail Link. Longtime Board member Steve Peckinpaugh was elected Vice President. A Bitterroot resident since 1971, he holds a graduate degree in microbiology from the University of Montana and is the owner of Custom Log Homes. Elected Secretary was Deby Lackas, who has done much to bring the Foundation into the IT age by establishing a website and other electronic positions. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she is an owner of Bitterroot Coffee Roasters.

At the same meetings, two new members were appointed to the Board: Bob Thomas is a Stevensville native who graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman. He is President of Rocky Mountain Bank in Stevensville. Also appointed was Paul Brantner. A native of Tacoma, he is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Washington and holds two MBA degrees. He practiced accounting for 26 years in Tacoma before moving to Stevensville in 2000.

MacCready to serve LDS mission

Lee Harold MacCready, son of Bill and Lois MacCready of Darby, has been called to serve a mission in the Ivory Coast, West Africa area. Elder MacCready entered the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah on March 31. He will be leaving for Africa in early June, where he will serve two years.

MacCready attended and graduated from Darby High School in June 2002. He subsequently studied at Brigham Young University until his mission call.

Corvallis Notes

Reece Hartman, grandson of Allen and Jackie Bjergo of Corvallis and son of the former Kelsey Nordheim from Corvallis, has qualified to compete on a U.S. national swim team. Hartman, 12, was picked to compete in the Dominican Republic this summer after a rigorous selection process of athletes from all over the United States.

He will be conditioning for the swim meet and must raise money for the trip, which will include becoming acquainted with the local people and other athletes from all over the world.

Info/referral service available

Need help locating assistance with food, housing, daycare, support groups or other human services? Call First Call For Help‹Ravalli County.

First Call For Help‹Ravalli County is a telephone information and referral service with a comprehensive listing of community resources for persons of all ages. Trained staff can analyze your unique problems and provide information or refer you to the social services designed to meet your needs.

Call 363-4500 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 noon Monday through Friday. First Call For Help‹Ravalli County is a service of the Human Resource Council.

New book check out policy

Beginning May 10, there will be new checkout periods at the Bitterroot Public Library in Hamilton.

Old: 21 day check out, 1 day grace. New: 28 day checkout, no grace period. New: 10 day checkout for new books, no grace period.

Old: 20 cents per day fine, 1 day grace. New: 10 cents per day, no grace period.

Bitterroot Public Library is becoming a partner with three other libraries in western Montana. Bitterroot Public Library patrons will be able to use their library cards and place holds on items at: Flathead County Library (main library plus 4 branches); Missoula Public Library (main library plus 2 branches); and Hearst Free Library in Anaconda.

Hamilton Parks Board celebrates Arbor Day

On April 30, a multi faceted Arbor Day Celebration took place on Main Street in Hamilton. This year, in addition to the Annual Poster Contest, the Parks Board invited Wayne Hedman to join in planting a tree outside Bitterroot Drug. The tree was donated by the City of Hamilton Parks Board in response to the Main Street Tree Fundraiser that Wayne Hedman spearheaded. The tree was specially picked out by landscaper Vern Eckstein as a thank you to Wayne. In addition to the tree planting, the Mayor read the Arbor Day Proclamation and presented the poster winners with their ribbons and prizes. After the Proclamation, the poster winners and the Mayor planted a 20-foot Honey Locust tree with the help of Eckstein. This tree planting was the first tree to be planted in conjunction with the Hamilton downtown improvement project.

The Arbor Day Poster Contest had over 80 entries from the third and fourth grades. The choice for the winner was difficult with so much great artwork to choose from. The 1st place winner received a frame for their poster, a $100 U.S. Savings Bond, their name on a plaque and their winning framed poster on display in the lobby at Hamilton City Hall until Arbor Day 2005. The 2nd place winner received a $75 U.S. Savings Bond and the 3rd place winner received a $50 U.S. Savings Bond.

This year's winners for the 2004 Arbor Day Poster Contest are:

1st Place - Hannah Burlingham 2nd Place - Dustin Scott 3rd Place - Jeniffer Phillips.

Births

at Marcus Daly Hospital, Hamilton
4-27-04
Boy, 6 lbs. 5 oz., 18 inches, to Christopher Joy and Natalie McCarren, Hamilton
Boy, 6 lbs., 4 oz., 19-1/4 inches, to Jimmie and Dejah Helfrich, Corvallis
4-28-04
Girl, 6 lbs., 15 oz., 19-1/2 inches, to John Gratta and Tamara Rather.

Obituaries

Robert 'Bob' Linsey Todd
1909-2004

Robert "Bob" Linsey Todd, 94, former Stevensville resident, died at the home of his son, Bert, in Charlo on Wednesday, April 28, 2004.

He was born on December 19, 1909 at Bozeman, MT to Robert and Elizabeth Todd.

Bob was an avid hunter, fisherman and rancher. He ran a ranch in the Three Mile Stevensville area for many years, and met many friends along the way.

He married his wife Valma Baker on December 29, 1953 at Reno, NV. With Valma at his side, the couple enjoyed sharing their way of life with their family and friends. Working on the ranch, fishing the Burnt Fork, milking cows and changing pipe will always be part of our memories, Grandpa.

Bob is survived by his wife, Valma of 50 years; sons Bert and Cookie Todd of Charlo, Dan Todd of Divide, CO; and daughter Diana Dallas of Kalispell; grandsons Ed Todd and Laura Grant of Polson, Bill Todd of Kansas City, MO, Kyle Todd, deployed in Iraq and his wife Veronica of Hereford, AZ, Dan Todd, CA, Mark and Gina Todd of Hayden Lake, ID; granddaughter Linda and Chris Nowacki of Berthoud, CO; grand grandchildren Conrad Todd of Polson and Marissa Todd of Hereford, AZ. Also surviving are many loyal relatives from the Bozeman and Big Timber area.

Graveside services were held at the Riverside Cemetery in Stevensville on Sunday, May 2 at 1 p.m. with Pastor Ben Baker officiating.

Vivian Lee Scoles
1941-2004

Vivian Lee Scoles, 62, of Florence, died at the family cabin on Saturday, May 1, 2004, surrounded by close family.

Vivian was born in Torrington, Wyoming on July 26, 1941, the child of Carl and Lena Hansen. In 1960 she married Gene F. Scoles. She taught grade school and concurrently attended Eastern Montana College to obtain her Masters of Science degree. She was principal at McKinley Grade School in Billings, Boulder, Eagle Cliffs and Big Sky Elementary Schools. Her great passion for children and education continued until her passing with her principal position at Lone Rock Elementary, Stevensville.

Vivian's great joys in life was providing for and pleasing everyone around her. She will be remembered as the family's organizer, cook, planner, provider, and child/grandchild caregiver. For those who knew her, she will always be remembered as the one who never sat still... she felt someone needed one more thing and she had the desire to provide it. Moreover, she enjoyed life to the fullest and never had a complaint or criticism of anyone. She showed love, kindness and patience, nurturing of her children, grandchildren and husband.

She had an unsurpassed love and passion for her family, students, co-workers, education and life in general. She touched the lives of many and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Vivian is survived by her husband, Gene of Florence; her children Char, Kim and Shawn, and Jim and Jennifer; grandchildren Brittney and Cory, Bennen, Cody, Tanner and Landery.

In honor of Viv's life there will be a memorial service on Friday, May 7 at 11 a.m. at the Florence-Carlton Community Church in Florence. A potluck will be held in Viv's beautiful yard at 6101 Ellison Lane, Florence.

The Whitesitt Funeral Home and Cremation of Stevensville is in charge of arrangements.

Elwood C. Brower
1927-2004

Elwood C. Brower, 76, Victor, passed away in the morning, Thursday, April 29, 2004, at the Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital in Hamilton in the emergency room. He was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, Thursday, June 2, 1929. He attained his early education in Chester. His family was his hobby. He joined the United States Marine Corp. August 20, 1945 in Philadelphia and reenlisted in 1947. He was a manual worker most of his life and he enjoyed working outside. He married the love of his life Catherine Theresa (Burns) Brower on July 12, 1947 at St. Michael's Church in Chester, Pennsylvania. His parents preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Catherine Theresa (Burns) Brower at the family home in Victor; his three sons: Michael and spouse Mary in Victor, Patrick and spouse Christine in Victor and Elwood and spouse Penny of Howard, Pennsylvania. Also surviving him are eight grandchildren and eight great grand children.

At Elwood's request no formal services will be held. The family will conduct the dispersion of his cremated remains privately at a later date. Ronald Brothers of Dowling Funeral Home and Crematory in Hamilton is caring for the family.