Lance Corporal Andrew James Kulonis, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Paul Philip Kulonis, a helicopter pilot in the Marines during the Korean War, entered the Marines in November 2004. He trained at Camp Pendleton, CA, and graduated Boot Camp in San Diego in February 2005. He serves as Point Main (first man in) in the Infantry. He will be leaving this September for Ramadi, Iraq.

Lance Corporal Kulonis is the son of Ken and Cathy Kulonis of Stevensville and Chris and Sherry Carver of Anaheim Hills, CA.

Florence Civic Club seeking donations for bike path

This summer the Florence Civic Club took on a special project in the community, completing the pedestrian/bike path between the school and Gary and Leo's IGA store. This was a big safety issue in the community because many citizens either walk or bike on that stretch of road. The increased traffic due to new businesses made matters even worse. Schellinger Construction Inc. was able to give the Civic Club a much reduced cost for paving the trail. The total bill for completion of the path was just under $15,000. All the engineering, grading of the trail, and prep work was completed with volunteer help. Now the community is being asked to help out with this project. Send your tax exempt donations to: Florence Civic Club, P.O. Box 544, Florence MT 59833.

'Flag of Honor' on display

The Flag of Honor was created by John Michelotti of Greenwich, CT, with the sincere intention of honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The Flag of Honor contains the names of all of the victims of September 11th.

This particular flag was one of 4,000 such flags flown in the "Field of Flags" on the Microchip Campus in Gresham, Oregon, from September 7-11, 2004. The number 4,000 represented all of the people killed on 9/11 plus all of the fallen military in Afghanistan and Iraq up to that point in time. Many of the 4,000 flags were damaged by a severe wind storm that week, and were subsequently repaired by lots of "Betsy Rosses" from the Senior Center in Gresham. With the help of John Broomall and other employees (all military veterans) at Boeing Aircraft Corporation, these flags have been sent to many units and military personnel serving overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, military fraternal organizations, and governmental offices.

This flag was given to the town of Stevensville in memory of Jeremy Christensen, a local serviceman who was killed in action. Jeremy's name appears in red on the American Legion's Tribute Wall in Veterans Park in Stevensville.

This commemorative flag can be thought of as an honorary representation of the American Flag. The flag, along with newspaper articles describing the flag, is on display at the North Valley Public Library.

American Red Cross assisting in area fires

The American Red Cross of Montana is assisting residents and firefighting crews in the areas near Missoula where a series of wildfires broke out Thursday afternoon.

Mel Holtz of Missoula, Director of Preparedness and Response for the Montana Red Cross Chapter, says a service center has been established in the Alberton Community Church and Red Cross volunteers are standing by to provide emergency shelter services if needed.

As of Sunday noon more than 300 meals and 650 snacks had been provided to residents and firefighters. A Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) has been moved from its station in Helena and is providing feeding services.

Due to the years-long drought conditions in Montana, Holtz advises all residents of the urban-wildland interface to take steps now to mitigate the potential wildfire danger to their homes. Information may be found on the American Red Cross website at www.redcross.org/services/disaster or brochures are available from any of the eight Red Cross offices in Montana.

American Red Cross disaster services are free to recipients, provided by the donations and voluntary service of the American people. To help the victims of the current wildfires and other disasters in Montana, donations may be made to the American Red Cross of Montana, P.O. Box 2406, Great Falls MT 59401.

Training as disaster response volunteers is also available free of charge at all offices. Individuals interested in training should call the Missoula office at 549-6441.

'Yard of the Year' announced

Kathleen and Melvin Cook's beautiful Victorian landscaped yard was the Stevensville Garden Club's 2005 winner. Club member, Amy Suarez, presented the framed certificate at the Wednesday evening Creamery Picnic Garden Party. Twelve addresses were nominated for the "Yard of the Year" honor. The Cook home and landscape is located on Park Street. The huge American Elm and a variety of apple trees in the backyard mini orchard have the new green and white Arboretum signs the Garden Club placed this spring after identifying many native and vintage trees for their Natural Arboretum project covering a seven-and-one-half-mile radius from the Main Street Ranger Station. The Garden Club expressed its appreciation to those home gardeners who have worked diligently to make Stevensville beautiful and to the Cooks for their efforts in creating a spectacular yard for all seasons.

First case of West Nile Virus confirmed

The Montana Public Health Laboratory has confirmed West Nile Virus (WNV) in mosquitoes found in Sheridan County's Medicine Lake Refuge and in Prairie County near the town of Terry. These are the first reported confirmations of West Nile Virus activity in the state for 2005 and officially kicks-off the WNV season. Last year the Medicine Lake area had the state's first confirmed WNV activity in birds found in the area. The first reported human case occurred roughly three weeks after the discovery of the infected birds.

The virus is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes, which acquire it by feeding on infected birds. The illness is not spread from person to person. Once a person has been exposed to the virus, he or she is thought to become immune to further infection.

Although the virus can cause serious illness in humans, about 80 percent of people who are infected notice no symptoms and about 20 percent experience mild flu-like symptoms. About one in 150 people infected with West Nile develops severe illness, and about one in 1,000 cases is fatal.

People over the age of 50 are at greatest risk of serious illness.

Local and state health officials strongly recommend that Montanans protect themselves from the disease by taking these precautionary measures to avoid mosquito bites:
- Apply an insect repellent containing DEET, following the manufactureršs directions.
- Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors.
- Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dusk and dawn.
- Eliminate areas of standing water where mosquitoes like to lay their eggs.
- Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without tears or holes.

For additional information on West Nile virus, contact your local health department or visit the DPHHS Web site at www.dphhs.state.mt.us and click on "West Nile Virus in Montana."

Fire conditions force closures along Clark Fork River

Fire conditions and use of the Clark Fork River water for fire suppression efforts prompted Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials to close a 20-mile stretch of the Clark Fork River from Petty Creek, just east of Alberton to Tarkio Fishing Access Site.

FWP Fishing Access Sites along the Clark Fork closed to the public include: Natural Pier, St. John's, Cyr, Triple Bridges, and Tarkio. Petty Creek FAS may be used as a take-out point for those using the upstream section of the river, but no boats may launch from the site.

The river and the access sites will remain closed until the fire danger decreases and the river water is no longer needed for fire suppression. For more information, contact FWP at 542-5500.

Comments sought on highway projects

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) seeks public comment on 11 proposed highway projects, planned to improve transportation in the area. These projects are included in the draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, recently released by the Montana Department of Transportation. MDT is seeking public comment on these and other transportation improvements planned statewide.

The major transportation projects planned for this area include:
U.S. 93 Visitor/Interpretive Center, Reconstruction, at RP 28 on Route U.S. 93
Hamilton-Victor Reconstruction, at RP 49, on Route U.S. 93
North of Woodside-Victor, Reconstruction, at RP 53.69, or route U.S. 93
Stevensville Wye, N. & S., Reconstruction, at RP 65.96, on Route U.S. 93
Florence East, Bridge Replacement, at RP 9.86, on Route S-203.

These projects are part of the transportation construction program described in the STIP, according to MDT Project Analysis Engineer, Gary Larson. It identifies how state and federal funds will be used to meet transportation needs for highways, aeronautics, railroads, and public transportation throughout Montana.

The STIP represents the departmentšs best estimate of when transportation projects will begin over the next three years, according to Larson. The STIP also lists a number of new projects that have been proposed for Montanašs Transportation Network. The STIP is developed each year and is based on assumptions about amounts of available funding and projections on when design work, environmental documentation, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, permitting, and all other aspects of project development can be completed.

Congress is already preparing to reauthorize the next Transportation Bill. Montana has greatly expanded its transportation program as a result of the last increase in the Federal Transportation Bill, Larson said. He further stated that public comment is more important than ever in order to help guide the department with their future decisions for transportation improvements. "We must also show Congress that our needs, in a rural state as large as Montana, must be addressed with another increase in funding," he concluded.

For a copy of the draft STIP or to comment, contact Gary Larson, MDT Project Analysis Engineer, 1-800-714-7296, or write the Montana Department of Transportation, Transportation Improvement Program, PO Box 201001, Helena, MT 59620-1001. Copies of the draft STIP are also available in your local public library or on the MDT's Internet web site at www.mdt.state.mt.us.

Fire danger high throughout state

With summer activities in full swing, state fire officials throughout Montana warn the public that "high" fire danger levels exist across most of the state.

Officials use a five-step scale that describes the ability of fire to spread in the outdoors. The five fire danger ratings are low, moderate, high, very high, and extreme. The rating is based on wind, humidity-levels and how dry grasses, shrubs and trees are.

Due to fire danger levels, several areas of the state have imposed fire restrictions. Currently, private, state, and federal lands in most counties in northwestern, southwestern, central, a few counties in northeastern Montana, and the counties surrounding Billings are under Stage I Fire Restrictions. As of Friday, Southwestern Montana progressed to Stage II Fire Restrictions due to weather and fuel moistures in that part of the state. Those restrictions went into effect as of 12:01 a.m. Friday.

In Stage I Restrictions, the use of campfires and charcoal briquettes are only allowed in developed recreation sites or campgrounds, and only in the existing fire rings. Campers may use gas stoves outside of developed recreation sites.

In addition to the campfire restrictions, Stage I Restrictions prohibit smoking, except within buildings, vehicles, developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area that is clear of all flammable materials for at least three feet in diameter.

Stage II Restrictions increase the restrictions, prohibiting building, maintaining or using a campfire and maintaining the smoking restrictions. Stage II also implements "Hoot Owl" restrictions, which limits the operation of internal combustion engines, welding and cutting operations and the use of explosives to between the hours of 1 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The Stage II Restrictions also prohibit the operation of vehicles off designated roads and trails. And, driving on roads where high grass could touch the exhaust or catalytic converter of vehicles is discouraged.

"Due to the changing conditions, the agencies along with our county partners are having to impose the restrictions to prevent additional human-caused fires," explained Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) Director Mary Sexton.

"However, this is not the end of our summer or summer activities," explained Travel Montana Promotion Division Administrator Betsy Baumgart. "Restrictions don't mean closures. Although these precautionary measures are in place, folks are still encouraged to enjoy Montana's outdoors; they just need to be cautious about their activities."

State Forester Bob Harrington is quick to add that neither the fire restrictions nor the Governor's Executive Order to begin pre-mobilizing the National Guard are a precursor to closures. "We have no intention nor are we anticipating the need to have any wide scale closures of state and private lands due to the fire conditions this summer. However, there may be some site specific land closures adjacent to or near an ongoing fire incident, mainly for safety reasons." Land closures in and around fire incidents is a common practice.

Sexton stated that the agencies are asking folks to maintain their vigilance with fires as we move into late summer. "A typical August is Montana is hot and dry. While those are perfect conditions for recreating in Montana, we are doing everything we can to keep the number or human-caused fires down. If you're out recreating, use extra caution. Carry your shovel, axe and bucket. Make sure your spark arrestor is in place. And, don't park vehicles on or near dense, grassy areas," she explained.

For information about fire restrictions in your area or the area you are planning to recreate in, visit the following website at: www.fs.fed.us/r1/fire/nrcg/restrictions_index.htm or contact your local fire department or wildfire protection agency.

Fire air quality info available on-line

Smoke from wildfire activity has resulted in potentially unhealthful air quality conditions in some portions of Montana. The Montana Department of Environmental (DEQ) has established a website to keep the public informed about changes to air quality conditions across the state. Daily updates are available via the DEQ Website at www.deq.mt.gov. The Forest Fire Air Quality Update provides daily updated tables identifying communities in Montana that are experiencing the most serious smoke problems.

The site provides a near "real time" information map for major Montana cities with easy to use air quality index to help the public understand how various levels of smoke can have an affect on health. The DEQ will provide daily updates during the remainder of the forest fire season as conditions warrant.

State and federal studies have confirmed that particulate matter in smoke can increase susceptibility in people with heart or lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or congestive heart disease and can aggravate existing medical conditions. The elderly are also sensitive to particulate matter exposure. When exposed to particulate matter, children and people with existing lung disease may not be able to breathe as deeply or vigorously as they normally would, and they may experience symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath. Seek medical treatment if you have uncontrolled coughing, wheezing or choking, or if breathing difficulty does not subside indoors.

In areas where air quality is not regularly monitored, visibility can be used to help identify unhealthy smoke levels. Lack of visibility means that even high contrast objects totally disappear.

Visibility
10 miles and up
6 miles to 9 miles
3 miles to 5 miles
1.5 to 2.5 miles
0.9 to 1.4 miles
0.8 miles or less

Air Quality
Good
Moderate
Unhealthy for sensitive groups
Unhealthy
Very Unhealthy
Hazardous

For more information about air quality conditions you can contact John Coefield, Meteorologist, at DEQ's Monitoring and Data Management Bureau at (406) 444-5272 or by email at jcoefield@mt.gov. Questions about the health effects of smoke should be directed to your local county health official or the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Child care provider info available

Finding a child care provider who meets your needs can be time-consuming and stressful. Child Care Resources can help. CCR maintains a database of useful information on all licensed child care providers. For more information, contact CCR at 728-6446 or conduct your own Internet search at www.childcareresources.org.

Financial help available for child care

Are your child care bills leaving you broke? Child Care Resources can help. Working families that meet income guidelines may be eligible for child care scholarships. For a family of four the maximum monthly household income is $2,356. There is no waiting list. To see if your family is eligible, call Child Care Resources in Ravalli County at 363-4599.

Births

Births at Marcus Daly Hospital, Hamilton

7-22-05
Boy, 8 lbs., 12 oz., 21 inches, to Quintin and Heidi Apedaile, Hamilton
Girl, 9 lbs., 4 oz., 21 inches, to John and Melissa Powell, Pinesdale

7-26-05
Girl, 6 lbs., 12 oz., 19 inches, to Eric and Della Sowders, Corvallis

8-1-05
Boy, 7 lbs., 12 oz., 20-1/4 inches, to Dale and Theresa Reed, Victor
Boy, 6 lbs., 13 oz., 19 inches, to Quinn and Sandy Kirkland, Hamilton.

Obituaries

Anna May Lehuta

Anna May Lehuta, 44, of Stevensville died at her home on Saturday, August 6, 2005. She was born on March 24, 1961 at Havre and was the daughter of Edmond Denny and Mary Bell (Cady) Goss.

She graduated from Stevensville High School in 1979, and attended the College of Technology in 1994.

Anna and Gary Robert Lehuta were married on February 10, 1982 in Coeur dšAlene, Idaho.

Anna had a passion for fishing, hunting, gardening, the outdoors and nature. She was a strong individual with a caring and loving nature. She was always very supportive to others when they had a need of it.

Her parents, two brothers and two sisters preceded her in death.

Her husband Gary, daughter Sarah, and son Edmond survive Anna. She is also survived by brothers Raymond (Sandy) and Donald Lehuta; sisters Linda, Cindy and Randy. Anna was raised by Raymond and Karen following the death of her mother. She is also survived by remaining family and friends too many to list, but most living in the Bitterroot Valley.

Cremation has taken place and memorial services will be held on Thursday, August 11 at 11 a.m. at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville with Pastor Ted Jolley officiating.

Memorials are asked to Partners in Health Care, Bitterroot Hospice or to the Montana Cancer Treatment Center in Missoula.

Grace E. Allen

Grace E. Allen, 82, of Stevensville died at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital in Hamilton on Wednesday, August 3, 2005, of a pulmonary embolism.

She was born on March 14, 1923 at Rosebud, Montana. As a young girl her family moved from Rosebud to St. Ignatius where she graduated from high school in 1941. She enjoyed all of her school reunions.

On July 19, 1943 she married Howard P. Daniels. Howard died on April 14, 1972 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Grace moved to Kelso Lake, Idaho in 1974. She worked for the Bank of Idaho in Hayden Lake, retiring in 1987.

She enjoyed driving, visiting family and all her days. She loved returning to her beloved Bitterroot Valley. She was a regular attendee at the Stevensville Creamery Picnic.

After 18 years as a widow she met a former Stevensville boyfriend, Ray Allen. They were married in 1990. She and Ray traveled extensively to Australia, Ireland, and Mexico. They spent their winters in Bullhead City, Arizona and the summers in Stevensville and Kelso Lake. Ray died in November, 2004. Grace spent this past winter in Arizona, later moving to Kelso Lake in May, 2005.

Her sons remember that she almost always came along hunting, fishing with them and their Dad. "If the guy couldn't gut it she would do it for them." Grace was the networker for the entire family. She was the historian. Grace lived and died true to her name, "gracefully."

She preceded in death by her father, William Tyler Neal; mother Marguerite Swartz; brothers Robert T. Neal and James C. Neal, and a sister Elizabeth Nichols.

Grace is survived by her sons, Thomas N. Daniels and William H. Daniels.

Funeral services were held Monday, August 8 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Stevensville, with Father Michael Smith officiating. Inurnment was at the Riverside Cemetery.

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

Memorials are asked to Marcus Daly Palliative Center, 1200 Westwood Dr., Hamilton or to the Rock Creek Land Trust, P.O. Box 8953, Missoula MT 59807.