A myriad of free public transportation for Mineral County residents

Mineral County residents have a myriad of new public transportation options that are now on the road.

Several non-profit organizations and businesses have begun offering the services, which provide everything from transportation to the grocery store to giving veterans and easy and convenient way to make it to their doctor’s appointments.

Community Outreach is the 23 passenger fully handicap accessible bus that is owned by Mineral Community Hospital/Mineral Regional Health Center which is absolutely free for anyone and everyone to use. Not just for medical appointments but for any shopping or county courthouse chores; banking, post offices, counselors, Laundromat, lumber and hardware, groceries.

Over 20 scheduled stops with routes between Salteese and Alberton Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. A wheelchair lift with room for 3 wheelchairs and 4 of the seats have built-in child restraints (no car seat needed!) with seatbelts for everyone. Our drivers are CDL Certified and CPR qualified. No reservations are required as you just need to be at any of the stops and we’ll gladly help you aboard and take you as close to your destination as we can. However, feel free to call 822-5122 for more information or to receive a schedule. Or go to www.mineralcommunityhospital.net for the schedule and to read about all of the other services we offer the residents in Mineral County.

The Mineral County Pioneer Council is proud to announce that a Mineral County Public Transportation Team has been formed consisting of the Mineral County Pioneer Council Public Transportation bus, the Mineral County Hospital Community Outreach Public Transportation bus and the transportation facilities for the Veterans who are in need of appointments in other cities. All facilities are available to all residence of Mineral County. The Pioneer Council Public Transportation bus is available: the 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 2nd Monday and 4th Wednesday of each month from the West End to Missoula, the 2nd Wednesday of each month to Plains, and the 2nd Friday to Kellogg, ID. Please contact our dispatchers Dennis or Sherrill Christenson at 406-678-4240 or 406-214-5093 for schedules and reservation so you will have a place on the bus. A minimal fee is charged for each round trip.

I’m sure many of you have seen the red, white and blue van running up and down the interstate and around town? This is the van that provides transportation for our veterans to Missoula, Kalispell, Helena, and beyond. The Disabled American Veterans Volunteer Transportation Network provides the service to ALL rural Veterans FREE of Charge.

Mineral County has one van thanks to the efforts of Mineral County resident Herman Bernaking. Being a veteran himself Herman knew the importance of getting a mode of transportation for area veterans so they could travel to their appointments without the worry about how am I going to get there?

Mineral County has nine volunteer drivers and one Volunteer Coordinator to ensure that no veteran is left without transportation. You do not need to be disabled to ride the van, Caregivers are allowed to travel with the veteran on approved medical appointments, and handicapped transportation is also available to our veterans. You need to make your appointments as soon as you receive your letter.

The local van that Mineral County received came to us used from the Bitterroot with over 249,000 miles on it. Mineral County DAV will be fundraising for a new van beginning in January.

If you are a veteran and in need of transportation, or you have questions, please call 241-2934, or 822- 2213.