Community Notes

The Mineral County Medical Foundation will be holding their annual spring fundraising event on May 12 and will feature local historian, Hal Stearns giving his talk entitled, “Montana Towns: Then, Now, Tomorrow.”

Stearns talks about Montana as a state of extremes, from high mountains to the Great Plains. Half the population lives in just five communities and another third of residents lives in just ten others. After the big ones, the remaining 134 incorporated towns are often unique, often overlooked, and all small, yet personify so much of the Big Sky. These small towns were built around gold, coal and oil, timber, cows and sheep, early trails, roads and rails. But time brings change. Why do some smaller towns hang in while others drift away? A few invent new roles and others reinvent themselves. Should we care? A discussion helps us understand the small places that are a big part of the Montana story.

Stearns has taught history at Sentinel High School, the University of Montana Western, and Nebraska and has spoken in 43 states as well as abroad. His wife, Sheila, was the interim President of the University of Montana until Seth Bodnar was hired as the new UM President.

According to a recent press release, “People that have heard him say that he is one of the finest speakers they have ever heard as his message is strong but it carries an entertainment value that keeps his audience engaged.”

His talk will be held after the Mineral Community Hospital Health Fair on Saturday which runs from 9 a.m. to noon in the Superior Elementary School Gym. Stearns will talk at 2 p.m. in the Superior High School Multi-Purpose Room with refreshments offered. Tickets are available at 822-5122.

Dog and cat vaccinations available

A dog and cat vaccination clinic will be held in Alberton on Saturday, April 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. Located at 607 Railroad Avenue a low fee will be charged for rabies; combo distemper-parvo; feline distemper; rhino calici; feline leukemia and worming. Dog license are also available. Bring cash or check, no debit or credit cards.

Celebrate the Week of the Young Child this week

The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the world’s largest early childhood education association, with nearly 60,000 members and a network of 50 local, state, and regional Affiliates.

The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children first established the Week of the Young Child in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child is a time to plan how we — as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation — will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.

Today we know more than ever before about the importance of children’s earliest years in shaping their learning and development. Yet, never before have the needs of young children and their families been more pressing.

The Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize that children’s opportunities are our responsibilities, and to recommit ourselves to ensure that each and every child experiences the type of early environment—at home, at child care, at school, and in the community—that will promote their early learning. Visit the Early Childhood Services Bureau: Week of the Young Child website to learn how to celebrate The Week of the Young Child.

St. Regis School Board forum to be held April 30

The St. Regis School Fan Club and St. Regis Community Council will host a St. Regis School Board forum on April 30 at 7 p.m. at the St. Regis Community Center. The public is invited to attend and get to know the candidates.

Composting class offered in St. Regis on April 28

A seminar on composting will be held on April 28 at 3 p.m. at the St. Regis Community Center. For more information call Di at (406) 241-1440.

Hospital board candidate forum

There will be a forum for candidates running for the Mineral Community Hospital Board. Four current board members are up for re-election and all positions are contested. It will be held on Wednesday, April 18 in the multipurpose room at the Superior High School from 7 to 9 p.m.

Updating Wildfire Protection Plan

Since December of 2017 Mineral County has been working to update the county’s 2005 Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Public comments will be accepted until Friday, April 20. Comments can be submitted to the Mineral County Planning Department by email at tread@co.mineral.mt.us, or by mail to 300 River Street, Superior, MT 59872. The county will also be presenting the draft Community Wildfire Protection Plan and taking comments at four public meetings located throughout the county. Public meeting locations, dates, and times are listed below.

- Alberton – Wednesday, April 18th from 5:30 – 7:30 P.M. at the Alberton Community Center (701 Railroad Avenue, Alberton MT 59820)

- DeBorgia – Thursday, April 19th from 5:30 – 7:30 P.M. at the DeBorgia Community Center (218 Thompson DeBorgia Rd, DeBorgia MT 59830)

More information on the project can be obtained from Mineral County planner Tim Read at (406) 822-3525 or tread@co.mineral.mt.us

Senior Center meal schedule

Superior Senior Center serves free dinners to residents who are 90 years old and older. Dinner is every Wednesday starting at 4:30 p.m.

St. Regis Senior Center serves lunch every Thursday at noon and on the fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. with Bingo to follow the Monday dinner. Swedish Meatballs; April 19, Beef and Chicken Enchiladas; April 23, Chicken Noodle Casserole; April 26, Baked Potato Bar.

The Alberton Senior Center serves lunches on Tues. and Thurs. at noon.

Library storytime

Alberton Library will hold Story Time on Fridays at 10 a.m. Library hours are Tues. and Thurs. 12:30 to 5 p.m.

Mineral County Library in Superior will hold Mother Moose Tales Reading Circle on Thurs. 11-11:30 a.m. for ages 0-3. Library hours are Mon.-Thurs. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

The St. Regis Community Library is open on Tues. and Thurs. 4:30-8:30 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Story Hour and Projects Tues. and Thurs. from 5-6 p.m. The library is located in the school.

Superior Ranger District to conduct prescribed burns

The Superior Ranger District is planning on conducting several prescribed burns across the county this spring. Potential burn units are located in Cedar Creek, Thompson Creek, Mill Creek, Patrick Creek and Rock Creek. The exact timing of the burns will be contingent upon weather, fuel conditions, soil moisture and other environmental factors.

One of the main purposes of these prescribed burns is to alter wildfire behavior to facilitate protection of private property in the wildland urban interface. Specific objectives of these burns are to: (1) reduce slash created from logging activities, (2) reduce surface and ladder fuels in order to minimize the potential for high intensity wildfires, and (3) top-kill shrubs and flush grasses to improve big game winter range. Once an area receives a prescribed burn smoke may linger in the area for a few days following. Every effort will be made to minimize these impacts to the public.

Starting Tuesday, May 1, burn permits will be required for all outdoor burning in Mineral County. Burn permits are available from the Superior Ranger District by calling 822-4233/822-3933 or by stopping by the District office at 209 West Riverside in Superior. Burn permits are issued by the Superior Ranger District as partners with the local and state agencies. No permit is required for debris burning in the month of April.

Before you burn:

1. Call the Air Shed Hotline: 1-800-225-6779 or visit www.smokemu.org

2. Check the weather forecast:

National Weather Service Weather Information: 329-4840

Recorded Weather: 721-3939

Visit: www.wrh.noaa.gov

3. Observe the current weather. Determine wind direction and speed. (Don’t burn on windy days)

4. Have hand tools and water available.

5. Notify your neighbors of your plans.

6. Try not to burn alone, get help.

Contact the Superior Ranger District with any questions regarding prescribed burning. 406-822-4233