Free GED classes

Flathead Valley Community College is now enrolling students in free Adult Basic Education/General Education Development (GED) courses in Bigfork, Hungry Horse and Evergreen. The classes will benefit individuals who have been laid off from work, who need to improve reading, math or writing skills to prepare for further education or training, or who need to complete high school by taking the GED test. The GED Testing Service will release a new computer-based GED test in January 2014, and FVCC’s Adult Learning Center encourages students who have already started to complete testing by early December 2013. Students who do not complete the GED before the new test is released will be required to prepare for, pay for and take the new version. For more information, call 756-3884.

Basic training

Navy Seaman Dennis M. Mickelson, a 2012 graduate of Columbia Falls High School, recently completed Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, Mickelson completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness. He is the son of Theresa Mickelson, of Minot, N.D., and Lance Mickelson, of Columbia Falls.