Jim Aker’s Kalispell residence is safer this winter thanks to Flathead and Glacier high school students.

Welding I students in Hugh Naldrett’s class built a railing for Aker’s back steps where he had fallen a couple of winters ago. 

The project was headed up by Flathead student Tanner Archuleta and Glacier junior Tyler Eierdam.

“Well, I fell out there one day and bonked my head on the ice a couple years ago and talking it over with Hugh, he said he’d take care of that with his kids,” Aker said. “Those kids did it all, I’m so proud of them.”

Naldrett, a friend of Aker, 82, thought building a railing would be the perfect project where students could use their skills to help someone in the community. 

“It gives them the working knowledge of what they’ve learned — how to weld and fabricate,” Naldrett said.

The hammered-edge railing has a couple of personal touches: a horseshoe and a scene of a man driving a carriage pulled by two horses that was created using a plasma cutter. The powder-coating finish was donated by Advanced Powder Coating in Kalispell.

“Mr. Naldrett is a friend of mine through horses, big draft horses. I used to drive them,” Aker said. He then pointed over to his horse, Yoder, that he drives in the summer. 

On Thursday, Eierdam and Flathead senior Wyatt McHenry installed the railing at Aker’s home on Airport Road. Other students who participated in the project were Travis Levanen, Cody Abernathy and Chad Heimerl.

“We came out here and took measurements from the angle of the stairs and they learned how to build the framework, get it all square and plumb,” Naldrett said. “Then they learned how to put these pickets in evenly spaced.”

This is Naldrett’s second year teaching in the Kalispell school district and the first year doing a community project. He plans to do a new community project each semester.

After Eierdam and McHenry had the fence in place, Aker came outside.

“How are ya, Jim?” McHenry asked, smiling.

“I really appreciate it,” Aker said. 

Back inside his house, Aker commented about the students.

“They’re great. Those kids did it all. I’m so proud of them,” Aker said.

For more information or to suggest a future community project, call Flathead High School at 751-3500.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].