Asking for community backing to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Lincoln County’s top doctor got plenty of praise from Lincoln County Health Board members on Dec. 9, but no endorsement for future measures.

“I need the board’s support,” said Dr. Brad Black. “I feel like I haven’t seen it yet. I’ve seen a lot of discussion. I’ve taken a lot of jabs — and that’s OK.”

Black was back before the board for the second time in as nearly many weeks with an updated local health order. The proposal would bring the county’s pandemic measures in line with Gov. Steve Bullock’s tightened restrictions.

But as coronavirus cases have mounted in Lincoln County, residents have increasingly split over how to respond to the crisis. Black’s call for support came after a concerted effort by a group of residents purportedly several hundred strong to either force him out or appoint a health board willing to oust him.

Bullock has given local health officers the ability to either match or exceed state restrictions. Under state code, officials like Black wield wide-ranging authority in the face of the imminent public health threat. Each time Bullock has adjusted the state’s measures, Black has followed with a local health order, but never with the express support of the health board.

In late November Black proposed an updated set of pandemic restrictions incorporating Bullock’s most recent changes. Health board members narrowly voted against supporting the measure. Residents in attendance and several board members argued the measure focused too heavily on enforcement. Returning to the board on Dec. 9, Black said he had spent the intervening weeks wrestling with what he heard in November. He considered rescinding the local order, which would leave Lincoln County following whatever directives Helena issued.

“I went back and looked at that,” Black said. “I said, ‘You know what? Your goal, your job, is to make sure you’re doing the right thing for the community.”

— The Western News

Rep. Loge crosses 13-gallon blood donation mark

House District Rep. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis, recently reached a milestone after he hit the 13-gallon mark in donating blood with the American Red Cross.

Loge said he first donated blood in college when the Red Cross had a blood drive on campus at the University of Montana in 1968.

After giving blood a couple of times on campus, Loge then started going to the Red Cross facility on Higgins Avenue in Missoula.

“At that time, I was playing rugby at the university and the old saying was “Give Blood, Play Rugby.”

—Mineral Independent

Plains gets wastewater treatment plant grant

The city of Plains will receive a $5.1 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a new wastewater plant.

The grant will help complete a major infrastructure project for the community by relocating the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which is currently at risk of a catastrophic failure due to its vicinity to the Clark Fork River.

The existing plant will be demolished and the new lagoons and ultraviolet disinfection system will be installed outside of the flood plain.

— Clark Fork Valley Press

Bigfork fire chief resigns

Bigfork Fire Chief Mark Thiry resigned, effective Nov. 13. No reason for his departure was given. Under his leadership, the department was successful in passing a $350,000 levy in 2018 for increased staffing and equipment upgrades, and last spring the department purchased 8.5 acres for a new fire hall.

Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Patton will serve as interim chief until the department makes a permanent hiring decision.

— Bigfork Eagle

C-Falls mulls uses for TIF revenue

Sidewalks, streets and streetlights were themes common during a public hearing last week on how the city of Columbia Falls should best spend its tax increment financing district funding.

The city has about $441,000 available to spend this year.

Two residents — Roger Newman and Dave Petersen — spoke their thoughts in person at that hearing and three others wrote letters to the council.

Newman suggested a sidewalk from the end of Nucleus down Railroad Street and Petersen also suggested sidewalk and street light improvements in the city.

Council members had ideas of their own. Councilman Darin Fisher suggested the city consider saving some of the funds in case a project came up.

Petersen also noted that eventually, the city will have to do something about parking as downtown continues to grow.

To that point councilman Mike Shepard suggested the city consider making some streets one-way, which would free up parking.

The council also considered possible spending more funds on 12th Avenue West near the Cedar Palace medical Center, particularly if a federal grant that could pay for part of the project falls through.

Council made no decisions on allocating funds.

— Hungry Horse News