The Polson Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Health and Public Safety Expo at Polson High School on Friday, Nov. 14, from 5-8 p.m.

As a sign-in, chamber members handed out bingo cards. For each table visited an attendee got great information and a tiny sticker on one bingo space. The goal was to get a blackout, according to Jocelyn Shackleford, Polson Chamber president.  

The completed bingo cards were pulled out of a spinner for door-prize winners, who were announced by Brian Miskimins from Anderson Broadcasting.

Polson Police Chief George Simpson strolled through the event, visiting with people and answering questions.

Both Providence St. Joseph Hospital and St. Luke’s had tables with staff available to answer questions and give info on upcoming events.

Staff from Montana Pediatrics explained their pediatric video-based care, designed for after-hours consultations. Pediatricians from around Montana staff the service, which is reassuring to any parent who’s had a child smacked in the mouth with a softball or suffering from a bad cough and fever when the doctor’s office is closed. For more information, visit montanapediatrics.org.

Businesses and non-profits offered everything from hippotherapy at Hobby Horse Place to facials and infusions at Skintique and exercise options from Breathe Yoga and Fellowship exercise. Professionals, including Shawna Rubel of Glacier Bank and K-Ann Long of Unity Bank offered tips on how to avoid scams and info on CDs.

Also represented were the Polson Rural Volunteer Fire Department which has 35 members and covers more than 200 square miles.

The more than 20 tables offered a wide range of information and resources: Summit Independent Living for anyone identifying as disabled; Angel Care for health and respite care; Lake County Public Health, giving shots and dispensing information; and CSKT Dentistry and Bird Dentistry for dental health.

Hungry attendees could follow their noses to the food booth, where members of the PHS Chapter of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America were serving chili and cornbread in the lobby.