The windstorm that hit Montana in December was one for the record books, toppling stands of trees, blowing over semis, and knocking out power for several days.

A Red Cross shelter was ultimately set up in Superior for community members in need, but residents in St. Regis and the West End of Mineral County lacked an emergency meeting space. Those extreme circumstances prompted the leadership at the St. Regis Senior Center to brainstorm a solution for the next time severe weather occurs.

President of the St. Regis Senior Center, Dave Hannah, recalled, “This last time we had a power outage, we were right in the middle of serving commodities, without water and lights, you can’t serve, you can’t get the job done.”

The center is in the process of becoming a gathering place for the community in the event of emergencies, as we experienced during the two-day power outage last year. The SRSC was gifted funds to help them acquire a generator to keep the lights on for the community, but they still need financial donations to complete the project. 

To help raise money, Denley Loge gifted the center a Savage 30-06 rifle to raffle off. They will also be raffling off $200 worth of meat. Raffle tickets are $5 each or six for $25. Tickets will be available to purchase at the senior center until the drawing, which will take place on the last day of the St. Regis Community Flea Market on May 25. Winners will be notified if not present at the time.  

Hannah expressed, “It’s a senior center, but we take care of younger people as well; we want to lose the stigma of it being the old folks’ place.”

In emergencies, the town needs a safe meeting zone, somewhere people can warm up, charge a cell phone, eat a meal, use the restroom, and play some cards to pass the time. 

Hannah stated, “We have not been able to find a place like that in our community. We believe it is important to help our community members always, but especially during emergencies.”

For the Senior center to be fully functional, it would need two commercial-sized generators, one to strictly run the well, and the other to provide power to the building for heating and all other electrical needs. Hannah explained that so far, the center has purchased one generator for around $8,000. They plan to start the installation process next week. 

The other commercial-sized generator will cost as much or more. Hannah estimated that they’ll need around $24,000 to complete the project.   

To purchase raffle tickets, or anyone wishing to partner with the senior center and donate towards the generator project, can contact Dave Hannah at (208)-659-6423. Any donation is considered tax-deductible as the St. Regis Senior Center is a 501-C3.