Time Capsule: Interest high in rural fire district

The Flathead Courier, Jan. 14, 1954

Graham tells of candidacy for sheriff 

The political pot began to simmer in Lake County for the 1954 elections when F.W. ‘Bill’ Graham announced that he would file in the next couple of weeks on the Republican ticket for nomination to the office of sheriff of Lake County. 

Graham owns and operates a farming and cattle property in Reservoir Valley, seven miles south and west of Polson. He has been a resident of Montana for the past 40 years, is married and his son, Gary, graduated from Polson High School, entering the army a few weeks ago. Mr. Graham is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Graham of Polson. He attended school in Havre and ranched for a number of years near Big Sandy. 

Polson rifle club is organized 

The Polson Rifle Club held a meeting on Tuesday, with a good number of shooters present. This meeting was called to complete the necessary work to organize the club, arrange for a place to shoot, etc. 

Officers elected are: President, Leonard Newgard; vice president, Jerry Johnson; secretary and treasurer, Pat Manley; executive officer, Ed Capenter; range officer and coach, Art Hoefert; alternate range officer and coach, Tex Harris. 

Next Monday night at 7:30 p.m. actual firing will start under the supervision of two competent coaches. The club accepted the offer of Walk Staves to use the facilities of the Scout troop at the storeroom in the Odd Fellows building on a temporary basis until a permanent range can be worked out … 

Rural Fire District interest high 

Definite interest in organizing a rural fire-fighting district among landowners located within a radius of 3 to 5 miles of the outskirts of Polson was expressed at a recent meeting called to discuss the subject, according to County Fire Chief Clayton Brown. 

Another meeting is called for Friday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. to be held in the city hall at Polson. All property owners living within the area are urged to attend, Brown said. The state law, he explained, permits the organization of these districts upon petitions by 50 percent of the property owners to the board of county commissioners. The commissioners then designate a district, appoint trustees, and arrange for a levy to purchase the necessary firefighting equipment. 

Rural residents who do not have fire protection available to those in an incorporated city should take advantage of this law, Brown believes. Modern pumps and other firefighting equipment can reduce the fire risk if available to them, he said.