This week 64 years ago: Arnold Olsen appearance, Indian Aid Bill, Polson Fire Department’s fire week

The Flathead Courier, October 11, 1962

Arnold Olsen Plans Polson And County Appearances  

Congressman Arnold Olsen will be coming through Lake County on October 14 and 15. Since Oct. 14 is Sunday, he has asked that no meetings be scheduled for him, according to County Democratic Chairman Mrs. Grace Derr.

Olsen will have lunch with the Charles Harballs at their ranch in Irvine Flats. During the afternoon he will visit friends and tour St. Joseph Hospital.

It will be his first visit since its completion; Ray Kelly, chairman of the local fundraising committee, will be his guide. Arrangements for the federal grant were worked out by Congressman, now Senator Metcalf.

In the evening Olsen will have supper at the home of the Lee Larsons in Mountain View. He will spend the night at the Plaza Motel in Polson.

On Monday Olsen will visit the four lumber plants in the vicinity of Polson - the plywood plant, the stud mill, Dupuis sawmill and the Plum Creek Lumber Co.

After talking with labor personnel during the morning, Olsen will meet with businessmen at luncheon. Shortly after luncheon, he will leave for afternoon engagements in Missoula.

On Tuesday, weather permitting, Olsen will return to address the Polson Rotary Club at its regular Tuesday meeting.

The arrangement was made with the understanding that if the weather is too bad for the small private plane belonging to a friend, this speaking engagement would have to be canceled.

Later in the month, the Congressman will return to Lake County for Arnold Olsen Day, a round of coffee hours topped off by a potluck dinner arranged by the Democratic Central Committee. In the evening, he will address a public meeting 

Indian Aid Bill Goes to President  

Congress this week sent Senate Bill 2454 to the White House for signature. The bill would make Indian tribes eligible for assistance under the community facilities program, according to the Montana Congressional delegation.

The bill will also permit tribes to participate in accelerated works programs for which conferees have agreed to appropriate $400 million. Congressmen said the bill's passage will help as a supplement to the late Senator Murray's Indian Sanitation Act of 1959.

Community facilities may include sewer and water facilities, public meeting halls, orphanages, juvenile recreation centers and tourist campsites 

Polson Fire Department Plans to Call Special Attention to Fire Prevention Week  

Polson Volunteer firemen are making preparations this week for calling the community's attention to National Fire Prevention Week, which started last Sunday.

Headlining the special projects set up by the Polson fire department is distribution of invalid markers — special red and white decals designed especially for marking buildings and homes in which there are bedridden or invalid occupants.

The decals, about 4 inches wide, are to be placed on the front door of the house and on the window of a sick room.

They are made of light-reflecting inks so they will be seen at night when a spotlight is turned on them.

Fire Chief Bud Morse said that the department keeps a record of persons in the district who might need assistance escaping from a burning building, but with the use of decals, a more up-to-date record can be maintained.

The first thing firemen will be instructed to look for when driving up to a fire is an invalid decal on a window or door.

Special emergency measures can then be taken.

In other Fire Prevention Week projects, the local volunteer smoke eaters will distribute home and rural fire inspection forms to school children. The students are requested to take them home to parents, have the parents complete the forms, and return them to the fire department.

Persons not receiving these inspection forms may obtain them by notifying Chief Morse. The fire chief also said that special fire drills will be held at the Polson schools. He pointed out the benefits of regular fire drills by showing how loss of life was avoided at the recent disastrous Arlee school fire. Students and teachers trained in fire drill procedures were credited with saving lives.

He said that fire inspections of local schools have been completed and that results were “very satisfactory."