Community news
Free meals
Free meals for all will be served by the Columbia Falls Community Kitchen in the basement of St. Richard’s Catholic Church from May 28 through 31 beginning at 6 p.m.
Police remodel
The public is invited to take a sightseeing walk through the newly remodeled police station in City Hall on Tuesday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Judge takes training
Judge Susan “Tina” Gordon attended the Montana Supreme Court Spring Educational Conference April 24-26. Topics covered included records retention, ethics, motions to suppress, orders of protection, legislative changes, aggravated DUIs, chemical dependency and the criminal defendant, and contract law. Judges from courts of limited jurisdiction heard the Montana Supreme Court listen to arguments on a misdemeanor DUI case out of Missoula. The justices will rule on the case in four to five months.
Chamber social
The Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours social event will take place at Angie’s Greenhouse, on the U.S. 2 strip in Columbia Falls, on Thursday, June 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with door prizes and snacks.
Garage sale
The North Valley Senior Center, on Nucleus Avenue, will hold a garage sale on Friday and Saturday, June 15-16, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Items for sale will include furniture, snowblowers, small household appliances, picture frames, clothing and much more.
Candidate forum
The Glacier Pachyderm Club will host Republican candidates for Montana Secretary of State at the Red Lion Hotel on Friday, May 25, from noon to 1 p.m. Speakers will include Scott Apenliender and Brad Johnson. Drew Turiano was invited but was unable to attend. Lunch is available for purchase on a cash basis. For more information, call Mark Johnson at 253-4767.
Pastor leaving
The Columbia Falls United Methodist Church will have an open house for outgoing pastor David Merkel on May 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the church. Merkel is leaving the congregation to serve a church in Billings.
Toastmasters
The Columbia Falls Speaks Toastmasters will hold a free workshop called “Delegate to empower” in the downstairs conference room at Freedom Bank, in Columbia Falls, on Tuesday, May 29, from noon to 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided. The workshop is intended to help leaders in the Flathead Valley delegate work. For more information, call Kathy at 212-6292.
Plants hike
The Flathead Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society will sponsor a field trip on Columbia Mountain on Tuesday, June 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The slow, two-hour, 2-3 mile evening walk will be led by Glacier National Park biologist Tara Carolin. Hikers will see spring and early summer blooms along the forested trail and rock outcrops. The group could locate nearly 100 different plant species. Participants should meet at the Columbia Mountain parking lot and trailhead. For more information, call Tara at 888-7863 or e-mail taraywc@yahoo.com.