News Briefs for Sept. 29, 2021

Cub Scout Popcorn Fundraiser Underway

Cub Scouts Pack 898 is selling popcorn now through Oct. 17 both online and door-to-door. The scouts offer chocolate pretzels, caramel corn, white cheddar, sweet and salty kettle corn, salted caramel and microwaved popcorn.

Due to COVID, the scouts also are offering sales via email or phone.

This fundriaser is a crucial source of income for the Montana Council BSA.

For more information, email [email protected] or call Mike at 406-654-4350 or Amy at 406-230-0380.

Annual Two Rivers Economic Growth Meeting Planned

Two Rivers Economic Growth will host an in person Annual Meeting at noon Oct. 5 at the Cottonwood Inn & Suites.

The public is invited to attend the complimentary luncheon with a PowerPoint presentation of the organization's accomplishments, committees, members and benefits. Speaker Barbara Wagner will focus on Montana's economy and the worker shortage.

Wagner is the Chief Economist with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, providing information on Montana's economy and labor market to policy makers, media and the public.

Her research includes diverse topics such as the gender pay gap, impacts of paid leave, green jobs, the job retention of newly hired workers, business survival rates, the aging workforce, and the economic impact of restoration.

Her previous work experience includes research positions with the U.S. Senate, the Montana Department of Revenue, and the University of Minnesota. She holds a BA with honors in economics and political science from the College of Saint Benedict/ St. John's University in Minnesota, and an MS in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota.

Following the speaker, participants will discuss the Annual Meeting Agenda.

Two Rivers is a nonprofit 501C3 organization serving the needs of Valley County since 1991. Their mission is to make Valley County a better place to live, work and play.

For more information, send an email to [email protected].

NorthWestern Energy Warns of Scams

NorthWestern Energy reports an all-time high in scam activity this past week from customers on the receiving end of calls in which scammers threaten to shut off service if customers don't take immediate actions that include making payments by gift cards, Bitcoin or other forms of payment.

The increase in reports also includes instances where callers manipulate caller ID to make it appear as if an energy company is making the call, commonly referred to as caller ID spoofing. Reports include scammers even going as far as showing up at locations and demanding payment.

"We want our customers to know that we do not use coercive scare tactics to force customers to pay bills, and we won't tell you your service will be shut off immediately without a payment," Lori St. Aubin, Director of Customer Care at NorthWestern Energy. "That kind of behavior is a dead giveaway that the caller is a scammer."

A NorthWestern Energy representative will never come to your home offering an unscheduled service or asking for payment. For other services, a technician may knock on your door to alert you of his/her presence before making repairs or installing equipment, but will not need to enter your home.

In addition, NorthWestern Energy requires field employees and contractors to wear identification badges at all times. Anyone claiming to be a NorthWestern Energy employee or contractor will be happy to present a badge and employee number when contacting customers in the field. Employees are never authorized to receive payments in the field. For more information, visit https://www.northwesternenergy.com/scamalert.

The Life and Times of John Etchart

The Valley County Pioneer Museum will host a program on the Life and Times of John Etchart: Basque immigrant, rancher and entrepreneur in the American West, 1882-1943.

Dr. Iker Saitua, Assistant Professor of Economic History, will do the presentation.

The program will be held in the Pioneer Museum's Niedringhaus Center at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 9.

Limited seating available.

For more information, call 406- 228-8692.

Bank of Glasgow Gets New Manager

The Bank of Bridger Family of Banks announces the promotion of Greg Stordahl to Branch Manager of Bank of Glasgow.

Stordahl has 18 years of banking experience in Montana and Central South Dakota. He has an extensive background in agriculture as a farm/ranch owner in Conrad, MT.

He served seven years with the State of Montana -Department of Agriculture as a Regulatory Official and Bureau Chief.

He is a graduate of Montana State University - Bozeman as well as a graduate of MSU - Northern.

Stordahl enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his family. Greg's daughter, Jessica, recently got married - one down one to go. Greg's son, Jeremy, is a pharmacy tech in Thompson Falls, MT. Greg's wife, Cherie, is a teacher in Great Falls. J

essica and Cody have blessed the family with an amazing little girl, Maeve. She has fiery red hair and has her Papa wrapped around her little finger.

Greg and Cherie have two Miniature Dachshunds, Baxter and Oscar. They are certainly double trouble.

"Greg is a great addition to our team and we are excited to have him as part of the Glasgow community," Bank of Glasgow officials said in a press release.

COVID-19 UPDATE

• New cases since last update: 18

• Active cases now: 43

• Recovered cases/no longer infectious: 973

• Total cases: 1035

• Hospitalizations since last update: 2

• Total hospitalizations to date: 81

NEW ACTIVE CASES ONLY

• Male: 11

• Female: 7

• Age less than 10: 2

• 10-19: 2

• 20-29: 1

• 30-39: 2

• 40-49: 2

• 50-59: 1

• 60-69: 4

• 70-79: 2

• 80+: 2

Death due to COVID-19 and/or COVID-19 complications:

• Valley County: 19

• Montana: 1930 (Montana has added 43 persons to the total deaths in the last 3 days)

• US rolling 7-day average death rate from COVID-19 infection: 1,448 people die every day on average in the U.S.. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/

HOW TO PREVENT COVID-19 INFECTION:

• Vaccinate yourself against this virus.

• Wear a mask when near anyone who is not part of your household, especially if you are not vaccinated.

• Stay six feet from anyone who is not part of your household at all times, especially if you are not vaccinated.

• Practice good hygiene with hand washing or hand sanitizer at all times.

(Statistics provided by Valley County Health Department.)