Powell County has new public health nurse
By Jenny McConnaha
The Powell County Public Health Department once again has a public health nurse. Registered nurse Samantha Ray started the position in mid-September and has been training under former public health nurse Marianne Saylor for the past month.
Ray said the bulk of her work so far has been learning how to do state reporting. State reporting is the process the county health department uses to record and then send disease statistics to the state. It is especially important during fall and winter, a time when the COVID-19 pandemic and flu season are overlapping.
While Ray also expects some grant-project training in the future, she is still generally overwhelmed by the potential scope of her job.
“I’m still learning everything it entails,” she laughed.
With only a month under her belt, Ray has not formed any specific long-term goals. She does know that she wants the health department to have more of a community presence, hopefully by providing services chosen to address specific local needs. She hope more training, and more time in the field, can help her identify what some of those services or projects should be.
Ray came into her position from Deer Lodge School District 1, where she served as school nurse for kindergarten through 8th grade students. She also worked “per diem” at Deer Lodge Medical Center, meaning she picked up any un-staffed nursing shifts in a month’s schedule. Those shifts saw Ray working as a more generalized nurse and are something she plans to continue.
Ray sees the county position as providing flexibility and stability, big draws for a mom of four. A public health nurse has steady, year-round work that can be done remotely to accommodate unforeseen events like a sick child.
At the same time, Ray said, her absence from work will not have a direct negative impact on coworkers. Full-time nursing positions at hospitals such as DLMC provide steady work, but in environments cannot have gaps in their coverage. There needs to be a nurse on each shift so every absence must be covered, even if it means pulling someone else away from their weekend.
Ray is taking advantage of her new job’s flexibility and is working from home with weekday office hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ray is available in-person visits via appointment but does not plan to regularly use her Powell County Courthouse office for now.
Overall, Ray feels her professional transition is going well — with a couple small exceptions.
“From the school standpoint, I do miss all the kids,” Ray said. “They were great.”
By Jenny McConnaha
The Powell County Public Health Department once again has a public health nurse. Registered nurse Samantha Ray started the position in mid-September and has been training under former public health nurse Marianne Saylor for the past month.
Ray said the bulk of her work so far has been learning how to do state reporting. State reporting is the process the county health department uses to record and then send disease statistics to the state. It is especially important during fall and winter, a time when the COVID-19 pandemic and flu season are overlapping.
While Ray also expects some grant-project training in the future, she is still generally overwhelmed by the potential scope of her job.
“I’m still learning everything it entails,” she laughed.
With only a month under her belt, Ray has not formed any specific long-term goals. She does know that she wants the health department to have more of a community presence, hopefully by providing services chosen to address specific local needs. She hope more training, and more time in the field, can help her identify what some of those services or projects should be.
Ray came into her position from Deer Lodge School District 1, where she served as school nurse for kindergarten through 8th grade students. She also worked “per diem” at Deer Lodge Medical Center, meaning she picked up any un-staffed nursing shifts in a month’s schedule. Those shifts saw Ray working as a more generalized nurse and are something she plans to continue.
Ray sees the county position as providing flexibility and stability, big draws for a mom of four. A public health nurse has steady, year-round work that can be done remotely to accommodate unforeseen events like a sick child.
At the same time, Ray said, her absence from work will not have a direct negative impact on coworkers. Full-time nursing positions at hospitals such as DLMC provide steady work, but in environments cannot have gaps in their coverage. There needs to be a nurse on each shift so every absence must be covered, even if it means pulling someone else away from their weekend.
Ray is taking advantage of her new job’s flexibility and is working from home with weekday office hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ray is available in-person visits via appointment but does not plan to regularly use her Powell County Courthouse office for now.
Overall, Ray feels her professional transition is going well — with a couple small exceptions.
“From the school standpoint, I do miss all the kids,” Ray said. “They were great.”
Fall fun fills city’s October calendar
By Jenny McConnaha
The weather has cooled, the leaves have turned and now lawns are covered with splotches of orange, yellow in red. Fall has come to Deer Lodge, and the community is serving up a series of events to help everyone lean into the season.
Friday, Oct. 15
• Rocktober: Powell County Medical Foundation’s annual fundraiser has returned for its 12th year. Held at Deer Lodge’s Pen Convention Center, the night feature a meal, live music and auctions. Tickets need to be reserved by phone and then paid for at the door. This year’s funds will help with the Deer Lodge Medical Center expansion.
“DLMC is working on an expansion, so the foundation will be looking to purchase some of the equipment that will be needed in that expansion for outpatient services,” Foundation Executive Director Kyla Johnson said.
The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and runs until 9. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/4436806116426164/
Saturday, Oct. 16
• Elks Lodge Fall Kickoff Dinner: The Lodge is greeting the season in style with a 5:30 p.m. social hour followed by a shrimp and steak dinner. Tickets are still available at the Lodge and at Valley Foods.
Sunday, Oct. 17
• Pumpkin Sunday at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historical Site: A smorgasbord of free fall activities await attendees at one of Deer Lodge’s largest fall events. Running from 1-4 p.m., it also features its hallmark pumpkin patch for children 14 and under (remember, one pumpkin per child).
There will be no house tours, inside programs or food related activities available this year. To promote safety, the National Park Service will require all visitors and employees to wear a mask inside of all buildings and in crowded outdoor spaces when physical distancing cannot be maintained, regardless of your vaccination status or current community transmission levels.
• Scarecrow Contest: Sponsored by the Powell County Chamber of Commerce and held in conjunction with Grant-Kohrs’ Pumpkin Sunday, the Scarecrow Contest invites businesses, organizations and residents to create a (family-friendly) face to scare off the spooks.
This year’s theme is “Scarecrow Superheroes,” but entries can be straw-free and vary from the theme. Over 20 scarecrows have already been entered, and there is still time to register: Fill out the free registration form from the Chamber’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PowellCountyChamber) and drop it in the Chamber’s mail slot by end of day this Friday. Scarecrows have to be up by Oct. 17 for judging, and there are prizes for the top three entries. Entries can be found across town, and residents and tourists alike can enjoy the lineup up until Nov. 1. Visit the Chamber’s Facebook page for more information.
Friday, Oct. 29
• Jr. High Costume Day: E.F. DuVall Junior High students can come decked out in their finest Halloween garb on Oct. 29. While the event isn’t open to the public, family and friends still have plenty of time to help their favorite students prep some awesome costumes.
• Deer Lodge Elementary Costume Parade: An annual tradition loved by participants and onlookers alike, the parade will start at O.D. Speer at 1:30 p.m., heading past the elementary and junior high schools before walking down Main Street’s east sidewalk. Students love to have support, according to preK-5th grade principal Rick Chrisman, and weather is rarely a deterrent.
“They’re pretty tough kiddos and love having this parade,” he said.
Saturday, Oct. 30
• Halloween Bingo: Even the Elks Lodge bingo is celebrating Halloween! Attendees are encouraged to arrive in costume. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7.
By Jenny McConnaha
The weather has cooled, the leaves have turned and now lawns are covered with splotches of orange, yellow in red. Fall has come to Deer Lodge, and the community is serving up a series of events to help everyone lean into the season.
Friday, Oct. 15
• Rocktober: Powell County Medical Foundation’s annual fundraiser has returned for its 12th year. Held at Deer Lodge’s Pen Convention Center, the night feature a meal, live music and auctions. Tickets need to be reserved by phone and then paid for at the door. This year’s funds will help with the Deer Lodge Medical Center expansion.
“DLMC is working on an expansion, so the foundation will be looking to purchase some of the equipment that will be needed in that expansion for outpatient services,” Foundation Executive Director Kyla Johnson said.
The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and runs until 9. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/4436806116426164/
Saturday, Oct. 16
• Elks Lodge Fall Kickoff Dinner: The Lodge is greeting the season in style with a 5:30 p.m. social hour followed by a shrimp and steak dinner. Tickets are still available at the Lodge and at Valley Foods.
Sunday, Oct. 17
• Pumpkin Sunday at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historical Site: A smorgasbord of free fall activities await attendees at one of Deer Lodge’s largest fall events. Running from 1-4 p.m., it also features its hallmark pumpkin patch for children 14 and under (remember, one pumpkin per child).
There will be no house tours, inside programs or food related activities available this year. To promote safety, the National Park Service will require all visitors and employees to wear a mask inside of all buildings and in crowded outdoor spaces when physical distancing cannot be maintained, regardless of your vaccination status or current community transmission levels.
• Scarecrow Contest: Sponsored by the Powell County Chamber of Commerce and held in conjunction with Grant-Kohrs’ Pumpkin Sunday, the Scarecrow Contest invites businesses, organizations and residents to create a (family-friendly) face to scare off the spooks.
This year’s theme is “Scarecrow Superheroes,” but entries can be straw-free and vary from the theme. Over 20 scarecrows have already been entered, and there is still time to register: Fill out the free registration form from the Chamber’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PowellCountyChamber) and drop it in the Chamber’s mail slot by end of day this Friday. Scarecrows have to be up by Oct. 17 for judging, and there are prizes for the top three entries. Entries can be found across town, and residents and tourists alike can enjoy the lineup up until Nov. 1. Visit the Chamber’s Facebook page for more information.
Friday, Oct. 29
• Jr. High Costume Day: E.F. DuVall Junior High students can come decked out in their finest Halloween garb on Oct. 29. While the event isn’t open to the public, family and friends still have plenty of time to help their favorite students prep some awesome costumes.
• Deer Lodge Elementary Costume Parade: An annual tradition loved by participants and onlookers alike, the parade will start at O.D. Speer at 1:30 p.m., heading past the elementary and junior high schools before walking down Main Street’s east sidewalk. Students love to have support, according to preK-5th grade principal Rick Chrisman, and weather is rarely a deterrent.
“They’re pretty tough kiddos and love having this parade,” he said.
Saturday, Oct. 30
• Halloween Bingo: Even the Elks Lodge bingo is celebrating Halloween! Attendees are encouraged to arrive in costume. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7.
