Council updated on ARPA fund
by Kirk Boxleitner
The Deer Lodge City Council’s May 16 meeting included an update on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund Steering Committee by City Council President Dick Bauman.
Bauman explained the ARPA committee was appointed by Deer Lodge Mayor James Jess and consisted of Jerry Finley, Ron Scharf and Terry Jennings, with fellow council member Robert Kersch elected vice-chair and Bauman himself elected chair, so that city council members could be in charge of the committee and report its doings to the rest of the council.
Bauman noted the ARPA fund application form for small businesses and nonprofits places a $5,000 cap on the amount any grant applicant can request for local recovery funds, as he added, “There’s always the opportunity to make a second request.”
Bauman elaborated that the committee sought to make the form “as simple and easy to fill out as possible,” with “not a lot of pages or history necessary,” and pledged small businesses and nonprofits would be “treated equally for fund evaluations,” so that “we won’t favor one over the other.”
Although Bauman said, “We will ask small businesses if they’ve received ARPA funds,” he also assured prospective applicants, “That in no way changes your application,” because it’s “for our information only.”
Bauman also asked applicants for “all the proof you can supply the committee, to determine how much of your request we should honor,” even though “we’ll try to honor all of them.”
Applicants should also supply the categories of aid they’re requesting, whether to mitigate financial hardship, acquire technical assistance, receive grants for rehabilitation of their commercial properties or furnish their storefronts with facade improvements.
“Small businesses could ask for paint or to fix up the front of their building, as well as for grants for transportation or
See ARPA page 14
The Deer Lodge City Council’s May 16 meeting included an update on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund Steering Committee by City Council President Dick Bauman.
Bauman explained the ARPA committee was appointed by Deer Lodge Mayor James Jess and consisted of Jerry Finley, Ron Scharf and Terry Jennings, with fellow council member Robert Kersch elected vice-chair and Bauman himself elected chair, so that city council members could be in charge of the committee and report its doings to the rest of the council.
Bauman noted the ARPA fund application form for small businesses and nonprofits places a $5,000 cap on the amount any grant applicant can request for local recovery funds, as he added, “There’s always the opportunity to make a second request.”
Bauman elaborated that the committee sought to make the form “as simple and easy to fill out as possible,” with “not a lot of pages or history necessary,” and pledged small businesses and nonprofits would be “treated equally for fund evaluations,” so that “we won’t favor one over the other.”
Although Bauman said, “We will ask small businesses if they’ve received ARPA funds,” he also assured prospective applicants, “That in no way changes your application,” because it’s “for our information only.”
Bauman also asked applicants for “all the proof you can supply the committee, to determine how much of your request we should honor,” even though “we’ll try to honor all of them.”
Applicants should also supply the categories of aid they’re requesting, whether to mitigate financial hardship, acquire technical assistance, receive grants for rehabilitation of their commercial properties or furnish their storefronts with facade improvements.
“Small businesses could ask for paint or to fix up the front of their building, as well as for grants for transportation or
See ARPA page 14
Does anything say more about fishing than the fun of untangling lines? Jonah Tilley, Timarie Ross and Gracie Garrison patiently wait while Tate Rome and John Henderson, co-chairs of the Hooked on Fishing Program, do their magic. The fifth-grade classes took time to practice casting skills at Ted Rule Field last Thursday in preparation for a fishing trip to Racetrack Pond the next day. Photo by Peggy Kerr
City pledges $400 to Big Sky Rail Authority
by Kirk Boxleitner
The May 16 meeting of the Deer Lodge City Council also saw approval of a letter of support and an annual donation of $400 to the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, after a joint presentation by Deer Lodge Mayor James Jess and Chief Administrative Officer Jordan Green. Green noted the city of Deer Lodge has previously contributed approximately $1,200 to the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, whom he stated had arrived at their suggested donation amounts based on each community’s population size and proximity to the future passenger rail line that Big Sky aims to bring about. “The proposed line passes through Deer Lodge,” Green said. “I think our amount is a little bit less, because of our population.” Green elaborated that Big Sky is requesting these annual donations to help cover expenditures ranging from engineering services to lobbying “and things like that, similar to the one-time contribution we gave last year.” Green directed interested parties to Big Sky’s website, which is located at bigskyrail.org, so they can see the proposed routes for themselves, “and hopefully, we can advocate for a stop here. We have some people on their steering committee as well, which helps.” Green added, “This would go a long way toward helping this rail authority advocate for passenger rail to return to Montana. I think it’d be a great use of $400 every year to help them out, as they try to bring this service back to our state.” When it was pointed out that rail service already exists in Montana, Green conceded, “We have that one line,” before countering that it doesn’t serve their area of the state. “With this, we would be on the line that would basically come up from Salt Lake City, all the way to Missoula,” Green said. “It would connect at Garrison to the line coming from Helena.” Green continued, “I think See RAIL page 6 |
PCHS ceremony May 29By Peggy Kerr
Thirty-one Powell County High School (PCHS) seniors will proudly walk to the podium to collect their diplomas in the Powell County High School Gymnasium at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 29. PCHS Principal Katie Crofutt said anyone is welcome to attend – there are no seating limitations. The PCHS band will play “Pomp and Circumstance” during the processional, followed by Salutatorian Bailey Crowe and then Valedictorians Natalie Spring, Matthew Denty and Emma Johnson addressing the audience. The PCHS Select Choir will sing “Home,” followed by the Festival Choir singing See PCHS page 10 |
Fundraiser planned for Veterans Food Pantry May 28
By Peggy Kerr
Local Veterans have gained a new avenue for receiving donated food since the Deer Lodge Veterans Food Pantry opened last December, and come Saturday, May 28, the organization will be raising money via a Pancake and Egg Breakfast, set for 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Pen Convention Center, 925 Main St., in Deer Lodge.
“I’m excited about it,” said Veteran Jay Wood, one of the organizers of the event. “I’m hoping we’ll have a good turnout.”
Students from the high school will be helping to serve at the breakfast, and other people have volunteered to help as they hear about the fundraiser.
The food pantry was started by a small group of Veterans in the area, comprising a five-man board and is located at Wood’s business, Jay’s Small Engine Repair, 505 Main St., in Deer Lodge.
In time, Wood hopes more veterans will realize they can pick up food and various other sundry items.
“A lot of people don’t know we are doing it,” Wood said.
Once Veterans show proof of eligibility and fill out a form, they can access items from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Wood said.
When filling out the form, Veterans will need to show two documents: “One is their DD214, and the other is basically what their income is,” Wood said. “If they’re making over a certain amount, then they don’t need a pantry.”
Veterans also need to show they have served at least 181 days.
“Some people don’t make it out of boot camp and claim they’re a veteran,” Wood said.
The Montana Food Bank will soon be contributing to the pantry.
“Once we have everything set in place, they will deliver food every six weeks,” he said.
When asked why his group didn’t work with the pantry already established in Deer Lodge, Wood said Veterans
See PANTRY page 6
By Peggy Kerr
Local Veterans have gained a new avenue for receiving donated food since the Deer Lodge Veterans Food Pantry opened last December, and come Saturday, May 28, the organization will be raising money via a Pancake and Egg Breakfast, set for 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Pen Convention Center, 925 Main St., in Deer Lodge.
“I’m excited about it,” said Veteran Jay Wood, one of the organizers of the event. “I’m hoping we’ll have a good turnout.”
Students from the high school will be helping to serve at the breakfast, and other people have volunteered to help as they hear about the fundraiser.
The food pantry was started by a small group of Veterans in the area, comprising a five-man board and is located at Wood’s business, Jay’s Small Engine Repair, 505 Main St., in Deer Lodge.
In time, Wood hopes more veterans will realize they can pick up food and various other sundry items.
“A lot of people don’t know we are doing it,” Wood said.
Once Veterans show proof of eligibility and fill out a form, they can access items from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Wood said.
When filling out the form, Veterans will need to show two documents: “One is their DD214, and the other is basically what their income is,” Wood said. “If they’re making over a certain amount, then they don’t need a pantry.”
Veterans also need to show they have served at least 181 days.
“Some people don’t make it out of boot camp and claim they’re a veteran,” Wood said.
The Montana Food Bank will soon be contributing to the pantry.
“Once we have everything set in place, they will deliver food every six weeks,” he said.
When asked why his group didn’t work with the pantry already established in Deer Lodge, Wood said Veterans
See PANTRY page 6
