Page 14 - Flathead Beacon // 3.23.16

NEWS
CITY BEAT
KALISPELL
Foundation Hosting 7th Annual ‘Loud at the Library’ Fundraiser
This month brings the seventh annual Loud at the Library fundraiser, an evening for lively music, great company and fun for all ages, right inside the library. The event is hosted by the ImagineIF Library Founda- tion and raises money to support ImagineIF Libraries.
Loud at the Library will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, at ImagineIF Kalispell. The library will close at 4 p.m. to prepare for the fes- tivities. Tickets are $35 ($25 tax deductible), available in the business o ce at ImagineIF Kalispell, 758-5821, and at ImagineIF Columbia Falls, 892-5919.
The evening will feature live music by the Ashley Creek Ramblers, catered appetizers, wine, beer from Kalispell Brewing Company, ra e baskets and door prizes. Four unique little free libraries also will be raf- ed. The little free libraries will come stocked with books donated by the Friends of the Library.
The ImagineIF Library Foundation works to enhance and support the programs, facilities and services of ImagineIF Libraries. Money brought in by Loud at the Library goes toward facilities upgrades and programs for all ages. To learn more about the Foundation, call 758-2469 or visit www.imaginei ibraryfoundation.org.
FLATHEAD COUNTY
Jobless Rate Hits 7.3 Percent
Montana’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in January while Flathead County’s jobless rate increased.
The non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate in Flathead County increased from 6.2 percent in December to 7.3 percent in January, the sixth highest rate in the state. The local workforce had 41,006 people, an increase of 841 from a year ago, according to state labor o cials.
Montana’s jobless rate was 4.1 percent in January. The U.S. unemployment rate fell 0.1 percent over the month to 4.9 percent.
“Today’s economic news is another sign that Mon- tana’s economy is among the strongest in the nation,” said Gov. Steve Bullock. “As our economy grows at a fast rate, we continue to work to ensure Montana’s wage growth remains high and that we are nding new ways to prepare our workforce for our state’s growing industries.”
Lincoln County maintained the highest unemploy- ment rate in Montana at 12.6 percent. Sanders County was second highest at 10.9 percent. Glacier County was third at 10.7 percent. Lake County’s rate was 5.9 percent.
“Our economy continues to add jobs, with payroll employment growing in January,” said Labor and Indus- try Commissioner Pam Bucy. “We continue to work hard to ensure that our training programs prepare workers for the workplace and that businesses have the labor force pipeline they need to prosper.”
Payroll employment showed positive gains in Jan- uary, adding around 1,300 jobs. Payroll job gains were most notable in retail trade, construction and manufac- turing, according to labor o cials. Total employment estimates, which include agricultural and self-employed workers along with payroll workers, indicated a statisti- cally insigni cant gain of 68 jobs.
Employment growth over the past year remains near the long-term average of about 1 percent, with 5,166 jobs added for a growth rate of 1.1 percent, according to state labor o cials.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consum- ers (CPI-U) was unchanged in January. Energy prices fell 2.8 percent over the month, while the index for all
KALISPELL
Local Church to Drop 6,000 Eggs from Helicopter for Easter
Hope Church, formerly New Covenant Church, will again be hosting an Easter egg drop along with a com- munity church service at the Flathead County Fair- grounds on Easter Sunday.
The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 27. Along with the service, a helicopter will y over the fairgrounds dropping thousands of Easter eggs for kids to pick up. Kids of di erent ages will be grouped in order to give di erent age groups a fair opportunity to get eggs.
This is the fourth year of having a helicopter egg drop and second year hosting the event at the fairgrounds. Last year approximately 1,300 people participated in the event with over 4,000 eggs picked up within just a few minutes of hitting the ground. This year the church plans to distribute 6,000 eggs.
Also new this year, Hope Church will add a kids min- istry for kids up to fth grade as well as co ee and food vendors for the event. The egg drop and Easter egg run will take place immediately following the service.
items less food and energy rose to o set the decline in energy prices.
FLATHEAD COUNTY
Election Department Moves to Fairgrounds Until July
E orts to prepare for the upcoming June 7 primary election are well under way for the Flathead County Election Department, which moved its operations to the county Fairgrounds Country Kitchen to register voters and facilitate absentee voting.
The country kitchen is located directly behind the Grandstands, and residents will be able to register to vote in person there.
Absentee voting begins May 9 and continues until
KALISPELL
Easter Egg Hunt at Lone Pine State Park on Saturday
Montana State Parks will hold the rst Easter Egg Hunt Hike at Lone Pine State Park on Saturday, March 26 at 1 p.m. Join Lone Pine sta for an Easter-themed afternoon hike, egg hunt and face painting. This event is geared towards kids but is open to all members of the family. The hike and egg hunt will begin at the Lone Pine Picnic Pavilion. Participants should bring their own bag for egg collecting. The lucky hiker who nds the golden egg will receive a special prize. The cost is $4 per participant.
Lone Pine State Park is located 5 miles southwest of Kalispell with 7.5 miles of trails, and an interpretive center that provides information on living in a wildlife urban interface. Additional amenities include a picnic shelter and a community room, which are both available to rent, as well as a volleyball court, horseshoe pit, and an archery range.
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12 p.m. on June 6. All absentee voting will be done at the fairgrounds. Absentee ballots are issued to late reg- istrants until noon on June 6; anyone who registers to vote after noon must return to the Election O ce on Election Day to receive an absentee ballot.
To vote by mail; If, for any reason, a voter wishes to vote absentee, they may request that a ballot be mailed to him or her by submitting an application for absentee ballot bearing the signature and birth date of the indi- vidual for whom the ballot is being requested. The form may be obtained from the Election Department’s web- site.http:// athead.mt.gov/election. The elector must submit the absentee application to the Election Depart- ment either in person, or by mail to the Flathead County Election Department, 800 S Main St., Room 115, Kalis- pell, 59901, or by fax at 406-758-5877.
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MARCH 23, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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