Page 13 - Flathead Beacon // 9.9.15

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Essex Evacuation Lifted as Cool Weather Calms Fires Firefighters gain ground on fires across the region as Mother Nature aids efforts with rain
banking...
BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
Cool weather and rain have calmed the Sheep Fire near Essex and others across region as fall weather starts to dominate the forecast.
On Sept. 4, the pre-evacuation order for Essex was lifted and U.S. Highway 2 was open without pilot cars that have guided traffic since the fire blew up more than two weeks ago. However, people are still prohibited from stopping or parking in the fire area, particularly near the Goat Lick Overlook.
The Type II incident management team that has been battling the blaze transitioned to a Type III team over the weekend and many firefighters have started to go home. As of Sept. 4, there were 213 firefighters assigned to the Thompson Divide Complex, which includes the Sheep, Thompson and Gran- ite fires. All three have been especially calm in recent days.
Residents in other areas that had been evacuated – including Libby and Heart Butte – were also able to return home.
Up to 2 inches of snow was forecast to fall in higher elevations over the week- end, but even that weather wasn’t enough to end the season, fire officials said. Mete- orologists said that a few days of warm temperatures and wind could easily dry fuels out. The National Weather Service in Missoula predicts a mostly sunny week
co
What does it mean to you?
Storm clouds hang over the Marston Fire near Fortine on Sept. 3. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
with highs in the 70s.
Fire restrictions on the Flathead
National Forest were moved back down to Stage I on Sept. 5, meaning people are able to again have campfires and charcoal fires at developed recreation sites. Offi- cials said the fire restrictions would pos- sibly extend into hunting season, at least until the region receives enough moisture to ensure that wildfire starts will be at a minimum. Forest Service officials urged
recreationalists to check for restrictions in the area they plan to be and adhere to those restrictions accordingly.
Fire danger was still listed as high in early September, meaning that fires could still easily start, especially with small fuels such as grass and needles.
For the latest on fire season in North- west Montana visit www.FlatheadBea-
con.com.
“ Opportunity. Growth. Independence. -RACHEL F.
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Finding Happiness in Art
Bigfork artist and suicide prevention advocate opens show about yearlong gratitude journaling project
BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
A local artist is showcasing a year’s worth of work at a Bigfork gallery in an effort to raise awareness about suicide and depression.
The opening of Debi Strong’s 365 Days of Gratitude at the Bigfork Museum of Art coincides with the beginning of Suicide Prevention Week. The show officially opened on Sept. 4 and runs though Sept. 26.
In 2012, Strong tried to commit suicide by taking a handful of prescription nar- cotics. She survived the incident, recov- ered from her deep depression and since then has become a prominent voice in the local battle against suicide.
Between 1997 and 2011, 230 people took their own lives in Flathead County and it is the sixth leading cause of death here. Flathead County’s suicide rate is twice the national average, according to local officials.
Strong leads a weekly group therapy session at Kalispell Regional Medical
Center’s Pathways Treatment Center. She said the sessions are important because they help erase the stigma of depression.
While being an advocate for suicide awareness is now a big part of her life, Strong is also an artist who works pri- marily in mixed media. In 2013, after tak- ing a journaling course, Strong decided to start a yearlong art journal based on a daily quote from Gratefulness.org. Strong started on Thanksgiving Day and gave herself some stringent rules. Among her self-imposed regulations was that she had to create at least one piece of art every day and that she could never rip a page out.
“I never knew what the quote would be ahead of time and it was always gone the next day so I always had to complete the piece that day,” she said. “About three weeks into it I was thinking, ‘what the heck am I doing,’ but I hunkered down and got it done.”
A year later, Strong had filled five and a half 5-by-7 inch journals. Each page, front and back, has a piece of art inspired
by the daily quote. Some days featured pen and ink drawings and other days featured collages. Strong said she spent at least an hour working on the journal every day.
She initially undertook the project for herself because they are known to increase one’s personal joy, but after showing it to a friend she was encouraged to put the entire work on display. Since early this year, Strong has been preparing the exhibit and all 365 pieces will be on display. Prints of some of the works will be available for sale.
Strong said while she has been preoc- cupied with getting the show ready for its debut, she is ready to tackle a similar project.
“I’m going to start another project like this soon because doing it every day made me feel joyful,” she said.
On Sept. 19 at 3 p.m., Strong will be talking about her project at the museum. For more information about the show, visit www.bigforkmuseum.org.
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SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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