Dillon Tribune (Dillon, Mont.) 1989-current, October 13, 2004, Image 1

Formal fundraiser set for Thursday It’s \A Formal Affair\ this Thursday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Depot Theatre, when the annual formalwear fundraiser for Big Broth­ ers, Big Sisters of Dillon is held. Formals will be modeled by Beaverhead .County High School Key Club members and will be available for purchase. Both donated dresses and new ones will be offered for purchase. The event will feature dresses by the KnockAbout, Calamity Jane, and Thomas's. Goods and ser­ vices and discounts will be offered by local mer­ chants, including Wildwood Floral, Stephen's Flo­ ral, Le Cut, and the Razor's Edge. Bring the guys for tuxedo measurements. All proceeds will benefit the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Dillon. Sets breast cancer awareness events Barrett Hospital and Healthcare is sponsor­ ing several Breast Cancer Awareness Month events. The first, Saturday, October 16, will be the annual Pink Ribbon Walk. The walk begins at the hospital's Professional Services Building Lower Level Conference Room at 10:00 a.m. The walk is an opportunity to honor loved ones who have been touched by the disease. Door Prizes, refreshments, balloons, ribbons, and women's health information will be available. The second event is a presentation, \Cancer Genetics: Hype and Hope\ by John Johnson, M.D, who is geriatric and pediatric board certi­ fied. The presentation is part of the Barrett Hospital and Healthcare Community Education Series. The presentation will be offered Tues­ day, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Professional Services Building Lower Level Conference Room. For more information, call 683-3000. Novelist reads his work at The Cup The second reading of the University of Mon- tana-Western’s English Department’s Fall Se­ ries \Dances With Words” is Thursday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. at The Cup, located on the lower level of the Swysgood Technology Center. The second reading features Missoula novel­ ist, Neil McMahon. McMahon attended Stanford and spent thirty years as a carpenter. He has published four novels that feature San Fran­ cisco EMT physician, Carroll Monks. He is cur­ rently working on his fifth novel, a \stand alone\ set in Montana. McMahon's work has been pub­ lished in \Atlantic Monthly\ and \Big Sky Jour­ nal,\ and featured in \Montana's Best Short Fic­ tion.\ Club hosts Dutch resistance speaker . Author Hanneke Ippisch will present “A Story of Resistance in Holland During World War II” as part of the Free Speaker Series of the \Build­ ing Tolerance Club\ of the University of Mon­ tana-Western is Tuesday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Great Room of the Swysgood Technology Center on the Western campus. Ippisch was born in Holland in 1925. At the age of 18 she joined the Dutch Resistance, es­ corting people in hiding to different locations, and bringing them supplies. During Ippisch’s career in the Resistance, not a single person she was transporting was ever captured. She then became the personal courier to Walraven Van Hall, the leader of the Dutch resistance. Near the end of the war, Ippisch was captured, held for over six weeks in prison, and released a week before the war officially ended. She is the author of \Sky\, p art one of her biography and \Spotted Bear,\ a children’s story. Part two of her biography and a collection of short stories will be published soon. Ippisch has spoken at over 350 schools in Montana and across the United States about her story. I nside Beat of a different drummer Obo Addy’s Okropong performed to two large crowds last week at Beier Auditorium, one a collection of young people inolved in area music programs, the other in the first of three performances in the Southwest Montana Arts Council Showcase Series. Not only were audiences treated to Addy’s drum stylings from Ghana, but to renowned Ga dancers with stunning African costumes. Elaine Spicer Photo Schweitzer declares support for Montana Youth Challenge Program Gubernatorial candidate Brian Schweitzer has declared his support for the Montana Youth Challenge Pro­ gram in a press release forwarded by his campaign. Schweitzer refers to the program, based at Dillon's University of Mon­ tana-Western, as \an important tool in helping at-risk Montana youths de­ velop the educational skills and abili­ ties they need to be productive and active members of their community.\ “The Youth Challenge Program is a voluntary second chance for at-risk youths who want to get their lives back on track,” Schweitzer said. “A high school education is one of the most basic and important assets anyone can have when looking for a good paying job.” Associated with the National Guard and funded in part by the State of Mon­ tana, the Youth Challenge Program has helped hundreds of young adults turn their lives around and achieve the dream of a high school education. In August, the program graduated its 10th class of students, with 75 former high school dropouts com pleting the program. Schweitzer hopes to tour the program facilities in Dillon later this month. The program, which enrolls stu­ dents ages 16-18, provides a highly structured environment for at-risk youths who want help in turning their lives around. The program consists of three phases: a two-week pre-challenge, a 20- week alternative educational residency program and a one-year mentorship phase. “The Montana Youth Challenge Pro­ gram is about opening doors and creat­ ing new opportunities,” Schweitzer said. \As Governor, I’ll see to it that we preserve funding for this critical program here in Montana.” Open house An open house was held Saturday at the still under construction Camp Fortunate Visitor Center building. Plans and ideas for the building, which will house the Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce and Travel Montana Visitor Information Center, are being discussed. Due to the fact that hoped-for grant funding was not obtained, the building will be brought to a weather-proofed status for the winter and grants will continue to be pursued for completion and opening of the facility and its offices, said Beaverhead County Commission Chairperson Mike McGinley. Photo courtesy Katie Bump A fter H ours .......................................... B-3 A lmanac N ews of R ecord ..............A-10 C l a s s if ie d ...................................................B-5 L if e s t y l e ....................................................A-5 L iv in g A rea F eature ............................. B-1 'O b it u a r ie s .............................................A-10 R uby V a l l e y ............................................. B-4 S p o r t s ................. !.................................A-13 Ideas eyed for visitor center building People in Dillon have been watch­ ing the Camp Fortunate Visitor Cen­ ter building being raised. The log walls and timber-framed cathedral ceiling, by Paul Rust of Summit Log Homes, create a large, welcoming space where visitors will be treated to a new view of Dillon. From the big windows fac­ ing north down Montana Street, you can see beyond the Super 8 Motel. A \Construction” Open House was held last Saturday at the still under construction visitor center located in downtown Dillon. \People have been curious about the project, so we wanted to offer folks a chance to see how it's shaping up,” said Beaverhead County Commission Chairperson Mike McGinley. See BUILDING on Page A-3 Congdon in critical condition after horse accident By Elaine Spicer Beaverhead County officials and citizens continue to await informa­ tion on the medical Status of Deputy Beaverhead County Attorney Wally Congdon, who suffered life-threaten­ ing injuries in a horse accident last week. Wally Congdon According to Beaverhead County Sheriff Bill Briggs, dispatch received a 911 call for the Lima Ambulance to respond to Congdon's ranch at Dell on Wednesday, October 6 at about 3:30 p.m. Congdon had been bucked off his horse as he was remounting after checking his saddle. He sustained se­ rious head injuries. Congdon was immediately trans­ ported by the Lima and Dillon ambu­ lances to Dillon, where doctors and staff at B a rrett Hospital and Healthcare worked to stabilize him. The Missoula Life Flight helicopter then transported him to St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula, where he un­ derwent surgery to relieve pressure caused by a blood clot on his brain. According to Briggs, the initial surgery was successful and Congdon began to show signs of improvement by mid-day on Thursday. Congdon's family has said his status is a \wait and see\ situation, and his loved ones remain hopeful. He is listed in \criti­ cal\ condition and is in the intensive care unit. \There is reason for hope,\ said Wally's wife Ann Congdon Tuesday. \He's holding steady. The injuries were to his head, the rest of his body seems uninjured. It's going to take weeks until we find the extent of the brain damage.” Ann expressed thanks to all of Wally's friends and colleagues for their support. \The whole neighbor­ hood of folks in the county have stepped up to help,\ she added, noting assistance received on their ranch and personally. \He has so many people who care about him. There has been an immense number of people asking about him and visiting and sending their prayers.\ \We are hopeful that he will con­ tinue to improve and return to his family and home soon,\ said Briggs. \His absence leaves a significant void in the community and county opera­ tions.\ Noting a sentiment which seems prevalent in the area, Briggs added, \there have been too many horse-related and motorcycle acci­ dents this year.\ Beaverhead County Attorney Marv McCann commented the acci­ dent and Congdon's ensuing hospital stay have \obviously been a terrible blow to our office. From a practical perspective, my experience is crimi­ nal and his is civil. We complement each other, we work very well to­ gether.\ \From a personal standpoint,\ added McCann, \Wally was the first person I met in Beaverhead County. He's a good friend and one of the nic­ est guys I know. This is hard. I expect him to walk through the door. Often we say 'this couldn't have happened to a nicer guy', but for good things. This time, we’re saying it about Wally's accident, it couldn't have hap­ pened to a nicer guy.\ McCann remains optimistic about Congdon's future, saying, \he'll be See CONGDON on page A-3