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News:
Heritage Museum opens for the season May 18 (posted 5/10/2024)
Opening Day at The Heritage Museum is always an eagerly anticipated event. This year, the Museum will host the celebration on Saturday, May 18, from 10:00-5:00. As always, the entire family will find something of interest in presentations and demonstrations.
We are pleased to present for your enjoyment two speakers and one performance this year in the Beebe Room.
10:15 Dr. M. Lynn Barnes, our historic dress and textile expert will present her latest research project: Bridal Belle of Libby? How the Erhard Family Brought French Fashions to Libby, Montana.
Fashion has always been a statement of social status coupled with individuality and special events. In the historic dress collection housed at The Heritage Museum, there are multiple "statements" of fashion. One of the treasures is a gown from the Erhard family collection that exemplifies French fashion silhouette at the turn-of-the-last-century. This gown, a gift of Nancy Erhard, is the subject of Dr. M. Lynn Barnes’s presentation on Opening Day. Come see and learn how French fashion is expressed with laces, silhouette and fabric, and how those fashions traveled to Libby, Montana.
11:15 Jeff Gruber will present a preview of his upcoming book, Our Hometown, Volume II.
The second edition of Our Hometown will focus on places and events outside of Libby, but in Lincoln County. Topics and themes that will be included are exploration, fur trapping and settlement of northwest Montana, mining – including the development of the local vermiculite industry; hunting, and fishing, homesteading, early transportation methods in the area including rail, steamboats on the Kootenai River, and early roads and highways. A large segment will chronicle the Libby Dam project.
"My goal in writing Volume II is to capture and portray to readers the unique and steadfast character of those who first settled in the Libby area," said Gruber.
His presentation at the museum will include photos and historical accounts that are included in the book. The expected release of Volume II is in late spring 2025.
12:15 The afternoon will kick off with a rousing skit performed by the Old Time Opera House Theater.
Don’t miss these goings-on outside the museum walls:
1:15 Enjoy the sounds of the Big Sky Bows & Blowhards Band which will perform in the outdoor Pavilion.
Check out the many products for sale by vendors amongst the trees.
Lunch in the historic Sylvanite Cookhouse featuring our delicious hamburgers, home baked pies and cold drinks
The Lincoln County Amateur Radio Group will be set up in the yard, ready to answer questions, explain their equipment or demonstrate the sending of messages.
Tour the Museum grounds in a Model-T Ford or antique fire engine with a trained chauffeur at the wheel.
View a Cross Cut Saw demonstration
Crush rocks in the antique rock crusher. It is more fun than it sounds.
Be sure to take the kids to see how lawns were mowed back in the day with rotary push mowers.
Smokey Bear will be on the grounds from 10 to 12:00 followed by Sparky the Fire Engine Dog from 12 to 2:00
A Silent Auction will be held in the Swamp Creek Community Hall from 10 to 4 to benefit the Shay Locomotive Restoration. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take home something unexpected. Up for auction will be log furniture, a full body cougar mount, a large Turkish-style rug, Gift Certificates for Quinn’s Hot Springs lodging, Big Sky Water Park, Twin Lakes Village Golf, Fairmont golf pass, and gift baskets.
Between 10:00 and 4:00, stop by the Shay shed to visit with our locomotive mechanics. They’ll bring you up to date on the progress of the Shay restoration and share plans for the future.
Beginning opening day and continuing through the month of June, the Kootenai Valley Quilt Guild will display their beautiful quilts in the Tower Gallery. The gallery will house a changing exhibit throughout the summer with artwork by local artists during July and finish off the season with photographs in August through the season’s end.
The Museum will be open for the season through September 30th, Monday-Saturday, 10:00-5:00 and Sunday, 1:00-5:00. A donation for your admission is always appreciated. The Heritage Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and relies on donations to continue its mission to collect, preserve, protect and interpret the history of Lincoln County for education, research, cultural enrichment and recreation for local residents and visitors of all ages.
The Heritage Museum is run entirely by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, opportunities abound; call the Museum at 406-293-7521. www.libbyheritagemuseum.com
Birds of Prey at Libby Dam June 1st (posted 5/10/2024)
The Libby Dam Visitor Center will host a Birds of Prey educational event from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. There will be three presentations on that day.
Several live raptors (hawks, owls and eagles) will be on hand for lecture presentations at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Please be seated at least 15 minutes before start of program to get a good seat...doors will close promptly on the hour! Family-friendly activities will be available throughout the visitor center. Bring binoculars to scan nearby hills for wildlife including nesting osprey and bald eagles. This is a free event. For more information, contact Park Ranger Susan at the visitor center at 406-293-5577.
Libby Dam Visitor Center will open for the 2024 summer season on Saturday, June 1st at 9:30am.
Visitor Center hours are: 9:30am – 6:00 pm daily, June, July, August, and September.
Libby Dam Visitor Center is located at 260 Souse Gulch Road, Libby MT 59923.
It is located approximately 15 miles north of Libby, off of Hwy 37 and Forest Development Road 228, Top of Dam, West side.
Libby Dam Summer 2024 Schedule of Events:
Libby Dam Visitor Center will begin public tours June 2nd, 2024, running through August.
Tours will be offered at 10am and 4pm. Please arrive 15 minutes beforehand to sign in.
Tours will be available 7 days a week, dependent on construction and staff availability.
Tours will be top of dam only during the week: Monday-Thursday
Photo ID is required for everyone over age of 18 to go on tour. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tours are first-come, first-serve, max 20 persons.
School groups and large groups can call and request a separate tour at a different time, we will do our best to accommodate you, advance notice is necessary.
Tours may be cancelled at any time for safety or security reasons.
Please contact the Visitor Center for more information. 406-293-5577.
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First Class Stamp price to increase to $.73 cents in July 2024 (posted 5/10/2024)
The United States Postal Service (USPS) will again increase the price for mailing services that will take effect on July 14, 2024. The price of a first-class mail Forever stamp will increase five cents, from 68 cents to 73 cents. There will be no price increase for Post Office Box rental fees, and the Postal Service will apply a price reduction of 10 percent for postal insurance when mailing an item. The proposed adjustments, if approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would raise mailing services product prices approximately 7.8 percent.
This is the sixth price increase since January 2021,
incrementally increasing the cost of a first class Forever stamp from $.55 cents to $.73 cents. And the Postal Service has indicated there will be more regular increases in the near future. In their December 29, 2023 report to the Postal Regulatory Commission, the US Postal Service said they anticipate to implement price changes for all of their market dominant classes in January and July in each subsequent year after this upcoming increase in July 2024. The price increases, along with their legal obligation to be financially self-sufficient, will help them achieve financial sustainability while improving customer service.
USPS Forever Stamp Historical Prices
(Requested: July 14, 2024: $0.73)
January 21, 2024: $0.68
July 9, 2023: $0.66
January 22, 2023: $0.63
July 10, 2022: $0.60
August 29, 2021: $0.58
January 24, 2021: $0.55
January 26, 2020: $0.55
January 27, 2019: $0.55
January 21, 2018: $0.50
January 22, 2017: $0.49
April 10, 2016: $0.47
January 26, 2014: $0.49
January 27, 2013: $0.46
January 22, 2012: $0.45
May 11, 2009: $0.44
May 12, 2008: $0.42
April 12, 2007: $0.41
Source: https://foreverstampprice.com/
As the name suggests, Forever stamps can be used at any time after purchase, regardless of whether the postage rate goes up in the future. So if you stock up on Forever stamps at the current price before the July increase, the stamps will still be good after this new and any future price increases.
New Prices for July 2024):
Letters (1 oz.) 68 cents (Current Price) 73 cents (Planned Price)
Letters (metered 1 oz.) 64 cents (Current Price) 69 cents (Planned Price)
Domestic Postcards 53 cents (Current Price) 56 cents (Planned Price)
International Postcards $1.55 (Current Price) $1.65 (Planned Price)
International Letter (1 oz.) $1.55 (Current Price) $1.65 (Planned Price)
The additional-ounce price for single-piece letters increases from 24 cents to 28 cents. The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for Special Services products, including Certified Mail and money order fees.
Sturgeon flow augmentation at Libby Dam begins May 14-21 (posted 5/10/2024)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ water managers, along with federal, tribal, and state fishery biologists determined spring run-off conditions in the Kootenai River and its tributaries warrant starting the required flow augmentation at Libby Dam, Montana, for endangered Kootenai River white sturgeon downstream in Idaho and British Columbia.
The flow augmentation operation entails increasing outflows to provide river conditions to potentially increase sturgeon spawning success in the lower Kootenai River. Outflows will increase May 14-21, as local Kootenai River tributaries downstream of the dam are forecasted to peak. Discharge from the dam will increase to full powerhouse capacity, about 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) for about 18 days. After sturgeon flow augmentation is complete, Libby Dam discharge will gradually decrease to stable summer levels, no less than 7,000 cfs - the bull trout minimum flow associated with Koocanusa Reservoir’s inflow forecast.
The sturgeon flow augmentation operation is part of a collaborative, ongoing effort by regional biologists to enhance spawning conditions for sturgeon in the Kootenai River near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Increased flows provide river conditions to potentially increase sturgeon migration to the reach of river upstream of Bonners Ferry in habitat known to be conducive to successful spawning, egg hatching and larval sturgeon survival, while providing river stage downstream of spawning areas to connect the river to off-channel habitats.
While the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho’s conservation aquaculture program has steadily increased the young sturgeon numbers in the river since 1992, federal, state, and tribal partners have collaborated for over a decade to build and enhance instream and off-channel habitat upstream and downstream of Bonners Ferry, to provide conditions that allow adult sturgeon, both wild and those released into the river through the conservation aquaculture program, to successfully reproduce on their own. The sturgeon operation requires a volume of water to be released from Libby Dam based on May water supply forecasts for Koocanusa Reservoir. The May water supply forecast for April-August inflow volume is 5.13 million-acre-feet or 82 percent of average, which sets this year’s sturgeon volume at 0.8 million-acre-feet.
The latest projections indicate a minimal chance of exceeding flood stage at Bonner Ferry, Idaho, which is 1,764 feet. The dam’s flow and stage projections are based on National Weather Service ensemble forecasts that are frequently updated during runoff season as weather and conditions change. Forecast modeling includes information on elevations, outflow, and Bonners Ferry seasonal elevation and peak height for the year. Check the latest projections here.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' primary consideration in operating Libby Dam is to minimize risk to human life, health, and safety, while meeting the dam’s multiple purposes and responsibilities. The Corps closely monitors Kootenai River elevation in Bonners Ferry during the sturgeon flow augmentation and adjusts operations to stay below 1,764 feet, the local flood stage.
Abayance Bay 2024 Summer Concerts in Rexford (posted 5/10/2024)
Abayance Bay Marina in Rexford, Montana, has a great schedule of concerts for the summer of 2024. They are located on the shore of Lake Koocanusa. To purchase tickets and find out more details about their events, click on this link: www.abayancebayevents.com
Saturday, June 22 - Jamestown Revival Concert, Gates open at 5 PM. Tickets $25/adult.
Saturday, June 29 - Tim Montana Concert, Gates open at 5 PM. Tickets $25/adult.
Saturday, July 6 - The Travelin' McCourys Concert, Gates open at 5 PM. Tickets $30/adult.
Saturday, July 13 - Blistered Earth Concert, Gates open at 5 PM. Tickets $20/adult.
Friday, July 19 - The Wood Brothers Concert, Gates open at 5 PM. Tickets $41/adult.
Saturday, July 27 - The Red Clay Strays Concert, Gates open at 5 PM. Tickets $35/adult.
Saturday, Aug 3 - Infamous Stringdusters & Molly Tuttle Concert, Gates open at 5 PM. Tickets $40/adult.
Sunday. Aug 11 - The War and Treaty & Texas Hill Concert, Gates open at 4 PM. Tickets $45/adult.
Saturday, Aug 17 - Molly Hatchet Concert, Gates open at 5 PM. Tickets $30/adult.
Sunday, Aug 18 - Glacier Symphony, ‘Water Music – Classical on the Reservoir Concert, Gates open at 4 PM. Tickets $35/adult.
Friday, Aug 23 - Three Dog Night & Tobacco River Ramblers Concert, Gates open at 5 PM. Tickets $50/adult.
Saturday, Aug 31 - Craig Morgan Concert, Gates open at 5 PM. Tickets $50/adult.
The Abayance Bay Marina venue is positioned along the shore of Lake Koocanusa at 290 Abayance Bay Drive in Rexford, Montana. The stage is adjacent to The Bowl Restaurant and up the hill from the boat docks. Bring chairs and blankets and stretch out on the lawns.
Concert parking: Free parking is available near the marina entrance. The parking area is across the road, just off the Hwy. It is a short walk down to the marina/event. Handicapped parking available next to the venue, must have Handicap permit allocated by the state. $50 Paid Parking is available next to the marina (No trailers and for vehicles 24 feet and shorter). Marina parking is included with VIP ticket purchase. Tent camping is available on the marina point. The daily fee is $50 and includes marina parking. Abayance Bay operates under a special use permit by the Kootenai National Forest.
Glacier Bank donates to Montana organizations (posted 5/10/2024)
Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby and InterBel Telephone Cooperative Inc. in Eureka receive funds
Glacier Bank and partner, Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) have awarded $190,000 to 17 nonprofit organizations in western Montana through the FHLB Des Moines Member Impact Fund grant program. In addition to Glacier Bank’s participation in this program, the affiliated Montana Divisions of Glacier Bank requested support for 100 organizations combined. This request resulted in $2,048,600 being distributed to nonprofits across the state of Montana which will be used to forward the mission of affordable housing and community development.
"Glacier Bank is thrilled by the impact of our partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines on our communities. Through our collective efforts, we're not just providing financial support, but we're investing in Montana's vitality and resilience," said Mike Smith, Glacier Bank Market President. "Our commitment to giving back underscores our belief that true success is measured by the well-being of those we serve. Together, we're building a foundation of strength in our community, where every member can thrive."
Two nonprofit organizations in Lincoln County were recognized: Cabinet Peaks Medical Center Foundation in Libby and InterBel Telephone Cooperative Inc. in Eureka. Both organizations were awarded a $10,000 grant.
The local Member Impact Fund Grant recipients encompass a diverse array of organizations dedicated to enhancing the well-being of communities in Montana. From supporting essential services like food banks and medical centers to fostering educational opportunities and affordable housing initiatives, these recipients play a vital role in addressing various societal needs.
• AWARE Inc.
• Bigfork Food Bank Inc.
• Bigfork Rotary Foundation Inc.
• Boys & Girls Club of Glacier Country
• Boys & Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County
• Cabinet Peaks Medical Center Foundation
• Flathead Food Bank Inc.
• Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley
• Imaginelf Library Foundation
• InterBel Telephone Cooperative Inc.
• Kalispell Education Foundation
• Lake County Community Development Corp. DBA Mission West Community Development Partners
• National Affordable Housing Network
• Northwest Montana Community Land Trust Inc.
• Polson Loaves & Fish Pantry Inc.
• Samaritan House Inc.
• Whitefish Community Foundation Inc.
For more information about the Montana award recipients, visit www.glacierbank.com/unity. The Member Impact Fund grants, a collaborative effort between Glacier Bank, a valued member of FHLB Des Moines, and the FHLB Des Moines Member Impact Fund, exemplify a powerful partnership in community support. For every $1 donated by Glacier Bank, $3 was provided by the FHLB Des Moines Member Impact Fund. Glacier Bank nominated local nonprofit organizations. Award winners were then selected based on the need for grant money to support their vital work serving affordable housing or community development needs. The Member Impact Fund distributed the awards to Glacier Bank, which then distributed the funds, along with the matching grant, to the local recipient organizations.
FHLB Des Moines plays a vital role in bolstering communities by offering essential funding solutions and liquidity support to over 1,200 members. This assistance facilitates mortgage lending, fosters economic development, and promotes affordable housing initiatives across various regions. The Member Impact Fund matching program is available in areas where FHLB Des Moines members are located, including Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Inquiries about Glacier Bank and the grants awarded to local organizations by the Member Impact Fund grant program can be directed to Sloane Stinson at sloane@bigskypublicrelations.com. Additional information can also be found on the Glacier Bank website at https://www.glacierbank.com/unity.
ABOUT FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF DES MOINES The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is deeply committed to strengthening communities, serving 13 states and three U.S. Pacific territories as a member-owned cooperative. We work together with over 1,200 member institutions to support affordable housing, economic development and community improvement. FHLB Des Moines is one of 11 regional Banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Members include community and commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, thrifts and community development financial institutions. FHLB Des Moines is wholly owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding.
Libby Real Estate news (posted 1/28/2024)
Guest article by Alice Hayes/Team Hayes Realtors
How was the Market in 2023?
Alice Hayes, Team Hayes Realtors
1/1/2023 - 12/31/2023 Real Estate figures were:
153 Residential SALES: 115 Libby; 36 Troy; 2 Yaak
86 Land SALES: 44 Libby; 35 Troy; 7 Yaak
11 Commercial/Multi-Family SALES: 11 Libby
12 Residential PENDING: 9 Libby; 3 Troy
7 Land PENDING: 5 Libby; 2 Troy 3
Commercial/Multi-Family PENDING: 2 Libby; 1 Troy
90 Residential ACTIVES: 60 Libby; 26 Troy; 4 Yaak
120 Land ACTIVES: 77 in Libby; 37 in Troy; 6 in Yaak
14 Comm/Multi-Fam ACTIVES: 8 Libby; 6 Troy
2023 was an interesting year in the real estate market. Inventory of listings remained low and interest rates remained high. Listings were slowly added throughout the year, but choices remained rather limited. When you added both increasing interest rates and increasing listing prices…you saw a rather slow selling season. There is currently a ‘lull’ in the climbing interest rates, and buyers are looking forward to the potential of getting into the home of their choice, and sellers are looking forward to an easier selling process of their current real estate holdings.
Interest rates are coming down! Now could be a great time to purchase.
As of 12/31/2023 - Conforming & FHA Loans: Per Glacier Bk.
30-Year Fixed:
6.5% Strong Buyer w/Good Credit & 20% Down
15-Year Fixed:
5.85% Strong Buyer w/Good Credit & 20% Down
TEAM HAYES REALTORS LLC
Contact us for more information:
OFFICE #: 406-293-2725
Alice: 406-293-8364, alice@alicehayes.com
Jim: 406-293-1926, jim@alicehayes.com
www.teamhayesrealtors.com
417 Mineral Ave Ste 1 in the Mineral Plaza, Libby, Montana
Libby
lies in the northwest corner of Montana and is nestled in a valley carved by the
Kootenai River on the flank of the majestic Cabinet Mountain Range and Wilderness
Area. Today
about 2,800 people live within Libby proper. The main industries are lumber and
wood products, mining, tourism and recreation. The movies "The River Wild" and
"Always" were filmed here. Contact the Libby
Chamber of Commerce for brochures, info on lodging and events, general area
information, and contact information for local businesses and services.
SUMMER
When the weather warms and the mountain
snows melt away, the Kootenai National Forest comes alive with over 2.2
million acres of public land as a playground. Mountain trails and lakes
open up, beautiful wildflowers come in bloom, and wildlife have their young.
Libby is the basecamp for the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area, 90-mile
long Lake Koocanusa, the Northwest Peaks Scenic Area, and the Ten Lakes
Scenic Area. There is good access to most of the Forest and plenty of room
to get away from it all!
WINTER
Winter in Montana means snow, and lots
of it! For those who love to play in the deep powder, the Libby area offers tremendous
winter fun. Turner Mountain Ski Area, located
just 22 miles from Libby, offers challenging downhill skiing with a beautiful
view. Their slogan is "steep, deep and cheap", and Turner definitely
lives up to that. It's still fairly undiscovered, so you can escape the crowds
and get the cheapest lift tickets around. For those who love snowmobiling,
there are hundreds of miles of backcountry roads to sled on in the Kootenai National
Forest. Cross-country skiers and ice fishermen also can find solitude on a lake
and miles of quiet forest trails to enjoy the outdoors. Those who are a bit on
the wild and crazy side will love the antics of the Libby Polar Bear Club.
Members take winter-time "swims" in frigid Libby Creek every Sunday
from October to April. Plungers have ranged in age from 3 to 61. As long as the
ice can be broken on the creek, if it has formed, the group will take their plunge,
no matter the temperature.
These people must be
craaaazzzzzy!
Libby
Polar Bear Club
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