Living
Easing into school: 50 incoming C.S. Porter sixth-graders get early start on making transition
Help in short order: After fire, community rallies to assist couple who lost home
By ROB CHANEY of the Missoulian
The fire that destroyed Janice and George Olk's home had barely started before their Travois Village neighbors were busy helping the couple put their lives back together.
“We were just getting ready for bed,” George said. “They think an electrical plug shorted out.”
“The bathroom lights started flickering, and I smelled rubber burning,” Janice added. “I came out of the bathroom, but couldn't get any further than the side door because of the smoke. Then the oxygen bottles started exploding.”
Rally for care - Bus tour, I-155 backers tout need for health coverage reform
By ROB CHANEY of the Missoulian
A Montana effort to improve children's health insurance coverage dovetails with a national campaign to challenge the health care status quo.
A couple of Democratic state office candidates joined Service Employees International Union members for a “Road to American Health Care” rally in front of the Missoula County Courthouse on Monday morning. While the national union crew was criticizing Republican presidential candidate John McCain, the Montana candidates stumped for the I-155 “Healthy Montana Kids” ballot initiative.
That's how Wii roll: Video bowling big hit with local seniors
By BILL SPELTZ of the Missoulian
Take away the funky rental shoes and back-straining urethane ball and bowling just wouldn't be the same.
Actually, it's better.
At least that's what the seniors say at Clark Fork Riverside retirement apartments in Missoula. They've caught Nintendo Wii bowling fever, and it's highly contagious.
Dream come true - Boy with spina bifida reaches top of M on his 12th birthday
Homes within reach - Affordable housing units to open on Westside
By CHELSI MOY of the Missoulian
It's like music to the ears - affordable homes have hit the Missoula housing market.
Construction crews on Monday finished last-minute details on the Burns Street Commons, an affordable housing project in Missoula's Westside neighborhood.
The 17-unit housing complex, a mix of townhouses and condominiums at 1400 Burns St., is aimed at providing homes for medium-income working families who may not otherwise be able to afford one.
Friends hope to complete woman's caring mission for animals
By KIM BRIGGEMAN of the Missoulian
STEVENSVILLE - Lin Taylor's gate was forever open to animals in need.
She and they could use another hand now.
Taylor, 60, died unexpectedly July 31 at Community Medical Center in Missoula from internal injuries suffered a week earlier in a horseback accident on Bass Creek.
Left behind were 11 horses, 25 cats, two dogs and a passel of chickens, ducks and geese at her ranchette north of Stevensville, where Taylor, a retired U.S. Marine, lived alone since her husband Steve died in 1997.
From Florence to the Nashville stage - Fledgling singer makes final cut on country TV competition
By JAMIE KELLY of the Missoulian
FLORENCE - There's something about Tyler Barham that's so different from his competition.
Sure, he's a country singer - and a talented one at that - and yeah, his heroes are Travis Tritt and Garth Brooks and Toby Keith.
But Barham doesn't look much like the others. At 18, he has a boy's face and a mop of sandy hair. And Barham, of Florence, is far from Nashville, unlike almost all the others he'll face off against in a nationally televised chance to land a record contract.
Body as enemy: Young Corvallis man ready to risk experimental procedure so he can get bounced out of ‘Club Twitch'
Self expression - Portraits invite viewers to recognize themselves in 'Faces of the Pov’
By JAMIE KELLY of the Missoulian
Take a long look. And don’t look away.
Their faces stare back with curious eyes, creased eyes, expression-filled eyes. They’re the eyes of your fellow human beings. They’re eyes that have seen hard times, better times, many years and not so many years.
