The Troy Winter Carnival gets under way at 11 a.m. today in Troy's Roosevelt Park. Participate in a wide variety of games and competitions including Santa sack relays and Yeti costume contests.

Troy Winter Carnival gets under way today

Entry fees are $3 per contest, $1 each for children. Awards include first-, second- and third-place prizes in both adult and children categories.

A chili cook-off is also open to chefs of all levels. The entry fee is $5, and entrants may sell their chili post-contest.

Spectators can also enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides or hay rides, and great food.

You can register for any contest at the carnival. Proceeds from the event go to the city of Troy for Roosevelt Park and to the Troy Area Community Association. For more information, call 406-295-5834.

Christmas dinner offered today at armory

All are invited to the 15th annual "Christmas at Our House" dinner from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the National Guard Armory, 1840 U.S. 93 on the south end of Kalispell. Come and enjoy a free Christmas turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings.

Surplus military winter clothing will be available to those in need provided by the North West Montana Veterans Stand Down.

The dinner is hosted by the 495th Transportation Battalion and the 639th (rear) CS Company, both local Montana Army National Guard units, along with the Army National Guard recruiters.

Donations also help support the event.

For more information or to donate, call John Gisselbrecht at 755-2238 or Sgt. Cody H. Lummus at 752-5172.

Authors to sign books today

Book signings abound at Books West and Borders Books in Kalispell this afternoon.

Virginia Wood will sign copies of her book, "So You Want To Be An Actress/Actor," from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Borders on U.S. 93.

From 2 to 4 p.m. three authors will be on hand at Books West on Main Street.

. Bill McClaren - "Encyclopedia of Dahlias"

. Joe White - "Bury Me in Montana"

. Pat Kearney - " The Divide War" Bobcat and Grizzly Game History