Trumpet fanfare flusters school

It may have been a farewell concert when a former West Valley School music teacher gave an impromptu trumpet performance Friday morning.

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from West Valley Superintendent Cal Ketchum just after 8 a.m. that Marty Weimer was playing the trumpet “very loudly” near school grounds.

According to a dispatch radio call, “The teacher that was removed from school is across the street playing trumpet.”

Ketchum had called law enforcement to find out what could be done legally if the trumpet playing became disruptive to learning.

Weimer, a skilled trumpet player who is a section leader for the Glacier Symphony, had been a teacher at the school for 13 years and was put on paid administrative leave effective Friday.

Earlier in the year, Weimer had put in for retirement, which goes into effect May 29 (the last day of school), Ketchum said.

“It’s resolved,” Ketchum said. “Basically he is allowed to be off of school grounds and can certainly play trumpet if he’d like to.”

Weimer did not respond to a phone message left by The Daily Inter Lake.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.