COMMUNITY BRIEFS: Food for Fines

Kalispell Municipal Court is offering defendants a chance to reduce their existing fines or citations during Food for Fines, Dec. 1 and 2.

Reduce the amount owed to the court by bringing in cans of food to the Kalispell Public Safety Building at 312 First Ave. E. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, and Friday, Dec. 2, according to the following schedule.

This is a one-time only reduction and has a maximum of $100 per person. It cannot be used toward restitution, jury costs and/or public defender fees.

 $5 plus five cans of food = $25

 $10 plus 10 cans of food = $50

 $15 plus 15 cans of food = $75

 $20 plus 20 cans of food = $100

FVCC students plan coat drive

Students at Flathead Valley Community College have organized a coat drive to furnish warm garments to children and adults in need. New and gently used coats of all sizes can be dropped off in a collection box located in the foyer of Blake Hall on campus. Coats will be accepted until Nov. 18.

Members of the Alpha Iota Pi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor’s society, are working in conjunction with United Way as part of the One Warm Coat program. The United Way will distribute the coats this fall and winter.

For more information, contact FVCC student engagement coordinator Wendy Jeschke at 756-3908.

Kittens available for adoption

The Flathead Spay & Neuter Task Force will have kittens and young cats available for adoption Nov. 11 to 13 at the Majestic Arena Holiday Extravaganza.

All of these healthy, rescued animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and wormed. They have been living in foster homes where they’ve learned to use litter boxes and scratching posts and to trust the humans who are caring for them.

People interested in adopting should bring their own carriers. The adoption fee is $50. Need more information? Call 871-2388.

Christian Academy celebrates Veterans Day

Mission Valley Christian Academy hosted Army Chief Warrant Officer Brian Piercy of Kalispell Nov. 7 in recognition of today’s Veterans Day holiday.

Piercy has been a member of the Army National Guard in the Kalispell unit since 2006 and has been deployed several times to Kuwait. He is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot, also rated to fly fixed wing aircraft, and serves in Army intelligence. He shared his experiences with the students in stories, a slide show and by answering questions about his time overseas.

Piercy is married and the father of two daughters. He works as a mortgage broker at First Interstate Bank in Kalispell in his civilian occupation. He also serves as a member of the Army Honor Guard for deceased veterans.

Students concluded the event with prayers for safety and encouragement for Piercy and all the members of the military.

Students and staff also partnered with the GI Go Fund to raise money for veterans with the Jeans for Troops campaign. Seventeen students and staff paid $5 to wear blue jeans to school and $85 will be sent to help veterans receive services in gaining education, employment and health care.