Hometown Helena August 26: Back to School and an Update from The Montana Meth Project
Click on the following link to view this week's Hometown Helena courtesy of Anderson ZurMuehlen Technology Services:
https://azworld.zoom.us/rec/
Message from this week's host!
Welcome to another week of Hometown Helena. Jim is off another summer adventure, but you are in good hands with the rest of the HTH planning committee.
Families all over the Helena area are getting ready to send their kids back to school in the upcoming days and weeks. I have already seen many kids out practicing golf, football, and cross country. This week’s Hometown Helena speakers are representatives from the Helena and East Helena Schools who will discuss the upcoming school year and all of the changes this year will bring for teachers, students and parents. In the news we have seen that the Helena School District is experiencing a bus driver shortage. At last report they were 20 drivers short to start the school year. The district is bringing in drivers from outside the area and reworking routes. This means some kids will have to spend a long morning on the bus to get to school on time. If you know of anyone that has time and is interested First Student is hiring and offering sign on bonuses for new drivers and CDL training.
Our second guest will discuss the past 15 years of successes of the Montana Meth Project. While methamphetamine and other illegal drugs continue to be an issue in Montana the statistics are showing some promising improvement. According to the 2019 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey teen meth use has decreased yearly since 2015. In fact, the study shows a decrease in all drug use among teens over the 10-year trend 2009-2019. The only increase in drug use is the use of electronic vapor products. The statistics for adults are not as positive with a slight increase in self-reported use from 2015-2018. The statistics in Montana tend to show a higher rate of use than the rest of the United States but lower than other states in the western region. As we all know meth use leads to very negative outcomes. There is work to be done to get meth out of our communities and the Montana Meth Project continues to work toward that goal.
As most of you know Helena lost Brian Kahn in October 2020. Brian was a member of Hometown Helena for many, many years. There will a celebration of Brian’s life Monday August 30 3-6pm at the Great Northern Hotel.
Emily McVey
*Special Hometown News: The memorial for Brian Khan, a long-time participant and occasional presenter to Hometown Helena will be Monday, August 30th, from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Great Northern Hotel in Helena.
Hometown Helena -- Thursday, August 26, 2021 -- 7 a.m. Live via ZOOM:
- Superintendents of Helena and East Helena Schools, Rex Weltz and Dan Rispens, respectively, discussing the changes for the coming school year, new leadership in addition to themselves, new programs, enrollment projections, and mask protocols. Helena School Board President Luke Muszkiewicz and other school representatives may also be in attendance.
- Amy Rue, executive director of the MT Meth Project, will join us from Missoula to give an update on that program started in 2005 by the Tom and Stacy Siebel Foundation. She has led the program since 2009.
Hometown Helena Chat, August 26, 2021:
Anderson ZurMuehlen Technology Services, a division of Anderson ZurMuehlen is pleased to host today's HomeTown Helena.
Matt Elsaesser -- 406 Recycling & 406 Compost: Data-secure electronics recycling tomorrow, Friday (Aug. 27), 10 am to 6 pm at Good Samaritan! Details: https://406recycling.com/2021/01/26/2021-e-waste-collection-at-the-good-samaritan/
Molly Kruckenberg: Join us at the Montana Historical Society this evening to celebrate the release of our newest book, Montana History in 101 Objects! We'll have food, music, and activities for kids starting at 5:30 on the front lawn. 225 N. Roberts St., across from the Capitol.
Alana Listoe: Are the plans for contact tracing and other responses to positive cases the same this year?
Alana Listoe: Also what percent of the educational staff is vaccinated or do you know?
Kelly Cresswell: The Hometown Helena planning committee met earlier this week and agreed that we are not ready to resume in-person Hometown Helena yet. We had hoped to return to the Montana Club next month, but want to make the best, safe choice possible. Thanks to the wonderful support we receive from Anderson ZurMuehlen, the technology works really well for this gathering. We’ll continue virtually for now.
Mary Rutherford: Thank YOU to the committee for keeping HTH going—even w a virtual format!
Eric Feaver: This is the right decision. We can continue to be safe and wait. Thank you!
Alana Listoe: Thanks!
Bruce Whittenberg: Good decision. This is working great.
Rick Hays: Thank you Dan, Rex and Luke for your continued leadership in these most difficult times! Thank you!!
Eric Feaver: HB 702 demands legal challenge.
Luke Muszkiewicz: Thank you, everyone!
RWeltz: Thank you all. Jumping to our next meeting. Have a great week
Luke Muszkiewicz: And huge shout out to East Helena Public Schools Board Chair, Scott Walter, who is a friend and colleague and doing great work leading the board.
Dan Rispens: Thanks everyone for having us today!
Andy Shirtliff: Thank you, Montana Meth Project for all you’ve done to curb meth use in our state and in Indian Country. It’s going to take all of us to beat this.
Luke Muszkiewicz: Amy, thankful for you. I agree with Ann — I’m impressed!
Emily McVey: methproject.org
Emily McVey: montanameth.org
Samara Lynde: Wonderful presentations today---thank you! Join us at the Neighborhood Center (200 S Cruse Ave) on Wednesday, September 1 for a note writing event to thank our first responders. Drop in anytime between 10am and 1 pm to write a note and have a cookie! AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteers will deliver the notes and a goodie basket to local police, fire, and sheriff stations.
Tom Rolfe: Thanks to the Montana Meth Project for their important work
Andy Shirtliff: Thank you, Sheriff Dutton. I agree, We can do something about this problem.Thanks again MMP.
Andy Shirtliff: Thanks, Katie!
