FLATWILLOW and WINNETT NEWS

Flatwillow Homemakers met at Raye Anne’s home on November 10. Donna Lund was co-hostess. November birthdays celebrated were Ginger and Lillian. Happy Birthday. Sandi called the meeting to order; Linda led the Pledge to the Flag. Donna read the thought for the day called “The First TV Dinner”. Roll call was answered with the idea of if you could go anywhere for Thanksgiving (besides home and family), where would you go. It was interesting to hear the places they wanted to visit. They ranged from a winter lodge with lots of snow in the mountains, to Hawaii, Caribbean, and the Bahamas. Lots of places on our bucket lists.

Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Treasurer’s report was given. Under unfinished business, discussion was had on the hanging of the quilt. Luann and Ginger will do table favors for the seniors for Thanksgiving. New business, Raye Anne moved to donate to the Senior Tree for Christmas gifts. It was seconded by Florence. Linda moved that if we cannot do Christmas gifts for the Seniors, that we donate for meals to the Rescue Mission. Ginger seconded. Both these motions passed. Sandi will check into this for us and let us know what she finds out at our December meeting. Linda won the blind pig. Everyone bid on the opportunity table. Secret sister gifts were handed out.

The December meeting will be at Luann Knutson’s home on December 8. We will have our Christmas party and gift exchange. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed visiting with each other. Jean Cook, Linda Gershmel, Luann Knutson, Ginger Moore, Lillian Moore, Bonnie Moore, Florence Wacker, Babs Lea, as well as Raye Anne Lund and Donna Lund were there.

This past week, the Missoula Children’s Theater was at the Winnett School and presented the play “Peter and Wendy”. We are so lucky that with all the guidelines and Covid, our play was able to go on. All the elementary students were in the play plus about 10 Jr. High and High School students who also enjoyed being a part of the play. Thank you to MCT and to the staff, parents, and students of the Winnett School. Also, thank you to the community who also supported our students.

Elementary and Jr. High boys’ and girls’ basketball is still going on. Our kids are enjoying playing and being a part of the team. Almost all the kids in 4th – 8th grade are playing. I believe their season will end on December 19 and the high school basketball teams will begin practice shortly. The high school season was postponed by the MHSA until January This has been such a different type of year and it is constantly changing with the Covid virus guidelines. We apologize for the fan restrictions for social distancing. At this point, that is the only way our kids are allowed to participate. Thank you for all your support for our WGR athletes. Our staff and students are real troopers with the going to remote learning for a week, back to in person class. Thank you also to all the parents who are struggling through this journey with all of us.

Student council and PIE teamed up again for fruit sales. The orders were supposed to be in by November 13. The fruit will be here the week of December 7. Thank you for always supporting both these groups.

Thanksgiving break will be from Wednesday, November 25 to November 30. School will start up again after Thanksgiving on Monday the 30th. November 19 will be our Thanksgiving dinner for our school. Thank you to Megan our school cook for fixing such delicious meals for everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving!

WINNETT SENIOR NEWS

Oct 29 - There were twenty-one seniors and four take-out lunches today. We had potato soup, veggie tray, grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and apple crisp for dessert.

There was discussion on the federal commodities received by the senior center. The choices are getting more limited, and they are not always listed. There was news about several of our friends and community members being sick and/or recovering from illness and injury. Joe Marinoff died, as did Dee Boyce. Ellen Woods is in rehab, and we think of Cal Nunn as he is in the hospital. Our sympathy goes to the families of Joe and Dee. Thinking of Cal and his family and Ellen as they are continuing to recover.

Nov 5 - Everyone enjoyed meatloaf, baked potatoes, beets, fresh rolls, strawberry shortcake for dessert. There were nineteen members present and ten take-out orders.

The drawing for the Winnett Lions’ Club raffle is tomorrow night at the Winnett Bar. It will be at 8:30pm. The grand prize is the 2020 side by side, first prize is $250, second prize is $150, and the third prize is $100. Thank you to the Lions for their commitment to our community and the good deed they do for this entire area.

Bingo is starting up again. It will begin Sunday afternoon November 15 in the basement of the courthouse. You can bring snacks and drinks for yourself, but we can’t bring any snacks to share with everyone. As long as we adhere to the CDC guidelines, we can have Bingo. See you on the 15th.

Updates were given on several of our members. We continue to give support and good thoughts to David Iverson, Cal Nunn, Ellen Woods, and Becky Stahl. Hope they continue to improve and are able to be home soon.

Nov 12 -We had twenty members in house and ten take-out orders today for hot roast beef sandwiches, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, green beans with tomatoes, fruit and cookies. Thank you to our cooks who are fixing delicious meals for us.

Don’t forget that bingo will begin this coming Sunday on the 15th at 1:30. Proceeds from the bingo games will go towards the Winnett swimming pool.

Donna read an article she had found on the renovation of the courthouse basement which included the senior center. They had their grand opening in December 1977 for the new senior center and the remodeling of the basement into a nice center. There are also baby showers, wedding showers, wedding receptions, funeral receptions , meeting, and gatherings in the basement. It has been used for a lot of different organizations.

Diane Iverson brought words of wisdom from Einstein. Patti asked everyone to think about if they want meals on Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve. Gary told a story, Tom told a story and there were updates on David Iverson, Cal Nunn, Becky Stahl, Ellen Woods, and any others that we know of that are continuing to recover from illness or injury. See everyone next week.