Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 8

2, Section GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE WWW.GREATFALLSTRIBUNE.COM Monday, January 26, 2004 PUBLIC MEETINGS Great Falls Public Schools board meets at 7 p.m. in the Aspen Conference Room, District Offices Building, 1100 4th St. S. Call 268-6000. Great Falls City Commission meeting with local developers at 4 p.m.

in the Civic Center Gibson Room. Falls Transit District work session is 7 p.m. at 3905 North Star Blvd. Call 727-0382. Lewis and Clark Commission meeting is 7 p.m.

at the Civic Center, 2 Park Drive S. Call 727-2481. City Golf Advisory Board meets at 4:15 p.m. in the Park and Recreation Building, 1700 River Drive N. Call 771-1265.

Great Falls Public Library Board meets at 4:30 p.m. at the library, 301 2nd Ave. N. Call 453-0349. Tuesday Cascade County Commission meets at 9:30 a.m.

in the Courthouse Annex, 325 2nd Ave. N. Call 454- 6810. Advisory Commission on International Relationships meets 7 to 9 p.m. in the Civic Center Rainbow Room, 2 Park Drive S.

Use doors on north side of the building. Call 455- 8440. Planning Board meets at 3 p.m. in the Civic Center Commission Chambers. Call 771- 1180, ask for 1 the planning office.

Airport Authority Board meets at 3 p.m. in the airport Plateau Room, 2800 Terminal Drive. Call 727-3404. The board meeting will be followed by a 4 p.m. work session.

Wednesday Great Falls Transit District board meeting is 7 p.m. at 3905 North Star Blvd. Call 727-0382. Effects: Families are decaying from the inside out' FROM 1M However, some advocates for the poor say they doubt that's the case. Naomi Thornton, director of the nonprofit Futures program in Missoula, which helps teenage parents complete their education, said many of her clients are dropping out of the program because a requirement of 120 hours of workrelated activity a month doesn't seem to be worth the less than $300 they'll receive.

"They're not having any income," Thornton said. "So, we're concerned what are the choices they might make just to survive." That worry is echoed by the director of one of the state's few residential programs for teen mothers who says her clients are also passing up TANF money and taking chances instead. "What I see in some cases is them living with abusive partners, leaving their babies with them, with people they wouldn't normally leave them with," said Gypsy Ray of Mountain Home Montana in Missoula. Social workers and participants say the financial situation of those who continue to get TANF aid also has worsened. More than 80 of the recipients are single parents primarily mothers.

"The families are decaying from the inside out," said Greg Daly, coordinator Lewis and Clark County's Health Program, who recently made his rounds with a truckload of mattresses for children who had nowhere to sleep. Daly and other workers in the program complain that, instead of improving lives, more of their time is now spent on issues such as dissuading clients from taking out title loans on their vehicles to pay bills. They hear of food stamps traded to pay electric bills, livings earned by shoplifting and an underground network of free places to sleep. "One of the things we've learned is there is a tremendous capacity in communities to but that capacity is being tested," Hudson said. "We're probably exploring that limit right now." So are organizations such as God's Love Inc.

in Helena where about $200,000 a month is going toward services such as emergency shelter. Since the TANF reductions, Maria Nyberg, assistant director of God's Love, said there even seems to be an increase in "unclassifiable" needs, such as a few dollars for help with children's birthday parties or school photos. Nyberg, speaking on a day the mission had 14 children placed in temporary housing, said about five families a month are turned away from the shelter. She said most requests are not coming from those who are homeless, but from families that simply are having trouble making ends meet. "My concern is when people start to experience a sense of hopelessness, then it's more difficult to try hard," she said.

"And I'm concerned that we are going from a two-parent working family to families where they have two parents working three jobs. "I have to question the implications of that for the children we are raising. Parents are doing what they have to to survive, but at what Mental health meetings set By Tribune Staff services might be improved. Topics include a redesign of Montana's Department of Medicaid services and prioriPublic Health and Human Ser- ties for the 2005 Legislature. vices will be holding public From 6:30 p.m.

to 8 p.m. meetings on mental health and Wednesday, staff of the state on disabilities in Great Falls Developmental Disabilities this week. Program will explain changes From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tues- in the way the state funds servday, Ed Amberg, the acting ices for the disabled.

director of the Addictive and Both meetings will be held in Mental Disorders Division, will the Great Falls Public Library, seek comments on how its 301 2nd Ave. N. AP PHOTO Myrna Mason braids the mane on Jessie, one of the two draft horses that she uses to pull a carriage along Helena's Walking Mall. Tradition: SI a ride Christmas lights twinkle between the branches, completing the Winter Wonderland effect. As Myrna bundled up against the elements settles into her seat and takes the reins in her thin hands, the horses shift their hooves against the pavement.

Myrna utters a firm "Art! Jessie!" and the lurches forward on its familiar rider carriage, drop-off and pick-up spot near the statue of the newsboy. Cars, with headlights blazing, zip by the carriage as Myrna attempts to make a right turn onto Broadway, but Art and Jessie take the distractions in stride. Myrna said in all the years she has been driving the Clydesdales, the horses have startled only once, when a teenager drove past in his car and soaked them with a squirt gun. Even then, the horses only shied a little and straightened back out. "We've been really lucky," she said.

While Myrna said she enjoys the relative solace of putting the horses through their paces along Last Chance Gulch, she takes the most pleasure in driving the horses for wedding parties. "We give the horses baths and get the harness all shined up," she said, adding that it's a privilege to share in the couple's special day. She and Leny also have hooked up the horses for funeral services, and while Myrna knows it's an important job to do, it's more difficult for her on an emotional basis. She much prefers the joviality of hooking up a hay wagon and driva group of Christmas revelers through Treasure State Acres to admire the decorations. "I love the people," Myrna said.

"(The rides) give people the opportunity to experience something entirely different than they're used to." She adds it's important to her that so many of the people she and her husband drive in the wagon come back again and again. "Some people make it part of their Christmas tradition," Myrna said. She reins the horses in outside the Rialto bar on the Walking Mall and two passers- immediately stop to stroke Art's broad neck and ask how much a ride would cost. "A dollar, hon," a business-like Myrna says with a grin. "That's a dollar apiece." Kotynski: Mascots boogie Zonta International's foreign film series at the Civic Center in the 1960s.

The High Plains Heritage Center's classic series drew about 40 people for each showing. Heckel is not inclined to change the library venue for now. He likes the idea of the series staying in the library to bring attention to the library. He expects the numbers to decline as people become used to the idea. If the numbers stay high he might consider a free ticketing system to keep the numbers manageable.

Boogie competition FROM 1M FROM 1M What appeared to be shaping up as a shootout during the crosstown rivalry basketball game Jan. 15 turned out to be rousing "boogie-off" between mascots for the Great Falls High School and C.M. Russell High School cheer squads. Across the court at halftime to the strains of Will Smith's "Just the Two of Us," CMR's "Charlie Rustler" Tyler Coburn approached GFH's "Bison" Pat McDonald. Instead of tangling, the two did their own kind of mascot tango, first one, then the other trying to out dance the other to the delight of the packed Swarthout Fieldhouse at Great Falls High.

After a couple of minutes the two "high-fived" to a draw. Dance practice was last-minute, according to CMR cheer coach Stephanie Cordell. She had been approached by cheerleaders who wanted her to make something up special for half time. So Coburn and McDonald huddled with her behind the bleachers where she tried to teach them a couple of steps. Coburn said they tried to get Mary Marie Ranieri Sherman Moore Former Black Eagle resident Mary Marie (Matteucci) Ranieri, 93, of Great Falls, a homemaker, died of natural causes Friday at a local nursing home.

A vigil is 7 p.m. Tuesday at the O'Connor FunerRanieri al Home. Funeral Liturgy is 11 a.m. OBITUARIES WHITEHALL Retired Montana Power Company employee and rancher Sherman Moore, 91, of Whitehall, died of natural causes Saturday in Butte. His memorial service is 2 p.m.

Tuesday at Scott Funeral Home in Whitehall, with burial in Whitehall Cemetery. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Deloris Moore of Whitehall; a daughter, Roberta Bigelow of Great Falls; a son, Gary Moore of Phoenix; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Tammy Rae Wippert BROWNING Tammy Rae Wippert, 45, of Browning, a checker at IGA, died of heart failure Wednesday at a Browning hospital. A rosary is 7 p.m. Tuesday at Old Eagle Shields.

Funeral Mass is 2 p.m. Wednesday at Little Flower Parish. Day Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Survivors include sisters LouAnn Wippert Sinclair and Henrietta Wippert Ell of Browning; Andrew brothers Merlin Wippert, Wippert, Louie Wippert, Darell Wippert and Monty Wippert; and grandparents Issaic and Maggie Wippert and Frank and Nettie Racine. Donna Marie Zbinden Donna Marie Zbinden, 80, of 1101 26th St.

died of natural causes Sunday at a local nursing home. Services are pending at Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory. CORRECTIONS Juanita Ellen Morgan The funeral for Juanita Ellen Morgan, 75, of Browning, is 2 p.m. Thursday at Flower Parish in Browning. Pondera Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Morgan. Lance Alan Koke The obituary in Sunday's Tribune for Lance Alan Koke, 38, of Great Falls, who died in a snowboarding accident, should have listed his niece's name as Laci Nicholson. Funeral Services MONDAY NEWMACK The Funeral Liturgy for Avis E. Newmack, 79 2925 1st. Ave.

N. will be on MONDAY, 2:00 PM, January 26, 2004 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church 409 13th. Street S. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery. The Family suggests Memorials to Peace Hospice of Montana 1101 26th Street S.

Great Falls, MT. 59405. Schnider Funeral Home. Neighborhoods Council 8 election is this week Wednesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Lorraine (Del) Peck of Black Eagle; sons Larry (Bobby) Ranieri of Helena, Raymond (Deborah) Ranieri of San Diego and Romeo (Dodie) Ranieri Jr.

of Great Falls; sisters Rita Legowick of Tacoma, and Jean Boutilier, Pia Schermele and Adeline Moore, all of Great Falls; a brother, Paul A. Matteucci of Menlo Park, 15 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Romeo Ranieri in 1978. Mary was born Aug. 3, 1910, in Black Eagle.

She attended elementary school in Black Eagle and junior high school and high school in Great Falls. married Romeo Ralph Ranieri in 1930 in Butte. She worked at Great Falls Dry Cleaning, then the 3D nightclub as a cook. During her married years her life was her husband and children, and later her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her devotion to her family and friends gave her many wonderful memories.

Mary was active in Blessed Sacrament Church, a member of the Altar Society and Legion of Mary. She was also a longtime member of the Sewing Club of America. Mary enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, crocheting, quilt making, embroidery, knitting and sewing for family members, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading, craft making, collecting music boxes, salt and pepper shakers and plates. She loved to travel and had visited Germany, Italy, Japan and the Holy Land in Israel.

Memorials are suggested to Central Catholic High School, Box 1399, Great Falls, MT 59403. Lorraine J. Grabofsky Grabofsky MALTA Saco native Lorraine J. (Newton) Grabofsky, 72, Malta, who farmed northwest of Loring with her husband until retiring in 1994, died of emphysema Friday at Phillips County Hospital. Her funeral is 11 a.m.

Tuesday at Malta Lutheran Church, with burial in Malta Grabofsky Adams Cemetery. Funeral Home of Malta is handling arrangements. Survivors include her husband, Alfred Grabofsky of Malta; a son, Rick Gradofsky of Hogeland; daughters Jeane Matter of Havre, Kathy Grabofsky of Malta, Karla Ellsworth of Eagle, Idaho, and Brenda Olszewski of Frontier, Canada; a sister, Mary Williamson of Grants Pass, a brother, Archie Newton of Eugene, 14 grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren, four great-grandchildren and four stepgreat-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Michael Grabofsky. Elvira Fawn Rae Red Door BROWNING Elvira Fawn Rae Red Door, infant daughter of Iris Reevis and Timothy Red Door was stillborn Wednesday at a Browning hospital.

Her funeral is 2 p.m. today at Glacier Homes Community Center, with burial in Reevis Cemetery. Day Funeral Home is handing arrangements. In her parents, Elvira is survived by brothers Nathanile, Eugene and David Red Door; grandparents Elvira Reevis and Bernie Ground, both of Browning, Delores Scott and Timothy Red Door both of Poplar; and great-grandparents Rose Calf Looking, Clayton Reevis and Eugene and Imelda Ground. Buy any STIHL lawn garden trimmers brush cutters hedge trimmers attachments and save from to Limited time only.

See store for details.Subject to stock on hand. Get a real deal on a STIHL CENTRAL SAW I POWER EQUIPMENT 912 5th Ave. North Phone: 452-9191 VISA MASTERCARD DISCOVER Hours: Th, 9-6 Sat: 10-4 By Tribune Staff Getting organized for a new year, Neighborhood Council 8 is planning to elect officers and review bylaws this week to make sure everything is copacetic. The council, which represents the North Side between 12th and 38th streets, meets Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Transition Center's Women's Annex.

Police Officer Cory Reeves will make his quarterly community police visit to the council, and issues of neighborhood concern will be discussed. Election of officers has been tabled until February by Neighborhood Council 1, because the council has two openings. Anyone interested in filling a seat on the council, which covers the Fox Farm West Hill areas, should call Randy Kuiper, 453- 8928. To be eligible, a person must be 18 years old and live in the district. For more information, contact the city's neighborhood council coordinator, Kim Thiel, 455- 8496, or check the city's Web site: www.ci.great-falls.mt.us.

Neighborhoods is a feature of Monday's Tribune highlighting the city's neighborhood council districts. RECORDS STATISTICS BIRTHS GRAY Son born Sunday to Denise and Travis Gray of Great Falls. LEWIS Son born Sunday to Stefanie and Justin Lewis of Great Falls. Boy born Sunday to Mary Morgan and Vance Sellars of Browning. Daughter born Sunday to Deana L.

Werk and Bryon S. Farmer. OBITUARY POLICY The Tribune publishes news obituaries of residents from Great Falls and northcentral Montana. Call 791-1460 or (800) 438-6600. something going during last fall's cross-town football game, but it didn't turn out as well as the basketball dance.

"We got the response we wanted," Coburn said of the dance-off. He wanted to emphasize sportsmanship and the unity of the two Great Falls schools rather than the rivalry and competition. 'Un-Scrooged donation' pennies Scrooge and may needed have the pinched ghosts his. Christmases past to lighten up. But the Dickens Players, the Great Falls cast of the state production "Scrooged" needed no other worldly prodding to donate the proceeds of its seven performances to the Great Falls Bank some $3,100.

Foote thought it was the best way to reach some people who needed the help," said Bruce Cusker, "Scrooged" director. 'Looking for parking' With all that construction going on down at Broadwater Bay the organizers of the popular Bluegrass on the Bay event that occurs in July are looking around at their options for a place to hold the event. It seems as though parking is a problem, according to Norma Ashby, one of the originators of the event. The new MacKenzie River Pizza restaurant is being built where vehicles were parked last year. She hopes the group will be able to resolve the location problem in the next month.

Tribune Associate Editor Tom Kotynski writes this column about Great Falls and Montana people and events. If you have an idea or suggestion contact him at the Tribune, 791-1477 or e- mail: Dr. John Harry Stone Dr. John Harry Stone, 73, of 107 Eden Drive, Grants Pass, OR, died of natural causes Saturday, January 10, 2004 at his winter home in Gold Canyon, Arizona. Cremation has already taken place and a memorial service will be held in Great Falls at a later date.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years Beverly L. Stone of Grants Pass, OR; sons Tad (Judy) Stone, of Great Falls, MT; Jay (Robin) Stone, of Colorado Springs, CO; Gil (Denise) Stone, of Coeur D'Alene, ID; daughters Laura (Morgan) Lartch; Nancy (tom) Mora, all of Great Falls; and ten grandchildren: Jordan, Cameron, Jamison, Garrison, Courtney, Allison, Jolee, Quinn and Connor. Additional survivors include a brother and sister-in-law Solon A Anita Stone, of Sherwood, OR; and a sister and brother-in-law Mary and Al Davidson, of Auburn, WA. John was born March 8, 1930 in Lakeview, Oregon, to Harry and Arbhur Stone. He was raised and educated in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

He graduated from Klamath Union High School in 1948; Oregon State in 1957 with a BA degree; University of Oregon Medical School in 1960 with University his M.D. and did his internship at Ancker Hospital, St. Paul, MN, from 1960-61, and his residency at the University of Oregon Medical School from 1961-1965. He enlisted in the Navy in 1951. He was a Naval Hospital Corpsman attached to the Marine Corps and served in Korea.

John married Virginia Oberg in 1952 in Klamath Falls, OR. She passed from complications of Lupus; they had no children. He then married away in 1957 Beverly Allison of Yakima, WA 1958 in Portland, OR. Together they had six children. Their second child, Allison Marie, died of SIDS in 1960.

Dr. Stone set up his Urology practice in 1965. He practiced here for 32 years before retiring in 1997. Along with his practice in Great Falls, he also held Urologic clinics in Cut Bank, Conrad, Shelby and Lewistown. During his many the years in Great Falls, John was a member of the Uptown Optimist Club, City-County Board of Health, Big Sky RC Modelers Club and also served terms as Chief of Staff of Surgery at the former Columbus Hospital.

John was an avid photographer. He loved the outdoors and taking photos of scenery and wildlife. He was talented and matted and framed many of his own photographs. He was also very generous and gave much of his away to his family and friends. His other hobbies included RC modeling, teaching many others how to build and fly model airplanes, photographing and studying birds, fishing, farming and landscaping his yard.

He also loved hearing and telling jokes. His parents, Harry and Arbhur Stone, his first wife, Virginia, and his daughter Allison Marie preceded him in death. John was very devoted to his family and friends and the outpouring of love. and sympathy in response to his death testifies to that fact. His presence in our lives will be deeply missed.

You were always a success to "That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved -Robert Louis Stevenson.