Montana Teacher Gets Student “Powerlift” For Championship Effort

Imagine an entire elementary school breaking into a chant of "USA, USA!"

That's what happened yesterday afternoon as the kids at Corvallis Elementary School in the Bitterroot gave a surprise sendoff to 3rd-grade teacher Holly Snyder, who's leaving Saturday as one of 5 Americans picked for Team USA in the world championships in London.

Her fellow teachers gave her a red and blue "Rocky" robe as she ran through the outdoor assembly, high-fiving hundreds of kids.

"I want to represent the state and my town and just the U.S. as the best I can. And some of that is just, for me, being a positive energy, and being a positive role model for all of these kids." -Holly Snyder, Teacher & Powerlifter

   Snyder won the national championship in her class last summer and is the first Montanan picked for TEAM USA.

Juneau returns to education role in Missoula

Two-term Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Denise Juneau, is back in the education role she never really left, but this time as part of a team instead of an administrator.

This week, Juneau was named to fill a vacancy on the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees. In her appointment interview, she explained how she clearly understood the difference between being on a school board and her four years as superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, the largest in the Northwest. She spoke of the individual experiences that benefit a school board.

"You know, you can see it play out as different issues arise," Juneau told the board. "Some people are really skilled in finance. Some are skilled in insurance, some are skilled in teaching and learning. Some are skilled in HR, and we all come from a lifelong experience that we bring to bear."

Juneau also brings political experience to the role. She ran against Ryan Zinke for Congress toward the end of her state superintendent job. She's also known for her work in Indian education, and for taking Missoula's "Graduation Matters" campaign statewide.

Here's how much of a tax cut we're seeing in Montana

The Montana Department of Revenue says nearly 80% of Montana homes will be seeing tax cuts on their next round of property tax statements, with another 10% seeing rates remain "flat."

Revenue reported yesterday that the average savings for those qualifying for the cuts was more than $400, and that doesn't include the $400 direct tax rebates that were issued a few weeks ago.

Rural healthcare help is coming to Montana counties

State leaders say even though a federal program to boost rural health is set to run through 2030, they're hoping the investment will produce yields for years afterward. 

Last week, the State of Montana submitted its formal application to the Rural Health Transformation Program, hoping to secure the state's share of up to $50-billion a year.

Montana's program will focus on five key areas: workforce development, sustainable access to healthcare, innovative care improvements for things like EMS and pharmacy access, community health, and better technology. 

     🏥 51 of Montana's 56 counties are qualified to receive funding for local programs. 

RELATED: UM Healthcare Gets a Big Boost

Popular State Park remains closed to cars

The popular Milltown State Park Confluence Area near Missoula will be closed to cars until next spring, as Burlington Northern Santa Fe keeps working on its trestle downstream across the Clark Fork River.

Originally, the plan was for BNSF to finish that work this fall, but Montana FWP says the company needs more time. That's impacting the road to the Confluence parking area, which goes right under the bridge. Walk-in access is still possible from Juniper Road.

     FWP says access to the parking lot should be ready in time for the spring season.