Many area school districts have elections next week

School board and levy elections will be held in a number of north-central Montana communities on May 4.

All now have absentee ballots available.

Three candidates will vie for a spot on the Rocky Boy school board.

The candidates for one three-year term on the Rocky Boy board are Larry Morsette Jr., Matthew Denny Sr. and Thelma Stanley. Voting will be held between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. in the gymnasium at Rocky Boy Elementary School.

In Chinook Public Schools, four candidates are running for two three-year seats. Incumbent Scott McIntosh will face challengers Carla Neibauer, Richard Stuker and Vanessa Surber. Voters in the district will also be asked to approve a levy of $20,487 to fund basic operating and maintenance costs.

In Bear Paw Elementary District 67, incumbent Blanche Kellam is running unopposed.

Voting will take place at Chinook High School and the Zurich, Bear Paw and Lloyd schools between noon and 8 p.m.

In Hays-Lodge Pole Public Schools, seven candidates are competing for two three-year terms. The candidates are incumbents Gerald Martin and Arleen Gardipee, plus John F. Doney, Brenda Essert, Tesha Holley, Lois Morin and Brian Wing.

Voting will take place at Lodge Pole Elementary School and Hays High School between noon and 8 p.m.

In Kremlin-Gildford Public Schools, incumbent Dave Stevenson is unopposed for a three-year term. Voting will be held at the schools in Kremlin and Gildford. No levies appear on the ballot.

In Blue Sky Public Schools, the district clerk has declared incumbents Lyle Petersen and Terry Hybner winners by acclamation because they were unopposed. Two mill levies will appear on the ballot. One levy - for $38,034, or 12.86 mills - is for the district's basic operating costs. The second levy - $28,767, or 9.73 mills - is for a special technology fund.

Voting will take place between noon and 8 at the school in Rudyard and at the Hingham Community Center.

Three candidates in Joplin-Inverness Public Schools are running uncontested for three available seats. The candidates are Craig Hanke, Ronald Temple and Dale Timley. Voters will be asked to approve a $257,582 levy to fund the district's general operating budget.

Voting will take place at the schools.

In Davey Elementary District 12, Lisa Overlie is the sole candidate for a three-year seat now held by Coral Gallagher, who did not seek re-election. The district is also seeking voter approval for a $20,625 levy for the district's general fund.

Three candidates are vying for a single spot on the Harlem school board. Incumbent Charles Kulbek will face challengers Raymond Gone and Diana Longknife, Main.

The election will be held from noon to 8 at Harlem High School and at the Fort Belknap Red Whip Community Center. No levies will appear on the ballot.

In Big Sandy, incumbents Randy Williams and Gordon Moes won three-year terms after they were declared winners by acclamation, said Ruth Kulbeck, the clerk of Big Sandy Public Schools. Voters will be asked to approve a levy of $35,664 for the Big Sandy elementary district and $64,196 for the high school district. Both levies are for the general operating budgets, Kulbeck said.

In Chester Public Schools, three candidates are competing for two three-year terms on the school board. They are Brett Earl and incumbents Patty Markuson and Dave Wicks. Voters will also be asked to approve two levies for the elementary school. Both levies are for $20,000. One is for basic operating costs and one is for a special building reserve.

In Turner, incumbents Tim Conlan and Kurt Welsh are running unopposed. Voters will also be asked to approve the transfer of bus repair funds to the district's general operating budget.

Information about the election in Box Elder was not available.