Larry Kline
Havre Daily News
lkline@havredailynews.com
The community is pulling together to raise money for two Montana State University-Northern Skylights basketball players who are still hospitalized after the team van overturned last week.
Local residents will have the chance to donate funds to help the two women with expenses. Also, a fundraiser is in the works.
Junior Chelsea Searle is in satisfactory condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, and junior Ashlie Griffin is in good condition at St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center in Missoula, hospital spokeswomen said Monday.
Griffin's roommate, First Street Mane Attraction owner Cathi Campanella, spent Monday evening with a friend, making gift-wrapped donation boxes to distribute to local business owners.
Campanella said Griffin is in good spirits.
“She has a great attitude,” Campanella said. “She's positive. She's a great girl with a great personality, and very well-liked.”
Griffin's mother is with her in Missoula, Campanella said, and the young ballplayer has received numerous cards and flowers from well-wishers.
Realtor Kim Cripps, Griffin's adoptive team mother, said Griffin “is doing very well.”
“She's recovering and sounding better every day,” Cripps said.
Money also is needed to fly Griffin and her mother to Kansas, where Griffin's sister lives. Griffin will spend time there before returning to Havre, Cripps said.
Donations placed in the boxes and money raised at a fundraiser, planned for the Vets Club in coming weeks, will be put into an account set up for both women at Independence Bank, Campanella said.
The women were injured when the team van overturned after it hit a section of snow and ice on Interstate 90 near Lookout Pass about 1 a.m. on Nov. 14. Searle, Griffin and senior Jaci Heny were ejected from the vehicle.
Heny and sophomore Ashley Trulock were treated at St. Patrick Hospital. They were released last week.
Campanella will start distributing boxes today at businesses near her's on First Street. If any other business wants a box, owners can call 265-3433 or 265-1384.
Auction items are needed for the fundraiser. Anyone who wants to donate an item can contact Campanella, or Cripps at 265-0905.
