CloseUp working to go to inauguration

Some Havre High School students are raising funds to go to the presidential inauguration in January, and are offering people the chance to have some pizza and help with the trip.

Lindsey Manuel-McInerney, advisor of the nonprofit, nonpartisan citizenship education organization CloseUp group at Havre High School, said the Havre group usually travels to Washington in the spring to participate in the CloseUp Foundation Washington program but with the presidential election this year, she decided to go in January.

“We couldn’t pass up the chance to see the inauguration,” she said.

Pizza Hut is holding a fundraiser for the group Thursday.

Manuel-McInerney said anyone making a purchase at Pizza Hut Thursday can say they are donating to the CloseUp trip and 20 percent of the purchase will go to the fundraiser. That applies to in-house dining, carryout and delivery.

The six Havre High students — Kendall Holden, Michael Duval, Birgin Billy, Sheradia Linton, Kyley Verploegen and Caroline Tuss — are doing other fundraisers, including offering to do work on yards or other projects for people, Manuel-McIrneny said.

She said people can email her at [email protected] or call her at the high school, 395-6731, for more information.

The group also has been working concessions and may do other fundraisers, she said, adding that the deadline to pay for the trip is Sept. 30.

Manuel-McIrneny said the Havre CloseUp group will probably go back to its April trip for the CloseUp Foundation’s Washington program in future years.