WELCOME Things to do

Here are the most important things that a newcomer to Great Falls needs to do.

1. Plan in advance.
Contact the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, 100 1st Ave. N., Great Falls, MT 59401, to get visitors' information.

You'll receive a packet with a highway map, a relocation guide, a brochure on city schools and a guide to area real estate.

Visit the Chamber's Web site or call 761.4434.

You can also see a current listing of jobs, homes, rental houses and apartments on the Great Falls Tribune Web site

2. Learn your way around.
The sensible pattern at the city's core, with streets and avenues crisscrossing in a grid pattern, makes finding your way around most of the city a snap.

For the more confusing streets, check the city map in the QwestDex telephone directory.

3. Connect utilities.
Telephone service is handled by Qwest, 800.244.1111. Electricity is provided by NorthWestern Energy, 888.467.2669. Natural gas is supplied by Energy West, 800.570.5688 or 791.7500. Cable TV comes through Bresnan Communications, 727.8881.

4. Get license plates.
To apply for local license plates, visit the Cascade County Treasurer's office on the first floor of the County Courthouse, 415 2nd Ave. N. For information, call 454.6860.

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5. To get a new driver's license
Visit the driver's license bureau, 916 13th Ave. S. Individuals with out-of-state licenses who wish to obtain a Montana driver's license must:

• apply for a Montana driver's license within 60 days of moving to the state if seeking a non-commercial driver's license and within 30 days if they need a commercial license;
• provide proof of identity, including an unexpired driver's license and a certified birth certificate;
• provide proof of Montana residency, including a state income tax return, a state voter registration card, or a receipt for state taxes paid;
• provide proof of citizenship, including a certified birth certificate or a passport.

For more detailed information on documentation needed, check the Department of Justice Web site. They also may be required to pass written and driving tests, in addition to a vision test.

Military personnel on active duty in Montana who have a valid license issued by another state and who are not employed in Montana, except as a member of the armed forces, do not need a Montana driver's license.

6. Schools.
The Great Falls School District can be reached at 268.6000. The schools are listed in the phone directory under Great Falls Public Schools. More information is on the district's Web site.

6. Churches.
Great Falls has a diverse worshipping community. For a listing for churches, refer to the Yellow Pages or contact the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce at 761.4434.