Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 2089
Exercise your right to know - Vote for Susan Monahan It is time for more transparency on the Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Board. Voters have the opportunity to make this change May 2 by voting Susan Monahan for Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Board of Trustees. Attending nearly every Fire District Board meeting since 2014, I’ve watched the board have less and less discussion under the current leadership, including the two incumbents running against Monahan. Meetings usually are shorter than 30 minutes with actual board discussion less t...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Rural Fire District recognized their two newest members at their monthly board meeting March 21. Fire Chief Dave Lane also reported they are gearing up to welcome two new paramedics to the department. The Fire Department's newest volunteers Mark Kues and Shawn Ellinghouse are both previous members. At the pinning ceremony Lane said, "That is a huge plus for us because [they] can help with training, [they] can fall right into place to what needs to be done and for...
Flowers decorate a driveway on Highway 83 near Lake Inez....
SEELEY LAKE - "Dani is now one of seven percent," said Seeley-Swan High School Head Volleyball Coach Janelle Greenwood. "In the nation, only seven percent of high school athletes play at the next level." Danielle "Dani" Sexton will be among 12 other players on the Carroll College Halos Junior Varsity Volleyball team for the 2023-2024 season. She signed to play with the Halos this past January. "It's always been my dream to go to the next level and play," Sexton said. "I'm excited to still be...
SEELEY LAKE - "Teachers were the most intelligent, clever people who were really good at catching mistakes and telling you what you were doing wrong," was the perception Sheila Devins had about teachers while in grade school. "I just knew I would never be a teacher." Currently a kindergarten teacher at Seeley Lake Elementary school, the Office of Public Instruction named Devins one of four 2023 Teacher of the Year Finalists from a record number of 57 nominees across Montana. Despite her lack of...
SEELEY LAKE - After more than 40 years and an award-winning career as a print journalist, Vince Lovato is excited to return to his roots of community journalism. Stepping in as the new editor of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, Lovato said he looks forward to bringing his professional and life experiences and grasp of technology to continue to be a steward of the paper for the community. "It is my goal to help improve the Pathfinder as it forges into its next era working with a small company that...
SEELEY LAKE - Tabitha Bailey was sworn in as a new firefighter on the Seeley Lake Fire District at the Seeley Lake Fire Board meeting Sept. 20. Bailey has been a member of the Seeley Lake Fire Department Auxiliary since 2020 and took a leadership role. Fire Chief Dave Lane said she has been attending training, driving the ambulance and taking on other duties. "She does things that a member does without the benefit of being a member...the biggest one getting into the retirement system," Lane...
Editor's Note: Since the installation of the new Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station at the Seeley Lake Foundation Building, the Pathfinder interviewed two local residents to better understand the advantages and disadvantages to owning an EV from their experience. SEELEY LAKE – When Seeley Lake resident Auguste Lockwood heard about General Motors new electric vehicle (EV) named the Bolt, he purposefully drove it so he could say he hated it. After 10 minutes of driving it, Lockwood was s...
SEELEY LAKE - We returned August 2022 to repeat photos taken in October 2017 following the Rice Ridge fire....
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake resident Michelle Dunn is excited to bring her enthusiasm and experience working with the Potomac School Parent Teacher Club to Seeley Lake Elementary. She hopes parents, teachers, administrators and other community members will join her at the first meeting for the SLE Parent Teacher Club Monday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. in the SLE gymnasium following the girls’ volleyball game. Dunn recently moved from Potomac to Seeley Lake. She was a member of Potomac School’s Parent Teacher Club for several years and loved watch...
SEELEY LAKE – Around Father's Day, Federal Officer Tyler Robinson responded to a call north of Seeley Lake. A homeowner left more than six bags of trash out on their porch and a black bear found them. Robinson tried to run the bear off that night and it continued to return. While he had permission from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to dispatch the bear, it was too dark. The next day Robinson cited the homeowner for $230. He also asked them to call when the bear returned. Even though he is c...
GREENOUGH – A hopeless romantic Don Johnson was inspired to surprise his wife Ruth with a dip kiss. While she was doing dishes in the kitchen, he snuck up behind her, spun her around, grabbed her and as he went to dip her, he stepped in the dog dish and they both crashed to the floor. "He grabbed me, turned me around and threw me on the floor," Ruth said laughing at her perception of the event. "I said, 'What on earth are you doing?'" "I've never been able to live that down," Don said l...
SEELEY LAKE - On the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, members of the Seeley Lake Fire Department stood for 102 minutes on Highway 83 in front of the Post Office. This was the amount of time it took for the first of the two Twin Towers to fall. This was the 14th year the Department has helped the community never forget the sacrifices and loss that happened that day....
SWAN VALLEY - In May Town Pump awarded the Swan Valley Community Library with a $1,000 grant to support their Summer Reading Program. The goal is to get the community children reading as much as possible on their summer vacation. Children from the Swan Valley and Salmon Prairie schools were all invited to participate. Twenty-eight students signed up for the program and 12 students returned their reading logs. Once the student read 75 units, one unit was either one book for the little children...
SWAN VALLEY - Kurt Steele, Flathead National Forest Supervisor, invites the public to provide input on the proposed Holland Lake Lodge Facility Expansion Project. The project proposes to repair the existing historic old lodge, add new buildings, enhance accommodations and upgrade the infrastructure within the existing 15-acre permit area. The Flathead National Forest will be hosting a public meeting about the Holland Lake Lodge Expansion Project Thursday, Sept. 8 from 5 -7 p.m. on the Holland...
SEELEY LAKE – When Kris Martin first visited The Filling Station, she said, "It felt really comfortable. I liked the feeling of being a customer that made me feel good about owning it." She purchased the business in September 1997 and has owned and operated the now 75-year-old restaurant, bar and casino in the heart of Seeley Lake for the past 25 years. "It's a good place for people to come and visit," Martin said. "It's the community gathering place." The community is invited to come and c...
SEELEY LAKE – Just after 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 emergency responders were dispatched to a plane crash reported south of the airport. Within 15 minutes of the report emergency responders where on scene were a small, single engine aircraft was found in the trees in the Double Arrow Ranch Homestead Commons area. There were two occupants in the plane. They both sustained injuries and were flown via two Life Flight Network helicopters to Missoula. Seeley Lake Fire Chief and Incident Commander D...
MISSOULA – Potomac resident Scott Davis had just checked out football equipment with his youngest son Easton when he pulled onto Reserve Street in Missoula Sunday, Aug. 21. "That's really the last thing I remember until I woke up in Spokane," Scott said. "I don't remember much of Spokane until we got back to [Missoula] which was on Wednesday. It is all a pretty big blur." The Davises were in a head-on collision just before 6 p.m. near the 3100 block of Reserve. A representative with the M...
MISSOULA - Partnership Health Center, Missoula County's non-profit Community Health Center and provider at the Seeley-Swan Medical Center (SSMC), received the 2022 Employer of Choice award in the large business category from the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. While PHC was recognized as the Employer of Choice on the local level in both 2019 and 2022, this award marks the first time PHC was recognized at the state level for "outstanding service to employees, community and the state of...
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake Girl Scout Troop #3436 is excited to kick off its first full year working with girls in the Seeley Lake area. After starting the troop last December, Troop Leader Chantel Lynch is looking forward to offering more opportunities to earn badges and learn, grow and work together as a team. Girls and adults that are interested in learning more about Girl Scouts in general and more specifics about Troop #3436 are invited to the Troop's Kickoff Party and Chili Feed Sept. 15 a...
SEELEY LAKE – Thursday, Aug. 25 was just another day for Missoula County Road Department employee Shawn Wendel. However when he heard whining at the Fawn Creek gravel pit, he found a dog that was tied to a tree and left for dead. Animal Control has been notified and the investigation is ongoing. "I just did what any decent human would do," Shawn said. When Shawn pulled into the Fawn Creek pit Thursday morning he saw a dog lying back behind the large gravel pile. He said he did not think anything...
SEELEY LAKE – Retired Marine Corps Naval Aviator Captain and Seeley Lake resident John Manz received a Quilt of Valor (QOV) Aug. 24 from the QOV Foundation. He is among more than 325,000 veterans across the United States who have been recognized for their service and dedication to their country. His son Tom, a retired 23-year career Army Officer, will also receive a QOV. "It was a surprise," Manz said. "It takes you back a lot of years. It really humbles you." After receiving the QOV, Manz s...
SEELEY LAKE – "We've had no complaints from any of the Seeley Lake kids," said Jackson Lee, Missoula County Parks & Trails Project Specialist. He laughed and added, "They seem all excited." After more than two years of planning, raising funds and preparation, the much-anticipated new playground at the Seeley Lake Lions Club Park, on the corner of Cedar Lane and Elm Drive, is nearly complete. Lion and Playground Project Leader Rich Westin said the partnership with Missoula County in c...
BILLINGS, MONTANA - The Big Sky State Games named Seeley-Swan High School graduate Klaire Kovatch the 2022 Female Athlete of the Year. Klaire has competed in Big Sky State Games Track & Field for three years and has since broken two records and earned a total of 10 medals. The Athlete of the Year award is designed to recognize individuals who best personify the ideals of the State Games movement: participation, sportsmanship, effort and positive attitude. "I was really surprised I received the...
SWAN VALLEY – On Aug. 19, the Missoula County Commissioners and Missoula County Parks, Trails and Open Lands honored Swan Valley residents Barb and Joe Raible as the recipients of the 2022 Land Stewardship Award and toured their property. The Land Stewardship Award recognizes Missoula County landowners and residents who prioritize stewardship of the land and undertake projects and practices that make a difference for land, water, forests, wildlife and communities. The Raibles have owned the 1...
