Sorted by date Results 628 - 652 of 2089
SEELEY LAKE – "I want to make sure you guys are safe and customers have the ability to be safe in here," said Kris Martin, owner of The Filling Station as she stood in front of her employees April 26. "I have to get back in business so I can stay alive and hopefully everyone has a job when all of this is over and not with someone else." After reviewing Governor Steve Bullock's statewide reopening directives released Wednesday, April 22, Martin called a meeting with her employees. Even though t...
MISSOULA – Friday, April 24 Missoula Health Officer Ellen Leahy issued additional local orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 for Missoula County. These measures followed Governor Steve Bullock’s announcement on Wednesday, rescinding the “Stay at Home” directive for individuals on April 26 and allowed some businesses to reopen on April 27. “Given Missoula’s large population [second largest in the state], our need to protect our health care hub and particularly to avoid preventative transmission of disease and reduce the likelihood...
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service offered to extend contract deadlines on certain timber sales, sale of property stewardship contracts and forest product permits awarded or issued before April 1. Extending these deadlines supports the long-term viability of the timber industry in markets where conditions have been significantly disrupted, especially in rural, forest-dependent communities. The extensions do not apply to projects implemented under the Good Neighbor Authority or the salvage projects currently u...
MISSOULA, Mont. – The Missoula Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) is now accepting new project proposals. The application deadline is Aug. 1. The committee has approximately $151,500 in project funding to award. Funding and administration for the RAC is provided under the authority of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self–Determination Act (Title II). Projects must benefit National Forest System lands and ecosystems in Missoula County. The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 was passed by Congress to restore s...
SEELEY LAKE - Many of the places of worship in the area reopened for in-person worship Sunday, April 26 in accordance with the Governor Steve Bullock's reopen plan. Others will continue through their online platform into May. According to the statewide phased reopening strategy, places of worship could become operational with reduced capacity and where strict physical distancing protocols can be maintained between non-household members. Places of worship should avoid gathering in groups of more...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley-Swan Hospital District Board met April 21 via teleconference for their April meeting. Partnership Health Center’s Executive Director Laurie Francis provided an update on PHC innovations and the Seeley-Swan Medical Center operations in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The board received an update on the RV Park and trustee elections. Francis said that of the 290 people employed by PHC, 72 are working from home. None of these employees have been furloughed or laid off even though their patient load is down due to lim...
POTOMAC – With more than 30 staff, parents and board members participating in a Zoom meeting, Potomac School Board unanimously voted Monday, April 27 to declare an Unforeseen Emergency through June 30 based on the risks presented by the coronavirus pandemic. They will not return to the classroom for the remainder of the year and finish the 2019-2020 school year with distance learning. All of the board members shared feedback that they received from parents and staff. The staff agreed they w...
SEELEY LAKE – There is a new art gallery in town that looks to attract Montana artists to display a diversity of work. Located in the south end of the Lazy Pine Mall on Highway 83, Gallery 83 owner Chris Larabee looks forward to offering an affordable location for artists to share their artwork and where the community and visitors can appreciate the artists' creativity. Brian Larabee, father of Chris who is looking after the operations of the store, said he has been doing stained glass for 30 y...
OVANDO – The Blackfoot Angler owner Kathy Schoendoerfer was struggling to communicate - not a situation she often finds herself in being the self-proclaimed "Ovando organizer of frivolous affairs." With five fishermen from Mongolia in her shop, Schoendoerfer knew zero Russian or Mongolian and they knew limited English. She did the best she could using hand signals and drawings and helped them get everything they needed. When she checked them out, they kept showing her two fingers and saying "...
Living in rural Montana, people get used to seeing signs of wolves, lions and bears and if they get lucky, running into the animals themselves. However, the presence of predators for ranchers and other livestock owners poses unique challenges. In 2019, the Montana's Livestock Loss Board recorded 376 livestock killed by wolves, grizzly bears and lions. This is the highest number of livestock killed by predators since they started keeping statistics in 2008 and resulted in the highest payouts to...
SEELEY LAKE - "Health should come before homework, family should become before frustration and learning should come before letter grades," said Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Watson said in the Missoula County COVID-19 update April 15. "It's not about your letter grade at this point it is really about learning. If we can keep students engaged in learning activities through the closure, it will help when we get finished." Seeley Lake Elementary and Seeley-Swan High School teach...
With quarantines and self-distancing temporarily being a large part of Montanans’ lives, historians and archivists around the state and in Missoula County invite residents to share their personal experiences with future generations. “There are many gaps and blanks in our local history. One reason for our skimpy history is because people of the past thought their tribulations, or ordinary life, was not worthy of recording for future generations,” wrote the Seeley Lake Historical Society in a press release. “Generations later would dearly...
The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) expanded mental health services to help Montanans who may be experiencing a range of emotions including loneliness, sadness and fear as a result of the current COVID-19 situation. The Missoula City-County Health Department has also compiled some helpful resources for anyone experiencing changes in their mental health, including a crisis line ready to take your call. “We continue to monitor and make adjustments as necessary to meet the needs of Montanans during this challenging time,” sa...
SEELEY LAKE – Sharing the love of reading and encouraging literacy are goals of Seeley Lake Elementary third grade teacher Kristy Pohlman, SLE Librarian Susan Bracha and local realtor Carey Kanavel. Through their collaborative efforts a new Book Box is available outside of SLE. Students now have access to library books and anyone can participate in the give-and-take books. They are hopeful the Book Box will be available through the summer and additional Book Boxes will be available at other loca...
MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock announced a gradual and phased reopening of the state beginning Sunday for individuals and extending to businesses on Monday. Individual counties still have the authority to impose more restrictive local ordinances and encourages local officials to work regionally and make local adjustments as local needs demand. Missoula County Incident Commander Cindy Farr said Missoula County will release their guidelines by the end of the week. “There are very few states in the country that can say they have seen the number... Full story
MISSOULA – Friday, April 24 Missoula Health Officer Ellen Leahy issued additional local orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 for Missoula County. These measures followed Governor Steve Bullock’s announcement on Wednesday, rescinding the “Stay at Home” directive for individuals on April 26 and allowed some businesses to reopen on April 27. “Given Missoula’s large population [second largest in the state], our need to protect our health care hub and particularly to avoid preventative transmission of disease and reduce the likelihood... Full story
SEELEY LAKE - Each year, Alpine Artisans, Inc. selects an individual or a business that has contributed outstanding merit to the local community. This year's Arts Benefactor award was given to Sara Wilcox, founder of AAI's Open Book Club and co-founder of the In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean Festival. Wilcox has been involved with AAI for 13 years. She is familiar to those in Seeley Lake who frequent the Grizzly Claw Trading Company where she works both as a barista and as the Grizzly Claw's b...
SWAN VALLEY – There is a new ranger who will be making the rounds in the Swan Valley this spring and summer visiting campgrounds and dispersed sites helping to educate the public about living responsibly with bears. While the Swan Valley Bear Ranger Kathy Koors is new to the position this summer, she has been the heartbeat behind the position's existence since it started more than 13 years ago. The reinstatement of the position has also gone full circle bringing the first two bear rangers in the... Full story
Governor Steve Bullock issued a directive allowing Montanans to renew their driver’s licenses online and by mail and extended the deadline to complete title and registration paperwork. This is an effort to provide essential services without furthering the spread of the coronavirus. In a press conference April 14, Attorney General Tim Fox and Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) Administrator Sarah Garcia provided more details regarding the Directive. Fox said these are temporary measures and will continue to be assessed per state and federal g... Full story
SEELEY LAKE - The stay at home order couldn't have come at a better time for local artist Kris Gullikson at her Uncorked and Creative Studio in Seeley Lake. Though the learning curve has been steep, she is now ready to help everyone's creativity come out and play. She has opened Pandora's Box in a good way and is now able to supply and teach art to kids, adults or families during these trying times. Gullikson has been painting for 30 years and has a Graphic Arts degree from Colorado Institute...
SEELEY LAKE – Amidst the uncertainty and challenges presented by statewide closures of schools and businesses, many residents are reaching out to others with encouragement and support. The ways to do that are endless and exemplify the words "Montanans taking care of Montanans." Depending where you live in Seeley Lake, the encouragement for our local health care workers and other essential workers can be heard with howls at 8 p.m. every night. The Facebook group "HOWL for Seeley Lake" has v... Full story
Missoula County Public Schools started serving meals to all youth under 18 in Missoula and Seeley Lake starting Monday, March 23. Since the start, MCPS has served nearly 21,000 meals through the end of March including 1282 in Seeley Lake. The district will continue to serve meals as long as schools remain closed. MCPS served over 20,898 meals from March 23 – March 31. This is more meals than MCPS served in the entire summer of 2019 at their four summer nutrition sites in Missoula. In the first f...
Below is a summary of the new information about local and statewide closures, restrictions and accommodations due to the coronavirus as of Monday, April 13. Information changes daily, sometimes hourly. Please call ahead or contact the organization directly with questions. Please follow the Seeley Swan Pathfinder website (seeleylake.com) for Breaking News for our area. We will post information as it becomes available. For the most up-to-date and accurate information and best ways of protecting... Full story
MONTANA - At a press conference Friday, April 17, Governor Steve Bullock announced the state is planning to do a phased reopening of the state following the expiration of the Stay at Home Directive and other closure orders April 24. This plan, which is still in development, is based on President Donald Trump’s recommendations for reopening the economy that was released Thursday. According to Worldometer’s website on Friday, Montana ranked #48 of the 50 states with 422 cases. There are 233 patients who have recovered and 21 active hos... Full story
Local and state agencies are warning consumers to beware of frauds exploiting the outbreak of COVID-19 and the economic stimulus checks that will be distributed across the country. “Scammers are hard at work turning breaking news into ways to steal your money or personal information. While we know about several types of COVID-19 scams, these frauds are constantly evolving, and the best tool you have to protect yourself is your own good judgment,” Attorney General Tim Fox said. “Fraudsters are working COVID-19 into common phone scams you may a... Full story
