Sorted by date Results 251 - 275 of 295
LAKE ALVA - Motorists should expect traffic disruptions on Highway 83 along Lake Alva due to a Montana Department of Transportation project. The project is intended to re-establish roadway slope stability as well as evaluate a nearby culvert which may need to be repaired or replaced. Between mile markers 24.9 to 25 on Highway 83, work began the week of Oct. 12 with traffic diverted into a single lane. Travelers should expect 15 minute delays, 12 foot width restrictions and reduced speeds to 35...
MISSOULA COUNTY - The political divide between the rural and urban areas of Missoula County were seen in the results of the District 1 County Commissioner race and the vote over referendum 130 this year. Ballot issues that saw more unity among the County were CI-190 and 118. The County has a total of 52 precincts. There are 33 urban precincts within Missoula's city limits and the remaining 19 are outside the city. There was a 79.55% voter turnout in Missoula County, just slightly below the 80.55...
SWAN VALLEY - Missoula Attorney Quentin Rhoades showed Condon residents how they can legally defend themselves and their property during the second Neighborhood Watch meeting on Thursday, Nov. 5 in the Swan Valley Community Hall. In addition, organizer Steve Card was elected as the Neighborhood Watch's new chairman while Mikki Gleason was nominated as the group's secretary. Rhoades is a civil attorney for the United States Concealed Carry Association Inc. (USCCA) who litigates lawsuits...
SEELEY LAKE - The Veterans and Families of Seeley Lake (VFSL) began the initial construction for the new veterans' memorial kiosk in the Memorial Garden on Monday, Nov. 2. VFSL member Darryl Wolery said the replacement structure will be more weather resistant and will better maintain the names of those honored. Currently the 142 memorial plaques are made of wood and need to be redone every three years. Not only will the structure's new metal plates last longer without required maintenance, but...
SWAN LAKE - Lake County Commissioners said they would engage in further discussions to avoid closing the Porcupine Creek Solid Waste Site following public comments at a meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 28 in the Swan Lake Community Center. Several residents came to argue against the closure after the county's Solid Waste Board recommended closure of the site due to illegal dumping, gate damage and vandalism from contractor use. A member of the public presented a petition with over 100 signatures from...
MISSOULA - During their virtual press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 27, the COVID-19 Joint Information Center announced new Missoula County restrictions that will go into effect at 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. Missoula City-County Health Officer Ellen Leahy said beginning this week, business capacity will be limited to 50%, event gathering sizes will be reduced to 25 people and alcohol service will stop at 10 p.m. Any group event over 25 is expected to check in with the health department before planning the gathering. Organizers must have a written...
OVANDO - The scarecrows have been set up in Ovando as part of the first Ovando Scarecrow Contest in 20 years. "I thought maybe this was a good time [for the contest]," competition organizer Terry Sheppard said. "People are all stressed out. [I thought it would] give them a reason to get out." There are four scarecrows currently entered into the competition. Registration concluded Oct. 23 with submissions open Oct. 12. Entry conditions were left open to spark creativity so long as entrants were...
SEELEY LAKE - Over a dozen cars came together Halloween night to welcome trick-or-treaters at the seventh annual Trunk-or-Treat event hosted at Seeley Lake Elementary. In addition to the treats, the event also featured music, free pizza at Stageline Pizza and Dracula's Castle. Those with trunks were awarded gifts from local businesses as part of a Trunk-or-Treat contest judged by event organizers members. Crystal Lopez, Crystal Melendrez, Kuko Lopez, Rebecca Bowman and Naya Lopez came in first...
As of Wednesday at 1 p.m., Montana has voted to give its three electoral votes towards Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. They received 320,650 votes (56%) versus Democrat opponent Joe Biden and his Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris who received 233,084 votes (41%). So far 468 precincts have fully tallied their votes while the remaining 185 are still in the process. The total recorded turnout was 574,822 out of 752,551 currently registered...
MISSOULA - Missoula City-County Health Department staff joined epidemiologists from the University of Montana's School of Public and Community Health Sciences for a virtual meeting to provide updates on COVID-19 Thursday, Oct. 22. This is the third epidemiological update that has been presented to the county since response efforts began earlier this year. The intention of the meeting was to provide updates on epidemiological information, showcase COVID-19 trends in Missoula County and make recom...
Area residents experienced record-setting snowfall and temperatures over the weekend compared to recent history. According to Seeley Lake Ranger District, the snow depth measured at the District was 11 inches over the weekend. Since the District started keeping records in 1967, the most snow recorded for October was 7 inches in 1975. Various Seeley-Swan Valley residents reported receiving 12-18 inches. The National Weather Services reported Potomac as being the coldest spot in the lower 48...
SWAN VALLEY - The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame (MCHF) and Western Heritage Center (WHC) inducted Leonard Moore of Condon into their 13th class of the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. According to a press release, inductees are chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public. They are honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana. Every year one living candidate and one legacy candidate are chosen from each of the 12 districts. "The Hall of Fame...
All mail ballots are due by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the Elections Office at 140 N. Russell Street, Missoula. Voters can drop off their ballots at several locations including Seeley Lake Elementary, and the Potomac-Greenough Community Center. For more information visit https://www.missoulavotes.com....
SEELEY LAKE - Local organizations and businesses are offering boos, ghouls and several eerie events to choose from this Halloween night, Saturday, Oct. 31. • From 3 - 9 p.m., Stageline Pizza is offering one free slice of pizza to students in costume. • Mission Bible Fellowship will hand out candy bags and hold a family friendly photo booth in their main entrance from 4 - 6 p.m. Each attending family will get a mini Polaroid to take with them. • The Second Annual Trunk or Treat Event in Condo...
SWAN VALLEY - Four volunteers are preparing to take their initial two tests so they can eventually become nationally certified EMTs to serve the Swan Valley. The volunteers have been attending multiple weekly classes sponsored by Swan Valley Emergency Services since early fall. They are looking forward to receiving their certifications and serving the community. Lectures are broadcasted through Zoom from Missoula Emergency Services Incorporated (MESI). This is the first year Swan Valley...
SEELEY LAKE - Heidi Sawitzke hopes to bring creativity into the classroom and make connections with students during her role as the new English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher for junior high students at Seeley Lake Elementary. Sawitzke became interested in education as a career after realizing the positive impact teachers can have on society. "I have always loved learning and I want to share that love of learning with my students," Sawitzke said. "I am always learning something new. I...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake Elementary Superintendent Josh Gibbs provided updates on Board Strategic Planning results and other aspects of the school during the Board of Education’s regular meeting Oct. 19. Gibbs said they are still not ready to approve the School’s Strategic plan. However he wanted to give the board members an idea of what concerns, causes and solutions the document addresses. He said currently the timelines and budgets are missing but he intends to plug those in by the next board meeting and have it ready for approval by Novemb...
SEELEY LAKE - Traffic on Highway 83 near Salmon Lake is experiencing disruptions resulting from a Department of Transportation project. Cameron Kloberdanz, Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Geotechnical Engineer, said the project is intended to reconstruct the roadway section along Salmon Lake in order to make it safer, mitigate rockfall hazards and improve pavement quality. The project team is using designs to determine if they can install three to four foot shoulders on each side of t...
SEELEY LAKE - Residents voted to collectively work towards planning and developing Winterfest following a presentation from Red Ants Pants Founder and White Sulphur Springs resident Sarah Calhoun at the third and final session of Reimagining Rural Tuesday, Oct. 13. At the last Reimagining Rural meeting, it was announced that communities could apply for grants of up to $2,000 for local projects through an online grant application. Communities could only apply for the grant if they participated...
LAKE COUNTY - Lake County Commissioners will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Swan Lake Community Center, 22778 State Highway 83, to discuss the possible closure of the Porcupine Creek Solid Waste Site. Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron said Solid Waste Board members recommended closing the site due to the area experiencing a large amount of illegal dumping, gate damage and vandalism from contractor use. During the Lake County Solid Waste Management Board meeting Aug. 12, board members said the site receives construction waste...
SEELEY LAKE - Humanities Montana awarded Alpine Artisans' Open Book Club the Montana Center for the Book Prize. This is the first time the Club has received an award like this. According to a press release, the Montana Center for the Book Advisory Committee "was impressed with the longevity of the program, the steady growth and the caliber of authors who have been featured over the years." The Club is one of three award-winning programs with the other two located in Belgrade and Billings....
SEELEY LAKE - The Forest Service held a virtual meeting Thursday, Oct. 15 to gather public input and describe the details of the Westside Bypass Wildfire Resiliency Project on the Seeley Lake Ranger District. The project is located two miles north and northwest of Seeley Lake. Its intent is to improve forest health by addressing the future impacts of insects and diseases as well as mitigate hazardous fuel conditions that increase the potential severity of wildfires. The project proposes using commercial and non-commercial vegetation treatments...
SEELEY LAKE - Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick addressed affordable housing issues in Seeley Lake, Lolo and Frenchtown during Seeley Lake Community Council’s meeting Monday Oct. 12. The Council also received updates on countywide COVID numbers and received an update from Seeley Lake schools. Slotnick said money is available in the county budget to have a staff member exclusively focus on affordable housing beginning in January. He or she will determine ways on how more housing can be created in communities like Seeley Lake. Said h...
MISSOULA - During their virtual press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 27, the COVID-19 Joint Information Center announced new Missoula County restrictions that will go into effect at 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. Missoula City-County Health Officer Ellen Leahy said beginning this week, business capacity will be limited to 50%, event gathering sizes will be reduced to 25 people and alcohol service will stop at 10 p.m. Any group event over 25 is expected to check in with the health department before...
SWAN VALLEY- A 56-year-old man and his 31-year-old hiking partner were rescued from Holland Peak Monday, Oct. 5 after one of the men experienced a life-threatening medical condition. The men were airlifted from Holland Peak by the Army National Guard Medevac Team and the patient was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center via ambulance. According to Missoula County Sheriff's Deputy and Incident Commander Ryan Dunster, Seeley-Swan Search and Rescue was called at 1:10 p.m. Monday...
