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  • Board Accepts RD's New Conditions

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Sep 21, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board voted at a special board meeting Sept. 14 to accept Rural Development’s (RD) new conditions for funding that includes an extra $1 million in grants and $1.3 million in loans. The extra funding to cover the increase in construction estimates for Phase I of the collection system and the treatment plant brings the funding package to a total of $15.6 million. Board member Bob Skiles questioned if Manager Greg Robertson had reviewed the letter. Robertson was not at the meeting but Robertson had s...

  • A Closer Look at Funding Conditions

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Sep 21, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - After the Seeley Lake Sewer Board’s special meeting Sept. 14 where the board voted to accept Rural Development’s new conditions, the Pathfinder compared the new Letter of Conditions with the previous letter. The comparison revealed a handful of changes not discussed at the meeting. RD did not respond to the Pathfinder’s request for additional information and clarification on changes to the Letter of Conditions by the press deadline. Letter of Conditions dated Sept. 11, 2017 versus Letter of Conditions dated Aug. 17, 2016: • The...

  • Lady Blackhawks Victorious on Home Court

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Sep 21, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks played a match on the road against Victor Sept. 15 before finally getting to play on their home court. The threat of fire subsided and the smoke cleared allowing the Ladies to host Lincoln Sept. 16. Lady Blackhawks Head Coach Tammy Lewis said the team got in a couple of solid practices. She thinks it will still be a few weeks before they will be at full capacity but noted that the season is nearly half over. "It kind of feels like I am making...

  • Blackhawks Back on the Home Field

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Sep 21, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The smoke lifted and the Blackhawks returned to their home field to host the Twin Bridges Falcons Sept. 16. The Blackhawks came out strong, stopping the Falcons' opening drive and holding them to just one touchdown in the first quarter. The Falcons scored another touchdown early in the second quarter. The Blackhawks answered right back with Dakota Wood returning the kickoff 60 yards for a touchdown. Two more Falcon touchdowns in the second quarter brought the score to 6-30 at the...

  • Smoke Holding Blackhawks Back

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Sep 14, 2017

    VICTOR - The Rice Ridge Fire continued to put a damper on the Seeley-Swan Blackhawks football season. The smoke lifted enough to take on the Pirates in Victor Sept. 9. The evacuation order of a large part of Seeley Lake Aug. 28, including the high school, forced the team to cancel their home game with Troy. The smoke has been wreaking havoc on their practice schedule all season. Blackhawks Head Coach Ryan Sokoloski said that the team hasn't had a full practice in more than two weeks. The fact...

  • Lady Blackhawks Soar over Eagles and Tangle with Cats

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Sep 14, 2017

    The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks got back to work on the court after being forced to skip a match against Charlo and miss nearly a week’s worth of practices. They took on Valley Christian Sept. 8 and the Clark Fork Co-op Sept. 9. The Valley Christian Eagles proved they could still put up a fight even after graduating their star hitter last year. The Lady Blackhawks took the first game 25-10 but dropped the second game to the Eagles 11-25. The Ladies answered back with a 25-19 win in game three. The Eagles tied it back up winning game four, 23-25...

  • New Grandstand Filled for 53rd Annual Helmville Rodeo

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Sep 7, 2017

    HELMVILLE - The new grandstand was packed and it was standing room only at the 53rd annual Helmville Rodeo this past Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3-4....

  • Cost Estimates Provided, Questions Answered

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Aug 31, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The first of two public meetings aimed at educating property owners in the Seeley Lake Sewer District was held Aug. 23. Presenters Dr. Walt Hill, Craig Pozega, professional engineer from Great West Engineering and District Manager Greg Robertson provided information on the project background, community and environmental impacts, the proposed sewer system, financial impacts and the process ahead. The presenters then took questions from the audience. Joe Nickell from the public relations firm PartnersCreative ran the meeting. Dr....

  • Lady Blackhawks Season Underway Despite Smoke

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Aug 31, 2017

    The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks traveled to Arlee for the first match of the volleyball season Aug. 25. They then headed to Philipsburg for the traditional start of the season tournament on the 26th. “With all the fire activity and smoke, it has definitely started out as one of our more interesting seasons,” said Lady Blackhawks Head Coach Tammy Lewis. The team managed to get in their required practices ahead of the Arlee match but the smoke has been limiting the intensity of practices. “We are making the best of it and look forward to putti...

  • Smoke Takes Toll on Blackhawks

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Aug 31, 2017

    CHARLO - The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks season kicked off Aug. 25 against last year’s state runner up, Charlo. Blackhawks Head Coach Ryan Sokoloski said they didn’t play as bad as the score, 6-52, would indicate. He felt there were some really good plays and they moved the ball well early on. The team has not been able to physically train as hard as Sokoloski would like due to the smoke in Seeley Lake. They have been taking it day by day as to how much they can practice. “As the game went on, you could see the ability to keep up, our kids were...

  • Annual Assessment Passes Despite Protests

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Aug 24, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board held their annual assessment hearing after their board meeting Aug. 17. The assessment uses the same methodology as the previous year and charges commercial and vacant property based on square footage of the lots while properties with dwelling units are charged a flat rate of $79.85. Don Larson, representing the Committee for Sensible Wastewater Solutions, presented a petition protesting the annual assessment. Larson said that in just couple of hours he had collected around 50 signatures protes...

  • No Word on Additional Funding Could Mean Delays

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Aug 24, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board was informed at their monthly meeting, Aug. 17 that this fall’s planned notice and protest might be delayed. The Board’s public outreach meetings scheduled for Aug. 23 and Sept. 21 will go on as planned. Residents at the meeting took the opportunity to ask questions during public comment. District Manager Greg Robertson explained that the notice and protest period cannot happen until they receive a status on the district’s most recent application for additional funding. The application to Rural...

  • SLE Gears Up for the Year

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Aug 24, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE- The Seeley Lake Elementary School Board of Trustees hired a teacher and approved the 2017-18 budget at their Aug. 16 meeting. They were also updated on several topics ranging from preschool funding and the SLE Outside store, to firefighters using the school, a new website and resurfacing of the parking lot. Stout said the Rice Ridge Fire incident management team using the school will be moved out around Aug. 23. That should give the school time to get ready for the students to return Sept. 5. The school parking lot resurfacing has...

  • Public Questions Board

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Jul 27, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - Residents bombarded the Seeley Lake Sewer District (SLSD) Board with questions and comments at the board’s July 20 meeting. The “public comment” period dominated the meeting taking up three quarters of the 80-minute meeting. Topics ranged from the pending protest period to goose poop in the lake to McDonald’s coming to town. The meeting got off to a tense start when resident Don Larson asked Board President Mike Boltz when the letter of intent to incur indebtedness would be sent out. District Manager Greg Robertson started...

  • Pin Your Hometown at the Bob

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Jul 27, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Swan Pathfinder asked attendees to "pin their hometown or state" on a map at the Bob Marshall Music Festival. There were 356 pins placed in the map. Half of respondents placed pins in Montana. Helena had the most pins with 24 followed by Missoula with 20. The other half placed pins in other states. All but seven states had at least one pin in them while Washington had the most with 25 followed by Utah, 12 and California with 11. Three pinned Canada and a half dozen...

  • Parade Count Down Compared to Last Year's High

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Jul 6, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - Since 2013 the Pathfinder has been counting the crowd at the parade in Seeley Lake. This year we counted 3,580 lining the streets from the Filling Station parking lot on B Street to the end of the parade on Redwood Lane. That's down more than 500 from the largest crowd we counted in 2016 but still larger than 2013's count of 3,439. We asked our Facebook fans for their best guess. As of press time, Megan Shelmerdine was the closest with a guess of 3,595....

  • Construction Estimate Climbs $2.2 Million

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|May 25, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board received an updated estimate for the construction of the wastewater treatment plant and Phase I of the collection system. The new estimate of $14 million was briefly discussed at its May 18 board meeting along with this summer’s planned public outreach and the board’s ability to advocate for the project. The United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD) requested an updated construction estimate to account for the start of construction beginning in 2018 instead of 2017. The...

  • Blackhawks Earn 13-C District Title

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|May 18, 2017

    FRENCHTOWN - The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks brought home both the Girls and Boys 13-C Championships from the district track meet May 12-13. The Lady Blackhawks dominated the competition earning 225 points, nearly three times the points of second place Darby. The Boys also bested Darby for the championship though on a tighter margin, 154 to 113. Thirteen Ladies and 12 Boys placed in the top five of individual events and will advance to the Western C Divisional this week. Both the Boys and Girls 400...

  • Records Fall at KLH Invitational

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|May 11, 2017

    FRENCHTOWN - The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks ran, jumped and threw to new levels setting personal records (PR) and in the process, breaking two school records at the Kim L. Haines Memorial track meet May 6. Lady Blackhawks Cera Strumpfer and Alex Bohlman each set new school records. Strumpfer cleared 9 feet, 10 inches to break Shawna Nemmers 1996 record of 9 feet, 9 inches. The jump earned Strumpfer first place in the event. Bohlman took first place and furthered her own school record from last week...

  • Blackhawks Take Second at Loyola Invite

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|May 11, 2017

    MISSOULA - Golfers from nearly a dozen schools took to the fairways of the Ranch Club Golf Course and Canyon River Golf Course for the Loyola Invitational May 1 and 2. The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks came out strong on day one of the tournament. All four Boys shot 88 and under at the Ranch Club. Their combined score of 334 put them in second just 2 strokes behind Loyola in first place. They had a solid 8-stroke lead over third place Shelby. McKinley Nicholas led the Blackhawks after 18 holes at the R...

  • Blackhawks Compete at Top Ten and Great Falls

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|May 4, 2017

    GREAT FALLS - The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks headed over the mountains to challenge athletes from more than two dozen Class A, B and C schools April 29. The Lady Blackhawks took third while the Boys took fourth. Earlier in the week the Blackhawks’ top athletes participated in the Russ Pilcher Top 10 in Missoula. To make the cut, athletes had to rank in the top ten of all schools, across all classes, in western Montana. Alex Bohlman, Cera Strumpfer and the Boys and Girls 4x400 relay teams rose to the challenge at the Top 10. Bohlman placed first i...

  • Blackhawks Shine at Double Arrow

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|May 4, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks did not let the threatening clouds douse their game April 25 at Double Arrow Golf Course. The Boys finished with a score of 252, ten strokes ahead of Big Fork and Thompson Falls who were tied in second. All five Blackhawks finished in the top 15. Malachi Nicholas led the Blackhawks shooting just five over par with a 77, his best score of the season. Malachi tied for first place with Bigfork's Colton Stodgill for individual scores. Malachi and Stodgill...

  • District Moves Forward with Public Outreach Firm

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Apr 27, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer District (SLSD) Board is moving forward with a public outreach program after receiving a second chance at funding. The funding package from the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD) consists of $5.7 million in grants and $4.4 million in loans. Manager Greg Robertson recommended that the board utilize the services of a public outreach and education firm. At its March meeting, the board received a proposal from PartnersCreative to create and run a public outreach program. The public ou...

  • Blackhawks Set Personal Records at SSHS Invitational

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Apr 27, 2017

    FRENCHTOWN - The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks hosted athletes from seven Class B and 16 Class C schools at the Seeley-Swan High School Invitational in Frenchtown April 22. The Blackhawks competed earlier in the week at the Big Sky Quad in Missoula. Five Blackhawks and three Lady Blackhawks set personal records (PR) at Frenchtown and one qualified for state. Freshman Terra Bertsch reached a new height with a five-foot high jump. The jump earned her a spot at State. In addition to the PR in the high jum...

  • District Accepts Second Chance at Funding

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Apr 20, 2017

    SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer District (SLSD) Board received a second chance at funding the construction of the proposed wastewater treatment plant and Sub-District/Phase I of the collection system. The funding package consists of $5.7 million in grants and $4.4 million in loans. The news came in a letter to the district, dated March 20, from Steve Troendle, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD) Community Programs Director. The board had requested a second chance after the bond election failed last December. The...

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