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MISSOULA – Fourteen 4-H members from Potomac Valley stood up to the challenge and stood out with their projects at the 2022 Western Montana Fair. Out of 29 members, projects that were represented included market animals, dairy, breeding and horse and dog showing as well as poultry, Cloverbuds, cooking, sewing, photography, archery and leatherwork. County Extension Agent Campbell Barrett said despite the long hot days and short nights that fair week inevitably brings, in the 4-H barns everyone g...
POTOMAC - Potomac School had 10 eighth graders and 12 kindergartners graduate on the evening of June 8. More than 100 people were in attendance in the Potomac Greenough Community Center (PGCC). Bryanna Peterson, the kindergarten teacher, shared what her students wrote about their favorite thing about her class. Willa Howard loved the field trips, Tucker Brown loved playing outside and others loved when the caterpillars changed into butterflies, long recesses and Ms. Peterson. Peterson awarded...
POTOMAC - Teacher Terri Klein retired from Potomac School after 30 years of teaching first grade Pioneers. "Teaching was the only thing I ever wanted to do!" Klein said. "I used to play school all the time and started teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible schools when I was in high school." Klein graduated from Eastern Montana College (now known as MSU-Billings) in 1982. "I did not get a job my first year out because I wanted a first-grade position and every interview I had told me they...
POTOMAC - Two female grizzly bears were trapped Sunday, May 29 on private property up Twin Creeks Road. One was relocated to a remote area the next day and the other was euthanized in Missoula due to an old injury that led to a serious infection. According to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear management team, on Wednesday, May 25 the two-year-old bears were in the Johnson Creek drainage moving east. The grizzlies remained close to homes along Highway 200. One bear was missing a foot....
MISSOULA – After withholding the event due to the pandemic, the 18th annual Potomac Bingo event returned May 7 in Missoula. More than $27,000 was raised. All funds raised directly benefit the Potomac School, staff and students by assisting with the Artist in Residence program, playground improvements and other activities and learning opportunities. Approximately 550 people attended the sold-out event. Potomac Parent Teacher Club (PTC) member Tina Vezina said all the seats were sold ahead of the...
POTOMAC - The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in domestic birds in the Potomac Valley the week of April 18. The entire flock on the property was destroyed. While wild birds with HPAI may not appear sick, it causes high mortality in poultry and game birds. There is no treatment or vaccine for animals. By press Tuesday at 10am, the Department of Livestock reported infections in flocks of domestic poultry in Glacier, Judith Basin, Cascade and Toole Counties. According...
POTOMAC - This year's Potomac School Christmas Program brought more than 130 people together for the community event with standing room only. Last year's audience numbers were strictly limited due to COVID restrictions. This year the large crowd was smiling, hugging and laughing as they took photos and clapped while watching the students perform. The evening began with a welcome by Principal John Rouse followed by the winner of the eighth grade quilt raffle. The horse-themed quilt was made by...
POTOMAC - Students and staff enjoyed a mild October day for the annual Potomac Bike-a-Thon. The entire school turned out for the event Oct. 20 including more than 90 students with teachers, staff and parents helping to guide traffic, punch mileage cards, walk with and cheer on the group. Motorists also got into the spirit with some honking and waving their support. Teacher Sarah Schmill noticed the support each year. She said, "Support of the event's purpose, support from the community, support...
POTOMAC - Potomac Pioneers began their new school year Aug. 30. There are several updates to staff, programs and the facility this year. New staff includes Jodi Hausmann who is the new preschool teacher. Kayla Brewer is the new paraprofessional for the preschool class. Instructional paraprofessional Anna Bunderson is also new staff this year. The new school board chair is Courtney Hathaway. Several staff also took new positions within the school. Breanna Peterson, who taught preschool last year, is the new kindergarten teacher. Christi...
MISSOULA - Potomac youth who partake in 4-H projects work hard during the 4-H year which runs from October to the end of September. This year at the Western Montana Fair, 20 Potomac 4-H members participated in more than 40 areas including animal and non-animal projects. The Cloverbuds Project is for 4-H members ages six to eight. They met monthly and created snow scenes, paintings and birdhouses for their fair projects. Tom and Camilla Peterson made the birdhouse kits for the Potomac...
POTOMAC - Lead by Potomac vaulting clinician Christi Taillefer, local girls have been learning equestrian vaulting during multi-day clinics in June, July and August at local arenas. Horse Vaulting is an equine sport involving athletics while on the back of a moving horse. It is one of the oldest equestrian sports and can be traced back to Roman games and German riding which included acrobatic displays performed on moving horses. Now there are competitions in certain states in the USA....
POTOMAC - After having studied the Middle Ages, the sixth through eighth grade students together with the staff decided to host Medieval Days May 18 - 19. Social Studies teacher Jessica Van Kerkhove said the goal of Medieval Days was to provide a more hands-on experience for students to learn about the Middle Ages. The Middle School teachers were royalty presiding over their 'kingdoms.' Each kingdom was set in a classroom closely resembling manors. Van Kerkhove explained that each kingdom had...
POTOMAC - Potomac teacher Kristina Davis received the Montana Environmental Educational Association's (MEEA) Formal Educator of the Year Award. She will be officially recognized virtually March 25 at the MEEA's annual conference. Davis has taught math and science at Potomac School for the last 12 years. When Davis was a young student herself, she loved field trips and even more so now as an educator. She said it is a great way to teach her first love, wildlife biology, to the students and...
POTOMAC - The community of Potomac has proven resilient since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Since the spring, residents have donated, participated and benefited from the kindness and generosity of friends, neighbors and strangers. Residents banded together and worked hard to guarantee support for others including comfort, food and firewood. Since March, Potomac School has been a link in the chain of giving. According to Potomac School secretary Janette Ployhar, volunteers served 110...
During the fall in the Blackfoot Watershed, Isabella Tiger Moth and Spotted Tussock Moth caterpillars can be seen crawling in the sunshine across roads and over fences. These caterpillars are known as woolly bears. While some believe their coloring can predict the weather, other features of their life cycle push the boundaries of what some would think is science fiction. Many moth species have fuzzy caterpillars that go by the name of woolly bear or woolly worm. Woolly bear caterpillars are the...
POTOMAC - Potomac School is preparing for students to return Aug. 26 since remaining closed after spring break in March. Principal John Rouse presented the re-opening plan and recommendations to the School Board at their Aug. 10 meeting. They agreed to open in-person with the opportunity for parents and students to engage in online at-home learning. The board also addressed several topics regarding the re-opening plan including face coverings, athletics and the eighth grade trip funds from last year. Rouse created a Safe Learning Plan which...
MISSOULA - The Potomac Valley and Seeley Lake Trailblazers 4-H clubs participated in the Western Montana's Farm to Fair Aug. 3-8. This years results are below. 4-H uses the Danish system in the judging process. Top ribbons include grand and reserve champion, followed by a purple group (P – top in their class), blue group (B), red group (R) and white group (W – participation ribbon) according to the placing received. Potomac Valley 4-H Brayden Cooney: Market Lamb Interview, Blue; Novice She...
MISSOULA - 4-H Club members across the area are having a busy week for the 2020 Western Montana Fair. This year's Fair situation presented unexpected challenges and will hold a unique place in history. The theme, "Farm to Fair," is a timely tribute to the importance of agriculture during moments of crisis. When one door closes, a window opens. For safety reasons, the general public will not be allowed to attend the Fair this year or access the Fairgrounds. Instead, the Fair will be available onl...
MISSOULA - From photography to market animals with a bit of everything in between, 4-H clubs in Potomac and Seeley Lake have their projects ready for the 2020 Western Montana Fair Aug. 2 - 8. All animal projects will be shown by the 4-H members and judged before and during fair week. However, the public is not allowed to attend due to COVID-19. Judging of non-animal projects will take place during fair week in the exhibit building without public attendance. The Livestock sale will be Aug. 8 for...
The "Goddess foot of the mountain" flowers are found throughout the area in spring and summer. They have been admired for their beauty and collected for centuries. Cypripedium montanum perennial flowers are commonly known as a type of lady's slipper plant which is part of the orchid family. Known as the Slipper orchids, these native orchids can be found in a variety of habitats including grassy meadows, small openings, tucked under conifer trees, in cool damp glades and even prairies. There are...
POTOMAC - During the June 29 school board meeting via Webex, the Potomac School Board approved a series of policies that will give the school district the flexibility to address whatever conditions and/or requirements the school district will face in August as they prepare to return to school for the 2020- 2021 school year. Potomac School Principal John Rouse said, “Our intention is to provide quality in-person classroom instruction unless required to do otherwise by the Governor’s office, the health department or our local school boa...
Despite some Western Montana Fair event cancellations, 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) members are still able to exhibit their projects but without spectators due to COVID-19 risks. Missoula County Fairgrounds Events & Operations Manager Billie Ayers and Fairgrounds Director Emily Brock together with the Fair Office partnered with the 4-H, FFA and Missoula County Commissioners, sponsors and volunteers to support the 4-H and FFA organizations in their ability to show at the fair. "We are...
POTOMAC - Signs and banners decorated the highway in front of Cullys and along Potomac Road in celebration of the Potomac School graduating classes of 2020. Both the kindergarten and eighth grade graduations had to comply with Missoula County Public Health Department rules regarding social distancing and disinfection. The events were by invitation only and were held outside. On Thursday evening, June 11, nine Potomac School kindergartners graduated. The ceremony was held in the athletic field...
POTOMAC - The Potomac community continues to adjust to COVID-19. The school, businesses and other organizations keep moving forward amidst challenges and continual change. The Potomac School has been closed since the Governor closed schools statewide March 23. Although students can no longer meet in their classrooms, the Pioneers are all studying and doing homework from home. Principal John Rouse said the school appreciates the effort parents and family members of students are making to keep a...
POTOMAC - With a team of 10, the Potomac girls basketball team came through the season with three regular season wins and one tournament game win. The coaches felt the season went well and agreed that there was a lot of growth in the players. The Pioneer A and B teams were comprised of three fifth graders, two sixth graders, two seventh graders and three eighth graders. Beth Copenhaver and Christie Taillefer coached the teams this year. Potomac basketball mom Jessie Salter also helped out behind...
