Sorted by date Results 1 - 18 of 18
SEELEY LAKE – The Bob Marshall Music Festival announced seven of the confirmed bands at their Launch Party Dec. 2. While the festival, now dubbed "Montana's Music Festival," isn't until the middle of July, more than 50 people gathered to find out what bands are confirmed for 2017, socialize and dance to the music of Good Old Fashioned. The second annual festival will be July 13-16, 2017 on the vacant land owned by Kevin Wetherell south of the Wilderness Gateway Inn. On-site camping will be a...
OVANDO – Ovando was bustling this past Saturday, Dec. 3 with people from all over western Montana. Some came just to see Cowboy Claus, while others took in the various activities held throughout town. In keeping with tradition, children filed into the fire hall to make graham cracker gingerbread houses. Every child appeared to have a plan as they carefully choose the decorations for their house. The masterpieces, topped with dozens of different candies, sat on display as they dried. Downtown a...
SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Elementary School's gym and junior high classroom were transformed Saturday, Dec. 3 into a bustling holiday Frostbite Festival put on by the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society (USVHS). Included in the festival was something for all ages. The school gym was filled to near capacity with hand made crafts, photography, stain glass creations, gift books, and direct sales vendors. Also featured was food catered by Mike and Pat Smith of the Swan Valley Center and...
SEELEY LAKE – Snowmobile season will soon be in full swing with more than three feet of new snow in the mountains over the past week. Missoula County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Robert Parcell and Seeley Swan Search & Rescue (SSSAR) Chief Gerry Connell offer a few tips for snowmobilers to keep them legal and safe this season. Snowmobiles are required to follow the U.S. Forest Service Travel Plans for the specific national forest. The Over-the-Snow Vehicle Maps are available at the local ranger d...
SEELEY LAKE - To respond to the full-page ad from Concerned Citizens, let me address two issues: Is the ground water contaminated? Answer – YES. The fact that test results vary with weather conditions doesn’t change the fact that nitrates in high numbers are present. The fact that they haven’t quite reached the stage where they exceed the safety limits continually does not negate the fact that they are present in excess - enough to cause Missoula County to create a Special Management District for Seeley Lake to limit additional nitrate contamin...
The Democratic Party claims the popular vote while the Republican Party claims the Electoral College. Both organizations appear to have missed the very poignant message sent by the electorate via this last Presidential election. Hillary Clinton is symptomatic of a political party that seems to feel that we NEED to be looked after by a ruling class and she was entitled to that throne. The Republican Party on the other hand, felt they had the answer in the name of either Bush, Romney, Kasich, Graham or possibly Christie. The thought of a...
One elective Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) students may choose is the food elective taught by Bridget Laird. The food elective lets people discover the thrills of cooking. They are making any kind of pizza so they learn how to cook pizza and get experience making their favorite foods. The students make their own dough. Mrs. Laird has been teaching the food class for two years. The students will get fresh products from the greenhouse, which is located at the back of SLE and was donated by the...
MISSOULA - Dec. 1 marks the closing of outdoor burning by permit in western Montana. While there has been abundant precipitation since October and the welcome snowfall recently, the main consideration for outdoor burning season to close is one of poor air quality. It is common for strong inversions to set up in the valleys of western Montana during the winter months. If residents were allowed to continue outdoor burning by permit in the winter, adverse air quality conditions would be the likely result. Since outdoor burning by permit opened...
SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) Community Support Fund is a small grant program administered by SVCF. Its purpose is supporting eligible Swan Valley non-profit organizations and their efforts that benefit the Swan Valley Community. The SVCF Community Support Fund is funded through a grant from the William H. Donner Foundation Inc. The grant applications and criteria will be available Dec. 13. Non-profits serving the Swan Valley from Summit to Goat Creek are encouraged to apply. Eligible applicants include IRS...
Groups are collectives. Groups are made up of people, which is true for collectives. As it turns out, we all are members of groups and collectives. If we take a moment, it isn't difficult to list several collectives in our lives. There are families, communities, sports teams, political and religious affiliations and on and on. The question is this: Is there a psychology associated with groups and collectives? Naturally there is. Anytime people are involved in anything, there is psychology involv...
As District Ranger for the Seeley Lake Ranger District, I’ve been sharing with you, through the Pathfinder, some of the details of the project work that the Seeley Lake Ranger District (RD) is involved with and what that provides to the community of Seeley Lake and the American public. In this edition, I wanted to share some information about one of the things that makes the Seeley Lake RD unique and successful in its ability to get work done on the ground: its designation as a Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) l...
HELENA - A new grant from Montana’s Forests in Focus program will make homes safer, create well-paying jobs and improve forest health – all at the same time. The $249,534 grant will be used to thin out dense forest to reduce the hazards posed by wildfire. Besides reducing the fuel load for any potential wildfire, the work will open up the forest, allowing more light and moisture in to nurture the trees that are left. The work will create 17 jobs between this December and November of next year and will supply 3,166 tons of materials to local mil...
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake residents Chris Flinders and Patty Dillree said it has become a tradition to get in the Christmas spirit by pulling chairs in front of the big fireplace at Double Arrow Lodge and listening to the music of the Seeley-Swan Mountain Bells. A packed crowd on Dec. 1 proved they were not the only ones who enjoyed the bell carols. The Mountain Bells presentation, called Music by the Fire, began with "Joy to the World" and continued with traditional Christmas carols i...
SEELEY LAKE – Located off Dolly Varden Drive at the end of the meadow bordered by Trail Creek is an old log building commonly referred to as the Homestead Cabin. Now owned by the Double Arrow Ranch Landowners Association (DARLOA), the cabin is valued as a symbol of the pioneering days of Seeley Lake. The official designation for the land on which the Homestead Cabin stands is NW¼ of Section 12 (16N, 15W). According to the records at the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office, A. B...
One week into December and we are right in the middle of the Christmas season. I love Christmas, I always have. My memories of Christmas down through the years were always very positive. The ancient beginnings of Christmas are controversial for many. Some hold that Christmas originated out of pagan beliefs and practice. Yet others affirm that Christmas, from the very beginning, was designed to honor the birth of our Savior sent to rescue mankind. Frankly I don’t lose any sleep over these c...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks defeated the Clark Fork Mountain Cats in their first game of the season Dec. 3 at home. The Blackhawks took an early lead, outscoring the Mountain Cats two to one in the first quarter. They buried the Cats allowing only 10 points total in the remaining quarters. The final score was 69-22. Cameron Haines led the Blackhawks with 15 points. Just two points behind Haines, Gunner Sloan and Chance Johnson each had 13 points. Haines and Avery Smith had the...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks faced the Clark Fork Mountain Cats at home Dec. 3. Both teams struggled in the first quarter to put points on the board. They headed into the second quarter with the Lady Blackhawks leading 6-2. After the slow start the Lady Blackhawks blew the game out in the second quarter. The Ladies held the Mountain Cats to just 5 points while they ran up 26. Alex Bohlman scored 10 of her 16 game points in the second quarter while her sister Andi Bohlman scored...
Forest Service Roads Closed to Wheeled Vehicles SEELEY LAKE – Due to the recent snow, the Seeley Lake Ranger District along with the Seeley Lake Driftriders Snowmobile Club began the Forest Service road closure process Monday afternoon, Dec. 5. While there is still not enough snow for grooming, SLRD recreation staff said the closure allows a solid base to build without ruts. It also promotes public safety by preventing drivers from getting stuck. For more information about road closures stop in or call the SLRD, 406-677-2233. The information i...
