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SWAN VALLEY – When seventh-grader Karen Clothier from Salmon Prairie met eighth-grader Dale Conley of Big Fork at a 4-H meeting she told her girlfriends he was the cutest boy there. They worked side by side starting in the Clothier hay field and from then on with all their different businesses based from their home on the Swan River. That spark continues through friendly banter and laughter for the Conleys who have been partners in life for 60 years of marriage and raised four children. After t...
Due to worsening fire danger, campfires are banned and other fire restrictions went into affect Saturday, July 17 throughout most of the Missoula area. As of 12 p.m. Monday, July 19 there were 20 large fire incidents in Montana. Since Jan. 1, there have been over 1,400 fire starts in Montana burning over 150,000 acres, with over 500 starts this month. Of the fire starts in the last month, over 75% were human caused. "With current fire activity and predicted weather, we all need to do everything...
SEELEY LAKE - The Forest Service has issued a decision to authorize Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) to establish a secure conservation population of native westslope cutthroat trout in the North Fork of the Blackfoot River in the Scapegoat Wilderness. The project will work to remedy non-native stocking actions taken prior to Wilderness designation. The project area spans the Seeley Lake Ranger District in the Lolo National Forest and the Lincoln Ranger District in the Helena – Lewis and Clark National Forest and will begin as soon as t...
Seeley Lake Volunteer firefighters responded to an equipment fire at Pyramid Mountain Lumber Monday, July 19 just after 11:30 a.m. The front loader was fully involved and mill workers were actively containing the fire to the front loader. Seeley Lake Fire Chief Dave Lane and the structure engine were clear of the scene at 12:39 p.m. The cause is still under investigation but Lane said it was most likely a mechanical issue that started the fire. There were no injuries or damage to anything but...
As a hyper local publication, we focus our energy on local news and stories to bring our readers a paper full of original content that can’t be found elsewhere. After much consideration we are going to extend that concept to our Letters to the Editor section. The Pathfinder will no longer print letters regarding national issues or politics that are not directly tied to local happenings. Our goal with the Letters to the Editor has always been to offer a public forum for our readers to discuss and debate issues and help shape our communities. W...
SEELEY LAKE – Why are a select few attacking our Deputy Sheriff who’s a decent family man and who’s part of our community? Deputy Ryan Dunster is an asset to us all here in Seeley Lake. The complaints against Deputy Dunster are so petty it’s ridiculous. How much more DRAMA does this community need? So far the attacks have been against the Ranger Station, Fire Department, School Board, Water Board and even a principal! Who’s next? Apparently these troublemakers have nothing better to do than stir the POT!! Here is a thought, shut your mouth and...
Want a career working with animals but not sure you're up for eight years and hundreds of thousands of dollars for veterinary school? You're in luck! There are a wide variety of intriguing and fun ways you can carve out a rewarding career with animals. This is merely a short synopsis of some of the more common options out there. The first person most people meet when calling or entering a veterinary practice is the Customer Service Representative. Successful CSRs must be calm, friendly and...
OVANDO - DNA results received Wednesday, July 14 confirmed the bear killed by wildlife officials Friday, July 9 was the same bear who fatally attacked a camper in Ovando early on the morning of July 6. The DNA samples from the bear, saliva sample at the scene of the attack and samples from two chicken coops that were raided in the area all match up. Montana is bear country and recreationists can be bear aware by following some simple guidelines: • Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it • Avoid surprise encounters by traveling in gro...
SEELEY LAKE - Learn about an opportunity to finally buy your own home here in Seeley Lake. Trust Montana, a non-profit community land trust, will present on its Home Buyer Choice (HB Choice) homebuyer assistance program, Tuesday, July 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the West Wing of the Foundation Building (3150 MT Hwy 83 N). The program will provide five grants up to $80,000 to income-qualified homebuyers in Missoula County. Applications are due Friday, Aug. 20. A lottery will be held to select the five applicants. *Hint-there’s not many so far, so any qua...
SEELEY LAKE – Under smoke filled skies, family and friends of the late Trenton Johnson gathered at his memorial on top of the Florence Lake Trail 451 July 18 to remember him, share stories and laughter and raise funds for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, a national non-profit whose main mission is to support and sustain the home of a fallen or injured firefighter – where compassion spreads like wildfire. Johnson, 19-year-old firefighter from Missoula, sustained fatal injuries from a fal...
Houndstongue is a well-known noxious weed here in the Seeley, Swan and Blackfoot region. As a member of the Borage family, it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that make it toxic for livestock to ingest. We often find the seeds before we find the plants themselves, as the seeds are known for their Velcro like characteristics that easily attach to our pants and pets. Houndstongue can grow in a variety of habitats and is very successful at spreading. This noxious weed is a biannual plant, meaning...
Missoula County is embarking on the creation of a county-wide Pathways and Trails Master Plan, focused on creating regional connections outside of Missoula’s urban area. They are seeking community input to understand current needs and values to guide the development of vibrant, healthy places for the county. The community is invited to join the discussion at a workshop Wednesday, July 28 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Community Foundation’s West Wing. This Master Plan is a long-range planning document to guide Missoula County’s Parks...
MISSOULA – Due to a wildfire burning about a mile east of Garnet Ghost Town, the Bureau of Land Management temporarily closed the historic site and surrounding area for public safety and to allow firefighters to conduct suppression activities. The Anderson Hill Fire was first reported the afternoon of July 15. The closure order took effect July 16 for BLM lands in most of the southwestern portion of the Garnet Mountains from Elevation Mountain on the northeast to I-90 on the south. Some major landmarks within this closed area are Garnet G...
SEELEY LAKE - Students from the University of Texas at Austin stayed the night at the Seeley Lake Baptist Church Wednesday, July 14 as they made their way back to Texas from Glacier National Park as part of Texas 4000 for Cancer. Texas 4000 is a federally registered non-profit organization founded in 2004. University students participate in the longest annual charity bicycle ride in the world as a way of raising money for cancer research. In previous years participants would ride 4,000 miles...
Before we were born on earth, we all lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit children. He presented a plan to help His children learn and grow. Through His plan, we can become more like Him and be worthy to enjoy eternal life. This plan is possible because God’s Son Jesus Christ came to earth to suffer for our sins, a sacrifice called the Atonement. God sent us to earth, where we could have a physical body (see Genesis 1:26–27). We needed bodies to help us experience life on earth. God knew that we would not feel happy all the time. We exp...
SEELEY LAKE - Former Bob Marshall Wilderness outfitter Smoke Elser broke down the history and methods of packing during a special outdoor presentation at the Big Larch Campground amphitheater Thursday, July 15. Elser spent over 50 years as a wilderness outfitter in the Bob Marshall and as an instructor in packing, horsemanship and minimal impact camping. He currently lives in Missoula and teaches a packing class at Ninemile Ranger Station in association with the University of Montana. He started...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board continued discussing an Action Plan for moving forward at its July 15 meeting. In other business, Vice President Beth Hutchinson resigned her position ahead of the meeting and the Board approved a job description for an Interim General Manager position. The proposed Action Plan is a four-page document explaining the direction the Board intends to take in the coming year. In the overview it states that the Board will focus on assembling information to inform itself and constituents about w...
SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Elementary School Board unanimously approved the hiring of Aaron Morgenstern of Seeley Lake as the school's new principal and music teacher during their regular meeting Monday, July 12. In addition, they announced the departure of current Board Chair Nathan Richardson, unanimously approved policy updates on second reading and approved the appointment of their new trustee Kitty Logan, a former principal of the school. Missoula County Superintendent Erin Lipkind...
SEELEY LAKE – Into its sixth year of the Change Your Pace Challenge, the Seeley Lake Community Foundation raised over $80,800 for 14 local organizations, including over $23,000 for the CYP Match Fund. The match fund was up $9,000 up from last year and had the highest number of individual donors that the program has seen since it started in 2016 with 192 families giving. "Not only did we have one of the highest match percentages [$0.49 per dollar raised], more people are getting into this," Commu...
SEELEY LAKE - Alpine Artisans is gratified to announce recent grant support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and Humanities Montana. “A common reaction of many people new to the area when they first take a close look at our website or get acquainted with our programs is “I can’t believe the variety of programming Alpine Artisans brings to our valleys!” Apparently, several major funding sources agree, and are eager to support our work, enhancing the cultural offerings of our area. In April, t...
SEELEY LAKE - Snowy Peaks Off Road & Fabrication Owner Dean Ruth is prepared to make any welding or fabrication modifications his customers request with his new automotive customization shop based in Seeley Lake. He works with customers on modifications including suspensions, bumpers, rock rails, roof racks, spare tire mounts, roll cages and lift kits. Ruth specializes in square-body vehicles which he describes as "anything from '73 to '87" as well as 1991. These include crew cabs, blazers,...
SEELEY LAKE - Every Sunday at the Seeley Lake Market, Author Powell Swanser of Turah, Montana sells his first book, "John Colter Young Patriot," in addition to a knife set and aquatic creature carvings. This is his second year being a merchant at the market. Swanser said he is a direct descendant of Colter. Colter was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the first known person of European descent to enter what would become Yellowstone National Park and to see the Teton Mountain Range....
In celebration of 35 years of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, each week we will run parts of articles that appeared in the issue 35 years ago and 20 years ago. The entire issue will be uploaded to our website seeleylake.com for you to enjoy. We hope you will enjoy the journey with us as we follow our community through the past 35 years as documented by the Pathfinder. 35 years ago: July 24, 1986 issue Pete Rovero...a part of history Story Addrien Marx "Does it really matter when I was born? Ah,...
EDNA, CALIFORNIA - Seeley-Swan High School graduate Kyle Peltier is over halfway through his multi-month journey hiking along the west coast on the Pacific Crest Trail. He began his trek April 11. As of Friday, July 16 he has arrived in Edna, California. Within a few days he will have completed 60% of the 2,600 mile trail. For the last three months, Peltier has made his way through the entire state of California. Once he reaches Oregon he will have 900 miles left to his end goal of the Canadian...
SCAPEGOAT WILDERNESS – As of Monday, July 19 at 4 p.m. the Dry Cabin fire in the Scapegoat Wilderness grew to 2,200 acres. According to Public Information Officer Trainee Heather Martens, this was due to the hot, dry weather conditions over the weekend. As of Monday, there are no trail closures however future closures will be considered for public safety concerns, fire growth and activity. The Dry Cabin fire was first reported Sunday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. The fire is located approximately 20 miles north of Ovando and 22 miles northeast of S...
