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SEELEY LAKE - "My thinking is that the next big event will be east of Seeley," wrote retired Plum Creek Forester Roger Marshall in an interview July 6, 2017 about the 2007 Jocko Lakes Fire. "Auggie Creek to Cottonwood Lakes and all that area back to Pyramid has some real potential to make a large fire quickly. If the wind is just right, a serious run into Seeley could be possible, maybe devastating." Marshall's comments were made 18 days prior to the start of the Rice Ridge Fire. As of press tim...
SWAN VALLEY – One of Swan Valley Elementary's longest serving employees will be leaving at the end of the summer. Karen Anderson will be retiring after serving as the school's secretary and business manager for 33 years. "It's kind of bittersweet," said Anderson. "I've had a lot invested in this school." Anderson attended SVE herself but never thought she would return to work in the same schoolhouse. "My mom will call and ask, 'Aren't you out of school yet?'" Anderson said with a laugh. B...
SEELEY LAKE – Governor Steve Bullock (D-MT) and senior Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) visited Seeley Lake to get a firsthand look at the efforts to fight the Rice Ridge Fire. The pair attended a morning briefing at Seeley Lake Elementary Friday, Aug. 4. "The number one fire in the nation is right here in Seeley Lake right now," said Bullock after the briefing. "I feel confidence in the crew doing it but it's heartbreaking for the community." The Rice Ridge Fire has burned more than 8,000 acres as o...
SEELEY LAKE – After burning more than 13,000 acres in two days and forcing evacuations around Seeley Lake, the Jocko Lakes Fire rose to the top priority fire in the nation. The 2007 fire held that spot for nearly two weeks. Glen McNitt's Type 2 Incident Management Team was in place for just four days before Lynn Wilcox's Type 1 Team from Alaska replaced them. A Type 1 Team provides increased capacity to handle complex fires, which the Jocko Lakes Fire quickly proved to be. "I give Glen's team a...
Click to vote: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VY8GXLH The first week of voting is in the books for the Pathfinder's Best of the Valleys Readers' Choice Awards. Thank you to those who took the time to vote! We had more than 100 responses online. The deadline to cast your vote is Aug. 23. All the businesses and locations in the Pathfinder's readership, including Ovando, Potomac, Seeley Lake and the Swan Valley are eligible. There are 18 categories for you to fill in your favorite. Feel free to ans...
by Elizabeth Done Seeley-Swan High School, Grade 12 They are the valley's eastern sentinels granting passage to the sun. They are rigidly cut shadows under violet chalk skies. They're a skiff of oil upon water, shifting in light, unfurling with each step, until the puzzle pieces have rearranged themselves. Their distant counterparts are hazy scenes on Grandma's rabbit-ear television. Their steel hue is the Falls dampening their feet. They are the slope of a Grizzly's face with the colors of a...
SEELEY LAKE - This sewer is a local solution for a local issue. Seeley Lake’s groundwater, lakes, rivers and streams are impacted by leaking septic tanks and drainfield effluent. It’s hard to imagine that a community with such iconic beauty is so marred by human waste. Fortunately, there is a committed volunteer sewer board – local citizens – who found a USDA Rural Development Fund grant coupled with other grant sources that will cover two-thirds of the sewer system’s construction. This once in a lifetime opportunity is the largest grant eve...
In the July 27 edition of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, I wrote a letter to the editor and failed to signify that I was writing as a Swan Valley resident. I was not writing as a Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SRVPC) member or on behalf of the SVRPC. I apologize for this mistake....
SEELEY LAKE - I attend Seeley Lake Sewer District Board meetings when I am in residence and read about them when I’m away. The Board did a lackluster job of getting information out last year and the opposition did a great job of distributing misinformation. In this community, like many others, rumor travels swiftly and easily, often trampling facts along the way. This year, the Board is providing facts professionally, while the opposition continues to present opinion as fact. Several other tactics are employed; distraction is a favorite. C...
SEELEY LAKE - I guess the word “deplorable” could be used to describe me. As with any definition comes a perception of how that word is applied. Concern for the environment and caring for nature are not usually associated with today’s’ definition of that word! But in reality, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I have been utilizing the recreational opportunities of the Seeley Lake area for more than 50 years and I am acutely aware of how the water quality has been affected by the lifestyles and growth of the Seeley Lake populatio...
Human rights in China have not gotten any better. In June 2016, Congress passed House Resolution 343, condemning the Chinese government for sanctioning the pillaging of organs from Falun Gong and other prisoners of conscience. Falun Gong is a Buddha School teaching whose principles are truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. On July 20, 1999, over 18 years ago, this teaching was outlawed by the Chinese communist government under the leadership of Jiang Zemin. Falun Gong was becoming too popular and he wanted it eliminated. In 2006, investigator...
SEELEY LAKE - Around 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, aerial operations on the Rice Ridge Fire near Seeley Lake were shut down due to a civilian drone flight. A local resident spotted the drone and U.S. Forest Service officers were able to identify and contact the man. He was not arrested at the time but will likely be charged. “At this point it’s an open federal investigation,” said Federal Officer Tyler Robinson. The incident is under shared jurisdiction, and the Forest Service is working with a special agent with the Federal Aviation Administratio...
Tom Skerritt and other members of the creative team from Robert Redford's film, "A River Runs Through It" will highlight the three-day In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean Festival Sept. 8-10 in Seeley Lake and Missoula. Released in 1992, "A River Runs Through It" won an Oscar for cinematography (Philippe Rousselot), Oscar nominations for its direction (Robert Redford), musical score (Mark Isham) and screenplay (Richard Friedenberg), and created an explosion in the popularity of fly fishing in...
A property that helped turn Montana's North Fork Flathead River Valley into a conservation stronghold is changing hands but remaining wild. The Vital Ground Foundation has teamed up with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and new landowners on a conservation easement protecting 142 acres of forestland and wildlife habitat known as Polebridge Palace. On the pine-strewn benches above the North Fork Flathead, the area will remain a haven for grizzly bears, Canada lynx and other sensitive wildlife, as wel...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake residents Kayla Johnson and Austin Binder welcomed their son Logan William Binder July 14. He was six pounds and 19 inches long. He was also welcomed by proud grandparents Mike and Becki Johnson and Lee Binder all from Seeley Lake....
SWAN VALLEY – The more than 100 people who enjoyed the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society's (USVHS) Homestead Tour Saturday, Aug. 5 had a variety of reasons for participating. Some people wanted to know more about the valley's pioneer days because they live in the Condon or surrounding area. Some came because they grew up or once lived in the valley. At least one person came because he was interested in the building techniques used by the pioneers. No matter what the reason, people couldn't h...
POTOMAC - Liberty Fire personnel hosted an informational meeting in Potomac Aug. 5 that provided updates and addressed residents' concerns. The Potomac community has also stepped up with resources to help the Seeley Lake community. Fires impacting the area include the Rice Ridge Fire two miles northeast of Seeley Lake and the Liberty Fire, three miles east of Boulder Lake and 12 miles north of Johnsrud Park. Liberty Fire Incident Commander Jerry McGowan explained where the fire is located, area...
It has been a hectic week, filled with uncertainty, upheaval, flames and smoke. If you live or recreate in Seeley Lake, you know exactly what I am talking about. If you do not live or recreate in Seeley Lake, you probably still know what I am talking about as our normally sleepy small town community has become a headline story as we face the very real threat of a wildfire sweeping through our homes, businesses and property. So far, due to God’s grace and providence and His gifting to men and women the ability and willingness to fight fire, w...
SWAN VALLEY - The Land Use Element was completed at the Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee meeting Aug. 2. The committee deleted and reworded text in the Goals, Policies and Actions sections of the third of the seven elements to the draft Swan Valley Regional Growth Plan. The committee began with four through seven statements of the Goals section. They accepted them as originally written. In the Policies section, the SVRPC voted to accept the seven policies with a change in verbiage to number three. The committee wanted the third policy...
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake residents have had front row seats to a top notch, and pricy, airshow for the last week. As the Rice Ridge Fire moved up the national priority list to claim the number one spot, the ability for the Incident Management Team to request and receive aerial resources was bolstered. With a single day high of nine aircraft Aug. 4, there has been at least one aircraft flying around the fire every day. The public has seen modified DC-10 jets dumping brilliant red retardant on t...
Seeley Lake Triathlon Cancelled SEELEY LAKE – Due to the recent fire activity and lake closures, the Seeley Lake Triathlon, scheduled for Aug. 12, has been cancelled. The organizers will contact those who have pre-registered about refund options. The triathlon will not be rescheduled for this year. Everyone is encouraged to participate next year in the annual Youth for Christ fundraiser at River Point Campground. Law Enforcement, County Government at Next Council Meeting, Aug. 14 SEELEY LAKE - Law enforcement and Missoula County government w...
Rice Ridge Fire Morning Update: The next public meeting will be held tomorrow, Aug. 10 at 6pm at the Seeley Lake Elementary School. The fire grew about a 1,000 acres yesterday to 9,286 acres. It is still 10% contained. There are 503 Firefighters: 9 crews, 36 engines, 4 helicopters, 3 dozers, 17 water tenders and overhead personnel assigned to the fire. SUMMARY: Tuesday's weather provided for moderate fire activity along the northwest, while the fire experienced growth on the eastern portion....
Rice Ridge Fire Morning Update: A public meeting will be held tonight, at 6pm at the Seeley Lake Elementary School. The Rice Ridge Fire grew near 1,000 acres yesterday, with most of the growth to the east into the Blind Canyon and Swamp Creek Area. It is now 10,194 acres and 10% contained. There are 554 Firefighters: 11 crews, 36 engines, 3 helicopters, 2 dozers, 17 water tenders and overhead personnel assigned to the fire. The night photo was taken last night, Aug. 9 from the Seeley Lake...
SEELEY LAKE – Hundreds of people showed up for the fourth Rice Ridge Fire community meeting at the Seeley Lake Elementary school Thursday, Aug. 10. The country is now in Stage 5, the highest level of preparedness for wildfire and all resources are on maximum alert. The Rice Ridge Fire is still the number one priority fire in the nation. Fire operations are focused on establishing control lines on the north, west and south edges of the fire. The team is not putting resources on the east flank. T...
Rice Ridge Fire Morning Update: As a reminder, the evacuation warning issued within areas of Seeley Lake (including Double Arrow Ranch), remains in effect and residents are urged to be prepared. Residents adjacent to these areas should remain vigilant. Highway 83 is still open and businesses in Seeley Lake are open. Stage II Fire Restrictions are in place. Crews, engines, and heavy equipment use public roads traveling to and from their daily assignments. Residents are urged to slow down and be...
