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SEELEY LAKE - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Bear Specialist Jamie Jonkel said a medium “dark phase” black bear has recently been breaking into around 10 different vacant trailers at night in the Seeley Lake area. FWP is working on trapping the bear and removing it upon capture. The bear has been seen as far north as the northern turnoff to Boy Scout Road and as far south as Double Arrow. Since it does not stay in one area long, the bear has been difficult to pinpoint. It has learned to unlock camper doors by peeling the bottom of the...
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....
SEELEY LAKE - The Bob Marshall Music Festival returned for its fifth year after taking a year off due to COVID-19. Max Pigman, Lewis and Clark Brewing Company CEO and one of the festival owners, said his second year as festival owner went well. "It was just a really, really fun event and we lucked out with the weather," he said. "I would say [this was] the highest attendance that I've seen in those ... previous years." Attendance was capped at 1,000 people. Pigman said they had 943 check-ins...
MISSOULA – As COVID-19 cases are on the rise across the nation, Missoula County is in the top five in Montana for active cases. Local agency officials met Aug. 4 to provide information regarding the current situation including the Delta variant, vaccination information and the shift in Center for Disease Control guidance regarding face coverings. Mayor John Engen said the goals remain the same for Missoula since the beginning of the pandemic - to ensure that the hospitals are viable and can handle the case load COVID patients and other ailments...
Thank you for the heart-warming article even in the face of the fire tragedy. Chief Dave Lane made such positive comments on the efforts of neighbors and the community members coming together for the good of all. As he said, it wasn’t perfect but it worked. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this was just the beginning of community members coming together in a positive, non-territorial way to work on the issue of a deficit in volunteers within the fire department. My heartfelt wish is that all the interested parties sit down at a ROUND table, add...
Summertime in Montana brings warmer temperatures, blue skies, and blooming wildflowers. This summer, however, much of Montana is blanketed in smoke, and the lack of moisture paired with record heat waves is causing some unexpected consequences. Seeley Lake has always been a destination for fishing and water-based recreation in the summer- for both locals and tourists alike. This summer, particularly, the conditions have created a perfect storm, bringing humans and bears closer together. My...
Often I find that our human nature is at war with our spiritual nature (God's plans and desires for us). Galatians 5 beginning in verse 17, offers a picture of that struggle. In Romans 12:2 Paul says, "Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." All too often, I find Christians try to replace the Word of God with some reasoning of their own...
The Seeley Lake Water District would like to inform our customers that this month we will begin the process of replacing the water meters throughout the entire district. Replacing a water meter should take approximately 15-30 minutes, during which time we will need to turn the water off to your home. There will be no cost to the customer for this work. We will do everything we can to make this process as trouble-free as possible to all of our customers and ask for your patience during this time. As with most equipment, water meters wear out...
SEELEY LAKE - On Aug. 2, an intense rain shower event occurred in the Monture area, on the Seeley Lake Ranger District just north of Ovando, Montana. The combination of intense rain, very steep slopes, geology and 2017 post-burn conditions resulted in debris flows within the tributaries of Spread, Falls, Bill and Yellowjacket Creeks. Debris flows impacted the Monture Campground, Monture Outfitter and Guide camp and Monture Creek Trail (#27) at Spread and Bill Creeks. No people were injured in...
MISSOULA – At their meeting Thursday, Aug. 5 the Missoula County Commissioners appointed Garry Swain to fill Klaus von Stutterheim’s position on the Seeley Lake Community Council. Swain will fill the position until May 31, 2024. There were two applicants for the position, Swain and Seeley Lake business owner John Richards. Richards applied to fill Kris Martin’s term with Sharon Teague whom the Commissioners appointed Feb. 4, 2021. He again applied for Von Stutterheim’s position. At the Commissioners’ May 11 meeting, Richards was the sole appl...
Twelve years ago, while backpacking in broad daylight, I came around a shady bend in the trail, only to find a full moon beaming against a tree. "Oh, I'm sorry," the woman exclaimed, shuffling up her pants and waddling into the brush. "I'm sorry too," I replied, and not merely for the awkward encounter or the unmistakably human stench. Her business was clearly not done, and her side-eyed grimace urged me on. But as I think back on it now, I'm sorry I never circled back to talk about $#!&ing in t...
CONDON – Old timers dredged up old memories Saturday, Aug. 7 as the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society (USVHS) held its combined summer fundraiser and history program at its museum location. The topic this year was Roads and Trails of the Upper Swan Valley. USVHS President Steve Lamar introduced the topic by noting that although Native Americans had been coming through the area for eons, the Upper Swan Valley was one of the later places settled and developed by homesteaders. The main h...
SEELEY LAKE - With this year’s performance of Cymbeline, Seeley Lake is privileged to be part of an international experiment brought to us by Montana Shakespeare in the Parks (MSIP). This free event is Monday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. on the lawn at the Double Arrow Resort, which is co-hosting the event. MSIP’s Cymbeline is one of seven unique productions of Shakespeare’s play; other locations range from Kazakhstan to Wales to Yosemite National Park. Although Cymbeline was first staged in 1610, this variation is tailored to uncover ecological value...
SWAN VALLEY - KeAnna Rae Conley and Cole Robert Henrekin were married Saturday, July 24 in an outdoor ceremony near the Conley's home in the Swan Valley. KeAnna is the daughter of Owen and Dana Conley of the Swan Valley. Cole is the son of Rob and RaeAnn Henrekin of Woodworth. Both graduated from SSHS in 2014. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Henrekin!...
SEELEY LAKE - LeRoi Lewis Smith, 85, of Seeley Lake, Montana passed away on Monday, Aug. 2 at home with his wife Joyce. He was born Aug. 12, 1935 in Dailey, Michigan to Henry and Doris Smith. "Roy" grew up in Dailey where he attended a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. He loved sports and outdoor activities of every kind, including helping run his dad's fur trap lines and the "burden" of taking his grandmother fishing. He graduated from Dowagiac (Michigan) High School in 1953 where...
HUMBLE, TEXAS – Seeley-Swan High School incoming senior Sariah Maughan and junior Kyla Conley came home from the National Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games with one medal, an All American title and a lot of experience from the season to continue to improve their athletic performance. Both were very grateful to the individuals and businesses that supported their travels to Nationals. West Coast AAU Junior Olympics ran from July 8 – July 11. Maughan raced in the 800 meter and ran anc...
SEELEY LAKE – At this year's Loon and Fish Festival, attendees can purchase a commemorative Loon and Fish t-shirt poster. Graphic Artist Kris Gullikson created the poster with all but one of the t-shirts logos designed by Alpine Artisans, Inc. artists since the event started in 1993. A limited number of posters were printed and all proceeds support the AAI's Student Art Scholarship fund. As a way to market the Festival, the AAI's Loon and Fish Festival Committee always conducted a contest a...
MISSOULA - Widespread precipitation and cooler temperatures throughout the Missoula area have prompted Missoula County fire protection agencies to lower the fire danger in the Missoula area to VERY HIGH, effective immediately. Stage II Fire Restrictions are still in place. The movement of the arrow back reflects the current and short-term predicted conditions but residents and visitors are urged to still use caution when outdoors— Very High fire danger means that fires start easily from all causes, and immediately spread rapidly and increase q...
POTOMAC – At their Aug. 3 meeting, the Greenough-Potomac Fire Board invited representatives with Robert Peccia & Association Engineering Firm and Montana Department of Transportation to discuss the reconfiguration of Clearwater Junction, at the intersection of Highway 200 and Highway 83. Board Chair Scott Gordon explained that the intersection falls in their jurisdiction and they wanted to continue the conversation about what the changes may look like and how that will affect their response. Jacquelyn Smith, preconstruction engineer for M...
SWAN LAKE - For generations the Swan Lake community has celebrated art, music and food through their annual Huckleberry Festival. This year's iteration will take place Saturday, Aug. 14 marking the event's 40th anniversary. Since its beginning in 1981, the festival has taken place on the second Saturday of August in the Swan Lake Day Park near mile marker 72 on Highway 83. "Whoever picked that date was a genius because we have been blessed every year," said Lesly Olsen, who has been...
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: Aug. 14, 1986 issue Bill Samsel: District Ranger at Seeley in 1929 Few people remember the Forest Service today the...
After a quiet year of hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, 2 Valleys Stage is coming out full swing with an exciting season of jazz, Celtic, classical, comedy, brass and world music. These performances follow the season opener of Montana Shakespeare in the Park (MSIP), presenting Cymbeline on Monday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. on the grounds at the Double Arrow Resort. Cymbeline is free, appropriate for all ages and we encourage you to bring a lawn chair and a blanket. Thanks to Double Arrow Resort for lodging the full cast of MSIP. 2 Valleys Stage is...
SEELEY LAKE – The smoke cleared for the annual Youth for Christ (YFC) Duathlon/Triathlon Saturday, Aug. 7. Nearly 60 racers swam, biked and ran in and around River Point Campground. In its 15th year, race organizers are excited to continue to grow the field back to pre-COVID levels by continuing to encourage young triathletes and families to participate. Seeley-Swan High School student Holly Friede started the triathlon in 2006 under the mentorship of Cheri Thompson, current race coordinator. I...
SEELEY LAKE - Nearly 50 runners tightened their running laces for the first ever Bob Marshall Trail Half Marathon and 10K Saturday, Aug. 7 at the Seeley Creek Trailhead. The top three finishers for the Half Marathon were Oshen Piller with a time of 1:36:11, Heather Sturdivant with 1:54:37 and Luke Jacobson with 2:01:30. The top three finishers for the 10K were Isabella Clinch with 53:55, Miles Bieber with 56:10 and Jake Kraemer with 58:24. Chris Stout of Wolf Pack Productions, the organization...
