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SEELEY LAKE – Bears had free reign in Seeley Lake during the evacuations. Now that everyone is back in their home, there is no excuse not to properly secure attractants keeping bears and residents safe. This is also true for residents in the Union Creek area near Potomac where bears are frequenting several garabage cans placed for pick up. During the fire evacuations Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 2 Bear Manager Jamie Jonkel said quite a few different black bears and at least one g...
SEELEY LAKE - More than a million acres of Montana burned this fire season. Of the more than 750,000 federal acres that burned, nearly 160,000 acres were on the Rice Ridge Fire near Seeley Lake. Due to the large geographical area and scope of the post-fire recovery efforts, Region 1 of the Forest Service launched a new approach to assessing the burned areas and pursuing salvage logging opportunities. While many people, including Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Inc., want to see the process expedited,...
SEELEY LAKE – It's not every day someone receives a message of thanks or encouragement on a rock. The Seeley Lake Elementary students are expressing their gratitude to the firefighters and others that helped them through the fires this summer with a Kindness Rocks project. SLE art teacher Sharon Teague came up with the idea of painting rocks with her art students after viewing the website kindnessrocks.org. "The premise is you [decorate] the rocks, you hide them and then people find them and i...
SEELEY LAKE – It is no secret that the Rice Ridge Fire took a huge toll on our community mentally, physically and economically. This also happened in 2007 during the Jocko Lakes Fire. Community members are quick to say the economic loss was in the millions with Highway 83 shut down for nearly two weeks and half of the area evacuated. However no one ever tried to quantify the impact. The Rice Ridge Fire added a whole new issue with the worst air quality ever reported in Missoula County. There were also lake closures and evacuations of more than...
SEELEY LAKE - I recently received a response from Congressman Gianforte that indicated he was doing his best to reduce federal expenditures but that it looked like with the hurricane and flood expenses of Florida and Texas, along with the fire expenses in Montana, he was going to have to vote for an increase in the debt ceiling. He said our national debt is nearly $20 trillion and growing. Interest payments are reaching nearly $200 billion. I know the politically correct thing is to praise the firefighters and their “putting their life on t...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer Board has been assessing district residents $47,000 for the past 13 years for “study” of the sewer situation. That’s a total of more than $600,000 of taxpayer money. Now add the cost of the services the Missoula County Commissioners have donated through an interlocal agreement signed in 2011. They’re easily a couple hundred thousand dollars and include a hundred thousand dollar “loan.” These services include the Public Works Directors time...between 10 and 30 hours a week as well as that of an administrat...
SEELEY LAKE - The trio opposed to the sewer should change their name to Citizens Against Sensible Wastewater Solutions, for that is what they’ve turned out to be. “Citizens for” just doesn’t fit their profile, though it’s typical these days to adopt a high-minded name – and then do the opposite. And while we’re seeking truth, as they say they are, let’s prepare for the last mile. Many of the old warnings fit so well here and now; don’t [urinate] in your own pot, don’t [defecate] in your own mess kit. But if the trio dupes too many into prote...
MISSOULA - When will the coaching staff be shaken up at the University of Montana football? Enough is enough already, with losses, loss of players and the latest, our very good rookie quarterback who was nothing more than fed to the wolves. I wrote a Letter to the Editor before about our head coach. Head coach? What a joke. Check out the injury list, losses, embarrassment to the team and the University. I won’t mention players names who have been sacrificed and fed to the wolves by a head coach who no doubt ‘prayed for someone to make him ‘lo...
Revelation. It is not only the final book of the Bible but it is also a very descriptive word for the entirety of God’s Word, wherein He continuously reveals Himself and His love for us. Its Latin origin has two meanings: it is both something that reveals things that were heretofore hidden but also places some things behind a veil. The languages of the original texts are mostly Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament. Throughout both, there has always been an understanding that the words of man are not commensurate to c...
While no one should ever say "I know it's real because I saw it on the internet," everyone should be able to say, "I know it's real. I read it in the newspaper." Real newspapers reporting real news have never been more important or more valuable to readers and communities. This week, newspapers across the nation recognize National Newspaper Week and the theme - Real Newspapers...Real News - points to the importance of accurate reporting, watchdog journalism, strong editorials, comprehensive...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Elementary School, Filling Station and Seeley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to launch a family-friendly First Friday in Seeley Lake starting Oct. 6. The intent of the event is to have something fun for the community of Seeley Lake and visitors to enjoy during the winter and help boost the economy. SLE Superintendent Chris Stout came up with the idea to bring a band into the school during lunch. Following lunch, the band will do a workshop/performance for the students starting at 1 p.m. “We do the...
SEELEY LAKE - Law enforcement and Missoula County government will dominate the agenda of the Seeley Lake Community Council’s agenda next Monday. County Commissioner Jean Curtiss will give an update about what is happening in county government. Sheriff T.J. McDermott will talk about what’s going on in local law enforcement. Deputy Mike Sunderland will also attend. He was recently promoted to Detective and has moved to Missoula. The community will have an opportunity to thank Sunderland for his service to our town and also to convey to She...
MONTANA – Businesses or private non-profit organizations that suffer physical damage or sustain economic injury in a declared disaster area may be eligible for long-term, low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to repair or replace damaged property. While there were no physical damages caused by the Rice Ridge Fire, small businesses and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes suffering substantial economic injury may be eligible for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan of up to $2 million to meet necessary f...
Hi all, I am inviting you to come to an important, free event at the Double Arrow Lodge with delicious snacks and beverages provided! Missoula Aging Services and I are bringing Montana's premier estate planning expert Dr. Marsha Goetting to Seeley Lake for two sessions of "Estate Planning for Everybody." Marsha will answer these questions and more: What is the best strategy to pass my estate on to my children? What is a beneficiary deed? How do I make checking/savings/investment accounts...
Does anyone remember anything from the summer of 2017 besides the Rice Ridge Fire? Think back. There was plenty going on in Seeley Lake before fire season: Fourth of July, The Bob Marshall Music Festival, the Change Your Pace Challenge, farmers markets and all the usual festive activities we're known for. Seeley Lake Elementary's Outdoor Program kept up our tradition of getting kids outdoors throughout the summer too, and although we scrambled to rearrange and reschedule due to evacuations and s...
WASHINGTON – In the wake of the more than 160,000-acre Rice Ridge Fire, U.S. Senator Jon Tester continues to pursue the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. While many of the supporters and those opposed remain unchanged in their opinion of the legislation, all voiced concerns about forest management, policy and funding issues need to be addressed in response to the Rice Ridge Fire. Sen. Tester requested the BCSA be included in a legislative hearing from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources...
MISSOULA – While all fire restrictions on federal, state and tribal lands were lifted Wednesday, Sept. 20, it was still illegal to operate internal combustion engines after 2 p.m., use charcoal or have a campfire on private land and open space lands in Missoula County until Tuesday, Sept. 26. The delay had nothing to do with the threat of wildfire but rather the inability of the Missoula County Commissioners to approve the decision without a public meeting. The public notification requirements and requirements of open meeting law necessitate t...
SEELEY LAKE – Funds are still being distributed to help individuals affected by the Rice Ridge Fire. The Seeley Lake Community Foundation is playing an active role helping to ensure donated funds are getting to those in need. The Missoula County Office of Emergency Management designated the Seeley Lake Community Foundation as a Community Organizations Active in Disaster. Foundation President Carla Schade said when people called to donate she gave them the option to donate through United Way Missoula’s Lolo Peak/Rice Ridge Fire Funds or directly...
SEELEY LAKE – While the volume of timber harvested during the Rice Ridge Fire suppression efforts is still unknown, the Seeley Lake Ranger District is hoping to have the logs on trucks starting the end of this month. Since there is no National Environmental Policy Act process and no opportunity for litigation because it is still within the agencies' ability to act under an emergency situation, Seeley Lake District Ranger Rachel Feigley does not anticipate anything stopping the sale of the l...
SEELEY LAKE – The final tally is in for the fundraising efforts that culminated with the Carnival for Addy Sept. 24. Since the carnival was announced in mid-August, $25,630.04 has been raised for the Trevino family from Seeley Lake. "We continue to be shocked by all the support. The carnival looked amazing and exceeded our expectations tremendously," wrote the Trevinos in an email. While their three-year-old daughter Addy was finished with radiation for her brain tumor, they were not able to r...
SEELEY LAKE - Cynthia Lynn Kenney, 61, of Seeley Lake passed away Sept. 26. She was born Nov. 4, 1955 in Pierre, S.D. to Al and Loretta Ziech. Seeley Lake was home for Cindy for most of her life. She graduated in 1974 from Seeley Swan high school and was the class valedictorian. She had a variety of jobs over the years, but then worked as a bookkeeper for most of her life. She made countless friends in her profession. She loved the outdoors, camping and spending time with her family and...
BUTTE – Seeley Lake seventh-grader Owen Hoag was recognized as one of the 2017 Athletes of the Year with the Montana Association of USA Track & Field. Hoag was excited for the recognition and looks forward to continuing to improve and pursue his love of track. Hoag competed in his second Junior Olympics in Bozeman this past June. In 2016 he won the 100 and 200 meters for his age group and placed second in the 400-meter. This year he swept all three events in his age group. In Butte at the a...
MISSOULA, MONT. – On a rainy Saturday morning Sept. 30, the Seeley-Swan Blackhawks battled hundreds of runners at the Mountain West Classic cross country meet. The meet is the largest in Montana and drew teams from Montana, Idaho and Washington. In the varsity boys race, sophomore Caleb Maughan finished the five-kilometer course in 21:04, 365 out of the 400 runners in the race. His brother, senior Logan Maughan, was running with a bone bruise and came across the line a minute later. "He sort o...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks had a busy week taking on Drummond and Lincoln on the road and Charlo at home. They fell to Drummond and Charlo but defeated Lincoln bringing their record to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in conference. Versus Drummond The Lady Blackhawks beat Drummond a week ago at home and looked to repeat the victory on the road Sept. 26. Drummond had other plans. Drummond outscored the Lady Blackhawks nearly two to one in the first game with a score of 13-25. The Lady Blac...
SUPERIOR - The Blackhawks added another victory to their season Sept. 29 after battling the Clark Fork Co-op Mountain Cats. The high scoring game had the crowd on the edge of their seats until the end and had defensive coaches shaking their heads. Both the Mountain Cats and the Blackhawks scored eight touchdowns each with two of them in the last minute of play. The Blackhawks struck first, after stopping the Mountain Cats opening drive. A couple of nice runs from Nate Samuli and a catch from...
