Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 31
KALISPELL, MONTANA – On a snow-covered course, 85 runners battled cold and wind during the Class C girls race at the Montana High School Association championships on Oct. 24. The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks came into the race as defending team champions and lost a close race to Manhattan Christian by one point, 29-30. "It was tough watching them out there, they were slipping around on the course," coach Shawn Holmes said. "But they ran hard in these conditions. I'm so proud of them." The B...
MISSOULA - Missoula City-County Health Department staff joined epidemiologists from the University of Montana's School of Public and Community Health Sciences for a virtual meeting to provide updates on COVID-19 Thursday, Oct. 22. This is the third epidemiological update that has been presented to the county since response efforts began earlier this year. The intention of the meeting was to provide updates on epidemiological information, showcase COVID-19 trends in Missoula County and make recom...
Area residents experienced record-setting snowfall and temperatures over the weekend compared to recent history. According to Seeley Lake Ranger District, the snow depth measured at the District was 11 inches over the weekend. Since the District started keeping records in 1967, the most snow recorded for October was 7 inches in 1975. Various Seeley-Swan Valley residents reported receiving 12-18 inches. The National Weather Services reported Potomac as being the coldest spot in the lower 48...
SWAN VALLEY - The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame (MCHF) and Western Heritage Center (WHC) inducted Leonard Moore of Condon into their 13th class of the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. According to a press release, inductees are chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public. They are honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana. Every year one living candidate and one legacy candidate are chosen from each of the 12 districts. "The Hall of Fame...
The Public Service Commission (PSC) is not widely understood, but it is very important, because it sets the rates that we pay for utilities, like electricity, etc. The current Commission takes its marching orders from the utilities which they are supposed to regulate, and they do it with no regard for us, the end customers. MONICA TRANEL is one of the most extraordinary people I have met. Competing twice in the Olympics, Monica won a World Championship Gold for the U.S. Women’s Rowing Team, taking three Silvers and picking up a Bronze. She i...
Have you noticed the political foes who spread rhetoric accusing me of supposedly horrible things never provide any evidence? If I had actually advocated the outlandish things they claim, where is the quote? Afterall, I’ve made hundreds of social media posts, written dozens of op-eds, given presentations all over the country (which are video recorded and posted on the internet), given dozens of media interviews, spoken on the record during legislative hearings at least 1,000 times and released thousands of requested emails. If I had said anythi...
For those voters who worry about Montana becoming a socialist state, you’re too late. Montana already IS a welfare state. We get more back in federal payments than we pay out to the federal government in taxes. The Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, veterans’ benefits, unemployment insurance and the Federal highway programs are just a few of the many federal programs we enjoy. And the CRP, crop rotation program that pays farmers to NOT produce, is one of the biggest welfare scams in the country. Think about that!...
All mail ballots are due by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the Elections Office at 140 N. Russell Street, Missoula. Voters can drop off their ballots at several locations including Seeley Lake Elementary, and the Potomac-Greenough Community Center. For more information visit https://www.missoulavotes.com....
The USDA Forest Service’s Northern Region has imposed new restrictions on the possession and use of forage and mulch products on National Forest System lands in order to help curb the spread of noxious weeds. As of Oct. 8, it is illegal to possess, store or transport straw, hay, grain, seed or other forage or mulch products on Forest Service lands without documentation that the product is certified as “weed free” by a state certification process that meets or exceeds the North American Weed Free Forage standards. The order remains in effec...
In my early twenties, I worked for a non-profit for survivors of relationship violence and their families. Each survivor I worked with taught me something new about relationship violence and the journey to freedom from violence. In honor of all survivors of domestic violence, I wanted to share what they taught me: 1. Domestic violence can mean many different things. Relationship violence includes: • Physical abuse including slapping, shoving, kicking, hair-pulling, choking, throwing objects, etc., • Sexual assault including any kind of unw...
Wow! A record 16 inches of snow and -19 degrees in October. We must be in Montana! Wildfires are now far from our thoughts as we bundle up after still being in tee shirts only a couple of weeks ago. With our climate extremes, we know that another summer like 2017 cannot be far off. And as we hear reports from California about the levels of destruction occurring from wildfires there, it is never an inappropriate time to take preventive actions. Fortunately, here in Seeley Lake, there are good examples of how that can be done. From the...
SEELEY LAKE - Local organizations and businesses are offering boos, ghouls and several eerie events to choose from this Halloween night, Saturday, Oct. 31. • From 3 - 9 p.m., Stageline Pizza is offering one free slice of pizza to students in costume. • Mission Bible Fellowship will hand out candy bags and hold a family friendly photo booth in their main entrance from 4 - 6 p.m. Each attending family will get a mini Polaroid to take with them. • The Second Annual Trunk or Treat Event in Condo...
Missoula County will mail tax bills to all property owners in the county by Tuesday, Oct. 27. They are already available online at www.missoulataxes.us. Tax payments for the first half of the year are due by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30. Tax payments are currently being accepted and online payments may be made via credit card, debit card or electronic check. Service fees apply when paying online by credit or debit card. The fee for paying by electronic check has been removed for all transactions when paying online. Taxes can be paid: • By mail: Clerk...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will begin accepting grant applications for four recreation grant programs on Monday, Nov. 2, at 12 p.m. via the online system at funding.mt.gov. Applications for the Recreational Trails Program, the Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Program, the new Montana Trail Stewardship Grant Program, and the new Summer Motorized Trail Pass Grant Program are due by Feb. 1, at 3 p.m. In total, these four grant programs provide over $3 million for recreation projects across Montana. Montana Trail Stewardship Grant Program: Th...
SWAN VALLEY - Four volunteers are preparing to take their initial two tests so they can eventually become nationally certified EMTs to serve the Swan Valley. The volunteers have been attending multiple weekly classes sponsored by Swan Valley Emergency Services since early fall. They are looking forward to receiving their certifications and serving the community. Lectures are broadcasted through Zoom from Missoula Emergency Services Incorporated (MESI). This is the first year Swan Valley...
If Mary slides into her seat just as the theater lights dim, she might think to herself, “Whew! I made it in the nick of time.” But why does time have a nick in it? The dictionary defines the noun “nick” as a small notch or groove. As a verb it means to cut into, – he nicked his chin shaving. Or the verb can describe a way of recording a score by means of making a notch in a stick or some other object. Apparently this last definition is the one most closely associated with time or precision. From ancient times, bones and sticks were notched t...
SEELEY LAKE – At the Oct. 22 meeting, the Seeley Lake Sewer District Board continued on its path toward holding a bond election. The Board was presented with a draft resolution to hold a bond election. The District’s Bond Council Dan Semmens said that if the Board wants to move forward with an election date in February of 2021, it should adopt the resolution at its November meeting. There would be two types of bonds. A general obligation bond would pay for the treatment plant, force main and lift stations and a revenue bond would pay for Pha...
SEELEY LAKE - Heidi Sawitzke hopes to bring creativity into the classroom and make connections with students during her role as the new English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher for junior high students at Seeley Lake Elementary. Sawitzke became interested in education as a career after realizing the positive impact teachers can have on society. "I have always loved learning and I want to share that love of learning with my students," Sawitzke said. "I am always learning something new. I...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake Elementary Superintendent Josh Gibbs provided updates on Board Strategic Planning results and other aspects of the school during the Board of Education’s regular meeting Oct. 19. Gibbs said they are still not ready to approve the School’s Strategic plan. However he wanted to give the board members an idea of what concerns, causes and solutions the document addresses. He said currently the timelines and budgets are missing but he intends to plug those in by the next board meeting and have it ready for approval by Novemb...
President Russell M. Nelson issued the challenge to “think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him?” He then promised, “When we seek to hear—truly hear—His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance.” The scriptures preserve the precious words of God to His children. In the past His faithful saints heard Him and recorded His truths. Now in our day we can hear Him again as we read and ponder the scriptures, listen to and follow modern day prophets, and keep our spirits open to regular inspiration from hea...
SEELEY LAKE – After more than five years maintaining their own road, residents in the Clearwater East Neighborhood including Grizzly Drive and Cub and Claw Lane in Dogtown are working towards a solution. At an informational meeting this past August with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, DNRC Right-of-way Specialists presented the process of forming a Road Users’ Association (RUA) that would provide a means to agree to, schedule and collectively pay for road maintenance on the existing neighborhood roads. Since onl...
SEELEY LAKE – "We could live in here," said Seeley Lake Historical Society Board Member Cheri Thompson about the nearly fully furnished Maloney Cabin. "I think it has come out very well." The Historical Society hosted a "Cabin Warming" Sunday, Oct. 25 at the Seeley Lake Historical Museum grounds to showcase all of the 100-year-old items that fill the restored Maloney Cabin. All items were donated to the Historical Society for display. There is also a Maloney Cabin Guide providing information a...
If the early history of Seeley Lake is intertwined with the lumber industry, the rise of the United States Forest Service is incontrovertibly intertwined with Seeley Lake and in particular with the Big Blackfoot Timber Sale of 1907-1910. Historian and member of the Camp Paxson Preservation Board Gary Williams has been researching that sale. The Seeley Swan Pathfinder will be bringing some of the interesting bits of information he has discovered about logging in the Seeley Lake area and also...
Whatever happens in the Nov. 3 election, western Montana voters will elect a fresh face to Montana's Public Service Commission, the body that decides what utilities can charge home and business owners for energy. With no incumbent in the race, this year's open contest features former state Sen. Jennifer Fielder, a Republican from Thompson Falls, versus former PSC staff attorney Monica Tranel, a Missoula Democrat, now a private attorney representing renewable energy clients. The candidates in...
SEELEY LAKE - "This is so fun! This is So Fun!!" shouted Haidyn Bradshaw as the Seeley Lake Elementary Eagles Volleyball Team finished the season strong with an impressive sweep over the Valley Christian Eagles. The fans were so excited and the girls and coaches were ecstatic and jumping up and down. The season started out rather interesting because of COVID. The team started with 12 girls, grew to 17 after the first week and wrapped up the end of the season with 24 players including five eighth...
