Sorted by date Results 1 - 21 of 21
SEELEY LAKE – Weather is always a tricky variable when it comes to snow sculptures. Unfavorable snow conditions of the past few Januarys are part of the reason the Seeley Lake Snow Sculpture Contest was discontinued. Nonetheless, the Seeley Lake Chamber of Commerce decided to resurrect the contest for Winterfest 2018. Despite Mother Nature's oscillations between hot, cold, snow and rain, seven plucky groups defied the odds and created what one snow sculpture judge described as "really cool" s...
SEELEY LAKE - At their Jan. 18 meeting, the Seeley Lake Sewer Board voted to restart engineering on the treatment plant and Phase 1 of the collection system. In other business, they signed grant applications for funding to design Phase 2 of the collection system. Engineering had been put on hold until the notice and protest portion of the process was completed. The district didn’t want to spend the money if there was not going to be a project. Now that the landowners have approved the funding the process can resume. In a letter to District M...
Primary greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitros oxide, ozone, CFCs, and HFCs. Of these, which is the most significant? You may be surprised to learn that it is not carbon dioxide, but rather water vapor! Just how significant is water vapor? Water vapor accounts for roughly 95% of Mother Earth’s greenhouse effect. This means all the other greenhouse gases account for only five percent of the effect. Of this five percent, carbon dioxide is about 3.6 percent, with the remaining greenhouse gases supplying the balance. Now the q...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Nordic Trails were packed for the sixth annual Skiesta hosted by the Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Team. More than 80 racers participated in five different races for youth and adults. "With great weather, fantastic trail conditions and 83 dedicated racers from all over western Montana, the day was pure racing fun," wrote Bridget Laird, Race coordinator and Head Coach for the Seeley Lake Nordic Team. This was the first year for the 20K race. Laird said the 20K race "...
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake Elementary junior high students followed in the footsteps of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. In their production of "Huck Finn's High-Tailin' Adventures" adapted by Susan Pargman, students lit up the stage with their antics and, truth be told, got themselves out of many predicaments with a lie. SLE Drama Class taught by Duane Schlabach was an elective. Students auditioned for their parts and practiced for the past two months to put on a matinee for the students and then...
The winds of Montana's Rocky Mountain Front buffet the empty Dupuyer Elementary School. At one time the grasslands around it teemed with family-run ranches and Dupuyer was the heart of its region. In 1966 there were 63 students. In 2015, only one remained, with a lone teacher to instruct him. It shocked no one when the school shuttered last year. Welcome to Dupuyer. Population 86. John Hayne, a jovial man with thickly calloused hands, graduated from Dupuyer Elementary and is now a member of the...
I can feel the power of the engine Shaking under the hood The power overtaking my cold body From the cool crisp winter breeze And the fresh powder The riveting smell of exhaust When boondocking in the snow There is a jump ahead swoosh I land and sink deep but hammer the gas And watch the rpms rise as I climb out I get onto solid ground And spin out and zoom away And disappear in a snow cloud I ride up a 60 degree incline with my engine roaring I'm at 7500 rpms and my engine backfires I stop to...
Montana’s three political parties control access to the General Election ballot. Montanans can influence their parties by grassroots electing 3,186 precinct persons in 56 counties. In 2014 no one filed for 2,630, or 82 percent. Of the 571 positions for which individuals filed, only 54 were contested. That small number of names was seen on the ballot by neighbors. Each county committee quorum of representative, equal to 50 percent or more of precinct positions, can be a valuable forum for discussing and addressing issues. For those committees t...
Loneliness is a feeling that covers considerable psychological ground. In other words, it is complex like most psychological expressions and experiences. Most people feel lonely from time-to-time, particularly when major events or changes occur. But as we get older, loneliness can dominate our lives. In an attempt to avoid being lonely, people socialize. That is, people meet with friends, maintain permanent relationships, seek out groups and even go see therapists for companionship. People are...
At the start of the New Year many Montanans make New Year’s resolutions. Maybe it’s to spend time with family, put more money into savings, or enjoy our world-class public lands a little more. As your Senator, my resolution is to continue to bring your input back from the Treasure State to the U.S. Senate. This year, I joined the Senate Commerce Committee to fight for Montana small businesses. Along with my spots on the Banking, Veterans’ Affairs, Indian Affairs and Appropriations Committees I will be able to have a strong voice for Monta...
SEELEY LAKE – A major savings in safety gear was a major point of discussion at the Seeley Lake Fire District board met Jan. 16. Michael Lyons from General Fire in Spokane, Wash. told Seeley Lake Fire Chief Michael Greer that all of the department’s firefighting turnouts and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) are new enough and well within compliance. Rather than look at replacing the gear, he recommended some repairs and five lens will be replaced under warranty. The department needs to replace all 24 of their oxygen tanks this yea...
Area students have been named to the University of Montana and Carroll College Dean’s Lists for the Fall 2017 Semester. At the University of Montana, 2,631 students made the fall semester 2017 Dean’s List and President’s 4.0 List. To qualify for the Dean’s List or President’s 4.0 List, students must be undergraduates, earn a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher and receive grades of A or B in at least nine credits. Double asterisks after a name indicate the student earned a 4.0 GPA. A single asterisk indicates a GPA greater than 3.5 but less than...
MISSOULA - TJ McDermott, Missoula County's Sheriff, is announcing his candidacy for re-election in 2018. He filed Jan. 11 as a Democratic Candidate in the 2018 Missoula County Sheriff's Election, the first day candidates could file for office. "Sheriff McDermott is a people-caring person," said former Missoula County Sheriff Doug Chase. "TJ makes sure his people are well trained, well equipped and dedicated to the safety of the general public. My wife and I fully support his decision to run for...
Have you ever been visiting other parts of the country, stood on the bank of a murky lake or stream and thought how lucky we are in Seeley Lake to have clear, clean water that surrounds us at every turn in this beautiful watershed? If so, have you ever wondered what our community is doing to sustain and protect our water quality into the future? If you haven’t, you should. 2017 was a wake-up call in many ways not the least of which is the obvious need to continue to reduce wildfire risks both in and around our community. But, in addition to t...
RONAN - About 12 miles south of Flathead Lake, the town of Ronan is a community based largely on agriculture. With several schools, banks, a golf course and an active business community, Ronan is home to an estimated 1,871 people (according to 2010 U.S. Census information.) But while it boasts a variety of businesses, including a telephone company, a movie theatre, a café, a thrift store, a bowling alley, hospital and others, many Main Street storefronts remain empty or rundown. Roughly a...
DENVER, COLO. – When Damon Loconte stepped out on the ice to skate with the Colorado Avalanche, a professional NHL team at their Jan. 15 home game at the Pepsi Center in Denver, not only was he up on the big screen, it was also his first live National Hockey League game. Loconte started skating in Missoula in 2014/2015 while his family lived in Seeley Lake. Now he is playing up an age level in Colorado Youth Hockey and earned the recognition after being nominated by Mike Kolepp, family friend a...
“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11 When it pertains to God and His Word, there are two basic groups: those who do accept Him as their Creator, and those who don’t. No one forces this choice upon any of us but the consequences of either are real nonetheless. We live now in a society where the very word “sin” is seen, at best, as anachronistic. More...
SEELEY LAKE – At nearly 84 years old, Doug Richards was the only professional artist to enter the Montana Winterfest in Seeley Lake Snow Sculpture competition this year. He participated from 2008-2012 trading wins with artist Donna Love and "loved the competition." He was back again this year after the competition was opened up to include any location in town and hopes to return again next year. A trained commercial artist, Richards never thought snow sculptures would be as challenging as t...
SWAN VALLEY – The Swan Valley School Warhawks basketball season is off and running. With a focus on fundamentals and having fun playing the sport, Warhawks coaches Katie Gleason and Chris Auchenbach have watched the players improve every game and exemplify incredible sportsmanship. Gleason said the team has been working hard on their passing, boxing out, ball handling and defense. "We want the kids to learn all they can about basketball and to have fun all while having outstanding s...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks and Lady Blackhawks hosted the Valley Christian Eagles Jan. 19 and the Drummond Trojans Jan. 20. Both the Boys and Girls easily brought down the Eagles with the final scores of 59-46 and 71-21. Avery Smith and Chance Johnson led the Blackhawks. Both broke into the double digits with 14 and 12 points respectively. The team preformed well from the free throw line hitting 14 of 18 attempted. Also scoring: Keaton Johnson 9, Hunter Shelmerdine 8, Dakota Wood...
Handbell Choir Invites New Members SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Handbell Choir will resume its regular practice sessions Jan. 30 at 3:15 p.m. in the music room of Seeley Lake Elementary. The choir regularly practices from 3:30 – 5 p.m. on Tuesdays in the music room. We are seeking new members to come join in the fun. If you’ve ever thought you might like to try ringing handbells, this is your chance. Come, give it try and see how you like it. No commitment is required. Some ability to read music, even if just a little and incredibly rusty is...
