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SEELEY LAKE – The Montana Department of Transportation Project Team for the Clearwater Junction Intersection met with the public virtually and at an in-person open house Nov. 18 to share and gather feedback on the proposed alternatives, the evaluation process and the proposed solution. Installing a roundabout was the only alternative of the six evaluated that met all five criteria and is the preferred alternative. MDT is now entering the design phase of the project. While the timeframe has n...
While Montana’s outdoor recreation economy wasn’t spared the pandemic-spurred losses that swept the globe in 2020, it remained a cornerstone of the state’s economy, according to a report released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Outdoor recreation accounted for 4.3% of Montana’s GDP last year — a higher percentage than any other state. The next closest was Hawaii, with 3.8%. The report also found that Montana is toward the head of the pack for employment in the outdoor rec sector in 2020, with employment topping 26,000 jobs, or...
SWAN VALLEY – It had been five years since she had seen the man behind the counter at Liquid Louie's but she recognized him. She asked, "Are you a preacher or something?" "Without explaining the details I said, 'Yeah,'" Eric Rydbom said and laughed. After sharing part of her faith journey and bad experiences with church, the customer told Rydbom she found a church in Florida that met in a bar. She and her husband really liked it because it was comfortable and it was really good. She asked him i...
SEELEY LAKE - Local vendors, artists and crafters offered their handmade crafts, art and creations at the Seeley Lake Community Hall Nov. 20 for the annual Holiday Bazaar. The Holiday Bazaar kicked off the holiday events in the area. For a pull-out list of events pick up this week's paper or visit seeleyswanevents.net...
The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act was introduced to Congress by Montana Senator Jon Tester and is a wonderful example of how legislation can unite various groups to solve local problems. The bill is the culmination of a 15-year effort by a diverse set of Montanans: environmentalists, timber producers, conservationists, recreation management, local businesses, politicians and the public. The bill would first serve to defend the Blackwater River and its most important tributaries, as well as secure and expand protections to the Blackfoot...
Many, many, moons ago whenever I took to the hills, there was some good advice in that famous packers guide and artist Joe Backs book, "Horses, Hitches and Rocky Trails." Have yer check list so ya don't forget. Elk season com'n up so I went over my list like them folks go'n over Obama's birth certificate. Yup, looked good at the time. Sett'n up the wall tent with Indian autumn com'n on sure was grand out here in the great outdoors. Had the ponies on the high line out back. Gave'um a little hay...
MISSOULA – The Missoula County Commissioners voted Nov. 18 to approve the letter from the Seeley Lake Community Council to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks requesting they reopen the Clearwater Junction RV Dump station. They also agreed to draft a cover letter to include with the Council's letter voicing their support. Seeley Lake Community Council Secretary Tom Browder presented the Council's letter and provided the Commissioners more information about the request. He said the Council felt the n...
SEELEY LAKE – Blackfoot Communications representatives presented the Seeley Lake Community Foundation with a $2,000 matching donation from CoBank through their "Sharing Success Program." Blackfoot donated $2,000 in July to help the Foundation alleviate funding gaps due to the continuing pandemic and address lingering community needs. CoBank's Sharing Success Program doubles the contributions of its customers to charitable organization and causes. Since Sharing Success was established in 2012, C...
More than 600 interviews on 1,106 analog tapes are now in a digital format as part of a program that supports the preservation of rare and unique audio, audiovisual and other media of high scholarly value. The completion of Voices of Labor: Preserving the Montanans at Work; Metals Manufacturing in Four Montana Communities; and New Deal in Montana Oral History Interviews Project, was made possible by a $32,000 grant from the national Council on Library and Information Resources Recordings at Risk program. The audio files, along with transcripts...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake's winter air quality has improved since the community successfully replaced more than 160 old wood stoves with new, lower emission stoves during the 2012-2014 wood stove change out program. The Seeley Lake "Number of Winter Day Over 24-Hour PM2.5 Standard" graph shows that PM2.5 concentrations are trending down over the last nine winters. (Note: The winter of 2016-2017 had a long-lasting high-pressure ridge that caused high PM2.5 levels throughout western Montana.)...
SEELEY LAKE – At their Nov. 15 meeting, the Seeley Lake Elementary School Board denied the request from Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) for the Community Solar Project and approved the modified school calendar for second semester. The board also received several updates from Superintendent Josh Gibbs regarding the new SLE App for parents, COVID quarantine recommendations and use for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding At the September Board meeting, MEC presented a proposal to install a 47.6 kW Community S...
OVANDO - They say that the magic of Christmas lives in the hearts of the young and old – a magic that's cultivated over the years from our holiday memories. In the small town of Ovando, Montana, this magic has been gifted to locals and visitors alike for more than two decades. What began in the early-2000's as the Old West Christmas Fest, an event created by local business owners to drum up business for the once sleepy town, has blossomed into an event that draws attendance from the western half...
SEELEY LAKE - Ann E. Copenhaver, 80 of Seeley Lake, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at St. Patrick Hospital of natural causes. She was born on Sept. 13, 1941 in Missoula, Montana to George A. and Helen M. Walters Cyr. She was raised in Milltown, Montana and attended school in Bonner, Montana. She also attended Sacred Heart Academy graduating in 1959. She later attended nursing school at St. Patrick Hospital and worked as an IBM key punch operator in Seattle, Washington. On April 4, 1964 she...
The apostle Paul writes, "in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:18). As Christians celebrate Thanksgiving each year and enjoy time with loved ones, we hope they will continue to display the same kind of gratefulness to God for our many freedoms and blessings in the sincerity exemplified by our courageous forefathers. Every Thanksgiving season I sit down and write a list and then meditate about all the blessings I have been provided from...
SEELEY LAKE – At their Nov. 18 meeting, the Seeley Lake Sewer District Board interviewed two candidates for the District Manager position, heard a presentation on an alternative sewer and voted to fund E-DNA testing on Seeley Lake. A vote to continue funding of a high school water-testing program on Morrell Creek failed. The Board interviewed David Losee and William (Bill) Decker for the open District Manager position. Both are Seeley Lake residents who live outside of the Sewer District and both said they would not rule out ever investing i...
SEELEY LAKE – At the Nov. 16 meeting, the Seeley Lake Fire Board approved negotiating a payment plan with a patient who is unable to pay their ambulance bill, received updates from Chief Dave Lane and heard concerns from members of the public. Lane presented the board with a request for assistance from a patient that was transported in the ambulance and cannot pay their bill. The individual does not have health insurance and demonstrated their inability to pay, however, he still feels patients need to be responsible adults and pay their fair s...
SWAN VALLEY – With standing room only at the Hungry Bear Bar & Grill, the Swan Song Trio made their debut singing together for the first time Saturday night. While local singers Mikayla Kay, Linda Ellison and Mikkie Gleason are no strangers to the microphone, this performance took their act to the next level. At different times all three ladies were singing at the Hungry Bear's Thursday night karaoke. "People noticed that the ladies were really bringing it," Ellison said. Hungry Bear Owner Rick...
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: Nov. 26, 1986 issue Library may open to community Seeley Lake residents may have an opportunity to use the high school...
Scenic Montana Trails to hold first meeting, Dec. 2 SEELEY LAKE - The public is invited to attend a potluck and informational meeting held by the Scenic Montana Trails nonprofit organization, 6 p.m., Dec. 2 at the Seeley Lake Community Hall. The organization’s mission is to promote mechanized outdoor recreation for snowmobile, ATV/UTV and bicycle enthusiasts. Agenda includes: • 6 p.m. Welcome & Dinner • 7 p.m. Membership and Information sharing Scenic Montana Trails membership form and information page will be distributed. Picture Wild Monta...
Through mid-December $10 food bags for the Seeley-Swan Community Food Bank available at Cory's Valley Market. Sponsored by Veterans & Families of Seeley Lake. Through Dec. 13 Angel Tree at Potomac School. Choose a tag from the tree, purchase and wrap the gift and return to the school office with the tag attached by Monday, Dec. 13. Through Dec. 15 Giving Tree sponsored by Mountain Lakes Presbyterian Church at Cory's Valley Market. Check out cards on the tree at the check stand. Boxed, unwrapped...
