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MISSOULA - The Missoula County Board of Health unanimously voted in favor of adopting the Oct. 27 Health Officer Order with revisions. The order went into effect Friday, Nov. 20 and will remain in effect until revoked or revised. In addition to the already announced capacities on businesses and gatherings as well as required notice for events over 25, gatherings expecting 25-250 attendees must now provide a notice to the Health Department 10 days in advance. Gathering size limits do not apply to students in classrooms or at K-12 school-related... Full story
POLSON - Lake County’s Solid Waste Board reviewed public comments made at an October County Commissioners public hearing in Swan Lake regarding the closure of the Porcupine Dump site, at Porcupine Creek along Highway 83, during their meeting at Polson City Court on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The Board originally recommended closing the site at their August meeting due to illegal dumping from contractor use, gate damage and vandalism. If closed, then residents would have to use the Ferndale Transfer Station site which is 13 miles away. Commissioners c...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board of Directors voted at their Nov. 19 meeting to call for a bond election to be held Feb. 22, 2021 to finance the proposed wastewater treatment plant and Phase 1 of the collection system. In doing this the Board abandons the previously approved financing method. The idea of a bond election was floated several months ago as a compromise to keep the project moving forward after voters elected two new directors. In their campaigns, Tom Morris and Jason Gilpin were very vocal that they wanted the c...
POTOMAC - The community of Potomac has proven resilient since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Since the spring, residents have donated, participated and benefited from the kindness and generosity of friends, neighbors and strangers. Residents banded together and worked hard to guarantee support for others including comfort, food and firewood. Since March, Potomac School has been a link in the chain of giving. According to Potomac School secretary Janette Ployhar, volunteers served 110... Full story
Many of you know that I’m a veterinarian. My husband Alistair is a family physician working on the front lines at a walk-in/urgent care clinic in downtown Bismarck, North Dakota. He has been one of five doctors doing the majority of COVID testing there since this pandemic took hold and sees 50-80 patients a day. We are also both from Canada and our connections there are going through a nightmare right now. With my epidemiology and Alistair’s microbiology backgrounds we hope to put some facts into perspective regarding the upcoming holiday seaso...
In a recent discussion, some insights became clear about the human psyche (human psychology) and the separation experience due to the pandemic. COVID-19 has forced many of us to experience separation in new and penetrating ways, but it's not new for everyone. Cultures of color in the United States have experienced racism in numerous ways for centuries; separation is usually involved. For example, the Black culture has experienced separation, and therefore racism, as in bathroom use, bus...
Members of the Montana Department of Transportation and HDR summarized and answered public questions regarding the Salmon Lake Reconstruction Project during a presentation on Thursday, Nov. 19. The project area covers the length of Highway 83 along Salmon Lake from mouth to mouth stopping just short of the Placid Lake Road intersection. MDT Missoula District Administrator Bob Vosen said the design speed of the area is going to be 45 miles per hour and is not the same as a speed limit. The goals of the project are to widen the roadway,...
SEELEY LAKE – At the Seeley Lake Fire Board’s monthly meeting Nov. 17, Fire Chief Dave Lane provided updates regarding an audit and office closure. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is auditing the Fire District for the grant they received in 2018. The District was randomly selected for the audit to ensure the money is being spent according to the grant. Chief Dave Lane and District Administrator Lynn Richards have complied the requested documents. They will be submitted before the Dec. 14 deadline. In response to the increasing num...
SEELEY LAKE – The third annual reverse giving tree event returns to Seeley Lake Saturday, Dec. 5 from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Community Hall. Organizer and owner of Montana Girl Sheila Czifro has 48 Christmas stockings filled with toys, Crayola crayons, color sheets, Play Doh, crafts and more. There will also be a large selection of new and gently used toys, gift items, food cards and toiletries for anyone in need. "This year more than ever our community needs something good to look for...
Down Arizona way, near a place called Camp Verde, for several winters I hauled a load of log furniture to sell at Old Grumpy Dave's Auction. He rented the entire fairgrounds to sell western memorabilia and even mules and horses. It was a great place, I miss it. Anyway, while wait'n fer this here event to take place I was look'n for some midweek fellowship. Having overcome my denominational idolatry, the Spirit led me to a little ad in a local advertise. It sez something like "join us for...
SEELEY LAKE - Sydney Young recently began her new position as Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) game warden for Seeley Lake and its surrounding areas. Young's main goal is to make sure hunters are aware of boundaries, respect private land, and are hunting safely and ethically. She hopes to maintain "a happy balance" between humans and wildlife. Young began her position on Oct. 24, taking over for Jake Barzen. FWP Region 2 Game Warden Captain Joe Jaquith said Young and Barzen both applied for...
This is the second USVHS article about Henry Thomason, an early-day Upper Swan Valley settler who wrote a series of letters to his family in the Midwest documenting life as a homesteader in the early part of the 20th century. Henry's son Maurice W. Thomason homesteaded the adjoining 160-acre parcel north of Henry's land. Henry's daughter Lyda Thomason frequently stayed with her father for extended periods of time. Henry Thomason retold a story he heard from Jalmer Wirkkala, a local trapper and...
MONTANA - Governor Steve Bullock announced on Tuesday that he would implement a new set of public health measures intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Montana beginning on Friday, Nov. 20. The measures would limit capacity in bars, restaurants, breweries, distilleries and casinos to 50%; limit public gatherings to 25 individuals when social distancing is not possible; and require face coverings in all counties statewide regardless of case count. These establishments must also close no later than 10 p.m. with no more than six people per... Full story
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Elementary School Board unanimously approved the Board Strategic Plan as it currently stands as well as reviewed other aspects of the school during their regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 19. Superintendent Josh Gibbs presented the Strategic Plan’s goals and respective measurable objectives on how the school can continuously improve itself going into the future. The District School Improvement Team has had one meeting so far and they intend to have another one next month with future meetings taking place on a m...
SLE Pattie Crum's second grade class wrote "I'm thankful for..." My dogs and my Dad. I am thankful for my school. ~ Jerimyah I am thankful for sleep. I love Mrs. Crum. She is the best teacher. ~ Kaelynn I am thankful for Xbox and my phone and my tablet and my bike and my scooter and my friends and Mrs. Crum and my mom and Dad and my Hover Board and my school and my Name. ~ Cooper I am thankful for my family and my Grandpa. ~ Allie I am thankful for my family, friends and teacher and I am also...
There is perhaps no feature more prominent in the discussion of climate science than the disappearance of glaciers. In Glacier National Park, this rings especially true. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research ecologist Dan Fagre has traveled the world conducting research on glaciers and mountain ecosystems. After working for more than 29 years in Glacier National Park, he knows Montana's glaciers better than most. "People like glaciers," he said. "They like to see them. A lot of people come to...
Artists Sunday is the nationwide movement dedicated to supporting artists and recognizing the impact they have in enriching lives, communities and the economy. The new effort is designed to make the Sunday after Thanksgiving the most profitable day of the year for artists. Seeley Lake artist Kris Gullikson joined this alliance because she believes artists have something to give and this time of year is the perfect time to purchase art as a gift for family members, friends or anyone who “has everything.” Consumers are encouraged to shop with art...
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...
In defending himself before the Senate Hearing Committee on the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina, former FEMA Director Michael Brown used a strange phrase: “I told the staff… the day before the hurricane struck, that I expected them to cut every piece of red tape, do everything they could; that it was balls to the wall…” The slang phrase Brown used derives its meaning neither from sports nor male anatomy but from aviation. The first written usage dates to Frank Harvey’s “Air War – Vietnam” which contains the sentence, “You kn...
United States Presidents receive numerous gifts during their time at the White House, including live animals. John Quincy Adams received an alligator; Richard Nixon, two giant pandas; Theodore Roosevelt a zebra and a lion; George H. W. Bush a Komodo dragon and Ronald Reagan a white horse. On a more mundane level, turkeys are popular gifts, especially during holidays. Originally, presidential gifted turkeys were intended, and accepted, as the showpiece main dish for a holiday meal. That is,...
CONDON - Son of Arthur J. and Alice M. Scherer. Internist/Rheumatologist. Loved his patients and they him. USAF Flight Surgeon 1966-69. Devout catholic, served on school boards and parish councils. Chief of staff Missoula Community Hospital, President of N.W. Rheumatism Society and 10-year Medical Director Swan Valley Emergency Services in Condon. Liked to sing (Missoula Doctor's Jazz Band, OLF church choir, Seattle). Loved Lindbergh Lake cabin, hiking, high mountain lakes, fly fishing and... Full story
SEELEY LAKE - Isaac Morse and his friend Damien Miner left this world way too young Nov. 8. Isaac was born March 28, 2003 to Ted and Christie Morse. He was six months old when they decided to make the move and call Seeley Lake their home. Montana is the only home he knew. Isaac had a wonderful life full of adventure and love for the mountains. Isaac has been fishing with his big brother Jacob since he could hold a pole. Growing up he was never too young or too small for anything. He loved... Full story
Montana Wilderness Association (MWA) launched the 12th annual Picture Wild Montana photo contest, with prizes offered for the best photos taken on public lands across the state. The theme of this year’s contest is “The Joy of the Wild.” MWA wants to highlight the joy that Montanans feel while exploring public lands and waters including wilderness areas, state parks, national forests, wilderness study areas and other public lands. Since 2009, thousands of amateur and professional photographers from across the state have participated in the P...
Wood theft at Ski Trails Yurt SEELEY LAKE – Firewood is being stolen from the Seeley Creek Nordic Ski trails yurt a little at a time. A lot of effort and volunteer work goes into collecting the firewood so those who use it in the winter have a warm place to rest. The Ski Club has installed security cameras at the yurt and will be monitoring them. However, anyone with information regarding the wood theft(s) is encouraged to report it to law enforcement. Swan Valley Community Library Highlights SWAN VALLEY - Swan Valley Library, a branch of M...
