Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
SEELEY LAKE – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks fined Montana Department of Transportation for five of the six perennial stream crossings that were impacted by the 17-mile Montana Highway 83 resurfacing project this past summer. Jonathan Ferree, FWP Stream Protection Act Program Manager, said Best Management Practices used were "minimal or non-existent" allowing deconstruction and construction material to be swept into the stream channel. This is the first major violation MDT has received from F...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Rural Fire District welcomed their Interim Fire Chief Michael Greer Nov. 20. In the next six months, Greer will focus on organizing, streamlining and making things more efficient as well as bringing people back together. Since he was seven years old, Greer has always said he wanted to become a doctor. "Medicine has always fascinated me. I don't know if it was the science of it or the human side of it. It was just something I always wanted to do," said Greer. F...
OVANDO – "Santa is coming, Santa is coming," yelled a young girl running down Main Street in Ovando Saturday, Dec. 2. Escorted by Powell County Sheriff's Deputy playing "Here Comes Santa Claus," Cowboy Claus rode into Ovando on his trusty steed St. Nick for his 16th annual visit. Cowboy Claus was just one of the attractions again this year at Ovando Old West Christmas Fest. Prior to Cowboy Claus' visit, visitors put their taste buds to the test at the annual cookoff sponsored by the Blackfoot Va...
OVANDO - Prior to Cowboy Claus’ visit at the Old West Christmas Fest in Ovando Dec. 2, visitors put their taste buds to the test at the annual cookoff sponsored by the Blackfoot Valley Cattlewomen. Five beef casseroles were on the plate and they all drew four votes each for the best. “This is the first time this has ever happened,” said Barb McNally, president of the Blackfoot Valley Cattlewomen. Eloise McNally’s name was drawn out of a hat and she received the grand prize, a $25 gift certifi...
SEELEY LAKE - On Nov. 30 there was a letter to the editor from E. L. Taylor. In the letter a comment was made in regards to the Water District installing pipes in conjunction with the Sewer District’s project. The comment was, “Apparently the third phase of the [sewer] project has no water piped in from our [water] system. That means when the sewer goes in there will also be the substantial added cost of a water system that has not been discussed.” Let me set the record straight. There will not be a water system installed down Boy Scout Road...
SEELEY LAKE - Healthy discussion is productive but spreading falsehoods hurts everyone. A letter recently sent to residents living within the sewer district boundaries included several misleading assertions, for example: Statement in letter ---“The proposal will not appreciably change water quality in the watershed.” Fact --- This is patently false and has no basis in fact, studies or science. The sewer system will remove the source of groundwater contaminants from the most highly populated areas of town. Statement in letter --- “There are s...
SEELEY LAKE - Do the Seeley Lake Sewer ads speak the truth? Of course they don’t! For those of you still making a decision on whether to oppose the sewer, don’t let the Seeley Lake Sewer Board and its various agents confuse you with lies. They (recent ads in the Pathfinder) claim that a small group of area residents have been spreading misinformation regarding the scientific studies that support the sewer system, the districts work and how the project will impact you. Here’s what this SMALL GROUP has done for this community: • It’s members h...
SEELEY LAKE - To retain our clean, transparent water in the Seeley -Swan watershed we must FIRST have clean, transparent government...We have not enjoyed that in the divisive sewer proposal discussion. Here are some examples of shady, secretive government: The Missoula County Commissioners have repeatedly said they have “no control” over the goings-on of the Seeley Lake Sewer Board but they have approved nearly $800,000 in County taxpayer dollars for this project....before it ever gets off the ground. And they never asked us if we wanted to...
SEELEY LAKE - I have been asked my views on the Seeley Lake Sewer. They are very simple and one we all know to be true. Government is notorious for creating fear to motivate folks into doing something their common sense would ordinarily dictate otherwise. This is because the first agenda of bureaucrats in government is to protect their positions in government through fear and consequently expansion of government. To avoid exposure to their true agenda, government will almost always use assessments which amount to speculation rather than...
SEELEY LAKE - You likely have recently received another letter from Don Larson (dba Citizens for Sensible Wastewater Solutions) telling you to protest the sewer proposal to build a treatment and collection facility in Seeley Lake. He notes first off that the proposal will not appreciably change water quality in the watershed. I disagree entirely. While the sewer will not return all of our watershed to pristine conditions, it will take a giant step forward in cleaning it up. We annually dump approximately 250,000 gallons of untreated urine into...
SEELEY LAKE - Don’t get upset those of you pushin’ the “Do Nothing” methodology. I’m “just sayin.” Isn’t that the in-fashion colloquial expression used when people don’t want you to get angry with them for saying something to them that you know they don’t want to hear? Ya know— “Just sayin” as in— “Just sayin’, Isn’t doin’ nothin’, payin’ attention to nothin’ and believin’ nothin’s wrong with all that undocumented PR baloney what got us facin’ such a distorted kind of wastewater project in the first place?” HOWEVER, talking like that and be...
HELENA - Montana will remain the “406” for a while longer thanks in part to the Montana Public Service Commission’s efforts to ensure phone numbers are allocated more efficiently across the state. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officials informed the Commission Monday that the state’s single area code is expected to last into the 2030s. “The 406 area code is a unique part of our heritage in Montana,” said Bob Lake, R-Hamilton. “It’s become such an integral part of our state’s identity that some businesses have built their entire bran...
SEELEY LAKE - Alpine Artisans and 2 Valleys Stage will be bringing the 80 member Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Ron Wilcott, to Seeley-Swan High School auditorium Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. for beautiful selections from chorale favorites. The Community Chorus is based on "inspiring community through music." To accomplish that goal they see the group empowering individuals through a pursuit of excellence in great choral music, as a community where persons of all ages, cultural heritages, financial...
Happy Holidays from the Seeley Lake Ranger District! Thanks to the Pathfinder for allowing me this opportunity to provide an update on what’s happening on the Seeley Lake RD. As fall and winter arrive, I’m reflective of the historic summer of 2017 which is not one that anyone will forget anytime soon. It was challenging and difficult – for our family of firefighters, visiting recreationists, business owners and Seeley Lake residents. Now the fires are out and we are moving forward with post-fire activities. Regional Forester Leanne Marte...
Merry Christmas, The qualities of kindness and compassion…define Seeley Lake, notably generosity towards older adults receiving Meals on Wheels (MOW). During March’s March for Meals campaign, $2,300 was donated to Seeley Lake Senior Center (SLSC) for MOW which reduced a sizeable deficit in the program. Continuing community support comes through local businesses who display MOW jars on their counters. During the six months, May through October, $700 was placed in those jars, which is enough to provide 100 Meals on Wheels to older adults! In Nov...
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.” Romans 15:13 Planning for upcoming holiday festivities often puts folks in a dither. Minds whirl with all that needs to be done; stress levels spike. The list of holiday preparations looms long and daunting with self-imposed deadlines. Where’s the peace that should envelope us at this time of year as we reflect on the hope and love God gave us in His Son Jesus Christ? God’s merciful gift of joy and peace was made available to all of us when Jesus was born. God is the...
SEELEY LAKE – After more than 20 years working in mental health and special education services, Elliott Dugger knew he needed to get his law degree in order to fully advocate for justice for his clients. Dugger graduated from the University of Montana Law School in May 2017. With his practice, Dugger Law Firm PLLC in Seeley Lake, he plans to provide affordable legal access in rural Missoula and surrounding counties. His personal mission is to bring dignity to his clients and put them in a b...
POTOMAC - Expertise in art and crafts, baking, knitting, concrete molding and knife making filled the Potomac/Greenough Community Center Dec. 2 for the Potomac Craft Fair. The event brought a steady flow of shoppers and lookers throughout the day. Local crafting friends had talked about putting on a craft fair and together made it a reality. Organizer and Potomac resident Sarah Russell said fellow crafter Lori Coppock crafts with local girls every weekend and one day said they should have a...
SEELEY LAKE – As every child in the United States knows, on Christmas Eve a jolly old man named Santa Claus, dressed in red coat and hat, hops in his toy-filled sleigh and is magically pulled through the air by Rudolph and his reindeer cohorts. Throughout the night the chubby man slides down chimneys, or accesses other ports of entry into people's homes, and leaves presents under the tree for good little girls and boys. At least that is how the story goes in the United States. But where did t...
Sharon Lamar from Condon recalls when she was five years old and Santa Claus asked what she wanted for Christmas. She told him, 'A little sister." Lamar added, "And sure enough, on Christmas Eve my sister Angela was born. She was named after the angels at Christmas time." * * * * * Sue Cushman from Condon said the best Christmas present she ever got was a $200 check from her parents. At that time she had eight children, seven boys and one girl. She spent the money on a trampoline. She said, "My...
FRENCHTOWN - The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks and Lady Blackhawks were victorious at the Class C Tip-off Tournament Dec. 1-2. Both the Boys and the Girls came home with two victories each. The Lady Blackhawks had a tight game with Philipsburg. The teams matched each other with 8 points each in the first quarter. The Lady Blackhawks took an 8-point advantage in the second quarter and built on it for a 42-30 victory. Ashley Miller led the charge against Philipsburg with 14 points. Terra Bertsch broke...
SWAN VALLEY - The Upper Swan Valley Historical Society hosted their annual Frostbite Festival Dec. 2 at the Swan Valley School. Attendees enjoyed an assortment of crafts and artwork from a gymnasium full of vendors along with the "best bake sale around" and crafts for the young at heart....
Swan Valley AARP Meeting, Dec. 11 SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley AARP will meet Monday, Dec. 11 at noon in the Swan Valley Community Hall. A potluck lunch hosted by Joyce and Garry Wegner will begin at 12:30 p.m. Bob Korn will lead a program of Christmas carols and stories starting at 1:30 p.m. The public is invited. Seeley Lake Flu Shot Clinic and Health and Safety Fair, Dec. 11 SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Fire Department along with Missoula City-County Health Department And Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana Care Van have teamed up to offer...
Our thanks to Seeley Lake Historical Society member Jean Lafriniere for sharing the following information. On Aug. 28, 1917 a Seeley Lake related article appeared in the Spokesman-Review newspaper: • About 100 fires were burning in western Montana, and in some cases, people were fleeing from remote mountain areas. • "Driving their small herds before the farm wagons and prairie schooners, on which their household goods had been loaded, homesteaders...tramped into Corlett, a small town," near Seel...
