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Good neighbors deserve recognition. The Montana Neighbor Awards wants to celebrate good neighbors and is soliciting nominations for its annual awards. Deadline for nominations has been moved to June 14. The Montana Neighbor Awards is a working group made up of conservation organizations from around the state including Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks, Montana Association of Land Trusts, Montana Farm Bureau, Artemis Common Ground, The Nature Conservancy of Montana and Montana Council of Trout Unlimited. Awards are based on four criteria: cooperatio...
Governor Steve Bullock declared a statewide flooding emergency in Montana and issued an updated executive order to provide state support where needed to local and tribal jurisdictions. "Recent rainfall and rapid snowmelt is causing rivers, streams and tributaries to rise out of their banks across most of Montana," said Governor Bullock. "As Montanans deal with the impacts of flooding, the state stands ready and is in constant communication with local and tribal officials about ways we can...
SEELEY LAKE – As the current chair of the Montana’s State Workforce Innovation Board (SWIB), Seeley Lake resident Loren Rose is taking a new approach to help the group set goals, new benchmarks and make these things measurable. In addition to the re-focus, the SWIB has gained national attention and will be a focal point for the National Governors Association meeting in July. The Montana Department of Labor & Industry receives approximately $5.8 million from the federal government to implement Workforce Innovation and Opportunities (WIOA) pro...
“Obfuscation” – to make obscure or unintelligible. Governor Steve Bullock and his party have been considered very environmentally conscious, but it seems they are forging a new direction. North Dakota is not currently allowing the disposal of Bakken Oilfield radioactive or hazardous garbage. But the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is moving briskly to welcome a veritable torrent of those toxic materials to a site near a Sidney subdivision and a rural school. Imagine having your home on a scenic plateau overlooking the Yello...
Montanans are now seeing the real-life consequences of budget decisions made by the Republican legislators who make up the majority of our state legislature. Over the next year, 28 property assessment offices will be closing their doors in addition to the 19 public assistance offices that have already turned off their lights – impacting thousands of Montanans in rural areas of our state. As many as 14,000 health care providers will have to reduce care for the mentally ill and disabled, some even shuttering their own doors. Services that M...
Seeley Lake Library News SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Library Book Club will meet Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. to discuss Blaine Harden’s “Escape from Camp 14.” In this book, Harden presents the true account of Shin Dong-hyuk, a North Korean born in a political prison camp who eventually escapes. One review states that this is a book all adults should read. The discussion is open to all. Books are available at the checkout desk. For more information call 677-8995. The Seeley Lake Library is a branch of Missoula Public Library located at Se...
MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock announced a collaborative effort across state government to help Montana businesses and communities impacted by wildfires access state resources to help minimize the economic impact. “Montana is strong and resilient,” said Governor Bullock. “The tireless work of firefighters and the generous support of volunteers have protected the safety and livelihood of Montanans across the state. As the work continues, we’re putting our best foot forward to ensure our businesses and communities will fully recover from any...
Morning Update: The Rice Ridge Fire grew more than 20,000 acres yesterday. It is now 155,900 acres and 38% contained. There are currently 731 fire personnel assigned to the fire. It has cost $40.1 million. YESTERDAY: Governor Steve Bullock, Montana National Guard Adjutant General Matthew T. Quinn and the new Chief of the USDA Forest Service, Tony Tooke, met with Incident Commander Greg Poncin and stakeholders at the Incident Command Post yesterday for a briefing on the status of the fire. The...
SEELEY LAKE – Under Red Flag Conditions, the Rice Ridge Fire exploded this past weekend, adding 12,000 acres on Saturday and doubling the already 50,000 acres burned on Sunday. As of Tuesday, Sept. 5, the fire is more than 108,400 acres and only two percent contained. The only structure lost has been a portable outhouse. Over the past week more than 150 fire personnel have been added to the efforts. The team was spending $1 million per day to suppress the fire. The overall cost is more than $...
While we’re dealing with one of the worst threatening wildfires in the U.S. right now here with our Rice Ridge Fire on Seeley Lake’s doorstep, Senator Jon Tester and Governor Bullock both came to Seeley Lake to make serious inquiries and evaluate what additional resources we might need. On Aug. 11, Montana’s U.S. Senator Steve Daines emailed the following newsletter to his Montana constituents commenting on having just returned from a wonderful backpack trip and wondering how we’re enjoying our summer. He stated, “Last week rang in the 86th...
MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock issued a new Executive Order declaring a fire emergency to exist in the state of Montana. “We will continue to do everything we can to make sure folks on the ground have the resources they need to protect Montanans and their property until every single fire is put out,” said Governor Bullock. “Firefighters, emergency personnel and volunteers are working hard every day. On behalf of all Montanans, we thank them for their efforts.” This declaration allows Governor Bullock to continue to mobilize additiona...
SEELEY LAKE – Governor Steve Bullock (D-MT) and senior Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) visited Seeley Lake to get a firsthand look at the efforts to fight the Rice Ridge Fire. The pair attended a morning briefing at Seeley Lake Elementary Friday, Aug. 4. "The number one fire in the nation is right here in Seeley Lake right now," said Bullock after the briefing. "I feel confidence in the crew doing it but it's heartbreaking for the community." The Rice Ridge Fire has burned more than 8,000 acres as o...
SEELEY LAKE - Polson is developing a $17.6 million sewer upgrade after the EPA came in and levied a $40,000 fine on the district for exceeding its wastewater discharge limits. Sewer bills will jump from $20 per month to $60, and that’s for 2,000 residents. The State of Montana loaned Polson $14.6 million. Lincoln is upgrading its two lift stations at a cost of $300,000 per station and that sewer station serves about 400 users. That’s after 15 years of use. Their sewer rate increase will depend on how much money it can get from the state. Lin...
SEELEY LAKE - Trenton M. Johnson, 19-year-old firefighter from Missoula, sustained injuries from a falling tree while fighting the Florence Fire on the Seeley Lake Ranger District the afternoon of July 19. Johnson was flown to Missoula but was later pronounced deceased at St. Patrick's Hospital. A small lightning fire was called in Tuesday night five miles northeast of Seeley Lake on Rice Ridge. Wednesday morning, nine firefighters from the Seeley Lake Ranger District began suppression operation...
MONTANA – Citing active wildfires and extreme fire danger across the state, Governor Steve Bullock has issued an executive order declaring a fire emergency in Montana. Prior to signing the executive order, the governor was briefed by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Disaster and Emergency Services at the Department of Military Affairs. He also spoke with Rick Connell, the Incident Commander at the Lodgepole Complex area, which is currently the state’s largest fire. “Montana is facing extreme fire conditions. Our top p...
HELMVILLE - Montana Highway 141 is a 32-mile-long road that meanders through western Montana without passing through a single town. Close to the northern end of the highway however, a mere mile long deviation will land you in the collection of buildings that make up Helmville. Less than 250 people call Helmville home. But once a year, nearly 2,000 people descend upon the community for a weekend, swelling the population enough to jump into the top 50 most populous cities in the state. The...
On Friday, March 22 Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) junior high students took their biannual trip to Helena to visit Montana Wild and the State Capitol. Students participated in three different Montana Wild programs and were able to watch the Senate in action as well as meet Governor Steve Bullock. The junior high takes this trip every other year when the legislature is in session. SLE Civics Teacher Duane Schlabach has his students follow a bill of their choice in Civics class so they understand t...
After uncertainty about how the upcoming special congressional election would change the makeup of the Montana Legislature, the nomination of Democrat Rob Quist and Republican Greg Gianforte means it’s back to business as usual at the state Capitol. Multiple legislators had announced their intention to run for the vacant congressional seat after former Rep. Ryan Zinke was nominated and then confirmed as U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Sen. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, and Reps. Amanda Curtis, D-Butte and Kelly McCarthy, D-Billings all vied for t...
SEELEY LAKE - Montana’s first watercraft inspection stations opened Friday in Pablo and at Clearwater Junction at the junction of Highways 200 and 83. The inspection stations will be operated by the Flathead Basin Commission (FBC) under a memorandum of understanding with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). These inspection stations represent the first of what will be an expanded aquatic invasive species inspection station program for the 2017 boating season in Montana. This effort is in response to the positive detection last fall of a...
Caution To All Seeley Lake Water Customers SEELEY LAKE - The Water District has had numerous calls regarding frozen water service lines. This is a friendly reminder to all customers to take care of their pipes. Insulate pipes well and keep them warm. Refrain from plowing snow above water lines and driving on them. The snow is a good insulator and moving it actually drives the frost deeper. It is also recommended to trickle cold water. A small trickle of water keeps the water moving and keeps it from freezing. Due to the cold weather and the...
SEELEY LAKE – Agency representatives, non-government organizations and concerned citizens met Jan. 4 to discuss a strategy for local lakes in response to the discovery of invasive mussel veligers (larvae) in Montana's Tiber Reservoir. Everyone at the meeting agreed that all boats should be inspected prior to launching in local waters and ballasted boats should be decontaminated before launching. Ideas of how to implement and enforce this were also discussed. It is Clearwater Resource Council (CR...
HELENA - A new grant from Montana’s Forests in Focus program will make homes safer, create well-paying jobs and improve forest health – all at the same time. The $249,534 grant will be used to thin out dense forest to reduce the hazards posed by wildfire. Besides reducing the fuel load for any potential wildfire, the work will open up the forest, allowing more light and moisture in to nurture the trees that are left. The work will create 17 jobs between this December and November of next year and will supply 3,166 tons of materials to local mil...
Who is behind the anti-trapping Initiative, I-177? This threat to Montana’s hunting and trapping heritage is being driven by out-of-state animal rights activist groups such as .PETA, ASPCA, Humane Society etc. Out-of-state environmental organizations like Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, etc. are also pushing for passage of I-177. What is alarming is that these same groups are also funneling political action cash (PAC Money) into Steve Bullock’s re-election campaign. Unfortunately, Montana’s elected Democratic office holders throu...
OVANDO – The Blackfoot Community Conservation Area (BCCA) has been the recipient of two Forest in Focus (FIF) grants totally nearly $315,000. Of the 5,600 total acres within the BCCA core, 863 acres have been treated with FIF grants generating around 6,600 tons of saw logs and pulp. The BCCA is located in the mid-reaches of the Blackfoot watershed near Ovando Mountain. It combines community forest ownership and management within the Core 5,609 acres with cooperative ecosystem management for m...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Community Council hosted a candidate forum, Sept. 19 at the Seeley Lake Community Hall. Candidates for Governor/Lieutenant Governor, U.S. Congress, Secretary of State, Supreme Court Justice and State Attorney General races answered various questions from moderator and council chair Klaus von Sutterheim and the audience. All candidates that will appear on the ballot including Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians, were invited. Only the Supreme Court Justice race h...
