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SWAN VALLEY – After building the music program at Huntley Project Schools from a handful of students to three choirs and two bands in junior high through high school, Aaron Morgenstern left teaching and went into business management. As the new Swan Valley School principal and music teacher, he looks forward to combining his love of working with children and experience teaching music with his ability to manage people through building relationships and working towards a common goal. He looks f...
MISSOULA - At their Aug. 24 meeting, the Missoula County Board of Health voted unanimously to follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines regarding quarantine that differentiates between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. While still unchallenged in court, this decision has the potential to violate House Bill 702 which created vaccine status as a protected class under the Montana Human Rights Act, a state law that prohibits discrimination. Prior to the discussion Missoula City-County Health Officer D’Shane Barnett explained t...
Summer is drawing to a close and area elementary schools will be beginning classes in the next week. Seeley Lake Elementary, Sunset School and Swan Valley Elementary Schools are all welcoming new teachers, adding new programs and learning tools and have been making upgrades to their facilities. Since all elementary schools are separate Districts from Missoula County Public Schools, their school boards have approved their own reopening plan and COVID mitigation measures. These three schools made very little revision to their reopening plan from...
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley-Swan High School welcomed freshman and new students Aug. 30 and resumed Aug. 31. New Principal Shawn Holmes is excited to welcome new and returning teachers and students and continue learning and growing together while prioritizing student and staff safety in light of the ongoing pandemic. COVID Accommodations Holmes said while they had students out because they were identified as a close contact, SSHS did not have a positive COVID case in the school last year. "Our kids r...
MISSOULA COUNTY - At their Aug. 10 meeting, the Missoula County Public School Board of Trustees approved their reopening plan and voted 6-3 in favor of approving their face covering guidelines for all K-12 public school students in the county including Seeley-Swan High School. The trustees will review the guidelines at their first meeting in October. Superintendent Rob Watson made a presentation on MCPS’ reopening plan. He said their COVID-19 mitigation strategies from last year will shift this school year. Watson told the Board there were s...
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS- In its 36th year honoring the nation's best high school athletes, Gatorade named 2021 Seeley-Swan High School graduate Klaire Kovatch its 2020-21 Gatorade Montana Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Kovatch is the first Gatorade Montana Girls Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from SSHS. The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field. Now a...
SALMON PRAIRIE - "We talked the teacher into letting us go up in the attic to see if we could kill some of the pack rats that were always up there. She went along with us for awhile until she couldn't get us to come down. I made the mistake of telling my folks about what I was doing instead of my studies." Karen Conley, a former student of Salmon Prairie Elementary School, told this story as it was recorded and published in the book, "Lake County School History, Vol. II' in the chapter on Swan...
SEELEY LAKE - Al died peacefully at home of natural causes, surrounded by his family. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Kenneth W. Foucar and Dorothea Allen. After serving in the Marine Corps, Al attended the University of Idaho, where he was a proud Kappa Sigma, earning a BS in Forestry. During these years he met and married the love of his life Barbara Rydell of Great Falls, who was studying nursing at Sacred Heart in Spokane. They spent 62 years as partners until her death in... Full story
SEELEY LAKE – Last Friday, Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Watson recommended Seeley Lake's Shawn Holmes to serve as the new principal at SSHS. He accepted the position and will replace current Principal Kellen Palmer who transferred to Washington Middle School in Missoula, Montana. Watson said in a letter to SSHS parents that they had many qualified candidates for this position. The interview and selection process was rigorous and thorough including a formal interview with sta...
SEELEY LAKE - The Missoula Education Foundation and Missoula County Public Schools recognized Seeley-Swan High School seniors Kess Victor and Quinlan Ream as the school's Most Inspiring Students. The students were presented with their awards at the MCPS banquet April 22. According to Principal Kellen Palmer, the nominators look for students who have overcome adversity and have been an inspiration to staff and students alike. "It's just someone that's gone above and beyond and has really set a...
5 Montana Legislature Adjourns after Near-Marijuana Meltdown and Bill-Resurrecting Blitz The 67th Montana Legislature adjourned on Thursday, April 29, following a week filled with policies brought back from the dead and capped by a failed high-stakes gamble by conservative Republicans to rewrite a major portion of the recreational marijuana plan passed just days earlier. Both chambers adjourned “sine die” -- a Latin phrase meaning “without assigning another day to meet” -- just minutes apart, with Republicans touting a laundry list of bill... Full story
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake community members and visitors had the opportunity to meet the top five candidates for the Seeley-Swan High School principal position at a Meet-and-Greet event April 30. Current Principal Kellen Palmer resigned his position effective at the end of this year. Candidates included Daniel Grabowska, John Stilson, Thomas Vail, Shawn Holmes and Edward Norman. Attendees were able to ask candidates questions and provide written feedback on forms outside the event. Missoula...
The 67th Montana Legislature has adjourned, capping four months of work in an unprecedented hybrid session as the state and the nation struggle to end the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than 1,300 bills introduced, 500 passed and 350 signed into law, the 2021 session saw conservatives advance a flood of legislation to the governor’s desk, fueled by the presence of a Republican in the state’s highest office for the first time in 16 years. Much of that legislation dealt with fallout from the pandemic, even as the Legislature combated the virus in... Full story
The Missoula Education Foundation (MEF) announced their #406vaxxedandproud incentive campaign Monday, April 26. The campaign’s goal is to get all 16-18-year olds in Missoula County vaccinated against COVID-19 by June 1. This will help reach the goal of 75% of the community vaccinated to achieve community immunity. Any 16-18-year-olds who live in Missoula County and are currently enrolled in a participating high school can enter once they have completed their first dose. Deadline to show proof of first dose is June 4. Students can show their vac... Full story
The Seeley-Swan High School track team competed at two meets last week starting April 13 at the Darby-Florence Invite in Corvallis and then back at Frenchtown for the Bronc Open April 16. This week the team competes April 22 at the Sapphire Twilight Meet in Corvallis and then hosts the SSHS invitational at the Missoula County Public Schools stadium in Missoula April 24. Seeley Swan’s full stats from the Darby-Florence Invite. PR indicates Personal Record Girls 100 - 5. Emily Maughan, 13.65 PR; 9. Hannah Ayers, 14.11; 18. Trista Alexander, 1...
Loving Hearts now open Saturdays SEELEY LAKE – Loving Hearts Thrift Store is now open Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. This is in addition to regular hours on Wednesday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Loving Hearts is fully stocked with clothing, household goods, books, toys and more. Volunteers manage and staff the store and all the proceeds go back into the Seeley Lake community. They appreciate your patience and understanding through the pandemic and look forward to seeing you. Masks are still required to be worn in the store. Community Meet-...
OVANDO - Ovando citizens came together Tuesday, March 30 in the Ovando School gym for a community meeting to review updates from local town boards and discuss upcoming events. Events discussed were Town Clean-up Day, Fourth of July, and the citywide garage sale and farmer's market. Blackfoot Challenge Office Administrator Deb Dillree and Ovando School Supervising Teacher Leigh Ann Valiton facilitated the meeting. Organizers confirmed that Town Clean-up Day will officially take place at 10 a.m....
Montana House Approves Draft of Bill to Spend $3 Billion in Federal COVID-19 Relief; Senate Panel Advances Budget Ahead of a key deadline on April 8, the Montana Legislature is quickly advancing a bill to spend billions in federal COVID-19 dollars as guidelines for how that money can be spent continue to roll in. House Bill 632, sponsored by Rep. Frank Garner, R-Kalispell, and dubbed the “Beast Bill” by lawmakers, advanced out of the House Appropriations Committee on Monday, March 29, and cleared the full House on an 83-14 vote just three days... Full story
HAMILTON, MONTANA – At their first meet of the season March 25, the Seeley-Swan High School Blackhawks took to the Hamilton Golf Course in force. The Lady Blackhawks were the only school at the meet to have five players for a team. They won the meet with Tegan Mauldin and Bethany Hoag leading the Ladies. The Blackhawks placed second behind Clark Fork with Casey Carver leading the Blackhawks finishing in 13th place. This year the golf team has 13 players, eight boys and five girls. SSHS P...
MISSOULA COUNTY - Earlier in March, President Joe Biden sent out a federal order making teachers and school staff across the country eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This allocation came at no hindrance to the vaccine supply that was already expected to be given out to Montanans who now qualify for Phase 1b plus of the distribution plan. Seeley Lake Elementary School Superintendent Josh Gibbs said after Biden's announcement, the process of organizing a vaccination clinic at the school... Full story
“Open Cut 2.0” Bill would Ease Regulations on Gravel Pit Permit Applications A bill seeking to ease permitting requirements for gravel pits in rural areas and make it harder to call a public hearing on new facilities is drawing clear battle lines in the Montana Legislature, as property owners say it cuts them out of the process. In a hearing that lasted for more than two hours on Monday, March 15, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Steve Gunderson, R-Libby, called the bill -- House Bill 599 -- “Open Cut 2.0,” which he said built off the provision... Full story
Lawmakers Hear Bill to Combat Drug, Sex Trafficking in Montana A bill drafted with the help of former Republican state Senator Dr. Al Olszewski would add a new set of signs to Montana’s highways and airports greeting visitors with notice of a reward for information leading to the prosecution of drug and sex traffickers. Senate Bill 333, sponsored by Sen. Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, seeks to break down what Molnar called a “culture of trust” in drug and human trafficking circles by offering $50,000 to anyone who gives law enforcement infor... Full story
SEELEY LAKE - Members of the Seeley Lake Elementary School Board unanimously approved a second round of board policy updates in their 2000’s series during a meeting Wednesday, Feb. 17. Superintendent Josh Gibbs also provided updates on the School Improvement Team’s efforts as well as other various aspects of the school. Policy updates included: • Removing the Montana Digital Academy policy because it is already a part of state law. • Using the old library policy for members of the public because it is more in-depth. • Removing a policy around d...
Bills Aim to Reduce Prescription Drug Costs in Montana A House committee tabled a bill in the Montana Legislature that would have limited copays for insulin to $35 for a month’s supply after it drew support from families and healthcare providers who say the price of the drug has become otherwise unaffordable. Rep. Jessica Karjala, D-Billings, presented House Bill 222 to members of the House Human Services Committee on Monday, Feb. 1. “The bottom line is that the price of insulin with insurance has become prohibitive, and often, out of rea...
HELENA – During his first press conference of 2021 Tuesday, Jan. 5, newly elected Montana Governor Greg Gianforte announced his plan to eventually rescind the statewide mask mandate after vaccines are distributed. He said that he is also waiting to receive legislation that will protect businesses, schools, places of worship and nonprofits from lawsuits so long as they "make a good faith effort to protect individuals from the spread of the coronavirus and follow clear public health g... Full story