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This week, Health Officer Ellen Leahy issued new COVID-19 guidance and requirements for long-term care, assisted living, and retirement homes with communal spaces operating in Missoula County. These new requirements take into consideration that many residents have been offered voluntary COVID-19 vaccination, yet not all residents and staff have been vaccinated for COVID- 19 and transmission of COVID-19 is still occurring in Missoula County and Montana. Facilities under the facility-specific health officer orders shall follow the listed rules...
Following a nationwide search, the Missoula City-County Board of Health will consider four finalists to replace outgoing Health Officer Ellen Leahy when she retires in June after serving in that role for more than 30 years. There will be several opportunities this week for the public to participate in the process, including community meetings with each candidate. These meetings will feature representatives from a broad cross-section of interests, including BIPOC and LGBTQ communities; area healthcare providers and emergency services; bars,...
OVANDO - Trixi's Antler Saloon will venture into a new phase as co-owners Cindy and Ray Francis pass the bar and restaurant to their son Ryan Zavarelli and his wife Tiffanie April 1. Cindy said they are excited for Ryan and Tiffanie to take over because it will allow the business to stay in the family for the third generation in a row. The saloon has been operating in Ovando since 1960. The building was originally an old barrack from Fort Harrison that the original owner Trixi McCormick paid $1...
POTOMAC - Potomac teacher Kristina Davis received the Montana Environmental Educational Association's (MEEA) Formal Educator of the Year Award. She will be officially recognized virtually March 25 at the MEEA's annual conference. Davis has taught math and science at Potomac School for the last 12 years. When Davis was a young student herself, she loved field trips and even more so now as an educator. She said it is a great way to teach her first love, wildlife biology, to the students and...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley-Swan High School 2020 graduate Terra Bertsch recently signed with the University of Providence in Great Falls to compete in track and basketball. Bertsch took a semester of classes at Montana State University in Bozeman before deciding to transfer to the University of Providence in the fall 2021. As part of agreeing to compete for both teams, she was offered a full-ride scholarship. She was happy that she could work her schedule around both sports so she could remain...
SEELEY LAKE - The Lolo National Forest issued a decision on the Westside Bypass Wildfire Resiliency Project on the Seeley Lake Ranger District. The project area is located on National Forest lands about two miles northwest of Seeley Lake. The project will help address existing fuel and vegetation conditions that contribute to an increased risk of severe wildfire in areas adjacent to state and private lands. “Implementation of portions of this project could begin as soon as this spring season,” said Quinn Carver, Seeley Lake District Ran...
Missoula County and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will host an open house for the public Thursday, March 18 to review the new FEMA Clearwater River preliminary floodplain maps. The virtual open house will take place from 6 -7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Anyone interested in attending the open house can register online at http://bit.ly/ClearwaterOH. At the open house, staff will provide an overview of the preliminary maps, discuss proposed changes and answer questions about flood insurance, mapping and regulations. The...
The Missoula City-County Health Department (MCCHD) is now offering asymptomatic testing to certain occupations at the Flynn Lane Clinic and Mobile Testing Clinic. As of Monday, March 8, Missoula County residents in the following occupations may sign up for testing: healthcare workers; school personnel (including teachers, aides, janitors, etc.); first responders; grocery store, food service and gym employees; public transit employees (includes school bus drivers); personal care workers (hair stylists, massage therapists, tattoo artists, etc.);...
Invasive zebra mussels found another avenue for potential infestation of Montana waters. Montana, Fish, Wildlife & Parks was notified Wednesday that zebra mussels were detected in aquarium moss balls sold at a pet store in Washington state. FWP immediately checked pet stores around Montana and found invasive mussels in moss balls at multiple locations. It appears these moss balls were imported from the Ukraine to a distributor in California and were shipped to pet stores nationwide. The facility that imports the moss balls has been quarantined...
Being an owner of forested property can bring many upkeep duties. Thinning, burning, road work and monitoring for health can keep a property owner pretty busy. Windstorms this winter have damaged many trees and can make a mess. Unfortunately, these trees become a "buffet" for beetle activity and the insects can spread to healthy trees if not dealt with in a timely fashion. Most forest insects occur naturally throughout Montana, but with some careful planning and cleanup, you can prevent the spre...
SEELEY LAKE - As the anniversary of COVID-19 coming into the U.S. passes, the majority of its citizens have experienced an unprecedented period of social isolation. The threat of the virus makes it difficult for certain institutions to be fully functional and for individuals to socialize how they normally would. Local Therapist Kim Heninger LCPC, LAC, LLC said there is an “insidious depression” that sets in over time as a result of extended isolation. This can result in a “void” that needs constant fulfillment. “I don’t want to make a gene...
SEELEY LAKE – One of the Alpine Artisans'(AAI) programs formerly on COVID-19 hiatus Zoom-ed back to life March 6. The first Zoom Open Book Club event featured critically acclaimed author Russell Rowland with his newest book "Cold Country." Pre-COVID, Grizzly Claw Trading Company provided the venue for area residents to gather and listen to authors read from their latest works and respond to audience questions. While the Zoom format may have dampened what many author guests have described as t...
SEELEY LAKE – Riding a snowmobile before he could walk and driving his own at age three, Kyle Huestis was hooked on horsepower at a young age. After opening Freshies Built with his wife Lee in 2016 and moving to Seeley Lake in December 2018, they have grown from a mechanic shop of favors to shipping customized snowmobiles across the country to now offering guiding, clinics and a vacation rental for their guests. They strive to offer the best, all inclusive snowmobile and backcountry service t...
HELENA – Seeley-Swan High School graduates Gabrielle "Gabby" Sexton and Nicole Williams were among 81 Montana students who received a $1,000 Reach Higher Montana Scholarship for use in the 2021-2022 academic year. Scholarships were awarded to Montana students and must be used at accredited Montana colleges. Reach Higher Montana Programs Manager Rhonda Safford said this year they had more than 800 applicants for the 81 scholarships. "It is quite competitive," Safford wrote in an email. More t...
Seeley Lake Community Council seeks applicants for vacant term MISSOULA - The Missoula County commissioners are accepting applications for one vacant term on the Seeley Lake Community Council. The term runs through May 31, 2021. Because the remainder of the vacant term is so short and election filing deadlines have passed, the appointed member’s term will automatically renew to a new three-year term. If the commissioner-appointed member would like to continue serving beyond May 31, 2024, they must file as a candidate in the 2024 s...
Despite all the challenges brought by the pandemic, lawmakers in the 67th Montana Legislative Session are wasting no time in pushing through a deluge of bills -- some new and untested, some vetoed numerous times before, but all being considered in a new light with a Republican governor in office for the first time in 16 years. Wednesday, March 3 marked the halfway point of the session and a key deadline called “transmittal.” Any general policy bills not attached to the state budget that have not advanced from the house they originated in are...
Montana House and Senate Adjourn for Mid-Session Break After Breakneck Floor Sessions After days of marathon sessions, the Montana House of Representatives and Senate adjourned for a nearly week-long break, having advanced more than 200 bills between the two houses in just two days. The break falls on the “transmittal” deadline, in which all bills that don’t have spending attached must advance from the house they originate in, or are considered effectively dead. This session, the week leading up to transmittal brought a flood of bills that...
HELENA - An amended version of a bill that would place no more than 39% of out-of-state elk and deer tags into an “early bird” limited outfitter pool has caused debate in the Montana State Senate resulting in its original sponsor voting against the newest version. A second reading of Senate Bill 143 amended passed in the Senate 27-23 Feb. 23. The bill’s sponsor, Senate District 43 Representative Jason Ellsworth (R-Hamilton), originally brought the bill forward with the intention of providing stability to outfitters. It would give them a selec...
SWAN VALLEY - When Unleashed in the Swan owner Kathy Koors of Condon agreed to help foster two dogs while a married couple from Kalispell recovered from COVID-19, she did not expect to continue caring for them once those owners died from the disease. She and other local animal care workers are now encouraging residents, especially elderly ones, to plan ahead for their mortality specifically regarding their pets. Koors found out about the fostering opportunity from Flathead Animal Clinic. She...
SEELEY LAKE - Voters in the Seeley Lake Sewer District rejected a pair of bonds by a 70% margin Feb. 23 that were proposed to pay for construction of a wastewater treatment plant and Phase 1 of the collection system. As a result of the failed election, the Sewer District Board received a letter canceling the primary funding package. The results of the election were discussed at a Feb. 24 Board meeting where Director Walt Hill also resigned his position on the Board. The General Obligation bond for the treatment plant was turned down by a vote...
SEELEY LAKE - Claire Muller, Seeley Lake Community Foundation, executive director, gave updates on how the funding from the $2,000 Reimagining Rural grant was distributed. The original plan was to use the majority of the funding towards providing complementary outdoor Christmas lights to Seeley Lake businesses and homeowners with the remainder going to general Winterfest expenses. Those who took the lights do not have to return them to the Foundation and can reuse them for years to come. Muller said they spent almost $1,300 on lights with...
The Lolo National Forest is moving forward with implementing fee changes for developed recreation sites as recommended by the Sanders, Mineral, Missoula and Tri County Resource Advisory Committees, and as approved by the Regional Forester. Revenue generated at these sites is retained by the Lolo National Forest and provides critical support for maintaining high-quality recreation experiences and funding maintenance and improvements. The changes to campground fees will take effect for the 2021 summer season and changes to rentals and lookout...
Spring is coming and that means the start to outdoor burning in the county! The General Outdoor Burning Season opened March 1 in Missoula County. If you are planning to burn, please remember that all outdoor burning requires a Missoula County outdoor burn permit and the only material that may be disposed of by burning is untreated wood and vegetation generated onsite. Permits cost $7 and can be purchased or renewed online at www.burnpermit.mt.gov or in person at most local fire protection agencies. Some agencies may be closed to the public due...
SEELEY LAKE - The next meeting of the Seeley Lake Community Council will be this Monday, March 8 at 6 p.m. It will be held via Zoom, and the instructions for sign-on are at the end of this release. The first speaker will be Cindy Farr, Incident Commander - COVID-19 Response, Missoula City-County Health Department. Cindy will give an update on vaccination programs and progress in Missoula County. The second speaker will be Jean Curtiss, Manager of the Seeley Lake Sewer District. Curtiss will discuss the recent sewer election. Our third speaker w...
In normal, non-pandemic years, Alpine Artisans, Inc's Open Book Club (OBC) brings people together on a Saturday evening nearly once a month. There, we enjoy rubbing shoulders with an accomplished author, we listen to them read their work, and if we're lucky, we kick off the evening with a Seeley-Swan High School student reading their poetry. OBC founder Sara Wilcox said, "It's been a long year without these gatherings, we miss the inspiration and connection we have with friends, community and...
