Sorted by date Results 2175 - 2199 of 6337
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...
Life may now seem turned upside down by the coronavirus and recent school closure and event cancellations but Alpine Artisans would like to encourage parents and high school seniors to think positive. We're beginning to see the light at the end of the 'Coronavirus pandemic tunnel' and Alpine Artisans (AAI) encourages parents and high school students to consider the grants and scholarships we offer. Does your K-12 student want to attend lessons or a summer camp in music, drama or any of the...
POTOMAC - Members of the Potomac School Board unanimously voted to deny an amended Potomac Greenough Community Center (PGCC) lease agreement for 2021-2022 during a special meeting Monday, Feb. 22. Earlier in the meeting, the Board unanimously approved the Potomac Association of Classified Employees (PACE) contract for 2021-2023 as well as the Principal’s contract for 2021-2022 with slight revisions made to both. The School Board met Tuesday, Feb. 18 where they discussed the lease and made initial amendments to it. The lease they approved at t...
HELENA - Two bills sponsored by House District 92 Representative Mike Hopkins (R-Missoula) regarding freedom of expression on college campuses have passed the Montana House of Representatives and are set to move on to the Montana State Senate. If approved these would both be passed into state law. House Bill 349 would allow campus organizations to exclude people based on their beliefs as well as prevent universities from expelling students based on their speech. It passed on third reading 67-33 Feb. 23. According to Hopkins, this bill protects...
SEELEY LAKE - Veterans and Families of Seeley Lake surprised two of the group's oldest veterans, 90 years young, with U.S. American flags that were flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Veterans and Families President Barbara Knopp said they awarded Glenn Truett (left) and Scott Edwards (right with mask next to veteran Elden Barbieri) the flags to honor their service to their country. Truett served six years in the Army and Edwards served four years in the Navy as a Seabee both during the...
Two bills giving the Legislature and other elected officials more oversight of emergency declarations and local health mandates passed the Montana House Monday. House Bill 121 and House Bill 230 are the products of several related proposals brought by lawmakers in response to local health orders that some have criticized for failing to consider their effects on local economies or failing to include elected officials in the decision-making. Broadly, the two bills would limit the authority of public health officials and the governor. Both passed...
Missoula County Community and Planning Services is now accepting nominations for the annual Land Stewardship Award. The award recognizes landowners and residents who are taking stewardship of land and water seriously and embarking on projects and practices that make a difference for land, water, forests, wildlife and communities. Community members and organizations are invited to nominate landowners and residents who are restoring, protecting or enhancing land and natural resources to ensure natural systems are maintained and strengthened. The...
Montana joined at least half a dozen other states last month in asking the federal government to waive its required standardized testing for schoolchildren this spring. But under a new directive issued by the U.S. Department of Education last week, schools across the state will be required to administer the testing this year, despite the ongoing pandemic. In a letter announcing the decision, the department said standardized test results will be critical in gauging the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on learning, and will give parents an i...
Satellite Office closed March 11 SEELEY LAKE - The Missoula County Treasurer’s Satellite Office (3360 Highway 83N) will be closed on Thursday, March 11. They will resume regular hours March 25 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., closed for lunch 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Winter Snowshoe March 14 SEELEY LAKE – Clearwater Resource Council invites everyone to its first, socially-distanced nature walk event March 14 from 12 – 3 p.m. The walk will leave from the Canoe Trailhead at the Seeley Lake Ranger Station. Gather friends, grab your snowshoes and join...
Lawmakers Race to Introduce Bills Before Key Deadline; House Committee Holds Marathon Hearings As the Legislature approaches the halfway point of the session -- and a key deadline for general bills -- one House committee heard more than 50 bills in four days, imposing strict time limits on testimony and raising questions about transparency and public access. That deadline -- called “transmittal” -- falls on Wednesday, March 3, the halfway point of the Legislative Session and the last day for all bills, except those that appropriate state fun...
For two whole days in October, the sounds of shattering glass and blood-scrubbing brushes rocked Ruby’s Cafe in Missoula -- a charming, 40s-style diner owned by Brenda Hallas. She spent the days in her basement office, listening to the chaos without a worry in her mind. In fact, given the chance, she said she’d invite the noisemakers back for another round. “I really hope if something comes up again, and they need a diner again, they’re going to call us,” Hallas said in a phone call. “I want to have a rapport with these people.” When the crew...
Just after sunrise Saturday, Jan. 9, local wolf trapper Rob Henrekin fired up his snowmobile to check his trapline, something he has done every day since the wolf season opened Dec. 15. While he had seen tracks from a pair of wolves Dec. 24, he had not had a single visit to his 40+ foothold traps. "It is such a rush everyday, even when I don't catch a wolf," said Henrekin. "If I'm just patient and everything is working, they will be back. Whether I catch them or not is unknown but I'll have a...
SEELEY LAKE - Both of the Sewer Bonds up for election Feb. 23 failed by a large margin. The preliminary results for the Phase 1 Bond was 33 Yes, 80 No. For the Plant, 98 voters approved and 198 voted against. Results are preliminary until canvassed. The Sewer Board's next meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. Visit https://seeleysewer.org/ for how to participate in the virtual meeting....
SEELEY LAKE – Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 was officially proclaimed Klaus von Stutterheim Day by the Missoula County Commissioners. The Proclamation honors Von Stutterheim's many years of service to Seeley Lake and Missoula County and urges all Missoula County residents to emulate his example by giving back to their friends, neighbors and community in a way that leaves this place better than they found it. The Commissioners chose to name a day after Von Stutterheim because of his many years of l...
SEELEY LAKE - The Missoula County Sheriff's Office honored five individuals at a ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 16 for their life-saving actions following a September plane crash north of Seeley Lake Airport. The individuals recognized include Seeley-Swan Search and Rescue (SSSAR) volunteers Matt Pitman, Jason Ayers and Kal Kovatch, Civilian Mike Lindemer and U.S. Forest Service Federal Officer Tyler Robinson. Around 10 p.m. Sept. 12, 2020, SSSAR and local law enforcement responded to a report that an...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Community Foundation (SLCF) helps local groups fund important community projects. In this capacity, the SLCF strives to be a community resource and catalyst for innovative approaches to improving the quality of life in Seeley Lake. We’re pleased to announce the 2021 SLCF Community Grants, awarded to projects benefitting Seeley Lake: • $1,575 to Recycling Works to start a Rural Glass Recycling Project in Seeley Lake, with a local glass drop-off location open to the public and emptied regularly. • $2,425 to Seele...
