Sorted by date Results 2200 - 2224 of 6337
MISSOULA COUNTY - The Missoula City-County Board of Health voted 6 to 1 to make several revisions to the County’s current COVID-19 mitigation requirements during a virtual meeting Thursday, Feb. 18. These revisions include: 1. Increasing event capacities from 25 to 50 for indoors and 100 for outdoors. 2. Removing capacity limits except as necessary to meet distancing requirements. 3. Removing certain restrictions on businesses including, but not limited to: fitness facilities, pools, places of worship and assembly, personal care businesses, r...
The Joe Biden-Kamala Harris Administration and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are making operational changes to the U.S. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in order to create more equitable relief for American small businesses according to a press release. The SBA will: • Establish a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees. • Allow sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s fundi...
SEELEY LAKE – At their Feb. 16 meeting, the Seeley Lake Fire Board listened to letters written by Fire Chief Dave Lane and Board Chair Scott Kennedy in response to a letter dated Jan. 14 from the Missoula County Commissioners. It was sent to Board Chair Scott Kennedy and Sam Hunthausen, executive officer of the State Board of Medical Examiners. Lane read his response to the Commissioners’ letter. This was also provided to the Pathfinder and parts were included in the Jan. 21 article “Commissioners discuss concerns regarding Seeley Lake Ambul...
SEELEY LAKE - Developers of a proposed 13-lot residential subdivision held a virtual neighborhood meeting Tuesday, Feb. 16 to go over initial details for the project. Paul Forsting, IMEG Corporation land use planner, presented the aspects of the subdivision. The 200-acre property site is owned by John Richards. It is located between Camp Utmost Way and Blanchard Creek Road off of Highway 200 in Greenough. Forsting added there was a similar neighborhood meeting a couple of years ago over a subdiv...
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...
Following the close of the Special District filing deadline Feb. 8, the Seeley Lake Rural Fire District is currently the only Special District election that will appear on the May 4 mail-in ballot. However, citizens can apply to be a write-in candidate until March 1 for Special Districts and April 1 for School Districts. If someone does apply as a write-in candidate, this could trigger an election if there are more candidates than positions. However, their name would not appear on the ballot. The School District filings remain open until 5...
AARP Montana invites community organizations and local governments across the state to apply for the 2021 Community Challenge grant program, now through April 14. Grants fund quick-action projects that can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to several thousand or tens of thousands for larger projects. Now in its fifth year, the grant program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for p...
Memorial donations for Sandy Berry SEELEY LAKE – Due to the closing of the Paws Up Safe Home Animal Shelter in Potomac, those wishing to honor Sandy Berry can make donations in her name to Hazel and Owen Tyler at 1270 Copper Cliff Drive, Potomac, MT, 59823 or a charity of their choosing. The Tylers operated the no kill animal shelter that is closing Feb. 28. They will continue to support the animals that were not adopted. ROCKS ice rink open SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake ROCKS Ice Rink in the Seeley Lake Elementary field is open with a lar...
Montana Constitutional Amendment would Establish Protections for Electronic Messages The Montana Legislature is considering a bill proponents say will offer increased clarity and protections for privacy in the digital age. Senate Bill 203, sponsored by Sen. Kenneth Bogner, R-Miles City, seeks to ask voters to amend Montana’s Constitution to add language to Article II, Section 11 that would explicitly protect electronic data and communications from illegal searches and seizures. At the bill’s first hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 16, Bogner described t...
Nine years ago, doctors diagnosed Caden Shrauger with stage-four neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that developed in his nerve cells and spread throughout his body. At the time, doctors told his family he had a 50% chance of survival. Caden underwent numerous rounds of treatment to fight back, and eventually, he won his battle -- but not before the chemotherapy damaged his hearing. Now, the 12-year-old Bozeman boy is on his second pair of hearing aids, which, he told lawmakers on the Montana House Human Services Committee, help him do everything...
SEELEY LAKE - Former Seeley-Swan High School (SSHS) student Owen Mercado and his mother Deidre Lechowski-Mercado are suing the school and the Missoula County Public School District (MCPS) alleging that the school and its staff members were made aware of discriminatory behavior and were negligent in the handling of multiple harassment reports. MCPS largely denied that reports were made on the family’s part addressing discrimination that took place on school grounds. The lawsuit was filed in Federal Court Jan. 21. Three students, a deputy county...
MISSOULA - Homeschooled Junior Grace Wilson of Seeley Lake has culminated her passion for musical theater as she takes the stage as Shrek in Missoula Children's Theatre's (MCT) adaptation of Shrek The Musical JR. The production will air virtually Feb. 20-21. This is the first time she is performing without a live audience. "I think it'll be good because we can still put on a play and ... we can still have people see our performance," Wilson said. "I'm willing to bet that a lot more people will...
SEELEY LAKE – In 1965 Jeff Wisehart moved from New Mexico to San Jose, California, where he lived with his sister while attending West Valley College. He said California at that time was beautiful, though he was a bit disappointed to discover there were not 10 girls for every guy, as his buddies had assured him. But it didn't matter whether he was happy with the move or not, the Vietnam draft caught up with him. At the induction center in Oakland, California, Wisehart was asked "Army or N...
MISSOULA COUNTY - The Missoula City-County Board of Health announced a series of recommended changes to be made to Missoula County’s current COVID-19 mitigation requirements during a virtual meeting Friday, Feb. 12. These revisions will be up for consideration at an upcoming meeting at 12:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 18. In October, MCCHD set a goal for the County that if the daily incidence rate went below 25 for two consecutive weeks, then the Department would consider relaxing certain restrictions. This is based on the seven day average in d...
SEELEY LAKE - J&E Contracting Owner-Operator Ed Jungers received Montana Tree Farm Program's (MTFP) 2020 Logger of the Year. Jungers started the logging company with his father John over 20 years ago. Part of the reason he was nominated was for his early adoption of Cut-to-Length (CTL) logging equipment in the state of Montana. According to the MTFP Facebook post recognizing Jungers, CTL is an "innovative approach to forest management [and] is particularly adept at utilizing small diameter...
POTOMAC - At their Feb. 8 meeting, the Potomac School Board voted four to one to approve the Potomac Education Association (PEA) contract for 2021-2023. This new contract would result in a $4,024.25 salary raise for all teachers regardless of experience. In other business, the board approved the permissive levy, continued working through policy updates and the eighth grade class provided an update on their class trip. Principal John Rouse said that Gov. Greg Gianforte intends to increase starting teacher pay through House Bill 143 which adds...
SEELEY LAKE - In response to public feedback, the Lolo National Forest is extending the public comment period for the North Fork Blackfoot River Native Fish Restoration Project for an additional 30 days or through March 12. Located in the Scapegoat Wilderness on the Seeley Lake and Lincoln Ranger Districts in Powell and Lewis and Clark counties, the project would authorize Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) to implement fish management and stocking actions within the wilderness to establish a secure population of native trout. “Thank you t...
HELENA – Montana families are closer to accessing the information they need about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout thanks to a newly launched online resource center from AARP Montana. The site offers up-to-date information as well as answers to frequently asked questions about how to navigate the vaccination process in Montana. The resource guide is available by visiting aarp.org/mtvaccine. “We have received many calls, emails and texts from people trying to figure out how to receive a vaccine,” said AARP Montana State Director Tim Summers. “We l...
SEELEY LAKE – At their Feb. 9 meeting, the Seeley-Swan Hospital District Board received updates regarding vaccinations, Karen Ayers’ resignation at the Seeley-Swan Medical Center, Lazy Acres RV Park Subdivision and the sewer bond election. Partnership Health Center representative Abby Berow reported that 204 PHC patients were vaccinated Feb. 8 at the drive-thru Vaccination Clinic at Seeley-Swan High School. Everyone who received their first dose will return Feb. 28 to receive their second dose. Berow said PHC was responsible for scheduling the...
It used to be said Eskimos had 100 different words for snow. Now the word "Eskimo" is largely considered a pejorative term and has been replaced by Alaskan Native. With that change comes the understanding that there is no one "Eskimo" language, so the claim of 100 different words in it is a non-issue. But there is no need to look to foreign languages to find multiple names for snow. According to the Farmers' Almanac, English itself has at least 40 different terms for that cold, white,...
The community members and families of Seeley Lake and Swan Valley have stepped up to support Seeley-Swan High School (SSHS) this school year. Usually, the members of the Club are showcased on signs in gymnasium for all to see. However, this year, games are not open to everyone who wishes to come and cheer. A list of Club members is below. The Club was able to provide Blackhawk logo masks for the entire student body and to the sports teams. As usual, the Boosters will support the athletic teams...
The Seeley-Swan turned into a winter wonderland over the weekend. The Seeley Lake Ranger District officially reported 31 inches of snow from 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5 – Monday morning around 10 a.m. By the end of the weekend, the North Fork Jocko Snotel Site added 33 inches of snow to the 62 inches on the ground. This week a few readers continued to share their fun in the snow....
Seeley Lake Community Council vacancy filled SEELEY LAKE – At their Feb. 4 meeting, the Missoula County Commissioners appointed Seeley Lake resident Sharon Teague to the Seeley Lake Community Council. Teague and Seeley Lake resident John Richards applied for the vacancy. Teague will fill the remainder of Kris Martin’s vacant term through May 31, 2023 at which point she will have to apply for reelection to remain on the Council. Teague was welcomed to the Council at their Feb. 9 meeting. To view the recording of the meeting visit htt...
Look What’s Law: Governor Signs Bill Reducing COVID-19 Liability, Rolls Back Mask Mandate Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed into law a major COVID-19 liability bill, which soared through the Montana Legislature during its first month. Senate Bill 65, sponsored by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, greatly reduces the extent to which businesses, healthcare professionals, and manufacturers of personal protective equipment are liable for harm related to COVID-19. The bill sets a higher bar for lawsuits, changing the standard from ...
Casey Olson has been on a drill rig since 1991. Back then, Olson worked at a mineral exploration company, and though the work was “break-back,” learning the equipment wasn’t too difficult. Fast forward 30 years later, he’s now running Rabco Services as an independent well drilling contractor in Columbia Falls and Olson says the technology is rapidly outpacing the knowledge of new workers, which are hard enough to find as it is. “We’re trying to target younger guys, we take older guys -- we take whoever wants to come,” Olson said in a phone in...
