Sorted by date Results 2754 - 2778 of 6337
SEELEY LAKE – Busy campgrounds across the Seeley Lake Ranger District are experiencing an uptick in bear activity prompting Forest officials to remind visitors to be “Bear Aware” and store food and other attractants properly. In the past two weeks, multiple bear sightings have occurred at Big Larch and Seeley Lake Campgrounds. At times, bears have come within 10 feet of humans and dogs, they have been spotted investigating tents, vehicles and coolers looking for food rewards. No injuries to humans or pets have occurred. “We are working with ou...
As Montana's aging population continues to grow (18.9% of Montanans are now 65 or older), rural residents face the same aging challenges as their urban counterparts but often with fewer resources. A low-cost, high-benefit strength-training program offered through Montana State University Extension may be one solution for how seniors living in small towns can access a fitness program that will help them age well. The StrongPeople program helps participants of any age increase their joint flexibil...
SEELEY LAKE – While delayed for a month due to the coronavirus, the annual Cakes for Canines donation breakfast was a huge success again this year. All proceeds support Paws Up Safe Home Animal Shelter in Potomac. "People were very generous," said Operator Hazel Tyler. "We saw a lot of friends and saw a lot of people that we hadn't seen because of COVID-19. Everyone seemed to have a good time, I know I did." In addition to the pancake, bacon and egg breakfast, there were items to bid on and a ra...
SEELEY LAKE – Built 80 years ago, Camp Paxson, on the southwest shore of Seeley Lake, has been a confluence of natural, cultural and commercial history hosting a summer camp for boy scouts and various other youth organizations, events and schools. This year it returns to a historical use, opening its doors to welcome firefighters. In the early 1940s, it was the place were conscientious objectors trained to be smokejumpers. Today, it is lodging the Seeley Lake Ranger District fire crew in l...
This spring, area students received degrees and were recognized on university Dean’s Lists for academic excellence. University Graduates The University of Montana had 1,863 students who are degree candidates for spring semester 2020. Samuel Aldeen of Condon received a Bachelor of Arts: History. He graduated magna cum laude with a GPA of 3.7-3.83. Kaila Olson of Potomac received a Bachelor of Arts in Education: Elementary Education. Olson graduated cum laude with a 3.4-3.69 cumulative GPA and was on the President’s List for the spring sem...
Each year, Missoula Electric Cooperative awards 15 $1,000 scholarships to local students who are working to achieve their educational goals in Montana. This year four area students received a regular scholarship: Amy Ostertag, University of Montana (District 5 - Seeley Lake / Condon); Rachel Bemis, University of Montana (District 5 - Seeley Lake / Condon); Lars Erickson, Hellgate High School (District 6 – Helmville / Ovando/Potomac) and McKoy Gebhardt, Helena High School (District 6 – Helmville / Ovando/Potomac). Trenton Crowe, Highlands Col...
SEELEY LAKE- The Veterans and Families of Seeley Lake (VFSL) said they are preparing to replace the current veterans' memorial off Highway 83 before Veterans Day 2020. The plan is to replace the existing wooden signs with a more long-lasting structure in the same location. "[The current name plates] are wood plaques, and every year we have to [restore] them, or at least part of them," said VFSL member Darryl Wolery. "The longer they are in the weather the less time they will stay nice." The...
SEELEY LAKE - "This was a dream come true but a dream I never knew I had," said Sarina Gilpin, new owner of Deer Country Quilts. "If you would have asked me 10 years ago, I would not have thought this is what I would want to do with my life." Gilpin, who has worked at the quilt store since 2014, looks forward to carrying on the legacy of quilting in the valley and continuing to be a destination quilt store. Her mission continues to revolve around customer service and providing a safe place for...
MISSOULA – Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Robert L. (Dusty) Deschamps, III denied a Writ of Mandamus that would have forced the Missoula County Elections Administrator (EA) to approve two citizens’ initiative petitions for collection of signatures. Attorney Colleen Dowdall filed the petition for the Writ in January of 2020 on behalf of a pair of landowners in the Seeley Lake Sewer District, Don Larson and Tom Morris. The two citizens’ initiative petitions in question were filed with the EA in 2019 with one filed by SLSD resident Frann...
SWAN VALLEY - "You were top shelf. You looked out for younger kids at the school and we appreciated everything you brought to the table this year," said Principal Ralph King about the eighth graders to a handful of close family and friends at the Swan Valley School eighth grade graduation ceremony June 2. Each graduate was able to invite nine guests to the in-person ceremony. While it was different that previous years, where the whole community shows up to support the students, many of the...
MISSOULA - The Bureau of Land Management’s Missoula Field Office, in partnership with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, is asking for public comment on a proposal to allow overnight and/or multi-night float trip experiences at four float-in sites along the Blackfoot River. No float-in sites currently exist on BLM-managed lands, and only a few sites exist on private or other public lands. Collaboration over recreation on the Blackfoot River has existed since the 1970s with the development of the Blackfoot River Recreation Landowners agreement a...
SEELEY LAKE - Fourteen kindergarten students were promoted to first grade this year at Seeley Lake Elementary after they met all the requirements for kindergarten....
Miss and Mrs Montana 2020 at Tamaracks Resort June 13 SEELEY LAKE – The community (age 12 and older) is invited to come and watch the Miss Montana 2020 and Mrs Montana 2020 Pageants at Tamaracks Resort Woodland Venue Saturday, June 13 at 5 p.m. Everyone is asked to be seated by 4:30 p.m. and it is a suggested donation of $20 for Seeley Lake residents. All proceeds will support the pageant. For more information follow the Tamaracks Resort’s Facebook page Free Mobile COVID-19 testing clinics available weekly SEELEY LAKE - Missoula County res...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation released their decision regarding the Removal and Remediation of Elbow Lake Dam Project May 26. Instead of demolishing the dam as originally proposed, they instead will defer taking action for the time being and leave the structure to naturally degrade. “As stated in the draft Environmental Assessment (EA), the dam is illegal as it lacks the necessary authorization and accompanying water rights, and it is highly unlikely that those could be obtained i...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's Visitor Center will not look the same this year. After two years separated from the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitor Center locally known as "the Barn," the official Visitor Center returned to the Barn May 29 and will be managed by the Seeley Lake Historical Society. The Chamber is running remotely. In the past, the Chamber ran and staffed the Visitor Center in the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitors Center. The Chamber...
SEELEY LAKE - "Don't bring in a rocker - I don't need those kinds of things," Pearl Hawkins told Seeley Lake Elementary preschool teacher Sheila Devins on her first day as a foster grandparent. "I'm going to get down in the beanbags with the kids." Sixteen years later, "Grandma Pearl," nearly 78, is the longest-serving foster grandparent in Missoula County, having volunteered more than 17,400 hours in the preschool classroom. Hawkins laughed when she said she missed her calling as a preschool...
SEELEY LAKE – "When we toss these caps and hang up these robes, we will leave this place behind and find our own way," said Salutatorian Ella Batchelder highlighting the different paths she and her classmates will pursue following graduation. "We are resilient. We are the class that was born during 9-11, started sophomore year evacuated from our homes in the smoke of the Rice Ridge Fire and finished our schooling in Seeley Lake during a pandemic. We've got this." Adaptable, resilient, c...
Did you know the CARES Act allocated $1.25 billion just to Montana? This is IN ADDITION TO other funding Montanans have access to, like the SBA money (including the PPP and EIDL), unemployment money (including new availability for sole proprietors and independent contractors, plus $600/week extra for all) and the $1200 stimulus checks to individuals! And, did you know that Montana’s $1.25 billion in COVID-19 funding must be spent by the end of the calendar year? That’s great news during this stressful time, because this means more money wil... Full story
National Forests and Grasslands throughout the Northern Region, including the Lolo and Flathead National Forests, will continue to offer free firewood and other forest product gathering for personal use for the remainder of 2020. Starting June 1, the Forests are requiring the public to obtain a hard-copy permit in order to track harvesting and communicate important wildfire safety and collection information. "As the impacts from COVID-19 continue to be felt across the country, we remain committe...
At a press conference May 28, Governor Steve Bullock and the state of Montana prioritized preparing highly transited ‘destination communities’ for higher amounts of tourists as the state loosened interstate travel restrictions as a part of its Phase Two reopening plan. This includes adding additional resources for community testing and contact tracing in high-visitation communities, as well as an informational campaign to educate visitors on responsible travel and a grant program for small businesses across the state to implement safety mea... Full story
MISSOULA - On Thursday, May 28, the Missoula City-County Health Department amended local orders to embrace the Governor’s requirements for Phase 2, which take effect June 1. Missoula County offices will begin to reopen to the public with precautions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Starting Monday, per Governor Bullock’s directive, gyms, fitness studios, pools, restaurants and bars can move to 75% capacity providing that they can maintain six-foot distancing. Restaurants and bars can increase the number of people seated at tab... Full story
KALISPELL - Last month, the Flathead County Resource Advisory Committee and USFS Northern Regional Office approved fee changes for 12 rental cabins and the Spotted Bear and Lindbergh Lake campgrounds in Flathead National Forest. The changes come as part of a regional effort to better align prices with the services and amenities the areas provide. Most existing rental fees at Flathead National Forest have not been changed for over 15 years, with some dating back to 1999. The public was first notified about this proposal in 2017 with an early opp...
SWAN VALLEY – "Loss changes everything. Your way of life, your hopes, your dreams, your normal and your faith," wrote musician, teacher and video producer Katie Wright of the Swan Valley. Wright has transformed her love of music and God into a tangible connection that she hopes offers blessing and hope to others. After producing her initial film "The Gift" in 2017 she has expanded, creating four more productions each with their own motivation and purpose. Her most recent film, "Seek and Find" w...
SWAN VALLEY - Swan Valley School graduated four eighth graders June 2 in a closed, in-person ceremony. The students shared their favorite memory, someone who had impacted their lives at school and their teacher Colleen Harrington wrote a little about them....
SEELEY LAKE - The bear in front of the Grizzly Claw Trading Post on Highway 83 has been refurbished in an effort to signify a 'rebirth' to local businesses. Seeley Lake resident and woodworker Tom Flannery spent eight days last month sanding and refinishing the iconic bear. "When things look run down people feel run down," said Flannery. "We need to take a little pride in our town." Flannery encourages everyone to utilize the resources they have and do one thing to visually brighten up town – w...
