Sorted by date Results 2845 - 2869 of 6337
The community has wondered about the opening of Loving Hearts and the ability to donate items. I am available to take donations, however, Loving Hearts will not have regular working hours until May 27. If you would like to donate, please do not just leave items at the store. Call, text (406-670-5526) or email (mnewps@gmail.com) me prior to dropping things and someone can meet you. Last night a friend passing by called to inform me that there was a large pile left at the store. I, unfortunately, had already showered and was in my pajamas. I was...
SEELEY LAKE – Since economies around the world have ground to halt in the last month, there are very few industries that haven’t seen an impact. While the lumber prices have dropped an average of 20% in the last month for the products Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Inc. produces, Pyramid has remained operational through the coronavirus pandemic thanks to their employees. They are continuing to invest another $1.3 million in their phased upgrades to the mill. Chief Operations Officer Loren Rose said this year was lined up to be a really good yea...
It's an honor and privilege to serve resilient communities willing to take steps to overcome whatever challenge is before them. The Sheriff's Office and Detention Center are also working to meet the challenges of this pandemic to minimize impacts to our communities. The flexibility and great work by our patrol deputies, detectives, detention staff, administrative staff and search and rescue volunteers has allowed us to continue to protect and serve, complete time-sensitive civil process, issue...
These are historic days in Missoula County as our community copes with the changes and challenges of COVID-19. The Missoula County Elections Office and Elections Advisory Committee are looking ahead to June 2 and a primary election unlike any election in our history. In March, the governor’s office issued a directive giving counties the option to run the primary as an all-mail election, and county commissioners later approved a resolution to take advantage of that option. The EAC is grateful to the commission for approving the resolution. It e...
The Clearwater Junction watercraft inspection station opened April 18. Anyone transporting motorized or non-motorized watercraft is required, by law, to stop at all stations they encounter. This is an effort to protect Montana's waters and native aquatic species from aquatic invasive species (AIS). AIS, including diseases, are easily spread from one water body to the other. Because some aquatic invasive species are microscopic, standing water inside bilges, live wells, compartments, ballast tank...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking 10 to 12 individuals to serve as a statewide citizens group to collaboratively provide guidance for the new Montana Elk Management Plan. The group will be tasked with developing an issue statement about elk management and define meaningful and enduring principles that may guide future elk management decisions. The citizens group will represent a variety of stakeholders. Meetings will be facilitated to maintain objectivity, productivity and provide guidance. The Elk Management Plan Initial Guidance Citiz...
SEELEY LAKE – Traditionally, a large cheering crowd greets the first mushers to arrive in Nome, Alaska, the endpoint of the Iditarod dogsled race. Local musher Jessie Royer, who pushed into Nome March 18 for a triumphant third-place finish said, "It was very strange. It was kind of like a ghost town. Like there wasn't hardly anybody up there." That was just the beginning of Royer's abrupt initiation into the coronavirus pandemic raging around the world. Royer, now back at her home at Placid L...
The Seeley Lake Elementary voted unanimously May 1 to continue with distance learning through the end of the school year June 4. They also adopted a declaration of unforeseen emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic that allows them to continue to receive state funding through June 30. Following Governor Steve Bullock’s announcement to allow schools to reopen May 7, SLE Superintendent Daniel Schrock elicited feedback from SLE staff and parents and consulted with the Western Montana School Administrators, Missoula County Public Schools and S...
SWAN VALLEY – The Swan Valley School board voted unanimously at a special board meeting May 4 to not resume in-class instruction and unanimously adopted a declaration of unforeseen emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic that allows them to continue to receive state funding through June 30. Swan Valley School Principal Ralph King recommended that Swan Valley School finish out the school year using the distance learning model. He told the board he discussed the issue with other administrators and the Montana School Board Association (MSBA) off...
POTOMAC – When the Federal Drug Administration started allowing distilleries to produce hand sanitizer, owners of Steel Toe Distillery Christina and Carl Bock decided that was not something they wanted to add to their product line. However when Joint Operation Mariposa, a non-profit Veterans Advocacy and Outreach Program out of Plains, Mont., called out of the blue, they reconsidered. "They were having a really hard time finding any hand sanitizer to distribute to first responders, veterans a...
SEELEY LAKE – "We used to run up and down the street as kids and hang [May Day Baskets] on all the old people's doors, ring the bell and run," said Cheri Thompson, member of the Mountain Lakes Presbyterian Worship Ministry Team. "It was just a really fun memory that [our local] children didn't have." In an effort to continue reaching out to the community, the Worship Ministry Team decided to put together bags filled with craft materials and fresh flowers for students in the area to p...
Even as Governor Steve Bullock announced April 22 that Montana will begin a phased reopening of its economy, uncertainty remains in the tourism industry, one of the state's largest economic sectors. And at least one Montana tourism agency is actively discouraging visitation. The phased reopening will allow some outdoor recreation businesses, like guiding, to return to work, as long as they can maintain social distancing recommendations. However, all non-essential travelers coming to Montana, res...
After deliberation and consideration of public input, the Missoula County Public School Board of Trustees voted Friday, May 1 to keep the 18 elementary and high schools on their remote learning plan through the remainder of the school year. All school campuses, office buildings and playgrounds will remain closed until further notice. At their next meeting, the school board will further discuss plans for graduation ceremonies and other year-end activities. Some of the key issues that were...
MISSOULA – As part of our ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are committed to helping our communities lessen any challenges during this difficult time. This includes assisting our schools with remote learning. The Electronic Equipment in Education (EEE) Program is a joint partnership between Blackfoot Communications, Energy Partners and Missoula Electric Cooperative. Through the EEE Program, we are providing our schools with additional funding for technology needs to ensure educators and students can participate in remote l...
Death Notice SWAN VALLEY - Daniel Maloughney, 70, of Condon passed away at St. Patrick Hospital on April 30. Arrangements are under the care of Garden City Funeral Home. 50/50 Ice Off Challenge winner SEELEY LAKE – Bill McDonald of Missoula and cabin owner in Seeley Lake, won $190 in the Tamaracks Resort’s 50/50 Ice Off Challenge. The ice went off Seeley Lake April 21. Shortly after restrictions are lifted Alpine Artisans will be throwing a party at the Tamaracks Resort utilizing the funds raised. Curbside library service available in Swa...
The final, unofficial results until canvass are in for the Seeley Lake Sewer Board, Seeley Lake Elementary Board of Trustees and the Seeley Lake Elementary General Fund Levy. For the Sewer Board of Directors' two open positions, Thomas P. Morris and Jason Gilpin received more than double the votes than the closest candidate Duane Anderson. Morris received 168 (33.94%) votes and Gilpin close behind with 161 (32.53%) votes. The Seeley Lake Elementary School District 34 election also had two clear...
Missoula Health Officer Ellen Leahy updated local orders that were initially issued on April 24, 2020. The orders allow businesses and individuals providing grooming, beauty, body art, piercing, massage, spa, and similar services to open May 11 with a service plan that supports employee health screening, social distancing, face-covering use, and enhanced cleaning and sanitizing. The limit on events and gatherings such as fairs, concerts, races and sporting events, and private parties outside the home was raised to 50 people. Events with 50 or...
SEELEY LAKE - When the annual Junior Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) event in Missoula was canceled, the Cahoon family was not discouraged. They decided they would still do the walk in Seeley Lake despite COVID-19 to raise money and awareness for Type 1 Diabetes research in support of their son. "The reality of our lives is that Chase will always be a Type 1 Diabetic for the rest of his life," wrote Bekah Cahoon, Chase's mother, in an email. "There is no vaccine that will take it away, there...
OVANDO – When Governor Steve Bullock announced his reopening plan Wednesday, April 22, he said that he has yet to talk to an educator in the state that feels their students are gaining during this time of remote learning. He obviously hadn't talked to the teachers at Ovando School. Not only do teachers Leigh Ann Valiton and Andrea Tougas feel their students are gaining, they said they are excelling. While many schools grapple with the decision to reopen or not May 7, Ovando School finishes f...
SEELEY LAKE – "I want to make sure you guys are safe and customers have the ability to be safe in here," said Kris Martin, owner of The Filling Station as she stood in front of her employees April 26. "I have to get back in business so I can stay alive and hopefully everyone has a job when all of this is over and not with someone else." After reviewing Governor Steve Bullock's statewide reopening directives released Wednesday, April 22, Martin called a meeting with her employees. Even though t...
MISSOULA – Friday, April 24 Missoula Health Officer Ellen Leahy issued additional local orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 for Missoula County. These measures followed Governor Steve Bullock’s announcement on Wednesday, rescinding the “Stay at Home” directive for individuals on April 26 and allowed some businesses to reopen on April 27. “Given Missoula’s large population [second largest in the state], our need to protect our health care hub and particularly to avoid preventative transmission of disease and reduce the likelihood...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District (SLSD) held its April 16 meeting four days later on April 20 after a glitch in their online meeting software prevented the login instructions printed on their agenda from functioning. While the Board eventually was able to join into the first meeting, they delayed it to ensure the public was able to participate. At last month’s meeting the Board held off paying an invoice from Beal Law Firm that covered charges from March through December 2019 totaling nearly $48,000. The charges were for Dis...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks euthanized a young male grizzly bear on Monday, April 13 after it killed three calves over a period of several days on a ranch east of Ovando in the Blackfoot Valley. The grizzly killed three calves from April 10 - 12. The bear was also suspected to have been responsible for another livestock injury in the same area the week before. Because the bear remained in the area, continuing to pursue livestock, wildlife officials set traps for the bear. FWP bear management specialist Jamie Jonkel said that unfortunately...
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service offered to extend contract deadlines on certain timber sales, sale of property stewardship contracts and forest product permits awarded or issued before April 1. Extending these deadlines supports the long-term viability of the timber industry in markets where conditions have been significantly disrupted, especially in rural, forest-dependent communities. The extensions do not apply to projects implemented under the Good Neighbor Authority or the salvage projects currently u...
MISSOULA, Mont. – The Missoula Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) is now accepting new project proposals. The application deadline is Aug. 1. The committee has approximately $151,500 in project funding to award. Funding and administration for the RAC is provided under the authority of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self–Determination Act (Title II). Projects must benefit National Forest System lands and ecosystems in Missoula County. The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 was passed by Congress to restore s...
