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Fire crews across western Montana saw minimal fire growth last week, but August will roar to life this week with record-setting temperatures across the Rocky Mountains. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the Seeley Swan Valley from 11 a.m. Aug. 15 to 11 a.m. Aug 17. Temperatures in Seeley Lake are expected to be 95 degrees on Aug. 16 and 94 degrees on Aug. 17 - both on track to beat records set in 2003 and 1967, respectively. With the hot weather, fire conditions will...
The Swan Valley Elementary School Board voted unanimously to approve its school budget for the 2023-2024 school year on Aug 8. With higher taxes on the area, Business Manager Heather Mincey said school taxes will be spread across more people. The general fund stands at $435,576, compared to $402,435 last year. Most of the increase came in the technology sector, which has grown with the need for computers. The total budget stands at $667,164.46. Other funds, like the building reserve, have also increased with help from state grants and...
Jean Pocha of the Pathfinder The 12 members of the Nevada Creek 4H Club in Helmville are heading to the Tri-County Fair in Deer Lodge on Aug. 17-20. The Tri-County Fair encompasses Powell, Granite and Deer Lodge counties. Both 4H and FFA members will be participating in beef, dairy, swine, sheep, goat, poultry, rabbit, cat and dog showmanship, market animal and herdsmanship projects plus horses. There are also extensive projects in handcrafts, gardening, and cooking, with open classes for...
Almost 100 years ago, hoards of out-of-state visitors climbed on trains to visit Seeley Lake for its downhill skiing along the Double Arrow Ranch. The hill, one of the first in Montana's history, recently got a touch up with new signs showing the past adventurers who once came to Seeley Lake just for the rope tow. Children of ski hill creator Bob Manchester joined to see the legacy their family has brought to the area. "It was the thing to do before World War II," said Kenny Manchester, son of...
The Blackfoot River flows four inches lower than last year at this time, triggering river keepers to ask the public to take precaution when fishing. Water temperatures have remained about two degrees below the 71 degree threshold that would usher in hoot owl fishing hours, reported the Blackfoot Drought Committee on Aug. 1. “At this time in the season, we are asking for voluntary ethical fishing restrictions,” said Clancy Jandreau, Blackfoot Challenge water steward. “Keeping fish in the water...
A new wildfire started near Lindbergh Lake on Sunday, Aug. 13. Firefighters immediately did an initial attack on the blaze using aircraft and ground crews. As of Monday, Aug. 14 at 1 p.m., the fire is still actively burning. The Lindy Peak Fire is estimated to be up to 1 acre with no containment information available. The cause was also not immediately available. It's located about two miles west of Lindbergh Lake, just south of the Glacier Lake trailhead. Fire managers reassigned the Helena...
A new RV park in Seeley Lake has been solidified after the Missoula County Commissioners approved a subdivision request on Aug. 10 The Lazy Acres RV Park could be in operation as soon as next year, according to park executive Brandon Groesner, but that hinges on approving additional permits and accepting bids for work. Dave Stewart is the landowner partnering with IMEG to create the park. The commissioners approved the subdivision with a 2-0 vote. Josh Slotnik and Juanita Vero approved the...
A Missoula County District Court Judge ruled Aug. 8 that the state of Montana failed to correctly process the permit for the Elbow Lake gravel pit south of Salmon Lake. The decision solidified the halt of work at the gravel pit, which has not been in operation since the nonprofit Protect the Clearwater sued for a temporary restraining order in July. With the project sidelined, the Montana Environmental Review Board will make a final decision on the legality of the permit in the coming months....
Fire managers reported more containment on the Colt Fire on Aug. 9, adding more containment to the south and north with the help of cool, wet weather. The Colt Fire was mapped on Aug. 8 to be 7,202 acres, growing less than 100 acres the last few days. Rain has been in the forecast since Aug. 5, and there will also be a chance of rain Aug. 9. Firefighters will now try to close off the western front to any new growth. Heavy machinery will be creating a direct fire line on the northwestern side of...
The bridge on Boy Scout Road that spans the Clearwater River could need major repairs or a complete rebuild after an inspection this September, according to the Montana Department of Transportation and Missoula County. The bridge was constructed out of wood in 1937. Thousands of people travel over it each year to get to campgrounds and other recreation opportunities in the area. MDT ordered Aug. 1 that the bridge must be limited to vehicles under three tons within the next 30 days. "A 2022...
Almost an inch of rain fell on the Colt Fire on Sunday, Aug. 6, weakening the flames as firefighters make a final push to get full containment of the fire. More than an inch of rain reached parts of western Montana last weekend. Many fire crews got time to rest after monsoonal moisture came over the region on Friday, Aug. 4. Most fires still have residual heat and will burn as temperatures warm up into August. Colt Fire The Colt Fire was last measured at 7,179 acres on Aug. 4, with 25%...
Ospreys are like the human snow bird, enjoying the cool rivers and lakes of Montana during the summer, while traveling thousands of miles south to enjoy a coastal retreat for the winter. Recently discovered research shows just how amazing some of these birds can be, like flying across the gulf of Mexico, or returning to the exact same spot along the Clark Fork River from Central America. "Some of these birds have amazing stories," said Rob Domenech, the executive director of the Raptor View...
Now entering into its third year, Charlie’s Helping Hands is working to solidify its presence in Seeley Lake, with the goal of helping the most children it possibly can. “We want to help with whatever the youth need for trying to survive,” Executive Director Mark Wilson said. “There’s no agenda, as issues present themselves, we want to deal with them.” Charlie’s Helping Hands has been partnering with schools and people directly for supply financial support. Whether that be new jerseys for a sports team, or money for a new playground, W...
"All for one and one for all!" Shakespeare in the Park performed "The Three Musketeers" to a crowd of more than 300 on the Double Arrow Lodge lawn in Seeley Lake on Aug. 2. The annual event is brought to the community through Two Valleys Stage, the performance branch of Alpine Artisans. The play began with protagonist D'Artagnan pleading for his mother's blessing to fulfill his heart's desire of becoming one of the Musketeers of King Louie. On his venture he soon started a sword fight with...
Twenty Years ago... Thursday, August 7, 2003 DNRC awards grant for Blackfoot watershed projects Helmville, Mont. – A $62,600 grant was awarded to the North Powell Conservation District on July 18 for continued Blackfoot river watershed habitat restoration and water quality improvement. The grant money was provided by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). The North Powell Conservation District is working with the Blackfoot Challenge, a local watershed group, to implement an aggressive project, which focuses p...
CONDON, Mont. – After six years of leading Swan Valley Connections (SVC), Rebecca Ramsey, Executive Director (ED), will be transitioning from her role. Rebecca has become a partner in a cherry orchard on the east shore of Flathead Lake, and will be departing SVC in 2024 to steward the land, and grow a business and philanthropy plan with her business partner. The Board of Directors has released a job announcement, with the hopes of having new leadership in place by the end of 2023. Ramsey moved to the Swan to step into the role of director in 2...
A Missoula District Court Judge stopped new work on a gravel pit three miles south of Salmon Lake after area residents filed multiple lawsuits over the validity of the project. Protect the Clearwater, a nonprofit group of residents near the Clearwater River, successfully petitioned Missoula District Judge John Larson on July 17 for a temporary injunction, or hold, on LHC Construction’s permit to crush gravel and create asphalt for road projects. The temporary injunction means work on the p...
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte visited firefighters and got a bird's eye view of the Colt Fire on Aug. 2. Gianforte landed at the Seeley Lake Airport on Wednesday afternoon, and quickly changed into a jumpsuit to fly off towards the Colt Fire. The Colt Fire is roughly 6,800 acres with 19% containment. Gianforte said the Colt Fire was the number one priority in Montana. While there was good news to report - evacuations for local residents have been lifted - fire managers and Gianforte said there is...
Fire crews on Colt Fire have continued beating out flames to add containment lines and stop the spread of the to the east. The fire was mapped at 6,680 acres the evening of Aug. 1, and only increased 156 acres from the day prior. The fire is now 19% contained — all along Colt Creek Road. The high level of containment has triggered Missoula County Sheriff’s Office to cancel the evacuation order from mile markers 27 to 31 on Highway 83. There is still an evacuation warning for the area, and oth...
United States Congressman Ryan Zinke met with firefighters at Lake Alva on July 31, discussing both the growing Colt Fire and the push to boost wildland firefighter funding. Rep. Zinke came to the Lake Alva Campsite as the blaze reached 6,177 acres on July 30 - one of the largest in Montana. The fire has been burning in heavy dead and downed timber since July 17, and could be a long-term threat as temperatures rise in August. "We need to manage our forests, not let them burn to the ground," Zink...
The Swan Valley Community Council made the main topic of its July 18 meeting about recent home appraisals, focusing on what people should do with steep tax increases for property around the Swan Valley. Michelle Staples from the Montana Department of Revenue was the main speaker for the meeting, going over the basics of taxes and answering questions from area residents. “Property taxes are an 18-month process,” Staples said. “We do a lot to assess value and make sure that it is accurate with the market.” Staples said property is divided...
The Missoula Consolidated Planning Board approved the application for the Lazy Acres RV Park planned for Seeley Lake at its recent June 25 meeting in Missoula. Several variances to the RV Park code were discussed and agreed upon. The RV park would create 70 short-term spots for RVs and campers, with hookups, a camp store and a dump station. The RV park would sit between the Montana Gas and Stop and The Seeley Swan Medical Center. Variances in road width, RV lot size and interior walkway...
Just before 11:00 a.m. on July 24, multiple agencies, including Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, were dispatched to the Johnsrud Park area, where it was reported a male, wade fishing in the area, was in distress and had gone under in the Blackfoot River and had not resurfaced. Wade fishing is a style of fishing where anglers stand in the water. Missoula County Search and Rescue was immediately called out and responded to the scene. Missoula County Search and Rescue members located the male and members of the Missoula County Sheriff’s...
A Seeley Lake man who killed a woman while driving under the influence changed his plea to guilty to four felonies and one misdemeanor in Missoula County District Court on Tuesday, July 18. Kerry Glen Drew, 68, was charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence, negligent vehicular assault, criminal endangerment and criminal possession of dangerous drugs — all felonies. Drew was also charged with misdemeanor vehicular assault. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped one felony charge for tampering with physical e...
SEELEY LAKE - Despite temperatures in the 90s, more than 70 runners took to the Seeley Creek Trails for the Seeley Lake Elementary Parent Teacher Club's (SLE PTC) inaugural Run With The Wild 10K, 5K and 1K Fun Runs July 22. The family-friendly event, with live music by "Keeping The Day Jobs" and a barbecue, encouraged local families to enjoy where they live and brought in racers from across the state and Florida, Colorado, Oregon and Iowa. Seeley Lake Elementary has not had a parent teacher...
