Sorted by date Results 5243 - 5267 of 6303
As of 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24… Last Friday, Feb. 17 I learned that the Clearwater Junction boat check station was going to be moved north up Highway 83. On Monday the 20th, it was likely going to be eliminated altogether. As of Tuesday the 21st, it is going to remain at the Junction, but only check boats moving from west to east. Yes, that’s right: west to east. That’s because three new check stations will be on Highway 200 near Lincoln, US-12 west of Helena, and I-90 west of Butte to inspect boats moving from east to west. These new stati...
SEELEY LAKE - For the past two-and-a-half years Clearwater Resource Council (CRC) has been laying the foundation to allow the Seeley Lake community to plan a comprehensive trails system. To begin building on that foundation, CRC formally kicked off the public input phase of the Seeley Lake Trails Project Feb. 25. CRC Executive Director Cathy Kahnle said during those two-and-a-half years the organization gathered information from Missoula County, other counties, other trails-planning groups, surv...
SEELEY LAKE – This past week, Rich Ranch partnered with Driven, LLC for the second year in a row to offer a three-day snowmobile riding school. Driven Elite Snowmobile School contracts with professional riders to work with snowmobilers to be more prepared and better riders in the backcountry. Rich Ranch appreciates the school's willingness to work with riders of all skill sets and the educational components. Driven, LLC is a consulting service for non-profits, businesses and athletes looking t...
SEELEY LAKE – At their Feb. 21 meeting, the Seeley Lake Fire District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $4,000 increase in the amount available to the Seeley Lake Fire Chief for equipment purchases. While it was understood that current chief Bob Vanden Heuvel would inform the board about any upcoming equipment purchases and get board approval should time allow, he can spend up to $5,000 without prior board approval if needed. The discussion was put on the agenda after board members were concerned about Vanden Heuvel going over his $...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) Board discussed a projected budget deficit and SLE Outside’s balance sheet at the Feb. 21 meeting. The board also received a board member’s resignation and has an upcoming election for two board positions. Next year’s budget is projected to be about $5,000 short of this year’s. Part of the problem is that this year’s budget was basically flat from the previous year while costs have climbed every year. District Clerk Sally Johnson cautioned that there might be some changes to funding due to the on...
HELENA - The legislature's transmittal break is upon us. Non-revenue bills either pass the Senate by March 1 or die. Five of my bills passed! Senate Bill 22 provides rape victims a civil procedure to end parental rights of their rapists. My 2013 bill, allowing an enhanced penalty terminating parental rights when rapists are convicted, became law. But in some cases criminal prosecution is not possible because of sex trafficking or fear of further violence. The civil remedy in Senate Bill 22...
HELENA - Things have been moving pretty quickly here in the Legislature as we move towards transmittal. Since the beginning of the session, I have been working on a set of veteran legislation focusing on ways to help that part of the veterans community which is experiencing a surge in suicide. Last week, my primary bill HB538 had its hearing and was tabled in House Human Services. Unfortunately, a significant lobbying effort which was brought about not because of problems with the bill, but...
The Douglas-fir bark beetle is the most destructive beetle attacking Douglas-fir trees in the Seeley/Swan Valley. The potential loss of trees can be considerable and can affect both residential homeowners as well as commercial interests. Outbreaks develop in host trees following stand disturbances such as windthrow, drought, severe defoliation or wildfire, such as the Condon Mountain Fire in 2012. During outbreaks, groups of dead trees may total 100 or more. Yearly mortality in the northern...
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake residents Kathy Stevens and her daughter-in-law Tessa are hosting their grand opening for Seeley Lake Vintage March 4 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Heritage Building on the north end of Seeley Lake. They look forward to bringing a store offering vintage, rustic and re-loved home décor, furniture and gifts to Seeley Lake. Both Kathy and Tessa share a love of purposeful re-purposing. They also enjoy creating decorative items and painting. "I've always been kind of a craf...
SWAN VALLEY - Alpine Artisans' 2 Valleys Stage (2VS) presents one of Native America's premier lyric storysmiths Jack Gladstone, "Montana's Troubadour." Gladstone will perform in concert, with Swan Valley School (SVS) students, at the Swan Valley Community Hall March 12 at 3 p.m. Along with the concert, a slide show produced by Patti Bartlett will play as backdrop for Gladstone and his music. In a career spanning more than three decades, Gladstone is regarded as a cultural bridge builder. In...
Seeley Lake musher Roy Etnire and his team leaving the starting line of the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Dog Creek Trailhead west of Olney, Mont. Mushers traveled from Olney to Polebridge and then returned Sunday in the 82-mile race. Etnire placed second in the eight-dog class, finishing 32 seconds behind first place finisher Maeva Waterman of Bozeman, Mont....
SEELEY LAKE – Missoula County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Sunderland said antler thefts around Seeley Lake are again on the rise. Another issue is people cutting firewood out of season on state and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) land and are blocking the road. Sunderland said antlers that are outside and visible are being stolen at night. “People need to understand that antlers are worth money, actually good money. If they leave them outside where people can see them, the odds are somebody is going to come along and steal them,” said Sunderland. Anyone...
POTOMAC - Throughout the Blackfoot Watershed, Potomac residents are out and about making tracks in the late winter snow. Winter recreationists are walking, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling despite cold temperatures, rain, slush and ice. Debbie Dudley walks every day, year 'round with her dogs, siblings Bridger and Maddie. "We walk for exercise and enjoyment for all of us," said Dudley. "The dogs love it!" The trio typically walks in the morning during the week and her husband Bob wal...
Special District Elections – Candidates Not Accepted by Acclamation until After Write-in Deadline April 3 SEELEY LAKE – In the Feb. 16 article “Most Board Positions Filled by Acclamation” it states that there will not be an election. This did not account for the write-in deadline of Monday, April 3 at 5:00 p.m. Missoula County Elections Administrator Rebecca Connors said if a write-in files, and the number of candidates that have filed exceeds the number of available seats, there will be an election even though the write-in candida...
SEELEY LAKE – Organizers for the Snow Joke Half Marathon are implementing improved safety precautions and closing one lane of Highway 83 during the Feb. 25 event to better manage the traffic on race day. With 893 finishers last year and even larger crowds expected in years to come, race organizer Matt Gibson said safety is paramount. Gibson said the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) received a citizen complaint about the traffic management for the event. MDT informed Big Sky Orogenic Racing and Events’ (BSORE), the race organizers sin...
SEELEY LAKE – Alpine Artisans Incorporated (AAI) has a long-standing policy of each year honoring an AAI member or members who have exhibited exceptional support of the arts in the Clearwater Valley. Most often, the person chosen is a practicing artist in either the visual, performing or literary arts. However, the 2017 award recipient claims no outstanding ability in any of those realms. Nevertheless, AAI award presenter Russ Abolt called recipient Sue Cushman of Condon an artist in the largest...
SWAN VALLEY – Swan Valley Emergency Services (SVES) responded to a house fire on Saskatoon Lane in Condon Saturday, Feb. 11 just after midnight. While the owner and her dog escaped the blaze uninjured, the house was a total loss and the owner's cat has not been found. According to SVES Fire Chief Randy Williams the call came in at 12:05 a.m. Volunteer firefighter Jonathan Matthew was on scene in minutes because it was his neighbor's home. Williams said Matthew told him, "the flames were over t...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer Board was updated on the status of their grants and their appeal to the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD) at their Feb. 16 board meeting. District Manager Greg Robertson said that the approximately $2.5 million in grants the district currently has from multiple sources would remain intact pending a decision from RD. Robertson said if RD pulls its funding, the other grants have lined up to pull their funding as well. RD’s funding package consisted of $5.7 million in grants and $4....
SEELEY LAKE - Following two years of preparation, the Seeley Lake Trails Project will launch its public input process on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 1-4 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Community Hall in Seeley Lake. The meeting will bring local and regional residents up-to-date on the work of this consortium of more than two dozen organizations and individuals whose goal is to develop a comprehensive trails plan across ownerships for the Clearwater Valley. Most importantly, the meeting will seek detailed feedback and opinions on trail needs and...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Community Council (SLCC) had a packed agenda for the Feb. 13 meeting. Presentations on the Center Horse Landscape Restoration Project, a proposed gravel pit near Elbow Lake and air quality were accompanied by discussions on new speed limit signs and the council’s trails committee. Seeley Lake District Ranger Rachel Feigley presented on the Center Horse project. The project is on 61,300 acres, 14 miles north of Ovando in the Cottonwood and Monture watersheds. Center Horse aims to improve forest composition, water q...
SEELEY LAKE – As a result of the Resource Team Assessment conducted last fall by Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA), the Seeley Lake Vibrancy Committee has formed and is working towards addressing the community priorities identified in the assessment. More than a dozen community members have split the work between six initiatives to explore ideas on how to improve the community: Healthy Community; Website; Chamber Reboot; Montana Main Street; Tourism Business Improvement District and Voting Rights. Committee organizer Lee Boman s...
HELENA - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is seeking comment on proposed amendments to rules that outline new regulations needed in the battle to contain, detect and prevent the risk of spreading invasive mussels and other aquatic invasive species to other state waters. Invasive mussel larvae were detected for the first time in Montana in October 2016 in Tiber Reservoir – and “suspect” detections turned up in Canyon Ferry Reservoir, the Missouri River below Toston Dam and the Milk River. The discovery triggered a natural resource emerg...
I can remember as a teenager when mononucleosis or mono was going around in my high school and about half the class was out sick. I was included in the "out sick" population. Mono also known as the "kissing disease" but unfortunately I'm pretty sure that's not how I acquired mono. Mono can be spread through saliva. It can be passed from person to person when they share cups, bottles, eating utensils and through kissing, coughing and sneezing. It's more common in the teenage and young adult popul...
SEELEY LAKE –Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) board trustee and Seeley Lake resident Debbie Dupree is stepping down this May after serving 15 years on the board. She feels it is time for new energy on the board and hopes that someone from the Seeley area will apply for the position to continue to give Seeley-Swan High School (SSHS) a voice. There are eleven trustees on the MCPS board, four of which are only high school trustees. Dupree’s high school trustee seat is the only trustee position available for Seeley Lake, Clinton, Potomac, Gre...
SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) agreed on edits to the remaining six of the original seven actions of the draft plan’s Economic Development Element at their Feb. 15 meeting. The first action, which required community consensus to designate acceptable sites for appropriate business and industry, was deleted at their January meeting. Committee member Pat Sinz said that she wanted the second action to make clear that the residents of the Swan Valley have a voice and open discussions with Missoula County about guid...
