Sorted by date Results 205 - 229 of 740
MISSOULA - 4-H Club members across the area are having a busy week for the 2020 Western Montana Fair. This year's Fair situation presented unexpected challenges and will hold a unique place in history. The theme, "Farm to Fair," is a timely tribute to the importance of agriculture during moments of crisis. When one door closes, a window opens. For safety reasons, the general public will not be allowed to attend the Fair this year or access the Fairgrounds. Instead, the Fair will be available onl...
MISSOULA - From photography to market animals with a bit of everything in between, 4-H clubs in Potomac and Seeley Lake have their projects ready for the 2020 Western Montana Fair Aug. 2 - 8. All animal projects will be shown by the 4-H members and judged before and during fair week. However, the public is not allowed to attend due to COVID-19. Judging of non-animal projects will take place during fair week in the exhibit building without public attendance. The Livestock sale will be Aug. 8 for...
SWAN VALLEY - While a few things like the huckleberry ice cream, annual book sale and displays in the Community Hall were missing, Swan Valley's Fourth of July activities continued on. With one of the only parade in the state, the Swan Valley American Legion Post #63 sponsored event was a lot of family fun followed by a barbecue sponsored by Condon Community Church and the O-Mok-See, games on horseback. The celebration ended with what was called a "great display" of fireworks over the...
SWAN VALLEY - While a few things like the huckleberry ice cream, annual book sale and displays in the Community Hall were missing, Swan Valley's Fourth of July activities continued on. With one of the only parade in the state, the Swan Valley American Legion Post #63 sponsored event was a lot of family fun followed by a barbecue sponsored by Condon Community Church and the O-Mok-See, games on horseback. The celebration ended with what was called a "great display" of fireworks over the...
SWAN VALLEY - While a few things like the huckleberry ice cream, annual book sale and displays in the Community Hall were missing, Swan Valley's Fourth of July activities continued on. With one of the only parade in the state, the Swan Valley American Legion Post #63 sponsored event was a lot of family fun followed by a barbecue sponsored by Condon Community Church and the O-Mok-See, games on horseback. The celebration ended with what was called a "great display" of fireworks over the...
Despite some Western Montana Fair event cancellations, 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) members are still able to exhibit their projects but without spectators due to COVID-19 risks. Missoula County Fairgrounds Events & Operations Manager Billie Ayers and Fairgrounds Director Emily Brock together with the Fair Office partnered with the 4-H, FFA and Missoula County Commissioners, sponsors and volunteers to support the 4-H and FFA organizations in their ability to show at the fair. "We are...
"This was a tough decision for Alpine Artisans to cancel the Loon and Fish Festival this summer," stated AAI Program Manger Jenny Rohrer. "The Festival was scheduled for the first weekend in August, featuring a major art show and sale, Soup Bowl Food Bank fundraiser, live music and scholarship raffle, but in consultation with our volunteers, we decided to play it safe and come back again next summer. We couldn't live with bringing even one case to our community". In a normal summer, AAI's 2...
SEELEY LAKE - When program director of the Montana Mrs. America pageants Cindy Archer canceled the statewide competition due to the coronavirus, she remembered talking with Jessica Kimmel about a new outdoor venue at the Tamaracks Resort. Months later, Miss Montana for America and the Mrs. Montana 2020 competed and were crowned in Seeley Lake June 13. "So we are so lucky and blessed to be in Montana," Archer said. "The event place was spread out in open air and the cabins provided a place to...
SWAN VALLEY – The Swan Valley community celebrated their blessings at the second annual Condon Easter Egg Hunt May 9. This event, scheduled for April 11, was postponed due to the statewide shelter in place order issued for coronavirus. Organizer Edward Klassen said the event went great. He hoped everyone had a great time and he is looking forward to more participation next year. Klassen thanks all the businesses for their support, the volunteers that helped set it up and his wife Heidi and d...
SWAN VALLEY – "Normally you pick a place, you plan it all out, you get enough people, have enough time to put it all together. We are just going to have a few other things we need to do," said Edward Klassen, organizer of the Condon Community Easter Egg Hunt. "We want to celebrate all the blessings bestowed upon us." The Klassen family rescheduled the Condon Easter Egg Hunt for this Saturday, May 9 starting at 11 a.m. at the Condon Community Ball Field, off Highway 83 on the north end of the a...
SEELEY LAKE – "The food was really good," said an attendee dressed in green as they left the Seeley Lake Senior Center's annual St. Patrick's Day dinner March 15. While attendance was down this year, the corned beef and Irish Stew was a treat for many along with the goodies from the Cake Walk and an abundance of items in the Silent Auction. The St. Patrick's Day Dinner is an annual fundraiser supporting the general operations at the Senior Center. Senior Center president Boyd Gossard said t...
SEELEY LAKE – Nearly 700 runners "Took the Leap" and ran around Seeley Lake in the 41st annual Snow Joke Half Marathon. This was the second time in race history the Snow Joke has fallen on Leap Day. The last time was in 1992 when the Cheetah Herders were still organizing the race. For the second year, Run Wild Missoula and the Missoulian organized the race and were excited about the turn out. Racers agreed it was a beautiful course and a beautiful day to "Take the Leap on Leap Day." There w...
SEELEY LAKE – On Saturday, March 7, Veterans and Families of Seeley Lake (VFSL) will be hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser and auction to support the Ellinghouse triplets Mia, Kensi and Natalie. While neither parents Shawn Ellinghouse or Kristy Pohlman are veterans, VFSL President Barbara Knopp said, “We just want to help wherever we can.” Knopp said the idea for the fundraiser just popped into her head. “I think God was talking to me,” said Knopp. “I said why don’t we do this? They are in need. They have three girls to take care of and t...
SEELEY LAKE - John Fraley is no stranger to the Seeley-Swan Valley audience and so his new edition of "A Woman's Way West" will appeal greatly to all our readers. It tells the story of Doris Huffine, into whose family he eventually marries, who became an early pioneer in these local valleys and who left her exquisite mark on what is homeland to us. Fraley will be reading from his book at the Open Book Club on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Grizzly Claw Trading Company. The event is free and...
SWAN VALLEY - Alpine Artisan's 2 Valleys Stage is bringing Scott Kirby to the Blackfoot and Swan Valleys to take us on an artistic journey through our local history and small-town American life. This adventure, combining visual, musical and narrative components, is sure to elicit hometown nostalgia as he reminds us of the enduring spirit born of Montana rural living. Scott will be performing at 3 p.m. March 8 in the Swan Valley Elementary School Gymnasium. Kirby's website proclaims, "As a...
SEELEY LAKE - This coming Saturday, a hardy group of runners will attempt a 13.1-mile circuit of Seeley Lake in the 41st annual Snow Joke Half Marathon. Tony Banovich, executive director of Run Wild Missoula, has high hopes for this year’s iteration of the winter tradition. “This’ll probably be the biggest in the last four years with number of participants,” he predicted Thursday. “Right now we’ve got 730 registered. … If the weather holds nice, we’ll get a nice little surge of numbers. I’m expecting we’ll get 750 or more registered and that wo...
POTOMAC - More than 150 people attended the annual Pancakes and Permits event Feb. 22 at the Potomac/Greenough Community Center (PGCC). For two hours the coffee and conversation flowed as Potomac and surrounding community members enjoyed each other over a hot breakfast of sausages, eggs and pancakes. The Potomac Valley 4H Club and the Greenough/Potomac Volunteer Fire Department (GPVFD) hosted the breakfast. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Clearwater Unit was there al...
SEELEY LAKE – The Montana's Race to the Sky came through Seeley Lake this weekend after the 35th anniversary start in Lincoln at 1 p.m. Saturday. Seeley Lake's Jessie Royer and her J Team won the 300 mile and Josi Thyr, also from Seeley Lake, was the 100 mile champion. 300 Mile Race Royer took the lead in the 300 mile race in the first 50 miles. She passed all nine 300-mile teams on the way to White Tail Ranch and was the first musher to arrive at 7:45 p.m. Saturday night with 12 dogs. Just 1...
SEELEY LAKE – More than 100 people came out to ice skate and play in the snow Saturday, Feb. 8 for the Seeley Lake Elementary Winterfest. The enthusiasm was tangible as children of all ages and adults enjoyed ice skating, sledding, snow shoeing, skiing, making snow persons and snow sculptures. The hot dogs and snacks served by the Seeley Lake Lions Club disappeared half way through the six-hour event. There was plenty of fresh snow and flavoring for the homemade snow cones and fires to warm u...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Biathlon continued to grow this year drawing racers from across western Montana Feb. 1. Ninety-six racers took to the course putting their skiing ability and marksmanship to the test in the 21K, 9K and 3K races. The smiles on everyone's faces said it all as they hung out near the finish in the sunshine with temperatures in the upper 40s. Race Director Chris Lorentz was very pleased with how smooth the race went. Grooming was a challenge with warm weather p...
SEELEY LAKE – The community is invited to Seeley Lake Elementary for an afternoon of winter fun Saturday, Feb. 8 from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Seeley Lake Elementary Winterfest includes open skating, games, snow sculptures, food and prizes. Everyone is invited to this free, family event. According to Seeley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Hayhurst, the idea for a winter event originated from SLE Superintendent Daniel Schrock last October during the Trunk-or-Treat. He approached the...
SEELEY LAKE - Montana’s own Race to the Sky 35th anniversary sled dog race, will be held Feb 7-11. Local mushers include Jessie Royer in the 300-mile, Roy Etnire in the 100-mile and past-resident Cindy Gallae, now from Minnesota, in the 300-mile. Race to the Sky commemorates the Camp Rimini War Dog Reception and Training Center near Helena, Mont. for its efforts during World War II as a sled dog training facility. An Iditarod qualifier, the 300-mile Race to the Sky begins and finishes near Lincoln, Mont. The 100-mile starts in Lincoln and e...
SEELEY LAKE – Skiers and shooters will combine their skills on the Seeley Lake Nordic Trails for the Seeley Lake Biathlon Saturday, Feb. 1. Being the only citizens Biathlon in Montana, all experience levels are welcome to this very “Montana-esque” event. Racers can participate in either a 21K, 9K or 3K. Regardless of the total distance, skiers will do three loops. In between each lap they will shoot first standing and second prone. Penalty laps are skied for all missed shots. This past summer, the Seeley Lake Nordic Club improved the cours...
SEELEY LAKE – Groomers hit the trails at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 to prepare the course for this year's OSCR, "Over Seeley's Creeks and Ridges." Nearly 120 racers came from all over the northwest including racers from Minnesota and Alaska for this year's 50K, 25K, 10K and 5K races Jan. 25. This year's race was a double loop format for the 50K. 50K racers started to trickle in for their second loop following the start of the 25K. With no new snow to work with and warm temperatures, the c...
SEELEY LAKE - The Filling Station hosted their annual Christmas Tree bonfire Friday, Jan. 17. Complete with music and a fireworks display from the Seeley Lake Chamber of Commerce, locals and visitors alike enjoyed the tradition of the big fire, playing on the snow pile and socializing. The Seeley Lake Fire Department volunteer firefighters offered their support as well....
