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In recent weeks we’ve noticed that political yard signs for some candidates have come up missing. We have seen Democrats’ signs removed, yet most of the Republican signs are still standing. Upon further investigation, some were mangled and thrown into the brush, others were stolen off of private property by trespassers. Some people don’t like seeing political signs put up but they do play a role in helping voters know who is running for office. The signs lend a sense of seriousness to the campaign. If a candidate is willing to spend money for s...
I would like to echo C. Burt Caldwell’s endorsement of Sen. Jon Tester in his July 25 letter to the editor in the Pathfinder. Sen. Tester has consistently demonstrated he is working for all Montanans. That contrasts sharply with Sen. Steve Daines who is highly partisan and is in fact a leader of the Republican National Committee. His first loyalty seems to be with his party. Our congressional representatives, Rep. Ryan Zinke and Rep. Matt Rosendale are junior senators who don’t seem to be accomplishing much at all, despite the fact they are...
We are issuing this joint statement because it has come to our attention that political signs educating House District 92 voters of our candidacies have been removed or defaced. These unfortunate acts affect both our efforts and, though small in number, they extend across the whole district from the Rattlesnake neighborhood to Condon. Though we differ on specific legislative priorities and policies and describe different visions for the role of state government, we want to speak loudly and clearly on one issue that we agree upon wholeheartedly....
Do you own a home and wonder what it’s worth? You can easily look up your address on Zillow and see the estimated value is rapidly rising, translating to more property taxes. Too many Montana families cannot keep up with an annual $249 million property tax increase imposed by Republican Governor Gianforte and his party in the Legislature. Yet, after months of analysis by the Governor’s property tax task force, they recommended a complicated process that will raise our taxes again. Why didn’t they didn’t consider the new taxes they already...
On Sunday, Aug. 4, my husband and I were in a serious accident on Highway 83 north of Seeley Lake. We were towing a fifth wheel and a boat, both which will probably be totaled. Needless to say, we were unbelievably fortunate to not have been injured. We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank everyone who helped us, especially the Swan Valley emergency response team, Missoula highway patrol and Missoula County sheriff. We especially want to thank Bob and Ben at Clearwater Towing, who were exceptional at clearing up the huge...
Saturday Aug. 3 found 147 triathletes preparing to hit the water at River Point Campground. This year’s race had a bit of a twist for the bikers, no Boy Scout Bridge. After a little creative work we came up with a route. Down Boy Scout to Highway 83, down 83 to Riverview Drive, across the Dogtown bridge, turnaround at Snowmass Drive, back across the Dogtown bridge, down our driveway, through the fence, through multiple private yards, across Cabin Lane, down Back Cabin Road to Lars Kramen, to Boy Scout Road and back to the campground. WHEW! I h...
Condon residents unhappy with Missoula County government should consider the real fact Lake County would probably reject their offer to join that county. It would be a far reach for Lake County to offer the required fire, road and other emergency services.It has plenty of problems of its own. I know I now reside in both Missoula and Lake Counties. Because the Tribal government does not pay its full share for government services it enjoys and it recently took the Kerr Dam out of the Lake County tax base, the county government is strapped. A far...
Alpine Artisans would like to give a big shout out of thanks to the Seeley-Swan and Blackfoot Valley communities for making our 24th Loon and Fish Festival a big success! Why do we call it a success? We rely on the sales of raffle tickets to fund our ambitious Youth Grant and Scholarship Fund, which awarded over $5,000 in grants to seven youth grant recipients and three senior scholarship winners in the last year. Next year will be even better. Your support of the raffle this year set a record in sales, enlarging our budget for these youth...
As a U.S. Marine and a veteran of the Vietnam era, I appreciate the service of all members of the armed forces, past and current. However, I am seriously disappointed and a bit disgusted with those members of the armed forces in Sheehy’s recent ad. They are standing against the man who has done the most for Montana veterans — brought us clinics, got care for those exposed to Agent Orange, etc. They are promoting what will be a very junior senator over a very senior and powerful one who has done good things for veterans and Montana and will con...
The Sunday after the Fourth we learned that our “You Are Loved” rainbow flag had been stolen from the church, along with the pole and mounting bracket. The flag’s symbolism is very broad. It encompasses our response to God’s call to love all people, all races, colors, nationalities and our LGBTQ+ siblings, friends and neighbors. We have no idea who might have done this, nor why. Perhaps it was someone who really liked the flag and decided they had to have it. Perhaps it was someone who disagreed with what it stood for and wanted it gone. W...
Congress must do more to protect vulnerable patients from the Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) who threaten access and put smaller, local pharmacies out of business. Living in Seeley Lake my husband and I, as well as my elderly mother-in-law, all rely on our local pharmacy to access the medications we need. The last thing any of us needs is to lose access to our local pharmacy because of the unfair policies being pushed by PBMs to control patients and boost profits. As you may know, the all-too-common underhanded business practices allow PBMs t...
Your local volunteer team has been working hard to make our upcoming Fourth of July celebration a day to remember! Our theme this year is “Stars and Stripes and Summer Nights,” representing what makes this such a special place, and how important this holiday is to all of us. Check the posters around town for a detailed schedule, or go to seeleyswanevents.net. We hope to see all of you at one of the events, along the parade route (2 p.m. start,) or at the fireworks. Just like last year, which the same awesome group of volunteers put tog...
I wish every little girl was blessed to have a father like Dave Kesler. A father who will train her up in the way she should go with the appropriate levels of love and discipline, and a father who will sacrifice himself to protect her. Anyone can allege wrongdoing against anyone for anything. Slanderous allegations require no special skill set. Proving the allegations through proper due process is quite a different task. None of the allegations against Dave Kesler have been proven. Not one. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Dave Kesler, a...
I am writing to support the candidacy of Representative John Fitzpatrick. John currently represents Deer Lodge and Granite Counties. As a result of the Redistricting Commission re-drawing the district boundaries he is now running for office in both Powell County and the Seeley Lake area. During the 2023 Legislature, John really looked after the interests of Deer Lodge, Powell and Granite Counties. First, he sponsored and enacted House Bill 13, the State Pay Plan bill, which provided the staff at the prison and Warm Springs with the first real...
In a recent Letter to the Editor, Don Larson contends that the waterfront and riverfront properties are the worst septic effluent polluters on our lakes and waterfront. That is speculation. Even if it were proven to be true, how does that address the known elevated groundwater nitrate issue within the district? Mr. Larson’s comments on testing and repairing waterfront septic systems on all the lakes has merit but again, how does that address the known issue within the district? And, is there any reason why we can’t do what Mr. Larson sug...
In this season of Montana State politics, I cannot resist laying my hammer down, pen this letter to the editor, and expose the ugly and completely dishonest smear campaign that John Fitzpatrick is hurling at the public against Dave Kesler, candidate for House District 76. The citizens of Montana, and particularly your district, should be utterly appalled at the lies. Dave Kesler is an intelligent, honest, hard working and dedicated father who gives much to others. He will represent your district and all Montanans with integrity and truth, not...
To the people and voters of Seeley Lake, I thank you for the opportunity and honor of representing you in the Montana Legislature for the past eight years. Under Montana Law, I am ineligible to run again this year but, fortunately, there is a candidate who can and will serve the people of Seeley Lake very effectively. Rep. John Fitzpatrick, who currently represents Deer Lodge and Granite Counties, is now running in a new district which adds Powell County and Seeley Lake to the remainder of his old district. John Fitzpatrick served with me on...
We don’t have a nitrate problem in Seeley. We have a health department/real estate developer problem. These folks continue to push for a central sewer for the area but the system they are proposing, in the sewer district as it is now drawn, will never clean up or protect the watershed. The present sewer district does not include the worst septic effluent polluters. That would be all the waterfront and riverfront properties on all the lakes. Were the Missoula County Health Department to ever develop the political courage to test all the w...
As the Montana State Representative for the National Safe Parents Organization, I have meticulously vetted Montana’s legislative candidates in order to determine who prioritizes the health and safety of children and who can be trusted to display honor in the ruthless political arena. As a private citizen, Dave Kesler has sacrificed countless hours, and his own hard earned money, to educate himself and advocate for common sense child safety laws in Montana over the last few years. Unintimidated by the hyper-slanderous hyperbole excreted by the c...
Last fall my grandson and I did a few-days camping trip back to the Swan. We spent a few days there at the Cold Creek Bridge. It was many years since I left and I enjoyed again what I had remembered the almost 30 years I had lived there. In need of the outhouse facilities I went to check it out. I wasn’t prepared for what was there. It was a sight for sore eyes! Someone had not quite made the seat and it was unusable. Not having cell service I drove to a friend’s house with a landline. I called Swan Lake Forest Service to inform the gal the...
Dave is challenging a current legislator (and former lobbyist) that ended up in this district (HD 76) after the district boundaries were redrawn as part of the last state legislative redistricting maps were drawn. We did not get to vote for him and from what I can see, he did not do a good job of representing conservative Powell and Granite Counties during the last Session. Dave’s opponent scored second to last in the GOP on the Montana Family Foundation’s scorecard. One bill would have allowed parents more transparency into their chi...
C.B. Pearson is, without a doubt, the most experienced candidate running to represent Senate District 46 in the Montana Legislature. C.B. knows how to navigate the political landscape and has built relationships to effectively advocate for issues Montanans care about. He has years of experience successfully taking on powerful economic interests that threaten Montanan’s way of life. Our state and country face serious threats from the extreme right and from corporations who do not care about our Montana values of clean air, clean water and our p...
A recent Pathfinder article announced the selection of a new superintendent at the elementary school. Subsequent information indicated that the candidate declined the contract offer and the second of three interviewed candidates was offered the position. Whoever moves into the position, I wish them all the success in the world. What was disturbing to me was that the third of the three interviewees had to read the Pathfinder article to learn he had not been selected. He was not contacted by any member of the school board or their...
Jacinda Morigeau is a hardworking, caring and community-minded candidate who will bring her energy, vision and grassroots connections to the Montana Legislature. Senate District 46, a newly structured district, includes parts of the City of Missoula and the southern half of the Flathead Reservation. Jacinda has deep roots and relationships that extend across the entire district, and she is well-positioned to be able to represent this culturally diverse and complex area very well. Jacinda has demonstrated this bridge-building ability through...
C.B. Pearson is hands down the most experienced candidate running to represent Senate District 46 in the Montana Legislature. Throughout his career, C.B. has fought for public health, environmental quality, consumer protection and campaign finance reform. He’s taken on powerful economic interests, and won many victories for Montanans. When it comes to navigating the Montana Legislature as an advocate for the public interest, C.B. is an old hand. He understands the values that Montanans share — like hard work, conservation and transparency in...
