Community Briefs

Seeley Lake Ranger District Spring Prescribed Fire Projects

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Ranger District plans to conduct spring prescribed fire projects when weather, fuel conditions and air quality become favorable. Smoke will be visible from various locations around Seeley Lake depending on the burn units and weather conditions. 

 Each project follows a Prescribed Fire Burn Plan. The prescribed fire projects are located and designed to be controlled to reduce the potential for adverse effects or to escape as a wildland fire. These projects will be in compliance with Montana air quality standards and coordinated with Montana State Department of Environmental Quality to reduce the impact of smoke to neighbors, cooperators and surrounding communities.

Flyers will be posted on the bulletin boards at the Seeley Lake Post Office and Cory’s Valley Market when dates are confirmed. Also check for updates on the Seeley Swan Pathfinder Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SeeleySwanPathfinder/ and the Lolo National Forest Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Lolo-National-Forest-409424909216306/?fref=ts

Volunteer Stream Monitoring Opportunity

The Blackfoot Challenge is looking for volunteers to help monitor water quality in Blackfoot River tributaries. There are sites near Lincoln, Ovando and along the Cottonwood Lakes Road just north of the Game Range. Monitoring occurs weekly and will continue through mid-June. No prior experience is required and all ages are welcome.

If interested in helping, please contact Joe Zimbric at bswc@blackfootchallenge.org 

SLCF Offers $30,000 Fundraising Match for Nonprofits

SEELEY LAKE — The Seeley Lake Community Foundation (SLCF) is offering a $30,000 fundraising match. This invitation is for area nonprofits, service clubs, schools and governmental entities to participate in the Change Your Pace Challenge.

To be eligible, organizations must attend a mandatory meeting on April 28, 5:30 p.m. at the Double Arrow Lodge. 

In the two months leading up to a July 16 event, local donors make gifts of all sizes to their favorite causes. The Change Your Pace Challenge makes giving easy as donors need only fill out one form and write one check to give to as many local organizations as they like.

Non-profits can raise as much money as they wish, of which the SLCF matches the organizations fundraising efforts up to an organizational total match of $30K this year.  Each organization receives 100 percent of their donor contributions.

The fundraising event will culminate on the third Saturday of July, July 16. The SLCF will host a 2K Fun Run/Walk and 5K & 10K competitive races in the inaugural Change Your Pace Challenge.  This event will be held in conjunction with a mountain bike race and a celebration of community spirit and support featuring the Bob Marshall Music Festival and fun family activities hosted by participating nonprofits in the afternoon and throughout the evening on the Seeley Lake Elementary campus. 

Other events planned for the day include a stand up paddle board race, equipment demos, art, mill tours, environmental education and conservation presentations, farmers market, creative place making and music jam sessions around town.

The SLCF was founded in 1999 by a handful of local residents who wanted to give back to their community. What started from a single, $250 donation has now grown into an endowment of more than $525,000 dedicated to the Seeley Lake Community. To learn more or contribute, visit http://www.seeleylakecommunityfoundation.org

Hunter Education Training Offered for Adult Women

MISSOULA - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is offering a hunter education field course May 24-June 2, geared for adult women looking to receive hunter education certification and a more in-depth understanding of firearm safety and operation and other hunting-related topics.

The course is planned for May 24, 26, 31 and June 2 from 6:30-9 p.m. each evening at the Missoula FWP office (3201 Spurgin Road).  This 10-hour course goes beyond the minimum requirements for adults to receive their hunter education certification and offers hands-on instruction and field experience.

All students must successfully complete the online hunter education course before registering for this course.  Register for the online training and field course at fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter.

Participants will learn safe gun handling (shooting positions, carries, calibers and actions); what to do after the shot (tracking, field dressing, transporting animals); regulations and wildlife management (including seasons, licenses, permits); hunting access (public land, private land and Block Management Areas); hunting ethics and more.

This course is also meant to complement courses offered through the Becoming An Outdoors Woman summer workshop (fwp.mt.gov/education/bow), where students can take shooting and hunting related classes.       

Following the completion of the online course and this practical field course, students will receive a hunter education certificate, required for anyone born after Jan. 1, 1985 to hunt in Montana.

Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Call Activity 4/11 – 4/18

4/14, 11:01 a.m., Seeley Lane, Seeley Lake: Disorderly Conduct.

4/16, 7:25 p.m., 35XX Highway 83, Seeley Lake: Minor in Possession.

4/16, 9:40 p.m., Cottonwood Lakes Road, Seeley Lake: Minor in Possession.

4/13, 10:00 p.m., 16XX Double Arrow Road, Seeley Lake: Unauthorized use of a Motor Vehicle.

Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Call Activity March 2016

Medical = 10

Public Assist = 2

Motor Vehicle Accidents = 2

Fire Alarm = 1

Legal Burn = 1

Total calls for March 2016 = 16 ; Total in 2015 = 17.  Total calls in 2016 = 53; Total in 2015 = 44.