Community Briefs

Fire Danger EXTREME in Missoula County - Stage 2 Restrictions Start July 27

MISSOULA - Interagency wildland fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) have determined fire danger to be EXTREME. Stage 2 restrictions will go into effect Thursday, July 27 at 12:01 a.m.

As folks in the Missoula area can see, lightning strikes ignited multiple fires, and in the past few weeks a few have escaped initial attack. While response times have been typically fast, fires starting in dry, windy conditions present challenges to even the most seasoned of fire crews and aerial resources. Red Flag conditions, high winds and low relative humidity, will foster extreme fire behavior as crews race to get these fires under control.

It is absolutely critical that the public, including visitors to the area, do their part to help our firefighters get a leg up. Crews continue to be taxed, responding to unattended campfires and human caused fires. Missoula-area crews responded to more than a dozen such fires last week. At this time of year, being careless with any fire can be extremely dangerous and can result in property damage and injury to the public and to firefighters. Before leaving a campfire, it must be drowned with water, stirred and insured it is cold by feeling for heat.

Johnson Receives Foundation Scholarship

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Community Foundation is proud to announce a scholarship award to Sidny Johnson. Johnson is a sincere, caring and dedicated young woman and the Foundation is delighted to sponsor a small part of her nursing education.

The Seeley Lake Community Foundation has provided $11,000.00 in scholarships to Seeley-Swan students since 2006.

The Foundation 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 $500,000 dedicated to the Seeley Lake Community. To learn more or contribute, visit http://www.seeleylakecommunityfoundation.org

Precommercial Thinning and Hazardous Fuel Reduction

Work on-going in the greater Blacktail Mountain Vicinity

KALISPELL – Home and property owners in the greater Blacktail Mountain vicinity, within the Wild Cramer project area, can expect fuels reduction work to be taking place now through Aug. 31. 

3B's Forestry, the contractor performing hazardous fuels reduction work, will likely start operations from first light until 2 p.m. Expect chainsaw noise in the area.

This project is intended to address forest health and hazardous fuel concerns within a portion of the Island Unit (near Lakeside and Kila) on the Swan Lake Ranger District.

For updated information, please contact Swan Lake Ranger Station at 406-837-7500.

36th Annual Huckleberry Festival Returns to Swan Lake, Aug. 12

SWAN LAKE - For 36 years, the second Saturday in August has meant huckleberry pie, huckleberry treats, arts, crafts and music on the shores of beautiful Swan Lake. The 36th annual Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival will get underway at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Swan Lake Day Park near mile marker 72 on Montana Highway 83. The festival will run until 4 p.m.

Morning activities include a pancake breakfast starting at 8 a.m. before the official opening at 9 a.m., a Huckleberry Baking contest at 11 a.m. and Huckleberry Baked Goods Sale. (Come early, the pies sell out quickly!) The baking contest includes an adult division and a children's baking contest for children 10 and under. Adult and kids' contest entries must be huckleberry-based with a minimum of three servings provided. Entries will be accepted Saturday morning starting at 10:30 a.m.

Planned afternoon activities include kids' activities and games, a silent auction, grand prize drawing for an iPad and raffles of donated items including gift certificates and products from area restaurants and merchants.

The festival will also feature an Arts and Crafts Fair with more than 50 vendors offering a wide array of handicrafts, gifts, Montana-made products, food and country-made delicacies. The beer and wine garden will feature Traditional Street Tacos with Gloria's Fresh Salsa; Huckleberry Flathead Peach Pie; Tamarack Yard Sale Ale on draft and wine and Margarita coolers. The Ashley Creek Ramblers featuring Roy Wilhelm will play from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

The Swan Lake Chamber of Commerce and Community Club sponsor the festival. Festival proceeds will be used to fund maintenance of the Swan Lake Community Center.