Community Briefs

Winter break activities at Seeley Lake Elementary

SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake Elementary will offer special 21st Century Winter Break activities for SLE students of all ages from Dec. 26-28 and Jan. 2-4 from 12 - 3 p.m. Activities include arts and crafts, outdoor adventure, games and sports. Meet in the SLE lobby/gym.

SLE will provide a snack. Children should bring a water bottle and appropriate gear for playing outside for part of the time.

Big Larch main closure lifted - Small area remains closed

SEELEY LAKE – As of Friday, Dec. 21, most of Big Larch Campground is open to the public. The main road to the boat launch will be plowed to allow public access to the lake. A small area at the boat launch is still closed and is clearly marked with orange pylons.

The log decks are nearly removed. The Seeley Lake Ranger District cautions motorists to drive carefully because truck traffic is still entering/exiting the area.

The work on the boat launch is around 75 percent complete. Contractors are still working in the area and there is a small area that is closed. Orange pylons delineate the area that is still closed.

MWA Winter Walk: Beaver Ecology & Tracking, Jan. 5

Swan Valley - Have you ever wondered how beavers survive the winter – under ice, without access to fresh trees, and in a dark lodge? If so, please join SVC’s Rob Rich for an adventure exploring the seasonal adaptations of beavers and the diverse habitats where lake and forest meet Saturday, Jan. 5 from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Holland Falls Trailhead. Along the way to Holland Falls, attendees will visit a beaver lodge and interpret the tracks, sign and behaviors of wildlife living near this keystone species.

Please bring warm layers, a packed lunch and snowshoes. The hike is four miles round trip and moderate difficulty.

For more information or to register for this activity, please contact Lindsay Wancour at 406-754-3137 lindsay@svconnections.org

January Community Potluck: Wolves of the Swan, Jan. 9

Swan Valley - Swan Valley Connections’ January Community Potluck Dinner will be held Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Swan Valley Community Hall (Hwy 83, MM 42.5) in Condon. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ wolf biologist Diane Boyd will give a presentation on Wolves of the Swan.

Swan Valley Connections’ monthly potlucks are a time for all community members to come together, share food and learn from one another! Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Potluck dinner at 6 p.m. followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m. There is a time to get to know local neighbors at 7 p.m.

This event is free and everyone is welcome. Contact Lindsay at 406-754-3137 or lindsay@svconnections.org for more information or if you would like to be a presenter at future potlucks.

Swan Valley Library Highlights

Swan Valley - There are many DVDs to choose from along with fiction and non-fiction books for all ages at the Swan Valley Library. There are new books coming monthly and the library can order books not on the shelf from one of the partner libraries for local pick up.

The Book Chat selection for January is entitled “Take Me With You” by the bestselling author of more that 35 books Catherine Ryan Hyde. The Book Chat will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Swan Library. Books are available at the library.

“Take Me with You” is about science teacher August Shroeder while on a trip to Yellowstone Park to scatter his son’s ashes meets a mechanic who offers to fix the motor home for free if Shroeder will take his two sons, Seth and Henry, on the trip. Wes, the mechanic has to serve a summer-long prison sentence for multiple DUIs.

The story focuses on the bonds that develop between the boys and Shrodeder during later trips through national parks. A reviewer said, “Hyde gives her characters great internal depth and the book’s scope gives readers time to savor this memorable, moving journey.”

The Swan Valley Library is located on Highway 83 in Condon and is just north and adjacent to the Swan Valley Community Hall. The library is open Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. It will be closed on New Year’s Eve Monday, Dec. 31 and will reopen Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Call Activity 12/16/18-12/24/18

• 12/16, 2:14 p.m., Pine Drive, Seeley Lake: Accident – No Injury

• 12/17, 6:42 a.m., 1X MM Highway 200, Potomac: Accident – Injury

• 12/17, 7:34 a.m., 1X MM Highway 200, Potomac: Accident – Injury

• 12/17, 9:58 a.m., 1XX Cedar Lane, Seeley Lake: Theft

• 12/18, 1:23 p.m., 3X MM Highway 83, Swan Valley: Slide-in – No Property Damage

• 12/18, 1:52 p.m., 2X MM Highway 200, Greenough: Accident – Injury

• 12/18, 3:48 p.m., Morrell Creek Drive, Seeley Lake: Accident – No Injury

• 12/19, 1:09 a.m., 400XX Paws Up Road, Greenough: Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle

• 12/19, 11:09 a.m., 134XX Vannoy Lane, Greenough: Burglary

• 12/19, 11:17 a.m., 1XX Moose Lane, Seeley Lake: Harassment

• 12/19, 2:17 p.m., Blanchard Creek Road, Greenough: Suspicious Activity

• 12/19, 1:52 p.m., 383X MM Highway 200, Greenough: Accident – No Injury

• 12/22, 7:53 a.m., 32XX Highway 83, Seeley Lake: Disturbance

• 12/22, 1:43 p.m., 9XX Boy Scout Road, Seeley Lake: Accident – No Injury