Community Briefs

Snow sculpture deadline extended until Feb. 9

A Seeley Lake Winterfest tradition throughout January is snow sculptures. However, due to the current lack of snow, the Seeley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce extended the snow sculpture competition into February.

Forms will be available at Grizzly Claw Trading Company starting Feb. 5 and the deadline to register is Feb. 9. Take a photo of the completed sculpture and leave it with the sculpture in a plastic bag. Sculpture maps will be available at area businesses starting Feb. 15.

Sculptures will be judged Sunday, Feb. 17 at 12 p.m. Alpine Artisans, Inc. and the Seeley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce will give out cash prizes to the winners.

Handbell Choir Resumes Practice

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Mountain Bells, a local community handbell choir, resumed practices on Tuesday afternoons, 3:15 – 5 p.m., in the Seeley Lake Elementary School music room. If you read music (even if it has been a long time) and would like to try ringing handbells, please come and join us. We are always looking to recruit new members to the choir. None of us learned handbells as a first instrument, so don’t hesitate to come if you’ve never rung a handbell before. We’ll teach you!

For more information, please contact Joann at 677-4424 or joann@wallenburn.org.

Movie Night in the Barn Jan. 18 - “The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky”

SEELEY LAKE - Norman Maclean wrote a story based on his experience while working for the Forest Service as a youth. The story was made into a movie called “The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky.” It takes place in the Bitterroot Mountains area of Hamilton and Elk Summit in Idaho. Hollywood preferred to shoot it in British Columbia, Canada.

The story happens in 1919 featuring a cocky 17-year-old, played by Jerry O’Connnell (not the one living along the Blackfoot River at Ninemile Prairie.) The young man is mentored by a seasoned ranger (Sam Elliott), has conflicts with a card shark cook and becomes infatuated by a cute girl. During his wilderness adventure, he discovers the great forces of nature while learning the importance of honor, trust and integrity. The actor who plays a professional gambler and card shark is in real-life, Ricky Jay, a professional magician who specializes in card tricks.

There are some western staples, like the scenic landscapes, card games, a saloon fight and saloon girls (prostitutes). This is a wilderness drama wherein a teen comes of age. It’s fairly family friendly and only hints at the worldly temptations youths will eventually face. The beauty of the wilderness is emphasized with the corresponding arduous hiking, camping, forest work, relationships and so forth. It’s a likable movie running 1 hour and 34 minutes.

Join the Seeley Lake Historical Society at the Hayloft of the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitor Center, 2920 Hwy 83, at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18. Free admission and refreshments will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Call Activity 12/30/18-1/7/19

• 12/30, 8:39 a.m., 2XX Riverview Drive, Seeley Lake: Disturbance

• 12/31, 8:34 p.m., 4XX Frontier Drive, Seeley Lake: Burglary

• 1/3, 7:57 p.m., 9XX Elm Drive, Seeley Lake: Suspicious Activity

• 1/5, 11:45 a.m., Seeley Lane, Seeley Lake: Accident – No Injury