Year in review

To ring in 2025, the Pathfinder's looking back on staff-curated "best ofs," or the stories we thought were notable from the past year. We hope you enjoy our selections and that your New Year is off to a great start.

Jan. 11, 2024

Lack of snow hurts towns economy

By Griffen Smith

Jack Frost went missing this December, and local Seeley Lake businesses said the lack of snow has hurt the town's winter sports economy, although there might be relief in sight.

The Clearwater, Swan and Blackfoot Valleys are all experiencing record-low snowpacks, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That could change this week, however, as several storms and arctic air will move into the region.

Snowmobiling rentals and cross country skiing have been severely limited.

And with fewer people visiting Seeley Lake for winter sports, there is less money going into the local restaurants and retail stores.

Jan. 18, 2024

Historical museum preserves and promotes

By Jean Pocha

Through volunteer efforts, the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society (USVHS) has been delving into local history through word and deed for 36 years.

Twenty-five years ago on March 10, 1988, the first meeting of the USVHS was held at Evelyn Jette's residence. Meetings moved to the Swan Valley Library and Librarian Fern Kauffman began recording and archiving local historical information. In the early days the work began with copying historical photos that people brought into the library. Gradually oral histories were collected.

Jan. 25, 2024

County changes 'policy' for Seeley Lake SMA septics, says data appears concerning

By Griffen Smith

The Missoula County Health Department now requires tighter standards for septic systems in the Seeley Lake Special Management Area (SMA) as officials said the best available data from the area shows any new permit would violate federal drinking standards.

While the regulations are different, and no public process was held over the matter, the Health Department argued it has not technically changed the rules. The new guidelines require future buildings to keep nitrate discharge at a lower than legally-allowed rate, 10mg/L.

The system to do so is called a SepticNet, which could cost up to four times the normal price of a conventional septic system. For about a week, it required all replacement systems to be at the same standard, but a Jan. 14 meeting loosened the policy back to a conventional replacement.

Feb. 1, 2024

Race to the Sky canceled, Lack of snow leads to third cancellation in the race's 38 years

By Keely Larson

Montana's Race to the Sky, a sled dog race winding from Lincoln to Condon and back in either 100 or 300 mile distances, has been canceled this year due to lack of snow and out of consideration for the safety of mushers and their dogs.

The race has only been canceled two other times in its 38-year history - once in 2021 because of the covid-19 pandemic and once in 2005 also because of lack of snow and icy conditions.

Feb. 8, 2024

Handmade trails, Lack of snow doesn't stop Seeley's Biathlon

By Keely Larson

Under a sky threatening rain, Chris Lorentz was explaining to some Seeley Lake Elementary students what they were about to do. Tuesday before the Seeley Lake Biathlon on Feb. 3, Lorentz set up targets on the Seeley Creek Nordic Ski Trails and Friday the students were given a preview.

"These are our local kids," Lorentz, race director of the Seeley Lake Biathlon, said. "I don't mind giving them a little bit of an edge."

On Tuesday, the snow was thin, but Lorentz was confident in pulling off the race.

On Friday he explained to the assembled students, Nordic ski coaches and shooting aides that the originally planned distances - 22-kilometer, 9-kilometer and 3-kilometer races - had to be cut short. Now, biathletes will attempt races just shy of 10K, 5K and 1.5K. Lorentz and a handful of volunteers basically had to hand-make the trails.

Feb. 22, 2024

Lady Blackhawks win District basketball tournaments

By Keely Larson

The Seeley-Swan High School Women's Basketball team won the District basketball tournament and will advance to Divisonals. The Lady Blackhawks will play their first game in the Divisional tournament on Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. against White Sulphur Springs in Frenchtown. The men's team did not advance to Divisonals.

Lions Club training swimming instructors

By Jean Pocha

Swimming lessons are coming soon to Seeley Lake after strong community interest and instructor training.

Parents representing 96 kids responded in favor of swimming lessons in Seeley Lake through the Lions Club's needs survey in 2022. Initially planned to be completely free, training the instructors has incurred extra costs, which will cause the Lions Club to ask for donations from parents, or charge a very small, "unobtrusive" fee.

March 21, 2024

Pyramid Lumber Mill to close, ending 75 years as a family owned business

By Keely Larson

Pyramid Lumber Mill announced on March 14 that it will cease operations and close, ending 75-years in operation as a family-owned business and four generations as Seeley Lake's largest employer.

In a press release from the mill, Pyramid Lumber listed labor shortages, lack of housing, rising costs, "plummeting" lumber prices and cost of living in western Montana as factors that "crippeled Pyramid's ability to operate." The company's board of directors and shareholders voted unanimously at their late-February board meeting to close the mill and shut down operations.

April 4, 2024

Results show human-caused nitrate levels in sewer district, board moves away from testing and toward solutions

By Keely Larson

More water testing done by the Seeley Lake Sewer District led to a conclusion that nitrate levels in the sewer district are related to human causes, something that has been questioned by the public and backed by the Missoula County Public Health Department for years. Now, the Seeley Lake Sewer District is focusing on moving efforts toward engineering solutions.

April 11, 2024

Jamie Matthew of Swan Valley School is Montana's Rural Teacher of the Year

By Keely Larson

Swan Valley School is nestled in between the Mission and Swan Mountains and inside Jamie Matthew's classroom, light from the east-facing windows glows beautifully. The wood on her reading loft seems to stand out in the 3 p.m. sunshine.

Students had just been released, and Matthew hugged a former student in the entrance to the school before walking back to her classroom to talk about something she kind of hates talking about - herself.

Matthew was designated the Montana Rural Teacher of the Year by the Montana Association of County Superintendents of Schools this year. The award is intended to highlight teachers with "demonstrated outstanding qualities as (educators) and who (are) currently serving in a rural school setting." Matthew said she was humbled enough by the nomination and that not in a million years would she have expected to be chosen.

Seeley Elementary goes to four-day school week

By Keely Larson

The Seeley Lake Elementary School Board voted unanimously on April 3 to change the school schedule from a traditional five-day school week to a four-day week structure.

The Swan Valley Elementary School Board in Condon voted to switch to a four-day school week schedule on April 9.

May 2, 2024

Another superintendent offer made, and this time, accepted

By Keely Larson

After making an offer to an applicant for Seeley Lake Elementary School's principal and superintendent position, the school board had to reassess after the applicant declined the job.

Stetson Spooner, current athletic director at the Mullan School District in Idaho, was the first candidate the school board offered the position to, and he declined due to some personal concerns about moving to Seeley Lake, School Board Chair Doc Welter said. Welter said Spooner didn't bring up housing as a concern for the move, but did request a larger salary than what was offered, which was the same salary that the current superintendent makes.

The board decided to offer the job to Christina Hartmann, kindergarten through fifth grade principal in the Townsend School District, who accepted the job, according to Seeley Lake Elementary School's attorney. Since it was already on the agenda for the school board's April 22 meeting, the board was able to approve Hartmann's hiring and her contract.

May 23, 2024

Federal money on the table for a wastewater project in Seeley, potential system design expected in couple months

By Keely Larson

Bill Decker sat in the beautifully lit meeting room upstairs in the Barn - what Seeley Lake residents refer to the combo museum, historical society and community meeting spot as - with legal pads and a folder of sewer-related information displayed in front of him. He was explaining a few things about April's sewer board meeting when his phone rang.

A representative from Rep. Ryan Zinke's office was on the other line with news of a chunk of money available from the federal government - through the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development subcommittee of the federal Appropriations Committee - that the office wanted Seeley Lake to get for a sewer project. Zinke's team was hoping for $18 million.

Game range opens with new parameters

By Jean Pocha

Instead of a line of trucks overflowing with antler hunters bombing through the west gate of the Clearwater-Blackfoot game range on opening day, 115 vehicles followed a game warden driving a side-by-side pilot vehicle through the east gate off Woodworth Road May 15.

Participants began registration six weeks earlier. All participants that used the online system were entered in a random number drawing for place numbers in line. People then RSVP-ed to indicate if they were coming, and numbers were readjusted for people who gave up their place in the number sequence.

"Initially we had 650 people sign up," Kyle Miller, Missoula game warden, said. "About 250 cars actually showed up. A lot of people carpooled with family and friends who drew earlier numbers."

June 6, 2024

Memorial Day celebrations from Helmville to Condon

By Jean Pocha and Keely Larson

In an area where history, hindsight and remembrance are important, it's not surprising the Seeley and Swan Valleys - where at least in Seeley Lake 14.6% of the population are veterans, according to Census data - treated Memorial Day as something special, and not just a three-day weekend.

The Pathfinder was able to attend three celebrations throughout the valleys, and further afield, to see how the holiday was being commemorated. From Condon, to Seeley, to Helmville, one thing was for sure - the community spirit that made these events important and possible was strong across the miles.

June 13, 2024

The Dusty Banditas ride again

By Jean Pocha

The Dusty Banditas gravel race returned to Ovando for a second appearance June 1. This year 300 riders entered, 60 for the 80-ish mile race and 240 for the 45-ish mile race. It was an increase in ridership of 100 from last years' 200-rider limit. The Dusty Bandita is the nation's first all-women gravel bike race.

"Overall the event was hugely popular and successful," Jenna Tomiello, one of the co-race directors and director of MT Alpha Cycling in Missoula, said. "The positive energy at the start, camaraderie out on the course and the excitement at the finish were felt by all."

June 27, 2024

Condon Work Center considered for Forest Service conveyance

By Keely Larson

The Northern Region of the Forest Service, based in Missoula, is beginning the process of transferring its ownership of the Condon Work Center due to a backlog of maintenance on the property and associated costs.

Swan Valley Connections, a nonprofit focused on conservation and stewardship in the Swan Valley, has an office in the work center and leadership has been encouraged to start searching for a new office space with a tentative deadline to be out of the work center by March 2025. Swan Valley Connections is considering whether or not to pursue ownership of the property.

New game warden covering the Seeley Lake area

By Jean Pocha

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks swore in a new game warden to cover the Seeley Lake area in January 2024.

Garrett Kocab of Helena started the lengthy hiring process while completing two degrees at Carroll College. Graduating in May 2023 with Environmental Policy/Project Management and Sociology degrees and hired in January 2024, Kocab then had three months of law enforcement training in Helena before coming on the job in Seeley Lake in May.

July 4, 2024

Old Salt Festival becomes a local tradition

By Jean Pocha

Forty-foot long cinder block cooking pits lined by piles of cherry, pine and oak wood, folk music in the background, kids flying homemade kites and beef quarters seasoning on kitchen tables mark the beginning of the second annual Old Salt Festival.

The festival was the brainchild of Cole Mannix of the Old Salt Co-op in Helena and fifth-generation Montanan from Helmville. Mannix said the Old Salt Festival was designed to bring together local food, local people and agriculture through craftspeople and conversations. Local crafts, kids' activities and musicians rounded out the scene. Over 2,000 people attended the festival over the course of three days, Mannix said.

This years' motto was "The Land is Kin."

July 18, 2024

Hoot owl instituted on area rivers

By Jean Pocha

When water levels drop and stream temperatures rise, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks restricts fishing hours to protect the state's sport fisheries.

Hoot owl restrictions prohibiting fishing between 2 p.m. and 12 a.m. began July 13 in the Clark Fork River Basin including the Blackfoot, North Fork of Blackfoot, Clark Fork and Bitterroot rivers.

Additionally parts of the Big Hole, Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison, Ruby, Smith and Sun Rivers have restrictions. Yellowstone Park has closed the Madison, Firehole and parts of the Gibbon River.

On the Blackfoot River water levels on July 13 were 656 cubic feet per second at Bonner, 40% of the median of 1,610 cubic feet per second for this date. In addition, water temperatures have been over 73 degrees for four days in a row which is the cutoff temperature for hoot owl restrictions.

July 25, 2024

Water district to increase rates pending mill closure

By Keely Larson

The Seeley Lake Water District will increase rates for water users as the anticipated closure of Pyramid Mountain Lumber looms this fall.

Per information from a notice sent out by the water district this month, the mill consumed 20% of the water the district produced each month and used about two million gallons of water monthly. The loss of that production for the district is expected to amount between $50,000 and $60,000 in total. The notice stated the mill intends to shut off its water supply at the end of the year, which is likely when changes to users' bills will occur.

Experience and excitement are trademarks of new area wildlife biologist

By Jean Pocha

From the prairie potholes of northeastern North Dakota to the Blackfoot Valley, new Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife biologist Lee Tafelmeyer has already had a varied career in wildlife biology.

"I grew on a cattle ranch, hunting and trapping and developing a passion for the outdoors, wildlife and ecosystems," Tafelmeyer said. "A family vacation trip to Yellowstone as a youngster played into my interest in the Rocky Mountains and wildlife."

When college entrance forced the beginning of a career choice, Tafelmeyer chose biology with an emphasis on wildlife at University of Jamestown in North Dakota. His first summer job in college off the family ranch was in Lewistown, Montana, followed by two summers on the trail crew at Glacier National Park.

Aug. 1, 2024

Massive storm rips through northwest Montana, other weather news

By Keely Larson

A couple hours before a thunderstorm with hurricane level winds crashed through Missoula County on the evening of July 24, the Missoula National Weather Service posted an update on its Facebook page about a cluster of thunderstorms moving northeast through north-central Idaho with winds that have historically hit 50 to 60 miles per hour.

The post instructed readers to secure outdoor items before the storms arrived, and was just about spot on with the time estimate - 9 p.m.

Wind speeds of 81 mph were recorded at the Missoula airport, where the Missoula National Weather Service office is located. At the top of Mount Sentinel, speeds hit 109 mph.

Aug. 8, 2024

Ovando School celebrates 100 years 8/8/24

By Jean Pocha

Ovando School celebrated its centennial on Aug. 3.

Nearly 60 past students, community members and teachers gathered to reminisce at the schoolhouse and visited the Ovando Museum to see class photos and memorabilia collected over the years.

Last spring students in grades four through eight interviewed some of Ovando's citizens about the Ovando School. The interviewers asked the 10 participants what they liked about the school and what was important about it.

Overwhelmingly interviewees said the school was the community hub. People like to gather for school activities, which brings the town together.

Sept. 5, 2024

What does it take to keep a rural pharmacy open? In some cases, selling third-generation land

By Keely Larson

Karen Dove's hands shake when she starts talking about what it takes to keep a rural pharmacy open.

Each day, she orders drugs customers need at the Seeley Swan Pharmacy. She pays for the drugs before she gets reimbursed and before a customer uses insurance to compensate for what it doesn't pay. Dove doesn't get repaid the full cost of the drug, though, and has to choose an amount she's going to sell a drug on which she's willing to lose.

Dove spends money when she's buying drugs and loses it when she's selling them to customers.

"Most every pharmacy has done everything they can think of to stay afloat. For example, my husband and I have sold third-generation family land to be able to keep a pharmacy here, and if people understood that, they might support us," Dove said.

The Seeley Swan Pharmacy, in its 16th year of business under Dove's ownership, is the only pharmacy in over 100 miles, with customers from Lincoln - 54 miles from the pharmacy's location in Seeley Lake - up into the Swan Valley, another 50 or so miles.

"We strongly need a pharmacy between Big Fork and Missoula," Dove said. "There are too many emergencies. We have too much trauma (with) snowmobilers."

Pharmacists, physicians and lawmakers point the finger at pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, for the way this has unfolded for rural pharmacies. This crunch that Dove faces is not uncommon in pharmacies across Montana, and has made it hard for rural pharmacies to stay in business as they can't make up for losses in the same way a Walgreens or CVS can. Industry experts expect that if things don't change by 2026, 50% of rural pharmacies across the country will close.

Sept. 12, 2024

Interested Holland Lake Lodge buyers meet with community members in Condon, local group announces plan to purchase

By Pathfinder staff

Two avenues of purchasing Holland Lake Lodge were presented on Sept. 3 in Condon to a crowd gathered at the Swan Valley Community Center.

Private equity investors Eric Jacobsen and Thomas Knowles introduced themselves and their intentions to those gathered, and a new nonprofit based in Condon announced its own plan to purchase the property.

Sept. 19, 2024

Legal processes continue for Clearwater gravel mine

By Jean Pocha

In a recent Montana Supreme Court ruling, the temporary restraining order against LHC, Inc. a company that applied for an opencut mining permit for mining gravel on Highway 83 near Elbow Lake, was rescinded.

The decision was made due to a technical difference between the state Supreme Court and District Court Judge John Larson, who originally set the restraining order in July 2023.

The restraining order was applied for in the Fourth Judicial District Court, which includes Missoula County, by Protect the Clearwater, a local grassroots group formed in response to the proposed gravel mine, on July 11, 2023 after LHC began preparing the site for mining by cutting down old growth trees and using heavy equipment to excavate, strip topsoil and build roads.

Sept. 26, 2025

Potomac's burgeoning secession movement reflects a perceived lack of rural representation

By Katie O'Reilly

Last Thursday evening, upwards of 30 people piled into the Potomac Bar and Grill's compact upper level to talk secession.

While meeting leaders themselves admitted to uncertainty about what jumping ship from Missoula County would look like, how exactly one goes about seceding and how possible, or even effective, such a measure would be, citizens present were aligned on the raison d'etre behind what some are referring to as Potomac's "Secession Movement:" rising property taxes; specifically, a perception that tax dollars paid by residents of Missoula County's rural "collar districts" do not reflect, nor benefit, rural communities.

Local rancher participates in trade trip to Japan

By Jean Pocha

Recently Justin Iverson, a Potomac rancher, was invited to go on an international agricultural trade trip to Japan. The purpose was to build relationships, study the Japanese market and explore opportunities for U.S. red meat.

As a member of the Montana Beef Council, a beef marketing group, Iverson was part of the 21 member team of beef, pork, soybean and corn representatives, hosted by the U.S. Meat Export Federation, which markets U.S. meat worldwide. The Tokyo office hosted the group of industry representatives Sept. 8-16 and arranged tours of meat processing facilities, a Wagyu beef farm, the Tokyo wholesale meat market, a trade show, a culinary school and several foodservice and retail visits.

Iverson has been on the board of Montana Stockgrowers in the past, which qualified him to be chosen for one of two beef producer seats on the beef council where he is starting his third year of a three-year term. As a member he travels to meetings statewide and in neighboring states to help make the budget for beef marketing dollars used nationwide.

Oct. 3, 2024

Candidate debate reveals property taxes, rural resilience as bipartisan hot buttons

By Katie O'Reilly

Nearly 60 community members piled into Seeley Lake's Sullivan Community Hall last Tuesday evening to hear what the people vying to represent them in Helena had to say.

Sponsored by the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, the candidate debate, moderated by editor Keely Larson, starred seven hopeful state representatives and senators, plus written statements shared aloud by Larson from one absent candidate.

Comeback possibilities for Sharptail Grouse

By Jean Pocha

Scientists along backroads in the Blackfoot Valley were seen holding up radio telemetry antennas. Instead of tuning into their favorite station, they were dialing in a sharp-tailed grouse, part of a massive reintroduction plan.

Sharp-tailed grouse were once the most abundant grassland bird in western Montana, as they are east of the Continental Divide today. For unknown reasons, the flocks began declining in the 1940s and the last known sharp-tailed grouse sighting in western Montana was in 2000 in the Blackfoot Valley. The sharp-tailed species are also locally or regionally extinct in Kansas, Illinois, California, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico and Oregon.

Through partnerships with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, MPG Ranch in the Bitterroot Valley, University of Montana, private landowners, volunteers, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sportsman groups, work is underway to reintroduce sharp-tailed grouse to the Blackfoot Valley, Tobacco Root area and the Bitterroot Valley.

Oct. 10, 2024

Home sweet homecoming

By Regan Jones

The Seeley-Swan girls' volleyball team and boys' football team faced off against challenging teams on homecoming weekend. Playing against their toughest opponents yet, the pressure was on, and unfortunately, the teams came up short.

This was the first time in 30 years that the Blackhawks made it to a playoff game, and one that was on their own turf. After ending the first quarter in the lead, the Choteau Bulldogs took the game away, final score 41-28.

Nov. 14, 2024

Republicans sweep Montana, Incumbents take the cake in the Seeley-Swan

By Keely Larson

Republicans claimed political control across all the top state races this general election cycle in Montana, including the open U.S. Senate seat, both U.S. House seats, Governor, Public Service Commission, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Auditor and Secretary of State.

Closer to home, incumbents won in each legislative race on the ballot for the Seeley-Swan, including Republican John Fitzpatrick in House District 76, Democrat Connie Keogh in HD 92 and Republican Becky Beard in Senate District 38. In SD 46 where no incumbent was running, Democrat Jacinda Morgieau was successful against Republican Charles Headley.

Conservation similarities between Slovenia, Croatia and the Blackfoot Valley

By Jean Pocha

The Blackfoot Challenge has long hosted international groups to the Blackfoot Valley. Through a cultural exchange grant, a team of eight Blackfoot Challenge staff were able to travel to Slovenia and Croatia in October to meet with colleagues there.

"We have hosted groups from many parts of the world here in the Blackfoot," Randy Gazda, Blackfoot Challenge staff, said. "It was really nice to reciprocate and go visit them."

The trip included farm visits, meeting conservationists from several countries and touring national forests and educational centers in Slovenia and neighboring Croatia.

Dec. 5, 2024

Ovando Historical Society prints local history book

By Jean Pocha

The "Harry Morgan Story" was recently published by the Ovando Historical Society and written by Sheri Ritchlin of Ovando. Harry Morgan was one of the first game wardens in Montana. He served as an early game warden in northern Powell County, and parts of Missoula and Lewis & Clark Counties from 1913-1946. Ovando was his home base while a game warden.

The basic background for the book began in the 1960s when Deer Lodge High School history teacher Thelma Wells interviewed Harry Morgan on tape in Ovando. Morgan's family has brought family history information and artifacts to the Ovando Museum over the years.

Dec. 19, 2024

PHC and Seeley hospital board consider local clinic's future

By Keely Larson

The Seeley Lake community is grappling with the effectiveness and longevity of its medical center, the only spot with primary and dental care in about a 50-mile radius.

Partnership Health Center, the nonprofit organization that provides services to the Seeley-Swan Medical Center, experienced financial hardship during the covid-19 pandemic and Montana's Medicaid redetermination process, both across its six locations in Missoula County and specifically at the Seeley clinic, according to hospital representatives.

These financial stressors - and with the future of Montana's Medicaid program up in the air as the next legislative session approaches - are key to the changes at the Seeley-Swan Medical Center. The December meeting of the Seeley-Swan Hospital District Board, which oversees the medical center's operations, discussed these changes and heard feedback from members of the public on how to move forward and keep the clinic in operation.