Community Briefs

Swan Valley AARP to Meet Dec. 14

SWAN VALLEY – The Dec. 14 meeting of the Swan Valley AARP includes Christmas music and dinner. Carolyn Rippy will play the piano and lead the group in song.

The group is to meet at noon for a potluck at 12:30 p.m. Joyce and Gary Wagner will be the hosts.

Holiday Grief Workshop, Dec. 16

SEELEY LAKE - Tamarack Grief Resource Center (TGRC) will be holding a Holiday Grief Workshop - Recreating Holidays Following Loss Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at SLE Outside in the Bison and Bear. The session will be led by Rob Terwilliger, MS, LCFC.

For those who have experienced the death of a loved one, the holidays often represent one of the most difficult times of the year. The community workshop will explore how to help ourselves through the season, honor deceased loved ones and begin to find meaning amidst the holidays once again.

The workshop is for all ages. There is no cost to attend but donations to TGRC are welcome. For more information call Carrie Benton at 677-3575 or 210-8169 or visit http://www.TamarackGriefResourceCenter.org.

Anonymous Donor Comes Forward to Pay Remaining Snow Plowing Costs for Dogtown

SEELEY LAKE – After reading the article in the Seeley Swan Pathfinder about the need for an additional $1,000 to cover the cost of Missoula County plowing the Cub Lane and Grizzly Drive in Dogtown this winter, an anonymous donor agreed to pay the balance to the county. Seeley Lake residents Klaus von Stutterheim and Chris Stout had agreed to fund the maintenance but were seeking other funding sources.

In a letter dated April 29, 2015 Missoula County Chief Public Works Officer Greg Robertson informed the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) that the county would no longer be maintaining Grizzly Drive and Cub Lane. These roads are not county roads and are used to access state lease properties. Robinson indicated in the letter that the county is willing to continue maintenance if the county was reimbursed the cost.

DNRC Clearwater Unit Manager Kristen Baker-Dickinson informed the leaseholders at a Sept. 2 meeting that it is within their leases that it is their responsibility to maintain the roads. DNRC cannot grant an easement to the country without being paid fair market.

Von Stutterheim and Stout approached the Seeley Lake Community Foundation Board of Directors who agreed to pay $2,000 to keep the road plowed through the winter. This was $1,000 short of the agreement with the county.

“We are very grateful for the contribution and I am glad that now Chris and I won’t have to bake $1,000 worth of cookies,” said von Stutterheim.

Giving Tree Reminder

SEELEY LAKE - Give your spirits a lift by helping an area child enjoy Christmas. Only a few more days remain to purchase a gift for an area child on the “Giving Tree.” The gifts must be purchased and taken unwrapped and boxed to Cory’s Valley Market by Tuesday, Dec. 15. 

While most of the tags have been taken, visit the Giving Tree at Cory’s Valley Market. Select a card for a gift to purchase, sign it out at the counter with the checker, purchase the gift and return the card return by Tuesday. All gifts will be wrapped and distributed to the families for Christmas.

Missoula County Growth Policy Update

MISSOULA - The Missoula Consolidated Planning Board considered the draft Missoula County Growth Policy at the Dec. 1 public hearing. The draft Growth Policy seeks to achieve Missoula County’s development and conservation goals as the county grows.

After consideration, the Board did not make a recommendation regarding the proposed Growth Policy. The Board indicated it will reconsider the draft Growth Policy after a number of provisions are further addressed, such as:

1. An updated future land use map.

2. Enhanced language regarding climate change, wildland urban interface, alternative energy and affordable housing.

3. A fine-tuned action plan, particularly in regards to actions, performance indicators and timeline in Chapter 2.

The Planning Board will consider amendments to the Growth Policy at a future public hearing to be scheduled in 2016.

The current draft Growth Policy and other project information are available for review at the Community and Planning Services (CAPS) website. For more information, please visit http://www.mcgrowthpolicy.us or contact CAPS at 406-258-4657.

Missoula County

Sheriff’s Department

Call Activity

11/30/15 – 12/06/15

12/3, 10:36 a.m., 67XX Highway 83, Condon: Harassment.

12/4, 10:50 a.m., 60XX Highway 83, Condon: Theft.

12/4, 11:50 a.m., Highway 200, Potomac: Accident - Injury.

12/4, 6:53 p.m., 72XX Highway 83, Condon: Suspicious Activity.

12/6, 4:39 p.m., 12XX Frontier Drive, Seeley Lake: Theft.