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  • Swan Valley volunteers recognized

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Mar 14, 2019

    SWAN VALLEY - The Condon Community Church sponsored an appreciation meal on March 9 for the Swan Valley Emergency Service volunteers. According to Pastor Bruce Rippy they "make life easier for us in the Swan Valley." "We are very thankful for the wonderful folks who protect and care for us in this valley," wrote Food Event Committee Member Patricia Busby in an email, "Too often we take that for granted - thus the dinner." Nearly 70 Emergency Service volunteers, their families and Condon Communit...

  • Salmon Prairie School performs "Scrooge"

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Dec 27, 2018

    SALMON PRAIRIE - The three Salmon Prairie Elementary School students, two eighth graders and one in kindergarten, produced and starred in their version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." They entitled their play "Scrooge" which was performed Dec. 20 for family and friends. Their teacher Holl Hubbard said that the three Salmon Prairie students wrote their own script after reading the original story. Hubbard said this gives them more of an idea what the whole story is about instead of just...

  • Section 31 donated to Swan Valley Connections - Ice rink plans

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Dec 13, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - Swan Valley Connections Board Chair Barb Raible announced to the Swan Valley Community Council that Swan Valley Connections is the recipient of 160 acres within Section 31 in Condon at the Council meeting Dec. 4. SVCC Chair Ken Donovan also gave a report on the plans for the ice skating rink to be located in the arena area next to the Swan Valley Community Hall. Finally, the council is finishing up the final edits to the Swan Valley Regional Plan and preparing to send it to Missoula County for approval. Raible said that The Nature...

  • Regional Draft Plan completed

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Nov 15, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Community Council met Nov. 6 to review the remaining elements in the Swan Valley Regional Draft Plan entitled Transportation, Public Facilities and Services and Implementation and addressed comments about the four appendices. The draft plan was approved and will be sent to Missoula County Community and Planning Services for further review and adaptation. In the section entitled Road Maintenance, the comment objected to the arbitrary number of roads in the planning area. The Council agreed to remove the number which...

  • Comments requested on restoration project in the Swan

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Nov 15, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - Flathead National Forest staff met and shared with the residents of the Swan Valley the concepts of the Mid-Swan Landscape Restoration and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Project at a meeting held Nov. 8. Following the presentation, attendees asked questions of the various disciplines, viewed interactive maps of the project and submitted comments. The deadline to comment is Nov. 23 so they can be included in the review and analysis process. The Mid-Swan Project comprises nearly 70,000 acres located between the Swan Mountains on the...

  • Swan Valley celebrates veterans

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Nov 15, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - Attendees gathered on the Swan Valley Community Hall porch with the temperature in the low 30s to pay tribute to all veterans at 11 a.m. Nov. 11. Attendees then went inside and enjoyed stories, singing and a lunch provided by the Swan Valley American Legion Post #63 Auxiliary....

  • Council works through Land Use and Housing elements

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Nov 1, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Community Council met for a special meeting Oct. 23 to review and discuss public comments to the third and fourth elements entitled Land Use and Housing of the Swan Valley Regional Draft Plan. The members paid particular attention to wording that sounded regulatory and either amended or deleted it. In the section Non Residential Land Use, a comment suggested that the wording identifying where businesses could be located sounded too regulatory. Members of the Council voted to remove the sentence stating that...

  • Comments reviewed, redevelopment sites requested

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Oct 25, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Community Council reviewed public comments on the final draft of the Swan Valley Regional Plan at their regular monthly meeting Oct.16. Missoula County Community and Planning Services presented the opportunity for the valley to help identify sites containing potentially hazardous materials. The Council also discussed a possible shooting range and were informed that free smoke alarms are available through Swan Valley Emergency Services. Council members agreed to make no changes after reviewing public comments...

  • New Swan Lake District Ranger responds to attendees' questions

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Aug 30, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - Flathead National Forest, Swan Lake District Ranger Chris Dowling was introduced at the Swan Valley Council monthly meeting Aug. 21. Dowling recently replaced newly retired Ranger Rich Kehr. He named ongoing projects in the Swan Valley and answered questions from those in attendance. Dowling discussed four main projects in the Swan: Cold-Jim, Glacier Loon, Beaver Creek and Mid Swan. Based on the objectives for different projects, activities include restoration for forest health, fuel reductions, precommercial thinning and tree...

  • Shooting Range Idea Discussed, Public Comments Considered on Draft Plan

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Jul 26, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - At their regular meeting July 17, the Swan Valley Community Council heard discussion about where and how to go about securing a suitable location for a local shooting range. The council also considered public comments on the final draft plan. They finished with Element One entitled Natural Resources and Environment and nearly all of Element Two entitled Economic Opportunity. Chair Ken Donovan told those present that he heard complaints from those living near Cold Creek Road that people were firing guns close to their living...

  • Condon Fourth of July Celebration

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Jul 12, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - It was a full day of activities on the Fourth of July in Condon starting with the continental breakfast served by Condon Community Church and then the parade. In the afternoon, everyone enjoyed the O-Mok-See horse races followed by fireworks at dusk. Between the main events, people enjoyed huckleberry ice cream served by the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society as they stopped by the Swan Valley Community Hall, Swan Valley Museum and the Swan Valley Library used book sale. Free bur...

  • Collision Takes Out Mailboxes - No Injuries

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Jul 5, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Emergency Services responded to a collision Monday, July 2 shortly after 6 p.m. A loaded semi with pup trailer attempted to pass a Winnebago near the intersection of Salmon Prairie Road and Highway 83. In what Montana Highway Patrol Officer Jason Fredenburg called a "bad pass," the truck broke off every mailbox located on the north side of Salmon Prairie Road. They were launched several feet to the north. No one was injured in the accident that is still under...

  • Strohmaier Aids with Comment Decisions -Questions Clarified

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Jun 28, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Community Council considered public comments and voted to accept minor changes to the Swan Valley Draft Plan at their regular meeting June 19. In attendance was Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier who offered suggestions and assistance to the SVCC. SVCC members voted to keep the original wording in several sections of the first element, Natural Resources and Environment, after considering public comments. However, they voted to eliminate section 1.13 entitled Noise from the draft plan and retained only...

  • Public Comments to Swan Valley Regional Draft Plan Discussed

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|May 24, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - The members of the Swan Valley Community Council voted to follow SVCC member Henry Westra’s matrix in which he compiled public comments suggesting changes or recommendations to the second Swan Valley Regional Plan Draft. The comments, due on April 10, were then perused by the Council. They discussed and voted for some changes or to keep the original writing to the second draft plan at their meeting May 15. Westra wrote the specific comments on the matrix in the order of the plan, specifying location and by whom the comments w...

  • Next Step to Implement Regional Draft Plan

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Apr 26, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - Members of the Swan Valley Community Council discussed the next step needed to implement the second draft of the Swan Valley Regional Draft Plan at their meeting April 17. They voted for each SVCC member to prioritize the more than 20 comments they received pertaining to the plan before the next meeting May 15. The comments along with the draft plans can be found by visiting: http://apps.missoulacounty.us/go/svccplan Chair Ken Donovan said that the comments will be discussed at open meetings and then voted upon as to what will be...

  • Comments and Future of Second Draft Discussed

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Mar 29, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Community Council answered questions and addressed other concerns pertaining to the second draft of the Swan Valley Regional Growth Plan at their March 20 meeting. Missoula Community and Planning Services (CAPS) planner Andrew Hagemeier also presented the beginning stages of the Missoula County mapping update. He explained the project will be a “visual of the policies and visions” of the future of the county. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the second draft of the regional plan as presented by the pla...

  • Second Regional Draft Plan Available for Comment

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Mar 8, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Community Council discussed how to distribute the completed second draft of the regional plan to the public at their meeting Feb. 27. The council members agreed that residents can peruse the plan and submit specific comments by the April 10 deadline. Council member Henry Westra asked what the council’s responsibility was in regard to the draft plan. “Do we have to say yes or no [to the draft plan]?” Westra asked. Council member Lacey McNutt said that their responsibility was to get it thoroughly out to the public....

  • Alexander Wins Chance at County Spelling Bee

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Feb 15, 2018

    SWAN VALLEY - Seventh grader Trista Alexander who competed against six other spellers won the Swan Valley Elementary School Spelling Bee for the second time Feb. 6. She will be attending the Missoula County Spelling Bee to be held at Sentinel High School Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m. in Missoula. Another seventh grader Chris Auchenbach was the runner-up who will fill in for Alexander if she can not attend. The contest is open to fifth through eighth graders. The eight spellers volunteered to be in the...

  • Home Alone Plays to Packed House

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Dec 28, 2017

    SALMON PRAIRIE - The Salmon Prairie students did their interpretation of the film "Home Alone" on Dec. 19 at the Salmon Prairie School. Holl Hubbard teaches all eight grades at the one-room Salmon Prairie School. Hubbard's wife Stayce said that because the enrollment has gone up to seven students this year there were more family and friends at the performance. "It was standing room only," Stayce said. The students wrote their script and created their scenery and props beginning in...

  • Musical Pirates Performed

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Dec 21, 2017

    SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Elementary School entertained with songs, dancing and the production of "An Island Christmas" at their annual Winter Program Dec. 14....

  • Holiday Kick-off in Condon

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Dec 7, 2017

    SWAN VALLEY - The Upper Swan Valley Historical Society hosted their annual Frostbite Festival Dec. 2 at the Swan Valley School. Attendees enjoyed an assortment of crafts and artwork from a gymnasium full of vendors along with the "best bake sale around" and crafts for the young at heart....

  • Decisions Put on Hold

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Nov 30, 2017

    SWAN VALLEY - After lengthy discussion at its Nov. 21 meeting, the Swan Valley Community Council voted to table any decisions and the logistics concerning the Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee’s draft plan. Due to the holidays, council members and planning committee members’ absences and unanswered questions, the SVCC will wait until their next meeting Dec. 19 for further discussion. The timeline and the order for getting the draft plan to the community were addressed. Council member Henry Westra suggested that the SVRPC work on the cle...

  • Swan Valley Residents Offer Heartfelt Words

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Nov 16, 2017

    SWAN VALLEY - Swan Valley American Legion Post #63 Commander Rick Ferguson spoke to those gathered at the Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 held at the Swan Valley Community Hall. He urged those present to remember and honor those who served and who presently serve their country and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Ferguson said, "It seems the United States never runs out of wars. "We step up to keep our freedom and preserve what we have." Those in attendance spoke of those who fought in past...

  • Final Element Accepted - Appendices Added

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Nov 16, 2017

    SWAN VALLEY - The final seventh element entitled Implementation was discussed, edited and accepted by the Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee at their meeting Nov. 8. The appendices, taken from text of three elements contained in the growth plan draft, were also accepted by the committee. The committee debated about accepting committee member Diann Ericson’s submission as to how to integrate the appropriate Implementation sections into each element of the draft plan. The committee eventually agreed with committee member Sara Halm to keep t...

  • Public Facilities and Services Addressed – Implementation Element Tabled

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Nov 2, 2017

    SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee edited the Public Facilities and Services, the sixth element, and reviewed the final Implementation element of the draft growth plan at their Oct. 18 and Oct. 25 meetings. At the Oct. 25 meeting, the committee accepted edits to the remaining sections of the sixth elements except for the section entitled Parks and Recreation, pending edits from appropriate sources in Missoula County. They also addressed the goals, policies and actions of the sixth element. The Public Facilities and Servic...

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