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GREENOUGH - The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and engineering firm Robert Peccia & Associates gathered public input during two virtual open houses Wednesday, June 16. The two entities are trying to look at reconfiguration options for the intersection of Highway 200 and Highway 83 also known as Clearwater Junction. Part of what triggered the request for change was a number of accidents occurring in the area. The purpose of the change is to address accidents and improve overall traffic flow. Between 2003 and 2019, 35 crashes were...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Community Council received updates on Fourth of July activities as well as other upcoming local projects during their regular monthly meeting Monday, June 14. In the meeting, Jordan Lyons, Missoula County Community and Planning Services housing specialist, provided the results of a recent Community Needs Assessment; Claire Muller, Seeley Lake Community Foundation executive director, then announced updates on the Change Your Pace program; and Seeley Lake District Ranger Quinn Carver described project updates and...
POTOMAC - Members of the Potomac School Board approved a collection of Montana School Board Association (MTSBA) policy updates both on first and second reading with amendments during their regular meeting Monday, June 14. The Board also heard from the eighth graders on their recent school trip and approved the 2019-2020 audit. The required policy updates that were approved on second reading with amendments had to do with uniform complaint procedure; district policy and procedures; school calendar and day; school emergency and closure; entrance...
SWAN VALLEY - Hailey Loudon and her husband Jesse Arno are bringing back Swan Valley Café for the first time since it closed in 2016. They are excited to bring in another active restaurant to the Condon area. "I always just wanted to own my own business and ... it seemed like a good opportunity," Loudon said. "It's been for sale forever and I would try to convince him to do this for about 10 years now. He finally just gave in." Loudon is originally from Aurora, Oregon but she graduated from Seel...
SEELEY LAKE - Potomac resident Sherri Housley has been selling her collection of various jam and jelly flavors at Seeley Lake Market for around a decade. She learned how to make jam at an early age when she would help her family pick strawberries and make jam out of it. "That's how we ate, we were really poor," she said. She finds the jam-making process "relaxing" and says that describing it is like describing art. She said while some may freeze the fruit in their jars, she prefers to leave...
SALMON PRAIRIE - "We talked the teacher into letting us go up in the attic to see if we could kill some of the pack rats that were always up there. She went along with us for awhile until she couldn't get us to come down. I made the mistake of telling my folks about what I was doing instead of my studies." Karen Conley, a former student of Salmon Prairie Elementary School, told this story as it was recorded and published in the book, "Lake County School History, Vol. II' in the chapter on Swan...
GREENOUGH - Horse enthusiasts rode through the Blackfoot Clearwater Wildlife Management Area (aka Game Range) as part of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's (RMEF) annual Horse Ride Saturday, June 12 at Old Boyd Ranch. Blackfoot Clearwater Chapter Co-chairs Twyla and Todd Johnson have been organizing the event for over 20 years. Its purpose is not only to give horseback riders an opportunity for adventure and prizes but also to act as an additional fundraiser for the RMEF. "My husband and I really...
SEELEY LAKE - Paul Benbow, former Seeley Lake resident who currently lives in Missoula, had an "intense" experience during the heavy thunderstorm Sunday, June 13. According to the Seeley Lake Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) near the Seeley Lake Airport, temperatures reached 90 degrees by 5 p.m. However as the predicted cold front hit, temperatures dropped 30 degrees and winds hit gusts of up to 39 miles per hour by 7 p.m. The RAWS at Clearwater Junction recorded wind gusts up to 42...
SEELEY LAKE - Annette Johnson wrapped up her 24-year position as Seeley-Swan High School math teacher at the end of this school year. Johnson graduated from Great Falls High School in January 1985. Soon after she attended the College of Great Falls where she graduated in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in secondary math education and business. She then received a master's degree in technology in education as well as several math credits from the University of Montana. She started teaching math at...
MISSOULA COUNTY - The Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation announced that two Seeley Lake students won cash prizes for their participation in an essay-writing contest. Ava Thornsberry won first place and received $300. Clara Kyrouac tied for third and received $100. Other Missoula-area students to win were Abigail Sherwood in second and Kenney Smith tied for third. Each entrant received a one-year membership to the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. In their essays, the girls talked about the significance of the 1803-06 Lewis and...
SWAN VALLEY – "Let's hear it for the chili," Auctioneer Rip Grubaugh said to which the room erupted in applause. The 30th Annual American Legion Post 63 Chili Cookoff filled the Swan Valley Community Hall June 12 with aromas of 15 different chilis. The taste testers agreed all the chilis were good with their own style. The hardest part was choosing the best. Patricia Maurer again claimed the traveling trophy after her chili was named the 2021 Chili Champ. The Chili Cookoff is the only major f...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake Elementary School eighth graders enjoyed their last day as students in the school's gymnasium during their graduation ceremony Tuesday, June 8. As tradition, the graduates presented flowers to their parents in the audience. Amaiya Dalrymple and Bailey Bartlett introduced the ceremony. "The reason you're getting wonderful flowers is because you have done so much for us for so many years," they said. "We also want to show some recognition for fathers. We admire all the...
POTOMAC - Potomac Elementary School eighth graders and kindergartners concluded important life stages following their graduation ceremony Wednesday, June 9 at the Potomac Greenough Community Center. In his opening speech Principal John Rouse acknowledged the inquisitiveness of this year's group of kindergarteners. "They come here with a sense of curiosity," Rouse said. "A sense of curiosity which is evidenced through unending questions. Well, we hope we kept it alive and we believe we did. ......
SALMON PRAIRIE - Salmon Prairie Elementary School eighth grader Cameron Lytle wrapped up his time in the one-room schoolhouse at the school's graduation ceremony and end of the year picnic Monday, June 7. Next year he will attend Seeley-Swan High School. "Cameron, we're going to miss you," said Supervising Teacher Holl Hubbard. "We wish you the very best ... and the door is always open and you can come back and visit. It's going to be different without you here." Lytle's grandmother Zana Lytle...
MISSOULA COUNTY - The Missoula County Sheriff's Office has a new method of patrolling local bodies of water during warmer seasons. Missoula County Sergeant Bob Parcell said the Office recently purchased its second jet ski earlier this year after having purchased one in 2020. The newer one is currently in Kalispell having its lights and decals installed. The waverunners will be used to patrol all lakes to make sure boaters have the appropriate registration and are taking safety precautions like w...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley-Swan High School seniors closed a new chapter of their lives as they celebrated their achievements at the school's graduation ceremony Sunday, June 6. During his opening speech, Principal Kellen Palmer acknowledged the challenges the 19 students had faced in recent years. "This is a 13 year culmination of hard work," he said. "The last few years have been well, unusual to say the least. Between the way last spring ended and then the uncertainty surrounding this fall, it's be...
As the weather warms and recreationists venture into the woods, Be Bear Aware Campaign Director Chuck Bartlebaugh wants everyone to be informed on how to avoid confrontations with black and grizzly bears, the correct methods of using bear spray and protecting oneself if a bear attacks. According to missoulabears.org, bears are omnivorous, have an excellent sense of smell and must gain enough weight during the warmer seasons to sustain them for four to seven months of winter. Bears are able to...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Elementary junior high band showed what their music program is capable of at their year-end concert Tuesday, June 1. The show featured a mixture of both concert and pep band songs. Music teacher Janet Morgenstern said many of the performers were playing at a fifth grade level when they began practicing this January. However, over time they have been able to catch up to their respective grade levels. "They did really, really well tonight," she said. "We knew we...
SEELEY LAKE - The Montana Coaches Association (MCA) voted Seeley-Swan High School Track and Field Coach Mike Haines "Coach of the Year" for Class C Girls Track and Field after the team won the Class C state title this year. This is his third time receiving the award. He was recognized in 2014 and 2019 when the girls track team won the Class C state title. Haines described receiving the award again as humbling. "I'm blessed with having coached really good athletes and I have really good...
SWAN VALLEY - Veterans and residents gathered together on the Cold Creek Bridge in Condon to honor fallen military members at their Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 31. During the ceremony, Edward Klassen, Swan Valley American Legion Post 63 commander, spoke about the history of Memorial Day and its incarnations across the U.S. before it became a national holiday in 1971. "These American veterans of all American conflicts are at rest now," he said. "We must bear the burden of carrying this...
SEELEY LAKE - Students from Seeley Lake Elementary and Seeley-Swan High School showed off their talents at "Spotlight," a talent show featuring acts from both schools in the high school's small gym Tuesday, May 25. Acts ranged from a variety of fields including singing, dancing, magic tricks and science experiments. Music teacher Janet Morgenstern opened the show, highlighting that talent comes in many forms - what one sees as talent can be different for someone else. This was followed by a...
MISSOULA COUNTY - The results of a recent Missoula County Community Needs Assessment (CNA) survey showed that 68% of residents felt that the county should prioritize projects that increase the supply of housing affordable for all income levels. Based on these results, CAPS will communicate these priorities with County Commissioners. The Missoula County Community and Planning Services’ Grants and Community Programs Division divulged the results of their recent annual CNA survey during a virtual meeting Tuesday, May 25. This assessment was i...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley-Swan High School graduate Locke Hassett is looking forward to returning to his hometown as he takes on his new position as Seeley Lake Elementary School Outdoor Program leader. He previously worked for the Outdoor Program in 2017. “I’m really just looking forward to seeing how much it’s grown,” he said. “When I worked there a couple years ago, back in 2017, we had maybe 10 kids max. And after speaking with [Program Director] Bridget Laird, she said that it’s grown quite a bit. So it’s just going to be really interesting t...
SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Elementary School Board held a discussion on how they should approach advertising an open part-time principal/teacher position during a special meeting Wednesday, May 26. They unanimously voted to have Erin Lipkind, Missoula County superintendent of schools, and District Clerk Heather Mincey create an advertisement for the position on the school’s website with the stipulation that it could be modified at any time. They also certified their new trustee Sophie Trull. Ralph King served as the school’s principal for...
MISSOULA COUNTY - Missoula County’s Epidemiological Situation Unit provided updates on COVID-19 and vaccinations in the county during a virtual press conference Wednesday, May 26. D’Shane Barnett, Incoming Missoula City-County Health Department (MCCHD) director and health officer, congratulated the county on having the highest vaccination rate in the state of Montana. “I am inheriting a great department,” Barnett said. “And all of the work that has been done has led to Missoula County really leading the way in the state when it comes to COVID-...
