Articles written by Katie O'reilly


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  • Congressman Zinke touches down in Seeley to test water quality and champion sewer systems

    Katie O'Reilly, For the Pathfinder|Oct 10, 2024

    In a move meant to champion public sewer systems, Rep. Ryan Zinke expertly tossed a well casing line down a hole drilled some 40 feet into the ground on School Lane near Seeley Lake Elementary School last Thursday. "Well, I did come from three generations of plumbers," the Republican U.S. Congressman reasoned to the small group of civic leaders and reporters gathered around the groundwater monitoring well Zinke had come to test. Reeling in the well water sample - which was later revealed to...

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

    Katie O'Reilly, For the Pathfinder|Oct 3, 2024

    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. Audience members, about a third of whom wore bright red "Ted Morgan" t-shirts in support of House...

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

    Katie O'Reilly, for the Pathfinder|Sep 26, 2024

    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...

  • Rural speech language pathologist "Ms. Yolie" on the benefits of rural education

    Katie O'Reilly, for the Pathfinder|Sep 19, 2024

    On school day mornings, roving rural speech language pathologist Yolie Bodie Jandreau hops into a car well stocked with a colorful array of games, toys, picture books and craft supplies and, depending on the day of the week, motors off to either Swan Valley Elementary School in Condon, Seeley Lake Elementary School, Greenough's Sunset School, or Potomac Elementary School. Depending on the weather and destination, the journey can take upwards of an hour, or a mere five minutes. (As a Potomac...