Articles written by Keely Larson


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  • "We always took involvement in our community very seriously."

    Keely Larson, Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    To commemorate the end of an era, the Pathfinder went back through the archives to find mentions of Pyramid Mountain Lumber all the way back to 1983 when the paper was published as The Valley Times. There aren't instances from each year since, mainly because we'd run out of space, and also because one gets the general gist from the compiled remarks. A main refrain after the announced closure of Pyramid Mountain Lumber on March 14 of this year was that it was the glue that held Seeley Lake...

  • Are we missing something?

    Keely Larson, Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    Maybe you opened your paper today thinking, I’m pretty sure the Pathfinder’s missing something. Don’t we have a new president? Statehouse representative? You’re probably right. Since our papers are printed on Mondays, it made for a very quiet Nov. 7 paper regarding election details. We sent the paper off to press before Election Day even began. I intend to publish a story online focusing on the statehouse races pertinent to the Seeley-Swan and Blackfoot Valleys on Wednesday or Thursday this week. But in the meantime, there are plenty of othe...

  • Flathead National Forest receives permit application from interested Holland Lake Lodge buyers with no indication of expansion

    Keely Larson, Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    The Flathead National Forest has received an application from Eric Jacobsen and Thomas Knowles for a special use permit to operate Holland Lake Lodge with no proposed expansion. Private equity investors Jacobsen and Knowles held a meeting announcing their interest in purchasing the historic lodge in the Swan Valley in September and the Forest Service received notice of a purchase agreement between the two and the current holders of the lodge’s special use permit — longtime owner Christian Wohlfiel and POWDR, owner of ski resorts across the cou...

  • Emotional end to the football season, Lady Blackhawks head to divisionals

    Keely Larson, Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    The Blackhawks first home playoff game in 30 years didn't end the way the football team hoped. After ending the first quarter in the lead, the Choteau Bulldogs took the game away, final score 41-28. Blackhawk Coach Jacob Haley said to his team that now he'll never consider a bulldog as a prospective pet. Haley said he felt like the playoff game was up for the taking and that the Blackhawks only had themselves to beat. But a few too many turnovers, dropped touchdowns and off plays didn't produce...

  • Blackhawk educator wins statewide award

    Keely Larson, Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    Seeley-Swan High School business instructor Michele Holmes was presented the Innovation in Education award by the Montana Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 30 during the Chamber's Titans of Business award ceremony. This fall, Holmes was selected as an Empowered Teacher of the Year, acknowledging her comprehensive use of the Empowered curriculum, which allows business instructors to use hands-on, real-world activities to teach business concepts like costs of goods sold or project pitching. Through...

  • Republicans sweep Montana

    Keely Larson, Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    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. More specifically, Ryan Zinke took the western U.S. House District and Troy Downing the eastern. Greg Gianforte was reelected governor. Brad Molnar, Jeff Welborn and Jennifer Fielder were elected to the state Public Service Commission. Austin... Full story

  • Playing up, Seeley Lake eighth grade volleyball players take their chance to grow

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 31, 2024

    Audrey Stevenson groaned as the volleyball she served hit the net instead of sailing over like it was supposed to. Assistant Coach Shawn Evans told her to keep her arm up, and she walked around the court to get back in line and try again. At a practice in October, many Lady Blackhawks brought up how much serving technique improves when players get on the high school team. And Stevenson, along with fellow eighth grader Kieu Snow, has an extra year to practice. Both young women are playing up...

  • Who is worried about the future of Seeley Lake? Community members gather to discuss

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 31, 2024

    Inside the Seeley-Swan High School cafeteria, close to 30 people gathered and raised their hands for various ice breaker questions before a meeting began. How many people in the room have lived in Seeley Lake for more than 20 years? Maybe a third of the hands went up. How many people were born and raised in Seeley? No hands. How many are retired? Business owners? Have kids in the school system? Who is worried about the future of Seeley Lake? Every hand in the room went up. "Great, that's why...

  • Seeley elementary junior high wing to be demolished

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 31, 2024

    The seventh/eighth grade wing at Seeley Lake Elementary School is set to be demolished. Continued concern about mold in the walls due to moisture getting under the foundation of the building led to school board approval for the demolition during its October meeting. Mold was first found in the walls over the summer and was abated, or removed, Board Chair Doc Welter said, which allowed the wing to be used this school year. But since moisture continues to be a problem under the foundation, even with equipment in place to keep it at bay, Welter...

  • Purchase agreement made for new Holland Lake Lodge ownership and updates from the Swan Valley Community Council October meeting

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 24, 2024

    The Forest Service received notification of a purchase agreement regarding Holland Lake Lodge between Eric Jacobsen, Great Falls native and current Utah resident, and longtime owner of the lodge and holder of its special use permit, Christian Wohlfeil, and POWDR on Oct. 11. POWDR, a company that owns and operates ski resorts across the country, owns about 20% of the assets of Holland Lake Lodge. A controversial plan to expand the lodge was rejected by the Forest Service last fall after being met with forceful local opposition. Ivy Gehling,...

  • Grants and staff vacancies, Seeley Lake Sewer District Board meets for October

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 24, 2024

    The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board met last Thursday for a relatively short meeting to discuss ongoing fundraising efforts and the still vacant staff positions. Steve Anderson, engineer with Water & Environmental Technologies (WET), said the engineering firm’s staff continue to work on pursuing grants to help cover costs of creating the preliminary engineering report, which once completed opens the door for other grant opportunities for which the board could apply. WET staff are working through a reclamation and development planning grant a...

  • Blackhawk victories, senior nights approach for volleyball and football

    Regan Jones and Keely Larson|Oct 24, 2024

    This weekend the Lady Blackhawks experienced triumph and defeat. They faced off against the Valley Christian Eagles and the Noxon Red Devils and both games were demanding. The first set against the Eagles on Oct. 17 started with the Blackhawks and Eagles going back and forth for points, but in the end the Eagles took the lead, winning 25-15. The second set was a rollercoaster and both teams took the lead multiple times. Ultimately, both the second and third set went to the Eagles. This week is t...

  • Seeley Lake hospital board conducting clinic use survey

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 24, 2024

    Editor's note: Due to an unfortunate oversight, part of this article was missing from the printed paper. We will be reprinting the full article in the paper next week and the entirety is featured here. We deeply regret the error. The Seeley-Swan Hospital District Board is conducting a survey to get a more comprehensive idea of how the board and clinic can better respond to the needs of those in Seeley Lake. Board Chairwoman Terryl Bartlett said living in Seeley Lake, one can get used to running into Missoula for various medical needs that the c...

  • Two dead and two injured after a head-on collision south of Seeley Lake

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 17, 2024

    A head-on collision on Oct. 6 left two people dead and two injured at 9:20 p.m. on Highway 83 in Seeley Lake. According to a release from Montana Highway Patrol, a vehicle driving south on Highway 83 failed to make a curve to the left near Double Arrow Road. It traveled in the ditch for 340 feet and got back into the southbound lane before it crossed onto the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with another vehicle traveling north. Per the release, drugs and speed were suspected as conditions of the crash. All passengers were wearing se...

  • Training program funding available for anyone affected by Pyramid closure, final stage of Pyramid operations wraps up

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 17, 2024

    After the announced closures of Pyramid Mountain Lumber and Roseburg Forest Products this spring, the state of Montana was awarded a national emergency grant to assist those laid off. That funding can go beyond directly helping employees and is available for any business in Seeley Lake that might be able to link a loss of revenue or a closure to the wind down of Pyramid. On Friday, Pyramid announced the end of its final stage of operations, with the final load of lumber shipped last week. About...

  • Conservation easement placed on acres in the Swan, enhancing wildlife migration connectivity

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 17, 2024

    The Missoula County Commissioners approved spending a portion of funds from a 2018 bond to preserve 158 acres in the Swan Valley for conservation. The funds made available in 2018 were part of a voter-approved open space bond measure. This bond provided $15 million that was to be used to enhance open space for purposes including access, agriculture, fish and wildlife habitat, rivers, streams and scenic views, per the ballot language. One way those purposes can be realized is through the...

  • Digging deep for every point

    Regan Jones and Keely Larson|Oct 17, 2024

    The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks beat the Saint Regis Tigers, 3-0, in an intense game. After losing the games last week, the Blackhawks had a lot to prove. Hoping to take home victories this weekend, the girls walked onto the court confident that they'd walk over winners. Starting the first set on Oct. 10, the Tigers were leading, but with quick reflexes and smart play, the Blackhawks made a comeback. Kilty Hanson, a junior, got an ace, leading Seeley-Swan to win the first set, 25-23. The second...

  • Small grass fire starts in Seeley Lake, updates on burn seasons

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 10, 2024

    Last Wednesday, a one-acre, human-caused fire started in open grass near the intersection of Riverview and Grizzly Drive in Seeley Lake. No structures were damaged, but residents received evacuation warnings early that morning, around 6 a.m. The warning was lifted by 10 a.m. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Missoula County Sheriff's Office, Seeley Lake Fire Chief Dave Lane said. As of Oct. 3, it was fully put out. Lane said there were "remnants of items" where the fire started...

  • Seeley Lake groomer gets a new home

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 10, 2024

    The Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club held a ribbon-cutting event on Saturday to celebrate moving their groomer into its new home. Chris Lorentz, nordic ski club president, said over the past 35 years the club has been outgrowing its facilities. The new building will allow the club to have a space to store the groomer - instead of having it sit out in the snow with volunteers waiting about three hours to get it warmed up before starting the actual grooming work - that will protect it from the...

  • One dead after highway chase south of Seeley Lake

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 10, 2024

    A person is dead after a high-speed chase south of Seeley Lake on Saturday. Shortly after 3 p.m. on Oct. 5, a male driving south on Highway 83 passed another vehicle over double-yellow lines and fired shots through the driver’s side window, according to a news release from Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jeannette Smith. Information from Smith said Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks located the dark blue Toyota pickup the person was driving and followed the truck from the Clearwater Junction as he traveled west on Hig...

  • Fifth annual Norman Maclean Literary Festival features key figures in climate conversations

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 3, 2024

    The average age of the crowd listening to Bill McKibben speak at the Wilma Theater in Missoula over the weekend was probably close to his age - 63. But McKibben grasped that, and took it in a particular direction. As the keynote speaker for the fifth In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean Literary Festival put on by the Seeley-Swan Valley's Alpine Artisans, McKibben said 70 million Americans are over the age of 60. (In Montana, over 20% of the population is 65 or older.) This demographic "punches...

  • Homecoming incoming, Blackhawk football remains undefeated

    Keely Larson, Editor|Oct 3, 2024

    The Blackhawk football team remains undefeated going into homecoming this weekend. On Friday night at 7 p.m. the Blackhawks will take on Valley Christian, who is also undefeated this season, on their turf. Last weekend's game against St. Regis-Mullan was the closest so far, Coach Jacob Haley said. By the end of the third quarter, the Blackhawks were only up by 10. St. Regis is a "well-coached ball club," Haley said, and the 1 p.m. kickoff on a particularly warm fall day tested the team. Haley...

  • Seeley Lake Fire District adds three firefighters, one paramedic

    Keely Larson, Editor|Sep 26, 2024

    The Seeley Lake Rural Fire District added three new firefighters and a new paramedic to its team. Now, the department has 28 volunteer firefighters on the roster, four paramedics and one advanced emergency medical technician. Jon Espenscheid, Seppa Francis and Brandon Johnson were acknowledged at a badge pinning ceremony during the September fire department board meeting. These three completed their task books, which include a variety of safety trainings like ambulance driving and entry level...

  • Condon work center, incorporation, questionnaire: Highlights of Swan Valley Community Council meeting

    Keely Larson, Editor|Sep 26, 2024

    The Swan Valley Community Council met last Tuesday evening and received updates on the Condon Work Center, heightened bear activity, incorporation and a community questionnaire. Sara Lamar, managing director of education with Swan Valley Connections, gave an update on the Condon Work Center, which the Northern Region of the Forest Service — based in Missoula — decided to put up for conveyance, or transfer of ownership, at the end of June. Swan Valley Connections, who uses the space for its operations, was given a move-out date of the end of...

  • Resignations, treatment site locations, funding: Seeley Lake Sewer District Board meets for Sept.

    Keely Larson, Editor|Sep 26, 2024

    The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board met last Thursday to discuss the process of selecting a wastewater treatment plant site, heard about funding updates and announced the resignation of the board’s secretary and manager. Bill Decker, the sewer district’s manager since the end of 2022, announced his resignation at the meeting on Sept. 19. Decker told the Pathfinder he started to feel like he was going in a different direction than the board, and that it was his time to step down. As a part-time Seeley Lake resident and one that doesn’t live...

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