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MISSOULA - Recent widespread rain, interagency wildland fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) are reporting lower fire danger indices within Missoula County. The fire danger rating was lowered to MODERATE last week. Indices dipped into the LOW range briefly this week, but with a return to seasonal temperatures today and through the weekend, fire danger remains MODERATE at this time. The move does not indicate an end to fire season. Grass and other fine...
MISSOULA – Missoula County Public Schools Trustees approved a secondary school levy to appear on the May 7 ballot to support the high school operations budget. This will be a mail-in election with ballots being mailed out April 17. The operations levy is for $118,986 and will cost taxpayers $1.55 on a $200,000 home. Due to the restoration of state funding that was reduced in the 2017 special session, this is a$1.02 increase on a $200,000 home. Schools are required to raise a portion of their budgets through a voter-approved levy. When the n...
Residents throughout Missoula County will enjoy much needed upgrades and maintenance to parks, playgrounds and trails – and even a new open-air skating rink – thanks to nearly $39,000 in matching grants awarded by the Parks and Trails Advisory Board. The Seeley Lake Regional Outdoor Center for Kinetic Sports (ROCKS) used $10,000 in matching grant funds to put the finishing touches on a new open-air ice rink located at the elementary school’s athletic fields. The rink enjoyed its grand opening last Saturday, Dec. 29 with more than 200 peopl...
MISSOULA - Missoula County and the City of Missoula recently distributed their annual online Community Needs Assessment Survey. The purpose of the survey was to examine community perceptions of municipal and county needs pertaining to housing, infrastructure, public facilities, public services and economic development. The results of the survey will help inform funding priorities related to U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) grants. The survey was open from...
MISSOULA - Seeley-Swan High School Principal Dr. Kathleen Pecora and Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Thane will both retire June 30, 2019. Pecora retires after a nine-year career as the SSHS principal. She joined the MCPS team after working as an Assistant Superintendent in Marysville, Mich. "I identify with our seniors who are now worrying about what they’re going to do next year," wrote Pecora in an email. "I guess I feel that I’m graduating, rather than retiring. It's an ending of one part of my life but it is also a new...
MISSOULA - Wildland fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) have dropped fire danger within Missoula County from high to moderate. Fall burning is now open for those with a permit. Recent days have seen lower temperatures, higher relative humidity and widespread precipitation is forecasted for this coming week. Because of this, MCFPA officials have decided to open Fall Burning Oct. 1 – Nov. 30. Fall Burning is available only to those with Essential Agricultural and Prescribed Wildland Permits. In the fall, b...
MISSOULA – Widespread precipitation and cool temperatures have lessened the fire danger in the Missoula Area to the extent that fire managers are able to lift Stage II fire restrictions Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 12:01 a.m. Stage I restrictions were not implemented this year, so Stage I restrictions will not be in effect on Wednesday. The public is reminded that county bans on open burning persist across most of western Montana. Agencies rescinding Stage II Restrictions Aug. 29 • MT-DNRC Northwestern Land Office Plains Unit (State Land & Pri...
SEELEY LAKE - Missoula County Commissioners are looking to fill Lee Boman’s position on the Seeley Lake Community Council. Boman resigned effective Sept. 30. The application deadline is 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. The SLCC is comprised of seven members who are registered voters within the boundaries of the Seeley Lake School District. Members are elected to advance and promote the interests and welfare of the citizens of the Seeley Lake community by providing useful, beneficial and helpful information for Missoula County Commissioners to c...
MISSOULA - Fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) have moved the fire danger rating to HIGH starting Monday, July 16. Hot and dry conditions remain in the forecast consecutively throughout the week and weekend with no relief in sight. Grasses and vegetation are rapidly drying out. Fire agencies responded to numerous debris burns this past week, one that burned almost two acres. Again, fire officials want to remind the public that open burning has been closed as of July 4th and will remain closed for the...
MISSOULA - Following election by acclamation of numerous candidates, the Board of Missoula County Commissioners canceled several May 8 Special District Elections, which are listed below. While the Missoula County Elections Office received many nominating petitions, several board positions remain unfilled, as indicated in the list. Commissioners are seeking applicants to fill these trustee positions, which will become vacant in May. Applicants must be residents of Missoula County and at least 18 years old. Residency requirements may also apply....
SEELEY LAKE - In the wake of the news surrounding the water situations reported in Flint, Michigan and Portland, Ore. Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Thane requested that the MCPS Operations Department arrange for water testing in each of our schools. The first set of results completed during the 2016-2017 school year was reported to the board in the spring of 2016 and all schools tested were found to fall within normal ranges. “The second and final round of schools have been tested in the current school year and we l...
MISSOULA - Dec. 1 marks the closing of outdoor burning by permit in western Montana. While there has been abundant precipitation since October and the welcome snowfall recently, the main consideration for outdoor burning season to close is one of poor air quality. It is common for strong inversions to set up in the valleys of western Montana during the winter months. If residents were allowed to continue outdoor burning by permit in the winter, adverse air quality conditions would be the likely result. Since outdoor burning by permit opened...
In 2015, common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) became the first county listed noxious weed in Missoula County. The process involved with listing common buckthorn began early in the year when an application form was sent to local land managers requesting submissions for species not on the state list that they thought had noxious qualities. Common buckthorn was the only species submitted for consideration. The application was submitted by the City of Missoula Open Lands Program (OLP). The OLP had found common buckthorn along the majority of...
MISSOULA - The Missoula community is currently experiencing an increase in cases of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease (HFMD). HFMD is a common virus in young children that causes mild fever, blisters in the mouth and a rash, usually seen on the palms of hands and the soles of feet. The blisters can be painful and some kids may complain of a sore throat or a stomachache. Usually the infection goes away without any serious complications. HFMD can also occur in adults, but less commonly than in children. How is it spread? The virus can be spread...
