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HELENA - An amended version of a bill that would place no more than 39% of out-of-state elk and deer tags into an “early bird” limited outfitter pool has caused debate in the Montana State Senate resulting in its original sponsor voting against the newest version. A second reading of Senate Bill 143 amended passed in the Senate 27-23 Feb. 23. The bill’s sponsor, Senate District 43 Representative Jason Ellsworth (R-Hamilton), originally brought the bill forward with the intention of providing stability to outfitters. It would give them a selec...
SWAN VALLEY - When Unleashed in the Swan owner Kathy Koors of Condon agreed to help foster two dogs while a married couple from Kalispell recovered from COVID-19, she did not expect to continue caring for them once those owners died from the disease. She and other local animal care workers are now encouraging residents, especially elderly ones, to plan ahead for their mortality specifically regarding their pets. Koors found out about the fostering opportunity from Flathead Animal Clinic. She...
SEELEY LAKE - Voters in the Seeley Lake Sewer District rejected a pair of bonds by a 70% margin Feb. 23 that were proposed to pay for construction of a wastewater treatment plant and Phase 1 of the collection system. As a result of the failed election, the Sewer District Board received a letter canceling the primary funding package. The results of the election were discussed at a Feb. 24 Board meeting where Director Walt Hill also resigned his position on the Board. The General Obligation bond for the treatment plant was turned down by a vote...
DEER LODGE - The Lady Blackhawks won the Western C Divisional Championship for the second year in a row defeating Shields Valley, Ennis and Manhattan Christian Feb. 24-26. They remain undefeated as they head to state. The Lady Blackhawks met the Shields Valley Rebels in the opening round of the tournament and quickly took control of the scoreboard. They put up 10 points before the Rebels would score their first basket. By the half the Lady Blackhawks led 40-15 and they finished them off 69-43....
SEELEY LAKE - Claire Muller, Seeley Lake Community Foundation, executive director, gave updates on how the funding from the $2,000 Reimagining Rural grant was distributed. The original plan was to use the majority of the funding towards providing complementary outdoor Christmas lights to Seeley Lake businesses and homeowners with the remainder going to general Winterfest expenses. Those who took the lights do not have to return them to the Foundation and can reuse them for years to come. Muller said they spent almost $1,300 on lights with...
As little children go to bed hungry, you wasted one hundred million trying to impeach one of the greatest presidents we have ever had – that is just a guesstimate as we the people will never know what it cost. Once again, as tiny babies starve to death, you wasted another hundred million dollars to try and do it a second time. I have spent my whole life thinking cannibalism was the lowest form of living life, you have just proven me wrong. I am so proud not to be a Democrat. My Name is Larry Dillree and I Approve This Messag...
When I was the Business Manager and a Senator with the Associated Students of the University of Montana, we treated all student groups equally even if we had disagreements about their missions. However, during my tenure as a University of Montana (UM) student, I saw a troubling trend of calls for restricting free speech and associations begin to pop up on campuses both nationally and in Montana. In recent years we have seen free speech restricted to certain zones, harassment of student groups...
The Lolo National Forest is moving forward with implementing fee changes for developed recreation sites as recommended by the Sanders, Mineral, Missoula and Tri County Resource Advisory Committees, and as approved by the Regional Forester. Revenue generated at these sites is retained by the Lolo National Forest and provides critical support for maintaining high-quality recreation experiences and funding maintenance and improvements. The changes to campground fees will take effect for the 2021 summer season and changes to rentals and lookout...
Spring is coming and that means the start to outdoor burning in the county! The General Outdoor Burning Season opened March 1 in Missoula County. If you are planning to burn, please remember that all outdoor burning requires a Missoula County outdoor burn permit and the only material that may be disposed of by burning is untreated wood and vegetation generated onsite. Permits cost $7 and can be purchased or renewed online at www.burnpermit.mt.gov or in person at most local fire protection agencies. Some agencies may be closed to the public due...
SEELEY LAKE - The next meeting of the Seeley Lake Community Council will be this Monday, March 8 at 6 p.m. It will be held via Zoom, and the instructions for sign-on are at the end of this release. The first speaker will be Cindy Farr, Incident Commander - COVID-19 Response, Missoula City-County Health Department. Cindy will give an update on vaccination programs and progress in Missoula County. The second speaker will be Jean Curtiss, Manager of the Seeley Lake Sewer District. Curtiss will discuss the recent sewer election. Our third speaker w...
Thank you to all in the Seeley Lake community who have supported our local Meals on Wheels (MOW) program over the years. This March we are once again launching March for Meals, a month-long campaign to raise vital funds to support Meals on Wheels in Seeley Lake. This year's Seeley Lake March for Meals is more important than ever because the need in our community has increased significantly. MOW clients In Seeley Lake have more than doubled from approximately eight to 18 and are homebound for a v...
This past winter and fall we measured more smoke at the Seeley Lake air quality monitor than we have for several years. Since Oct. 1, there have been 11 days when smoke pollution exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. While smoke from wood stoves continues to be the primary driver of smoke pollution in the area, there were four days during the fall outdoor burning season in which smoke from outdoor burns likely contributed to poor air quality. With outdoor burning opening on March 1st, we wanted to take this opportunity to answer s...
In normal, non-pandemic years, Alpine Artisans, Inc's Open Book Club (OBC) brings people together on a Saturday evening nearly once a month. There, we enjoy rubbing shoulders with an accomplished author, we listen to them read their work, and if we're lucky, we kick off the evening with a Seeley-Swan High School student reading their poetry. OBC founder Sara Wilcox said, "It's been a long year without these gatherings, we miss the inspiration and connection we have with friends, community and...
Life may now seem turned upside down by the coronavirus and recent school closure and event cancellations but Alpine Artisans would like to encourage parents and high school seniors to think positive. We're beginning to see the light at the end of the 'Coronavirus pandemic tunnel' and Alpine Artisans (AAI) encourages parents and high school students to consider the grants and scholarships we offer. Does your K-12 student want to attend lessons or a summer camp in music, drama or any of the...
One provided way to life’s journey and prize that can begin right now is the life without regret/sin. “Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness and sin is lawlessness” 1 John 3:4. That is a life of regret. Getting cleansed of self-life and letting that cleansing continue until you are free to do His will equals a life of no regrets. This information is more valuable than life itself. Self-will is so much that hinders us from set-apartness. Yeshua’s life of power is “not my will but thy will be done,” His meat was to do the Father’s wi...
POTOMAC - Members of the Potomac School Board unanimously voted to deny an amended Potomac Greenough Community Center (PGCC) lease agreement for 2021-2022 during a special meeting Monday, Feb. 22. Earlier in the meeting, the Board unanimously approved the Potomac Association of Classified Employees (PACE) contract for 2021-2023 as well as the Principal’s contract for 2021-2022 with slight revisions made to both. The School Board met Tuesday, Feb. 18 where they discussed the lease and made initial amendments to it. The lease they approved at t...
HELENA - Two bills sponsored by House District 92 Representative Mike Hopkins (R-Missoula) regarding freedom of expression on college campuses have passed the Montana House of Representatives and are set to move on to the Montana State Senate. If approved these would both be passed into state law. House Bill 349 would allow campus organizations to exclude people based on their beliefs as well as prevent universities from expelling students based on their speech. It passed on third reading 67-33 Feb. 23. According to Hopkins, this bill protects...
SEELEY LAKE - Veterans and Families of Seeley Lake surprised two of the group's oldest veterans, 90 years young, with U.S. American flags that were flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Veterans and Families President Barbara Knopp said they awarded Glenn Truett (left) and Scott Edwards (right with mask next to veteran Elden Barbieri) the flags to honor their service to their country. Truett served six years in the Army and Edwards served four years in the Navy as a Seabee both during the...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley-Swan High School Senior basketball player Bethany Hoag was voted Missoulian's Athlete of the Week last week after being nominated for the first time. Every week the Missoulian sports department and Republic Services nominate four boys and four girls to honor them for this award. One athlete in each category is then selected for the title by public vote. Hoag was nominated because she filled the Lady Blackhawks' stat sheet with 18 points, 12 rebounds, six steals, two assists...
Two bills giving the Legislature and other elected officials more oversight of emergency declarations and local health mandates passed the Montana House Monday. House Bill 121 and House Bill 230 are the products of several related proposals brought by lawmakers in response to local health orders that some have criticized for failing to consider their effects on local economies or failing to include elected officials in the decision-making. Broadly, the two bills would limit the authority of public health officials and the governor. Both passed... Full story
Missoula County Community and Planning Services is now accepting nominations for the annual Land Stewardship Award. The award recognizes landowners and residents who are taking stewardship of land and water seriously and embarking on projects and practices that make a difference for land, water, forests, wildlife and communities. Community members and organizations are invited to nominate landowners and residents who are restoring, protecting or enhancing land and natural resources to ensure natural systems are maintained and strengthened. The...
Montana joined at least half a dozen other states last month in asking the federal government to waive its required standardized testing for schoolchildren this spring. But under a new directive issued by the U.S. Department of Education last week, schools across the state will be required to administer the testing this year, despite the ongoing pandemic. In a letter announcing the decision, the department said standardized test results will be critical in gauging the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on learning, and will give parents an i...
Satellite Office closed March 11 SEELEY LAKE - The Missoula County Treasurer’s Satellite Office (3360 Highway 83N) will be closed on Thursday, March 11. They will resume regular hours March 25 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., closed for lunch 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Winter Snowshoe March 14 SEELEY LAKE – Clearwater Resource Council invites everyone to its first, socially-distanced nature walk event March 14 from 12 – 3 p.m. The walk will leave from the Canoe Trailhead at the Seeley Lake Ranger Station. Gather friends, grab your snowshoes and join...
When I introduced the bill that created Montana’s Election Day registration in 2005, the legislature was filled with members who believed that our democracy works best when more of our citizens exercise their right to vote. Senate Bill 302 spoke to this important value. It passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Only 16 third reading votes were cast against it in the entire 2005 legislature. In the years following its passage, thousands of our citizens took advantage of the convenience of updating their registrations and voting on the s...
Lawmakers Race to Introduce Bills Before Key Deadline; House Committee Holds Marathon Hearings As the Legislature approaches the halfway point of the session -- and a key deadline for general bills -- one House committee heard more than 50 bills in four days, imposing strict time limits on testimony and raising questions about transparency and public access. That deadline -- called “transmittal” -- falls on Wednesday, March 3, the halfway point of the Legislative Session and the last day for all bills, except those that appropriate state fun... Full story
