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SWAN VALLEY – The Swan Valley School Board approved a contract amendment with Seeley Lake Elementary to continue several necessary services at their regular meeting July 9. They also tabled a contract for principal submitted by Chris Stout, recently resigned superintendent from SLE who also served as the administrator for Swan Valley Elementary for the past several years. The Board was presented with an amended contract from the SLE School Board that removed the administrator services but continued to provide special education, counseling, d...
SEELEY LAKE – Miss Montana flew into the Seeley Lake Airport Sunday, July 14 as part of the Seeley Lake Fly-in. Seeley Lake Aviation Foundation President Scott Newpower said that this was one way for the Foundation to include the community and get them to come out for the annual event. Newpower said they had the Fly-in scheduled for the weekend of July 13-14 for the past nine months. On the Monday before the event, the Foundation thought it would be fun to see if Miss Montana would be able to a...
SEELEY LAKE – Thunderstorms rolled through the Clearwater and Blackfoot valleys starting Saturday afternoon that dropped up to golf ball-sized hail, three-quarters of an inch of precipitation in some areas and putting down lightning strikes until sunrise Sunday morning. In Seeley Lake some roads were blocked due to downed trees and vehicle damage was reported in the Ovando area. Saturday, July 13 just after 4 p.m. parts of Seeley Lake saw quarter-sized hail. Just after 10:30 p.m. Blackfoot V...
SEELEY LAKE - In March 2019, Governor Bullock signed SB 260 into law establishing an eight-mile stretch of Highway 83 through Seeley Lake as the Trenton Johnson Memorial Highway, honoring Trenton Johnson, the Grayback Wildland Firefighter, who passed away defending the community of Seeley Lake from the 2017 Florence Fire. Family, friends, community members and partners are invited to gather at 10 a.m. Friday, July 19 morning on the grass lawn at Lindey's Prime Steak House for words of...
Many moons ago whilst living out of the old Mr. Emily log'n camp in eastern Oregon, I was cutt'n timber for a man known as R.W. He resided on a little ranch near a place called Cove. I was the last man standing – that is – last timber cutter on the job and he was the cat skinner. Anyway, we are out to lunch together and one day he fessed up to a crime of sorts the fall before. Like they say, "confession is good for the soul" - so they say. The story continued. Lots of elk would come down in the...
MISSOULA - Interagency wildland fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) moved fire danger signs to HIGH within Missoula County Monday, July 15. The extended forecast calls for temperatures in the high 80s and in many areas of the county, vegetation is beginning to cure. This type of fine, dead fuel is the primary carrier of fire in the wildland and when fires get established in this fuel type they can quickly spread out of control. Outdoor debris burning by permit has been closed since July 2 but firefighters...
SEELEY LAKE - A loaded logging truck bound for Seeley Lake rolled into the ditch along the northbound lane on Montana Highway 83 on Friday, July 12 around 2:15 p.m. The logging truck driver was wearing a seat belt. There were no injuries. According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper TJ Templeton, the investigating officer, the vehicles in front of the logging truck stopped suddenly on the roadway to apparently make a left hand turn. The truck moved into the shoulder to avoid a collision and...
Alpine Artisans' 2 Valleys Stage can't wait to start its 2019-2020 season. On the first day of August, we're kicking the season off with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks' presentation of "Merry Wives of Windsor." In this comedy, disreputable Sir John Falstaff pursues housewives Mistress Ford and Mistress Page, hoping to gain access to their husbands' wealth. But the women are more clever than he is, and the play is full of laughs as they outwit and humiliate him. And that's just the main plot...
This time of year, native elderberries really stand out in Missoula County with their fragrant delicate flowers in full bloom. You might have seen them along roadsides, trails or maybe in your own backyard! Our native blue elderberry, Sambucus cerulea, grows in diverse habitats from mountains, hills, valleys, open woodlands and forests. However, riparian zones are among the favorite spots due to the preferred abundant soil moisture. These shrubs can grow to a height of about six to sixteen feet... Full story
SEELEY LAKE – The “Welcome to Seeley Lake” sign that the Seeley Lake Community Foundation planned to install south of town has been put on hold. Foundation Executive Director Claire Muller broke the news at the Seeley Lake Community Council’s July 8 meeting. “It was not feasible to put it where it was planned in the time frame that we had for that grant funding,” said Muller. Muller explained that the design and the location ended up being the hold up coupled with the deadline to install the sign. The design was permitted for the location. T...
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake resident Laura Wood presented an idea to create a dog park at the Council’s July 8 meeting. Wood was hoping to receive some community feedback and support from the council before she developed the idea any further. Wood felt there is a growing need for an area to take dogs to play. Most of the lake areas have either stopped allowing dogs on the beaches or have strict leash laws. Wood’s dog has been attacked several times by loose dogs in town and a dog park would provide a safe place to be off leash. It could also...
When traveling to other countries, I have noticed that virtually everywhere we go, there are people who are proud citizens of their nations. These citizens could be called subjects of their country, though that is a term that is not used as commonly as it used to be, and could give a bit of negative connotation to those who may bristle at the thought of being “subject” to authority. This use of the word subject also is related to the word submission, which likewise often has a negative connotation. However, we are all subject to someone or som...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Elementary School Board hired three new teachers, appointed a new board trustee and approved a parent request for a student to enter kindergarten at a special meeting July 10. Since SLE has not hired a new superintendent, Missoula County Superintendent of Schools Erin Lipkind worked with a hiring committee to offer the board hiring recommendations. The committee recommended candidates for four different positions at SLE. The board only approved three of the four recommendations. The board approved Susan Bracha to...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board held a special meeting July 15 to set District’s administrative fee assessment method, set the assessment method hearing date and sign an engineering contract to change the location of the force main. Last week, Missoula County held a hearing July 11 on the Pine Street easement petition. Missoula County Public Works Seeley Lake Projects and Operations Coordinator Kim Myre said the presented assessment methodology is the same as last year. It charges a flat rate to property with dwelling uni...
SEELEY LAKE – Approximately 70 people volunteered to help create new trails on the Hill 16 Community Trail System during The Nature Conservancy's fifth annual Revive and Thrive event on Sunday, July 14. "I couldn't be happier with the turnout today, I believe we have more volunteers than usual," said Chris Bryant, the Western Montana Land Protection Director for TNC. "The goal is obviously to build trails, but also to bring people together and build relationships." Volunteers split themselves b...
Lion Neil Ruttenbur Memorial Celebration, July 20 SEELEY LAKE – The community is invited to a memorial potluck for Neil Ruttenbur Saturday, July 20 at the Seeley Lake Community Hall starting at 1 p.m. The Seeley Lake Lions Club will provide the main course of meat prepared by Pop’s Place and the Seeley Lake Senior Center is providing the refreshments. The public is invited and encouraged to bring a side dish to share. Anyone wishing to contribute is welcome to donate money to the Seeley Lak...
Montana State Parks is seeking public comment on 25 grant applications for Snowmobile Trail Grooming funds for the 2019-2020 winter season. This includes more than $17,300 for the Seeley Lake Driftriders. Public comment will be accepted through Saturday, Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. The Montana Snowmobile Program, as administered by Montana State Parks, was established in the early 1970’s.Montana’s groomed trails provide important access and recreational opportunities for users such as snowmobiles, cross-country skiers, snowboarders, dogsleds, fat...
SEELEY LAKE – The number of presidential candidates apparently has stabilized, but for a while it seemed like every newscast announced someone new had thrown his or her hat into the ring – even though no candidate actually wore a hat and most spoke from podiums rather than from rings. Before the phrase "throw your hat into the ring" became an idiom, it was an actual occurrence in the world of boxing. An 1804 London newspaper, "The Morning Chronicle," reported; "The champions arrived at Wil...
SEELEY LAKE - The Outdoor Adventure Club began another season of fun this past week. Program leaders are eager to teach participants how to explore and enjoy the outdoors. The program is available for children in grades three - eight and runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Aug. 15. There is no cost to attend. “I really like providing an opportunity for a lot of these kids who otherwise wouldn’t be getting [outside] this summer,” said Program Leader Ella Batchelder. “I just think that’s really special....
Nonresident travelers spent $3.58 billion throughout Montana in 2018, according to an annual report published by the University of Montana's Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research. This is a 10.4 percent increase from the previous year's estimate. "We see this as a big plus for Montana since our numbers indicate that visitation was relatively flat in 2018, but spending was up," said ITRR Director Norma Nickerson. Analysis of each of Montana's six travel regions and 14 of the counties...
SEELEY LAKE - Frederick Lee Hartman, 76 of Seeley Lake passed away on Sunday July 7 at Missoula Health & Rehab on the 24th year to the day of his father's passing. He was born on May 30, 1943 in Lafayette, Ind. to Carl C. & Alvamae (Saltwell) Hartman. He graduated from Klondike H.S. in Tippecanoe, Colo. in 1961. He started his first job riding his bike for several miles to caddy at the Elk's Club golf course while in high school. When he got his driver's license he stocked shelves for a grocery... Full story
SEELEY LAKE - F. Neal Hayden passed away July 9 in Missoula, Mont. after a brief battle with cancer. The son of Floyd and Loretta Hayden was born in Ottawa, Kansas on April 2, 1946. After relocating to various states, the family eventually settled in Spokane, Wash. where Neal graduated from East Valley High School in 1964. Shortly after graduation Neal served in the United States Air Force and then returned to Spokane to make his home and start his career with the Burlington Railroad. He... Full story
What is the US Climate Alliance? It is a domestic group formed specifically to undermine President Trump’s excellent decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Now, by executive order, part-time Governor Steve Bullock has undermined all of Montana by aligning Montana with the US Climate Alliance. This is so wrong. To begin, Montana is the Treasure State, not the “Fly Fishing State”. Sure, Montana is a great state for recreation, but to quote Senator Al Olszewski, “Montana’s wealth comes from the ground.” Our natural resources and our...
