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SEELEY LAKE - A large male black bear was captured by a culvert trap and euthanized by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) earlier this month. FWP Bear Specialist Jamie Jonkel said they were confident that this was the same bear that had broken into at least 10 trailers causing “severe damage” to at least two of them. The bear broke into a couple of campers and garbage sheds around Elaine’s Way before he broke into a garage at the Seeley Lake Ranger Station. There, he was able to get some dog food. Jonkel said they knew the bear would retur...
SEELEY LAKE – Jodi Stierwalt never shied away from big tasks-or big vehicles. An equipment operator in the United States Navy Reserve, her attitude when asked if she could operate a specific piece of machinery was, "I don't know. Let me try." A self-described Navy brat, Stierwalt is proud of her father who was a World War II Veteran. He survived the Japanese attack at Subic Bay in the Philippines, which occurred shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Stierwalt's tangential connection with t...
POTOMAC - The Iverson family received praise from various Missoula County organizations following their reception of this year's Land Stewardship Award. The award was presented at their ranch in Potomac Monday, Aug. 23. According to a press release, the award is intended to recognize landowners and residents who exhibit "excellent stewardship work on their land" and make efforts towards improving the conditions of local land, water, forests, wildlife and communities. Some of the Iverson family...
Last spring the voles really did a number on my plants. They ate the bark off trees and the roots off several flowers and bushes. Is there any way to prevent damage next spring? Yes, but there is no single miraculous cure for stopping vole damage. There are various ways to reduce it. Usually, the solutions work best when combined and the time to start vole control for next spring is now. Voles-not moles-are the culprits. Moles live underground, as do voles. However, moles are smaller than voles...
Happy Fall, Now that temperatures are dipping it is once again time to apply for Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) and Weatherization. The State of Montana, through the Department of Public Health and Human Services, offers two programs to help individuals reduce their heating costs. LIEAP pays part of winter energy bills for eligible people and the Weatherization Program helps participants improve the heating efficiency of their homes and thus reduce energy consumption. When and...
SEELEY LAKE – On Aug. 26, the Missoula County Commissioners unanimously approved the increase in fees and fiscal year 2022 budget for the Seeley Lake Refuse District. The total annual assessment for District residents increased $30 to $180 for 10 cubic yards of trash. Out-of District and specialty item fees also increased. The District is fee-based and the rates have not changed since 2011. At that time they were raised from $125 to the current $150. This allows every lot, tract or parcel of record within the District to dump 10 cubic yards (...
MISSOULA - In response to higher fuel moistures and sustained cooler temperatures, Missoula County fire protection agencies have lowered the fire danger to Moderate, effective immediately. Open burning for prescribed wildland and essential agriculture burning in Missoula County will open Sept. 1 and open Oct. 1 in the Swan Valley. Fire restrictions have been rescinded across Missoula County and throughout northwestern Montana. All outdoor burning in Missoula County is by permit only, and the General Burning Season (burning of yard...
SEELEY LAKE - Need to convert your bank statements into a PDF? Don’t quite understand the difference between a window and a tab? Want to know how to get your email on several of your personal devices (like your phone, tablet or laptop)? Stop by the Seeley Lake Community Foundation West Wing Thursday, Sept. 9 between 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and visit with volunteers to answer your technology questions, concerns and issues. The goal is not only to resolve immediate issues but prepare attendees for the next time they need to do a similar task. “Instead o...
SEELEY LAKE - Local artist Janeen Mauldin offers Seeley Lake Market patrons a selection of glistening beaded suncatchers every Sunday at her stand, Janeen’s Rainbows. Mauldin started making her suncatchers three years ago after a bird collided with a window at her home. She originally used CD-ROMs to refract light and divert birds away from windows but they were not weather resistant. She then began making her own suncatchers. After some time, her children suggested that she begin selling t...
WHAT A DIFFERENCE THREE YEARS MAKES In 2018 and 2019 the local real estate market was healthy and predictable with very moderate price appreciation. Sales were consistent with no significant market increases either in total dollar volume sold or number of properties sold. Inventories of homes and land for sale was consistent and the market was neither a buyer’s nor a seller’s market. Purchase negotiations generally had fair outcomes. Then there was COVID and the related lockdowns which began in April 2020. Many people nationwide were wor...
SEELEY LAKE – "Home Waters, a Chronicle of Family and a River," written by John Maclean, will surely have a deep and personal impact with readers of this newspaper, the Pathfinder. Nationwide reviews fit well the summaries of what this reviewer had intended to say. But soon after its release, the accolades from the national reviews, e.g. The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, Barnes and Noble, Publishers Weekly and the Washington Post, rushed to give the chronicle an exemplary thumbs up! T...
HELENA – Reach Higher Montana is offering Gianforte Trades and Technology Scholarships for students going into eligible programs at participating schools. The scholarships provide $1,000 per semester for full-time students and $500 for part-time students. Applicants must reside in Montana, apply each semester and file a FAFSA. The fall deadline to apply is Wednesday, Sept. 15. Eligible programs include automotive technology, plumbing, electronics, construction, diesel technology, cybersecurity and dozens of other computer and technical p...
Romans 8:7,8: “Because the mind/though life of the flesh is enmity towards Elohim, for it does not subject itself to the Torah/word of Elohim, neither indeed is it able,” v.8 “and those who are in the flesh are unable to please Elohim.” The flesh/self-life thrives/operates on the law/Torah of diminishing return. That is, it needs more and more and more. It will eventually not be satisfied by truth/Word of Elohim and will develop a lust for traditions, inherited doctrines of men, legends, fantasies and fables that are unheard of in the Scriptu...
The fourth in the series covering the Roads and Trails program presented Aug. 7 by the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society (USVHS). CONDON – Dixie Meyer shared her memories of the roads and trails of the Upper Swan Valley in the early forties and fifties. She said her dad brought in a team of horses and some saddle horses by way of the Piper Crow Creek trail. The earliest car she remembered her family having was a Model A pickup. She and her two sisters rode in the back on an old oilcloth s...
MISSOULA - At their Aug. 24 meeting, the Missoula County Board of Health voted unanimously to follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines regarding quarantine that differentiates between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. While still unchallenged in court, this decision has the potential to violate House Bill 702 which created vaccine status as a protected class under the Montana Human Rights Act, a state law that prohibits discrimination. Prior to the discussion Missoula City-County Health Officer D’Shane Barnett explained t...
Montana health care providers can now offer third doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to certain immunocompromised individuals following new recently announced federal recommendations. Third doses are available in Missoula County through the Missoula City-County Health Department but only to those with increased health risks, not to the general public. “This is great news because we know the impact COVID-19 has with high-risk groups,” DPHHS Director Adam Meier said. “The updated recommendations will ensure those most vulne... Full story
Summer is drawing to a close and area elementary schools will be beginning classes in the next week. Seeley Lake Elementary, Sunset School and Swan Valley Elementary Schools are all welcoming new teachers, adding new programs and learning tools and have been making upgrades to their facilities. Since all elementary schools are separate Districts from Missoula County Public Schools, their school boards have approved their own reopening plan and COVID mitigation measures. These three schools made very little revision to their reopening plan from...
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley-Swan High School welcomed freshman and new students Aug. 30 and resumed Aug. 31. New Principal Shawn Holmes is excited to welcome new and returning teachers and students and continue learning and growing together while prioritizing student and staff safety in light of the ongoing pandemic. COVID Accommodations Holmes said while they had students out because they were identified as a close contact, SSHS did not have a positive COVID case in the school last year. "Our kids r...
PLACID LAKE – Saturday, Aug. 28 divers and snorkelers spent the day on Placid Lake searching for any evidence of northern pike. For the second year of this underwater effort, no pike were detected using this method. During routine monitoring in early May 2020, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks discovered a northern pike in Placid Lake. The Fish and Wildlife Commissioners declared that the fish must be killed and reported when caught. Clearwater Resource Council organized a spearfishing event w...
Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles announced that citizens with cellular phone subscriptions may now send a short message service (SMS) text message to 911 for emergency help when unable to make a 911 voice call. Text-to-911 presently works on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon cell phones. Powell County joined 36 other Public Safety Answering Points with Text to 911 capabilities including all surrounding counties. Text-to-911 is not intended as a replacement to 911 voice calls in emergency situations. Rather, it serves as an alternative when...
DEER LODGE: The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks Cross Country team took to the course in Deer Lodge for the Grant-Kohrs Ranch Run Saturday, Aug. 28. Head Coach Shawn Holmes said the three boys all did very well for their first race of the season. The sole Lady Blackhawk Kyla Conley did not attend. Senior Hunter Coyle led the Blackhawks with a time of 25:12.2. He placed 25th in the 5,000-meter varsity race, his first cross country meet as a Blackhawk. Close on his heels, returning sophomore Conner...
The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks volleyball team faced the Superior Bobcats Aug. 26 in their first match of the season and then headed to Drummond Aug. 28 for a tournament. The Lady Blackhawks made quick work of the Bobcats winning three sets in a row, 25-16, 25-19 and 25-23. Sariah Maughan led the Lady Blackhawks in kills and assists with 14 and 11 respectively while Dani Sexton had 6 aces and Trista Wendel led in digs with 16. Lady Blackhawks Head Coach Pattie Crum was pleased with the win, especially being that they only had eight eligible gi...
ARLEE – The Blackhawks opened their football season with a victory Aug. 27 defeating the Arlee Warriors 26-8. With last year's starting quarterback out for the season, Junior Owen Hoag has taken on the job with Junior Ben Haley as a backup. The Blackhawks hit the ground running averaging 13.4 yards on 27 carries for a total of 362 yards. Hoag led with 122 yards on 12 carries. Walker McDonald and Cannon Hawkinson had the longest plays with each getting one 38-yard run. Hoag ran for three t...
Online Auction to support victims of Juniper Drive fire SEELEY LAKE - Local artist Donna DaCosta (Mosaics by Donna, @mosaicsbydonna) is hosting an online auction starting 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1 through 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3 on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/seeley.lake.fire.auction/ to help alleviate some of the financial stress of the families affected by the fire in downtown Seeley Lake July 22. All proceeds will be divided equally and sent directly to the families. DaCosta donated several items for the auction as well as received do...
In celebration of 35 years of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, each week we will run parts of articles that appeared in the issue 35 years ago and 20 years ago. The entire issue will be uploaded to our website seeleylake.com for you to enjoy. We hope you will enjoy the journey with us as we follow our community through the past 35 years as documented by the Pathfinder. 35 years ago: Sept. 4, 1986 issue Monster bull trout caught Bill Koon of Helena caught a 28-1/2 inch, 13 pound bull trout (Dolly... Full story
