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SEELEY LAKE - Closures related to fire suppression efforts on the Rice Ridge Fire are still in effect for public lands managed by the Lolo National Forest, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Local agencies and the incident management team ask people to respect these closures for their own safety and the safety of the firefighters still working on the fire. Even though recent precipitation has tampered fire behavior, multiple pieces of heavy equipment engaged in the repair efforts are utilizing the road...
SEELEY LAKE – Sunday afternoon was the best day for a party in months and a party it was. The sun added sparkle to the snow-capped mountains as the Seeley Lake community came out en masse raising thousands of dollars to support the Trevino family and their three-year-old daughter Addy. This past July Addy was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. After coming through her radiation treatments with the spunk and energy of "the little monster" that her parents Jen and Treay affectionately c...
MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock announced a collaborative effort across state government to help Montana businesses and communities impacted by wildfires access state resources to help minimize the economic impact. “Montana is strong and resilient,” said Governor Bullock. “The tireless work of firefighters and the generous support of volunteers have protected the safety and livelihood of Montanans across the state. As the work continues, we’re putting our best foot forward to ensure our businesses and communities will fully recover from any...
SEELEY LAKE - As of Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Rice Ridge Fire was 160,181 acres and has cost around $47.1 million. While the fire burned through a majority of the Seeley Lake Ranger District on the east side of Highway 83, the intensity with which it burned is highly variable. All photos were taken Sunday, Sept. 24 while on a tour of the west side....
I wrote this letter nearly 30 years ago and it was published in the Kalispell Daily Inter Lake newspaper – please read it. “I just finished reading in the Daily Inter Lake where farmers who lost 40 percent of their crops are eligible for federal disaster funds. What I would like to know is, when will we loggers be paid for the loss of our crops? I am talking about the millions of board feet of blowdown left to rot in the woods; the millions of board feet of dead and dying, bug-killed timber; and last, but not least, billions of board feet of ov...
SEELEY LAKE - I want to thank the Northern Rockies Incident Management team for dropping by my house and sharing maps and information about the Rice Ridge Fire. I live on Woodworth Road and the fire was burning right behind my house. They would stop everyday and take time to sit with me on the porch over a cup of tea and muffins and explain the fire situation to me. They made me feel better that they would protect my buildings. Everyone I met was so nice and polite. Thank you for the certificate of appreciation. All the firefighters deserve a...
The politicians have been milking the patriotism cow for some time, at the same time they want to ignore veterans’ needs. As soon as some citizen on the street or representative in Congress or the white house starts espousing patriotism, a big red flag goes up in my mind. “Patriotism” is the first refuge of carpetbaggers, and it trips my gag reflex. True patriots are not shouting their esprit from the rooftops or in front of microphones. True patriots are quietly doing patriotic things and they ask for no recognition for doing what seems natur...
My name is Mona Bennett, aka MontanaNana (Addy Trevino’s Grandma). As I approached the carnival fundraiser for my granddaughter my heart was truly touched. From several blocks away I watched people all going to one place with one goal; to support Addy. Cancer is a horrible thing for anyone to go through but the people of Seeley Lake have certainly helped ease the pain. I thank you all for that. The love and support from this community is amazing. I am so grateful and proud that my kids live in Seeley Lake, Montana. Again, thank you all so m...
Well it looks like we may finally exiting the fire season of 2017. Many questions are on the minds of the people that reside in this area of the nation. The first and easiest question is how did it start? The answer to that is simply a lightning strike. Now the questions become much more complicated. I have found the answers given by the ‘EXPERTS’ leave a lot to be desired. There are three things necessary for a fire. Oxygen Fuel Ignition source In our forest we, not surprisingly, have the first two in abundance and Mother Nature supplied the...
SEELEY LAKE - I have watched the lively debate about the proposed Seeley Lake sewer system for some time now, with many thoughtfully constructed arguments on each side, as well as some wild rantings and conspiracy theories. Here’s some of the basic truths I was able to distill from all of this: There are a lot of septic systems in a very confined area, some operating properly and some failing. They may or may not be entirely responsible for ground water and lake contamination but it is certain that many of them are contributing to it. Adding m...
I have a sign by my cabin door that sez, “I’d rather be lost in the woods then found at home.” All these years lost from the Out ‘N The Woods column made me think what a college professor said to me when I quit writing. Sez he, “Your column made me so angry sometimes but I’m sure going to miss it.” Anyway, I’ll give it a hit and miss try again. So here goes. I don’t know about other places but here in our cabin it’s an infestation. I’ve caught at least 25 mice along the outside cabin wall. And once in a while one inside this summer. Then tha...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board refused to answer questions brought by the public at their Sept. 21 meeting. Also at the meeting the board was updated by their manager on the status of funding and progress toward the next step. The district also voted to retain an attorney and discussed their inter-local agreement with the county and the health department’s refusal to pay for water testing. During “Public Comment,” Don Larson asked who made the decision and what the rational was behind using the Seeley Lake Regional Plan...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Elementary School Board of Trustees discussed how to make up the four days of school missed due to the Rice Ridge Fire, teacher bonuses and enrollment at their Sept. 19 meeting. Superintendent Chris Stout said that most of the people he talked to felt it would be easier to tack the four days on the end of the year rather than trying to make up days throughout the year or adding time to each day. If days were added throughout the year it would most likely cut into teacher training days and/or spring break. Adding...
SEELEY LAKE - Dennis Stroughmatt and L'Esprit Creole (Don't call it Cajun!) will be bringing foot stomping, hand clapping music to our valleys Oct. 8 (note date change!), 3 p.m. at the Seeley-Swan High School Auditorium. Because this visit is as much about history and culture as it is music, we're pretty sure everyone will find it interesting-and lively. The description of the trio includes "fingers and bow flying, Dennis Stroughmatt takes listeners on a musical odyssey not so different from his...
I didn’t write this as an expert on physiological or social processes, or as a representative of any organization. I did write it as an area resident who would like to meet others for informal discussions about the topics presented. Death. Is it the end? Or the beginning? Birth…death…rebirth This past summer I was particularly interested in the new growth that appears on dead and dying trees. This was fed by my many years’ fascinatation with a certain western larch snag, the top laying in decay on the forest floor. All along that crumbli...
POTOMAC - From a special hunt to perhaps a trophy animal, taxidermy is a way to preserve the memory. Woods N Water in Potomac is the place to get that done. Woods N Water is the new taxidermy shop located between Gold Creek and Twin Creek Roads on the north side of the highway in Potomac. Owner Chris Cotten said he has always been interested and intrigued by taxidermy and is honored to be involved in the taxidermy business. Cotten joined the Marine Corps after high school. Then came college and...
SEELEY LAKE – When Kindergartner Jesse Wink came up with the idea to raise money for Seattle Children's Hospital this summer he started with $22. After three months he raised $460.09 and presented the check to his doctor at his appointment in August. Wink's goal was to help children who are facing Chiari Malformation, a condition where the brain grows into the spine. He was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation before he was two years old. Wink raised money by having a refreshment stand, holding a...
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and while it often means more to hygienists than it does to everyone else, it also gives us dental professionals an opportunity to share our enthusiasm about preventative oral care and disease treatment with our communities. There are multiple roles a hygienist will take on in her/his career to assure we are treating our patients with the most comprehensive care possible. While the most obvious clinical role is front and center, the role of educator is...
Exodus 20:1-3, “And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.” This is the opening to one of the most well known passages of the Bible, the Ten Commandments. Most of us are probably fairly familiar with this passage. “You shall have no other gods before me,” is the first of the Ten Commandments, and, as is commonly the case with the first of a list, is of particular importance. You may be like me when you hear or...
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake community response to the wildfire health screening held Sept. 20 was overwhelming. Health officials closed the door three hours early after 95 participants signed up. That was the maximum number of materials that they had brought with them, not knowing the level of interest. About three weeks ago, the Missoula City-County Health Department approached the University of Montana researchers about conducting the study because the levels of particulates and duration w...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks hosted Drummond Sept. 19 before heading to Arlee Sept. 23 for an all-day tournament. Versus Drummond The Lady Blackhawks got off to a slow start. Drummond built a 10-17 advantage in game one before the Ladies took flight. They held Drummond to just three points as they racked up 15 of their own for the 25-20 win. The teams went point for point through the first half of game two. The Lady Blackhawks rallied mid-game and took an 8-point lead. They...
THOMPSON FALLS, MONT. – The Blackhawks took to the course in Thompson Falls for their second meet of the season. Even on the harder course, Cordell Turner, Levi Reinitz and Aydin Bayford shaved off nearly a minute from their meet in Pablo, Mont. Dual athletes Logan Maughan and Caleb Maughan joined the team this week and led the Blackhawks. Logan finished in 19:30, 31 out of 93 racers, with his younger brother Caleb crossing the finish line less than a minute later with a time of 20:25. Senior C...
SEELEY LAKE - The Blackhawks made the most of a makeup game against the Troy Trojans Sept. 25 after falling to the Darby Tigers Sept. 22. Versus Darby The Blackhawks’ defenders took to the field ready to tame the Tigers. After giving up a couple of first downs, the Blackhawks started pushing back. They pushed the Tigers all the way back to the 20-yard line. On third and 40 the Tigers landed a long pass and broke away for the game’s first touchdown. The Blackhawks held the Tigers out for the 2-p...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley-Swan High School recognized their senior football athletes and manager along with their families at the Blackhawk's home game Sept. 22 against Darby....
Swan Valley AARP Meeting, Oct. 2 SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley AARP will meet at noon Monday, Oct. 2 at the Swan Valley Community Hall. A potluck lunch hosted by Russ and Larrine Abolt will begin at 12:30 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., Joe Pecora, a Cowboy Poet and former Condon resident, will read some poetry and tell some stories. The public is invited. New Date for “Be Our Guest” Event SEELEY LAKE - The date for the Sparrow’s Vine “Be Our Guest” Fundraising Banquet has been changed to Oct. 19 to accommodate the guest speaker. The event begins at 6 p.m....
