Articles from the October 3, 2019 edition


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  • A lifetime of service and safety recognized

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Oct 3, 2019

    SEELEY LAKE – For Seeley Lake couple Steve and Cheri Thompson, it was a normal day at Big Sky Resort with their Stanford Ski Group. When their friend Dave Utzinger had a bad crash that broke his neck, the Thompsons immediately started CPR and saved their friend's life. After being nominated by the SnowBowl Volunteer Ski Patrol Director Joe Lustik, the Thompsons both received a Purple Merit Star for their life-saving actions Sept. 21. With 113 years of combined service volunteering with the Natio...

  • Sindelar enjoyed the perks of the job

    Betty Vanderwielen, Pathfinder|Oct 3, 2019

    SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake resident Norman Sindelar joined the U.S. Navy in 1962. Though he never actually served aboard a naval vessel, he sees his four years of service as a series of great opportunities. When Sindelar reported to the Military Entrance Processing Station in Butte on Jan. 2, the temperature was minus 42 degrees, without factoring in windchill. During the next two days he passed beyond the Montana state line for the first time, took his first train ride and reported for boot c...

  • E-bikes welcome on 'motorized use' Forest Service trails, roads

    US Forest Service - Lolo National Forest|Oct 3, 2019

    Electric bicycles (e-bikes) have grown in popularity for both recreational use and hunting on public lands and are currently welcome on more than 52,000 miles of roads and 7,700 miles of trails throughout the Northern Region’s nine National Forests and Dakota Prairie Grasslands where motorized vehicle travel is authorized. The USDA Forest Service considers e-bikes as motorized vehicles and therefore does not allow their use on non-motorized National Forest System (NFS) roads and trails. According to the Forest Service’s Travel Management Rule (...

  • "Decades" 2019 Homecoming

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Oct 3, 2019

    SEELEY LAKE - Each of the classes competed again this year for the best float. The theme for the 2019 Homecoming parade floats was "Decades." The freshman class won with the 1980s rendition of "Thriller." Juniors took second with the 1950's Diner. The sophomores took third place for their 1960's float with hippies, protesters and Neil Armstrong in uniform. Finally the seniors came in fourth with their 1970's rendition of "Seeley Night Fever" and "Rocky."...

  • Republicans need to start investigating the investigators

    Roxie Sterling, Seeley Lake, Mont.|Oct 3, 2019

    When President Trump was duly elected by the American people I was shocked at the rage of some people. I heard a woman say she wanted to blow up the White House. I heard some Democrats promoting violence against President Trump and his supporters. I saw a woman hold up an image of President Trump’s bloody severed head. I saw an image of President Trump hanging from a rope and then knocked down and clubs handed to CHILDREN to beat the image of our President of the United States of America. Shame on those people. In my lifetime I have never s...

  • Was it necessary?

    Philip Gregory|Oct 3, 2019

    I was extremely upset, even angry, when I learned the sow grizzly bear that had three cubs roaming around the Swan Valley, had been captured and killed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks personnel. These four bears provided the utmost joy, excitement and photographic opportunities for the people of the Swan Valley. The sow and two of the cubs were captured. The two cubs were given to the zoo in Gardner and the sow was killed. The third cub escaped capture and was left to whatever future a young...

  • Annual Medicare open enrollment starts Oct. 15

    Linda Howard, Resource Specialist, Seeley-Swan Resource Center|Oct 3, 2019

    It's that time of year again to review your health insurance needs and look at options. Get ready for Annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (AEP) Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, Medicare's next annual open enrollment period for 2020 coverage. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) no longer require Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D) and Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) to mail out the plan's benefit and formulary changes for the coming year. It is important to check your plan. Be a...

  • Weedkiller, green tomatoes & soaker hoses

    Molly Hackett, Master Gardener|Oct 3, 2019

    Q: Without using weedkiller spray, how can I clean up a weedy bed where I want to plant bulbs this fall? So far I have been digging and that is hard work. For the winter, can I cover the bed with a mulch of straw or cardboard or would that kill the bulbs? A: I think it's just as effective and a lot easier to use a weedeater, or even garden scissors in small spots, to cut weeds to the ground once a week. No matter how persistent a weed, it is not immortal (even though sometimes it may seem that w...

  • Remove bear attractants this fall

    Oct 3, 2019

    Help keep neighborhood bear conflicts to a minimum this fall by removing or securing backyard bear attractants such as fruit, birdseed, pet food, compost piles and garbage. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Bear Management Specialist, Jamie Jonkel said that there have been a lot of bears in neighborhoods lately and many have been drawn in by apples and other fruit trees. "It's the time of year where bears are out looking to stock up before winter and many are finding food near our homes,...

  • 2019 fire season transitions to prescribed burning

    Chris Johnson, Missoula County Fire Protection Association|Oct 3, 2019

    The 2019 fire season has come to a close. There were 142 wildfires suppressed in west central Montana. In our communities, 2019 will be remembered as a welcome respite from wildfire smoke. Wildfire conditions in Idaho, Oregon and Washington were much like ours, so smoke wasn't drifting in from the west as it has in recent years. Even though there was a typical number of wildfire starts, live fuel moistures were high most of the summer due to intermittent wetting rains. Live fuel moistures in the...

  • Exploring diversity at Mountain Lakes Presbyterian Church

    Rev. Carrie Benton, Pastor, Mountain Lakes Presbyterian Church|Oct 3, 2019

    For many people, the church, generally speaking, has been a difficult place - a place of woundedness, a place of hostility or rigid authoritarianism, an unfriendly place where not all have been welcome. Church people know this is true - but we don’t always know what to do about it. The Mountain Lakes Presbyterian Church is earnestly trying to wrestle with these realities. We have designated the whole month of October as “Diversity Month.” Each Sunday during worship we will be exploring a particular aspect of human diversity. While there are a...

  • Inerrancy of the Bible

    Pastor Craig Wilson, Pastor - Mission Bible Fellowship|Oct 3, 2019

    Looking back at the summer Olympics in 2016…there are so many questions about why are there so many ties in swimming? Going back several decades, there have been many instances in ties. Even in Rio, in 2016, there was a three-way tie for a silver medal. The question is…in our day and age, why isn’t there better measuring technology to avoid so many swimming ties. But the issue did not come down to the need for better timing systems…but the need for better pools. It turns out that there is a pretty big allowance for structural differe...

  • 2VS brings acclaimed dance troupe to Seeley Lake

    Samathan Arroyo, 2VS Program Director|Oct 3, 2019

    "New viewers often ask us what to expect from an RDT performance. We tell them grace and athleticism, beauty and power. Beyond that, we tell them to embrace the unexpected." ~ Repertory Dance Theatre. Alpine Artisans' 2 Valleys Stage is excited to bring you an extra-ordinary presentation of the body in motion: the Repertory Dance Theatre of Salt Lake City, Utah. It is not often that we have the opportunity to see such dedicated and accomplished dancers up close in such an intimate setting....

  • AAI Open Book Club presents "Grinnell: America's Environmental Pioneer and His Restless Drive to Save the West"

    Jenny Rohrer, Alpine Artisans, Inc. Program Director|Oct 3, 2019

    Remember your first glimpse of Glacier National Park or your initial trip to Yellowstone National Park? Livingston author John Taliaferro's encompassing biography of George Bird Grinnell enables the reader to relive those moments as he thoroughly documents the life of one of our country's greatest conservationists, George Bird Grinnell titled "Grinnell: America's Environmental Pioneer and His Restless Drive to Save the West." Taliaferro will be reading and signing his book at the Open Book Club...

  • Local fills moose tag in Boles Meadow area

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Oct 3, 2019

    SEELEY LAKE – After 24 years of putting in for a moose tag, Austin Dillree finally got his chance. Less than two weeks into the two and half month moose season, he filled his tag with a 40-inch bull that he dropped with one shot in the Boles Meadow area. Dillree's first memory of hunting was riding on his Dad's shoulders when he was four-years-old. He started hunting himself when he was 12 and has made it a lifetime sport hunting elk, deer and antelope. "I love the solitude," said Dillree. "I li...

  • Focus on escape planning and practice during Fire Prevention Week

    National Fire Protection Association|Oct 3, 2019

    Today’s home fires burn faster than ever, making escape planning all the more critical to home fire safety. Studies show that in the past, people had approximately 17 minutes to escape a typical home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Now they may have as little as two minutes to get out safely. With these concerns in mind, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape™!” as the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, Oct. 6-12. Working to better...

  • Minimum wage set to increase

    Oct 3, 2019

    Governor Steve Bullock announced Monday, Sept. 30 Montanans earning minimum wage will see the rate increase to $8.65 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2020. “This increase ensures Montanans earning the minimum wage don’t fall further behind, but we still have work to do to make a living wage a reality for all Montanans,” Governor Bullock said. “Montana has the sixth fastest wage growth in the nation over the past decade, and we must build on this trend by continuing to create good-paying jobs, supporting Montana businesses, standing up for employe...

  • Bulldogs bite Blackhawks

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Oct 3, 2019

    SEELEY LAKE – The Blackhawks took on the Bulldogs of St. Ignatius for their Homecoming Sept. 28. The game was a hard-fought battle in the first half with neither team's offense being able to move the ball very well. With just four minutes left in the half the Bulldogs scored a touchdown. The Blackhawks broke up the conversion. A half dozen plays later, the Blackhawks scored a touchdown of their own. Caleb Maughan had a great kick return followed by a couple of runs and a couple of pass r...

  • Blackhawks meet tough competition at Mountain West

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Oct 3, 2019

    MISSOULA - The Seeley-Swan High School Cross Country team took to the University of Montana Golf Course for the annual Mountain West Classic, Sept. 28. Due to the Blackhawks homecoming activities in Seeley, the five high school racers all ran with the junior varsity so they could make it back for the activities. Sam Ayers was the only middle schooler that raced. While the temperature was in the 40s and it was windy, most of the Blackhawks said the weather wasn’t too bad once they were running. As always, climbing the hill right before the t...

  • Lady Blackhawks succumb to Savage Heat

    Nathan Bourne, Pathfinder|Oct 3, 2019

    SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks headed into their Homecoming match with the Savage Heat of Hot Springs coming off a pair of victories last week against Granite and the Clark Fork Coop. The Lady Blackhawks defeated Granite on the road Sept. 24 in three sets 25-18, 25-16 and 25-17. The Ladies then hosted Clark Fork Sept. 26 and defeated them in three sets as well 25-23, 25-19 and 25-14. The Lady Blackhawks got off to a great start against Hot Springs with a solid 25-13 win in the...

  • From Eagles to Blackhawks - Helping students succeed

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Oct 3, 2019

    SEELEY LAKE – After 14 years of teaching at Seeley Lake Elementary School, Michele Holmes is now the business teacher, librarian, instructional coach and Title 1 support at Seeley-Swan High School. While there is a lot to learn with all of these new roles, Holmes welcomes the challenge and looks forward to helping the SSHS students succeed. Holmes is a Montana native. However it was while working in Michigan in the I.T. department for a manufacturing company that she found a love for t...

  • Community Briefs

    Oct 3, 2019

    TNC Beeskove Fire closure lifted POTOMAC - The Nature Conservancy’s western Montana forest land that had been closed due to the Beeskove fire reopened to the public Thursday, Sept. 26. Users are asked to follow TNC’s Open Lands Policy that can be found at https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/OpenLandsPolicy_022118.pdf Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Call Activity Sept. 22 – Sept. 29 • 9/22, 1:27pm, 31XX Highway 83, Seeley Lake: Accident – No Injury • 9/23, 9:13am, mile marker 1 Highway 83, Clearwater Junction: Acc...