Articles from the December 31, 2015 edition


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  • Republic Services Takes Over Transfer Station Management

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015

    SEELEY LAKE - As of Dec. 1, the Seeley Lake Refuse District Transfer Station is under the operation and management of Republic Services of Montana. They signed a 12-month contract with Missoula County that can be renewed annually for up to three years. Republic Services said their goal is to continue performing all duties necessary to safely and successfully operate and manage the transfer station and provide safe, convenient and reliable service to the Seeley Lake community. The purpose of the Seeley Lake Refuse District Transfer Station,...

  • Downey Woodpecker Takes a Rest

    Dec 31, 2015

  • Kind Hearts Give Lucky Dog Second Chance

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015

    POTOMAC – A lost Weimaraner dog was found Sept. 24 dragging his dehydrated, starving body through a frost covered meadow in the Lost Creek area near Condon. He was taken to Paws Up Safe Home and Animal Shelter (Paws Up) in Potomac. After a lot of love, care and food he is finally able to stand on his own again and continues to get his strength back. The Weimaraner, affectionately named Lucky Dog once he arrived at Paws Up, was found miles from any home. His hind feet were bloody from being d...

  • From the Ground Up A New Appreciation after 40 Years of Flying

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015

    SEELEY LAKE - After more than 40 years of flying experience each, Seeley Lake residents Erik Gullikson and Bob Thorne are building their own two-seater plane, an S-20 Raven. During his career as an aircraft mechanic, Gullikson has done just about every step of the plane-building process, but never built one from start to finish. Thorne swore he would never fly anything he had worked on but that has changed working under Gullikson's guidance. While the average time to complete a home-built...

  • Good Horses to Ride

    Heather Layman|Dec 31, 2015

    As another year draws to a close in the crazy old life, I hope that you had time to enjoy the holidays in festive style with those you love. Now, it's almost time for that "new year, new me" nonsense, and I don't know about the rest of you, but my new year's resolutions last about as long as the attention span of my two cocaine-snortin', squirrel chasin' border collies. So, I am going to give up the list making, the lofty weight loss goals, the money saving tips and just live my life. Simply,...

  • Wolves: What to Do

    Hunter Shelmerdine, Seeley-Swan High School Freshman|Dec 31, 2015
    1

    When you hear the word wolf what is the first thing that comes to mind? A voracious killer that will kill you just to see you die? Or, a cute, harmless dog that resembles your family pet? Or a mammal like all of us trying just to survive on this land, where certain groups of people want them eradicated? Wolves need to be kept in our ecosystem for generations to come and not go back to the times where the massive eradication of wolves was not only accepted, but encouraged by the federal...

  • Moore Won't Run for Third Term for HD 92

    Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015

    MISSOULA - Representative David "Doc" Moore of House District 92 (HD 92) has decided not to run for a third term in the Montana House of Representatives. He stated that he has really enjoyed meeting, listening to and trying to help the constituents of the area. "HD 92 is a very diverse district with some wonderful working families, and it is been my pleasure to serve all of them," said Moore. "But it is time to look for other opportunities and personal challenges. Whether that will be in the...

  • Dunham on Republican Ticket for House District 92

    Larry Dunham|Dec 31, 2015

    Since Republican David "Doc" Moore is not running for House District 92 (HD 92), Condon resident Larry Dunham submitted his application for the Republican ticket. "I will get informed, get involved, get it right," said Dunham. "My belief is to act, not react and trust but verify." HD 92 includes Condon, Seeley Lake, Clearwater Junction, Potomac, Bonner, Milltown, East Missoula, Turah and Clinton. Dunham was raised in Bozeman, Mont. and graduated from Montana State University, Bozeman. Upon...

  • Thane Comments on Hellgate Data Breach - Oliver Resigns

    Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015

    MISSOULA - Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Mark Thane spoke in a news conference Dec. 15 about the unintentional data breach that occurred from the Hellgate High School administrative offices on Friday, Dec. 4. LMG Security completed the internal investigation and forensic investigation. The investigation revealed that Hellgate Assistant Principal Libby Oliver intended to finalize a document containing an agenda and notes from a recent Hellgate football meeting. Oliver’s email attachment included an additional 16 pages o...

  • Changes in the Montana Logging World…A Trip Down Memory Lane

    Mary Ann Morin, Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Inc.|Dec 31, 2015

    There is nothing better than sitting down with knowledgeable people and picking their brains. That is exactly what I did this month. It started with a notice from Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation [DNRC] that Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Inc received their prestigious “Montana Forestry Partner Pioneer” award. It recognized Pyramid’s long time commitment to forestry. That led to a walk down memory lane. As I gathered together three men…the laughter started…names were remembered…and the years all rolled together. It culminat...

  • Stewardship Project Underway on Cottonwood Lakes Road

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015

    SEELEY LAKE - Bull Creek Forestry of Seeley Lake has begun work on the Seeley Lake Ranger District’s Mountain Creek Stewardship Project off of Cottonwood Lakes Road (US Forest Service Road #477). Approximately three miles of the road is closed for public safety due to log truck traffic. The closure will remain in place until the work is completed or no later than March 31, 2016. The Mountain Creek Stewardship Project is 125 acres. There are two primary objectives of the project: • Reduce the spread of mountain pine beetle by removing the cur...

  • Cost Containment Recommendations for Healthcare Insurance

    Dec 31, 2015

    HELENA - With healthcare costs on the rise across the country, the Montana Business Leadership Council (MBLC) is recommending a few simple, bi-partisan measures that will aid in lowering healthcare costs for Montanans. One of the policy measures is to focus on the need for continued flexibility in the regulation of state-specific health insurance provider networks, one of the most important tools insurers have for controlling costs. “There have been discussions on the national level to try to limit the flexibility of provider networks,” sai...

  • Selling Adventure in Seeley Lake

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015

    SEELEY LAKE – Rocky Mountain Adventure Gear (RMAG) in Seeley Lake is under new ownership and operating with a new business model offering outdoor recreation rentals. Moose Jergesen and Duane Anderson purchased RMAG from Mike and Cathy Kahnle and also Seeley Sport Rentals from Bob Skiles. RMAG now offers the "best of both worlds" providing a one-stop-shop for winter and summer motorized and non-motorized rentals as well as offering a selection of outdoor merchandise. Jergesen was the general m...

  • Edward "Bud" Remy Berckmoes 1931 ~ 2015

    Dec 31, 2015

    SEELEY LAKE - Bud Berckmoes passed away peacefully Dec. 26. He was born in Fromberg, Mont. to Remy and Elizabeth (Schleinning) Berckmoes Nov. 15, 1931. Later in life, Bud moved to Seeley Lake, Mt., where he resided for over 40 years. He worked as a realtor at the Double Arrow Ranch for a number of years. Bud was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Cindy Watt, and his two sisters. He is survived by: daughters Pam Berckmoes and Debbie (Rick) Diede; son Kevin (Winnie) Berckmoes; grandchildren Heidi Watt, Levi (Jo) Baker, Luke (Kathy)... Full story

  • Christmas Trees and How They Have Grown

    Betty Vanderwielen, Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015
    1

    SEELEY LAKE – Decorated trees are an almost indispensable part of modern Christmas festivities. Where did the custom originate? Why do people perpetuate it? And to what extremes has it been carried? According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the most expensively decorated Christmas tree was erected and displayed in the hotel atrium of the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi in 2010. Amid traditional lights and ornaments, the 43-foot artificial evergreen tree was adorned with necklaces, e...

  • Giving Tree Makes Christmas a Little Brighter

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015

    SEELEY LAKE - The annual "Giving Tree," sponsored by the Mountain Lakes Presbyterian Church women, brought Christmas joy to many families in the Valley. Nearly 90 gifts were given to 18 families in the area. While no one is certain when the Giving Tree started in Seeley Lake, Kelli and Bruce Wold took it over in 1995. They started a giving tree when they had a grocery store in Chinook and wanted to keep it going when they moved to Seeley Lake. Kim Bezanson, Kathleen Thompson and the Wolds would...

  • Fresh Snow, Fresh Start

    Craig Wilson Pastor, Mission Bible Fellowship|Dec 31, 2015

    I love the beauty of a fresh covering of snow. After several days without a new snowfall, the ground begins to look muddy, full of tire tracks and various debris covers the surface. Once a new layer of fresh snow covers the ground once again the beauty starts all over again. As we get ready to step into a new year, I am reminded of the importance of a fresh start. The beginning of a brand new year shows us that we can start over. We may have fallen into bad habits, experienced personal trials or feel stuck. Standing on the doorstep of 2016,...

  • Swan Valley Student Letters to Santa

    Dec 31, 2015

    Kindergarten Dear Santa Claus, How are your reindeer doing? What is your favorite color? And my name is Levi. Please may I have legos. Sincerely, Levi. Dear Santa Claus, I would like a bean bag. My name is Bryar. I would like a baskitball hoop. Love, Bryar. Dear Santa Claus, How are the elves doing? I want a water bottle you can color. Love, Nikylie Dear Santa Claus, How are you doing? Do you like Milk? Do you like cookies? Are the reindeer polling the sled well? Hows Ms. Claus? Santa do you like fruit? May I please have a Army man and a Robot...

  • Haines Contracting

    Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015

    Goal: Haines Contracting's goal is to provide quality work for his customers providing for all their forest-related needs. This includes cutting stumps low, making sure the clean-up is aesthetically pleasing and maintaining regeneration when felling larger timber. Owner Brett Haines' personal goal is to make a living so he and his family can live in Seeley Lake. History: Haines started working in the logging industry during the summers that he attended college. After his freshman year in the... Full story

  • Salmon Prairie School Students Perform Swan Valley Version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

    Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|Dec 31, 2015

    SALMON PRAIRIE - On Dec. 22, six Salmon Prairie students in grades kindergarten to eighth grade presented their own production of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Parents, friends and community members filled the one-room schoolhouse to attend the traditional Christmas program, enjoy fellowship and indulge in holiday treats. Starting after Thanksgiving, the students worked together to write their script based on the story "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." They changed the location of the story...

  • Community Briefs

    Dec 31, 2015

    Swan Valley AARP Meeting, Jan. 4 SWAN VALLEY - Fairytale Farm will be the program Monday, Jan. 4 for the Swan Valley AARP at the Swan Valley Community Hall. Local resident and owner of Fairytale Farms Sarah Mendenhall will charm attendees with a talk. The potluck starts at noon and attendees will eat at 12:30 p.m. The hosts will be Neil and Dixie Meyer. Winter Trails Day, Jan. 9, in the Flathead Valley The Flathead Community of Resource Educators (CORE), a network of individuals and organizations working together to increase awareness and...

  • Reader Photo - Winter Fishing Fun

    Dec 31, 2015

    Seeley Lake sixth-grader Sawyer Shelmerdine caught this 34 inch, nearly 15 pound northern pike Wednesday, Dec. 23 while fishing on Salmon Lake with his dad, Phil. Sawyer caught it on a tip up using smelt....