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On Jan. 31, about 30 people including Seeley Lake residents, nonprofit representatives and Missoula County government officials gathered in the cafeteria at Seeley Lake Elementary School to discuss the town's struggles and suggestions regarding tourism in the area. Glacier Country Tourism — recognized by the state of Montana as the official marketing and management organization for western Montana — started developing its destination stewardship plan in response to the covid-19 pandemic in 2021. Racene Friede, president and CEO of Glacier Count...
Roadside safety issues are at the core of upcoming changes to opening day for antler hunting. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) will be hosting meetings to discuss possible solutions to the annual opening day congestion at the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area game range. New this year, antler hunters planning to enter the WMA in a vehicle will not be allowed to stage along Highway 83 and will instead register for a spot in line ahead of opening day. According to Montana law, a...
This year’s Snowball Dinner, a fundraiser for Scenic Montana Trails, was all about local businesses, sponsors, prizes and keeping dollars in the community. “Bottom line is our Snowball was a great success from pretty much every angle,” Tom Stanley, secretary of Scenic Montana Trails, said. Scenic Montana Trails buys fuel locally, as many parts as it can to fix any machinery locally and it pays groomers who live locally. “By and large, most of this money stays local in our effort to improve the recreational trails in the greater Seeley Lake area...
Thirty-five years ago ... Thursday Feb. 9, 1989 Centennial 500 Mushers headed this way Bruce Graham, Seeley Lake, will be one of several mushers competing in the Governor's Cup 500 sled dog race starting Saturday in Helena to Holland Lake Lodge and back. Renamed the Montana Centennial Sled Dog Race in recognition of the State's Centennial, mushers will be urging their dogs in the longest race in the lower 48 states. An endurance race, mushers will follow trails that exceed 7,000 feet in...
Montana's Race to the Sky, a sled dog race winding from Lincoln to Condon and back in either 100 or 300 mile distances, has been canceled this year due to lack of snow and out of consideration for the safety of mushers and their dogs. The race has only been canceled two other times in its 38-year history - once in 2021 because of the covid-19 pandemic and once in 2005 also because of lack of snow and icy conditions. Pam Beckstrom, Race to the Sky board member and volunteer since 1986, said it's...
The Seeley Lake Senior Center (Sela Senci) took a step into the future this month, launching its first-ever website, which organizers hope will bring more attention and fundraising to the center. Senior Center President Debbie Anderson said the center hopes to make it easier to access meal schedules, events and volunteer opportunities. The website, called seeleyseniorcenter.org, should be live as of Jan. 22. Suzette Baker made the website. “We’re trying to get the senior center into the 21st Century,” Anderson said. “There’s still a lot of se...
The Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Board heard remarks from its fire chief over a recent Pathfinder story, approved its spending, checked in call numbers and talked about potential grants during its Jan. 16 meeting. Dave Lane, the fire chief, said he has written a letter to the owner of the Pathfinder, Jesse Mullen, to ask for corrections and an apology over the Jan. 11 story, which said facts from Lane and the Montana Board of Medical Examiners do not match county records. “This last article was very slanderous with the lies that were publish...
Missoula County is applying for federal grants and seeks public comment in order to replace five weakened and aging bridges in the Blackfoot and Swan Valleys. Construction could begin by 2027 on Boy Scout Bridge, Riverview Drive Bridge, Sunset Hill Bridge, Glacier Creek Bridge and Cold Creek Bridge. Funding for the project is expected to come through two federal grants, Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) and the Bridge Investment Program (BIP), as previously mentioned in the Pathfinder. The total cost...
Alpine Artisans' 2 Valleys Stage is showcasing the Oregon “Glam Rock” duo, Champagne Sunday, on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Swan Valley Community Hall in Condon. Husband and wife members Jessi and Jared Fredeen tear up stages and crowds nationwide with their unique, upbeat, roller-coaster-style shows, firing off gypsy-punk rock songs alongside everything from intimate tear-jerkers to anthemic foot-stompers, peppering their sets with compelling stories behind their music. Champagne Sunday is one of the rare original acts that performs wit...
Rural planning official speaks out Missoula County's future: timber, tourism, or both? Last May 14, the Missoulian featured coverage of the timber industry's Great Northwest Log Haul. Tucked innocently, but perhaps prophetically, into a sub-headline underneath this story was the notation to look on the following page for information for possible recreational opportunities on Lolo Peak. Five months later on Oct. 14, Forest Service Chief F. Dale Robertson admitted that "fish, wildlife and recreati...
The Missoula County Health Department now requires tighter standards for septic systems in the Seeley Lake Special Management Area (SMA) as officials said the best available data from the area shows any new permit would violate federal drinking standards. While the regulations are different, and no public process was held over the matter, the Health Department argued it has not technically changed the rules. The new guidelines require future buildings to keep nitrate discharge at a lower than...
The Ice Skating rink is now open to the public for the winter season. Garry Swan, President of Seeley Lake ROCKS, said the rink has developed great ice with the recent chilly temperatures. Rules for the rink are posted on the shed near the rink, but Swain reminded folks to hang up skates and helmets when not in use, shovel snow off the surface when needed and of course, to have fun. Swain and Seeley Swan High School senior Connor Chadwick do most of the maintenance. He also thanked Andi Bourne...
Two snowmobilers got stuck off trail above Marshall Lake on the evening of Jan. 13, prompting Seeley Swan Search and Rescue and Two Bear Air to extract them amid extremely cold temperatures. Seeley Swan Search and Rescue Chief Ken Brochu said the team got a call at around 5 p.m. that the snowmobilers were stranded. The temperature stood at negative 20 degrees, with wind chill of negative 35. That did not stop responders, as four members of search and rescue, Karl Zurmuehlan and an employee from Kra-Z Sports Rentals ascended the mountains with...
Highway 200 just after the Helmville turnoff stood closed for several hours Jan 21. after a massive pileup of cars halted any access to the road. Luckily, law enforcement reported no injuries with the incident. The Montana Highway Patrol reported early on Sunday that freezing rain created extremely dangerous conditions at mile marker 57 on Highway 200, about 1.5 miles east of the Montana Highway 141 junction. Traffic was diverted eastbound onto Highway 141, while westbound traffic rerouted through Highway 279 through Helena. The closure...
As an intrepid member of the Fourth Estate, I ventured out into the frigid night, determined to shine light on the Swan branch of the Deep State. Parenthetically, the Fourth Estate refers to the press. I’d never actually known what the first three are, so I looked it up (as older people say rather than Googling). The monarchy, barony (people with titles), and the Commons are the first three, with the fourth apparently keeping an eye on the first three. There is now a Fifth Estate, that being social media and other online sewage systems. When a...
The January community Council Meeting provided updates for the Seeley Lake bridge projects. Shane Stack, the Missoula County Public works director, said he feels confidence in various grant applications, letters of support from local people and organizations are still being welcomed to build a better application for grant money to construct the bridges in need. All letters are needed back by Feb. 9, in order to submit an application for a grant from RAIN (Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) which is due on F...
Thursday Jan. 26, 1989 Race to the Lake MUSHERS WAIT FOR THE OPENING GUN as they line the lake's edge at Holland Lake Saturday in the first leg of the 100-mile "Race to the Lake," run in two 50-mile legs on Saturday and Sunday. Here Ron Ogden, Seeley Lake WindWalker Kennels, gives instructions to Shawn Helvic in the driver's seat. Prior to the start, Ogden said, "I'm letting the kid run this year." Shawn, who lives with the Ogdens in Seeley Lake, did all right. He finished fourth in a field of...
An effort is under way in Western Montana to remove common barriers preventing older adults, people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations from getting vaccinated for COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, pneumonia and shingles. “People with disabilities experience significant barriers when attempting to access healthcare, information and services if those services are not designed to consider their preferences, needs and disability,” said Tannis Hargrove of the Aging & Disability Vaccination Collaborative at the Univers...
Through volunteer efforts, the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society (USVHS) has been delving into local history through word and deed for 36 years. Twenty-five years ago on March 10, 1988, the first meeting of the USVHS was held at Evelyn Jette's residence. Meetings moved to the Swan Valley Library and Librarian Fern Kauffman began recording and archiving local historical information. In the early days the work began with copying historical photos that people brought into the library. Gradually...
The newly-hired Flathead National Forest Supervisor said he's always admired the natural beauty and extensive wilderness of western Montana. Now he gets to oversee three district rangers across northwestern Montana. Anthony Botello has been working in the Forest Service for the last 35 years, starting as a wilderness ranger. He said he worked his way up from his field job to a program manager position and said he enjoyed leading folks in natural resource issues. Since 2010, he has worked as a...
Water data from the Clearwater Resource Council and the Seeley Lake Sewer District showed an area of concern near Riverview Drive Bridge and highlighted how sediments from burn scars and dirt roads can have an impact on the area's rivers and lakes. Clearwater Resource Council board members Jon Haufler and Karen Williams presented the information to an audience at the Barn on Jan. 9. While much of the data is complex and more analysis is needed, the group has a good understanding of where water...
January marks the beginning of the second year of the Missoula County Rural Grant Program, Commissioner Juanita Vero said. Both Micro Grants for up to $500 and Impact Grants for projects $501 to $4,000 are designed to support community projects outside of city limits. Missoula County has opened the second round of Impact Grants and is continuing to accept Micro Grant applications to support community-driven projects that enhance the quality of life in rural areas of Missoula County. Following a...
The Board of Directors of Swan Valley Connections (SVC) is pleased to announce a new leadership team following the departure of Executive Director Rebecca Ramsey. The organization is restructuring to welcome three managing directors to lead SVC into a more sustainable future. All three managing directors will guide the vision of the organization, with each managing director having an area of focus, and all three bearing responsibility for the success of programs, operations, and fundraising. The transition is in progress as of January 1, and...
Non-profit organizations are invited to submit grant proposals to the Seeley Lake Community Foundation for 2024 projects. Applications are due Jan. 31. The Seeley Lake Community Foundation helps local groups fund important community projects in the areas of: art & culture, community & economic development, basic human needs, education and natural resources & conservation. In this capacity, the SLCF strives to be a community resource and catalyst for innovative approaches to improving the quality of life of the Seeley Lake area. The SLCF awards...
Thirty-five years ago... Thursday Jan. 19, 1989 New building to house restaurant, Double Front Chicken plans Seeley Lake store Double Front Chicken, a 28-year-old specialty restaurant in Missoula, will soon be opening a Seeley Lake restaurant. Gene Herndon, owner of the Missoula restaurant, will be opening the one here in partnership with Kelly Piche who has been cooking at the Missoula store for the past 15 years. Herndon said that he's had a special feeling for this area dating back to 1955 when he started coming up here for hunting,...
