Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 6118
The announced closure of Pyramid Mountain Lumber on March 14 sent shock waves through Seeley Lake that extended throughout the state and various levels of government. Concern for forest health, Montana’s timber industry and Seeley Lake’s economy and longevity were top of mind. Statements came out from Montana representatives at the federal level to local county commissioners, and solutions — from worker-owned cooperatives to private buyers to a tool launched by the state Department of Labor and Industry to help match laid-off timber worke...
Loose and sometimes aggressive dogs have caused problems for some Seeley Lake residents, leaving people wondering where the solutions lie. While Missoula County doesn’t have a leash law, there are ordinances related to controlling one’s dog. Dogs must be in clear view of their owner and the owner must be able to control and recall the dog at all times. Dog owners can receive a citation for having a dog at large. Also under ordinance, dogs must be licensed in the county, which lets authorities know the dogs received rabies shots. Missoula Cou...
The Powell County Community Wildfire Protection Plan is in the process of being updated and public meetings have been held across the county, including in Avon and Deer Lodge, for residents to express any concerns and provide input on the new plan. At a meeting in Helmville, residents and county officials listed drought, road maintenance and people that are new to the area and not as familiar with living close to fire as topics to address. The Powell County Wildfire Protection Plan is a...
New radar-operated speed limit signs were installed along Highway 83 in Seeley Lake. Bruce Friede, vice chair of the Seeley Lake Community Council, said Highway 83 is an easy highway to blast through, particularly around weekends in the summer when travelers might be just going through Seeley Lake toward Kalispell or Glacier National Park. Last summer when wait times were long for the Salmon Lake construction project, Friede said it got worse as people were likely trying to adhere to a planned itinerary. “When they picked up their speed they d...
Protect the Clearwater hosted two gatherings April 27 at the Seeley Lake Community Foundation building and May 1 at the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula. Both events were aimed at raising awareness about Protect the Clearwater's mission to safeguard Montana communities, waterways and ecosystems from the environmental threats posed by expedited permits for open cut gravel mines. The April event was a family friendly open house, featuring kids activities with drawing pages, edible...
The Montana Chamber Foundation’s Fourth Annual “The Prospects” youth entrepreneurship pitching competition fielded 280 applications from 32 middle and high schools across the Treasure State. A total of $40,000 in cash and scholarships from Montana schools was awarded. There were many categories this year including one directed at incentivizing childcare businesses which saw 20 creative ideas. With nearly half of our workforce impacted by the inability to find childcare, or affordable and reliable childcare, this is a priority for the Monta...
Thirty-five years ago... Thursday May 11, 1989 Librarian leaves after 10 years Swan Valley branch librarian Susie Cox received a "going away party" from her friends and family at the Swan Valley Library last Wednesday. Susie, her husband Al, and their two daughters are moving to Arizona this month. Susie left on Saturday to visit her aunt in California who is undergoing treatment for cancer. Part of the reason that the Cox family is leaving the Swan Valley is to care for Susie's aunt, who will...
Sometime between April 12 and 13, the potholes off Highway 83 that a driver had to navigate before entering the Seeley Lake Post Office parking lot were filled in. According to a Letter to the Editor the Pathfinder received, published in the April 18 paper, the "minefield of deep holes" was "neatly filled in and graded." The writer of the letter learned that a Post Office employee had left work on Friday April 12 and came to work the next day to see the holes filled in, and didn't know who had...
The Seeley Lake Sewer Board authorized Water & Environmental Technologies, or WET, to move forward with a feasibility study for a wastewater treatment system, which will assess things like the project’s schedule, cost, technology requirements and overall viability. While the timeline is uncertain, this step is one towards defining what wastewater treatment will look like in Seeley Lake, which could include different types of treatment in different areas of town. The engineering company expects the first four phases of the study, which i...
After making an offer to an applicant for Seeley Lake Elementary School’s principal and superintendent position, the school board had to reassess after the applicant declined the job. Stetson Spooner, current athletic director at the Mullan School District in Idaho, was the first candidate the school board offered the position to, and he declined due to some personal concerns about moving to Seeley Lake, School Board Chair Doc Welter said. Welter said Spooner didn’t bring up housing as a concern for the move, but did request a larger sal...
Curiosity led the way for Ovando artist Andrea Morgan to learn new ways of expressing herself through mixed media artwork. Morgan's lifetime of creating led to making and selling paper mache roosters and other animals in 2009. She upcycles paper maps, old encyclopedias and recycled books for the paper mache. She became acquainted with selling her work at Montana Made fairs and displaying in a few local galleries. Through an online art class in 2020, Morgan found another outlet for her curiosity...
The Dolly Varden Fire was reported at 1:50 p.m. on April 23 southeast of Seeley Lake. Now 100% contained, the fire reached one and a half acres. It was caused by a wind-driven escaped debris burn in an area under Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation responsibility, according to an update from the department. Four structures were threatened but because of quick responses from USDA Forest Service Seeley Lake Ranger District firefighters and seven engines, no structures were harmed. “The quick response and initial command of t...
Thirty-five years ago... Thursday May 4, 1989 'Mock' school disaster, Emergency personnel cope with over 20 injured children "There's none better!" That's what the Red Cross official, Duane Hawk of Kalispell, had to say when the exercise ended Sunday, according to Joyce Himes of the Condon QRU. Emergency personnel from the Condon QRU, the Swan Valley Volunteer Fire Department, the Seeley Lake QRU, Swan Mission Search and Rescue, Black Paw Avalanche and Rescue Dogs and hospital helicopters from...
Potomac School sixth through eighth grade students participated in the state National History Days competition in Bozeman in early April. Students presented their projects, all based around the theme of "Turning Points in History," to judges. Fourteen students qualified to advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C. June 9-14. Principal Sarah Schmill offered congratulations to all participations, who she said worked extremely hard on this year-long research project, and gave a shout...
On April 28 the Seeley Lake Leos and Lions cleaned up about two miles of Highway 83. The clubs, in partnership with Montana's Department of Transportation, undertake this clean up every year. Pictured here are the 16 people - five Leos and 11 Lions - that showed up to help. Students included Jalen Kauffman, Rilyn Richardson, Regan Jones, Bailey Bartlett and Hattie Batchelder, along with their advisor, Mary Stone....
Samantha Arroyo remembered Girl Scouts fondly when she was growing up in Seeley Lake in the eighties. As she recalled it, the troop meetings happened after school and the troop leaders were also elementary school teachers. There was a really active parent group at that time, Arroyo said, which also supported Boy Scouts and the Seeley Lake Lions Club. "But they've grown, their kids have grown, and a lot of them moved," Arroyo said. Arroyo and other parents are trying to get the next generation...
The Swan Valley Elementary School Board voted unanimously to switch to a four-day school week on April 9. A survey sent out to parents and community members before the vote showed strong support for the switch. Principal Angie Mock said the four-day school week seems to be the better model for Class C schools and it puts Swan Valley School in alignment with both the high school and elementary school in Seeley Lake where students in both districts share extracurricular activities. Swan Valley’s graduates also attend Seeley-Swan High School. T...
Editor's note: After press, the Pathfinder learned Stetson Spooner decided to not take the superintendent position offered to him by the Seeley Lake Elementary School Board. An update will be provided next week regarding the candidate who took the position — Christina Hartmann from Townsend Public Schools — according to the school's attorney. The Seeley Lake Elementary School Board voted unanimously to hire Stetson Spooner as the new superintendent and principal of Seeley Lake Elementary School. The decision came after a review of four can...
Two Seeley Lake organizations - Seeley Lake Elementary School and the Clearwater Resource Council - have received the full amount possible - $4,000 - from Missoula County through the Rural Impact Grant program. This program is intended for groups like community councils, nonprofits and schools to be used for projects that "enhance the quality of life" in rural Missoula County. Last year, the Seeley Lake Lions Club received funding from this grant to hire swimming instructors and the Potomac Scho...
The Missoula County Commissioners approved the proposal to adjust operating hours for the Seeley Lake garbage container site at their meeting April 18. The new hours will be Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., effective May 1. These hours will remain the same year-round. “I did outreach at (the) Seeley Community Council and through the Pathfinder,” Kim Myer, Seeley Lake projects and operations coordinator with Missoula County Public Works, said. “There was only one negative comment and I received many emails in favor...
Thirty-five years ago... Thursday April 27th, 1989 Kids enjoy a day at the Capitol Seeley Lake 7th and 8th grade students put their classroom government studies to direct use on April 18 as they toured state government in a "Day at the Capitol." Using the theme that "government is people," they met throughout the day with officials in all three branches of government. At the Legislature, local Rep. Janet Moore took the students onto the House floor and discussed current issues before the House...
The Seeley Lake Community Foundation’s Change Your Pace Challenge (CYP) is a month-long campaign for community-wide giving, motivating community members to donate to their favorite participating local non-profits, knowing the impact of their gift will multiply thanks to the CYP Match Fund. The Seeley Lake Community Foundation invites everyone to the Change Your Pace Challenge Kickoff Party on Wednesday May 1. Join us for an opportunity to mingle with local non-profits and enjoy lunch, sponsored by Republic Services. The event runs from 11 a...
The seasonal roads designated to open May 1 on the Seeley Lake Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest are now open. “With the unusual winter, roads have dried out earlier than normal and staff are out swinging gates open today,” said Quinn Carver, District Ranger, Seeley Lake Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest. “Staff will be starting at the lower elevations to open gates this afternoon. There may be a few at higher elevations that aren’t opened until the weekend.” The roads that are opening are typically closed seasonall...
The Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club (SLNSC) has been selected for full funding from the 2024 Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks Trail Stewardship Program. This funding was requested by SLNSC for the second phase of our Seeley Creek Trailhead project. The second phase consists of constructing a sufficient grooming building at the trailhead to be used in conjunction with our grooming efforts. The first phase was completed late 2023, resulting in electrical service being installed to the Seeley Creek Trailhead. A new 1,300 square-foot secure...
At an April 5 meeting in Missoula, various parties interested in purchasing Pyramid Mountain Lumber — Seeley Lake’s largest employer, which announced its closure on March 14 — gathered to learn about potential funding mechanisms available for buying the mill and modernizing its operations. A couple of options emerged as paths forward: the mill could be purchased and modernized — costing somewhere upwards of $40 million, the low-end of the current estimate — or employees, loggers and various land owners could form a cooperative. Like many, whe...
