Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1201
Are you ready for the best ever 4th of July celebration in Seeley Lake? Your 4th of July Committee has been working for several months to plan a day of fun and celebration for all ages. From the pancake breakfast and raffle in the morning to the fireworks on Lindey’s Lawn at night, there will be events and activities for everyone! Schedule: • Pancake Breakfast: 7:00 - 11:30 a.m. • Music: “Keeping the Day Jobs”: Seeley Lake Community Foundation: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. • Kids activities: face painting, bicycle painting, crafts at Bison & Bea...
Acts of trespass, vandalism, and theft continue on my highway frontage (private property). On May 20, in broad daylight, between 10 AM and 7 PM, someone tore down and stole my Ukrainian flag. It saddens me that someone in our community harbors such disdain, intolerance, and opposition to Ukraine, whose people defend their land and democratic freedoms from Putin’s brutality. Ukraine is fighting Russia as a result of Russia invading Ukraine. The Ukrainian flag reflects my concern and support for the people of Ukraine. Have you ever heard of M...
What is necessary to have the bridge on Boy Scout Road reopened for use by walkers and hikers, runners and bikers? Does anyone know? Am I the only one who questions why a bridge that was good to go one day, is closed even to foot traffic the next? Is there someone I should contact to get answers to these questions? Maybe I missed explanations while I was away....
It’s nice to see a central sewer project that makes some common sense. It has come too late, but it has come. Remember the loss of Pyramid Mountain Lumber was, in part, because of the lack of affordable housing. That was a major moment for Seeley. Our community will now morph into another Whitefish — a resort/retirement community. Affordable housing will be for service personnel and retirees, not millworkers. Most of the growth will go south down Highway 83 north and will continue on the Double Arrow Ranch, so a system located south of the exi...
Rep. John Fitzpatrick’s “Hearing from the folks back home, Report 11,” read as though it was written by a Democrat, given his attack on the Schreibers, his inaccurate portrayal of House Bill 320 and his claim that he supports school choice. Trish Schreiber volunteers to improve the education that our students receive. She assists teachers who teach reading to students who struggle. As a board member, she voted to open a tuition-free, private, classical school so that students from families of all financial means could attend. When the board...
Things are happening in Seeley Lake. We are teaming up, engaging on important matters, cooperating as a community and looking to the future. On Thursday, March 6, our sewer board, the Missoula Public Health Department and the engineers from Water and Environmental Technologies (WET) presented at their first public engagement session alternative potential sewer systems that will solve the nitrate issue in our groundwater. That engagement provided the valley residents, especially those in the sewer district, an overview of possible locations and...
Under a democratic system of government, legislators very often have different perspectives. Especially under a two-party system like ours, it is sometimes difficult to get cooperation and collaboration, because of those differing perspectives. But sometimes those perspectives give way when what is at stake fits within their common values. For instance, caring deeply about the issues of the community they represent, and other communities that might be in the same boat, or fixing problems and improving life in our communities. So, I would like...
It was with interest that I began reading Rep. John Fitzpatrick’s letter in the March 20 issue of the Pathfinder. His explanation of the various types of communication he receives and the levels of importance they each carry for him was enlightening. As an educator, I was also interested in what he thought of HB 320. However, any credence I gave to his opinion came to a halt when he veered off into a personal and defamatory attack on Matt and Trish Schreiber. I know the couple personally. They donate generously toward public and private e...
Rep. John Fitzpatrick, perhaps feeling the heat from his constituents due to his poor voting record, decided, rather than to respectfully communicate with them, to instead defame me with a pack of lies in his March 20 column in the Pathfinder. No, Representative, my husband and I are not the state representatives of Americans for Prosperity in Montana, and more emphatically no, I do not work on education policy in Montana in order to profit from it. Rather, my husband and I are active donors to both public and private education in both Montana...
Interesting article in the Feb. 27 Pathfinder on grizzly bear conservation. I would greatly appreciate, and the community would benefit from, having an article covering the work of current and now retired grizzly biologists including Chris Servheen, PhD, who served for many years as national director of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. He now is actively involved in Missoula’s Bear Smart program and he knows our area well. Chris received his doctorate at the University of Montana where I was then an undergraduate student in Wildlife B...
It’s all about the community. A couple of years ago, a small group met with the idea that if we had Seeley Lake folks tell us their story of why they came here and why they stayed, we might get an idea of common values in the community. We tried to have valley folks from all walks of life tell us their story. We all just listened. But we learned. As we listened, I thought several times, “I never thought of it that way.” We had close to 60 storytellers. In addition to those listening in person, as many as 100 people would listen to the stori...
Many of you may not be aware of Montana’s annual spring black bear hunt. I strongly believe that this is an inhumane and unethical hunt and deserves serious review. First, I question the idea of killing bears in the spring. They are typically stressed and in poor condition coming out of hibernation. Many sows are nursing their recently born cubs. Most wildlife species are in the process of recovering from the winter pinch period. Non-target species can be stressed simply by the presence of hunters, vehicles, dogs and guns in the field. In M...
To our Montana State Republican Legislators, How sad, I just stumbled through one of the worst legislative reports it’s been my burden to read. Thanks to Rep. John Fitzpatrick for one of the most negative, toxic, whiny reports I’ve ever had the misfortune to read in our local Seeley Swan Pathfinder on Jan. 23. Awesome bipartisan work you’re pushing there, Fitz. You continue to make the Republicans look very small indeed, as well as vastly undereducated in the biological sciences. You guys may want to read up (and actually educate yours...
We were appalled when our property taxes took a 34% leap last year, especially because the governor and the Legislature could have prevented it, but did nothing other than to return a token portion of our prior payments in the form of a rebate. It was good political theater, but pretty pathetic. Property taxes are a significant burden, and their regressive nature is a serious concern. While we understand the vital role these taxes play in funding essential services like schools and local government, the continued upward pressure on them is...
Montana has weighed in with the national, state and local elections. The most important election results reflect concerns vocalized, right here, by our Montana residents. In the upcoming session, I’m looking forward to supporting the Governor’s “Path to Security and Prosperity,” promoting economic development and more good-paying jobs. Overall, we are prioritizing strengthened family success and prosperity. One of my key priorities in Senate District 38 is to support promoting student outcomes through educational options and funding transpa...
Montana’s CI-128 constitutional amendment unfortunately passed enshrining “the right to abortion.” Consider the God-given right of life for the preborn whose lives are determined by the grave choices of others, misled mothers-to-be and misinformed voters. Elections have consequences. Jesus will judge us on the choices we made. Should we do evil so good may come of it? See Romans 3:8; 6:1. Legality does not equal morality. In the 1400-1500s, the Aztecs in Mexico were idol worshippers cutting out hearts, sacrificing humans to their gods. Not t...
The election is over, and preparations have begun for the 69th Montana Legislative session. Last week those serving in 2025 met in Helena to greet old friends and meet many new ones. Legislative staff prepared orientations and trainings. Each party elected leadership, and the important tasks of committee assignments, parking spots, seating and finalizing housing were completed. The Governor’s Budget for the 2025 session was released. As we prepare for the session, both of us look forward to working with all of you in the Seeley-Swan and s...
If Alan Muskett’s boat doesn’t measure up, I have a 48’ trawler in Guatemala for sale. Fire sale price, way warmer and cheaper cruising than the east coast....
With all the ads and flyers flooding TV, the internet and our mail, it’s almost insulting that the candidates and PACs think any of it will influence our informed choices. Just because a candidate is a Montana fourth, fifth, sixth generation, doesn’t mean much. Have you ever seen them actively involved with local issues or government? Or did they only take an interest in issues that personally affected them, or were personally invited to attend by one of their public official “friends.” If any of the incumbents gloat about all the federal...
Calling all conservatives to register and vote early avoiding possible Election Day problems that may inhibit voting. Some elections were determined by just a few hundred votes, so your vote definitely counts. We are morally obligated to vote as not voting can promote evil. Even if we despise our party system, distrust politicians and have better values than the candidates, we are morally obligated to vote for whoever best advances the good. No one is perfect, but we must persevere, however slowly, overcoming evil by advancing the good for the...
Jon Tester tries to project the image of a local Montanan fighting against the bureaucrats in Washington D.C. It is interesting that during Tester’s last election cycle, he did not carry the county in which he lives. Seemingly, those are the people that know him best. At this time, the Democrats hold a razor thin majority in the Senate. Out-of-state donors have contributed tens of millions to Tester’s re-election. Tester’s vote has been key to enabling the Biden-Harris administration to pass woke legislation and policies relating to borde...
We are writing to endorse Connie Keogh for House District 92. She brings years of personal and professional experience to this race including leadership skills, teaching experience and the “can do” attitude honed from years of hard work on the south-central Montana ranch where she grew up. Keogh has been our representative in HD 91 the past three legislative sessions. Due to redistricting, she is now running to represent HD 92. We were extremely pleased with Keogh’s representation when she served HD 91. We found her to be an extremely dedic...
As a retired Missoula Municipal Court Judge, I write to ask for your support of District Court Judge Dan Wilson, candidate for the Montana Supreme Court. I have known Judge Wilson for many years, and he embodies the qualities we need on the Supreme Court. His background demonstrates a solid foundation to serve the state in that role. He has served as a prosecutor, and defense attorney, a civil attorney, a Justice of the Peace and, for the last eight years, a District Court Judge. He has provided training and mentoring to lower court judges. He...
Montana leads all 50 states in the total federal aid it receives as a percent of its total state revenue, 31.8%. Stated another way you could consider us a “welfare” state. Also, the largest employer group in Montana is government, local, state and federal combined. So when a candidate says he or she is going to cut federal spending and shrink government, we must understand we may be the most adversely affected. Montana has a large amount of federal forest service, BLM and national park land. Our state and federal park areas are combined nearly...
In 2020 Montanans elected a super-majority of Republicans to govern our Last Best Place. Republicans currently control every branch of government. The consequences of that election cost ordinary Montanans dearly. Homeowners saw huge property tax increases. Housing costs increased and that burden is passed on to renters. Our utility rates were also raised by 28% by a Republican dominated Public Service Commission. Montanans are understandably upset about being priced out of our homes. Who is getting blamed for this catastrophic mess? Montana...
