Opinion / Letters To Editor


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  • Senior Center, best ever fundraiser

    Senior Center Board of Directors|Mar 28, 2024

    The Seeley Senior Center would like to thank the Lion’s Club and the Leos for all their help making our St. Patty’s fundraiser the best one ever! We would like to thank everyone who attended and helped. We would also like to thank Rod Stevens and his friends who generously donated to the center. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, The Board of Directors...

  • A legacy lost: Seeley Lake mill and the urgent need for affordable housing

    Mike Marshall Seeley Lake|Mar 21, 2024

    For 75 years, our family-run lumber mill, Pyramid Mountain Lumber, has been a cornerstone of Seeley Lake. They've weathered economic storms, provided jobs for generations and supplied lumber that built countless homes across Montana. Now, facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge — the lack of affordable housing — they are on the verge of shutting down. The irony is gut-wrenching. They offer good wages, a stable work environment and the satisfaction of contributing to Montana's infrastructure. Yet, they can't find enough qualified wor...

  • In response to the membrane bioreactor article

    Bill Decker|Mar 14, 2024

    The MBR plant will only be an option for the RV park if the Seeley Lake Sewer District elects to share the facility. Without the participation of the Sewer District the RV Park will use another type of treatment, which they currently have a discharge permit for. An MBR system may be a good option for the District, but it is only one of many possible options. The District, along with its professional consultants and the input of District residents, will choose the best, most cost effective treatment, not necessarily being an MBR system. Mr....

  • Board of health transparency

    Nathan Bourne|Feb 29, 2024

    I attended the Feb. 15 Missoula County Board of Health meeting in regards to the “new policy” Missoula Public Health, Environmental Health has for Seeley Lake. While the Missoulian and Pathfinder covered the presentation, both presented the changes to the Special Management Area (SMA) requirements as “proposed.” The chair of the board of health stated there would be a public process before the board implements new regulations. However, based on my experience, the health department is already enforcing the new policy that functions more like a n...

  • You owe more money

    Jan Lombardi, Seeley Lake and Helena Montana|Feb 22, 2024

    Well, the next step in your residential property tax increase is happening. Banks are sending updated "mortgage bills" to homeowners. Guess what? You owe more money! Recently, a young friend reached out, concerned about his $100 monthly mortgage increase and he didn't know why. That's a lot of money — $1,200 a year. Drumroll for the explanation. Since the bill comes from the bank, it's the lender's fault, right? Nope. By law, a residential mortgage statement must show the escrow portion — the amount you pay for insurance and taxes for your hom...

  • Decisions of State

    Submitted by Dick Giuliani, Seeley Lake|Feb 8, 2024

    The State of Montana, through the Department of Natural Resources (DNRC) and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) approved the Elbow Lake Gravel Pit and Asphalt Plant in 2023. The 20 acre site of the gravel pit on Highway 83 is part of the critical wildlife corridor to and from the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area (BCWMA). The rationale for the decision by the state to approve the pit was that it needed funding to support education. The decision was made despite overwhelming opposition to the gravel pit from the citizens of...

  • Kudos to the sheriffs

    June Swarvoski, Seeley Lake|Feb 8, 2024

    Kudos to the sheriffs here in Seeley Lake. Finally cleaning out the riff raff. This town is now a little safer. Now the sheriffs need to go after the speeders. Once they pass the motel going north their speed increases and that's a 35 mph zone. Even the traffic coming from Condon, they don't slow down and the truckers are the worst, constantly using their jake brake. Speed limit in town is 25 mph and they're going faster than that. Best idea is for cameras to catch the speeders. Colorado, Arizona and Texas, along with California have cameras...

  • Thank you to the Seeley community from Operation Christmas Child

    Jasmin Sutton, Samaritans Purse|Feb 1, 2024

    Generosity throughout Seeley Lake​​​​​ contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan's Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected 10 million shoebox gifts in 2023. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2023, the ministry is now sending over 11.3 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide, including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster. Through shoeboxes — packed with fun toys, school supplies and personal ca...

  • Montanans can help law enforcement stop human trafficking

    Austin Knudsen, Montana Attorney General|Jan 25, 2024

    Human trafficking is not just a big city problem – it’s happening right here in Montana. Which is why, during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, I’m encouraging Montanans to learn the signs of human trafficking and report it if they see it. If folks don’t know what it is and how to report it, they can’t help us stop it. Let’s call human trafficking what it is: modern-day slavery. Traffickers—often organized criminal enterprises—are profiting at the expense of adults and children who are forced to perform labor or engage in comme...

  • Candidates aren't Montanans

    C. Burt Caldwell, Missoula|Jan 18, 2024

    The people of Montana have elected: · Our Governor, who is from California, · Our junior Senator, also from California, · A Representative, from Maryland. All three are wealthy and have shown a general disregard for what the people of Montana care about and who want to sell our public lands to the highest bidder because they have no feeling of “ownership” in these lands without deeds in their names. In addition, we have a wealthy Representative (who has shown a disregard for transparency or conserving public money and spends most of his time o...

  • Dear Senator Daines

    Powell County Commissioners|Jan 18, 2024

    We, the Powell County Commission, wish to express support for the Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act (MSCA) and the release of Hoodoo Mountain and Wales Creek Wilderness Study Areas (WSA). Montana’s WSAs have been stuck in legal limbo for over 40 years, creating challenges for both land managers and public land users. In 1991, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) found that neither Hoodoo Mountain nor Wales Creek WSA fit the criteria for recommended wilderness, yet both areas remain listed as WSAs over 30 years later. Releasing these two a...

  • Why I vote Democrat

    Rex Koenig, Missoula|Jan 18, 2024

    When people ask me why I vote for Democrats, I point no further than the Copper Kings of Butte during the 20th century. The Copper Kings kicked working people in the teeth. They slashed wages. They broke up Unions. They bought off politicians, and denied countless families from experiencing the American Dream. As I see it, the Montana Democratic Party stands for one simple lesson: opportunity for everyone. We go after big corporations and reign in price gouging. We cut taxes for working families. We reduce the costs of healthcare, prescription...

  • Ruling against housing legislation is misguided

    Jan 18, 2024

    A judge in Gallatin County recently blocked two bills aimed at addressing Montana’s housing crisis, siding with a radical anti-housing interest group. The decision to block Senate Bill 323 and Senate Bill 528 is misguided and unfortunate. These bills passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and were signed into law by Governor Gianforte. Housing affordability is a major issue in Montana. Many Montanans can no longer afford to live in the communities in which they grew up. To protect our Montana way of life, we need to find ways to i...

  • Responding to Mike Marshall's letter

    Sen. Jason Ellsworth, President of the Montana Senate|Jan 11, 2024

    I want to respond to Mike Marshall’s letter, published in the Pathfinder on Jan. 4. As I understand him, Mr. Marshall’s basic premise is that all or most of the dozens of bills passed by the Legislature that are being challenged in court are clearly unconstitutional. Constitutional matters are not so simple, nor does the actual data support his argument. But it’s an argument that has also been made by others, such as Democratic legislators and activists, so I’d like to address it. First, Mr. Marshall suggests the Legislature’s “legal ve...

  • Sparrow's Vine here to help

    Ruth Bergen, Executive Director of Sparrows Vine Seeley Lake|Jan 11, 2024

    Dear Editor, We live in a confusing time. A time when we protect unborn whales and pandas, but not unborn human children! Statistics say that in America there are an average of 90 human abortions every hour. In 1984, President Ronald Ragan proclaimed January 22 a Sanctity of Human Life Day. This year celebrates forty years of the Sanctity of Human Life. The dictionary defines sanctity as the state or quality of being holy, sacred, or of ultimate importance and inviolability. At Sparrow’s Vine Pregnancy and Parenting Resource Center we b...

  • Let's Establish a Standard Against Anti-Semitism in Montana Courts

    Cory Swanson, Candidate for Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court|Jan 11, 2024

    The horrific terror attack against Israeli on Oct. 7 revealed that anti-semitic hatred has a disturbing foothold in the world. Equally troubling is what has been exposed in our own country in the months since: the shocking tolerance (encouragement even) of antisemitic, genocidal hatred on college campuses. Like so many Americans, I was stunned when the heads of three elite Universities testified before Congress and refused to unconditionally condemn calls for genocide against Jewish people. This ugly episode shone a light on the creeping,...

  • To the Montana Republican Legislators, led by Senator Jason Ellsworth:

    Mike Marshall, Seeley Lake, MT|Jan 4, 2024

    In response to your recent letter to The Seeley Swan Pathfinder, I am writing to express my profound disappointment and deep concern regarding your recent track record in the Montana state legislature. Your penchant for crafting bills that ultimately wind up in court, clogging the system and ultimately crumbling under the weight of the Montana Constitution, is not only irresponsible, but it is also a blatant disregard for the taxpayers’ money and the well-being of our state. Every time you push through a poorly conceived, unconstitutional b...

  • No to Special Session

    Sen. Becky Beard, Senate District 40|Jan 4, 2024

    During the midst of this holiday season, the legislative assembly is being asked to approve a special session to be held on Jan. 15. The following is my rationale for voting against this call right now. The objectives, as stated by the nearly 20 legislators requesting this action, are to return a surplus collection of taxes, and to address high property taxes placing a burden on Montana’s residents. Thus far, there are four tax-related issues proposed for consideration. I’m not convinced that these can all be responsibly tackled during a spe...

  • Trapping and hunting are different

    Constance J. Poten, Missoula|Dec 28, 2023

    Bob Sheppard’s letter, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, claims that trappers are being unjustly persecuted by a federal judge’s injunction restricting wolf trapping and snaring to the original season, Jan. 1-Feb. 15, to protect the federally listed endangered grizzly bears. Bob Sheppard is a mainstay of the Montana Trappers Association. He lives in Ovando. One wonders if, and if so, how many grizzlies he has caught in his traps over the years. Mr. Sheppard goes on to infer that restricting trapping is the first step in a stealth agenda to ban hun...

  • Protecting our nation and honoring those who've already done so

    Dec 28, 2023

    For years, Montana has had one of the highest rates of military participation and veterans per capita in the nation. The 2023 Legislature took many steps to both help our men and women in uniform protect our state and country going forward, as well as recognize and honor their service. First, we passed a new law that prohibits foreign adversaries from owning critical infrastructure and agricultural land in Montana. This is crucial to national defense, making it illegal for hostile competitors like China to buy land near our nuclear missiles at...

  • Goodbye from Carleen

    Carleen Gonder, Seeley Lake|Dec 21, 2023

    First, I thank Andi and Nathan Bourne for making the Pathfinder an award winning newspaper that in a sense belonged to all of us. And I thank Andi and Nathan for inviting me several years ago to be a contributor to the Place For All column. My latest submission to that column in the 14 December issue was more an introduction to who and what I am, and it may be my last contribution. Most of my previous submissions dealt with our public lands and wildlife, and for my latest I had intended to write about our federal lands, my first and foremost...

  • Slow court process likely to create problems

    Sen. Jason Ellsworth, Montana Senate President|Dec 21, 2023

    This column could be considered an open letter to Montana judges and justices, as well as the various agencies and parties engaged in lawsuits over legislation from the 2023 and 2021 legislative sessions. It’s also meant to inform Montanans about how ongoing litigation could impact future legislative sessions and, more fundamentally, their own ability to know and understand the current laws of our state. I write today not to submit another critique of political biases and integrity within the judicial branch, which have been widely discussed t...

  • A 2023 Democrat Political Recap: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

    Sheila Hogan, Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party|Dec 21, 2023

    Skyrocketing property taxes. Astronomical energy rate increases. Homes that are unaffordable to most Montanans. And yet more big tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy, while the rest of us are left to foot the bill. When we look back on the last year, all these changes and more were brought you by one party and its supermajority: Montana Republicans. As 2023 ends, let’s look back over the last 12 months to see where Republicans really took us as a state. The Good. Montana Democrats at every level are speaking out, standing strong, and demanding a...

  • Boy Scout Bridge 2027 Repairs

    June Swarvoski, Seeley Lake|Dec 14, 2023

    What a bunch of B.S. How many and who are getting the kickbacks at $5.7 million? Has the Montana Department of Transportation thought about all the traffic coming off Boy Scout Road? How many accidents will happen at that intersection, someone trying to make a left turn or getting rear ended? Speed and not paying attention always contribute to accidents. Highway 83 out of Condon and beyond drivers think they’re on the Autobahn. Are new speed limit signs or flashing lights to slow down going to help? And are the citizens of Seeley Lake going t...

  • Wolf trapping and grizzly bears

    Bob Sheppard, Ovando|Dec 14, 2023

    Judge Malloy cut the wolf trapping season to protect grizzly bears. Yeah, right!! The last issue with wolf traps and grizzlies was in 2013. Why so much concern over an incident a decade ago? Last year there were two grizzly bears killed by cars in district 2. There were several more killed in other areas by vehicles, also in the last year. Last year there were two grizzly bears killed from fly fishermen. There were two grizzly bears killed by bow hunters. One bear problem with upland game bird hunters. Why then are they focusing on a problem th...

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