Changing Habitats and Using Technology Helps this Year's Biggest Losers
Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|May 12, 2016
SEELEY LAKE - The Biggest Loser Challenge at Optimal Fitness in Seeley Lake returned for its fourth year. This year Seeley Lake resident Susan Bracha walked away with the first place, $500 cash prize, while Noreen Shamanski took second and Jeromy Stevenson placed third in the challenge. Participants weighed in at Optimal Fitness before Jan. 31 and returned 12 weeks later for their final weigh-in. The winner was determined by percent of weight lost, not total pounds. This year 26 people entered t...
Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA Opens for Shed-Antler Hunting May 15
May 12, 2016
HELENA - Shed-antler hunters and other recreationists planning to visit a Montana Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are reminded that while many popular WMAs open at noon on May 15 including the Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA aka the Game Range, several do not open until June 1. It is illegal to enter a state WMA prior to its formal opening day. Buck deer and bull elk and moose grow antlers each year, some to magnificent size, which drop off to regrow each spring. Hunting for and collecting these “shed” antlers in spring has become a popular act...
Fourth-Grader Organizes Assembly
Betty Vanderwielen, Pathfinder|May 12, 2016
SEELEY LAKE – Tuesday, May 3, Seeley Lake Elementary School (SLE) teachers were directed to bring their students to the multi-purpose room for a school assembly. Most of the teachers were puzzled, not knowing the reason for the meeting, though many of the students were in on the secret. Standing alone at the microphone on stage, fourth-grader Ava Thornsberry waited for everyone to be seated. "Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day," Thornsberry announced. "Kids in the school drew pictures f...
Giant Meadowlarks and Colorful Cowboys Draw Crowd in Greenough
Sigrid Olson, Pathfinder|May 12, 2016
GREENOUGH - The evening of May 6 the reception barn at The Paws Up Resort in Greenough was decked out with paintings, drawings and art auction items plus 3-D faces and collaborative murals. The student artists from Ovando and Sunset schools hosted an exhibit of their art at the local ranch. More than 40 people attended including families and friends of the 12 students. Guided by art teacher Ashley Mitchell of Missoula, the students at both schools have the opportunity for a regular art program....
Getting Ready for Fire Season
Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|May 12, 2016
SEELEY LAKE – Nearly a dozen organizations filled the bays of the Seeley Lake Fire Hall for the Community Fire Preparedness Day May 7. The community was invited to get information about how to protect their homes in the event of a wildland fire and how to protect themselves and their family during a structure fire. "We are trying to get the community to realize and understand the risk that they live in in the wildland urban interface. Fire can happen at any time, whether human caused or by l...
SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) met May 4 to continue edits to the Swan Valley Regional Plan (SVRP). They considered comments from residents and Missoula lawyer Colleen Dowdall. Comments from Swan Valley residents about the definition of the word goal on page 61 of the draft were discussed. SVRPC member Dwayne Forder said that the definition as written was hard to interpret and gave too much leeway for interpretation when the county considers the plan. “We need to make it [the definition] more clear,” For...
Pinchot Journal: A Meal of Biscuits and Venison
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society|May 12, 2016
Gifford Pinchot, who later became chief of the U.S. Forest Service, was working for the National Forest Commission in 1896 when he traveled south through the Swan Valley with Jack Monroe, a trapper and guide. In the previous installment of the 7-part series, they had failed to reach a deserted cabin where they could find flour, and they had been unlucky hunting bear. We were not more than six miles from Camp Plenty when we started, as we found later on, but at ten a night we were still traveling. The worst of it was that we had had little or...
Sweeney Takes Different Approach
Submitted by Mark Sweeney for Public Service Commission|May 12, 2016
MISSOULA - Mark Sweeney, who is running for the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) District 4, has decided to do things a bit differently out on the campaign trail. Aside from spending a lot of time talking with potential voters in the urban areas of Missoula and Hamilton, he decided to take the campaign into the classroom in the more rural areas of the district. PSC District 4 is Montana's western-most District which serves seven counties including Granite, Powell, Ravalli, Missoula,...
Local Talent Impresses at AAI Talent Show
Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|May 12, 2016
SEELEY LAKE – The Alpine Artisans Inc. (AAI) Art Auction and Talent Show Friday, May 6 offered something for every palette. Attendees were able to enjoy and bid on local artists' work while munching on treats and listening to local musicians and poets. All proceeds for the event went to support the AAI student grants, scholarships and outreach activities. AAI Vice President Dona Aitken conceived the idea for the event as a replacement for Wine and Chocolate. "The concept for this event was to p...
Young Musicians Entertain
Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|May 12, 2016
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) band hosted their spring concert May 3. In addition to songs with the entire band, the twelve members, from fifth through eighth grade, played solos and small group ensembles as a section. Music Director Kaytee Ambrozich had each of the students introduce themselves and the piece they were going to play to the audience before performing. Many added information about the piece and why they chose it. "Being able to introduce themselves and talk a...
Mr. B Brings Boogie-Woogie to Blackfoot Valley
Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|May 12, 2016
OVANDO - Mark "Mr. B" Braun gave new meaning to the term tinkling the ivories as he filled the Ovando School gymnasium May 5 with foot-stopping, piano rocking, get-up-and-dance blues and boogie-woogie music. Sponsored by the Ovando School Cultural Enrichment Committee, Braun spent the day with the students and offered a free concert Thursday evening in Ovando. He also worked with students in Lincoln and Potomac and gave concerts in Lincoln and in Missoula over the weekend. Braun calls himself an...
The Truth about MRSA
Dr. Todd Fife, Seeley Swan Medical Center|May 12, 2016
Wow, just finished a great week at the clinic here in Seeley Lake, Montana! What a great place to live and what a great place to work. With the advent of spring, we've seen the typical springtime ailments, allergies, tendon problems from track and we are already seeing some springtime trauma-let's be careful out there this season. This week, we've heard from a lot of people concerned about catching MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus). This is not just a springtime problem. It's a yearlong...
Todd Mcnu*tt Horseshoeing, LLC
Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|May 12, 2016
Goal: Owner Todd Mcnu*tt says whether trimming hooves or shoeing horses and mules, he takes his time with each one at every visit. He tries to make it a positive learning experience and to build a strong foundation of trust with each animal he services. History: In 2001, Mcnu*tt began shoeing horses while he was working as a guide for Swan Valley outfitters. When they were 20 miles back in the wilderness his horseshoeing skills were invaluable to the outfitters when a horse or mule lost a shoe....
Community Briefs
May 12, 2016
Free Developmental and Preschool Screening, May 13 SEELEY LAKE - A free Developmental and Preschool Screening Clinic for children ages 0 to 5 for Seeley Lake and Swan Valley School Districts will be held Friday, May 13 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) School. Please call SLE at 406-677-2265 to schedule an appointment for your child’s screening or to receive more information. This free screening will include gross motor, fine motor, language concepts, communication concepts, communication skills, hearing and vision s...
Katie Wright Chili Champ
Colleen Kesterson, Pathfinder|May 5, 2016
SWAN VALLEY - American Legion Post No. 63 held their 26th annual Chili Cook-Off Saturday April 30 at the Swan Valley Community Hall. Nearly 50 people participated in tasting and choosing their favorite among 18 entries. Swan Valley resident Katie Wright gained the most votes with her mom's secret white chicken chili recipe. She took home the traveling Chili Champ trophy and $150. Wright said she called her mom, Heidi, in Indiana and gave her the good news. She said her mom was delighted. "This...
SSHS Expansion to Start in June
Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|May 5, 2016
SEELEY LAKE - The addition of the Seeley-Swan High School (SSHS) stage and other improvements was discussed at the Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) board meeting, April 26 in Seeley Lake. The construction is being put out to bid this week (see page 14 for the Bid Notice). It is scheduled to begin June 11, the day after the last day of school, and be completed in August before school resumes. The improvements to SSHS are funded by the MCPS bond that was passed last November. Jake Zander, with CTA Architects Engineers, presented the plans...
Survey Highlights Voter Preferences in Missoula County
Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|May 5, 2016
MISSOULA - The Missoula County Elections Office, in partnership with the University of Montana Political Science Department, conducted a January telephone survey of 605 registered voters in Missoula County. The intent was to examine voter behaviors and preferences, assess Missoula County election practices, efficiency and ease of the voting process. UM Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Sara Rinfret and her team presented the results to the Election Advisory Committee at their April meeting. Those surveyed included active, inactive...
Colts and Goslings Cracking Eggs
Sigrid Olson, Pathfinder|May 5, 2016
POTOMAC - There are more than 100 individual Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and 250 individual greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) nesting and hatching their eggs near Potomac waterways. Surveys are not conducted in Potomac for Canada geese numbers but they are completed for sandhill cranes. "In the Blackfoot-Ovando area, sandhill crane numbers have been increasing over the last 15 years, as indicated by an aerial survey that is done each year in September," said Central Flyway...
Primary Candidates Forum at Next Council Meeting
Submitted by the Seeley Lake Community Council|May 5, 2016
SEELEY LAKE - Four days before absentee ballots will be mailed out for the June 7 primary, the Seeley Lake Community Council will hold a Candidates Forum, so that voters will have a chance to hear the candidates, question them and make informed choices. The Forum will take place at the Seeley Lake Community Hall Monday, May 9, starting at 5:30 p.m. with pizza and soda. The council decided to invite not only the primary contestants but also their opposite-party challengers, so that all candidates would enjoy equal exposure. These are the offices...
BBB Warns Consumers Before Hiring Movers
May 5, 2016
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving the Northwest is reminding consumers to be cautious when hiring a moving company or they could end up with a business that can’t deliver. Movers doing business in Washington must have a permit from the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission in order to legally provide residential moving services. Idaho companies are required to be registered with the Idaho Department of Transportation. In Montana, local movers are required to have a valid Public Service Commission (PSC) number issued t...
Locals Take to the Stage this Friday
Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|May 5, 2016
SEELEY LAKE - Alpine Artisans, Inc. (AAI) presents their first Alpine Review: Art Auction and Community Talent Show May 6 at the Seeley Lake Community Hall. Attendees can enjoy local entertainment ranging from original to traditional musical selections to cowboy poetry while supporting AAI’s youth art grants and scholarships. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Harpist Janet Whitesell and guitarist Kal Kovatch will perform solo pieces for the first time at a public performance in Seeley Lake. Whitesell started playing the harp at the age of 10. She a...
Keeping Clear Water
Betty Vanderwielen, Pathfinder|May 5, 2016
SEELEY LAKE – One of the goals of the Clearwater Resource Council (CRC) is to protect and sustain the waters of the Clearwater River drainage system. To this end, CRC has a number of projects in place that have gathered a large amount of scientific data. "There's a lot of good stuff going on that we're very happy about and that is really remarkable but nobody really knows about it," said Bruce Rieman, CRC Outreach Committee member The Outreach Committee decided to resolve that problem by c...
Community Briefs
May 5, 2016
Toast to Trail Creek, May 12 SEELEY LAKE - The community is invited to the Toast to Trail Creek at the Homestead Cabin on Double Arrow Ranch Thursday, May 12 at 5 p.m. Residents can see how the new fish screen and stream enhancements help ensure a healthy stream system and provide water for the golf course. The project was completed during low water conditions late last fall. Now with more water flowing participants will be able to see how everything works. Hiking Season Kick-Off Party, May 12 SEELEY LAKE - The community is invited to a party...
Searching for Hidden Treasure
Betty Vanderwielen, Pathfinder|Apr 28, 2016
SEELEY LAKE – Another 21st Century Grant-funded activity for Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) students and their parents was declared a success by the participants. Saturday, April 16, SLE teacher Michele Holmes led a small group of bikers on a geocaching outing. Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt game using maps, compasses or Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. Holmes, who has enjoyed geocaching with her family for more than 10 years, said it always made hiking trips more fun for h...
Clarke Named Fulbright Scholar, Heads to Nepal
Andi Bourne, Pathfinder|Apr 28, 2016
SWAN VALLEY - Lily Clarke, former resident of Condon, is one of five alumni from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore. to receive a Fulbright Scholarship. She will spend a year working on a research fellowship in Nepal conducting ethnomycology (combining anthropology and mycology, the study of mushrooms) and assessing the current state of community-managed forests. Clarke attended Salmon Prairie School through eighth grade and graduated from Hellgate High School. She became interested in biolo...
Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
