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...
New chapter starts for Flathead National Forest Supervisor
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Jan 18, 2024
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...
CRC points out areas of concern, ecosystem delicacy during water report
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Jan 18, 2024
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...
Grants offer rural development opportunities
Jean Pocha, of the Pathfinder|Jan 18, 2024
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...
Grant deadline Jan. 31 for projects helping Seeley Lake
Claire Muller, Seeley Lake Community Foundation Executive Director|Jan 18, 2024
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...
Archives for Jan. 18
Jan 18, 2024
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,...
Records: fire chief care case has disputed facts
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Jan 11, 2024
County records show at least two facts used during the punishment of a Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Chief do not match Seeley Lake records from the 2022 incident, according to an independent review by the Pathfinder. Dave Lane, the Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Chief, was previously ordered to four hours of continuing education by a state board for his role in a March 2022 incident. The emergency ended with the department calling Life Flight to extract a patient after complications during...
Local wins national champion goat showman
Jean Pocha, of the Pathfinder|Jan 11, 2024
Alaina Barger won Senior Goat Showmanship at the Arizona National Livestock Show held in Phoenix, Arizona on Dec. 29-31. Competing against 78 exhibitors from 16 states, Barger was pleased to take home the championship prize. "Anyone can buy a fancy animal to compete with," Barger said. "But the attitude and motivation to compete in showmanship is available to anyone. Even a small-town girl like me can compete and win in Showmanship at the National level." The Arizona National attracted 1556 exhi...
Lack of snow hurts town economy
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Jan 11, 2024
Jack Frost went missing this December, and local Seeley Lake businesses said the lack of snow has hurt the town's winter sports economy, although there might be relief in sight. The Clearwater, Swan and Blackfoot Valleys are all experiencing record-low snowpacks, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That could change this week, however, as several storms and arctic air will move into the region. Snowmobiling rentals and cross country skiing have been severely limited. And with fewer...
Outfitters to reapply for Bob Marshall permits
Matt Ferrell, of the U.S. Forest Service|Jan 11, 2024
HELENA – January 2, 2024 – Starting this month, the Forest Service is accepting comments on reauthorization of existing outfitter and guide permits for the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. “We are working with a team of specialists from the Helena-Lewis and Clark, Lolo and Flathead national forests to evaluate and reauthorize permits that are set to expire in April 2025,” said Rocky Mountain District Ranger Mike Muñoz. “Outfitters and guides help connect people with their public lands and we are looking for comments from the public that voice...
Archives for Jan. 11
Jan 11, 2024
Thirty-five years ago... Thursday Jan 12, 1989 Weatherman watches Jan. snows pile up, It might be a 'regular' Montana winter, says Kux SWAN VALLEY–More than 30 inches of snow fell at Lindbergh Lake during the month of December, but that's still less than the 30-year average (33.3 inches) for the month according to Swan Valley weather observer, Marty Kux. The record high snowfall at Lindbergh Lake during the past 30 years was 84.8 inches in 1977; the record low was 10 inches in 1965. On Dec. 3...
Wolf trappers speak out on lawsuit
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Jan 4, 2024
This article has been corrected after inaccurate quotes from Rob Henrekin were discovered The wolf trapping season for much of Montana started on Jan. 1 after a delay from a lawsuit concerned for the safety of grizzly bears. With the open season, several trappers in the Clearwater, Swan and Blackfoot Valleys have started laying snares and traps. This fall, a lawsuit by two environmental groups halted the early trapping season, arguing that the baited traps have been ensnaring federally-protected...
El Niño pattern keeping winter at bay
Jean Pocha, of the Pathfinder|Jan 4, 2024
Seeley Lake and the rest of western Montana has continued to see drier and warmer than average conditions, as mountain snow levels continue to stay below 65% of normal, according to the National Water and Climate Center. "We're in a classic El Niño pattern this winter," said Meteorologist Luke Robinson of the Missoula National Weather office. "There are some indications that it might change in mid-January, bringing some snow and cooler temperatures." The El Niño weather pattern is caused by warm...
One dead, two injured in car crash near Ovando
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Jan 4, 2024
One person died and two people were injured in a head-on car crash in Powell County on Friday, Dec. 22, according to the Montana Highway Patrol. At around 9:30 a.m., a Subaru Outback, driven by a 34-year-old man from Missoula, was headed eastbound on Highway 200. Road conditions were reportedly icy. Around mile marker 55, the car negotiated a left turn and then slid into the westbound lane. The driver of the Subaru then hit a Toyota RAV4 head on. The passenger in the Toyota, a 72-year-old woman from Great Falls, died on the scene. The Montana...
Salmon Prairie School puts on "The Grinch"
Colleen Kesterson, of the Pathfinder|Jan 4, 2024
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Archives for Jan. 4
Jan 4, 2024
Twenty years ago... Thursday Jan. 8, 2004 Public meeting Jan. 14 on Pyramid issue with DEQ There will be a most important public meeting at Seeley Lake Elementary on Wednesday, January 14th at 7: p.m., following an earlier meeting at 6:00 p.m. Anyone interested in the economic and environmental health of Seeley Lake needs to be in attendance. At issue is whether or not the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) places Pyramid Mountain Lumber on the Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup...
Electric hooked up to nordic trailhead
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Dec 28, 2023
Seeley Lake skiers will notice a new blanket of light this winter, as the Seeley Lake Nordic Club successfully routed electricity up Morrell Creek Road to power three overhead lights at the trailhead and warming yurt. Laurie Shammel, who wrote a grant application for the project, said the project is the farthest electricity has reached in that area of Seeley Lake. She said the process was not easy, as grant money, Forest Service approval and installation all took months to complete. "It's been d...
Sunset School play promotes uniqueness
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Dec 28, 2023
Saving Christmas from the Wicked Wazzu took center stage of the Paws Up Bull Barn last Wednesday, Dec. 20, as the Sunset School put on a play to emphasize uniqueness and holiday laughs. The 11-student cast put on Santa and Wicked Wazzu by Tim Kelley. Toni Hatten, Sunset School supervising teacher, said the students have been working on the play since the start of October. "We begin reading it out loud as a class, multiple times, trying to figure out which role would be the best student's...
DEQ: Holland Lake sewer hasn't damaged surrounding groundwater
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Dec 28, 2023
New monitoring wells drilled around the Holland Lake Wastewater System showed the two sewage lagoons have not contaminated groundwater, according to both the Forest Service and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Testing at the site started after DEQ engineers reported the wastewater system was leaking at more than 140 times the legal limit, or roughly 50,000 gallons of wastewater in one week. The state then issued a violation letter to Flathead National Forest, requiring monitoring wells, a new design and a rebuild of the...
Ferndale man charged with murder, shooting two others
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Dec 28, 2023
A Ferndale man is facing one count of deliberate homicide after he allegedly shot and killed one person and injured two more earlier in December. Police took Matthew T. Vitek, 49, into custody on Dec. 10 after multiple callers reported gunshots near Cayuse Lane. When officers arrived, they found a person on the ground with a gunshot to the head. Tammi Jordan, 56, later died from the gunshot wounds, according to charging documents. Officers then heard gunshots from a nearby outbuilding. Officers entered the shop, followed by another gunshot by V...
Seeley Lake Community Foundation awards two year-end grants
Claire Muller, Executive Director of The Seeley Lake Community Foundation|Dec 28, 2023
The Seeley Lake Community Foundation is excited to announce two special, year-end grants. “As we move into the winter season, we are excited to be able to support two important projects that get people outside enjoying this special place we live, as well as bring people together to build community and celebrate Seeley Lake,” said SLCF Executive Director Claire Muller. The organizations receiving grants are: Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club: $5,000 for maintenance of cross country skiing that is free to all. These funds will help with the exp...
Archives for Dec. 28
Dec 28, 2023
Thirty-five years ago... Thursday, Dec. 29, 1988 Young inventor inspired by accident Kia Jette is probably the only 12 year-old in Seeley Lake that will be applying for a patent. She was selected as the 1988 state award winner for the "Invent America" competition with a design of an arrowhead protector. Kia's inspiration for her invention came when her brother, Jeff, had a serious accident with an arrow tip as he was assembling a razor-sharp tip into the shaft of an arrow. His accident required...
Swan Valley Library gifts students books
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Dec 28, 2023
Students across the Swan Valley got an extra Christmas present this year, as the Swan Valley Library and Swan Valley School worked together to gift a book to each student. Swan Valley Librarian Jenny Kauffman said this is the second year the books were given out, but this year Kauffman and others handpicked each book from stores across western Montana. Each book was matched to a student by the teachers. Volunteers then wrapped each book and delivered the goods just in time for...
Rich Ranch celebrates its people
Griffen Smith, of the Pathfinder|Dec 21, 2023
Longtime residents, visitors and those checking out the area for the first time descended on the Rich Ranch last Sunday, Dec. 17, to celebrate another year of appreciating Montana's scenic outdoors and acknowledge all the work area residents do for each other. The idea is that we opened up our home and our hearts to others to share our passion for Montana and its great outdoors, this is just an extension of that for the community," Jack Rich, owner of the Rich Ranch, said. "We are just part of...
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