Ellington

Body recovered from Flathead Lake

POLSON - At approximately 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, the body of Nathan Bird, the boater missing since Sunday, was recovered from Flathead Lake. The victim was located by a team of boats and divers from the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. The body was brought to shore and transported to the State Crime Lab in Missoula for determination of cause of death and documented injuries.

Lake County police crackdown on drunk driving this Labor Day

From mid-August through Labor Day, local police will be out in force as part of the annual nationwide "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" crackdown on drunk driving.   The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout Lake County, will run from August 16 through September 2, 2013.

High School Football Predictions: Week 1

Dixon Melon Days: summer never tasted so sweet

DIXON—In a “perfect melon year” with an abundant crop of mouthwatering melons, the annual Dixon Melon Days celebration hit the streets of Dixon on Friday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Aug. 24.

Diving In

Swimmers get their feet wet in the Mission Valley's first-ever meet

POLSON – Less than four months after the opening of the Mission Valley Aquatic Center, the pool hosted its first ever swim meet.

Man responsible for 120 mph car chase admits to felony theft, endangerment

Raced stolen vehicle from Missoula to St. Ignatius; Sentencing set for Sept. 26

The man who led authorities on a high speed car chase in May has admitted to felony counts of criminal endangerment and theft. Chaz Creemedicine appeared in District Court for a change of plea last week and awaits sentencing on Sept. 26. On May 29, Creemedicine drove a stolen 2002 Hyundai from Missoula to “just north of St. Ignatius,” reaching speeds of 120 mph with law enforcement in pursuit. Court documents state that Creemedicine “drove north in the southbound lane forcing cars off the road and almost causing accidents.” The vehicle was eventually disabled, and Creemedicine was arrested after “crashing into a mailbox and a ditch on Highway 93.”

FJBC hosts water talks

Residents discuss compact at series of meetings

The smoldering debate over local water rights took the spotlight in well-attended meetings held from Ronan to Arlee last week. Called together by the Flathead Joint Board of Control, the meetings sought to facilitate public dialogue about the main concerns many local irrigators have with the proposed water compact that faltered in the state legislature earlier this year.

Board recommends netting on Flathead Lake

POLSON— At a meeting last Wednesday night, the Flathead Reservation Fish and Wildlife Board reached a proactive decision to reduce lake trout numbers in Flathead Lake, paving the way for Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal officials to proceed with their controversial plan to net the introduced fish species.

Seeing green

A local man has become an international business mogul without leaving his own frontyard

POLSON – Before last year, Polson resident Michael Brandt had never found a four-leaf clover. That all changed when an ordinary trip out into the yard took a fateful twist, and Brandt and his girlfriend, Ali Bronsdon, discovered one four-leaf specimen… and then another… and then another...

Boater missing

POLSON — A 36-year-old man is missing after his boat was found unattended on Flathead Lake on Sunday. On Monday, a press release from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) identified the man as Nathan Bird of Huson, near Frenchtown.

Polson City Manager search narrowed to five finalists

POLSON — The Polson City Commission and City Manager Search Committee have selected five finalists for the city manager position which has been vacant since June of this year.

Chili cook-off sizzles

POLSON— For the eighth year in a row, the Polson Rotary Chili Cook-off for youth attracted chili connoisseurs and inventive chefs alike. As 15 competitive groups in Polson set their chili pots to simmer, they were reminded of why their participation at the event was important.

Pirate girls place third in Missoula

POLSON GOLF

MISSOULA — Playing short-handed and up against the big dogs didn’t intimidate Polson’s girls golf team last week.

PHS girls soccer ready to play

PREP SOCCER

POLSON — Despite playing with eight girls who had never played soccer before, Polson High School’s girls soccer team posted a 3-5-1 record in 2012.

Polson Boys Soccer Preview

Entering his ninth season at the helm of the Polson boys program, Coach Jess Kittle is looking for his team to make a trip to the postseason. His squad missed the playoffs last season for the first time in three years.

Montana residents arrested in Idaho meth bust

The methampetamine arrest Tuesday in Shoshone County, Idaho, left two Montana residents facing drug charges after Idaho State Police Cpl. Kevin Kessler arrested a man and woman following a routine traffic stop.

Keepin' it blue

POLSON— After three years of working to establish itself, the Flathead Lake Blues Festival is well on its way to becoming a staple of summertime in Polson.

High School Volleyball Previews

ARLEE

Frissell awarded UM scholarship

MISSOULA – Peregrine Frissell of Polson recently received a $6,000 Haynes Foundation Three-Year Renewable Scholarship from the University of Montana.

Midnight Mayhem

Two area football teams start football practice very early

Small towns in Montana are generally asleep in the wee hours of a Friday morning, but anyone driving through Charlo or Arlee after midnight on Aug. 16 saw the brightest lights in town over the football fields.

Lunches live la vida local

The state of Montana, typically a stronghold in American agriculture, is bringing some of that local flavor to its schools, and Lake County is no exception.

2013 High School Football Previews

ARLEE

Deceased crash victim identified

The Lake County Sheriff/Coroner has released the name of the 25-year-old male killed in Sunday’s early morning multi-vehicle crash near Ravalli on Highway 93 as Vernon James Fisher, Jr. Fisher died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained during the crash.

An "Epic" day on the lake

POLSON — A marathon is a long way to run. It’s an even longer trip by paddle.

On an even keel

DAYTON — When Jim Lekander came to Dayton in 1982, he saw a near perfect environment for sailing.

Hitting the links

Polson High prepares for a brand new golf season

POLSON — Polson’s golf team will be the first high school club in the area to open practice today.

St. Ignatius school hires new principal

ST. IGNATIUS—The St. Ignatius school district’s search for a new principal ended with a familiar face.

Polson graduates prepare for college soccer season

Four local men will continue their college soccer careers this fall at various institutions.

St. Ignatius waterline gets updated

ST. IGNATIUS—A waterline that was installed in St. Ignatius in the 1940s is being upgraded this summer to meet Department of Environmental Quality standards.

Polson hosts junior rodeo

POLSON — Lisa and Cliff Milliron’s children are grown, but they still host the Southwest Youth Rodeo Association on their land behind the Jette Store.

Two Mariners named all-state

BOZEMAN — Two Mission Valley Mariners were honored on the Universal Athletic American Legion All-State team in the Class A category last week.

Whitefish are biting on Flathead Lake

According to fishing guru Dick Zimmer, the whitefish are out and biting at a few hot spots around Flathead Lake.

Leaving the Bench

County braces for retirement of Judge C.B. McNeil

POLSON— In April of 2013, Judge C.B. McNeil announced his retirement as District Court judge of the 20th Judicial District. On Sept. 5, he will officially step down from the bench.

Wild horses

Levi Guenzler drags away a close victory in Ronan's horse training competition

RONAN — Working through drenching rain and hail, three Ronan men truly tamed the wild in front of a crowd on Friday and Saturday.

Celebrating a 42-year legacy

POLSON – For the 42nd straight year, the lawn of the Lake County courthouse came to life last weekend, as it hosted the Sandpiper Art Festival. The annual art exhibition attracted 89 vendors and hundreds more customers who came to browse their wares, while enjoying music and food.

Butler pleads guilty to Arlee stabbings

POLSON — Nathan Adam Butler, the 17-year-old accused of going on a deadly stabbing rampage in an Arlee home last November, appeared in Lake County District Court last Wednesday and pleaded guilty to three felony counts facing him as part of a plea agreement.

Lake County Births--week of 8/15/13

Aaliyah Lenae Snell

Lake County Senior News

St. Ignatius

Agnes "Babe" Schneider King Obituary

Agnes “Babe” Schneider King  (99).  Babe left her family June 30, after a long and eventful life.

Dorothy Allison Wheeler Obituary

Dorothy Allison Wheeler was born on December 19, 1925 at St. Ignatius, Montana and passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital on August 11.  She was the second child of the late Genevieve Ashley-Allison and frank Allison.  The following siblings preceded her in death: Frankie, Helen (Dubsy Parker), Lloyd and Russell.

Vincent Charles Kubas Obituary

Bigfork, Montana and Sun City West, Arizona

Lake County Community Calendar

Polson Triathlon

Ronan 3-on-3 stays strong

RONAN — Yet again at the Pioneer Days 3-on-3 “Jam”boree, Desert Horse rode off into the sunset victorious.

Nasewytewa sentenced to one year in youth home

POLSON – Isaiah Nasewytewa, the 11-year-old St. Ignatius boy who had been held on $500,000 bail earlier this year, was recently sentenced to one year in a youth home after being officially declared a “delinquent youth.”

Showtime at SKC

PABLO — Michael Cooper teaches five “Ds” for success: determination, dedication, desire, discipline and decision-making.

James A. Fite Obituary

Margaret Ella Westbrook Obituary

Eunice Jean Cass Obituary

Ronald Jerry Krantz Obituary

Area enters Stage I restrictions

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes implemented Stage I Fire Restrictions on Aug. 1 on the Flathead Indian Reservation.  Stage I Fire Restrictions prohibit campfires outside of approved recreation sites. Additionally, smoking is prohibited outside of buildings, vehicles and developed recreation sites, unless you are in a 3-foot diameter area cleared of all burnable vegetation.

A mile in their suits

POLSON —“The distance is exactly from here to there,” Matt Seeley said as he introduced the 1.1-mile swim course spanning from the KwaTaqNuk resort to Boettcher Park on Saturday, Aug. 3.

Show Stopper

Anya Smith, 14, is an entrepreneur and the star of her own show

PABLO—Anya Smith was two years old when she enrolled in her first ballet classes, she was five when she auditioned for her first play, and 12 when she began her own theater company, named Glacier Lily Theater Co., and produced her first independent show.

Pioneer Days Rodeo Results

2013 Pioneer Days Rodeo Results

Interim principal named

DiGallonardo to head Polson Middle School

POLSON — In a special board meeting last Thursday, the Polson School District Board of Trustees approved Tom DiGiallonardo to serve as interim principal for Polson Middle School grades 5 through 8 for the next year.

Open house opens eyes

YELLOW BAY – Flathead Lake has changed a lot since 1899. Ecologically, the introduction of species such as mysis shrimp and lake trout has permanently altered the lake’s food chain from top to bottom. The lake has undergone significant physical changes as well, with Kerr Dam’s construction raising the water level ten feet during the Great Depression. One thing that has remained constant during that time period, however, is the presence of the University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station (FLBS) at Yellow Bay.

Local athletes poised to leave for collegiate football camps

Over the next couple of weeks, many of the area’s foremost athletes will again don their pads and hit the gridiron for a new college football season.

Swimmers find their strokes

POLSON – Backstroke. Breaststroke. Butterfly. Freestyle.

Climate control

A ski bum's Glacier getaway

The sun beat down, making me sweat and warming my skin. As I sat in the early July heat, I sunk my hands into the refreshing white stuff below me— snow.

Brushes with fate

Many people search for a calling. Louise Lamontagne found two.

Whether it is a paint brush or a tooth brush, Louise Lamontagne is making the world a better place with each stroke.

Mariners season ends early

EUREKA — The Mission Valley Mariners’ season came to a sooner-than-expected end on Sunday afternoon with a 7-6 loss to the Bitterroot Bucs in the Western A American Legion baseball district tournament.

Could annual whitefish bite occur?

The annual whitefish bite that many anglers look forward to is behind schedule and may not occur at all, according to some local experts.

Local Briefs

BASEBALL