Ellington

Lady Bulldogs win two

EUREKA - The Lady Bulldogs continued to power through the

Crews battle flames at National Bison Range

MOIESE — The St. Ignatius and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal fire departments responded to an out of control grass fire along the Jocko River Saturday around 3:20 p.m. The incident occurred about 1.25 miles west of the U.S. Highway 93 and MT Hwy. 200 intersection near Ravalli. A swirling wind carried the smoke and flames up a hillside, along a draw and into an area of the National Bison Range.

Polson FC co-ed battle hard in Butte

BUTTE - The U18 Polson FC co-ed team showed signs of serious

2011 Summer Baseball Preview: Mission Valley Mariners

It's always nice to have a farm system, and the Mission Valley

Capitol Letters

Dear Folks,

Emma Jean (Cordier) Rouillier

On April 17, Emma Jean (Cordier) Rouillier’s wait was over, as her husband Sam arrived on his horse wearing his white cowboy hat to take Emma Jean to her final home. After saying good-bye to her loving family of all ages, Emma Jean peacefully joined Sam and the rest of her family waiting for her in heaven. While her family and friends will miss her, they are happy that her pain is over and she is now dancing with Sam for eternity.

Legislative Report

Last week was a short one in Helena as we recessed on Wednesday. The budget was put into the Governor’s hands and he had until this past Saturday to veto, amendatory veto or accept it. The Speaker of the House, the Senate President and the Governor did come to some agreements last Friday. There will be a lot of amendments waiting for us when we return Monday afternoon and start back in session Tuesday morning. We will especially be looking at how many dollars have been added back and how much is left in the ending fund balance.

Update from Helena

Hope you had a great Easter. I enjoyed the time with my three-year-old granddaughter. It’s good to be with family and friends, especially since I was disappointed that we were not finished in Helena before Easter.

Ronan MS Track Meet

Here are some photos from last Thursday's middle school track meet in Ronan.

Meets aplenty for Arlee track

MISSOULA - Arlee is showing they have no shortage of performers

Vaughn High School Rodeo Results

Here are the results from the Vaughn High School Rodeo from last

Charlo Track Roundup: Lady Vikings dominate Jim Johnson Invitational

MISSOULA - How do you win a track meet? Ask the Charlo girls

Capitol Letters

Dear Folks,

Irvine remains detained

POLSON — The man who allegedly provided drugs and alcohol to high school girls asked for his bond to be reduced in District Court last Wednesday.

Update from Helena

As you probably know, I write this column several days before the paper goes to print. I am hoping that when you read this, we are finished or nearly finished. It depends on whether or not the Governor vetoes, amends or line item vetoes House Bill 2.

Polson stabbing trial begins

POLSON — The trial of Aaron Jess Spang, the 18-year-old Polson man accused of stabbing to death his mother’s boyfriend, began Monday in District Court.

Softball: Polson's bats come through

HAMILTON - Polson (4-1) got the key hits that they wanted

Polson Track and Field: Polson sees plenty of PRs

Track teams see progress at weekend meet in Missoula

Track teams see progress at weekend meet in Missoula

Pirates and Lady Pirates Tennis: Tough to beat

CUT BANK - Polson went undefeated in the first day of the Cut

Track and Field Roundup: Ronan-Mission look strong in Frenchtown

FRENCHTOWN - While it was an unscored meet, one would have to

Mission Softball Roundup: Getting past Deer Lodge

ST. IGNATIUS - It was fitting that in a game marked with

Foal joins Wild Horse herd

WILD HORSE ISLAND — Even the most well-thought out plans can go awry. Only nine months after Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials added a set of four wild mares to fill the management plan quota for Flathead Lake’s Wild Horse Island, in an unexpected twist, a sprightly painted foal has now joined the herd.

Alma June Darling

On April 13, a loving Father opened His arms and welcomed home a favored, loving child after 81 years of service to the world and her family and friends

School districts look at cuts

POLSON — News of pink slips brought about 90 concerned teachers and parents to the Polson School board meeting Monday night in the Linderman library.

Notices of Death

Emma Jean Rouillier

Karma Leona Papenfuss Cook

Karma Leona Papenfuss Cook was born Dec. 2, 1922 in Corinne, Utah to Curt and Catherine Papenfuss. She died April 9 in Missoula at the age of 88.

Don't handle wildlife

As spring turns to summer, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks receives a large number of calls regarding deer fawns. FWP urges the public not to pick-up deer fawns, even if they appear sick or in need of help. Often, the adult deer is closer than we might realize, or will be returning to its fawn soon. Left alone, a fawn might have a chance in the wild; but once it is picked up and picks up human scent, it is more likely to be abandoned.

Softball: Polson thumps Hamilton, 12-1

HAMILTON - Kylie Knutson and Ashley Johnson both went 2-for-3 to

Mission teachers voice concerns

ST. IGNATIUS — All totaled, the St. Ignatius teaching staff has a combined 500 years experience educating students, according to Tim Marchant, an English teacher at Mission High School. In those five centuries, they’ve seen changes to administration, tweaks to curriculum — and accepted them as part of their job.

Marlee Berry: Young artist paints for a good cause

POLSON — Marlee Berry is a young woman with a lot going for her. Currently a senior at Polson High School, Berry is talented at art and athletics, interested in travel and charitable work and has future plans that include the U.S. Army National Guard and college.

Should wolves be hunted in Montana?

Update from Helena

Jobs and the economy: Will what is happening in Libya affect Montana’s economy? The increase in the price of a barrel of oil improves the state tax coffers, but each of us will pay more at the pump. And I’ve been watching the federal budget fiasco. What will happen to the money we get from them?

Battling Bigfork

ST. IGNATIUS - The Mission Bulldogs had a tall task with the

Polson Track: Back in action

Pete comes back from ACL operations and Zion Lee leads talented group of pole vaulters at Columbia Falls Invitational

Pete comes back from ACL operations and Zion Lee leads talented

Tennis: Mission girls split over the weekend

ST. IGNATIUS - The Mission girls won their first dual of the

Polson Tennis: Facing the Best

Polson boys face two state champs, Polson girls sweep in dual action

Polson boys face two state champs, Polson girls sweep in dual

Legislative Report

The end is starting to come into sight here in Helena as the budget will be back from conference committee and ready to pass on to the Governer this week. He will not like it as is. It will be balanced to the revenue projections and they are still going down each month. The positioning with vetoes, amenditory veto and all the conference committees means that things can change every hour.

Spring cleaning

RONAN AND POLSON — It’s that time of year again — Time to dust off the cobwebs and dig out the yard tools, especially if you live in Ronan orPolson where the effort to clean up the streets is contagious.

Senior news

Polson

Polson library director named Montana Librarian of the Year

POLSON — Marilyn Trosper has never seen a tennis shoe turn into a glass slipper or watched a pumpkin morph into a carriage, but like a fairy-tale heroine, she’s experienced transformative moments.

MFBF expresses concern regarding budget cuts for agriculture

The Montana Farm Bureau is taking a critical look at budget cuts facing the nation that will affect its members. Farm Bureau applauds efforts to put the nation back on a path toward a more responsible federal budget, but is concerned about cuts that might impact the safety net that supports Montana’s farmers.

Landmark settlement hits close to home

PORTLAND, ORE. — In a landmark settlement, the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus, the parent order to Jesuits in Montana, Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Oregon, has agreed to pay $166.1 million to more than 500 survivors of sex-abuse who filed claims spanning a 40-year period.

A Note from the Newsroom

The legal status of medical marijuana is currently one of Montana’s most hotly-debated and divisive issues. From those who view the drug as legitimate pain-management therapy to those who see it as nothing more than an excuse for addiction, opinions surrounding the drug are as different as black and white.

Legislative Report

The state funding bill, HB 2, has been through the Senate and brought back to the House with a bunch of amendments. It has been moved to a conference committee. They will try to hammer out the differences in the two. One piece of the pie that is not been finalized is the education funding. The Senate could not get a bill agreed upon. SB 403 would have given a $44 million influx of money to K-12 education. This would have utilized some of the oil and gas money from the east side of Montana. All the Democrats and a couple of Republician Senators from the oil and gas counties voted this down.

Columbia Falls comes back against Ronan

COLUMBIA FALLS - It only took one little bloop single.

Speedwagon: Mud, sweat and tears

Mud? Rain? Wind? No problem.

Mission downs state champs

THOMPSON FALLS - Lady Bulldogs' head coach Susan Weaselhead said

Tennis: Mission boys power past Ronan

RONAN - The Mission boys' tennis team got their season

Maidens top Lady Bulldogs

Mission’s young players make progress in matches against Ronan, Darby

RONAN - After dropping the first match against Mission's Sarah

Ronan Softball: Young Guns

Ronan’s younger players stand toe--to-toe with state power Frenchtown

Ronan’s younger players stand toe-to-toe with state power

Tennis: Ronan and Polson face off

POLSON - The freshmen are coming for the Polson tennis team.

Spring Kicks

Polson FC teams play at home last weekend in spring soccer action

Polson FC teams play at home last weekend in spring soccer

Polson man pleads not guilty in federal court

MISSOULA — Polson resident, Eugene Eckert, pleaded innocent to the charge of aggravated sexual abuse of a child in a federal court session in Missoula on Friday, March 31.

Update from Helena

Sunday was the memorial service for legislators that have passed away since the 2009 session. Senator Mowbray did a good job eulogizing Carl Seifert. Carl was a great legislator and represented our area well. My continued sympathy to Peggy and family. Carl will be missed.

Not guilty verdict concludes emotional court trial

POLSON — Late Friday afternoon, a district court jury returned a not guilty verdict for 24-year-old William Maus, who was on trial for negligent vehicular homicide while under the influence.

Local Toastmasters place at the area 15 speech and evaluation contest

PLAINS — All-Ways Talking Toastmasters, Doug Wilks and Frances Abbey, garnered second place trophies in the area 15 evaluation and speech contests, respectively, March 24 in Plains. Both contestants qualified for the area contest by giving winning speeches at the local club. Plains Toastmaster, Jody Saunders, took top speech honors in the area 15 contest. She will represent area 15 at the Division A contest in Missoula on April 9. If for some reason Jody is not able to attend, Frances will substitute for her.

Notices of Death

William G. Tippett

William H. Bush

William H. Bush, 86, of Polson, who passed away March 28 in Polson, was born June 27, 1924 to Frank E. and Ruth Bush in Glendive, Mont. The family moved to Milltown in 1927.

Boys and Girls Club sports new First Aid kits

POLSON AND RONAN — Board members of the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County were greeted with a special gift during their March meeting this month. A representative from HealthCare Plus in Polson, Jaqulyn Christensen, gave each unit two fully-stocked First Aid kits.

Mission Tennis: Return of the King

The Mission tennis team will have one returning state champion

Update: Maus found not guilty of negligent homicide while under the influence

UPDATE: After close to five hours of deliberations, a jury found William Maus not guilty of negligent vehicular homicide while under the influence. As to the lesser included charge, negligent homicide, the jury was unable to reach a verdict.

Little Guy State Tournament Wrestling Results

Here are the results from last weekend's Little Guy Wrestling

Polson tennis starts off strong

POLSON - Polson tennis coach Bob Hislop couldn't have asked for

Legislative Report

This has been a busy week here in Helena. Some really good news about workman’s comp. HB 334 is moving through the Senate now and the Governer has resolved his issues with the bill. A little bit of good news on the property appraisal process as HB 567 has moved through the House. It extends the assesment review. We also approved HB 343 which starts a phase-in of zero-based budgeting for state agency budgets.

Ronan BPA results

2011 BPA State Placers/National Qualifiers:

Ronan honors agriculture community

First photo: Ronan rancher Jerome Stenberg, of J Bar Stenberg Ranch, navigates the tightly packed aisles to find his seat at the table with both dinner, and his grandson, Jory, in tow.