Ellington

Boys and Girls Clubs are alive and well

Amid rumors of closure after executive director John Schnase resigned, board members and directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs in Ronan and Polson want to assure the community that the club is very much alive and moving forward.

An artist's gift keeps on giving

He ran into the hospital with a family and their baby. The child was septic, sick with an infection, and if it didn’t get to the hospital it wouldn’t live another day. The three-hour drive to the capital city was a heart-wrenching race to get there in time.

Bulldogs stay perfect

Prep basketball roundup

ST. IGNATIUS — Experience won out for the Mission Bulldogs on Friday.

Senior News - Dec. 26

Dixon

Letters to the editor - Dec. 26

A sincere thanks

COLUMN: New year brings fresh perspectives to city commission

As you begin to think about changing your calendars from 2013 to 2014, at City Hall, we too begin planning for the upcoming changes in our local government. The Swearing-In Ceremony will be held on Monday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

All shook up

CROMWELL ISLAND — A magnitude 3.1 earthquake shook the area at around 1 p.m. last Wednesday, with Flathead Lake’s Cromwell Island identified as the temblor’s epicenter.

Law enforcement and court records - Dec. 26

District Court, Judge Manley presiding

Community Calendar - Dec. 26

Affordable Care Act explained

Births - Dec. 26

Aaliyah May Evertz

Among Other Things - Grandma's Mystery Gifts

In 1970 my mother, Amelia Wright, toured the Holy Land. As was her custom, she purchased a variety of souvenirs to bring back to her home in Hollywood, Calif, to mail to her grandkids in Montana. Among the items were a miniature wood covered Bible and small clay jars that represented the type of vessel in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a cave in 1947.

Petersen wins in Coeur d'Alene

LCSO, Ronan officers graduate Academy

HELENA – At a Dec. 13 ceremony, the Montana Law Enforcement Academy graduated 55 new officers who will serve 27 different agencies across the state. The Montana Law Enforcement Academy is operated by the Montana Department of Justice, providing basic and advanced training for state, county, city and tribal law enforcement officers throughout the state. Local law enforcement personnel honored at the ceremony were Brian Hines of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and John Mitchell of the Ronan Police Department.

Home cookin': Speech and Debate takes third at Polson Invitational

Congratulations to the Polson Speech Team for their 3rd Place finish at the Polson Invitational Speech and Drama meet on Saturday, December 14th.

School board names new head cheer coach

RONAN — The Ronan School Board of Trustees officially hired a new coach for the revived high school cheerleading program at their regular meeting Monday evening.

Rinke wins rifle raffle

RONAN — Some guys have all the luck.

Do you make New Year's Resolutions?

Polson, Ronan tangle with state's top grapplers

BUTTE — Polson and Ronan’s wrestling squads trekked to Butte to toe the mats with some of the top wrestling programs in the state over the weekend.

SKC women sweep UMW on the road

DILLON — Salish Kootenai College’s women’s basketball team completed a sweep of the University of Montana-Western’s JV team over the weekend.

Arlee, Mission travel to Superior

SUPERIOR — Both Mission-Charlo’s and Arlee’s wrestling teams saw grapplers place on Saturday at the Superior Invitational.

COLUMN: No shortage of holiday spirit

When they’re not gawking at the beauty of the lake or the majesty of the Missions, I’ve often overheard visitors from out-of-state mention how nice the people are in our fair corner of Montana.

Dudley James Nesson

Dudley James Nesson, 85, of Polson, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 12 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Ronan. Dudley was born on Oct. 9, 1928 to George and Bertha Nesson of Douglas, North Dakota, on a farm where he grew up. On July 12, 1950 he was married to Ida Walhood of Douglas, North Dakota.

Florence A. Zimmermann

Florence A. Zimmermann passed away on Sept. 25, 2013. Born in Los Angeles, Calif. on June 26, 1927 to Herman and Frances Barberris Zimmermann and grew up in Lake Elsinore, Calif. After graduating from business college in Los Angeles she worked in San Diego where she met Jack Hamm and married in 1949. “Flo” was a devoted wife and mother to their only child Katherine “Kathy,” involved with all events and making holidays fun. After a divorce she worked in and just outside of Yellowstone Park from 1972 to 1991, then retired to Polson.

Carole Ann Perry

Carole Ann Perry, 72, formerly of Pablo, passed away Saturday, December 14, 2013 at her home in Missoula. A funeral service will be held Saturday, December 21, at 1 p.m. at the Ronan Alliance Church. Grogan Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Naomi Berenice Proud

Naomi Berenice Proud, 100, of Kalispell, and formerly of Dayton, passed away at her home December 12, 2013.  Grogan Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.

Senior news - Dec. 19

St. Ignatius

Law enforcement and court records - Dec. 19

District Court, Judge Manley presiding

Community Calendar - Dec. 19

Church presents ’The Journey to Bethlehem’

3 incumbents fall in tribal council elections

PABLO — Change is coming to CSKT leadership after three incumbent tribal council members, including the current chairman, were defeated in elections held last weekend.

Martin Luther King Day essay contest open for kids grades 7-12

RULES: Read the quote below and explain in 250 words or less what it means to you and how you personally might implement it into your daily and/or future life.

Births - Dec. 19

McKenzie Mae Goetsch

Polson schools receive grants for updates

HELENA – Governor Steve Bullock allocated $738,044 in grant money to 36 public school districts throughout Montana through the Montana Department of Commerce’s Quality Schools Planning Grants Program, including an award of over $28,000 to Polson schools.

Scout's honor

CHARLO — Last Wednesday, Eagle Scout Ryan Fullerton, completed his service project in grand fashion, officially dedicating a new brick-based flagpole at the Charlo-Moiese Fire Department with a ceremonial flag raising conducted alongside the Veterans’ Honor Guard.

Clairmont, Ronan girls open year with win over Libby

Ronan’s girls basketball team turned in the most impressive girls basketball performance of the weekend, drubbing Libby, 44-19, on Friday behind 24 points from Raymi Clairmont as Polson and Ronan co-hosted the two-day Northwest A/Southwest A Tip-Off.

Ronan, Polson boys off to rough start

Both Polson and Ronan’s boys basketball teams took the court for the first time over the weekend in the Northwest A/Southwest A Tip-Off, co-hosted by the two schools.

Arlee boys start season strong

DRUMMOND — Arlee’s basketball teams were some of county’s the few to hit the road this weekend as they traveled to Drummond’s invitational tournament.

Two Eagle opens season in Billings

BILLINGS — Both Two Eagle River’s boys and girls teams traveled to Billings for the Southern Classic over the weekend, and both teams dropped two games.

St. Ignatius to start track program, needs coaches

St. Ignatius High School is starting their own track program and is looking for a head coach as well as an assistant coach. The position will be open until filled. If you or anyone interested in applying for the head or assistant coaching positions for track, please see Adam Hawkaluk in the current district office (old high school office) or go to the bottom of following website to get the proper forms: http://web.stignatiusschools.org/employment-opportunities

Charlo, Mission open basketball seasons

ST. IGNATIUS — Stuart Grant picked up his senior basketball season right where his junior year left off.

Les Rice service award ceremony postponed

ST. IGNATIUS — The service award ceremony for former Mission girls basketball coach Les Rice originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 21 has been postponed until an undetermined date in January.

Local Bowling Results

at Sportspage Bowl

2013 All-County Cross Country

Starry-eyed surprise

SKC professor tells of Curiosity's findings on Mars

Many people remember Salish Kootenai College’s contributions the 2012 Mars Curiosity rover mission and the Curiosity’s successful landing on Mars. Now, nearly a year and a half later, scientists across the nation are still using the Space Age technology to study our neighboring planet.

Daily bus service announced from Missoula to Whitefish

Route will include several Lake County stops

PABLO – The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is pleased to announce that Flathead Transit, a service of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, will implement new daily passenger service between Missoula and Whitefish effective December 16, 2013. The new service will stop in Evaro, Arlee, Ravalli, Saint Ignatius, Pablo, Polson, Lakeside, Kalispell and Whitefish.

Meeting of the minds

Daines visits Salish Kootenai College

PABLO — Last Friday, Congressman Steve Daines dropped by the Salish Kootenai College to tour the campus and meet with newly inaugurated president Robert DePoe, III.

Info sought on truck stolen near Hot Springs

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has taken a report of a stolen motor vehicle from the Nom-Chak Retreat Ranch in Garcon Gulch near Hot Springs. The truck, a white 2002 Ford F350 Dually, was taken between midnight and 8 a.m. on Dec. 6. The F350 was recently purchased by the ranch and thus has no license plates. It is a crew cab with a flat bed, utility rack, and a firefighting tank on the bed, minus the reel and hose. Please contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 883-7301 to report information related to the theft.

"The right thing to do"

Holidays and beyond, Bread Basket food pantry serves those in need

RONAN — As with many charitable organizations, upholding the core values that embody the “holiday spirit” extends throughout the year at the Bread Basket food pantry in Ronan. However, this special season usually coincides with a spike in activity, as the facility - and others like it - face increased demand from members of the community who need a hand making the season bright for their families.

Age group Monsters have strong debut meet

KALISPELL — The age group swimmers in the newly formed Lake Monsters program trekked to Kalispell on Sunday to compete in a formal meet for the first time.

Public comment sought on 2014 repaving of Hwy. 93

ST. IGNATIUS — The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) would like to notify the public and seek comments on a proposal to resurface about 18.3 miles of Highway 93 in Lake County. The project begins 0.1 miles north of the North Street intersection in Arlee on Highway 93, at reference post 18.5, and extends northerly for 18.3 miles ending 0.2 miles south of the Dublin Gulch Road/Red Horn Road intersection, at reference post (RP) 36.8.

SKC now accepting apps for Smith grant

The Oleta Smith Endowment Fund is now open for grant applications.  

State announces tribal language preservation efforts

HELENA – Imagine browsing through your smartphone’s “App Store” and being able to download a talking dictionary that includes phrases such as “Shoo daa chii?” (“How are you?” in Apsáalooke) or “Ginnehayen” (“Thank you” in Aa Nii).

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto

Ronan High School robotics club take quantum leap to state tournament

RONAN — After the state qualifier several weeks ago, Ronan High School’s robotics team is ranked fourth and will be advancing into the state tournament.

An eye for talent

Ronan's Anthony Patch has become an integral part of the Philadelphia Eagles staff

Every young football player dreams of going to the NFL.

Fresh blood on the bench

Off the Mark

Five of Lake County’s six prep girls basketball teams have new head coaches this year.

Altitude touches down in Mission

ST. IGNATIUS — Sitting right on U.S. Highway 93 in St. Ignatius, the brand new Altitude Bar and Grill is impossible to miss. Open for just over a month, owners Ken and Adrienne Scott hope that soon its food, drink, and atmosphere will add to its reputation as a can’t-miss destination, in addition to its location, alone.

Stores fix card system

POLSON — Last week’s cyber-attack on regional grocery store chains has been blocked and all card transactions have been resumed, said URM Stores CEO Ray Sprinkle in a statement on Monday.

Law enforcement and court records - Dec. 5

Justice Court, Judge Jayne presiding

A fishing update from the Macman

Fishermen:

Children prepare for district Elks Hoop Shoot

The winners of the Mission Valley Elks Lodge #1695 local hoop shoot competition, held Sunday, Nov. 24 have been announced:

Salvation Army Kettle Drive to benefit Helping Hands Fund

This Christmas Season, when you shop at Super One Foods, Wal Mart, Pablo Family Foods and Harvest Foods, you will see volunteers from the Polson, Pablo and Ronan area churches and community organizations ringing the bell for the annual Salvation Army Kettle Drive.

Filling a void

Residency program at St. Luke aims to help reverse statewide shortage

It’s no secret that there is a shortage of family medicine doctors in rural areas of the country such as Montana. According the to a study by the Bureau of Health Professions, about 20% of the US population—more than 50 million people—live in rural areas, but only 9% of the nation’s physicians practice in rural communities.  Even worse, statistics indicate that more than 70 percent of physicians practice within a 60-mile radius of the residency where they train. Until this summer there was only one residency training program in the state – in Billings.  In fact, the Treasure State ranks dead last per capita for post-graduate medical education.