Ellington

Law enforcement and court records - Oct. 31

District Court Briefs, Judge Christopher presiding

Queen of Halloween

Arlee’s royal family of Halloween has done it again.

Pirate spikers swing for Bella

POLSON — Polson’s volleyball team created a special moment for one family prior to their contest against Columbia Falls last Thursday.

Hewston, McDonald highlight state XC races

MISSOULA — Polson’s Claudia Hewston polished off a high school career for the record books at Saturday’s cross country state championships in Missoula.

C-Falls dispatches Polson

COLUMBIA FALLS — Columbia Falls’ defense was ready for the Polson rushing attack on Friday.

Troy sacks Mission

ST. IGNATIUS — Things were looking pretty good for Mission’s football team after senior Jarred Brown took over the first quarter.

Postseason football and volleyball schedules

Wind pounds Finley Point

FINLEY POINT — Winds hammered the Flathead Lake area during a storm Sunday, knocking out power to more than 500 homes.

Swim team to announce name

POLSON – The Mission Valley Aquatics Center’s swim team will unveil its team name on Sunday, Oct. 27 at its fall kick-off event.

Manley named district court judge

HELENA - On Friday, Governor Steve Bullock appointed Polson attorney James Manley to serve as district court judge in Montana’s twentieth judicial district.

Troubled water

Polson native studies harlequin ducks' sensitivity to changing stream flows, human disturbance

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK — With their signature plumage rivaled only by the beauty of their migratory mountain homes, it’s easy to see why harlequin ducks have captured the hearts of countless birdwatchers and casual observers, alike.

Flu season may come early again this year

Flu season is upon us, and while it may not be in full swing just yet, now is the time to keep healthy.

Ronan schools serve up local cuisine

RONAN — Homemade whole-wheat buns, Montana ground beef and locally grown carrots and apples are items you would find on a high-priced menu, but in honor of Farm to School month local food was the highlight of lunch trays Monday in the Ronan cafeteria.

Prep football predictons, Oct. 25

Pirate runners ready for state

WHITEFISH — Nineteen of Polson’s 21 cross country runners posted season-best times at Saturday’s Northwest A Conference championship meet in Whitefish, but it wasn’t enough for either the boys or girls teams to top the conference.

SKC teams prepare for basketball season

PABLO — With longevity in coaching on both sides, the Salish Kootenai College basketball programs are expecting big things this coming season.

Ronan runs past Bulldogs

RONAN — In yet another chapter of the Jekyll-and-Hyde season Ronan football has had, the Chiefs’ offense exploded for 39 first-half points on the way to a 44-19 demolition of Mission.

Law enforcement and court records

Community Calendar

Whitford hearing continued to Dec. 4

POLSON - The district court omnibus hearing for murder suspect Makueeyapee Whitford has been continued again, with Whitford's attorney Steven Eschenbacher requesting a six-week continuance in a brief court appearance Thursday. Eschenbacher indicated that the request is motivated by "outstanding discovery motions" that are still being processed.

Districts move to block water vote

ST. IGNATIUS —  The simmering dispute over the water compact is headed back to court. The latest development comes as the Flathead Joint Board of Control (FJBC) pushes to send out a referendum ballot to local irrigators, asking whether they approve of their districts’ withdrawal from the regulatory irrigation board. However, the referendum may never reach its intended audience, as the Jocko Valley and Mission irrigation districts have taken legal action to block the vote, contending that it not only wastes time and money, but also seeks to illegally undermine the districts’ decisions to withdraw earlier this year - a move primarily motivated by the camps’ differing opinions on the proposed water compact. The ballot was originally intended to be mailed out to about 2,000 Lake and Sanders County irrigators on Oct. 25, but could now be delayed by a court-issued restraining order.

Bulldogs lose to Loyola in senior day bout

ST. IGNATIUS — Anybody in Mission’s gym on Saturday afternoon could feel the intensity.

Polson tames Blue Ponies

POLSON — Led by a host of seniors on Senior Night, Polson’s football hasn’t looked any better than they did in Friday’s 52-20 blowout win over visiting Havre.

Mack Days, Week 3 Summary

The third weekend of 2013 Fall Mack Days fishing ended with a total of 6,777 lake trout entries turned in, which is 2,566 over the same weekends in 2012.  Anglers were once again able to enjoy blue skies and calm waters as they fished Flathead Lake.  Total for the third weekend-Friday-828, Saturday-1,034, and Sunday-598- was 2,460 lake trout.  Mack Days continues until November 17th with fishing on Friday-Sunday until November 8th and then it is 10 continuous days of lake trout fishing.  The event concludes on November 17th with the awards and a fish fry at Blue Bay.

Volleyball briefs, Oct. 15-19

SKYLINE DRIVE: Residents raise safety concerns

Complaints made that Claffey Drive approach is unsafe, not built to original design

POLSON — In the wake of the Skyline Drive Project being lauded as a success and a testament to the cooperation of agencies within Lake County, some Polson residents are still not happy with the final product.

Mildred Weber Hanson

Mildred Audrey Mullen Weber Hanson was born April 16, 1920 in Forest Park, Ill.  She died October 15, 2013 in Polson at age 93.  

Earl J. Mutchler

Earl J. Mutchler, 90, of Pablo, passed away on Friday, Oct. 11. from natural causes at St. Luke Extended Care Facility.

Marion Ferguson

Marion Ferguson, 104, passed away at the Pines in Polson on Oct. 16.  No services are planned and burial will take place in California.  Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory is handling the arrangements for the family.

Lindy Eslick

Lindy Eslick, 65, passed away at St. Luke Extended Care in Ronan on Oct. 16.  No services are planned at this time.  Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory is handling the services for the family.

Kenneth E. Weddle

Kenneth E. Weddle, 81, of Polson, passed away peacefully, with his two daughters by his side, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at St. Luke’s Extended Care Facility in Ronan.

Ronan hosts Class B race

RONAN — Ronan cross country coach Noelle Decker didn’t expect her girls to keep up with Bigfork’s Makena Morley.

Drummond puts end to Charlo's perfect season

CHARLO — Charlo’s football team managed to dodge a few bullets in the first quarter, converting a pair of suspenseful fourth-and-goal situations, but it was there that the Vikings’ luck ran out.

Postseason run short-lived for Polson girls

BILLINGS — Polson’s girls soccer team had a short-lived playoff run, falling 5-0 to Billings Central in a first-round game on Saturday.

Weekly Bowling Results

Walmart expansion worries some local businesses

POLSON — While a portion of area residents are excited to welcome the Walmart Supercenter to Polson when it opens its doors on Oct. 23, others are nervous about the potential impact that the retail giant could exert on existing businesses in the area. Some citizens lament replacing Polson Hill’s welcoming view of Flathead Lake with a sterile parking lot and storefront, but some local entrepreneurs – and perhaps the community as a whole - have a lot more at stake than just an eyesore scarring the hillside overlooking town. They are concerned that the development could jeopardize the economic well-being of their hometown.

(Scavenger) Hunting season

RONAN —  If you were out and about in the Ronan area this past Saturday, there’s a chance you witnessed groups of adults running around and doing peculiar things in public places – like getting on all fours and pushing bowling balls around the ground with only their heads.

Locals part of team enshrined in Montana-Western Hall of Fame

DILLON — Lake County men Jay Krantz and Jim Petersen were inducted into the University of Montana-Western Athletic Hall of Fame along with the rest of the 1977 UMW football team last month at the university’s homecoming.

Authorities still seek information on second knife linked to March murder

POLSON — Authorities have not yet gathered any additional information pertaining to a second knife that may have been involved in the fatal stabbing of Polson’s John Pierre in March. LCSO detectives recently voiced a plea for more information to the public, suspecting that a knife with tape wrapped around the handle may have been discarded in the 2nd St. E. area on the night of the murder. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact detective Rick Lenz at 883-7324 or 883-7301.

Five horses stolen in Ronan

RONAN — Five horses are missing from plot of land in Ronan after a suspected theft. The incident is currently being investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, but undersheriff Dan Yonkin said that little progress has been made in the procedure so far.

Phone scam persists

POLSON — Local citizens should be on alert following a series of related scam phone calls in the area. Undersheriff Dan Yonkin says that “people are getting calls from callers claiming to be from some government entity… [and] advising people that there’s a warrant out for either themselves or a loved one.” The calls then warn that the individuals will be arrested unless a fine is paid.

Among Other Things - Ahh, baseball playoffs

Most memorable of this season’s baseball playoffs that I’ve watched on TV was last Saturday’s battle between Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox in the opening game of the American League championship series.

Letters to the editor

Law enforcement and court records

Prep football predictions, Oct. 18

Polson boys defeat C-Falls, fall to Libby

POLSON — Sutton Kanta’s goal in the 66th minute of Polson’s contest with Columbia Falls last Tuesday was more than just his first, it was the team’s ticket into the win column.

Polson youth soccer in full swing

The Polson Youth Soccer Association’s season is well underway, with more than 200 kids ages 5-14 enrolled for the fall season. They play games on Sunday afternoons at the Kerr Dam fields.

School garden grows strong

DIXON — Teeming with greenery and kids bearing armfuls of fresh vegetables, the garden outside of Dixon Elementary School has yielded far more than simply a strong harvest in its inaugural growing season. Besides produce, the plot of land has also proved to be fertile ground for hands-on instruction on gardening and broader lessons about the importance of good nutrition and eating locally-grown food.

Prep football predictions, Oct. 11

Arlee (2-4) at Superior (4-2)

Cross country update

Polson girls win Hamilton meet

At Hamilton, Polson’s girls won the Hamilton Invitational behind top-10 finishes from Claudia Hewston (third), Isabella Seemann (eighth) and Tegan Bauer (ninth).

Area affected by federal shutdown

Thousands of federal employees were furloughed last week due to the government shutdown, including nearly 12,000 workers in Montana.

Pirate volleyball closes out Jackets

POLSON — “Indefinitely” apparently doesn’t suggest a very long period of time to Polson’s Jaiden Toth.

Cleveland nets pair as Pirates boot Vals

For a goalkeeper, nothing can be more exciting than the thought of scoring a goal yourself.

Polson boys soccer briefs

Prep volleyball briefs

Prep football stats

through Oct. 4

THREE-PEAT!

Polson girls golf wins third consecutive Class A state championship

POLSON — Make it three in a row for the Polson girls golf team.

Bulldogs fall to Florence

ST. IGNATIUS — Florence’s previously winless record must seem an apparition to Mission’s football team  following a 25-0 defeat.

Whitefish hands Polson conference loss

WHITEFISH — The Pirates (3-2, 1-1) struggled on offense, turning the ball over five times in the road defeat.

Wardens arrest Chiefs' offense

DEER LODGE — Deer Lodge completed a consecutive-weeks sweep of Lake County’s Class B schools, this time pummeling Ronan, 49-15.

Rausch to play in the WCL next summer

Tim Rausch, a 2010 graduate of Polson High School and former Mission Valley Mariner, will be playing summer baseball in the collegiate West Coast League next summer.

Polson grad brought into Bobcat Hall of Fame

BOZEMAN — Polson’s Neal Smith was known more for his basketball abilities when in high school, but now he will forever be remembered as one of the best football players in the history of Montana State University.

Madplume pleads not guilty to rape, deliberate homicide

POLSON - Melvin Madplume, the 29-year-old who stands accused of rape and deliberate homicide following the "suspicious death" of his cousin, Laurence Kenmille, made his initial appearance in Lake County District Court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Suspect charged with rape, murder

"Suspicious death" deemed case of deliberate homicide

POLSON - What was deemed a “suspicious death” at the beginning of summer is now being considered a case of rape and murder.

Prep Football Predictions, Oct. 4

Tecky M. Frankovich

Tecky M. Frankovich, 86, died of cancer August 9 in Frisco, Tex. surrounded by her family. Graveside services under the direction of Fr. Stanislaw Roog were held Saturday at 12 noon at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson. Her survivors include two daughters, Carole (Patrick) Brophy, Frisco, Tex. and Colleen (John) Harvey, Surprise, Ariz.; Grandchildren Dr. Elizabeth Brophy (Rory) Juneman, Nathan (Jessica) Brophy, and John A. Harvey; Great- grandchildren, Audrey and Eleanore Juneman, and Claire and Nate Brophy; a niece, Sandy Merrit. She was preceded in death by her husband John in 2010. Tecky was born in Minot, N.D. on January 20, 1927 where she resided until the age of 13 when she moved to Butte, where she graduated from Butte High School in 1945.

Kenneth Garald Smyth

Kenneth Garald Smyth, long time missionary to Hong Kong and the Philippines, also known as Bro.Ken, Dad, and Grandpa, was born July 18, 1948 in St. Ignatius, to Lloyd and Lyla (Cote) Smyth.  From the time he was very young, he always wanted to be a preacher.  His home church minister, Bob Larsson, encouraged him in every way.  One time Bob entered Ken in a “preacher Boy” contest.  Ken was 13 when he won that contest.  Many years later, Bob told him that he was the only entrant!  In 2011, he spoke at the National Missionary Convention in Augusta, Georgia.   

Letters to the editor

Births

Community Calendar

Law enforcement and court records

Senior News

Among other things: When things go bad...

This is the time of year when early freeze warning advise gardeners to bring in plants that could be victimized by killing frosts. But it’s a dangerous time for well intentioned gardeners attempting to save their plants.

Home Sweet Homecoming

POLSON — Polson’s Pirates got plenty of good news in Friday’s 32-22 homecoming win over Frenchtown.

Chiefs fall to reigning champ

RONAN — Jim Benn was pretty straight-forward when it comes to evaluating how his Ronan Chiefs got beat Friday: Loyola Sacred Heart is just that good.

Polson golf readies for state

Peyton Anderson (pictured) led the Pirates’ effort last week, finishing second at the Western A Divisional tournament on Thursday with a round of 89. Jaylin Kenney’s 90 was good enough for third place. The Polson girls team finished second to Whitefish in both Divisionals and the Flatfish Tournament over the weekend. Polson hosts Class A States this weekend.

Prep football roundup

Prep volleyball roundup, Sept. 24-26

Cross country teams compete in Missoula

MISSOULA — All five Lake County high school cross country programs participated at the Mountain West Invitational on Saturday.

SOCCER: Pirate girls tie C-Falls

COLUMBIA FALLS — Polson’s girls soccer team notched its first tick in the tie column this season, drawing 0-0 with Columbia Falls on Thursday.

Leaps and Pounds

POLSON — He steps out the door of his sister’s house on the hill above Polson High School and starts jogging down the hill.