Ellington

Photos of the Year

Breaking records

Skip Schacher is no ordinary 75-year-old. He doesn’t spend his days feeling his age. Instead, Schacher hits the Pablo gym three times a week, and he has five world records to prove it.

Last night's Ronan house fire under investigation

Ronan Fire Department personnel raced to the scene of a structure fire about 20 minutes after midnight Dec. 31 that claimed a home on Moise Valley Road, according to emergency scanner reports.

Four local athletes chosen for Shrine Game

Four local football players have been selected to play in the 70th annual East-West Shrine game in Butte this summer. Brad Brazill and Patrick BigSam of Arlee were both selected, as was Michael Delaney of Charlo. Brazill and BigSam both competed in the Class C Eight-man state championship game. Delaney helped lead the Vikings to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to Fairview. The fourth player to be selected was Polson’s Hudson Smith, who was chosen as an alternate.

The New Normal: Meth, Treatment, and Addiction

Homeless mother finds shelter from the storm

Baby Orizon Sutton will likely be sleeping at an inn this Christmas, showered with gifts from good Samaritans and providing a glimmer of hopeful light into her mother’s life on this Christmas Day.

Robert Reginald DePoe III

Robert Reginald DePoe III peacefully passed away in the early morning hours of Dec. 21, after a two-year battle with cancer, surrounded by his family and loved ones in his home in Polson. 

Katie Anna Dupuis

Lindy, Elise and Ella Dupuis are proud to announce the arrival of their little sister, Katie Anna Dupuis. Katie was born in Polson, MT on November 25, 2015 and weighed 8lbs 1 oz. Parents are Daylen and Anna Dupuis, grandparents are Kendall and Linda Dupuis, and Nardy and Gloria Stascavage. Great grandparents are Oliver and Lois Dupuis, and Jim and Lou Duford.

Jaxton Wyatt Dumont

Jaxton Wyatt Dumont was born December 17, 2016 at the Nesting Place in Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson. He was 20 and ½ inches and weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces.

House fire halts Christmas for Polson family

By MICHELLE LOVATO

2015 year in crime round up

January

Teen wanted in connection to Pablo shooting arrested on Christmas Day

Isaac Fleming, the 17-year-old Ronan boy wanted in connection to the Dec. 14 shooting of Karen Finley was arrested Christmas Day in Pablo and is in custody at the Missoula Juvenile Detention Center. Fleming was charged with two counts of felony assault with a weapon, one count of felony aggravated assault by accountability and one count of aggravated burglary. Fleming appeared before Lake County Justice of the Peace Randal Owens Dec. 28 where his bail was set at $100,000.

Driver rear ends snow plow in Polson

A private driver accidentally rear ended a Polson City snow plow near the senior center on First Street East at about 10:30 a.m. this morning.

Overnight Polson fire destroys home

A structure fire that sparked at about 7 p.m. Wednesday destroyed parts of a Polson home near the corner of Second Street and Seventh Avenue.

Christmas charity blossoms in Polson

Road conditions continue to challenge Wednesday drivers

Roads 'iffy' for travel Wednesday morning

Man alleged to be making threats against law enforcement Saturday

Lake and Sanders county law enforcement officers began rushing to the Dixon area at about 1:15 p.m. Saturday after learning a man was making threats about physically harming law enforcement officers, according to emergency scanner traffic.

Affidavit outlines moments leading up to Pablo shooting Tuesday

Ashley Rae Hewankorn fired a gun into the shoulder, lung and spine of Karen Finley of Pablo Tuesday, after Finley exited her house and yelled at Ashley Hewankorn to leave, said Benjamin R. Anciaux, Lake County Deputy Prosecutor in an affidavit filed at 12:11 p.m. Friday.

Two deputies injured while apprehending woman today

An uncooperative woman injured two Sheriff’s deputies after she attempted to ram their vehicles in Finley Point at about 5 a.m. today.

Issac Fleming sought in Tuesday shooting

Fleming, 17, sought in Tuesday shooting case

Authorities are on the hunt for Isaac Fleming, 17 of Ronan, and suspect he is involved in the Pablo shooting of a woman Tuesday.

Disabled vehicle causes traffic tie up

Wrestling teams enter second week of competition

Teams were spread out this past week, wrestling all over Western Montana. Arlee and Mission/Charlo competed at Mission and at Superior. Ronan and Polson both competed in Butte on Saturday, and the Polson JV competed in Hamilton on Saturday as well.

Charlo remains undefeated, Polson splits

While the Class C schools got their basketball season started last week in Frenchtown, the Class A and B schools had another week to prepare. Polson split on their opening games at the tournament in Missoula, Ronan lost both and Mission lost to Stillwater Christian in St. Ignatius. Charlo got their conference schedule going, as did Arlee.

A and B teams get season rolling

While the Class C schools got their basketball season started last week in Frenchtown, the Class A and B schools had another week to prepare. Both Polson and Ronan split their opening games at the tournament in Missoula, and Mission lost big to Stillwater Christian in St. Ignatius. 

Andrews has bad luck at World Championships, but great luck in love life

Polson native TJ Andrews didn’t get the results he wanted at the World Championships of flyboarding in Dubai a few weeks ago. But he did get something better. “There’s no prize bigger than what I got out of this trip,” he said on Monday night. Andrews proposed to his girlfriend, Brie Sellwood, and she said yes. “I had to do it right off the bat,” he said, “I was a little anxious.”

Column: On being detail-oriented in modern times

Lake House: Mental health facility opens

UPDATE: Pablo shooting suspect arrested

Pablo shooting suspect Ashley Rae Hewankorn, 28, was arrested Wednesday in Glacier County.

McElderry sentenced to 60 years in prison

By MICHELLE LOVATO

Lake County Justice Court

Ricardo Aceves Espinosa, misdemeanor operating with alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent blood alcohol level or greater, third offense. Guilty. Fined $1,000. Costs $85. Sentenced to jail for 180 days with 179 days suspended.

Athlete of the Week

After losing two great guards to graduation, Charlo’s Cheyenne Nagy has had to step up on the offensive side of the ball, making plays and controlling the offense for the Vikings. The 5’7” junior had 10 points in Charlo’s first game against Darby this past weekend, including two 3’s in the first quarter that got the team going. Then on Saturday, Nagy went off for 19 points against Drummond in the team’s 33-32 win, scoring over half of the team’s points.

Polson takes second at home meet

This past weekend, Polson hosted an opening wrestling tournament. Many local athletes competed well.

Charlo wins two, Arlee and TER split at tournament

Arlee, Charlo, and Two Eagle River all got their season started this past weekend at the opening tournament in Frenchtown.

Class C basketball starts season at Frenchtown tourney

The Class C boys basketball teams got their season started this past weekend with games in Frenchtown. 

The Light Parade

The newly renamed Lake County Parade of Lights took place on Friday night, complete with a sighting of Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree in Polson.

Thursday accidents begin in Lake County

Emergency dispatchers received a call at about 9:30 today that a single car roll over occurred on Highway 93 just north of mile marker 85. 

Area high schoolers REACH for health education

St. Luke Community Hospital receptionist Jasmine Bocksnick participated in the St. Luke Community Hospital REACH program two years ago. Today the 2014 Ronan High School graduate works at the hospital.

Jack McDonald

Jack McDonald, long-time Pullman businessman, passed away Friday, Nov. 20, at his Bishop Place home. He was 86. Jack, as he has long been known, was born Gordon Russell McDonald on October 25, 1929 in Polson. He was the youngest of four children to bless the William and Lucinda Keller McDonald family. Jack grew up near Polson and liked to play football for the high school team. Following graduation he travelled to Western Washington and worked for the railroad near Centralia. He married Ruby Wickard, a classmate of his from Polson, on August 9, 1950 in Bremerton, Wash. They lived in the Bremerton/Seattle area briefly before moving to Pullman in 1958. Jack bought and ran the Burgerville Drive-In in Pullman for many years. He was affectionately known all around town as “Hamburger Jack”. He also owned and operated the A & W Restaurant on Pullman’s Grand Avenue for many years. Jack was active with many endeavors throughout his life. He built up the corner near his A & W and dabbled in other investments with his brother. Jack was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He liked to golf, go hunting or fishing, and was a good bowler. Jack and Ruby liked to maintain a large garden and yard at their home. For many years Jack kept livestock at their home including everything from horses and cows to llamas.  He and Ruby liked to travel around the area visiting family or spending quality time at their lake home. Ruby passed away in May this year and Jack missed her every day since. He died six months to the day later. He is survived by his three children; Candy (David) Barnett of Gresham, Ore., Bob (Christine) McDonald of Tillamook, Ore., and Bill (Cindy) McDonald of Bigfork; 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; his brother, Robert McDonald of Vancouver, Wash. and a sister, Lenore Peterson of Bremerton, Wash. In addition to his wife Ruby, Jack was preceded in death by a son Jack McDonald in 1998 as well as an infant son, Michael, and by a brother, Roy McDonald of Colfax. The Rosary/Vigil Service was held on Friday, Nov. 27 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Pullman, Wash. The Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Sacred Heart. Graveside services followed at the Pullman Cemetery. Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman, Wash. is caring for the family. The family suggests memorial donations to the Sacred Heart Altar Society. Online condolences may be sent to the kimballfh.com website.

Judy Kay Chowning

Judy Kay Chowning, age 69, of Ronan, passed away in her home, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. She departed this life peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. 

Phillip L. Maxwell

Phillip L. Maxwell passed away at his home in Yuma, Ariz., on Saturday, Nov. 28, at the age of 91.

Terese Ann Devlin Foulke

Terese Ann Devlin Foulke, age 61, passed away Friday, Dec. 4, in her home in Big Arm, that she so loved, surrounded by her family.

Gregory Lloyd Ingraham

Gregory Lloyd Ingraham, age 58, of Ronan, died from cardiac arrest at his home on Sunday, Dec. 6. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Dec. 11 at the LDS Church in Ronan at 11 a.m. A viewing will be held from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m.

Robert (Bob) William Cook

Robert (Bob) William Cook passed away on Dec. 4, at Brookdale Senior Living Center in Missoula, at the age of 94.  

Deola Mary (Dee) Shryock

Deola Mary (Dee) Shryock, 94, from Polson, died at Heritage Place in Kalispell on Dec. 2. The Shryock family has lost their matriarch. She will be tremendously missed as the focal point for all her children and extended family. 

Mordecai James Holman

Buxton-Garcia baby boy

Taco Bell to open in mid December

Residents can’t help but notice a new restaurant on Polson hill. 

CAUGHT! CAPTURED! FOUND!

Marlo Albia Tonasket is in custody

Standoff forces St. Ignatius residents to evacuate their homes

After a witness saw Keith Baylor of St. Ignatius shoot a gun into the air at about 3 p.m. yesterday that person called emergency dispatchers. Baylor, who is wanted for outstanding warrants, is believed to have walked to a friend’s house while responders proceeded to the scene.

Truck slides off hillside driveway and into Flathead Lake

A full-size pick up truck warming up in its owners hillside driveway slipped away from its perch, across Highway 93 just east of Subway and into Flathead Lake.

Slide off and injury accidents in Lake County during icy pre-dawn

The Montana Department of Transportation is reporting that all Lake County roads are wet.

Local school districts on delays

The Polson School District is on a two-hour delay due to icy road conditions. 

Shots fired in Arlee shuts down area

Emergency responders began moving toward Arlee's "old church" area at about 3:30 this afternoon after a called notified dispatch that they heard shots fired in the area.

Winter weather advisory issued for today

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 11 p.m. tonight according to the National Weather Service in Missoula.