Time Capsule: Flathead fugitive, tuberculosis rampant, well runs dry
DOWN MEMORY LANE – A historic photo of the era before the National Bison Range was established in Moiese, when buffalo really did roam freely across the Mission Valley. (Mission Valley News, June 8, 1983)
From the archives of the Flathead Courier, the Ronan Pioneer and the Mission Valley News: the three weeklies that were combined to make the Lake County Leader:
Ronan Pioneer, June 8, 1923
Charlo Star sold out
The Charlo Star has sold out the people of Charlo …
During the recent campaign for the county seat it was exceedingly difficult to understand the attitude of Ronan’s nearest neighbor in opposing Ronan for county seat. Like all other crimes, in time all things will become exposed. It now develops that the editor of the Charlo Star led the hosts opposing Ronan for county seat for the proverbial “thirty pieces of silver.”
A creamery was to be built at Charlo, Reclamation Headquarters were to go there; the smoke stacks of industry would ascend and the Charlo Star would stand by the ship and father in these movements …
Flathead fugitive captured at last
Charles Mischel, who has been a fugitive from justice since March 23, has been captured at Republic, Wash.
Mischel is alleged to have shot Ed Bourgoin, pool room owner of Polson. It was said that Bourgoin had gone to the Mischel home when Charles, who was there as a guest of his brother, on whom Bourgoin had gone to call, shot the visitor. Bourgoin lived for about a week.
New school district wanted
At a meeting in D’Aste, it was decided to cut off a section including Charlo, D’Aste and the Ridge school for the purpose of forming a new district and creating a new school system.
Representatives were present from St. Ignatius and discussed the proposed district from the south end of District 28. Leon school was discussed and it was generally agreed that school was logically in Charlo territory.
It was decided that the district could be cut off with lines as far south as the buffalo park, to somewhere about Crow Creek for the north line, while the east line could be made near the stage road and the west to the ridge.
Flathead Courier, June 11, 1953
Schall wins Polson rodeo
Billie Schall of Arlee was the top money winner at the Polson rodeo last weekend. Schall had the best all-around average of all participants.
Despite a steady downpour, Polson staged the rodeo Saturday and Sunday. Some events had to be postponed a day after a heavy rain pelted the rodeo grounds.
VFW sponsors regatta
The VFW is sponsoring the 18th annual Regatta during the Centennial celebration Aug. 8 and 9. The regatta is expected to be the biggest ever produced in Polson. Along with the races there will be a giant flotilla featuring water skiing, surfboard riding and in-board races.
Community considers x-ray survey
A community meeting will be held at the Ronan high school Friday night to discuss the possibility of having an intensified chest x-ray survey in Lake county.
The last time the county was x-rayed in 1951, 41 per cent of the adult population was x-rayed whereas if the county undertakes an intensified survey it is expected that very close to 100 per cent will be processed. Lake county has one of the highest death rates in the state from tuberculosis. Having an intensified chest x-ray survey is one way to help get rid of this problem.
Mission Valley News, June 8, 1983
Flammable water well
To add variety to the emerging story of interest in oil and gas exploration in the Mission Valley, a man in Charlo has discovered that he can set fire to his water well.
To be sure, the flame from what he believes is natural gas trapped in a tank doesn’t burn long before exhausting the fuel. But Herman Wipplinger says he isn’t catching all the gas that comes out of his well either. He figures that if he could do that he’d have enough to heat his home.
St. Ignatius runs low on water
In a late breaking development, town officials climbed to inspect Mission’s new water towner Tuesday night and discovered that it was there all right, but contained precious little water.
With the level standing at only 12 feet, Mayor Ken Hurt immediately ordered alternate day sprinkling regulations into effect. “If we had a fire right now the crew would run out of water in two hours,” he said.
Although the tank and water distribution system are both nearly new, it seems that the town’s lone well isn’t capable of keeping up with demand when so many residents are sprinkling their lawns and gardens.