Commissioners hold hearing on proposed construction notice

The Lake County Commissioners are holding a public hearing today on a resolution that would require property owners to file a “notice of new construction” with the planning department. The proposed fee is $5 if filed before the project begins, and goes up to $1,000 if filed after construction begins.

This land is your land

One thing of great value, that every American citizen owns, is public lands. National parks and monuments, Forest Service lands, Bureau of Land Management lands, rivers. They are where we hike, sightsee, fish, hunt and camp. Public lands are at risk of being sold.

New pediatric dentist comes to town

If one walks into the recently opened building that sits diagonally across the highway from Mcdonald’s they might think it to be like any other dental office in the United States. Big glass doors enter into an open waiting area with a semi-oval desk to check-in at. That is living life at the level of an adult.

St-Char-Ro: A blooming success at 50

Main Street in Ronan was closed to traffic Saturday as St-Char-Ro celebrated its 50th anniversary with a street fair, inflatable bounce houses, classic cars and even a miniature race track.

Legals for May, 22 2025

Gregg Doerfler, 70

Gregg Allen Doerfler, age 70, passed away on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at his residence in Polson. There are no services planned at this time for Gregg.

Will you show some humanity and look out for Montanans?

Let’s talk about how Republicans in Congress want to throw millions of Americans off their health insurance so the ultra-wealthy and corporations can get tax breaks. If this statement sounds hyperbolic, I hate to break it to you: it’s the cold, hard truth.

Garden of the Rockies Museum reopens in June

The Garden of the Rockies Museum in Ronan provides a place where the essential connections between generations, represented by the materials, images, and stories of local history can be protected, shared and used as educational tools.

Casino construction gets underway

Kraus-Anderson (KA) recently began construction on 400 Horses Casino, located west of Polson on tribal land and managed by S&K Gaming for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Weary weeder could use a hand with Main Street flowerbeds

It all started five years ago. I noticed the VFW bump-out, as I call the flowerbeds at the four corners on Polson’s Main Street, was looking pretty ratty. My husband, father and grandfathers are/were veterans. I felt they and all veterans deserved a better recognition.

SKC names health science building for Dorene Vallee

Salish Kootenai College honors the legacy of Dorene Dupuis Vallee with a ceremony naming the Vallee Building at 11 a.m. May 30.

Polson Boxing Club member competes at Golden Gloves

Polson Boxing Club athlete Oziah HeavyRunner represented Montana at the Rocky Mountain Regional Golden Gloves Tournament, held April 12-13 in Salt Lake City.

Legals for May, 15 2025

Volunteers plant 33 ponderosa pines at Finley Point park

On Earth Day 2025, Encompass LLC sponsored a tree restoration project at the Finley Point Unit of Flathead Lake State Park in partnership with Montana State Parks, AmeriCorps and the Montana State Parks Foundation.

Jury finds Ailport guilty of attempted homicide, arson

Paul Ailport, accused of setting his truck on fire and intentionally driving into his neighbor’s home, was convicted by a Lake County jury on felony charges of attempted deliberate homicide with use of weapon, criminal mischief and arson.

The Big (true) Beautiful (not so much) Bill

After all the concern about runaway government spending and the hand wringing about the budget deficit why on earth would Congress want to pass a tax bill that cuts taxes for the 400-plus American billionaires, pays for it by penalizing sick and lower income people and STILL increases the deficit by $3 trillion?

Saving the lives of innocent children is never a crime

The October 7, 2023, attack on Israel marked a horrible day. Some Montanans might say this issue doesn’t involve us. I disagree. When genocide is committed using American tax dollars and equipment, it becomes our problem.

View from the Library: A summer preview

Where does the time go? It’s hard to believe we’re already gearing up for another Summer Reading Program here at the library. The “Color Our World” program runs from June 9 through Aug. 7 and we’re bringing back the beloved Bug Race.

Ag Days brings kids to the Cheff ranch

Sun shining through trees dappled the grass and washed over the bright spring grass as school buses trundled down the road to Fourth Grade Ag Days at Buddy and Brittany Cheff’s place above Kicking Horse Reservoir, south of Ronan.

River Honoring celebrates elders, educators

With the Flathead River flowing behind him, Elder Johnny Arlee opened the 38th annual River Honoring on Monday night with a prayer in Salish and some special words for the gathering. This year’s River Honorees are elders Violet Trahan and Germaine White and educators Nicole Camel, Polson, and Jennifer Jilot and Bill Stockton, Arlee.