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Rocky Point residents worry about traffic impacts of new casino
The intersection of Rocky Point Road with Highway 93 north of Polson is always busy, especially during the summer months as lakeshore residents struggle to get on and off the highway. It’s likely to get worse with construction vehicles entering and exiting Hwy. 93 from Irvine Flats Road where building has begun on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ new casino, 400 Horses.

PL 280 saga winds down with three signatures
Monday marked a quiet end to a long-running saga as the three Lake County commissioners each signed a resolution rescinding three previous attempts to remove the county from the responsibilities enshrined in Public Law 280.

Sawdust flies at Ronan's Chainsaw Rendezvous
Chainsaws were growling, grumbling and whirring amid a nest of extension cords, drifts of sawdust, and many bottles of water. Must have been the annual Mission Valley Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous in Ronan. It began with move-in day on Thursday, and carving Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Young Polson resident says ducks deserve a hearing
Ducks face discrimination in the City of Polson, and Johnny Lapotka aims to change that.
Fire season amps up on and off reservation
Fire season appears to be amping up earlier than usual in western Montana, with two fire starts last week. Ongoing dry, windy conditions prompted the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire to elevate the danger level from moderate to high on Tuesday.

Charlo Class of '25: Small but mighty
Fourteen seniors collected their diplomas in the Charlo gym Sunday – perhaps the smallest graduating class in Lake County. Small but mighty, according to commencement speaker and social studies teacher Mike Mercer, who described them as “the most fun, interesting, thought-provoking group of young adults I've ever been around.”

Jacob McConnell, 41
Jacob “Jake” David McConnell, 41, of Belgrade, passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2025. He grew up in the Ronan and Polson area. His absence leaves an immeasurable void in the lives of those who knew and loved him. But his legacy – the way he lived, loved, laughed, and lifted up others – will live on. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Mission Valley Food Fling: Burgers
A hamburger has become something of an American tradition. Like the Mets, Kevin Costner or country music, hamburgers are a part of the very fabric of this nation, and the Mission Valley has a few businesses that have been serving pretty darn good burgers for generations.

Harlon Leishman does high school in high style
If you haven't heard of Leishman, he’s hard to miss on the track because he’s typically near the front of the pack – which included a sixth place finish at the state track meet this year in the 3200 – and the rather unique style that he has become famous for.

Ronan grads told: "No more time for procrastination"
The Ronan High School Band played the processional ushering in the Class of 2025 last Friday evening. The stands of Laverne Parrish Memorial Field were filled with parents, grandparents, relatives and friends, many holding flowers, who came to celebrate the 89 graduates of Ronan High School.

Michael Taylor
Michael A. Taylor, retired rancher, cosmetologist, state senator and businessman of Rollins, passed away on May 27, 2025. A celebration of Michael’s life will take place at 11 a.m. June 28, 2025, at Polson First Presbyterian Church.

Craig Matelich, 69
Dr. Craig C. Matelich, M.D., 69, entered into eternal life on May 10, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz., surrounded by his loved ones. The Vigil will be 6-8 p.m. June 12 and the Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. June 13, both at Immaculate Conception Church in Polson. Interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery.
View from the Library: Color Our World
Summer has finally arrived at the North Lake County Library which means the return of the annual Summer Reading Program. The “Color Our World” runs from June 9-Aug. 7.
PROTECT Act would expand tribal jurisdiction in drug cases
U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zinke have joined other legislators in introducing the bipartisan “Protection for Reservation Occupants Against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today (PROTECT) Act” to combat drug trafficking in tribal communities.

Polson man charged with rape
A trial was set for a Polson man accused of raping a woman at her place of employment. Barnell Kentrel Gadison, 45, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson May 28 to sexual intercourse without consent.

Mission High School graduation shines brightly
This past Saturday, MHS held their graduation for the class of 2025 – a group of 22 that, judging by the number of people in attendance at the outdoor ceremony, clearly had quite an impact on the community.
Need some good news?
Need some good news? Here you go: Most people still support: the Constitution, the Statue of Liberty, free speech, the Fourth Estate, separation of church and state, separation of powers, our institutions, due process, the law, the courts, the emoluments clause ...
Excitement abounds at youth football camp
Last Tuesday through Thursday, the Pirate football field right next to the high school was jam-packed with boys and girls from kindergarten all the way up to grade seven, excited to take on drills and play games.
Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
Stories harvested from the Lake County Leader, June 6, 2016
MDT to revamp Third Ave. intersection in Ronan
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Riverside Contracting Inc. will begin work next week to improve the intersection of U.S. Highway 93 with Third Avenue and Old U.S. 93 in Ronan.