Polson Pirates down Sentinel after tough loss to Whitefish

The Polson Pirates baseball team rebounded from a tough Northwest A Conference loss to Whitefish with a convincing non-league win over Missoula Sentinel, improving to 3-1 on the season.

Kolton Turner still leads Mack Days totals with 1,468

Kolton Turner of Kalispell remains ahead in Spring Mack Days, with 14 days of catching 100 fish. He leads the Top Twenty category with a total of 1,468.

Area athletes shine at David Tripp Meet in Polson

Track and field athletes from smaller Lake County schools took several trips to the podium at the annual David Tripp Invitational, hosted at the Polson Sports Complex.

Tribes break ground on new 400 Horses Casino

Last Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new 400 Horses Casino on the outskirts of Polson opened to the steady pulse of two drums, Yamncut and Chief Cliff, as Gene Sorrell – attired in an eagle-feather headdress – blessed the drummers and the celebration.

Ronan Baseball reels off four straight wins

After opening the week with back-to-back lopsided losses, the Ronan baseball team bounced back in dominant fashion, rattling off four straight victories to improve to 4-3 on the season.

Legals for April, 17 2025

Roaming dogs are a menace

There are too many stray dogs and owned dogs running loose everywhere you go. Some people have 3-5 dogs running loose at any given time in packs. Yesterday I watched 5 or 6 dogs attack and chase a bigger dog down the street – what if it was a child?

Horse trading at the expense of Montana taxpayers

After blowing off property tax relief entirely during the 2023 Montana Legislative Session, our senators and representatives are on track to repeat the mistake.

Ronan relay wins at Libby Invite

Ronan athletes traveled to the 2025 Libby Invitational on Saturday, April 12, where they claimed a first-place relay finish and a shot-put championship at Logger Stadium.

Brown, Delaney tops at MCPS Invite

The Polson track and field team turned in a series of standout performances at the 2025 MCPS Invitational on Friday, April 11, with several first-place finishes.

Raymond "Ray" Bick, 86

Raymond “Ray” Paul Bick, 86, died of natural causes on April 9, 2025, at his home in Cherry Creek, Nev. He was born Aug. 4, 1938, in Ronan, the eighth of nine children born to Clarence and Evelyn Bick of Round Butte, west of Ronan. Services will be held April 19, at 10 a.m. at The Lake Funeral Home, 101 6th Ave. E. in Polson, followed by graveside military services at Mountain View Cemetery, 46727 N. Foothills Dr., Ronan.

Robert Silver Hanson Jr., 84

Robert Silver Hanson Jr., 84 of Polson, passed away peacefully April 9, 2025, in Kalispell, surrounded by his family. A funeral service will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson at noon Monday, April 21.

Two Mission Valley ranches protected for future generations

Two Mission Valley families who have farmed and ranched here for more than century have ensured that their legacies will endure.

Montana’s kids deserve more from Legislature

As moms, educators and lawmakers, we came to the Capitol this session with one clear goal: to improve opportunity for Montana’s kids. But with just weeks left in the legislative session, we’re concerned that we may leave Helena having done only the bare minimum – and that’s not good enough.

John P. Freemole, 74

John P. Freemole, age 74, passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at his residence in Polson.

Tom Mitchell, 69

Thomas Edward Mitchell, known to family and friends as Tom, passed away Feb. 16 at his Kalispell home after a courageous seven‐month battle with cancer. A celebration of his remarkable life will be held in Indiana on June 7, 2025.

John McCrorie Jr., 78

John McCrorie Jr., 78, passed away March 5, 2025, in Whitefish from natural causes, with his wife, Sandra, by his side.

Dog Tag Buddies brings healing to local veteran

Wriggly Zippy is a carefree Boxer, but four-year-old Gretchen has a serious side. The regal black Great Dane with splashy white stockings and white beauty marks is a service dog for Bill.

Legislature hits pause on Public Law 280

The future of Public Law 280, the law enforcement agreement between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and state and county governments, seems to be on pause – at least at the legislative level.

Patricia Salomon

Patricia Ann (Greene) Salomon, 95, passed away on April 1, 2025, in Polson, surrounded by family and friends.