“Among the best”: Ronan Chiefs claim fourth at State

The Ronan Chiefs capped off a trophy year at the 2025 State A Boys Basketball Tournament with a fourth-place finish, battling through the grueling three-day event at MetraPark’s First Interstate Arena and Lockwood High School Gym from March 13-15.

handMADE Montana strengthens arts ecosystem

As 2025 approaches, the Polson-based HandMADE Montana celebrated a banner year of supporting local and regional artists, fostering community engagement, and making a meaningful impact through its events, retail store, and online platform.

Ronan softball punches ticket to divisionals

Polson tennis coach Bob Hislop has transitioned his mindset into getting his kids prepared for the the Class-A Divisionals that will be held Tuesday and Wednesday.

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.

Anglers brave rough water during week two of Mack Days

With the second week of 2025 Spring Mack Days in the rearview mirror, anglers still have seven more weekends to enter before the final day on May 10.

Ronan places third at Western Boys Invite

Ronan placed third as a team at the Western Boys Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 3-4, in the Chiefs’ home gym. Ronan had two champions, and two others placed second.

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.

Polson Chamber honors community champions

Women wore flamboyant hats and frisky dresses, while men took their best stab at Kentucky Derby apparel in the Polson Chamber of Commerce’s annual community banquet, held Feb. 21 at KwaTaqNuk Resort. The chamber celebrated the outstanding contributions of local businesses, volunteers and leaders while embracing a Kentucky Derby theme to recognize those “who go the extra mile for Polson.”

A-N-O-M-A-L-Y: Winners flummoxed by spelling bee outcome

The lone participant in last Thursday’s Lake County Spelling Bee who was not eligible for the state contest was also the only speller with a perfect record: Heidi Huber of Bigfork.

Biz Briefs

The Polson Chamber of Commerce begins 2025 with a series of updates and initiatives designed to strengthen local business community by providing greater opportunities for growth, networking, and education to members and residents. Organizers of Flathead Cherry Festival encourage artists, makers, and craftspeople to apply for the event, held July 26-27 in downtown Polson.

Holiday Treasures a hit

$4,500 of items given away in season's first drawing

RONAN - Frigid weather conditions couldn’t deter a crowd from assembling in the middle of Main Street on Saturday in Ronan, as dozens of people turned out to try their luck at this year’s “Holiday Treasures” drawing, sponsored by the Ronan Chamber of Commerce.

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.

Irwin Donald Bangen, 92

Erwin Donald Bangen, 92, of Hot Springs, walked into Heaven on Christmas Day 2024, surrounded by family, pure as the driven snow. The service will be held on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Lonepine Hall (52 Lonepine Road, Lonepine) with graveside Military Funeral Honors following at the Lonepine Cemetery. Following the services, a dinner and a “short snort” will be provided by the family at the hall.

Community event promotes healthy babies and families

The parking lot in front of the Joe McDonald Health and Education Center was packed on Saturday morning for the Love at First Sight Baby Fair. The event was the work of CSKT Early Childhood Services.

Dwain Edwards, 61

Dwain Harrison Edwards, age 61, passed away peacefully on Feb. 12, 2025, at his home in Polson. He was born on Jan. 11, 1964, in Billings to Oshel and Bette Edwards.

County wades into battle over 95-mill levy

There’s a battle brewing between state and county governments regarding the 95-mill levy, which helps balance school funding levels between richer and poorer counties across Montana.

Douglas J. Wold, 85

Douglas Jerome Wold, 85, of Polson, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and respected attorney, passed away on March 8, 2025, peacefully at his lake home in Polson.

Colorado swimmers take on Flathead Lake

Mark Johnston may not have had the best of luck during his attempt to swim the length of Flathead Lake three weeks ago, but last Friday, he guided two of his friends though 15 hours of a grueling swim on the lake.

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.”

Whoopin' it up with Wylie and the Wild West

Mission Valley Live brought Wylie and the Wild West to the Ronan Performing Arts Center on Friday night, and the place was packed, with plenty of whooping and hollering from both the stage and the audience.