Ronan City Council tutored on SIDs
Local bankers Jamie Buhr and Brennin Grainey attended the April 9 Ronan City Council meeting to present facts on Special Improvement Districts. Mark Drinkwater, developer of Mission Valley Homesites, had approached the council regarding an SID for the first phase of a 221-lot subdivision on the southeast edge of Ronan.
Rocky Point residents worry about traffic impact of casino
More than 15 people interested in traffic on Hwy. 93 near Irvine Flats Road and Rocky Point Road attended a meeting at the Lake County Courthouse last Monday with Bob Vosen from the Montana Department of Transportation.
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.
Siips aims to creatively quench thirst
Does a “dirty” Dr. Pepper, concocted with fresh lime, coconut and vanilla, sound good? Siips at 80 Heritage Lane in Polson makes this drink and many other custom beverages.
Ronan Mill blends coffee, flowers and wildebeest
Wildebeests, coffee, lotus drinks, and flowers lend a unique ambiance to the Ronan Mill on Round Butte Road. The neon coffee sign in its window gives just a hint of the surprising business inside.
Local ranchers feted at annual ag banquet
St. Ignatius farmers Dennis and Melvina Krantz were honored for their contributions to agriculture in the Mission Valley at the 45th annual Ag Appreciation Banquet, held March 28 at the community center in Ronan.
Ronan Police Officer Gilliland honored at council meeting
The Ronan City Council’s March 26 meeting began with Ronan Police Chief Rob Jacobson presenting Ronan Police Officer J. Gilliland a commendation issued by the Montana Public Safety Board Standards and Training Post Council for outstanding conduct and excellence in public safety.
Bud Cheff entertains gathering of Montana History Buffs
Bud Cheff was the guest speaker at the latest meeting of the Montana History Buffs held at the Miracle of America Museum on March 19.
B-I-N-G-O: Polson seniors host weekly game
Bingo is a regular Friday night event at the Polson Senior Citizens Center. About 30 people were seated in the main room of the center recently as Randy Burley called out the letter and number combo, and players quickly scanned the rows on their cards.
Swanky Sisters moves to Creamery Mall
Owner Beverley Osterwyk and her crew moved Swanky Sisters Mercantile to a new location in the Creamery Mall in Ronan three weeks ago, and they’re still unpacking boxes of fabric, notions, baby items and gifts.
Ronan Council adopts hazard mitigation plan, final budget
Mark Clary, head of the Lake County Emergency Management Office, asked the Ronan City Council to pass a resolution to adopt the Montana Western Montana Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2024-2029. They passed it unanimously at their March 12 meeting.
Antique Ronan grandstand needs help
Last year’s winds peeled a portion of tin roof from the west covered grandstand at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan. But the damaged roof turned out to not be the only issue with the aging structure.
Constitutional Road Show explores democracy's foundation
The Montana Constitution Road Show travelled to Polson last Friday, drawing a full house in the North Lake County Library meeting room.
Polson chief authors books on Public Law 280 and Indian law
Weighty stacks of “Odyssey of the Flathead Indian Reservation and Public Law 280” and “An Odyssey of American Indian Case Law” sat beside George Simpson as he signed copies last Friday at the North Lake County Public Library in Polson.
Ronan City Council plans to “go to school” on SIDs
Mission Valley Homesites developer Mark Drinkwater and his attorney, James Raymond, were on hand at last Wednesday’s Ronan City Council meeting. They were on the agenda with a second request to create a Special Improvement District (SID) in Drinkwater’s 221-lot subdivision on the southeast edge of Ronan.
Hale family frustrated with pace of justice
Last Wednesday was a sunny morning – too beautiful for the sadness members of Kaylee Hale’s family and friends felt as they gathered in front of the Lake County Courthouse. Ravens cawed raucously as Hale’s grandmother and aunts handed out bright red signs and t-shirts reading “Justice for Kaylee.”
Jack Stivers steps in as county extension agent
Longtime MSU Extension agent Jack Stivers is back in the saddle again, sharing wisdom and ag advice at the MSU Lake County Extension Office in Ronan.
PHS principal promoted to superintendent July 1
Polson High School principal Andy Fors will be changing jobs July 1 when he steps into the role of superintendent of School District 23. Mike Cutler, who joined the district in 2021, is retiring at the end of the school year.
Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
Stories harvested from the pages of the Flathead Courier, Feb. 23, 1950
Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
Stories harvested from the pages of The Flathead Courier, Feb. 19, 1925.
Four members appointed to Ronan study commission
Ronan Mayor Chris Adler appointed volunteers Chuck Holman, Rebecca Galiazzi, Niko Jackson and Noah McDonald as members of the voter-approved study commission tasked with looking at Ronan’s city government.
Luck and hard work lift Charlo barrel racer to the top
Some rodeo people won’t wear a yellow shirt in a rodeo arena and others will only wear a certain “lucky” hat. But for Charlo barrel racer Abby Knight, luck is woven into six braids in her horse’s mane.
FLIC screens 47 films, and the winners are …
With 47 films screening at the Showboat Stadium 6 Theatre, the Flathead Lake International Cinemafest was a big presence in Polson last weekend, thanks to David and Jessica King and their crew of FLIC volunteers.
New owners take the reins at Muley Bluz
Effie and Shannon Clairmont celebrated the New Year as the new owners of Muley Bluz Cowboys Toys in Ronan.
Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
Stories gleaned from The Flathead Courier, Published on the Shores of Beautiful Flathead, America's Finest Lake, Feb. 16, 1950:
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.
New crop inducted into Ronan Hall of Fame
The Ronan Hall of Fame inducted a crop of new members Feb. 1 at the Community Center in Ronan.
Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
News items gleaned from The Flathead Courier, Feb. 7, 1925
Biz Briefs
New Buffalo Gals Market opens in Ronan; SBG Polson celebrates first anniversary
Grace Heiner: Ronan junior "brightens up everyone's day"
An exceptional student athlete with a wide circle of friends and activities, Ronan’s Grace Heiner is the recipient of the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award from Logan Health. Heiner will receive a $500 check to give to the organization of her choice.
Ronan council updated on tourism grant
Jan Tusick, executive director of Mission West Community Development Organization, updated the Ronan City Council at last Wednesday’s meeting on the Pilot Community Tourism Grant from the Montana Department of Commerce that the City of Ronan received.
Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
News stories gleaned from the archives of the Mission Valley News, Jan. 17, 1977.
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.
Winter Fest celebrates sled dogs and snow machines
Snow sifted down gently Saturday, and the temperature hovered around 33 degrees – perfect for the Miracle of America Museum’s annual Winter Fest.
Ronan council considers PAL Memory Care, gravel pit subdivision
Keith Deaville, who owns PAL Memory Care in Ronan, Polson and St. Ignatius, approached the Ronan City Council at last Wednesday’s meeting to make them aware of two construction projects he has pending in Ronan.
Irvine Flats ranchers win state stewardship award
Irvine Flats west of Polson is cow country, with lots of grass, hills and swales. Ranch families are the main residents in the sparsely populated area, and one of those families, Greg and Lynn Gardner, their daughter Brittany and her husband Wacey Cathey, received the 2024 Montana Stockgrowers Association Stewardship Award.
Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
Stories gleaned from the Mission Valley News, Jan. 13, 1977
Ronan business uses high-tech oven to "cook" wood
About a month ago, a new oven arrived in Ronan that weighs 84,000 pounds. It took two or three cranes to unload the beast and maneuver it into its new home at Tech Woods USA on Terrace Lake Road.
Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
Headlines harvested from The Ronan Pioneer, Dec. 28, 1924
The Warming Center: Keeping people warm and safe
A tidy white house and a long bunkhouse on 5th Ave. E. in Pablo welcome guests to the Warming Center on chilly nights.
Switch flipped on Lights Under the Big Sky
Airplanes flying over the Mission Valley must have wondered what was happening in Ronan Friday evening to illuminate the night sky. The answer is Lights Under the Big Sky at the fairgrounds.
Parade of Lights brightens Main Street
The Ronan Parade of Lights was a one-horse parade, but that one horse was worth seeing with lights in his tail and a rider in a beautiful Pendleton jacket, accompanying a float raising awareness of No More Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
Articles harvested from the Flathead Courier, Dec. 26, 1974
Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
Stories from 1924 gleaned from the pages of the Flathead Courier.
Agency on Aging breaks ground on new transit center
Western Montana Transit broke ground on its new building in Ronan Nov. 19. Located on Hwy. 93 across from Town Pump, the new structure will provide a central location for the department’s vehicles to be under cover, as well as a large community center room and five offices.
Ronan's Thanksgiving dinner has family feel
Those attending the Ronan Community Thanksgiving Dinner last week were greeted at the door by a smiling Diane and Phil Grant, wishing them “Happy Thanksgiving.”
Polson dinner a giant exercise in generosity
Last Thursday morning in Polson, a line of cars with community members coming to pick up their Thanksgiving feast reached from the Mission Valley Elks down the right side of Main Street to Hwy. 93.
Tree-lighting launches holiday countdown
It was a countdown to 6 p.m. Saturday evening when the Polson Christmas tree's lights first blinked on, spreading light around the lawn at the Lake County Courthouse.
Hunt for treasures during Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday – Shop Small will be Nov. 30. Shops, stores, and merchants around the Mission Valley are planning displays, discounts, sales, and treats to reward local shoppers for staying in the Mission Valley and supporting local businesses.
Reciprocity was theme of SKC climate symposium
A regional climate symposium held at Salish Kootenai College on Nov. 21 gathered representatives from state, federal, tribal, and non-government organizations to discuss climate efforts and projects.