Saturday, July 11, 2026
79.0°F

Time Capsule: From the weekly archives

BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 7 months AGO
by BERL TISKUS
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March 2023, and covers Ronan City Council, schools, ag and business. Berl grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and earned a degree in English education from MSU-Billings and a degree in elementary education from the University of Montana. Since moving to Polson three decades ago, she’s worked as a substitute teacher, a reporter for the Valley Journal and a secretary for Lake County Extension. | December 6, 2023 11:00 PM

Flathead Courier, Dec.6, 1973

Move to new school set for Friday

The much anticipated and long-awaited move of Polson High School from the old to the new buildings will take place on Friday, it was announced this week by Polson School Superintendent Karl D. Bell. 

Students, teachers and building personnel will all participate in the big move to new quarters, which will start in the morning. Some of the classes and materials will be totally moved into the new facilities for their sessions on that day, and others will be moved during free periods. The remainder of the move will be completed during the weekend. 

The move of the middle school to the old high school building will come within the next week or two. 

Scheduled to take place last night after Courier presstime was the dedication of the new Polson High School. Montana Governor Tom Judge was scheduled as guest speaker. A summary of his remarks will be presented in next week’s Courier as well as a pictorial report on the ceremony.

MPC pays first half of taxes

Lake County’s largest single taxpayer – the Montana Power Company – turned in its first half payment at the county treasurer’s office last week. 

Kerr Dam Superintendent Harold Crawford gave treasurer Marjorie Knaus a check in the amount of $273,854.88.  

St. Ignatius Post, Dec. 7, 1961

Mission PTA talent show nets $95

The St. Ignatius Parent-Teacher talent show Thursday was well received and the committee reports $95 was realized. This amount will go towards the $100 teacher training scholarship to be presented next spring.

Sharon Orr won first place in the show, receiving $7.50 for her solo, accompanied by Tusco Heath and Dave Conner on guitars; Clint Burnett of Arlee won second prize, $5, with his reading of “The Cremation of Sam McGee,” and the St. Ignatius High School triple trio won third place. 

Judges were Mrs. Robert Larrson, Ray Jensen and Mrs. Gertrude Stoll. Nineteen entries took part in the show. 

Nov. 30, 1961

Plane makes an emergency landing

Last Sunday a plane piloted by Col. John Vance, Helena, wing commander of the Montana Civil Air Patrol, made an emergency landing on U.S. Highway 93 near the Krantz ranch. 

Vance and three passengers, Fred Naegle, Dr. Sears and son had left Helena about 11:30 a.m. Sunday with an eight-hour weather clearance for Polson where they intended to pick up a plane owned by Dr. Sears who had left it there some time ago for an annual check-up and overhaul.

Finding the runway at Polson unplowed and other airfields in the area covered with 14 to 20 inches of snow, they started back to Helena when the fog rolled in. Vance checked the highway for traffic and made an emergency landing rather than attempt to go on to Helena in the extremely low visibility.

Vance made contact with Major Glen Knoppof the St. Ignatius Civil Air Patrol and Highway Patrolman Joe Sol. With the help of Major and Mrs. Knopp, Bob Marshall and Bob Black, the plane was taxied to St. Ignatius and parked near the Knopp residence until Tuesday when the weather cleared to enable it to be moved to Polson. 

Knopp took the men to Missoula where they rented a car to return to Helena. They returned on Tuesday to pick up Dr. Sears plane in Polson and were able to fly to Helena on Tuesday afternoon. 

   

 

ARTICLES BY BERL TISKUS

July 9, 2026 midnight

Traveling powwow team arrives first and leaves last

Do you know who the first people to arrive at the Arlee Powwow grounds each morning are, besides the campers who slept there, and who the last to leave are?

‘We honor those who came before us’: Arlee Esyapqeyni Celebration hosts 126th annual powwow
July 9, 2026 midnight

‘We honor those who came before us’: Arlee Esyapqeyni Celebration hosts 126th annual powwow

The 126th Arlee Esyapqeyni Celebration livened up the Arlee Powwow grounds from June 30 to July 5. Campers could set up camp on June 30, when the gates opened, and tipis dotted the sea of tents.

The Cable Girls win grand prize in Arlee Fourth parade
July 9, 2026 midnight

The Cable Girls win grand prize in Arlee Fourth parade

“Happy Birthday America” was the theme for Arlee’s Fourth of July parade, celebrating 250 years of the U.S.A. There were American flags billowing everywhere and red, white, and blue clothing was popular.