Tuesday, May 13, 2025
63.0°F

Bats, witches, and clowns, Oh My!

BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 6 months AGO
by BERL TISKUS
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March, 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. Contact her at btiskus@leaderadvertiser.com or 406-883-4343. | November 2, 2023 12:00 AM

“Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt Kickers rumbled on the sound system, and Beetlejuice was cooking hotdogs on the grill. It was Halloween Trunk or Treat at the Mission Valley Super Oval on North Reservoir Road on Sunday.

This is the second year Beetlejuice, alias Tony Undem, and his wife the Mad Hatter, alias CleAnn Undem, hosted a trunk or treat at their speedway. 

“We try to get a few race cars out on the track,” Tony said, noting that it’s hard to get them started when it’s cold. Several race cars showed up, one with a big black cat on the roof and another with a scary motorcyclist ready to blast off.

Tony credits CleAnn with posting events and items to Facebook and keeping the racing community informed. Last year’s candy fest had about 100 excited kids attending, and this one appeared to be equally popular. 

Cars and pickups, regular, vintage, and race, pulled onto the track in front of the bleachers, added lights, spiderwebs and fangs to their trunks, and then set up the candy. Shawn and Ange Parker decorated their car last year but ran out of candy so they stocked up this year. 

The onslaught of kids attired as dinosaurs, Wednesday Addams, ghosts, unicorns, witches, pirates, creepy clowns and more began at 5 p.m. as kids of all ages assembled for Halloween, racetrack-style. 

    It wouldn't be Halloween without a black cat perched on a race car, giving kids and adults a fright. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
 
 
    This pikachu named Heath is interested in all the pumpkins, the other kids, and the buckets of candy. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
 
 
    A skeletal biker readies himself for a moonlight ride as soon as the Mission Valley Super Oval Trick or Trunk is completed. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
 
 
    The Hocus Pocus sisters, Harley Cullinan, left, Alice Mayne, and Alissa Siple are ready to trick or trunk at the Mission Valley Super Oval. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
 
 



MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

Super Oval hosts super egg hunt
Lake County Leader | Updated 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Turkey Trotters prepare for pie and stuffing
Lake County Leader | Updated 1 year, 5 months ago
Busy Elves supply materials for Christmas fun
Lake County Leader | Updated 1 year, 5 months ago

ARTICLES BY BERL TISKUS

Backcountry group shares love of the wilderness with Lake County youth
May 7, 2025 midnight

Backcountry group shares love of the wilderness with Lake County youth

Mules Lucy, Sadie, and Suzy, and Charlie, a horse, were all tied to the fence at Hobbyhorse Place, north of Polson, waiting for something to do on a recent Saturday. That something was about 20 children coming to a mule packing, camping, backcountry event put on by the Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen.

Two Eagle students showcase talent at Art Slam
May 8, 2025 midnight

Two Eagle students showcase talent at Art Slam

Emcee Tilden Sankadore held up his cell phone flashlight and started swaying to the song one of the Two Eagle River students was singing and the audience joined him. Singing was one of the many talents on display last Wednesday at Two Eagle River School’s 23rd annual Art Slam.

Big rig island opens at Mountain West Cenex
May 8, 2025 midnight

Big rig island opens at Mountain West Cenex

CHS Mountain West Co-op in Ronan opened a new facility that’s specifically for 18 wheelers two weeks ago. The new five-pump station is located just south of the current Cenex building.