Saturday, April 18, 2026
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Bats, witches, and clowns, Oh My!

BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 5 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. Contact her at [email protected] 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)
 
 



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