Reporter

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.

ARTICLES BY BERL TISKUS

Dog Tag Buddies brings healing to Pablo veteran

A gabled house with a killer view of the Mission Mountains is where Bill and Janet Austin and their dogs, Gretchen and Zippy, call home.

DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 3 HOURS, 46 MINUTES AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 DAY, 3 HOURS AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 DAY, 3 HOURS AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 1 DAY AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 1 DAY AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 1 DAY AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 1 DAY AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 1 DAY AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 1 DAY AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 1 DAY AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 1 DAY AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 4 WEEKS, 1 DAY AGO

Lake County weighs repairing fairgrounds grandstand in Ronan

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, built in 1932.

DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

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.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO