The last best column
In sad news, this is the final issue of the Leader that I’ll contribute to.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Area high schoolers warned of DUI danger
POLSON - It’s hard to imagine a drunk driver responsible for killing two people befriending a young man who had his bright future forever altered as a passenger in a separate DUI crash.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Mission police chief injured in dog attack
ST. IGNATIUS ?— St. Ignatius police chief Jeffrey Ferguson has been sidelined from work for at least a week as he recovers from a dog attack last Thursday.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Top flight
We all have our pressure-filled days at work. Keith Urbach can certainly relate.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Counting sheep
BIG ARM — The still winter air was whipped into windy chaos as a helicopter roared toward the ground at Big Arm State Park last Wednesday.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Senators visit SKC
PABLO — Salish Kootenai College (SKC) welcomed Montana’s senatorial delegation last weekend, as U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and his newly-appointed colleague, Sen. John Walsh, paid a visit to campus to meet with students, educators and administrators.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Taking the plunge
POLSON — “You’ll feel like a Teletubby,” warned Matt Sisler, as I prepared to shadow the Polson Fire Department’s ice rescue team during a recent training exercise.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Main Street looks to rebound
POLSON — The restaurant Ricciardi’s on Main closed its doors last week, reportedly for being unable to withstand the slow winters with which its owners had to contend.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Peck turns down Libby's offer
CHARLO — Thom Peck will remain at the helm of Charlo schools after declining an offer to become the next superintendent for the Libby School District last week.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Fire and ice
POLSON — With a sheet of ice once again blanketing Polson Bay, the Polson Fire Department’s emergency ice rescue team is ready to spring into action at any moment.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Church "Souper Bowl" collects 4,000 cans
RONAN — The Seattle Seahawks weren’t the only ones to put up big numbers on Super Bowl Sunday, as the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Ronan enjoyed its most successful “Souper Bowl” ever, collecting 4,004 cans of soup that were split between the Bread Basket in Ronan, and Polson Loaves and …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
New bridge replaces worn log structure
RONAN — Seventeen residents of a remote area east of Ronan have now been outfitted with a secure connection to the outside world following the completion of a new bridge on Michel Road, near the base of the Mission Mountains.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Madplume convicted for rape, murder
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
"Owl" be back?
POLSON — Another year and another historic irruption of snowy owls.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Duplex damaged in Polson apartment fire
POLSON — A Polson apartment sustained approximately $120,000 in damages during a blaze that ignited last Thursday morning.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Hot Springs murder trial begins
POLSON — As the Leader went to press on Tuesday, the second day of Melvin Madplume’s murder trial had concluded with no verdict yet determined.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Polson goes on lockdown
On Tuesday morning, Polson schools went on a district-wide lockdown for unspecified reasons. Later in the day, district officials issued the following press release:
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
HALL OF FAME DEBATE: That doesn't belong in a museum
“That belongs in a museum!”
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Judge tosses out Salazar lawsuit
PABLO — Last week, a lawsuit that aimed to distribute 100 percent of the Salazar settlement to enrolled members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes was dismissed by a judge in tribal court.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Drive-by suspect pleads not guilty
POLSON — The first person charged in last month’s drive-by shootings in Pablo appeared in district court last week, as 20-year-old Francis Burke, Jr. pled not guilty to four felonies, including two counts of assault with a weapon, criminal endangerment, and criminal possession of dangerous drugs.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Calling all dads
POLSON — The cafeteria at Linderman Elementary School was filled to capacity last Thursday night, as 77 dads and male guardians joined their children to learn more about the Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer program being piloted at the school this year. The program - which stands for “Dads of Great Students” …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Compact discussed in Helena
HELENA - On Monday, the legislative Water Policy Interim Committee met before a large crowd in Helena to discuss a new report released by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Reserve Compact Commission regarding the negotiated water compact for the Flathead Reservation.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
City attorney resigns
POLSON - Longtime Polson city attorney James Raymond announced his resignation at a special meeting of the city commission on Monday, Dec. 23.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Conducting Christmas cheer
ST. IGNATIUS — For both children and adults, there’s something spellbinding about watching toy trains circle their tracks, clattering timelessly through idyllic miniaturized scenery.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
All shook up
CROMWELL ISLAND — A magnitude 3.1 earthquake shook the area at around 1 p.m. last Wednesday, with Flathead Lake’s Cromwell Island identified as the temblor’s epicenter.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
COLUMN: No shortage of holiday spirit
When they’re not gawking at the beauty of the lake or the majesty of the Missions, I’ve often overheard visitors from out-of-state mention how nice the people are in our fair corner of Montana.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
3 incumbents fall in tribal council elections
PABLO — Change is coming to CSKT leadership after three incumbent tribal council members, including the current chairman, were defeated in elections held last weekend.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
"The right thing to do"
RONAN — As with many charitable organizations, upholding the core values that embody the “holiday spirit” extends throughout the year at the Bread Basket food pantry in Ronan. However, this special season usually coincides with a spike in activity, as the facility - and others like it - face increased …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Council member loses run-off
ELMO — Incumbent tribal council member Reuben Mathias’ bid for re-election has ended following his defeat in a run-off primary election held on Nov. 16 that pitted him against challenger Len Two Teeth.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Fall Mack Days conclude
BLUE BAY — The fall chapter of Mack Days has ended, and it was one for the history books. Event coordinators and participants congregated at the contest’s Blue Bay headquarters on Sunday evening for a fish fry and award ceremony to recognize the fishing contest’s top performers. There was plenty …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Vote moves forward after decision by new judge
POLSON — In one of his first acts in office, newly appointed district court judge James Manley waded into the ongoing fracas surrounding Flathead Reservation water rights and upheld a controversial referendum vote intended for local irrigators.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
Woman sustains gunshot wound
POLSON — Two arrests have been made following a weekend disturbance in Polson that left a 29-year-old woman hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the leg. Polson resident Michael Gardipe, Jr., 35, was arrested on the scene and charged with assault with a weapon, while Alisha McDanal, 34, is faced …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
Man hooks $5,000 fish
BLUE BAY - The most lucrative fish ever caught in the 11-year history of the tribally-sponsored Mack Days fishing tournament came ashore this weekend, netting one lucky angler a hefty sum of $5,000.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
Polson lawyer appointed District Judge
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
Manley named district court judge
HELENA - On Friday, Governor Steve Bullock appointed Polson attorney James Manley to serve as district court judge in Montana’s twentieth judicial district.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
Troubled water
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK — With their signature plumage rivaled only by the beauty of their migratory mountain homes, it’s easy to see why harlequin ducks have captured the hearts of countless birdwatchers and casual observers, alike.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
Districts move to block water vote
ST. IGNATIUS — The simmering dispute over the water compact is headed back to court. The latest development comes as the Flathead Joint Board of Control (FJBC) pushes to send out a referendum ballot to local irrigators, asking whether they approve of their districts’ withdrawal from the regulatory irrigation board. …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
Walmart expansion worries some local businesses
POLSON — While a portion of area residents are excited to welcome the Walmart Supercenter to Polson when it opens its doors on Oct. 23, others are nervous about the potential impact that the retail giant could exert on existing businesses in the area. Some citizens lament replacing Polson Hill’s …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
(Scavenger) Hunting season
RONAN — If you were out and about in the Ronan area this past Saturday, there’s a chance you witnessed groups of adults running around and doing peculiar things in public places – like getting on all fours and pushing bowling balls around the ground with only their heads.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
Authorities still seek information on second knife linked to March murder
POLSON — Authorities have not yet gathered any additional information pertaining to a second knife that may have been involved in the fatal stabbing of Polson’s John Pierre in March. LCSO detectives recently voiced a plea for more information to the public, suspecting that a knife with tape wrapped around …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
Five horses stolen in Ronan
RONAN — Five horses are missing from plot of land in Ronan after a suspected theft. The incident is currently being investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, but undersheriff Dan Yonkin said that little progress has been made in the procedure so far.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
Phone scam persists
POLSON — Local citizens should be on alert following a series of related scam phone calls in the area. Undersheriff Dan Yonkin says that “people are getting calls from callers claiming to be from some government entity… [and] advising people that there’s a warrant out for either themselves or a …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS AGO
School garden grows strong
DIXON — Teeming with greenery and kids bearing armfuls of fresh vegetables, the garden outside of Dixon Elementary School has yielded far more than simply a strong harvest in its inaugural growing season. Besides produce, the plot of land has also proved to be fertile ground for hands-on instruction on …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Madplume pleads not guilty to rape, deliberate homicide
POLSON - Melvin Madplume, the 29-year-old who stands accused of rape and deliberate homicide following the "suspicious death" of his cousin, Laurence Kenmille, made his initial appearance in Lake County District Court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to both charges.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Polson Fly-In meets soaring expectations
POLSON — It wasn’t hard to find the Fly-In held at the Polson airport last Saturday. One just had to follow the source of roaring engines as low-flying planes spent the morning swooping through the skies above town.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Governor gives pep talk to Polson students
POLSON — Even though it wasn’t the speech he had planned, Governor Steve Bullock gave a stirring address to Polson high school and middle students last Thursday, urging them to graduate to help both themselves and the state of Montana.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Senators get Salish lesson during visit
POLSON — Two United States Senators were in town last week, and staff and students from the Nkwusm School in Arlee used their visit as an opportunity to enlighten the legislators about various elements of Salish culture.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Second knife may have been used in stabbing
POLSON — The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is enlisting the help of the public in their bid to gather information about a knife that may be connected to the fatal stabbing of 26-year-old John Pierre in March. The man who allegedly committed the stabbing is in custody and awaiting trial, …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Family bike tour wanders through Flathead
POLSON — Like many summer vacationers, the Lighthiser family spent the week leading up to Labor Day enjoying the sights of the Flathead along the road from Whitefish to Missoula.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Man responsible for 120 mph car chase admits to felony theft, endangerment
The man who led authorities on a high speed car chase in May has admitted to felony counts of criminal endangerment and theft. Chaz Creemedicine appeared in District Court for a change of plea last week and awaits sentencing on Sept. 26. On May 29, Creemedicine drove a stolen 2002 …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
FJBC hosts water talks
The smoldering debate over local water rights took the spotlight in well-attended meetings held from Ronan to Arlee last week. Called together by the Flathead Joint Board of Control, the meetings sought to facilitate public dialogue about the main concerns many local irrigators have with the proposed water compact that …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Seeing green
POLSON – Before last year, Polson resident Michael Brandt had never found a four-leaf clover. That all changed when an ordinary trip out into the yard took a fateful twist, and Brandt and his girlfriend, Ali Bronsdon, discovered one four-leaf specimen… and then another… and then another...
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Boater missing
POLSON — A 36-year-old man is missing after his boat was found unattended on Flathead Lake on Sunday. On Monday, a press release from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) identified the man as Nathan Bird of Huson, near Frenchtown.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Celebrating a 42-year legacy
POLSON – For the 42nd straight year, the lawn of the Lake County courthouse came to life last weekend, as it hosted the Sandpiper Art Festival. The annual art exhibition attracted 89 vendors and hundreds more customers who came to browse their wares, while enjoying music and food.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Butler pleads guilty to Arlee stabbings
POLSON — Nathan Adam Butler, the 17-year-old accused of going on a deadly stabbing rampage in an Arlee home last November, appeared in Lake County District Court last Wednesday and pleaded guilty to three felony counts facing him as part of a plea agreement.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Nasewytewa sentenced to one year in youth home
POLSON – Isaiah Nasewytewa, the 11-year-old St. Ignatius boy who had been held on $500,000 bail earlier this year, was recently sentenced to one year in a youth home after being officially declared a “delinquent youth.”
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Open house opens eyes
YELLOW BAY – Flathead Lake has changed a lot since 1899. Ecologically, the introduction of species such as mysis shrimp and lake trout has permanently altered the lake’s food chain from top to bottom. The lake has undergone significant physical changes as well, with Kerr Dam’s construction raising the water …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Fire scorches Polson Hill
POLSON - A fast-moving wildfire torched 5.5 acres of a residential Polson neighborhood Wednesday night, requiring the efforts of multiple area fire departments to bring under control.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Sentence deferred for death threats
POLSON — In Lake County District Court last week, a man charged with issuing death threats to Polson city officials was given a two-year deferred sentence.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Fire danger at 'extreme'
POLSON — Already perched precariously at an “extreme” level of fire danger, unabating hot and dry conditions are causing officials in the area to prepare for an even greater threat of wildfires in the near future.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Relay makes over $44,000
RONAN — Over $44,000 was raised to fund cancer research at this year’s Lake County Relay for Life, held at Ronan High School last Friday night. The robust show of monetary support from the event was generated by 113 participants from 15 different teams and their various sponsors. All proceeds …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Where the wild things are
It seemed to be an ill omen when, not even ten strokes into our two-person kayak voyage to Wild Horse Island, one end of my companion’s paddle broke off and sank into the shallows. From that point on, my friend Pete had to paddle “canoe style” for the remainder of …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
CKST: Netting needed for macks
POLSON — Last week, fisheries experts for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes defended their proposal to net lake trout in Flathead Lake, saying that a new management approach is necessary to help curb the proliferation of the invasive fish and to boost the critically low numbers of native species …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Fall candidates announced
POLSON — The filing deadline for candidates to enter this fall’s municipal elections on Nov. 5 has passed. The Lake County Election Office, which is helping to organize the elections across the county, released an official list of candidates who have filed in their respective races, which is included below:
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Ready for anything:
POLSON — Local citizens keeping a casual ear on the police scanner might have done a double-take last week when an urgent message crackled over the radio describing a situation of “imminent failure” at Kerr Dam. Despite the dire news, any sense of alarm was short-lived, as another radio call …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Body found
ST. IGNATIUS — Last Thursday, a St. Ignatius landowner found a body that is believed to be that of Mary Jean Decker, a 52-year-old Mission woman who was last seen on June 16.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
School's out
POLSON - After 15 years of diligently compiling information from countless contributors, Joyce Wegner and a dedicated team of volunteers can finally enjoy the fruit of their labor, upon the recent publication and release of Lake County School History, Volume II.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Alcohol ordinance effective July 17
POLSON – A new alcohol ordinance for Polson’s city parks passed its second reading at last week’s City Council meeting and is set to become official on July 17.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Still sizzlin'
POLSON - With one of the season’s marquee events looming in the on-deck circle, the Mission Valley Mariners are charging into next week’s Firecracker Tournament at full bore, after another week of strong play. Still riding high off of tournament championships won in Helena and Dillon the last two weekends, …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Polson trio excels at CdA Ironman
COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho – On Sunday, three local residents conquered the Coeur d’Alene Ironman, a grueling triathlon encompassing a 2.4-mile swim followed by a 112-mile bike ride and culminating with a 26.2-mile marathon.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Worth the wait
POLSON – We’ve all had to endure our share of long waits at the doctor’s office or auto garage. Though typically tedious ordeals that can test one’s patience, recent efforts of the North Lake County Public Library and the Greater Polson Community Foundation are making idle time at such locations …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Makin' a killin' in Dillon
DILLON – Though they were tripped up early on in last weekend’s Maybelle Arthur Tournament in Dillon, Jeremiah Crawford and the Mission Valley Mariners decided that one loss was enough, and proceeded to surge to a tournament championship.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
FJBC set to dissolve
ST. IGNATIUS — Last week it was announced that the Jocko Valley and Mission irrigation districts intend to split from the Flathead Joint Board of Control in September, effectively dissolving the regulatory board for area irrigators.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Two irrigation districts pull out of joint board
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
High-speed chase ends in arrest
ST. IGNATIUS — Lake County was home to the conclusion of a high-velocity car chase that began in Missoula County last week, in which speeds climbed above 110 mph.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Mission boy returns home
POLSON — Isaiah Nasewytewa, the 10-year-old St. Ignatius boy who had been detained on $500,000 bail earlier this month, was released into his grandmother’s care last Thursday, after a ruling by Lake County District Court Judge Kim Christopher.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Vikings ready for worldly conquests
CHARLO — Above all else, the Vikings were discoverers - stumbling across North America centuries before Columbus. On Sunday, the newest graduating class of Charlo Vikings was encouraged to continue to foster that same sense of discovery, while also staying true to their Mission Valley roots.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Sampson, DiGiallonardo lead Polson at state
LAUREL – Another eventful season is in the books for the Polson track and field teams, as the boys finished 12th at the state championship meet in Laurel and the girls ranked 15th among Class A competitors.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
'C' is for Champions
LAUREL – The Charlo boys track team spent the weekend giving credence to the saying that “good things come in threes,” storming past the competition to take their third-consecutive state title.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Purple reign finished by Frenchtown
BELGRADE — With an unprecedented fourth-straight Class A state title hanging in the balance, the Polson Lady Pirates softball team came just short of making history this weekend, falling 2-1 in a heartbreaking extra-innings championship game loss to archrival Frenchtown.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Alexander, Bell shine
BOZEMAN – Ronan/St. Ignatius seniors Paden Alexander and Jalen Bell stole the show at this weekend’s state championships in Bozeman, taking home two first-place medals apiece.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
MAC takes fourth at state tourney
GREAT FALLS – The dust from the season has settled, and the Mission-Arlee-Charlo Bulldogs have emerged from the B-C state tournament as the fourth-best team in Montana.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Maidens fall to Florence in state championship
GREAT FALLS — For the second straight weekend, the rivalry between the Ronan Maidens and the Florence Falcons provided great theater for softball fans, as the teams battled for the Montana B-C state title Saturday in Great Falls. Despite having beaten the defending-champion Falcons in a divisional showdown just a …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Polson wrestler dreams of Down Under
POLSON – As one of Montana’s premier wrestlers in his weight class, Polson junior Carlos Quinones is used to being at the top. This summer, though, Quinones’ goal is to head Down Under, where he has been invited to participate in a wrestling tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. However, in …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Home cookin'
RONAN – In an early hole against the defending state champion Florence Falcons, nobody would’ve held it against the young Ronan Maidens softball team if they faltered in the heat of the moment.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Fourth and goal
POLSON – In what has become a rhythmic rite of spring, the three-time defending champion Polson Lady Pirates softball team is heading to the state tournament firing on all cylinders. As if this weekend’s 10-1 win over Libby followed by a 32-1 dismantling of Whitefish weren’t enough to strike fear …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
DiGiallonardo, Sampson power Pirates at ABC meet
POLSON - At the Polson ABC meet held Saturday, the host Pirates received standout performances from a familiar cast of individuals – led by Anna DiGiallonardo and Riley Sampson, who took first place in a combined five events. DiGiallonardo’s heroics helped carry the girls team to 76 points and a …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Growing Pains
POLSON — It was a busy weekend for the Mission Valley Mariners, as shortly after wrangling 60 enthusiastic little leaguers during their instructional baseball camp, the squad had to summon the wherewithal to play three games against the Kalispell Lakers. After suffering a pair of lopsided setbacks on Saturday, Mission …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Charlo rehires 3 teachers
CHARLO — Budget cuts facing the Charlo School District will not be as severe as originally feared. Initially facing he grim possibility of cutting teaching positions, recent developments have allowed the district to retain three of those posts. However, fiscal shortcomings will still require that they eliminate a half-time special …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
History comes to life at Fort Connah Rendezvous
ST. IGNATIUS — Though it sits within plain view of one of the busiest roads in the state, for many residents of western Montana, historic Fort Connah remains a well-kept secret. However, events such as last weekend’s twice-annual rendezvous are helping the old fur trading post shed its under-the-radar reputation, …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Polson man pleads guilty to charges from unruly arrest
POLSON — In Lake County District Court last week, Brandon Ferguson, 19, of Polson pled guilty to an assortment of amended offenses, including multiple counts of assault with bodily fluid, stemming from his eventful arrest in January. Upon admitting to the crimes, Ferguson was subsequently released from the Lake County …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Boy, 10, to remain in custody
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Something fishy
POLSON — Most serious discussions about the Flathead Lake Monster – or any of the world’s lake monsters, for that matter – will inevitably touch upon a common scapegoat:
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
A labor of love
POLSON — The law of diminishing marginal utility states that as someone gains more of something, their enjoyment of that commodity decreases. In other words, the one hundredth taste of something isn’t as sweet as the first.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Former employee admits threatening Polson officials
POLSON — In Lake County District Court last Wednesday, Ronald Melvin appeared before Judge C.B. McNeil for a change of plea, and admitted to a felony charge of threatening Polson city officials.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Sentence deferred in Subway break-in
POLSON – Scott Harpine, an employee of the Polson Subway who admitted to burglarizing the store in a nighttime raid last November, had his sentence deferred for three years in Lake County District Court last Thursday. Harpine still will be required to serve a total of 20 days in the …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Crossett sues Polson
POLSON – Outgoing city manager Todd Crossett has sued the City of Polson for more than $49,000 in damages, bringing both a wage claim and a breach of contract count against local government in a suit filed in Lake County District Court.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Robotics club raises money, interest from community
RONAN – The season might have wound to a close for the defending world champion Ronan SD30 robotics team, but that doesn’t mean that their creations are gathering dust.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Oldhorn given 15 years for probation violation
POLSON – Clifford Oldhorn, the man who in February was released from prison after having a century-long deliberate homicide conviction reversed, was given a 15-year sentence with no time suspended on Wednesday for probation violations committed within days of his release.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Salomon: Water compact won't pass in 2013
HELENA – Weighing in on the water issues that characterize the American West, legend has it that Mark Twain once said, “Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting over.”
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Polson man dies after stabbing
POLSON — A Browning man is being held in the Lake County Detention Facility on $1 million bail after allegedly killing a Polson resident at a party early Saturday morning.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Plans brewing for waterfront makeover
POLSON — The city council meeting held last Monday night provided a glimpse of what may await the future of Polson’s waterfront. At the gathering, the Polson Redevelopment Agency (PRA) discussed their proposal to outfit the city with a long-talked-about walkway extending under U.S. Highway 93 that would connect Riverside …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Man who crashed into lake pleads guilty to ninth DUI
POLSON – Last Wednesday, Polson resident Todd Burland appeared in Lake County District Court and pled guilty to his ninth offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Stand Down stands up for vets' health
PABLO — With one of the nation’s highest rates of veterans per capita, Montanans certainly recognize the value of military service. And, as evidenced by the robust show of support at the volunteer-driven Veterans Stand Down held at Salish and Kootenai College last weekend, they also understand the importance of …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Ronan man guilty of workers' comp fraud
RONAN – After being caught in the crosshairs of a private investigator, a Ronan man that feigned injury in order to receive $14,000 of workers’ compensation has been found guilty of two felony counts of theft.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
"Dr. Irwin, I presume?"
POLSON – Finley Point’s Dr. Stephen Irwin now shares more in common with the “Crocodile Hunter” than just his name. Back from a recent hunting safari in Africa, Irwin has added a veritable menagerie of trophies to his wall, including a hippopotamus and Nile crocodile – Africa’s two deadliest animal …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Community brought together at Ag Expo
RONAN – The 23rd annual Lake County Ag Expo and Livestock Show was the place to be this past Saturday, boasting a lively atmosphere, good food, and even curly horses.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Police chief maintains innocence
POLSON — In the midst of a disciplinary investigation by the Montana Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council (POST), embattled police chief Wade Nash firmly upheld his innocence in an interview Tuesday, saying the charges of wrongdoing that he faces do not have any truthful grounds or legal traction.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Mountain lion update
POLSON — For CSKT wildlife program manager Dale Becker, it’s been another week, and another large predator stalking the neighborhoods of Polson.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Polson students visit Glacier
APGAR – To many visitors, it may seem that there’s not a lot going on in the still and silent snow-covered forests of Glacier National Park this time of year. However, as a number of Linderman Elementary School fourth graders can now tell you, winter is a time when many …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Arlee starts new year with a bang!
ARLEE – Head coach J.R. Camel couldn’t have scripted a better start to 2013 for the Arlee Warriors boys basketball team. After toting a 4-2 overall record into the new year, Camel’s squad reeled off two of their most impressive wins of the season, first beating Noxon 59-57 in a …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Lakefront vacation home destroyed in Finley Point fire
FINLEY POINT — There is “nothing left” of a Finley Point summer home that was decimated by a fire on Thursday morning, according to Finley Point Fire Chief Chris Ricciardi.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Snowy owls return to Lake County
POLSON — Ornithology enthusiasts aren’t the only ones happy to see snowy owls return to Polson, as the town’s Chamber of Commerce is excitedly unfurling the welcome mat at the birds’ taloned feet.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Polson 'wolves' just missing dogs?
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Wolves allegedly seen in Polson city limits
POLSON, Mont. - A biologist said tracks found inside the city limits of Polson, Mont., could belong to wolves.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Wolves seen in Polson city limits
POLSON – Two wolves were sighted in the city limits of Polson last week, and authorities have acknowledged that a pair of footprints found in the area are consistent with the attributes of wolf tracks.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Coming back down to Earth
PABLO — After three months of hard work at the NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., Tim Olson, Noel Stewart and Judy Hudgins - the trio of SKC representatives who had been working on the scientific and technical aspects of the Curiosity rover mission to Mars - are …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Lights, camera, action!
POLSON — Local movie buffs, rejoice! A grass-roots committee of dedicated celluloid fans is working feverishly to organize a film festival that will take place right here in Polson later this winter. Known as the Flathead Lake Internation Cinemafest (FLIC), the festival planned for early February aims to “provide makers …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Man killed in hit-and-run at Ronan bar
RONAN – Last Tuesday night, a 62-year-old man died in the parking lot of the Valley Club bar in Ronan after being struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Dogs have their day
POLSON – Bleeping their way across the check-out counter, toy after toy was piled into bags, one step closer to their eventual destination in the arms of a child on Christmas morning.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Reichman awarded prestigious scholarship
RONAN – As Aiden Reichman learned the other day, not every trip to the principal’s office ends badly.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Holiday Treasures a hit
RONAN - Frigid weather conditions couldn’t deter a crowd from assembling in the middle of Main Street on Saturday in Ronan, as dozens of people turned out to try their luck at this year’s “Holiday Treasures” drawing, sponsored by the Ronan Chamber of Commerce.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Deadly home invasion rattles Dixon
DIXON — A Thursday night home invasion left one person dead and another in critical condition near the small community of Dixon.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Legislative forum focuses on child health
POLSON — Last Thursday morning the Big Sky Bistro was packed with a larger breakfast crowd than usual, as approximately 30 people gathered to discuss important public health issues at the Legislative Community Forum, an annual event co-sponsored by the Lake County Health Department and the Alliance for a Healthy …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
1 killed, 1 hurt in Dixon
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Ice conditions cause spike in accidents
POLSON — As the mercury plummets, winter driving hazards are rearing their ugly head, as several area motorists discovered the hard way last week.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Public discuss water agreement
POLSON – The whirlwind public relations tour for the historic water compact between the CSKT, Montana and the United States rolled into KwaTaqNuk Resort in Polson last Wednesday.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Crossett denied extension
POLSON – At Monday’s city council meeting, council members and mayor Pat DeVries voted 4-3 against renewing the contract of city manager Todd Crossett, set to expire in June of 2013.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Montanans return home from Africa mission
POLSON – For many of us, it’s easy to forget the core values of Thanksgiving amidst the food, football and Black Friday sales closely associated with the holiday. Keeping things in proper perspective might be a little easier this year for Polson’s Lesley Dubay, 72, who has just returned home …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Food bank shifts into high gear for holidays
POLSON — The holidays mean hectic days for food banks throughout the Mission Valley, and Polson Loaves and Fish Food Pantry is no exception.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO
Drawing the line
POLSON — Given the region’s rampant wildfire activity this year, educating the public about fire prevention is as important as ever. Luckily, hundreds of elementary school students throughout the Mission Valley have brushed up on the key tenets of fire safety, thanks to their participation in the 2012 Smokey Bear …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO
Watershed moment
PABLO — Set to dissolve after the state’s next legislative session, the Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission is on the brink of completing the Herculean task appointed to it upon its inception in 1979, when it was faced with hammering out water rights agreements with the state’s seven different …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Soup-er successful
POLSON — After a marathon evening of fielding bids from an overwhelmingly supportive crowd, auctioneer Clifford Rustad must be feeling a little hoarse. Rustad was called in to conduct Saturday’s live auction to benefit the nearly-completed Mission Valley Aquatic Center, which is making its final fundraising push.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Local resident charged in Alaska throat-slashing
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - According to an article in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, an Alaska man survived an “unprovoked” attack in a bar early Saturday morning when his neck was allegedly slit by Lance Arthur Johnson, 45, of Polson.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Fire destroys home on Buffalo Bridge Road
POLSON — A once stately home on Buffalo Bridge Road was reduced to a smoldering ruin last Thursday morning by a devastating house fire. Occupants of the house belonging to Shawn Wilson were able to escape the structure safely, but the blaze has rendered the home uninhabitable.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Bull market: Cattle sales strong for area ranchers
POLSON – Though Jon and Liz Marchi’s sprawling cattle ranch offers striking views of both the Flathead River and the Mission Mountains, on Saturday, all eyes were on their livestock, as ranchers came from far and wide for the Marchi Angus Ranches’ 22nd Annual Production Sale.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Chase ends in Flathead Lake
POLSON — At approximately 7:30 p.m. on Monday night, a traffic stop on Main Street in Polson escalated into an amphibious chase that concluded in the frigid waters of Flathead Lake.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
The results are in, and it's Romney in a landslide
CHARLO — Let’s clarify that headline before we join the Chicago Tribune’s cry of “Dewey defeats Truman” on history’s blooper reel. Last Friday, Mitt Romney and his Republican counterparts emerged victorious as Charlo students in grades six through twelve participated in a mock election intended to familiarize themselves with the …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Getting to know Ronan FFA
RONAN — It can be hard to keep acronyms straight with the organizational alphabet soup permeating our society, but here in the Mission Valley, FFA is one worth knowing. In fact, there’s no excuse not to commit it to memory, since it’s not even an acronym anymore! According to Reese …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Compact coming together
In the real world, water may follow the path of least resistance, but if the tedious water rights negotiations between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT), the State of Montana and the federal government have taught us anything, it’s that the laws of nature do not necessarily translate to …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Mission absorbs Senior Night setback
ST. IGNATIUS — In terms of scheduling, the Mission volleyball team (11-7, 5-3 conference) saved the best for last. At Thursday’s home finale, the Bulldogs celebrated Senior Night while taking on the unsavory task of hosting the undefeated Florence Falcons, who toted a 14-0 record into the contest. While the …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Fairgounds, Museum reel in hefty TIIP grants
HELENA — Last Tuesday, the Montana Department of Commerce finalized the list of recipients for $550,000 worth of grant money, distributed through the Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program (TIIP). The grants were awarded to twelve institutions throughout the state, including two landmarks here in the Mission Valley – the Polson Fairgrounds …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Wave of vandalism continues
POLSON — Over the past month, Polson residents have fallen victim to a costly wave of vandalism, as more than 25 windows have been broken out of vehicles, homes and businesses during night time raids, resulting in thousands of dollars worth of damage.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
Polson woman bound for Africa
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
SKC president resigns amid clash with board
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS AGO
October thunderstorm a rarity
POLSON —When the Leader went to press on Tuesday, the region was experiencing a spell of severe weather, as thunderstorms, hail and 50 mph gusts of wind assailed residents of northern Idaho and northwestern Montana.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Young Eagles take flight
POLSON — Was it a bird? Was it a plane? Well, it was both... kind of. On Saturday, participants in the Young Eagles program congregated at the Polson airport for an opportunity to hitch a ride with area pilots and observe firsthand how operating an aircraft works.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Water pressure mounting
POLSON — Last Wednesday, about sixty members of the public crowded into a conference room at KwaTaqNuk Resort to observe – and let their voices be heard at – the latest round of water rights negotiations between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT), the Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Farmers' market winding down
POLSON — Did you know that the Polson Farmers’ Market is said to be the oldest in the state of Montana? The market’s history dates back fifty years, but these last three summers have perhaps been the best in its long run. Having hopscotched around town over the years, the …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Not a laughing matter
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Tuber time
RONAN – At Lake Seed last Friday, rivers of potatoes were unloaded by the truckload and sent up and down a series of conveyer belts, sorted by size along the way as they bounced through rolling sieves and passed inspection by a team of workers.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Mack Mania
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Local artists gather to participate in World Wide Paint Out
POLSON — If you were in a scenic location and stood still for long enough on Saturday, there’s a chance you were immortalized in a painting by an onlooking artist.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Lending a helping hand
POLSON — Tom Savage went a long way on Saturday — just under 90 miles according to the computer tracker on the back of his hand-powered bicycle — but he went an even longer way toward making a difference in someone else’s life.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Fly-In High
POLSON — A dazzling display of planes new and old covered the ground and filled the air at the Polson airport on Saturday, as appreciative onlookers came to celebrate the timeless wonder of flight. The occasion marked the 14th annual Polson Fly-In, and the yearly spectacle brought recreational pilots and …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Tribal settlement checks issued
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Congdon, Kovik sentenced to prison
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
People, places of Flathead put under the magnifying glass in new mystery novel
Local citizens beware: a cold-blooded murderer is prowling the perimeter of Flathead Lake, terrorizing the area from Whitefish down to Bigfork and Polson.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Eyre guitar
POLSON — Cobbled together with ordinary household trinkets and recycled parts harvested from old instruments, Nathan Eyre’s cigar box guitars are something of a musical Frankenstein. With tuning knobs protruding from the neck in place of bolts, the resemblance to the monster is made even more striking when he uses …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Organizers of $14 million Ponzi scheme in Montana sentenced to prison
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
CSKT money to be sent out next week
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
River me timbers!
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Road to recovery
IRVINE FLATS — The West Garceau fire is finally contained, but for Jack and Jane Clapp and other ranchers in the Irvine Flats area west of Polson, the damage is done. Where once amber waves of grass stretched across their property, blackened fields remain.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
The spice of life
POLSON — They came in varying thicknesses and consistencies, with different levels of heat and spiciness. Some piled on the meat while others were beany in nature. Further tailored with unique blends of cheese, sour cream and other extra toppings, the diversity of chili was on full display on Saturday’s …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Lady Pirates battle their way to third-place finish
POLSON — The dust has settled after a weekend jam-packed with volleyball action, and while there is still room for improvement, a promising season looks to be in store for head coach Jan Toth and the Polson volleyball program.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Brake failure causes truck rollover
POLSON — On Friday morning, a local truck delivering grain experienced mechanical brake failure while driving downhill on U.S. 93, toward the intersection with Highway 35. According to Sgt. Randy Owens of Montana Highway Patrol, the driver attempted to make the turn onto Highway 35, but hit the curb and …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Skill on the grill
POLSON — As if the West Garceau fire hadn’t lent enough of a smoky ambiance to the air around town, Saturday’s Smokin’ on the Water cookout added a little extra charcoal flavor to the mix.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Fire still roaring
Scorching the hills of the Salish Mountains approximately 15 miles west of Polson, the West Garceau fire stubbornly continues to defy suppression after more than a week of activity.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
High fire risk leads to Stage I Restriction
PABLO — As evidenced by the recent outbreak of several devastating wildfires, the area is on high alert with respect to fire danger. With fire indices rated as “extreme” and “very high” throughout the Flathead Indian Reservation, the CSKT Tribal Council imposed a Stage I Restriction on fire use as …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Rehberg visits Polson
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Water saga continues
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Community turns out for sandpiper Art Festival
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Fire torches countryside
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Fire destroys lakefront home on Rocky Point
ROCKY POINT - On Friday afternoon, flames engulfed a lakeside home located near the end of E. Matterhorn Road. Numerous trucks and watercraft from the Polson Fire Department responded to the scene to douse the flames and successfully prevented the fire from spreading to neighboring structures or trees. The building …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
From SKC to Mars
PASADENA, Calif. - An education at Salish Kootenai College can take you a lot of places. Including Mars.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Congdon and Kovick sentencing postponed until September
MISSOULA — Last month in United States District Court, the sentencing for Robert Congdon and Keith Kovick was postponed from July 26 until Sept. 6.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Water Daze
POLSON — The water frothed and churned as something approached the shore. Soon, a dark figure rose from the depths of the lake as a crowd looked on in astonishment, making sure to snap pictures.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Cherry harvest underway after weekend moratorium
FINLEY POINT - Thus far, it’s been a great year for growing cherries. Until Monday, picking them had been another story, however.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Native American Playwright Festival a great success
ARLEE — “Bringing the Reservation to the stage, by bringing the stage to the Reservation.”
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Loyal customers flock to organic Fat Robin Orchard
FINLEY POINT — While many of the area’s large cherry producers spent the weekend in deadlock, not all farms were sitting idle at the onset of this year’s harvest season.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Good Old Days are exactly that
ST. IGNATIUS — “Awesome.”
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Local fire danger increasing
PABLO — The past week’s combination of heat and thunderstorms has local officials on edge, fearing that a lightning strike could ignite the region’s increasingly dry underbrush. According to CSKT Division of Fire Chief Curt Matt, the risk of fire on the west side of the Flathead Reservation has been …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
In the saddle
ARLEE — It’s not unusual to hear westbound motorists gripe about the long push across Montana on I-94 and I-90. But Leon Wieder of Arlee isn’t one to complain about his recent voyage along that long, lonely stretch of road — and he made the trek on horseback.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Schoolhouse seeks volunteers
VALLEY VIEW — The Valley View School, located southwest of Polson, is seeking volunteer assistance for their fundraising efforts this summer.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Polson man sent to federal prison for selling guns, drugs
BILLINGS – During a federal court session in Billings on July 11, Daniel Ray Newby, a 38-year-old Polson resident, formerly of Billings, earned a one-year prison sentence after entering his guilty plea to three counts of unlawful use of controlled substance in possession of a firearm, and two counts of …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Sixty-eight years later, Ronan hero is lost but not forgotten
For Tom Needham, this time of year marks a somber time of reflection, as he and his family remember a local war hero very close to their hearts.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Arlee schools face budget cuts
ARLEE — The Arlee school district is facing significant budget cuts for the upcoming school year. Although the district will not settle on a finalized budget until Aug. 14, administrators are bracing for an approximate reduction of 20 percent.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Polson's bike trail system growing
POLSON — If you were among the throngs of people watching Polson’s Fourth of July fireworks display last week, perhaps you noticed something different about the city’s riverfront.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Heart and Soul seeks community involvement
POLSON — What do you love about Polson? How do you want to see the community develop in the 21st century?
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Whitetop worries farmers
LAKE COUNTY — A new season is upon us. Yes, it just officially became summer, but mid-June also signaled the start of hay season, which extends from now through September.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Big Arm home lost in fire
BIG ARM — A house in Big Arm sustained considerable damage as a result of a fire Sunday night and will likely have to be rebuilt. No one was hurt in the incident.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Ridin' High
POLSON — By anyone’s measure, last weekend’s Mission Mountain Rodeo was a rousing success.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Woman charged for striking girl in head with beer bottle
POLSON — A 24-year-old St. Ignatius woman is in custody after allegedly striking a 12-year-old girl in the head with a beer bottle. Tiffany Old Person is facing felony charges of assault with a weapon, and is being held in Missoula County Jail on $25,000 bail.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Owen places 13th at Olympic Trials
EUGENE, Ore.- Polson native Melinda Owen finished 13th in the Women’s Pole Vault at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., last Sunday.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Festivals on the Flathead
POLSON — Not long ago, “this used to be just garbage and broken glass” said Keryl Lozar, surveying the grassy hillside overlooking the lake at Salish Point.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Busy week for Mariners B Team
After being held idle for almost three weeks by a stretch of bad weather of nearly Biblical proportions, the Mission Valley Mariners B Team made their long-anticipated return to the diamond this week. However, in order to make up for that lost time, the squad went from inactive to hyperactive …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Comment period extended for water agreement
PABLO — Last Thursday night, community members from throughout the Mission and Flathead Valleys met on the campus of Salish Kootenai College to have their questions addressed regarding the future of their water.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Suspect arrested in arson case
ST. IGNATIUS — In the midst of an ongoing serial arson investigation, on Friday the Lake County Sherriff’s Office arrested 19-year-old Chase Kuntz of St. Ignatius, who now faces felony charges tied to a suspicious June 5 blaze that destroyed a cabin on Airport Road.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
New home on the range
This ain’t my first rodeo. Well actually, it is. As a flatlander who’s new to these parts, next week’s Mission Mountain Rodeo will herald my first time attending such an event.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Honoring the area's wilderness
ST. IGNATIUS — In the 1970s, three Yayas – grandmotherly figures within the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe – stepped forward at a tribal council meeting to voice their concern over a proposed logging project that threatened to scar the face of the Mission Mountains. These deeply respected elders – Annie …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Quixote's Quest
RONAN- For director Rita Tingey and the cast of “Man of La Mancha”, everything went smoothly at this past weekend’s opening performances. Well, except for the mustache.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Homeless man jailed after allegedly buying alcohol for minor
POLSON — A homeless man was arrested and jailed for reportedly purchasing alcohol for a minor in exchange for money. At approximately 9 p.m. on June 9, law enforcement responded to Riverside Park and found an underage male in possession of an open container of beer near the Armed Forces …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Help from above
POLSON — Polson High School students aren’t the only ones who need a break. The start of summer vacation will provide a desperately-needed reprieve for the building itself.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Information sought on late-night hit-and-run
POLSON — Polson police are seeking information regarding a destructive hit-and-run incident that occurred early Friday morning. At around 2:35 a.m., police responded to the 100 block of 7th Ave. West, where a vehicle had crashed through several yards and fences before eventually crashing into a house and then fleeing …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Native roots
Filmmaker with local ties wins Sundance fellowship, plans new full-length project
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Fowl play in foul weather
CHARLO — With summer approaching, scores of bird species are making their long-awaited return to the Mission Valley and veritable flocks of dedicated birdwatchers are hot on their tail-feathers.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Mustangs Gallop to Babe Ruth Title in Extra-Inning Thriller
After a fitting conclusion to an exciting season, the Ronan Mustangs can ride off into the sunset as champions.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Linderman auction action
POLSON — With the end of classes practically upon them, Linderman Elementary School students are eager to get out of school – but not before they load up on brand new gear tailored toward summer fun.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Blaze destroys historic mercantile in Mission
ST. IGNATIUS — At approximately 2 a.m. on Saturday morning, an otherwise peaceful night in St. Ignatius was punctuated by a roaring fire that destroyed a historic abandoned building.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
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