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Lake County Leader
Construction resumes this week on Ronan-North project
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Riverside Contracting Inc. resumed work this week on the U.S. Highway 93 Ronan-North project.Work began April 22 with limited milling and paving operations on U.S. 93 from the intersection with Round Butte Road north to the intersection with 3rd Ave. and Old U.S. 93. Crews were onsite from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. through Friday, April 26, dependent on weather and other unforeseen factors.According to a press release from MDT, these additional milling and paving operations are required because the top layer of asphalt applied in one section of the project last fall failed to...
Defrocking Miss Daisy: Sheep shearer and spinners share wool basics
Daisy announced her presence at the Boys and Girls Club in Polson last week by leaving a fragrant deposit on the floor of the entryway, which in turn caused a boy to squeeze his nose closed and scurry past.Daisy was on her way to the back lawn, where a herd of kids had gathered to watch her lose her wool coat, courtesy of her owner, local sheep shearer Will Tusick. Daisy, who was born in November, is part Coopworth – a New Zealand breed known for their long wool and gentle disposition – and East Friesian, a milk-producing breed.As he...
The story behind your new tax bill
By now most Montana homeowners and business owners have gotten a new and unexpected tax bill from their county treasurers. Here’s why.Due in equal parts to COVID and to the TV series “Yellowstone,” Montana real estate became a hot item and the value of Montana property was bid way up in the process. Out-of-state buyers were calling up Montana realtors and buying homes and acreage sight unseen and paying for properties worth hundreds of thousands of dollars with their credit cards. This increased the appraised value of Montana homes because, even if they weren’t for sale, they were worth more...
Charlo School Board: Five vie for openings
Five candidates have filed for the two three-year trustee positions open in Charlo School District 7J, according to District Clerk Sara Vaughan. Incumbent Jodie Buxbaum, Kristin Marcure Bauer, Tina Forester, Matt Hout and Branden Jenson have filed for the seats.Incumbent TJ Marmon is the only candidate who has filed to represent high school students from Dixon who attend Charlo, and his post will be approved by acclamation. The following three candidates responded to our email questionnaire: Jodie Johnson BuxbaumIncumbent Buxbaum is a Charlo graduate, whose family homesteaded in the Charlo area in 1910. Her grandfather was in the first graduating class from...
Boots were scootin’ at the Cowboy Ball
Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron called the Cowboy Ball the first party of the summer season, and this year’s party was well-attended with more than 600 people sporting boots, jeans, hats, and, for the ladies, big turquoise, stepping into the huge, heated tent at the fairgrounds. Polson Fairgrounds Incorporated hosted the yearly event last Friday evening, when the work week was finally finished. Festivities started with a social hour for mixing, mingling, scoping out the silent and live auction items and collecting a bid number. The Perfect Shot Tavern from downtown Polson provided the no-host bar so guests could enjoy a cocktail,...
Mission man accused of sexual abuse of children
A St. Ignatius man is accused of arranging to meet a minor girl for sexual intercourse. Charles Henry “Pete” Zeiler, 47, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court April 10 to sexual abuse of children.According to charging documents, on Oct. 30, 2023, an agent with the FBI set up a software program that records text messages in his cell phone. The purpose was to record images of advertisements posted on social media, similar to classifieds in a newspaper.The agent set up his own advertisement seeking sexual interaction on the site. The site described itself as “classified services...
Charles Hammerberg
Charles Hammerberg of Polson passed away peacefully on April 15, 2024.He was born Jan. 3, 1931, to Fritz and Edith Hammerberg in McKeesport, Penn., and graduated from McKeesport High School in 1948. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Duke University in 1954.After college, he worked for the American Bridge Division of U.S. Steel for a short time and then entered the U.S. Army in 1955 and was honorably discharged in 1957. During this time he married Norma Hassel, daughter of Clyde and Jane Hassel, on Aug. 27, 1955.After he was discharged from the Army, he...
Mission Valley Calendar
John Roberts y Pan Blanco – 7 p.m. April 25 at the Polson High School Auditorium; this Billings-based ensemble of energetic musicians melds high-energy funk, African and Latin grooves with soulful instrumental and vocals in Spanish, English and Portuguese. Their infectious music promises to inspire the audience to dance and enjoy life. Tickets to this final concert of the Mission Valley Live season are available at the door. Visit missionvalleylive.com for more information.Buttercup Run – 10 a.m. April 27 at the Arlee Community/Fitness Center on Powwow Road; the Friends of Arlee School and CSKT Tribal Health team up to sponsor...
Get ready for “Clean Up, Green Up”
The Greater Polson Community Foundation is celebrating the 10th year of “Clean Up! Green Up!,” an annual campaign aimed at beautifying the community. For the past nine years community volunteers have taken time out of their busy schedules to pick up litter in Polson and surrounding roads and highways during the month of May. Individuals, businesses, organizations and groups with members of all ages have participated.“It’s that time of year again and we hope to have old and new volunteers join their friends, neighbors and co-workers to help keep our area beautiful,” says Christine Pitts, chair of the GPCF Beautification...
Durglo, Brown winners at Iceberg Invite
Ronan and Polson each had event winners at the Iceberg Invite on Saturday, April 20, at Columbia Falls. Ashtin Brown won the shot put for Polson with a mark of 54-4. Ronan’s Connor Durglo won the triple jump with a mark of 42.-4.75.Brown also took third in the discus (137-0), while Durglo took third in the long jump with 19-10.Ronan’s Devon Bigmedicine was second in the 3,200 (10:24.89) while teammate Jacob Piapot was third (10:41.52). Piapot was also third in the 1,600 (4:42.88).In the 300-meter hurdles, Jhett McDonald was third for Ronan (44.96) while teammate Blyth Bolman was fourth (45.60)In...
Energy Keepers offers weekly “Range of Forecast”
Energy Keepers Inc., the owner and operator of Salish Ksanka Qlispe (SKQ) Dam, began posting a new graphic last week that shows the possible lake level ranges this summer.According to a press release, the Range of Forecast Graphic will be updated every Monday afternoon through the spring and summer on the Energy Keepers website, www.energykeepersinc.com, and Facebook page.“What will happen with lake levels is a question on the minds of everyone in the Flathead Lake community. There’s an ample amount of incorrect information going around so in an effort to keep the public apprised of the ever-changing conditions we are...
Morrison accused of burglarizing same business, again
A Polson man, who was given a suspended sentence on a burglary charge less than a month ago, is accused of doing it again. Bryce L. Morrison, 26, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court April 10 to felony burglary.According to court records, on March 24 – four days after that earlier sentence was handed down – Polson Police responded to a report of a burglary at Stageline Pizza and Betty’s Diner. Surveillance cameras at the two businesses allegedly show Morrison inside the store without permission and taking money from the cash register and tip jar. Two...
Houle sentenced to 10 years for Pablo robbery
A Pablo man who appeared in Polson District Court April 10 was sentenced to the Montana Department of Corrections for 10 years with five years suspended on a felony robbery conviction. The sentence for Josiah Michael Houle, 39, was in accordance with a plea agreement reached in February.According to charging documents, on Jan. 10, a man later identified as Houle, entered the Quicksilver gas station in Pablo, went behind the counter and brandished a firearm at an employee. The suspect got the register to open by pressing the “no sale” button, and recovered cash before attempting to flee.However, another patron punched Houle in the face, and the two men got into a brief physical altercation. During the altercation, the firearm fell out of Houle’s waistband and he fled.Employees of the gas station were able to identify Houle by his “unique gait,” as he was a former employee. The firearm turned out to be a painted BB gun.Law enforcement located Houle later that day and arrested him. He was already wanted on bail jumping charges and failure to appear.Judge Molly Owen gave Houle credit for having served 91 days in jail since his arrest.
St. Ignatius School Board: Six candidates on ballot
In School District 28, six candidates are competing for two three-year terms. The ballot includes incumbent Jeff Evans, Rochelle Groom, Tim Marchant, Peter Matt, Darren Orr and Rhianna Rhukala. The St. Ignatius Federation of Teachers sent out candidate questionnaires, and some of the information in these profiles was gleaned from those responses. To read the complete surveys, submitted by five of the six candidates, visit tinyurl.com/yckcb7f7.Rochelle Groom had not responded to either information request prior to press time.Jeff EvansCurrent board chair Jeff Evans has served four terms on the St. Ignatius School Board, which he says has given him “a full...
Wilmar qualifies for 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships
Garret Wilmar, a member of the Pistols and Ponytails 4-H Club in Polson, competed in the Montana State Shooting Sports – Shotgun Event on Saturday, finishing second. He competed in trap, skeet and sporting clays.Held at the Manhattan Wildlife Association and Gallatin Sporting Clays in the Bozeman area, the shoot was a qualifier for the 4-H National Shooting Sports Championships to be held June 23-28 in Grand Island, Neb. “All the kids did a great job,” said MSU Extension Shooting Sports coordinator Scott Francis. Twelve kids participated.Wilmar and three other boys from another county will travel to Nebraska to represent Montana at the national shoot. Wilmar said he’s excited to compete with kids from across the nation.
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The Lake County Leader has been in publication since 1910. It covers the Mission Valley and the Flathead Indian Reservation. The office is in Polson, MT which sits on the foot of the Flathead Lake.
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