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Lake County Leader
Veritas Grill offers fun summer food at Boettcher
Does a smash burger with bacon, cheese, and grilled onions fire up your appetite? How about a Philly-cheese steak sandwich?The Veritas Grill at Boettcher Park in Polson can fix you up with either. Chef Michael Tomolea-Atwood said when a friend mentioned the concession building at Boettcher Park was available, he was intrigued with the opportunity to prepare quality food in that location. He recruited chef Tommy Fitzgerald, and together, they found Kina Nelson and her boyfriend Andrew Hoffman to help out. Then, the chefs picked their two favorite park foods – a smash burger and a Philly-cheese steak sandwich –...
Sen. Tester makes campaign stop at Pache
Fresh from a meeting with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester breezed into the park at Pache Home Sites in Ronan at 3 p.m. Sunday.It was a picnic atmosphere; Tester, a Democrat who hopes to retain his seat in the U.S. Senate, greeted people and posed for many pictures as Gen Huitt, a well-known Native musician, sang and played her guitar. Volunteers registered voters under one tent, and another tent housed Aunties’ Awesome Eats. The aunties, Franella and Jamila, who will also be at the Arlee Powwow, were making frybread for Indian tacos and preparing toppings. The...
Yes, there is a fireworks ordinance
Most residents of City of Polson do not know there is a fireworks ordinance. There is. Among the salient points: Fireworks may be discharged within the city limits only on private property of the owner, or with the owner's permission, or on paved city streets which are not arterial streets or collectors when such discharge is in a safe and sane manner. Fireworks in the city limits are restricted to the July 4 holiday only: between 12 p.m. (noon) July 3 and 12 a.m. July 4; between 12 p.m. July 4 and 1 a.m. July 5; and between 12 p.m. July 5 and 12 a.m. July 6; and for the New Year's Day holiday only from 11 p.m. Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. Jan. 1.Last year fireworks were shot from June 22 through end of July. It’s not right for people's sleep nor our wildlife and many pets of all sizes go crazy and suffer trauma during extended unlawful use.– Leonard PrescottPolson
Polson man charged with felony partner assault
A Polson man, with prior convictions of domestic abuse, is accused of assaulting the same victim again. Bryce Wyatt Jordan, 23, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court June 19 to felony partner or family member assault.According to court records, on June 6, a deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Polson residence on a report of a domestic disturbance. The alleged victim told the responding deputy that her boyfriend had mixed alcohol with his medication and became violent.She told the deputy that their altercation started with him harassing her before it escalated to...
Inmates plead not guilty to attempted escape
Two inmates at the Lake County Jail are facing trials for a failed attempt to escape custody.Justice Raven Nicolai, 28, of Ronan and Leland Juniper Ambrose Redcloud, 24, of Polson, each entered pleas of not guilty to felony charges of assault on a peace officer and attempted escape. Redcloud’s arraignment was held before Judge John A. Mercer June 6. Nicolai pleaded not guilty to identical charges before Judge Molly Owen June 19.According to court records, on April 5, a Lake County Detention Officer was attempting to retrieve a mop and bucket from a restricted area in the jail when Nicolai...
Mission Valley Mariners end week at 10-10
Dawson DuMont lifts Mission Valley past BitterrootMission Valley’s A Team scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth for a 5-4 victory over the Bitterroot Red Sox in Polson on Tuesday, June 18, in American Legion Baseball action.Dawson DuMont homered and drove in two runs with two hits while pitching the first four innings of the game, allowing no hits and striking out eight.Bitterroot led 1-0 after three innings, but Mission Valley tied it up in the bottom of the fourth. Both teams exchanged a run in the fifth.Bitterroot pulled ahead 3-2 in the top of the seventh, but...
Council schedules meeting on MREC annexation
The saga of the Mission Range Event Center continued last Wednesday as the Ronan City Council unanimously passed resolution 2024-48 approving the purchase of the MREC property from Lake County.A public hearing to address annexation and the request by Pioneer Days that the council lift the ag restriction on this property will be held at 5:30 p.m. July 10 prior to the city council meeting.Mayor Chris Adler delivered a check for the property to Lake County on June 20, which has already been repaid by Pioneer Days. Ronan City Attorney Ben Anciaux noted that “it’s a hybrid situation. The city will...
Men required to pay restitution for jail flooding
Trials set for two inmates of the Lake County Detention Center, accused of intentionally flooding the jail, were vacated after their cases were resolved by separate plea agreements.Keilon James Adams, 27, and Cameron Scott Asencio, 33, were in jail for violating probation. They were charged with felony counts of criminal mischief and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.According to charging documents, on Feb. 29, sewage backed up into the back office, hallways, cells and kitchen of the jail. Video surveillance of the jail appears to show the two men putting up a blanket in front of the toilet, cutting off...
Dolores Carlson, 67
Dolores “Dee” Elaine Carlson of Polson, age 67, passed into the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on June 19, 2024. Her physical life on earth is over but it is the beginning of an eternal and beautiful journey for her in Heaven.Dee was born Feb. 22, 1957, in Polson. She graduated from Polson High School in 1975 and that same year, she married Michael Virga and two children were born from this union. However, they divorced in 1989.In 1997, Dee met her soul mate and love of her life, Dale Carlson, and they were united in marriage.Dee...
Round-trip ticket to Gaza anyone?
Thank for the informative article about the Lake County Commissioners’ letter to President Joe Biden. I would like to thank the Lake County Commissioners for reaching out to our President with concerns about lake levels on Flathead Lake.I'm exceptionally thankful for the way you went about it, meeting with the Tribal Council the same day you sent the letter, but never mentioning one word about it. Thank you for giving us a fine example of MINO (Montanan in Name Only) behavior. With behavior like that one has to wonder, are all of you related to Hunter Biden, Bill Clinton or...
The Game is Afoot: Port Polson Players launch season with "Baskerville"
The Port Polson Players open their 49th season of Summer Theatre with Ken Ludwig's “Baskerville – A Sherlock Holmes Mystery,” based ever-so-loosely on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Hound of the Baskervilles.”This classic mystery, laced with plenty of comedy, plays July 5-21. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays (no performance July 4).Neal Lewing plays Sherlock Holmes while Jim Siragusa clocks in as Doctor Watson. Anna Loehrke, daughter of Players producers Karen and Neal Lewing, flew back from Cleveland to her old stomping grounds to direct the show and play 14 roles as the only...
Circus brings animals, clowns, exotic acts to Ronan
Wendell is a teenage lion, but he weighs in at 450 pounds. He and lioness Delilah are head-lion-ers for the Culpepper & Merryweather Circus, which performed two shows Sunday in Ronan. Aerialist Miss Elizabeth dangled by her hair high above the arena, while the Loyal family rode their horses bareback and dazzled the audience with their dexterity. The circus set up a big top tent at the Ronan fairgrounds for performances at 2:30 and 4 p.m. This is Culpepper & Merryweather’s fifth visit to Ronan. Safe Harbor hosts the circus and sets up a carnival for children headed to the big show. Community...
Mischaracterizing public nonprofits hurts communities
As the executive director of the Montana Nonprofit Association, a membership association that supports more than 850 organization across the state, I’m dismayed by multiple recent incidents of political leaders and influencers casting local public charities across Montana as “dark money” groups and as organizations at the center of broader political flashpoints.The nonprofit sector functions on trust – trust from families and households that organizations will respond to needs, trust from funders and supporters that resources are being stewarded well, and trust from the broader community to recognize that nonprofits can and should lean into spaces where government and business...
Mission Valley B Team trounces Libby
Mission Valley B Team trounces LibbyThe Mission Valley B Team opened the week with a 14-7 victory over Libby’s B team in Polson on Tuesday, June 18.Liam Wills started the game on the mound and struck out four in three innings of work, allowing no hits and giving up just one earned run. Wills also had two doubles in the game and drove in four runs.Aiden Courville pitched three innings while also having two hits, a double, and driving in a run.Mission Valley led 8-1 after three innings, and added three more in the top of the fifth. Libby responded...
Richard Flagg Ayres Jr., 89
Richard "Dick" Flagg Ayres Jr. passed away peacefully June 19, 2024, surrounded by his family in Tucson, Ariz.He is predeceased by his father, Richard Flagg Ayres Sr., mother Sarah Ayres, step-mother Jane Ayres, sister Susanne Graves, brother Robert Ayres, and son Richard Flagg Ayres, III.He is survived by his wife, Judy Ayres; daughters Andrea Strobel-Ayres (Cathy), Erinn Ayres (Paul DiMaggio), grandchildren Jessica, Rachel, Elizabeth and Benjamin; and numerous nieces and nephews located throughout the country.Dick was born in Portland, Ore., and moved with his family to Santa Barbara, Calif., at the age of 10 where he graduated high school. He graduated from Whitman College and Gonzaga University Law School.He resided in St. Ignatius for the past 36 years before moving to Tucson, Ariz., last year to be closer to family. A celebration of Dick's life will be scheduled in the future.
St. Ignatius Seniors: Nurse on the Go
Is it difficult for you or a loved one to trim toenails? Call “Nurse on the Go” at 406-253-5114 and schedule your 30-minute foot appointment. Cost is $25 a treatment, and nails are trimmed, and callouses and corns buffed smooth. The nurse is licensed and insured.If you would like a take-out meal, please call 406-745-4462 by 10 a.m. on Tuesday and Friday and by 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Menus are available via email, mail, or at the center.Main dishes include pork chops, noon June 28; ham with mac and cheese, noon July 2; Salisbury steak and Fourth of July cake, 5:30 p.m. July 3; and fish with birthday cake for dessert, noon July 5.Gentle Yoga meets at 1 p.m. Wednesdays (call 406-253-0177).A Taiji exercise program continues at 1 p.m. Mondays. Call teacher Kory Gunderson for more information at 406-361-0304.Our Senior Center is open to people renting it. If you are interested, please call 406-745-4462 and leave a message. Also, there are free puzzles and books on table in entryway for the taking.
Ayden Luper
Ayden Willie Luper of Polson peacefully entered his eternal home on June 15, 2024, after a courageous four-year battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma. He passed as he lived, surrounded by family and friends while loving and praising Jesus. Ayden was born Feb. 2, 2007.Ayden just finished his Junior year at Mission Valley Christian Academy, where he loved playing soccer and basketball. He enjoyed playing on the lake and laughing with family and friends.He was very passionate about serving others in the name of Jesus, from third world countries to his own back yard. His prayer and deepest desire was for everyone...
Ronan Seniors: Birthday dinner served June 28
Anyone is welcome to enjoy our meals – you don’t have to be a senior citizen! We ask for a $7 donation for our Monday, Wednesday and Friday meals and $10 for our Sunday meal. Those who would like a meal delivered – including businesses – are encouraged to call the center by 10 a.m. at 406-676-2371.Birthday Dinner, served Friday, June 28, includes roast beef, salad and dessert. Other main dishes include turkey and noodles, July 1 and brunch, July 3.The center is closed July 5 in honor of Independence Day. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.Pinochle is 1:30-4 p.m. Mondays; and the pool table is available 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Join the fun!Commodities will be distributed July 17 at Mission West Food Enterprises, 407 Main St. in Ronan. This will be a one-day-only distribution from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. It will be drive through so please stay in your car.If you need Ensure, we have it. Have your doctor send us a prescription and we can fill it.The Senior Center is available to rent. Call us at 406-676-2371 if you are having an event and need a location.
Thrift-store theft leads to multiple drug charges
A Big Arm man is accused of possessing multiple drugs, being charged as such, and then missing court appearances on those charges. Randal Joseph Grant, 47, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court June 20 to three separate counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and bail jumping, all felonies.According to court records, on Dec. 5, 2021, Polson Police responded to a report of two men in an orange Dodge Charger stealing bags of donated items from the donation box at a thrift store in Polson. The responding officer located the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic...
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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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