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Lake County Leader
JoEllen Stimac Estenson, 84
JoEllen Stimac Estenson passed peacefully on May 2 following a very brief and hard-fought battle with a third bout of cancer, which accentuated her otherworldly levels of grit, determination and positivity.Her incredible attitude had helped her prevail against cancer twice in the past and we all expected a three peat (just like her beloved Phil Jackson’s Chicago Bulls did a few times), but the good Lord graciously had other plans.JoEllen was born in Chicago, Ill., on Nov. 10, 1939, to Eugene Wyatt and Evelyn Birdsong but very quickly adjusted to an amazing new life when Evelyn married Steve Stimac the...
Mission sends five to state tennis tourney
St. Ignatius hosted the Western B-C Divisional Tennis Tournament on Thursday and Friday, May 16-17, and qualified several players for state.In girls doubles, Mission’s Emily Morigeau and Brooklyn McClure placed second.In boys doubles, Max McLeod and Mathew Broughton, both freshmen, placed fifth at Divisionals. In boys singles action Mission junior Sawyer Pule also took fifth.State tennis will be May 23-25 at Fort Missoula and Peak Courts.
Ronan Softball headed to State
Ronan battled their way through the consolation bracket and defeated Hamilton 13-3 on Saturday, May 18 in the Western A fifth-place game. Their placing means they’ll be headed to the state tournament this week in Billings.Ronan opened the tournament with a 10-0 victory over Butte Central on Friday, May 17. The Maidens had 14 hits, including a triple and two RBI by Kendall.Ronan led 6-0 after two innings and they scored four more unanswered runs. Butte Central was held to one hit by pitcher Kailyn Marengo had nine strikeouts.Ally Luedtke, Kaydnce Santos, and Mira Corum all had multi-hit games, while...
Pump & Roll: Firefighters rendezvous for spring training
Around 75 volunteer firefighters from across Lake County gathered at the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire last Friday and Saturday near Pablo to learn new skills and refresh old ones.Jodi O'Sullivan, public information officer for the City of Polson Fire Department, said the event was organized by the Lake County Fire Association, in association with the Division of Fire and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. She said 13 agencies were represented at the gathering, including departments from Rollins, Polson (both rural and city), St. Ignatius, Ronan, Bigfork, Charlo, Chief Cliff, Finley Point and Arlee.O’Sullivan pointed...
Commissioners answer “hard questions” posed last week
In last week’s edition of the Leader, Jean Vincent of Polson urged residents to ask some “hard questions” of the present County Commissioners related to how business is being conducted. We welcome questions and would like to address Ms. Vincent’s inquiries.She stated that there is “a desperate need for an independent audit of the county funds.”Montana law requires that a county of our size performs an independent audit every two years. Our latest audit was performed by Denning, Downing and Associates. Their firm is the leading independent auditor of local governments in Montana. The results of our audit confirmed that our...
Mission and Arlee place many at Divisionals
Arlee and Mission had several placers at the Western B Divisional Track Meet on Friday and Saturday, May 17-18, in Missoula.Arlee’s Matthew Johnson won the high jump (6-2), while Mission’s Harlon Leishman was second in the 3,200-meter run (10:38.32) and third in the 1,600-meter run (4:54.86). Mission’s Rhain Gonzalez was second in the long jump (20-6) and seventh in the javelin (132-09).In the 400-meter run, Iyezk Umphrey was sixth, 54.36. Umphrey was also fourth in the triple jump (41-3.5) and seventh in the long jump (18-6.5). Arlee’s Jake Knoll was fourth in the shot put (41-9) and seventh in the...
Bad roads jar Hillside Estates approval
Should a developer be asked to improve substandard city streets leading to a new subdivision?That’s the question the Polson City Commission wrestled with at Monday’s public hearing and meeting regarding approval of the preliminary plat for a proposed new subdivision, Hillside Estates. The 15.33-acre subdivision would include 16 residential lots and is located south of Hillside Court and north of Claffey Drive.The subdivision proposal had been unanimously approved May 14 by the City-County Planning Board.About a dozen area residents showed up for Monday’s the public hearing, and most stayed for the subsequent commission meeting.“It's been looked at pretty darn hard...
Time Capsule: From the weekly archives
Ronan Pioneer, Thursday, April 21, 1960Turnbull named to head Dist. 28 school boardEd Turnbull, Charlo, was elected chairman of the board of trustees of School District No. 28 at the annual reorganization meeting in Ronan on April 16. Dr. R.D. Read, Ronan, was named vice chairman.Earl J. Summers, Ronan, was re-appointed clerk. Other trustees are Howard Delaney, St. Ignatius; Wayne Burrell, Moiese; and L.E. Cullen, Round Butte.Spring street cleaning to start SundayThe Ronan spring street cleaning project will start at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 24, instead of at 1 p.m. as announced last week, according to Al Hamlin, chairman...
Walmart and the PSC: Not political?
Recently while collecting signatures for Public Service Commission (PSC) District 4, I was informed by the Walmart store manager that they have a policy of not allowing any political activity on their property. The irony of the situation, Walmart not allowing political activity, was profoundly humorous given the recent PSC ruling in favor of NorthWestern Energy.A brief reminder that in October 2023 the Republican PSC ruled to allow NorthWestern to raise their rates 28% for residential customers and small business owners. But large industrial users on the NorthWestern grid, including Walmart, did not receive a rate increase. Essentially, the PSC...
Tomlin champion at Western C Divisional
Charlo’s Jacob Tomlin was a champion in the shot put (47-4) at the Western C Divisional Track Meet on Friday and Saturday, May 17-18, in Missoula.Two Eagle’s Jabez Madplume was seventh in the 100-meter run (11.99), seventh in the 500-meter run (54.99), fifth in the 200-meter run (23.79) and eighth in the long jump (19-2).Hayden Hollow placed fourth in the 400-meter run (53.74), eighth in the pole vault (10-0) and second in the 800-meter run (1:59.69) for Charlo, while teammate Hayden Smith was fourth in the 800-meter run (2:02.98), fourth in the 1,600-meter run (4:31.66) and third in the 3,200-meter...
Ronan Seniors: Closed Memorial Day
We will be closed May 27 for Memorial Day.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.This week’s main dishes include sausage and peppers, May 22; pork chops, May 24; and spaghetti, May 29.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!Dues are due: $10 per person.If you need Ensure, we have it. Have your doctor send us a prescription and we can fill it. We have Ensure Plus for $19.61 for a case of 24 and Ensure High Protein for $38.52 for a case of 12.The Senior Center is available to rent. Call us at 406-676-2371 if you are having an event and need a location.
Pirates bow out at State
Polson bowed out of the Montana State Baseball Tournament in Missoula on Thursday and Friday, May 16-17, with two losses.Polson opened up the tournament with a 12-6 loss to Butte on Thursday, and then fell 8-7 in a nail-biter to Columbia Falls on Friday.Against Butte, Polson fell behind 10-4 through three innings. Espn Fisher, Cole Wadsworth and George Wyman all pitched for the Pirates in the loss. Five Butte batters struck out, but the team collected 11 hits, and Polson committed four errors.Polson had eight hits, including Cody Haggard, Fisher, and Landon Shoemake triples. Fisher drove home two runs, while...
Mission Valley Masons award five $10,000 scholarships
Mission Valley Lodge #78 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in Polson recently awarded five $10,000 scholarships to five seniors, one at each of the public high schools in Lake County. The scholarships are administered through the Greater Polson Community Foundation.Each of the scholarship winners demonstrated a unique commitment to work ethic, community engagement and financial need. The scholarships are awarded to students in the fields of medical, finance, engineering, construction and trades, including technical schools – and not necessarily those with the highest GPAs.This year’s recipients include:• Hannah Fussell of Ronan, who will be attending Montana State University in Bozeman...
MAC's season ends at Divisionals
Mission-Arlee-Charlo opened the Western B Softball Tournament with a victory but lost their next two to end their season short of the state tournament.MAC opened the Western B Softball Tournament with a 12-0 victory over Ennis on Thursday, May 16, in Florence. MAC scored 12 runs in the first three innings and finished with 10 hits. Meanwhile, in the circle, Izzy Evans struck out five and allowed just one hit.Amelia Cronk had two hits with a double and an RBI. Evans hit a double and drove in two runs, while leadoff hitter GG Hawk had a triple.MAC moved to the...
Delaney stands out at Western A Divisional
Polson and Ronan had several trips to the podium during the Western A Divisional Track Meet in Columbia Falls on Saturday, May 18.On the girls’ side, Polson freshman Morgan Delaney was second in the 800-meter run (2:24.45) and third in the 1,600-meter run (5:18.20).Polson finished seventh in the 4x100 relay (54.39) and sixth in the 4x400 (4:26.55) while Ronan was eighth (4:37.93).Ronan’s Zailee Hewankorn was fifth in the shot put (34-2.5).Polson’s Amelia Stene was eighth in the 100-meter run (13.42) and fifth in the 200-meter run (27.92). She was also fourth in the long jump (16-2).On the boys’ side, Polson’s...
Flathead Lakers appoint new executive director
The Flathead Lakers recently appointed Coby Gierke as the organization’s new executive director, effective July 22.According to a press release, Gierke brings nearly two decades of leadership experience in environmental conservation, and is poised to help organization continue its mission of “working for clean water, healthy ecosystems, and lasting quality of life in the Flathead Watershed.Gierke served as executive director at the Montana State Parks Foundation, helping grow its fundraising from $90,000 in 2017 to more than $1 million in 2022, and more than tripling its newsletter audience.As head of the Integrated Bioscience and Built Environment Consortium, based in Missoula,...
New arrivals at the Nesting Place
Ariel Jewl Farnsworth was born April 18 at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center’s Nesting Place in Polson to Savannah and Timothy Farnsworth of Ronan. She was 22 inches long and weighed 8 lbs., 5.2 oz.Ariel’s maternal grandparents are Kim and Doug Ungari and maternal great-grandparents are Cindi and Robert Bent. Paternal grandparents are Renee and Nick Farnsworth and paternal great-grandparents are Karen and Tom Hudson.Rocky Gene McClennon was born April 25 at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center to Tomi Brazill and Leontaye McClennon of Arlee. He was 20 inches long and weighed 5 lbs., 14.5 oz.Amari Marquis Silgen was born...
Ag Days: More than 350 fourth graders learn where food comes from
Games of Hot Potato and Bingo were going on in the indoor arena at Josh and Sarah Senecal’s ranch on May 14 and 15. While it was fun, Future Farmers of America Bryanne Zemple, Brianne Zempel, Seeley McDonald, and Maizey McDonald were also using the games to teach kids about the humble spud. Why do growers in Lake County ship their potatoes? How do potatoes grow, what types are there, and how are they harvested? Fun facts abounded. The FFA students manned one of 14 information “booths” scattered around the Senecals’ place for the annual Fourth Grade Ag Days. The main goal...
Sidewalk, highway work halts for holiday
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Riverside Contracting will take a break from ongoing construction in Ronan over the Memorial Day weekend, May 24-27.Until then, expect to see crews on Round Butte Road, as sidewalk work continues east of the railroad tracks. Flaggers will periodically help facilitate safe travel where work is underway.Installation of the traffic signal poles and streetlights along Highway 93 also continues, and single-lane closures may be required where work is occurring.Other planned site work includes installing pedestrian handrails and gates throughout the project area, with work underway from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Thursday,...
Polson man sentenced for knife attack
A Polson man was committed in Polson District Court May 15 to the Montana Department of Corrections for 20 years, with 15 years suspended on one count of assault with a weapon.Dustin Lee Spotted Blanket, 38, entered a plea of guilty to the charge as part of a plea agreement reached March 27. The sentence was in accordance with that plea agreement.According to charging documents based on Polson Police reports, on Dec. 7, 2023, law enforcement responded to a report of an assault victim at the parking lot of the Kwataqnuk Resort. The victim was found at the scene, covered...
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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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