Columbus
Lake County Leader
Montana’s 50+ voters hold the key
Montanans are considering who to vote for in the upcoming primary election on June 4 – and the candidates are doing everything they can to try to earn those votes. One fact should be top of mind: voters 50-plus decide elections, and candidates who ignore this powerful segment of the electorate do so at their own peril. Voters 50-plus are the majority in every election. In fact, in 2022, 65% of the electorate in Montana was 50-plus.We want to see politicians address our day-to-day challenges, such as caring for our loved ones to keep them out of costly, taxpayer-funded nursing homes and addressing skyrocketing property taxes.As a retired educator, protecting retirement security is especially important – candidates that support protection of our hard-earned Social Security will earn my vote.Voters 50-plus have the power to decide many key races in Congress, the White House and right here at home in Montana, regardless of political affiliation. I intend to make my voice heard and I invite retired educators and 50-plus voters to join me.– Marilyn HamerExecutive Director, Montana Retired Educators AssociationGreat Falls
Honoring the true patriots
“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes.” (Maya Angelou)Memorial Day is coming up. My father flew an Air Force C-47 delivering supplies to troops across the Aleutian Chain in Alaska. I lost one brother too soon due to exposure to Agent Orange while serving on a Navy sub in Vietnam (hatch lookout). Another brother, a Navy pilot, flew a C-130 in Vietnam and later in Antarctica.One uncle fought the Fascists in Italy; another was a full colonel in the Air Force. My husband, a lieutenant in the Army, served as an instructor of...
Legals for May, 23 2024
NOTICE OF HEARING OF NAME CHANGE MONTANA TWENTIETH JUDICIAL COURT, LAKE COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE NAME CHANGE OF MAYA CLARISSE CARSON, MAYA CLARISSE CARSON, PETITIONER. CAUSE NO.: DV-24-89 DEPT NO.: DEPT 1 NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE This is Notice that the petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Maya Clarisse Carson to Maya Love Johnson. The hearing will be on 06-19-2024 at 10:00 am. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Lake County. S\ May 2nd, 2024 by M. Chapman, Deputy Clerk of Court. PUBLISHED MAY 9TH, 16TH, 23RD & 30TH, 2024 MNAXLP __________________________ NOTICE TO CREDITORS Probate...
Legislators support of Montana Great Outdoors Project
The following was submitted as formal public comment to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks:As Republican legislators representing Northwest Montana and the western edge of our state, we write to express our full support for the Montana Great Outdoors Project.The draft environmental assessment for Phase 1 of the conservation easement clearly illustrates not only that this proposal is the right move for conservation and the environment, but it’s also essential to protect good jobs and the Montana way of life, as well as preserve the very character of Northwest Montana.Much of the land between Kalispell and Libby has been owned by...
Legals for May, 22 2024
NOTICE OF HEARING OF NAME CHANGE MONTANA TWENTIETH JUDICIAL COURT, LAKE COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE NAME CHANGE OF MAYA CLARISSE CARSON, MAYA CLARISSE CARSON, PETITIONER. CAUSE NO.: DV-24-89 DEPT NO.: DEPT 1 NOTICE OF HEARING ON NAME CHANGE This is Notice that the petitioner has asked the District Court for a change of name from Maya Clarisse Carson to Maya Love Johnson. The hearing will be on 06-19-2024 at 10:00 am. The hearing will be at the Courthouse in Lake County. S\ May 2nd, 2024 by M. Chapman, Deputy Clerk of Court. PUBLISHED MAY 9TH, 16TH, 23RD & 30TH, 2024 MNAXLP __________________________ NOTICE TO CREDITORS Probate...
Primary Profiles: Four Republicans seek county commission seat
Three Republicans, Wes Baertsch, Max Krantz and Josh Senecal, are vying for the Lake County Commissioner seat currently held by Gale Decker, who is running for reelection. Since no Democrat filed for that office, the outcome will be decided by those who vote the Republican ticket in the June 4 primary election.All four candidates responded to the Leader’s recent questionnaire.Decker, the incumbent, has 12 years of experience as a commissioner, as well as six years as County Superintendent of Schools prior to that. “Experience is invaluable in making the decisions that a commissioner makes on a daily basis,” he says.Decker...
Spring Sports Calendar
THURSDAY, MAY 16- Polson, Ronan, Mission-Arlee Baseball at State Baseball- MAC Softball at Western B-C DivisionalFRIDAY, MAY 17- Polson, Ronan, Mission-Arlee Baseball at State Baseball- Polson, Ronan Softball at Divisional Tournament in Polson- Polson, Ronan Track at Western A Divisional Meet, Whitefish- Charlo, Arlee, Mission, Two Eagle Track at Western B and C Divisional, Missoula Big Sky- Mission Tennis at Divisionals- MAC Softball at Western B-C DivisionalSATURDAY, MAY 18- Polson, Ronan, Mission-Arlee Baseball at State Baseball- Polson, Ronan Softball at Divisional Tournament in Polson- Polson, Ronan Track at Western A Divisional Meet, Whitefish- Charlo, Arlee, Mission, Two Eagle Track at Western B and C Divisional, Missoula Big Sky- Mission Tennis at Divisionals- MAC Softball at Western B-C Divisional
Mission Valley Calendar
Endangered Species Day – 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 16 at Mission Mountain View Point on Hwy. 93, south of Ronan; make a pollinator seed ball and learn about Monarch butterflies and the importance of wildflowers to endangered native pollinators. Help plant pollinator species, learn to use herbicides safely and identify other endangered species on the Flathead Reservation. Visit www.endangeredspeciesday.org."Wetlands: Lifeblood of the Flathead Reservation" – 7 p.m. May 16 at the Polson Library Meeting Room; Dennis Lichtenberg discusses the valuable aquatic ecosystems that Montana's wildlife species rely on for food, cover and water during Mission Mountain Audubon's next educational program....
Rose E. Freeman, 90
Rose E. Freeman of Pablo passed away April 23, 2024. She died of natural causes at the age of 90.Rose was born in Butte on Sept. 2, 1933, to Herbert G. and Olive G. Peterson. She grew up in Ronan, but left shortly after graduating from high school to join the Women Army Corps where she served with pride.She left the WACs to marry Ancil E. Freeman and continued her adventures by seeing the world as an army wife, following him to Europe and all over the U.S. The couple finally returned to Montana to raise their children.She is preceded...
Durglo tops at ABC Meet
Ronan’s Connor Durglo placed first in the triple jump (43-0) while Polson runners looked strong in the distance races during the 2024 Thomas-Nelson ABC Meet on Saturday, May 11 in Polson.David DiGiallonardo placed third in the 800-meter run (2:01.70) and third in the 1,600-meter run (4:33.92) for Polson. In the 3,200-meter run, Jackson Bontadelli was second (10:19.95) and Ronan’s Devon BigMedicine was fourth (10:49.07).Polson’s Astin Brown was second in the shot put (52-11) and fourth in the discus (145-09.Durglo also placed fourth in the long jump (20-01) for Ronan. In the 4x400 relay, Polson’s team of Jesse Vail, Gus Hertz,...
MAC ties one, wins two in Butte
Huntley Project and MAC battled to a 6-6 tie in the first set of games at the LaVerne Combo Softball Invite in Butte on Friday, May 10.MAC outhit Huntley Project 9-7 in the game and trailed 6-4 until it plated two runs in the fourth. The Lady Bulldogs overcame five errors to play even before the game was ended without a conclusion.Izzy Evans had two hits – including a double – and two RBI, while Alecia Steele also drove in two runs. Leadoff hitter GG Hawk notched two hits, one of them being a double. Mia Christopher also had a...
Alfred Esquibel, 93
Former Ronan resident Alfred Esquibel passed away Friday, May 4, at his home in Gallup, N.M. He was 93.He is survived by his wife, Teresa; sons Marty Esquibel (Antoinette) of Gallup, Mike Esquibel of Benton, Ark., and Ed Esquibel of Gallup. Alfred had seven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents, Salvador Esquibel and Esphifarna Esquibel, brother David Esquibel, sisters Alvina Gutierrez, Sara Cervantes and Dolores Vera, and great-granddaughter Jada Esquibel.Alfred worked at Kicking Horse Job Corp for six years before transferring to the Flathead Irrigation Project in Polson, and then worked for Mission Valley Power until his retirement in 1998.He was a founding member of the Knights of Columbus in Ronan. He also coached Little League in Ronan and volunteered at the Ronan Bread Basket after he retired until moving back to Gallup, N.M.Services will be announced at a later date.
Spring Mack Days wraps up with 35,089 entries
The 2024 Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, ended Saturday with a grant total of 35,089 lake trout entered during the nine-week long fishing event.Making a difference for the future of native fish in Flathead lake is the goal behind these bi-annual fishing events that focus on reducing the non-native lake trout. Native bull trout and westslope cutthroat populations are just a fraction of what they once were. Anglers are an important part of the management toolbox, which aims to reduce non-native fish numbers.The leader in the Top Twenty category was Kolton...
Ronan posts four wins at softball invite
In a hard-fought battle, Ronan opened play last Friday at the LaVerne Combo Softball Invite in Butte by scoring four unanswered runs in a 4-2 victory over Dawson County. Ronan finished with five hits, including doubles by Kailyn Marengo and Nikki Kendall.Dawson County led 1-0 after three innings before Ronan tied it up in the fourth, took the lead with two runs in the fifth, and added an insurance run in the sixth. The Maidens also overcame four errors in the victory.Pitcher Kendall struck out 10 and scattered four hits in the victory.Also Friday, the offense came fast and furious...
Water outlook remains below average
According to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the North Fork Jocko SNOTEL in the southern Mission Mountains has received 36.9 inches of precipitation since Oct. 1, which is the lowest May 1 water year precipitation total in 35 years of record. And that's not an anomaly.Well-above normal precipitation during April was needed given the meager snowpack conditions experienced this year. While monthly precipitation was above normal last month in the Powder and Tongue River basins, precipitation was about 65-80% normal at basins across the state.“A couple of mid-month storms did provide significant snowfall, but April is typically a wet...
Two special district races end in tie votes
According to unofficial results, last Tuesday’s election for special districts and school board trustees yielded two ties.Patrick Lennon and Rhonda Walter each collected 106 votes for the one seat available on the Chief Cliff Fire District board.At the other end of Lake County, James “Tyke” Allaire and Anthony Hoyt each received 38 votes in their quest to serve as a director on the Arlee Water and Sewer Board. Clear winners of the other two available seats are Becky Malatare with 69 votes and Mary Stranahan with 58.According to Lake County Election Administrator, if the ties still stand after the canvass...
Mercer appointed to 20th Judicial District Court
Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath was at the Lake County Courthouse Monday to administer the oath of office to Polson attorney John Mercer as he donned a black robe and the responsibilities of a District Court judge.Gov. Greg Gianforte appointed Mercer last week to fill the vacancy created by Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher’s retirement. Christopher withdrew her bid for reelection in March, leaving just one candidate on the November ballot, Polson attorney Britt Cotter.“A Polson native, John is an accomplished attorney distinguished by his extensive legal experience and commitment to his community,” Gianforte said in a press release...
“Little Women” graces Polson High School stage
Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March took possession of the stage at Polson High School on Friday night and Sunday afternoon in a play presented by the PHS Theatre Program.With hoop skirts making them glide across the floor, the March girls starred in the play “Little Women,” an adaptation by Scott Davidson of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott.Set from 1863-1868, the play selects snippets of the March family’s life. Their father, played by Seth Stanley, is in the army and he has lost most of the family’s money. Aunt March, his arrogant, selfish and impossible sister, portrayed by Annalyse...
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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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