Columbus
Lake County Leader
The lost lesson of stewardship
Reprinted from The Daily Montanan, July 3A new – and old – accusation keeps popping up these days. “You are just one of those Montanans who wants to come to paradise, and once you have your little piece of it, just lock the gate behind you. How can you justify that?”Well, quite easily. I was raised and imbued with the doctrine of “stewardship.” Actually, it was the second commandment in our family, right after, “Honor your father and mother.”It mandated us to pass forward our spot on this planet in as good or better condition than we received it. That...
On the agenda
Lake County Commissioners: Approval of Request for $2,500 for Mission Valley Animal Shelter: 10 a.m. July 15, Commissioners Chambers, Lake County CourthouseAnnual Transportation Committee Meeting: 1:30 p.m. July 15, Large Conference Room, County CourthousePublic Hearing on Polson Gardens Housing Development: 6:30 p.m. July 15, Polson City HallPolson City Council: 7 p.m. July 15, City HallSt. Ignatius School Board: 7 p.m. July 16, libraryCharlo School Board: 8 p.m. July 16, high schoolRonan City Council: 6 p.m. July 24, City HallPublic Hearing on Resolution to Impose a Special Levy for Jail Improvements: 10 a.m. July 29, Commissioners Chambers, Lake County Courthouse
Arlee celebrates Fourth with 40th Open Rodeo
The Arlee Open Rodeo celebrated 40 years this year. Traditionally held on the Fourth of July, the rodeo arena is located off Powwow Road near the powwow grounds. The performance started at 2 p.m., and the stands were jam-packed on a sunny day.The rodeo is put on by Stephanie and T.R. Hendrickson. The rodeo announcer noted that the first Arlee Open Rodeo they produced was 10 days after they got married. The couple climbed in a wagon for a turn or two around the arena so the community could give them some much deserved thank-you applause. They rode behind a driver...
Arlee Celebration welcomes dancers, spectators
The 124th annual Arlee Esyapqeyni, which means celebration in Salish, began its seven-day run on July 1 and provided six days of culture and powwow dancing. The powwow theme was “In Honor of Our Elders – Past and Present.”Teepees dotted the campground around the dance pavilion, as did campers and tents. The grand entries for the celebration were so full of dancers the arena directors were busy asking participants to move closer together so everyone would fit. War Dance Chief Stephen Small Salmon led the grand entries. Small Salmon remembers being 3 years old and putting on his very first War...
The British came to Polson, but didn't stay long
For the third year in a row, Polson parade-watchers were treated to a reenactment of the battles of Lexington and Concord, beginning when Paul Revere galloped down Main Street, shouting “The British are coming!”And sure enough, they were. The Redcoats, organized by Raven Hall Motorcycle Riding Club, strode into town just before the parade commenced, only to find their path blocked in front of the Elks Club by a small but determined group of Polson Minutemen. The two sides clashed, and the Redcoats prevailed, continuing their march down Main Street to the Polson VFW.This time, in a haze of smoke...
Tribal Complex named in honor of Vern Clairmont
Vern Clairmont, who died a year ago on July 11, was honored last Friday at the Tribal Complex, which has been renamed in his honor.Clairmont spent 45 years working at the tribal headquarters in Pablo, the majority of those as Director of Financial Management for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.Councilwoman Carole Lankford has said that he worked for 12 chairmen and more than 60 tribal council members. “It was an honor to work with Vern,” she said Friday.He left an indelible mark, helping lay the groundwork for several self-governance initiatives, including those that have allowed the Tribes to reclaim...
Polson places third at home Splash Tournament
Polson defeated the C-Town Rebels 12-1 to place third at the Polson Splash Tournament, held July 5-7. The Lady Pirates held the Rebels to four hits in the victory, while Avery Starr had a home run and drove in two runs.Polson scored five runs in the first inning and seven more in the second inning. In the circle, Avery Starr struck out two in two and one-third innings pitched.Liz Cunningham also had a double, and Kailey Smith drove in a run.On Sunday, during the tournament semifinals, Polson fell to the Hamilton Hot Shots 10-1. The Lady Pirates were held to...
Time Capsule: From the Archives
The Ronan Pioneer, June 26, 1974 Floods miss!Lake County emerged unscathed from western Montana floods this past week. Rivers and streams went out of their banks north and south of the county, but aside from the minor flooding near Swan Lake, no problems were experienced in Lake County.The civil defense director Gene Bond cautioned ranchers below Kerr Dam to keep an eye on the Flathead River and to be ready to move cattle from lowland areas.North of Flathead Lake an estimated $3 million more in property and road damage was done.There was some flooding in the Evergreen area too.The Ronan Pioneer,...
Legals for July, 10 2024
MONTANA TWENTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, LAKE COUNTY In Re: The Estate of: JACK BRIAN UHDE, Deceased. Cause No.: DP-24 41 John Mercer District Court Judge NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above-named Estate. All persons having claims against the said deceased are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must either be mailed to Frank Dougherty, the Personal Representative, return receipt, to: c/o Tanko Law Office, 392 – 1st Avenue...
Shirley Eye, 85
Shirley Rae Newton Eye, age 85, passed away on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at the Pines of Mission in St. Ignatius. She was born Oct. 18, 1938, in Polson to Raymond and Pearl (Schmidt) Newton.She was raised on the Newton ranch and graduated from Polson High School. She got her B.S. degree in Physical Education and Business from the University of Montana in 1960. She taught at Sunnyside, Wash., and St. Ignatius.On June 24, 1961, she married George Eye and they have ranched near St. Ignatius ever since.She was a member of Mission Valley Jaycees, Foothills Club, United Methodist Church,...
Marriages & Divorces
MARRIAGES: Robbie Daley and Cody Best, May 11; Rennie Winkelman and Derek Biggs, May 24; Joshua York and Savannah Blixt, May 25; Chance Van Atta and Natalie Storest, May 30; Alexis Jaynes and Shad Easter Olson, June 1; Denise Adams and Edward Monet, June 5; Shane Austin and Ashley Raymond, June 6; Steven Vert Jr. and Ann Whiting, June 7; Christopher Hammond and Caillan Bower, June 8; Alexis Haggerty and Aric Arends, June 8; Cody Davis and Lindsey Rogers, June 12; Matthew May and Crystal Ferris, June 15; Olivia Martin and Tyler Loveless, June 18; Hannah Medina and Bartolo Rodriguez,...
Clayton Orie Tracy Jr., 66
Clayton Orie Tracy Jr., age 66 of Polson, passed away on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.There are no services planned at this time for Clayton.Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.
Ronan man admits to felony assault
A Ronan admitted to threatening the mother of his children with a knife. Darius Sosep Parker, 25, entered a plea of guilty in District Court in Polson June 26 to felony assault with a weapon.According to court records, on April 19, 2023, a deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was in the Ronan area when he was flagged down by a woman. She told the deputy that Parker confronted her and was arguing with her before he pulled out a knife and said he was “f***ing serious.”He then put the knife away and struck her on her forehead above her eye. She told the deputy that they were in a three-year relationship, share two children, but are no longer a couple.Judge Molly Owen set a sentencing date of Aug. 14. Parker remains in the Lake County Jail with bond totaling $160,000.
Outgoing finance director helped reshape budget process
Kim Sassaman, the City of Polson’s recently retired finance director, headed for her new home in Florida in late June with her second “clean audit” report behind her, and a more relaxing future ahead.Sassaman joined the city’s staff two years ago after a stint at Mission West Community Development Partners. A native of Pennsylvania, she and her husband moved to the Mission Valley in 2001.According to Polson City Manager Ed Meece, “Kim has done a tremendous job with our budget in the time that she's been here.”In addition to completing the budget on time and earning high marks from the...
Body of missing boater recovered
After nearly five days, divers from Missoula and Flathead County recovered the body of 36-year-old Chad Hansen of Missoula from Flathead Lake. According to a press release from the Lake County Sheriff, his body was located just north of the Narrows, an area north of Polson Bay in about 75 feet of water. Search efforts consisted of multiple rescue teams, as well as technologies from around the region, including underwater drones. Hansen had been missing since Friday, June 28, at about 9:41 p.m. when witnesses first reported that he had become separated from his motorboat in the same area where...
Darwin Lee Zempel, 67
Darwin Lee Zempel, 67 passed away June 23, 2024. Darwin was born Sept. 15, 1956, in Kalispell to Dolores and Allen “Bud” Zempel.During Darwin’s school years he participated in sports, which he excelled in. His true passion was his love for the outdoors, from fishing the rivers and lakes hunting in the woods hunting, or visiting the Bison Range.His number of careers show a love and knowledge of many things – logging, ranch hand, masonry, construction, wildland fire fighting, working at the family pellet mill, bull riding (even winning a buckle), tree planting, selling Christmas trees, and gold mining. He...
Angler breaks state record for largescale suckers
Wade Merschat, 12, of Trout Creek, used a nightcrawler to land a 6.72-pound largescale sucker from Noxon Reservoir in Sanders County on June 19. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists verified the state record and issued Merschat his state record certificate on July 1. The fish measured 25.25 inches long.The previous record was 6.16 pounds set in June 2008 from Woodland Park Pond in Kalispell. It measured 23.1 inches long.The sucker family is the third largest family of fish in Montana with nine species, behind only the minnow and salmonid (trout) families. The largescale sucker is native to Montana’s western drainage. In Montana, the maximum size is usually less than 5 pounds.FWP maintains the list of record fish online at fwp.mt.gov/fish/anglingData/records.
Washington man accused of dealing drugs
A man from Green Acres, Wash., man is accused of dealing drugs in Lake County. Michael William Murray, 40, entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of criminal possession with intent to distribute in District Court at Polson June 27.According to charging documents, on April 30, drug agents in Lake County observed a person, known by the agents to be wanted on an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle he was driving.Another passenger, besides Murray, was in the vehicle. He too was wanted on an outstanding warrant and was placed under...
Albert Knutson, 91
Albert Knutson, 91 of Polson, passed away on Jan. 18, 2024, at St. Luke Extended Care in Ronan.Memorial services for Albert will be held on Saturday, July 13, at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Polson.Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.
Merle Walling
Merle was an amazing and kind woman who loved her family above all.Merle Elaine Walling passed on June 23, 2024. Born on Oct. 12, 1937, in Pasadena, Calif., to parents Gwindon and Anna Elizabeth Spindt, she was the oldest of three children with brother David and sister Sonia. One of her favorite childhood memories was going to her dad’s work to get homemade ice-cream at the dairy.After graduating from Citrus High School in 1955 in Glendora, Calif., she got a nursing degree and worked in Oakland, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles, Calif. She married Charles Walling in 1960, lived in...
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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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