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Lake County Leader
Time Capsule: From the Archives
Flathead Courier, July 25, 1974 Polson-Flathead Museum: A Reflection of the PastBy Sherry StriplingSince its opening July 14, almost 50 visitors a day have stepped into the freshly-built Polson-Flathead Historical Museum to see the aged artifacts of the Valley history.The long grey building located on 8th and Main is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sundays.Local history is spotlighted in the display with articles such as the Allard Stage Coach which made the Polson-Ravalli run in 1909-1910; the first Polson Fire Department vehicle; photographs of the area and the town dating...
Gardipe pleads guilty to felony intimidation
Judge Molly Owen set a sentencing date of Sept. 4 for a Big Arm man who admitted to threatening a neighbor over calling law enforcement. Junior Gardipe, 36, entered a plea of guilty in District Court at Polson July 17 to felony intimidation.The plea was entered as part of an agreement that would dismiss at sentencing one count of assault with a weapon. The agreement calls for a joint recommendation of 10 years to the Montana State Prison with five years suspended. That will run consecutively to a 10-year suspended MSP term on a conviction of tampering with witnesses and...
From adversity to achievement: UM Law grad lands tribal judgeship
“You know, five years ago if they told me I would be a graduate of the University of Montana law school, I wouldn’t have believed them,” said Bryan Dupuis Sr. “If they told me I could potentially be the next chief judge of the Blackfeet Tribe, I would have never believed them.”Dupuis grew up in Ronan as a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe.“Young in life, I didn’t realize that when I do negative things, I’m going to get a lot of negative attention,” Dupuis said.He dropped out of school a few times, graduating at age 20 from...
Festival of Art draws nearly 50 vendors
Kirstin Baker of Dragonfly Pottery in Belgrade brought her own fan to the Flathead Lake Festival of Art, where temperatures were in the low 90s Saturday afternoon.“Last year it was 100 degrees,” she said. “This is much better.”Margery Christensen, membership coordinator for Sandpiper Gallery and Gifts, which hosts the two-day art show, said 47 artists and craftspeople offered their wares this year – twice as many as last year.“The word’s gotten out,” she added.Artists traveled from across Montana, including Bozeman, Belgrade and Laurel, and beyond, including South Dakota and Colorado, for the ninth annual juried show at Sacajawea Park in...
Power outage hits more than 600 households
More than 600 households were without power Monday after power to the Bonneville substation on Dixon went offline. According to a Facebook post by Joe Caye, the Mission Valley Power supervisor on duty Monday, the substation supplies electricity to the communities of Ravalli, Charlo, Arlee and St. Ignatius. The Town of St. Ignatius posted a warning on its Facebook site Monday afternoon, noting that the water level in the town’s storage tanks was 80% below normal due to the power outage. Citizens were asked to hold off on outdoor watering until Tuesday afternoon to allow the wells to recover. The post reads: “We need to reserve as much water in the tower as possible so as not to overwork the generators.” St. Ignatius Public Works Superintendent Scott Morton said Tuesday that the community has “plenty of water.” Mission is served by three wells, two of which ordinarily run in the summer. With the lengthy power outage, the electric pumps didn’t work so the back-up generator kicked on to keep one well running.
There's only one Savior
I’m writing in response to Suzanne Marshall’s letter in last week’s Leader (July 4). First Ms. Marshall you need to fact check yourself – there is only one Savior. I don’t recall those words coming from President Trump, however, more than once did they come from Democrats and the lying media.What does Trump have to do with the federal budget bill? Biden was (lol) in charge of the country not Trump though I’m sure he offered advice. You quote Mark 8:36 but let me quote one for you. “Do not judge or you too will be judged.” Matt 7:1Next: You...
Lady Pirates win two at State Tournament
The Lady Pirates 18U softball team’s season ended at the Montana Junior Olympic Fastpitch Tournament with a 3-0 loss to the Laurel Extreme on Saturday, July 13.Laurel scored runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings while Polson was held to one hit, an Avery Starr double. Sam Rensvold pitched six innings, striking out five in the loss.Polson fell to the Billings 406 Playmakers 3-1 early on Saturday. Avery Starr was in the circle for the Lady Pirates, striking out six and holding Billings to just three hits. The 406 Playmakers scored two runs in the first and another in...
Fire danger moves to very high
Wildland fire officials with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire have raised the fire danger within the Flathead Indian Reservation to “Very High,” effective immediately. Residents and visitors are asked to use caution when outdoors.“Very High” fire danger means that dry grasses and needles ignite easily, fires can spread rapidly and may be difficult to control. While there are no restrictions in place at this time, residents and visitors are urged to exercise caution when recreating outdoors.Remember, fireworks are prohibited on all tribal, state and federal classified forestlands.The public needs to be safe when outdoors. Do not...
Extension crew revs up for Lake County Fair
The Lake County Extension office in Ronan is humming this time of year, as Agents Taylor Mullen and Claudia Andrade gear up for the Lake County Fair.The two women could be described as 4-H cheerleaders. Both grew up in 4-H and are passionate about how the program benefits youngsters who participate.“In general, across the state, there’s been a huge increase in 4-H enrollment,” Andrade says. She attributes some of that growth to the influx of new people in Montana “who want to be involved in the community, want to learn about the culture, the heritage, the traditions, and so they...
Community efforts help shape “the cutest fairgrounds around”
Facilities and fair manager Sjaan Vincent was helping a crew of young workers build and paint a fence recently in preparation for the upcoming Lake County Fair. They carefully measured and placed rails, then added a coat of brown paint – with Vincent lending a hand and supervising the endeavor.It’s one of the many hats she wears at the bustling Ronan fairgrounds, which she manages year around.Summer is particularly busy though, especially with the Lake County Fair filling the grounds, barns and Ronan Community Center July 20-28. Vincent’s duties including scheduling, recruiting and orienting judges, and making sure the buildings...
St. Ignatius Seniors: Good Old Days
Remember to come to our Pancake Breakfast for Good Old Days, 7-11 a.m. Saturday, July 20. We’ll be serving pancakes, sausage, eggs, juice, coffee and tea. A silent auction, 50/50 drawing and bingo at 2 p.m. are part of the fun.We have a cookbook to sell for Area VI with recipes from local residents of Lake, Sander, Mineral counties. It is $15, and the money goes to help families from these areas that have specific financial needs.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...
Lake County Fire Assoc. meets in Charlo
The Charlo-Moiese Volunteer Fire Department hosted the quarterly meeting of the Lake County Fire Association. The group is comprised of 11 fire departments, representing Lake County as well as adjacent areas including Dixon and Hot Springs.Ronan Fire Chief Chris Adler serves as president and Charlo-Moiese Fire Chief Joel Fuhrmann is secretary/treasurer. Each department is represented by its chief and assistant chief.According to Fuhrmann, 35 to 40 people attended the meeting. The agenda included discussions of the 2024 county-wide wildland training exercise held this spring at CSKT Division of Fire, insurance, and the possible creation of a local fire investigation team.Lake County GIS discussed improved mapping features that will be shared in the future and CSKT Division of Fire covered preparations for the fire season. Updates were also provided by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Lake County Office of Emergency Management and dispatch. Firefighters also learned about training activities that are available through Montana State University Fire Services Training School.The Lake County Sheriff, county commissioners and Flathead County Emergency Services were also represented at the meeting.
Keep your Golden Years golden: Tips to prevent elder fraud
Each year, up to 20% of older Americans become victims of elder fraud, a type of financial exploitation that explicitly targets people 60 years and older. According to the FBI, total losses from elder fraud scams rose 11% in 2023 to more than $3.4 billion.For individuals living off retirement income, this type of loss can significantly disrupt quality of life, robbing people of their golden years.Though older individuals are typically targeted for elder fraud scams, there are several ways that seniors, their family members and caregivers can prevent elder fraud abuse.Stay up to speed on scamsWhile scams are constantly evolving,...
Keith Kudlock
Keith Kudlock passed away May 1, 2024, at Polson Health and Rehab in Polson.Keith was born April 24, 1936 in New Castle, Wyo.He is survived by his brother, Art, sons Dave and Doug, and stepson Lee Scott, as well as grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He owned a ranch in Wyoming before moving to Montana.He owned Keith's AG Repair in Ravalli, for many years and worked on numerous pieces of equipment for a lot of people.There will be a memorial service at Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius on July 20 at 2 p.m. There will also be a reception at the Bison Cafe in Ravalli at p.m. It was his favorite place to talk to everyone and take naps.
Polson Seniors: Birthday dinner July 26
Activities at the Polson center, open to all, include: wood carving for beginners, 1 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, join any week; self-guided, video-assisted exercise, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, sitting or standing; bingo, 6:30 p.m. Fridays ($100 blackout), with playing card bingo on the first and third Wednesdays; pinochle, 12:30-3 p.m. Thursdays (we always have chair reserved for you). Wednesday is game day – bring a game and a group of friends from 1-3 p.m. The pool table is open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays. Inquire at the center about bridge.A veteran’s representative visits the center on the first Friday and...
Frederick Jude "Fred" Innerbichler, 72
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Frederick (Fred) Jude Innerbichler of Polson. Fred was born in Hermosa Beach, Calif., on Sept. 14, 1951, to Fred H. Innerbichler and Manuelita (Landavazo) Innerbichler of Anaheim, Calif. He passed away on July 4, 2024, at 8:14 p.m., just in time to watch the fireworks show while he left Earth.Fred grew up in Anaheim with his parents and his two older brothers. He graduated from Loara High School in 1969, and then attended Cypress College where he studied Theater Arts, Lighting, Set Design and Forms of Government. It was there that he...
Live History Days brings history to life
You’ll find lots of history at the Miracle of America Museum in Polson where the exhibits tell the story of America and its peoples. And during Live History Days, many exhibits come alive as skilled craftsmen demonstrate how things were made in the “old days” while volunteers start the engines on what are usually static displays.Want to take a ride in a military vehicle? Sit in the cockpit of a jet plane? Watch as a freshly cut log becomes lumber for a house or barn? Learn how arrowheads are made? See how craftsmen can create works of art from leather...
Alton Sept,101
Alton E. Sept, 101, former Superintendent of Power for the Flathead Irrigation Project, passed away on July 5, 2024.Al was born May 3, 1923, at his family home in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Gottlieb and Elenora Sept. He was the second son in a family of three boys.As a child of the Depression, he helped at the family home, worked on friends' farms doing everything from weeding beans to driving a team of plow horses, and would go to work on a bicycle he motorized. A rascal at times, he once scared his aunt by bringing a live garter snake...
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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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