Columbus
Lake County Leader
Mission Valley Calendar
Fort Connah Rendezvous Open House – June 15-16 at the historic fort and trading post north of St. Ignatius; muzzle loaders gather for the annual rendezvous June 11-16, and the public is welcome to stop by Saturday and Sunday to experience an authentic fur-traders’ encampment. A variety of events and exhibits are on tap, including the Trappers’ Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by Opening Ceremonies at noon featuring local bagpipers, a Native drum group and black-powder and candy canons. A bison roast is available at noon Saturday; reenactments, guided tours, vendors and a trading post are also available. Email...
Plodding old geezer vs. dangerous old sleazer
Having lost an election, I know it hurts to lose. I know, too, that there is a good life beyond losing because I’ve been living it for the past 20 years.I know that the people’s will in a democracy can only be determined by a process of elections; American democracy has successfully functioned on that model since George Washington.When the people lose their faith in elections, democracy is finished. There have been as many losers as winners in our legacy of elections extending back over 230 years. By their respect for the will of the people in elections, those who...
May moisture improves water outlook
Summer is just around the corner, and recent weather helped improve the water supply as the 2024 snow accumulation season wraps up in Montana. However, the outlook remains below normal in most locations.“Last month brought a mix of snow, rain, and sunshine across Montana. While that is not uncommon weather for this time of the year, some locations did not receive the moisture they needed,” said Eric Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Water Supply Specialist.The Kootenai, Lower Clark Fork, Jefferson and upper Madison only received 80-90% of normal precipitation last month. All other basins received above normal precipitation...
Bloomin' Best contest begins in July
In July, members of the Beautification Committee of Envision Polson! will be searching for the “bloomin’ best” yards and gardens in the community. Judges will be out and about, looking for candidates from Hwy. 35 East to Fulkerson’s Corner, within the city limits of Polson, from Kerr Dam Road to the intersection with Back Road, along Rocky Point Road to the start of Kings Point Road, and from Hwy. 93 to Bay Point Road, extending along the Rocky Point Road area. Street appeal, color, unique variety and originality are among the aspects of the gardens considered for recognition. The winning three businesses and three private residences will be announced at the end of July. For further information call Mary Jensen 406-849-5288.
St. Ignatius Seniors: Help available for elders
Thanks to all that came to the Senior Center and played Bingo on June 8.Do you know an elder who is struggling with paying for food? They may be eligible for Elder Commodities. Call 406-745-4462 for the income range and information regarding this program.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. Come join us for a good meal and visiting with your neighbors.Main dishes include stuffed peppers and birthday cake, noon June 14; sweet and sour pork, noon June 18; Indian tacos, 5:30 p.m. June 19; and fish, noon June 25.Gentle Yoga meets at 1 p.m. Wednesdays (call 406-253-0177).A Taiji exercise program continues at 1 p.m. Mondays, through June. 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.Remember the Mission Valley Food Pantry can use eggs cartons and volunteers.
Ronan Seniors: Pinochle & pool
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.Upcoming meals include lasagna, June 14; taco bar, June 17; and soup and sandwiches, June 19.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!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.
Legals for June, 12 2024
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS City of Polson, Polson, Montana Seventh Avenue Gravity Sewer Extension General Notice The City of Polson (Owner) is requesting Bids for the construction of the following Project: Wastewater Collection System Improvements Bids for the construction of the Project will be received at Polson City Hall located at 106 1st Street East, Polson, MT 59860 until Tuesday, July 2nd at 2:00 p.m. local time. At that time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read. The Project includes the following Work: Base Bid – Schedule A: Construction of a new Lakeview Lift Station consisting of a new wet well, new submersible pump package...
Young Arlee woman dies in rollover
The identity of a young woman killed in Tuesday's early morning fatal crash near Arlee is 25-year-old Naomi Plant of Arlee. According to the Montana Highway Patrol's report the crash occurred at 4:23 a.m. Plant was northbound on McLeod Road and attempted to turn left on Dumontier Road when her Nissan Versa left the roadway on the north side of the intersection and landed on its roof. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt. The Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, and the Lake County Coroner’s Office has sent the decedent to the State Medical Examiner for autopsy. The Lake County Sheriff and Coroner’s Office extended condolences to the family of Ms. Plant.
Randy Ingraham, 68
Randy Ingraham, 68, died June 2, 2024 in Kalispell. He fell asleep in death after a long illness of FTD dementia. He kept his humor to the end, telling jokes with even few words.A memorial will be held on June 15 at 1 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses located at 37719 N. Commerce Lane in Polson.
Don't rush wrong Farm Bill
Recently, I joined other National Farmers Union leaders in meetings with the House Ag and Senate Ag committees about each of their versions of the 2024 Farm Bill. Based on those discussions, a tight timeline, and the need for modifications to both versions, I’m not optimistic for the passage of a 2024 Farm Bill but foresee another extension.The Senate version and the House version of the Farm Bill are strikingly different — and, in the current Congress, “compromise” is a dirty word. Nonetheless, Congress will not allow the Farm Bill to expire, because then we would revert to permanent law...
Rock-Skipping Championship settled by throw-off
George Murphy held onto his crown in the males, 14 and over division, at the Ken Avison Memorial Flathead Lake Rock-Skipping Championship, held Sunday in Polson. But his win came only after without surviving a tense throw-off against Lex Avison and Polson Mayor Eric Huffine, after all three tallied 14 in the preliminary round.They regrouped, gathered a few more stones and skimmed them across the water again, with Murphy tallying 19 for first place, Lex accruing eight, and Huffine posting seven skips.Murphy had some tips for his fellow skippers: “My secret would be good rocks, which means flat and large....
Not Afraid pleads guilty to sexual assault
A Lodge Grass man admitted to sexually assaulting a minor three years ago in Lake County. Jordale Stephen Not Afraid, 34, entered a plea of guilty in Polson District Court May 29 to felony sexual assault, with the victim being less than 16 years old, and offender being three or more years older than the victim.The plea was entered as part of a plea agreement that comes with a joint recommendation of Not Afraid being sentenced to the Montana State Prison for 10 years, with five years suspended. The judge is not bound to the agreement.According to charging documents, the incident occurred April 15, 2021, and involved a “Jane Doe” who was 13 years old at that time. When Not Afraid was questioned by BIA Special Agent Shawn Smith, Not Afraid allegedly admitted to the allegations made by “Jane Doe.”Judge Molly Owen set sentencing for July 17. Not Afraid remains in the Lake County Jail without bond.
Grant funds Ninepipes Museum oral history project
Ninepipes Museum was recently awarded a grant through the Foundation for Montana History.The project, titled “Resonance, Voices That Shaped the Ninepipes Museum,” involves recording stories about items in the museum’s collection through the people of the Flathead Reservation in collaboration with Aspen and Cameron Decker, owners of Xwlxwilt, LLC. The Deckers will create a series of podcast episodes based upon interviews with elders.The recordings will be used as educational material to convey to visitors a more vivid sense of life on the Flathead Reservation and help engage the community with its own voices through cross-cultural perspectives.The project also aims to build and sustain museum educational programming to transfer inter-generational knowledge of the reservation and the museum collection through storytelling, technology and museum visits, lending important context and history to various objects in the collection that may otherwise fade away as time moves on.“We hope to help the voices of the ancestors find a way to the ears of their descendants and connect the past and present,” says museum director Jo Cheff. “Ninepipes Museum is deeply grateful to the Foundation for Montana History for providing funds for this project.”
RHS graduates encouraged to “Go forth and shine”
With the class motto “2 Cool 4 School,” the Ronan High School Class of 2024 has spunk, character and lots of enthusiasm. The 82 graduates walked on May 31 at 7 p.m. to the RHS football field to “Pomp and Circumstance.” Drum group Buckshot played an honor song for the students and the many years they spent studying and attending school.Salutatorian Beaudeen Decker left his classmates with a quotation to ponder from Mark Zuckerberg, who said,”Ideas don't come out fully formed , they only become clearer as you work on them.” Zuckerberg brainstormed and worked with his four roommates and four...
Supreme Court Justices not modeling "good Behavior"
Historically, Supreme Court Justices have lifetime appointments. For some, it’s to create mayhem and flaunt ethical standards. This life-long appointment interpretation is not supported by the Constitution.Article lll, Section 1 states that, “Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold the Offices during good Behavior.” Lifetime appointment is never specifically mentioned.Our understanding of “good Behavior” comes from the Judicial Conference’s Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges. It describes how judges can maintain integrity and independence. Conditions for Disqualification, described in Canon 3, include responsibility for being informed about a spouse’s activities and recognizing this appearance of bias.Disclosures about...
Legals for June, 6 2024
NOTICE TO CREDITORS MONTANA TWENTIETH JUDICAL DISTRICT COURT, LAKE COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DONNA J. KUDLOCK, Deceased CAUSE NO. DP-24-34 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 Lee Scott, Personal Representative, return receipt requested, c/o FIELD LAW OFFICES, PLLC, P.O. Box 573, Ronan, MT 59864, or filed...
Idaho man accused of assaulting police officer
An Idaho man is accused of fighting with a Polson Police officer after being called into law enforcement as a possible prowler.Nathaniel Erwan Bird, 38, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court May 23 to felony charges of assault on a peace or judicial officer and criminal possession of dangerous drugs.According to court records, on April 28 Polson Police responded to a report of a prowler going through vehicles. The reporting party believed the prowler was using a screwdriver to gain access to vehicles in the neighborhood.The man calling in the report said he and his family...
Mission Valley Calendar
Mission Valley Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous – June 6-9 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan; 12 talented artists from across United States and beyond carve works to be auctioned off at 1 p.m. Sunday. They’ll also complete daily “quick carves,” with some available for auction on Friday evening at 6 p.m. A quilt show is also on tap. Call 406-261-4897 for details.Friends of the Library Book Sale – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 6 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. June 7 in the Community Room of the North Lake County Library in Polson; the sale features a wide selection of assorted titles...
Cherry crop damaged by January deep freeze
January’s cold spell has returned to haunt Flathead cherry growers. “It’s something I’ve known since the day after the hard freeze,” said Finley Point orchard owner Brian Campbell of the impact the cold had on cherry trees.Most Mission Valley residents remember high heating bills and battling frozen pipes during the cold snap in January. According to the website Weather Underground, records for the Glacier Park Airport in Kalispell show the mercury dropped to a high of 10 below zero and a low of minus 32 on Jan. 12 and ranged from minus 5 to minus 15 until Jan. 16, when the...
Mission Valley Mariners win season opener
Mission Valley opened the season with a 17-8 victory over the Missoula Impact at home on Sunday, May 26, in American Legion Class A baseball action.Dawson DuMont was 4-for-4 in the game with five RBI and a double. Landon Pablo also drove in two runs, while Holden Emerson had a double in the victory.Mission Valley trailed 6-1 heading into the bottom of the third when it exploded for seven runs. Kalispell tied the game up in the top of the fourth, but the Mariners had another big rally, this time for five runs. They followed that up with a run...
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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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