Columbus
Lake County Leader
Port Polson Players continue season with "The Cemetery Club"
The Port Polson Players continue their 49th season with the hilarious and poignant comedy, “The Cemetery Club, July 25-Aug. 11 at the air-conditioned log Theatre on the Lake.Caroline McDonald, Shellie Winebrenner and Kyle Geyer portray three widows who meet once a month for tea, before going to visit their husband's graves. Ida is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life; Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun; and Doris is priggish and judgmental.When Sam the Butcher (played by Ron Martin-Dent) enters the scene while visiting his wife’s grave, “A new take on the ‘Cemetery Club’ develops within the touching and humorous relationship shared by the gals,” says director Karen Lewing.Doris and Lucille squash the budding romance between Sam and Ida, and are guilt-stricken when their meddling nearly breaks Ida’s heart."Funny, sweet tempered, moving," wrote The Boston Globe of the original Broadway production, which opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York City on May 12, 1990.The film version starred Ellen Burstyn, Dianne Ladd and Olympia Dukkakis.Curtain Times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. For reservations call 406-883-9212 or head to portpolsonplayers.com.
Mission Valley Calendar
Lake County Fair – July 20-27 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan; beginning with a horse show July 20, the fair gets in full swing Wednesday with swine and cat shows and market beef judging. The Fashion Review begins at 4:30 Thursday, July 25, followed by the annual Market Livestock Dinner and Sale at 5:30 p.m. Friday brings the rabbit and poultry show, Small Fry Stock Show and a teen dance. The fair culminates Saturday with Boots on Fire, a new event that includes line- and swing-dance lessons at 4 p.m. followed by a dance to live music at...
Polson Seniors: Many hands, light work
Our board of directors is seeking members willing to serve in the annual officer-nomination process.Lack of volunteers is the death knell for not-for-profit service organizations. Many hands make light work. Give us your hand. Volunteer.We now finally have a full cooking staff, with most working two to three days a week. We are still looking for a nutrition director, full or part-time. The job offers flexible hours, all negotiable, including wage package, depending on experience and willingness to learn new tasks. Computers are easier than you think. We train.Too hot? A/C broken? Fans not working? We have a small library,...
Project 2025 maps authoritarian takeover
Paper maps are passe. Or are they? The Heritage Foundation, under head Kevin Roberts, produced a 920-page road map outlining a radical agenda for Christian nationalism.Far from “conservative,” it calls for the dismantling of our institutions by the mass firing of civil servants, replaced by MAGA loyalists; placing the Justice Department under the president's direct control; and finalizing the hard-right dream of an aggressive expansion in presidential power.This map would lead us to the imposition of anti-women's healthcare policies. It specifies a crackdown on reproductive rights, including rescinding approval of mifepristone, criminalizing the mailing of abortion drugs, and allowing employers...
Arlee/Jocko Valley Museum is a homegrown endeavor
The Arlee/Jocko Valley Museum’s former life was as a Methodist Church in Arlee. Built in 1915, the building became the community’s museum in 1990.It wasn’t too long before this that Alvaretta Morin attended an estate sale of the Demers, a family of early settlers. Patriarch Alex Demers came to Arlee and opened his first store in 1879; he also opened a mercantile in St. Ignatius. “People came from all over,” she recalled of the auction, “even from Spokane. They were just buying things right and left.”Morin was already a member of the Arlee Historical Society, and it bothered her when...
Mission Valley Mariners sweep Miners, split with Mavs
Mission Valley sweeps ButteThere were plenty of hits to be had by the Mission Valley Mariners, who won two high-scoring games in a doubleheader sweep of the Butte Miners on Wednesday, July 17.Everyone in the Mission Valley lineup had hits as the Mariners dispatched Butte 12-11 in its first doubleheader game. Holden Emerson hit a line drive to left field to bring home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.The Mariners trailed 6-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth before ripping off a five-run rally. Both teams exchanged two runs in the sixth, and Butte scored three...
PSC candidate appears in Polson Aug. 1
Elena Evans, who is running as an Independent for the Public Service Commission, will meet with voters from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Durham in Polson.Evans, a geologist who served as executive director of the Montana Association of Conservation Districts, is currently serving as Missoula County’s environmental health manager.According to the Montana Free Press, she was inspired to run for the seat after the commission voted to approve a 28% increase in rates for NorthWestern Energy’s residential electricity customers. More than 150 volunteers gathered 6,763 signatures to add her name to the November ballot.She’s running against incumbent Jennifer Fielder to represent PSC District 4, which includes Lake County. Learn more about the candidate at elenaformontana.com.
Lightning brings three new fire starts
Lightning started three new fires on the Flathead Reservation on Wednesday night according to the CSKT Division of Fire. The Garceau Fire is a Type 4 incident located 17 miles west of Polson and is burning in timber and grass with downed fuel. The Division of Fire Overhead, Polson Rural, a fire division dozer, and three Single Engine Air Tankers were able to catch the blaze Thursday. No closures and no structures are threatened.The Haymaker Fire is located six miles southeast of Polson in the Mission Mountains and is burning in steep terrain with thick, dense timber. Firefighters were attempting...
Wide-load snags power line, backs up traffic on 93
Traffic was backed up for around two hours on Highway 93 last Friday afternoon after a wide-load tractor-trailer snagged a power line just east of the Polson bridge.According to a press release from Polson Police Chief George Simpson, a commercial semi-trailer hauling oversized freight was northbound on U.S. Hwy. 93 when the freight snagged an overhead line. The snag, combined with the forward momentum of the semi, set off a chain reaction, knocking down two light poles and two power poles at around 5:20 p.m.The incident also caused damage to two unoccupied vehicles as well as signage on adjacent businesses.No...
Ronan Seniors: Birthday dinner is Friday
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.Roast beef is on the menu for the Birthday Dinner served Friday, July 26; other upcoming main dishes include chicken pot pie, July 29; and spaghetti, July 31.The center is closed July 5 in honor of Independence Day. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.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.Stay safe and cool!
Managing wildfires demands responsible forest management
We’ve all watched the white haze roll in on an otherwise sunny afternoon and lost the mountains and buttes on the horizon with it. While this haze produces some awesome sunsets, wildfire smoke also brings a slew of issues with it. There’s the omnipresent tickle in your throat to start, and if the fires are bad enough or close enough, they can cancel outdoor activities and make others extremely difficult and uncomfortable. Not to mention the looming possibility of having to evacuate should the fires get too close for comfort.This discomfort can even become harmful. Over the last few years, activities...
Festival celebrates cherries, community
Although this year’s cherry harvest is meager, thanks to last winter’s prolonged deep freeze, it won’t stop locals and tourists alike from attending the much-anticipated Flathead Cherry Festival. The annual event returns to Polson July 27-28, filling downtown with cherry-themed festivities, food vendors, music, and diverse artisans and crafters.Several local orchards are bringing fresh cherries to this year’s festival, including the Last Best Place Orchard, Dutch Orchard, Gateway Orchard, Knapping Moose Orchards, Cherrywood Orchard and R&W Cherries. Producers also sell an array of delicious cherry products, including syrups, jams and juice.“We don't expect to see any Rainers for sale at...
Births at the Nesting Place
Aiden and Elsie Bennett announce the arrival of their little sister, Lilly Ann Bennett, born May 11 at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center’s Nesting Place in Polson. She was 20 inches long and weighed 6 lbs., 15.5 oz. Lilly’s parents are Amber and Chad Bennett of Kalispell. Her maternal grandparents are Tania Street and Richie and Pam Suta; maternal great-grandparents are Louis and Juanita Suta and Sherrill Kuhl; and paternal grandparent is Leone Asay.Riahlynn Mae-Lee Michel was born May 21 at the Nesting Place to Richelle Flagan and Uriah Michel Sr. of Elmo. She was 19 inches long and weighed 8...
Buffalo Run dubbed best yet
The Buffalo Run, held Saturday in St. Ignatius during Good Old Days, tallied 190 participants.“It was our best year yet,” said Whitney Liegakos of St. Luke Community Healthcare, which sponsors the annual event, which includes a one-mile walk/run, and four-mile and seven-mile runs. Sixty people participated in the one-mile walk/run, 97 competed in the four-mile run, and 33 ran the seven-mile route.Medals were awarded to the fastest male and female runners, with Zoran LaFrombois (22:37.76) and Olivia Heiner (28:21.74) winning the four-mile run and Andrew Rush (38:36.31) and Morgan Delaney (45:35.7) taking top honors in the seven miler. First-place ribbons...
Idaho woman jailed on trafficking charges
A woman from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, is accused of trafficking drugs in Lake County. Nicole Lynn Shain, 39, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court at Polson July 18 to two felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, one involving methamphetamine, and the other, fentanyl.According to court records, on Jan. 1 in Pablo, Shain was spotted in the driver’s seat of a black Land Rover Discovery with Idaho license plates. It was parked near houses known by drug agents for drug activity. The agents followed the vehicle to Ronan, then to a car wash facility.There, the woman...
Why is Gale Decker still on the ballot?
A question myself and a lot of community members would like to know the answer to is how can Gale Decker be on the ballot? Gale Decker states our country and states are governed by laws, and not by people’s opinions or situations. (May 16, 2024 Lake County Leader)MCA 1-1-215: Residence rule for determining. Every person has a residence in law; the following rules are to be observed:(2) There may be only one residence for all purposes unless there is a specific statutory exception.(3) A residence cannot be lost until another is gained.MCA 7-4-2104 (2) A person may not be...
Ronan grad receives Job Service scholarship
Nathaniel Young, a recent graduate from Ronan High School, won the 2024 Ken Rohrenbach Scholarship. He was selected for the $1,000 scholarship by the Lake County Job Service Employer Committee (JSEC).Young has been involved in National Honor Society, FFA, 4-H mentoring, and the Link peer leadership program. He is also a student athlete and has competed in track, football and wrestling. Young plans to attend Flathead Valley Community College and study Electrical Technology and Business. He aspires to become an electrician and manage his own business.Young was also nominated by the scholarship committee for the statewide Fred Unmack Scholarship.The $1,000...
John Adams, 80
John Adams, age 80 of Polson, passed away Tuesday, July 16.He was born May 10, 1944, in Moorhead, Minn., to Leo and Helen Adams. He attended Moorhead High School before graduating from Wahpeton State School of Science.He married Claudia Goodspeed on Nov. 18, 1972, and they raised three children, Ellen, Matthew and Candis.John was a man of the outdoors. He spent much time during the fall and winter months hunting, and never failed to bring home at least one animal by the end of the season. He was also a common sight at the local gun ranges. He was a...
Poker Paddle attracts young and young at heart
“Wave your arms if you need help,” Kelly Thompson of Lake County Search & Rescue instructed a small boy on a neon-green kayak. That was just one of the safety tips she offered before nudging him away from shore at Boettcher Park to join the rest of his family in the Flathead Lakers Poker Paddle.Next up was his sister, who was securely cuffed to her Standup Paddle Board and fitted with her life vest before joining her brother.According to Amber Stanfield, a development associate with the Lakers, Thompson gave safety talks before each launch. The card dealers at the seven...
Good Old Days beats the heat
For more than 40 years, Good Old Days has delivered a rousing community celebration to St. Ignatius on the third weekend in July. This year’s extravaganza was no exception.“Overall, I would say this was one the best Good Old Days we’ve had, and one of the better attended as well, despite the heat,” said Darren Orr of the St. Ignatius Chamber of Commerce.Organizers tried to offset the high temperatures with water slides, two misting tents and a cooling/medical tent, staffed by Nurse Ellen Kaphammer of Tribal Health.The celebration kicked off Friday evening with a barbecue and dance in the Good...
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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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