LATEST NEWS

Polson Police Chief George Simpson said he's working hard to regain the trust of the community that he calls home.

A Polson man, who was sentenced in District Court May 25 to 10 years with the Montana State Prison on an assault with a weapon charge, with all but 13 days suspended for time served, faces new charges of a similar nature. Nathan Videl Caye, 21, entered a plea of not guilty in the same Polson courtroom Sept. 20, this time to felony charges of criminal endangerment, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted person and assault with a weapon. According to court records, on Aug. 26, Caye was driving a white Chevy Silverado pickup truck on Polson’s Main Street...

An Arlee woman is accused of breaking numerous windows and injuring a child during a domestic disturbance. Kya Rae Dede Rose Arthur, 28, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson Sept. 21. She’s charged with misdemeanor partner or family member assault and felony charges of criminal mischief and assault on a minor. According to charging documents, on Aug. 14, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy responded to Innovation Drive, south of Ronan, on a report of a woman breaking windows and threatening people with a knife. The responding deputy was informed that the suspect was leaving the scene...

A Polson charged with stabbing his mother to death and hiding her body in her home appeared in court on Thursday.

A Dayton man is being held in the Kalispell jail following a Wednesday afternoon shooting.

An Elmo man admitted to possessing methamphetamine after being involved in an undercover sting operation. Dale Matthew Joseph, 45, entered a plea of guilty in District Court in Polson Sept. 20 to the amended charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Joseph was initially charged with the more serious offense of criminal possession with intent to distribute, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge as part of a plea agreement. According to court records, on Aug. 31, 2022, a drug agent was observing a residence in preparation for executing a search warrant there. As he was observing, a woman walked out...

A Billings man, formerly from Polson, was sentenced in Polson District Court Sept. 21 to a total of 10 years in the Montana State Prison with five years suspended on domestic violence-related charges. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher sentenced Morgan Aniba Quinones Velazquez, 50, to the Montana State Prison for five years, none suspended, for violating conditions of the suspended sentence. The original sentence was a seven-year commitment to the Montana Department of Corrections, all suspended, except 243 days jail time already served. That was on two counts of violating an order of protection in July 2020. The presiding judge in that case, Judge Molly Owen, said at the time that this was “not an isolated event” and that it “completely destroyed this family.” Judge Christopher also sentenced Velazquez to five years with the Montana State Prison, all suspended, on a stalking conviction. According to court records, Velazquez again violated an order of protection twice, Feb. 1 and Feb. 23, 2023. The sentence was in accordance with a plea agreement reached in an earlier court appearance that dismisses two counts of violating an order of protection. Judge Christopher gave Velazquez credit for having already served 129 days in the Lake County Jail.

The sound of wheels rolling, smacking and grinding on concrete, applause and shouts of “way to go” accompanied the annual Skate Jam, held Saturday at the Polson Skate Park. Participants of all ages gathered to watch, grind, slide, ride and claim some prizes. Jesse Vargas and Loni Havlovick...

Better roads appear to be coming down the pike for Polson, based on some budget amendments approved by the Polson City Commission at its regular meeting last Monday, Sept. 18. With final mill calculations in from the Department of Revenue, it appears that the biggest beneficiary will be those driving on Polson streets. Sizable increases in street-related funds include a one-time-only infusion of $764,299 for transportation assistance (thanks to two bills passed by the Montana Legislature), plus nearly $69,000 in gas-tax funding.

Columbia Falls needed every one of their second-half goals to survive for a 3-2 victory over visiting Polson on Tuesday, Sept. 19. After a scoreless first half, the goals came aplenty for both teams as the Pirates took the one-loss Wildcats to the limit. Columbia Falls scored first in the 48th minute and then again in the 52nd and 59th minute. Polson wasn’t done, however, as they answered back with an Anthony Linchtenberg score in the 70th minute and a Pablo Gatell score in the 79th minute. Polson finished with eight shots compared to Columbia Falls’ 10. Polson goalkeeper Maddox Bird had...

The Ronan area was awash with bicyclists Saturday morning for the Mission Mountain Area Pedal to Plate. The event was sold out with 150 cyclists participating. They gathered at the Ronan Cooperative Brewery on 4th Ave. SW, and pedaled west on Round Butte Road at 9 a.m. The MMAPP offered...

Take a deep breath. We have survived tourists, forest fires and road construction. And now a glorious autumn is here. Gathering, hunting and raking are next! Property owners in Lake County have until Oct. 1 to file for a $675 refund on your property taxes. Take your tax statement,if you have it, ID and SS card to 3 9th Ave. West #3 in Polson (the building you get your driver's license from) and they'll help. It only takes a few minutes. A safe-driving course, sponsored by AARP-Safe Driver, is offered 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 5; it costs $20 for AARP members and...

After scoring 90 points in their past two games, the Polson Pirates dropped a Western A football contest 42-0 to Columbia Falls on Friday, Sept. 22. The Wildcats improved to 3-2 and had 368 yards of total offense. In the first quarter, a 16-yard touchdown pass and a 21-yard scoring run by Columbia Falls gave the Wildcats a 14-0 lead. They added a 21-yard touchdown pass and a five-yard run for a 28-0 halftime lead. Columbia Falls had another touchdown pass and run in the third quarter to round out their scoring. Polson fell to 2-3 on the year after having won...

Polson High School Salishian, Sept. 21, 1963 Preparations made for Homecoming Preparations are almost complete for the 1963 Homecoming, which will be held October 4. Enthusiastic Pirate fans will meet across from the Linderman building for a pep rally at 7 p.m. , where the players and queen candidates will be announced. After a few cheers and pep talks, everyone will move to the football field for the game at 8 p.m. Queen candidates are: Cherelyn Wegner, freshman; Marilyn Simmons, sophomore; Lucille Smith, junior; and Chris Muller, senior. This year the queen will be crowned on the football field at half-time. “Monster” turns out to...

PABLO — Last spring, the eighth-grade class at Two Eagle River School (TERS) planted seeds in their garden consisting of raised beds. The garden produced cherry tomatoes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, watermelon, grapes, strawberries, and more this fall. One of the students, Liam Shepherd, proudly said, “I helped plant all...

The Department of Revenue is giving taxpayers an additional day to file for property-tax rebates. They now have until midnight Monday, Oct. 2, to file online or by mail. “Our office is assisting with the rebates for taxpayers who may not be comfortable with the online forms,” says Wayne Freeman, lead appraiser with the Montana Department of Revenue’s office in Polson.

2023 Fall Mack Days anglers enjoyed the second good fishing weekend of the event on Flathead Lake. Swirling winds on Thursday were mixing it up on the water keeping some anglers off the lake but the weekend fishing weather settled down and was good. Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored...

Tech Woods USA, LLC (TWU), a small business producing hardwood furniture blanks in Ronan, Montana on the Flathead Reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT), announces it is the recipient of a grant from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) through the FY23 Community Wood Grants program to support the new TWU Mission Mountain Wood Innovation Project (MMWIP). Tech Woods was awarded a $997,912 grant.

The Columbia Falls football team got back on the winning track for Homecoming last week, downing Polson 42-0 for a key conference win. The Wildcats went to the air as senior quarterback Cody Schweikert hit wide receiver Jace Hill for two TD receptions and Lane Hoerner for one in the rout. Alihn Anderson also had a 21-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Schweikert also ran in for two more scores. The Cats were up 28-0 at the break, as kicker Kai Golan was also perfect on extra points. The Cats defense picked off Polson four times in the win. Mark Robison had two...

Everybody needs good neighbors. Revisit some neighborly acts of kindness on National Good Neighbor Day