Lake County Leader

25/07/2024

Multiple fires are blazing across Western Montana: a 200-acre fire on the Flathead Reservation, a small island fire on Lower Stillwater Lake, and a human-caused fire on Lion Mountain in Whitefish. Near Missoula, the Butler Creek Fire has reached 300 acres, while the Miller Peak Fire is 25% contained at 2,581 acres. Smoke from neighboring states and Canada is impacting air quality, currently rated as moderate in the Flathead Valley

25/07/2024

Thanks Polson Rural Fire District for keeping us informed!

23/07/2024

Thank you for your quick thinking and action! We sure do live in a great community!

Local heroes! Tosh (center) fishing near mm 12 on hwy 35; Hears some people offshore yelling for help. Grabs his golf range finder and confirms three distressed persons about 1/4 mile off shore. Tells his dad (left) and dad flags down a passing MHP. Jeremy (right) re-inflates his standup paddleboard and launches from shore. One of the distressed persons floated to shore on a piece of driftwood. Jeremy got out to the other two and threw them lifejackets. SAR Boat 1 arrives on scene and pulls in the two persons and one kayak onto SAR boat. Transported to shore near mm13. On shore rescuers LCSO, MHP, SAR.

SAR Boat 1 on scene and first person recovered 16 mins from the initial 911 call!

Even the dog is safe!

18/07/2024

Meet Flathead Lake's newest (and friendliest) monster!

A sinuous creature now swims in Sacajawea Park, thanks in large part to the vision of Pat Binger, the artistry of sculptor John Leon, and the hard work of Polson City Parks and Recreation staff.

18/07/2024

18/07/2024

Campfires will be illegal on the Flathead Indian Reservation after midnight Friday. Visit www.MTFireinfo.org to learn of the fire restrictions that are in place throughout Montana.

04/07/2024

Happy Independence Day everyone (you'll be relieved to know the Minutemen prevailed)!

04/07/2024

Fourth Festivities from Arlee to Polson: happy Independence Day!

Parades begin at noon in Arlee, Charlo and Polson, and the 124th annual Arlee Celebration fills the Powwow Grounds with traditional dancing, drumming and vendors July 1-7.

29/06/2024

Rodeo Time! Cowboys line up for team roping at the Mission Mountain Rodeo, rodeo fans line the bleachers and lil cowpokes line up for cotton candy.

28/06/2024

THE RESULTS ARE IN!!!
Congrats to all our nominees and winners!
Check out who won the Best of Lake County! You can see the results in this week's issue of the Leader and on our website!
https://dailyinterlake.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-LAKE-County-LCL/

26/06/2024

The Lake County Leader raked in 19 awards at the Montana Newspaper Association’s 139th annual convention and awards banquet, held Saturday in Kalispell – including 10 first place awards in Division I for writing, layout and photography.

24/06/2024

Venture to the city docks in Polson, and you’ll see a brightly colored lake scene on the Sacajawea Park restroom building.
Sandpiper Art Gallery and Gifts member Charlie Fudge ramrodded the project recently as gallery members painted the scene with help from anyone who came along and could be persuaded to pick up a brush.

Venture to the city docks in Polson, and you’ll see a brightly colored lake scene on the Sacajawea Park restroom building. It’s painted shades of turquoise, dark green, gold, and pink.

18/06/2024

Did you miss out on picking up a 2024 Graduation Guide?? We have some left! Stop by our office!

14/06/2024

14/06/2024

“It’s floral design,” Deja-nay Little-Mary said, showing a page of her Coptic art book, which had sketches, ideas and other art projects from the two-month Teen Art Project (TAP) class, held on Fridays at the Community Development Center in Arlee.

07/06/2024

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.

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....

06/06/2024

Primary Results: Gale Decker prevailed in Lake County Commission race

According to unofficial results released Wednesday morning by the Lake County Election Office, 8,899 ballots were cast in Tuesday’s primary election.County Commissioner Gale Decker handily won the Republican primary with 44.75% of the vote.

31/05/2024

Check out the Mission Valley Menu
Coming in print next week.
https://lakecountyleader-mt.newsmemory.com/?special=Mission+Valley+Menu+Guide

28/05/2024

Ag Days: Fourth graders across Lake County learn where food comes from ...

Games of Hot Potato and Bingo were going on in the indoor arena at Josh and Sarah Senecal’s ranch on May 14 and 15. While it was fun, Future Farmers of America Bryanne Zemple, Brianne Zempel, Seeley McDonald, and Maizey McDonald were also using the games to teach kids about the humble spud.

23/05/2024

Stop in at the Women for Wellness in Pablo.

20/05/2024

Newly minted pharmacist Madeline Hellinger recently worked side by side with her great uncle, Ernie Ratzburg – the longest-working pharmacist in Montana with 65 years beneath his crisp white jacket.

“I always thought Uncle Ernie was pretty cool in his white coat,” she said, watching him fill a prescription at Credena Health Pharmacy Lakeshore.

And her great uncle is clearly pleased with his protégé: “I'm very proud of this girl,” he said.

Newly minted pharmacist Madeline Hellinger recently worked side by side with her great uncle, Ernie Ratzburg – the longest-working pharmacist in Montana with 60 years beneath his crisp white jacket.

20/05/2024

Three Republicans, Wes Baertsch, Max Krantz and Josh Senecal, are vying for the Lake County Commissioner seat currently held by Gale Decker, who is running for reelection. Since no Democrat filed for that office, the outcome will be decided by those who vote the Republican ticket in the June 4 primary election.

All four candidates responded to the Leader’s recent questionnaire.

Three Republicans, Wes Baertsch, Max Krantz and Josh Senecal, are vying for the Lake County Commissioner seat currently held by Gale Decker, who is also running for reelection. Since no Democrat filed for that office, the outcome will be decided by those who vote the Republican ticket in the June 4....

10/05/2024

Calling all Home School seniors!!

08/05/2024

Tuesday's elections yield two tie votes
According to unofficial results, Tuesday’s election for special districts and school board trustees yielded two ties.
Patrick Lennon and Rhonda Walter each collected 106 votes for the one seat available on the Chief Cliff Fire District board.
At the other end of Lake County, James “Tyke” Allaire and Anthony Hoyt each received 38 votes in their quest to serve as a director on the Arlee Water and Sewer Board. Clear winners of the other two available seats are Becky Malatare with 69 votes and Mary Stranahan with 58.
In other results: newcomer Kathleen “Kit” Collins narrowly beat incumbent Tony Muzquiz, 1,056 to 1,043, in the race for three open seats on the Polson School Board. Incumbent Alan Anderson retained his seat with 1,423 votes and Tim McGinnis, who was appointed last fall to finish John Mercer’s term, held on to his position with 1,658 votes.
The two seats available on the Polson Rural Fire board went to incumbents Fred Nelson (780) and R. Jack Clapp (631). Brian Walsh received 447 votes.
In St. Ignatius, six candidates filed for two board vacancies. Voters returned incumbent Jeff Evans with 271 votes and gave retired teacher Tim Marchant the second seat with 239. Next in line were Peter Matt (200), Rhianna Ruhkala (143), Darren Orr (125) and Rochelle Groom (57).
Charlo School District had five candidates file for two open seats. Kristen Marcure Bauer received 203 votes and incumbent Jodie Johnson Buxbaum retained her seat with 101. The remaining tallies were Matt Hout, 89; Tina Firestone, 72; and Brandon Jenson, 67.
Ronan School District had two openings but only one person filed, incumbent Tom Anderson. The district is currently seeking applicants who live in the district to fill the second vacancy; call TJ Harold-Marmon at 406-528-7205 for information, or drop by the district office.
In other special elections, Roberta Steele, with 252 votes, and Stevens Matt with 232 were elected to the Arlee Rural Fire District. Contenders were Thomas Haynes (135), Aislinn Heavyrunner-Rioux (77) and Aimee Addison (35).
For more information on upcoming elections or voter registration, visit https://www.lakemt.gov/170/Elections

08/05/2024

The Northern RC Kings paid Polson a visit this week! It was awesome watching them rip around town!

Check out their youtube channel below!

https://youtube.com/?si=ec-zTzjt39WoaD-X

03/05/2024

Go check out the Ninepipes Museum!!