Fort Owen State Park got some cleaning and sprucing up last Saturday as part of Montana’s celebration of National Public Lands Day. More than 20 volunteers, mostly associated with Friends […]
Hamilton skatepark project rolling along
After years of effort, the installation of a skatepark in Hamilton is about to become a reality. Last week. Bryan Dufresne, president of the board of Circle 13 Skatepark, the […]
Stevi police chief ‘starting from scratch’ to rebuild force
Stevensville Police Chief James Marble has been a one-man police force for a little too long now. Caught off guard by two unexpected resignations, Marble is struggling to put his […]
Stevensville council addresses security at Lewis and Clark Park
Concerns about drug dealing, bad language, and vandalism took front seat at the last Stevensville Town Council meeting, culminating in a decision to place security cameras in Lewis and […]
Youth Dynamics program looking for more foster homes
The new Family Development/Community Outreach Coordinator in the Missoula office of Youth Dynamics, Victoria Roberts, is excited about taking on her new position which includes Helena “and everything in between, […]
Cost of Hamilton Justice Center facility going up
The estimated cost of remodeling the old armory building into the Hamilton Justice Center facility has crept upwards to the point that the City Council had to pass a budget […]
Pickleball comes to Stevensville
Last weekend it took Rick Trauth, who is no spring chicken anymore, only five minutes to set up the net, grab his racket and his wiffle ball and get the […]
River levels remain high for time of year
Each year, Bitterroot River Water Commissioner and damtender Al Pernichele and FWP fisheries biologist Chris Clancy get together to hatch a plan for how the “contracted water” in Painted […]
‘Tis the season… theater season, that is
A hint of autumn is already in the air and one thing among many that needs to be done before winter comes roaring in is to get your season tickets […]
‘Dark money’ concern expanded
Commissioners ask governor to investigate ‘dark money’ funding for all non-profits When the Ravalli County Commissioners decided recently to send a letter to Montana Attorney General Tim Fox asking the […]
Stevensville council woes continue
The first agenda item at the Stevensville Town Council meeting of August 27 died quietly without any discussion. The agenda item, a resolution determining the wages and compensation of […]
Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor King moving on
Julie King won’t be riding off into the sunset when she takes leave of her current position as Supervisor of the Bitterroot National Forest, except of course, whenever she gets […]
Hoary Alyssum – ‘fastest spreading, scariest weed’
Hoary Alyssum is “the fastest spreading, scariest weed we have,” according to Ravalli County Weed Coordinator Kelly Ann Morris, who also serves as President of the Montana Weed Control Association. […]
Interpreting the national historic trails through the Bitterroot
By Michael Howell An ambitious effort has begun to promote the three National Historic Trails that pass through the Bitterroot Valley: The Lewis and Clark Trail, the Nee-Me-Poo (Nez Perce) […]
County again demands removal of gate on Hughes Creek Road
By Michael Howell It is not the first time that the County Commissioners have told landowners along Hughes Creek Road to remove the gate that is blocking public access to […]
Agreement to install sewer line on Daly Avenue terminated
By Michael Howell At the request of the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton School District, the Ravalli County Commissioners agreed to terminate a memorandum of understanding between the entities […]
Program uses fly fishing, nature to help cancer patients
We could say of many Montanans what Norman Maclean, author of “A River Runs Through It,” said about his family, I think, “In my family there was no clear line […]
Stevi town employees complain about toxic work environment
The Stevensville Town Council voted 3 to 0 last week to override Mayor Brandon Dewey’s latest policy requiring council members to submit future requests for information directly to the […]
Commissioners agree to pave section of Bell Crossing
The Ravalli County Commissioners made an unusual, and perhaps precedent setting, agreement to what was called an “exceptional” request from the Ravalli Electric Cooperative. The County agreed to provide […]
Hearing on wildfire management open to public, not to public comment
U.S. Congressman from Montana, Greg Gianforte, held an Interior Energy and Environment field hearing in Hamilton last week to take comment from three scheduled witnesses concerning wildfire management and […]












