Valley Journal
Valley Journal

Articles Written By: Caleb M. Soptelean

New Polson mayor takes seat

POLSON — Paul Briney was sworn in as Polson’s new mayor during a Jan. 3 city commission meeting. Briney, who replaced Heather Knutson, was the lone person to file for the seat last year. He and new Ward 3 commissioner Brodie Moll took their oaths of office at the meeting along with Bob Martin,...

PHS varsity games for Jan. 5 moving to SKC

POLSON — Polson High School's varsity boys and girls basketball games scheduled for Friday night, Jan. 5, with Ronan High School will be played at the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center at Salish Kootenai College due to snow impacting a non-weight-bearing exterior wall at Linderman Elementary Scho...

Polar Express makes last trip with Sucha Polar Express makes last trip with Sucha

RONAN — Call it the grand finale. After 26 years, Frank Sucha — a kindergarten teacher at K. William Harvey Elementary — hosted his final Polar Express on Dec. 19.  In the holiday-themed performance, Sucha reads from the book, Polar Express, and his students join together to sing...

MHP urges drivers to use caution after multiple slide offs last week

POLSON – Winter-like weather arrived in Lake County two days before the actual season began on Dec. 21, and with it came some typical incidents.  Snow, freezing rain and icy road conditions resulted in multiple vehicle slide-offs on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 19 and 20, Montana Highway Patrol ...

Moll to fill vacated Polson City Commission seat Moll to fill vacated Polson City Commission seat

POLSON — Come January, the Polson City Commission will have a familiar face with a lot of experience.  Brodie Moll, 67, will join the ruling body along with incoming Mayor Paul Briney. They will replace Ken Siler (Ward 3) and Heather Knutson, respectively.  Moll was chief executive offi...

Foster grandparent program may fold after school year Foster grandparent program may fold after school year

POLSON – Although a local program that benefits seniors and children has received a number of kudos, it may fall victim to a lack of funding come July 2018, the beginning of the next fiscal year.  Nancy Hemphill, the former coordinator and now director of the local Agency on Aging’s Foste...

Wiebke honored for 10 years of volunteer service to E-911 Center  Wiebke honored for 10 years of volunteer service to E-911 Center 

POLSON — After retiring as an accountant, Rich Wiebke needed something to do.  So he talked to then-Sheriff Lucky Larson, and Wiebke began doing data entry for the county’s E-911 Center.  The Ronan resident and Charlo native said he wanted something to do after working 35 years as...

New law being used by county's attorney's office

POLSON – A new state law has resulted in the Lake County Attorney’s office filing multiple strangulation charges.  Deputy county attorney Brendan McQuillan said that prior to the strangulation law taking effect on Oct. 1, the state had to use partner family member assault, aggravated assa...

Six arrested during ‘Operation Blue Christmas’

POLSON — Six people were arrested in a combined operation between local law enforcement agencies on Monday night, Dec. 18. Dubbed “Operation Blue Christmas,” the short-term investigation focused on rescuing children from homes with drugs and drug dealers and abusers, a press release from...

Convicted killer gets another 15 years for sexual assault Convicted killer gets another 15 years for sexual assault

By Caleb M. Soptelean Valley Journal POLSON – A 61-year-old murder convict was sentenced to 15 additional years in the Montana State Prison on Dec. 20. Donald Dean Grant, 61, was out on parole for murder when he committed sexual assault of a girl in 2006 or 2007.  Grant was convicted a...


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