Government

POLSON – Some residents of Gray’s Acres were pleased following a decision by the Lake County commissioners last week. Ben Anciaux, who lives in the neighborhood affected by the change, filed an application on April 7 to rezone from medium to low-density residential the area between Eleventh and Thirteenth Avenues East bounded by Rivendell Court on the east and Ninth Street on the west. The commissioners unanimously approved the request on Aug. 9.  Twenty-five of 33 property owners in the area supported the application, according to Gray’s Acres-area resident Scott Harmon. The owners of only one property, Steve and Polly Dupuis, protested. Anciaux and his neig...

ST. IGNATIUS – During the St. Ignatius City Council meeting on Tuesday, Molly Owen was hired as the new city attorney. Owen will continue her position as Lake County Deputy Attorney along with the new position in St. Ignatius. It is common for county attorneys to fill positions within town governmen...

POLSON – Polson has a new city commissioner. Bob Martin was appointed by the commission on July 31 to replace Jill Southerland, who resigned and moved out of the area. Martin, 72, is a Swan Lake native and Bigfork High School graduate who served over 30 years in the Army Corps of Engineers and re...

POLSON – Lake County has a new treasurer.  Tammy Gerrity took over for Patti Duford-Kugler on Aug. 1.  Duford-Kugler retired after 12 years in the position and 30 years with the county. Her last day was July 31.  Gerrity was sworn in by County Commissioner Gale Decker after she ...

POLSON – One may not realize it, but Montana is a good place for manufacturing.  Lake County native Paddy Fleming tried to get that message across to the Polson Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 2.  Fleming, who has been director of the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center at Montana State ...

First, I would like to thank the nearly 100 people who attended and participated in the five public meetings held in Ronan, Polson, Proctor, Ferndale, and Arlee. Many thanks also go out to those who helped with our use of buildings and spreading word of the meetings. There were many productive discussions...

News from CSKT Division of Fire RONAN – Tribal Forestry’s Division of Fire needs to warn reservation residents and visitors about the dangers of igniting fires in forested lands. The DOF has had a number of suspicious starts in the last couple weeks and would like the public to be on the loo...

POLSON – Katie Harding has big shoes to fill, but she’s ready to step into them. Harding recently replaced Lake County’s longtime elections administrator Kathie Newgard, whose last day was June 30. Harding came on board as an assistant elections official in December. Newgard was em...

News from Land Solutions LLC Lake County’s plans for community growth and development are up for discussion. The 2003 Lake County Growth Policy, the county’s main guidance document for land use and community development efforts, is due for revisions and the Lake County Commissioners are aski...

News from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are operating an additional watercraft check station at the Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation offices at 406 Sixth Ave. E. in Polson. The watercraft check station is open from 7 a.m. t...