October 1, 2009
Melea Burke/Valley Journal
CSKT Division of Fire firefighters work Sunday to get water flowing down the line from a "punkin" that holds several hundred gallons of water.
Saddle Mountain blaze nearly out
By Melea Burke
Valley Journal
ARLEE — The Flathead Reservation’s largest wildland fire so far this year is winding down. After nearly a week battling the 471-acre Saddle Mountain fire, all non-local firefighters have been moved off the assignment, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes fire information office Rich Janssen said Tuesday. CSKT Division of Fire crews are still constructing fire lines and continuing mop-up operations within 150 feet of the fire perimeter, according to a CSKT news release.
On Tuesday, the fire was lined with containment estimated at 80 percent, and helicopters continued to drop water on numerous “hot spots” within the fire perimeter.
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State Supreme Court approves Polson's Wal-Mart decision
Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal
Following a decision by the Montana Supreme Court Tuesday, a Wal-Mart Supercenter really is coming soon to Polson, as this sign says.
By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Polson Wal-Mart Manager Dave Tolley confirmed Tuesday that Polson will be getting a Wal-Mart Supercenter. Tolley said the Montana Supreme Court decided the case at about 3 p.m. on Sept. 29.
Tolley said he heard about the decision from the Polson City Attorney, but then he called the Supreme Court himself to confirm.
“On a personal level, I’m ecstatic,” Tolley said, adding that the associates at the store are happy and “the store broke out in clapping when they heard.”
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Tribal council candidates prepare for primary election
Valley Journal
PABLO — Candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal (CSKT) Council elections. The primary election will be held on Oct. 24. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tribal members running for the Arlee seat are incumbent Jim Malatare, Bryan Brazill, Carl Dupuis, Trina Fyant Felsman, James “Bing” Matt, Francis L. Pierre and Louise Stasso. The polling site for Arlee is the Arlee Indian Senior Citizen Center.
Candidates for the Elmo seat are incumbent Reuben Mathias, William “Willie” Burke, Art Caye and Lois Friedlander. Voting will be at the Elmo Community Center.
Incumbent Steve Lozar, Naida Lefthand and Jimmy Ray O’Neill are vying for the Polson seat. Voting will be at the Polson Indian Senior Citizen Center.
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Dogs, owners compete in annual Doggy Dash
Jim Blow/Valley Journal
Best Kisser Kimber gets a delicious treat and a smooch from his best friend, Shannon Battista, at the Doggy Dash.
Valley Journal
POLSON — Although the Mission Valley Animal Shelter Doggy Dash had a history of rain, the skies were blue and the sun was out on Sept. 10.
Despite the great weather, turnout was down.
Event organizer Elizabeth Sawyer said 13 dogs made the walk this year, “not counting the dogs owned by board members that were just there to visit.”
Mission Valley Animal Shelter President Pam Gibson said the Doggy Dash usually draws 30 to 40 pooches.
Starting at 9 a.m. dogs and their people started walking from the Travis Dolphin Dog Park south up Kerr Dam Road until the walking path ended, headed left and walked down past Polson High School and Middle School to hit 7th Avenue W. and end up back at the dog park.
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Dancers, drum visit Cherry Valley School
Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal
Chicken dancer Rodney First Strike dances for Cherry Valley students and staff on Friday, Sept. 25, to celebrate American Indian Day. First Strike was joined by fellow dancers Marianne and Catherine Addison and Louis Plant, Sr.
By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — The drum Silent Hill raised their drumsticks and voices as Cherry Valley students sat in a semi-circle on the playground grass on Sept. 25. Native American dancers Marianne Addison, Catherine Addison, Louis Plant, Sr., and Rodney First Strike danced for the kids. The drummers and dancers were a special treat to celebrate American Indian Day, which is designated as the fourth Friday of September.
Marianne Addison and Plant are both fancy dancers. Catherine Addison is a jingle dance while First Strike is a chicken dancer.
Fringe and feathers moved and jingles and bells tinkled as moccasined feet kept time to the drum’s songs.
Cherry Valley student Gabe Thompson summed up many kids’ opinions when he said, “You guys are sweet dancers.”
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Ronan City Council to write new proposal for mill levy
By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
The Ronan City Council will write a resolution with the intent of putting a 19 mill increase for the police department on the ballot for 2010 or 2011.
“We are not in a hurry to get this done,” Assistant Police Chief, Art Walgren said. He also commented on the importance of getting information to the public prior to the vote. The police department is decreasing what it asked in 2007, by 5.45 mills.
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Polson firemen control grass fire
By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — A fire started on the deck of a home on Bennington Lane southeast of Polson at approximately 4 a.m. Saturday morning.
A neighbor noticed the fire and called the Polson Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD)
Karen Sargeant, PVFD Information Officer, said firefighters believe the fire started when a charcoal grill on the deck dropped some hot ash or coals onto the deck and into the grass below the deck.
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Ronan drama dream 10 years in the making
Kate Haake/Valley Journal
Ronan's new drama teacher, Rita Tingey, talks to a student during class Tuesday.
By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
RONAN — For more than 10 years, the Ronan School district has had a dream of introducing a drama program to the middle school and high school.
They scrimped and saved and spread the project out over several years. By mid-February, the Ronan Middle and High Schools’ new auditorium should be finished. And the result will be astounding.
This year the students of Ronan Middle School and Ronan High School have the opportunity of performing in a state-of-the-art auditorium and taking a drama class for school credit.
The K. William Harvey Elementary students also have the opportunity to take drama as an after-school activity.
The new facility includes two theaters: a proscenium theater, and an arena theater; two offices, a kitchenette, two dressing rooms, a classroom, sing shop and everything a student from Ronan that is interested in theater could ever ask for.
“I thought, ‘That’s a dream,’” said Rita Tingey, the new drama teacher at Ronan Middle School and High School. “I didn’t think it would ever happen.”
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