Tribal council election: Polson candidates profiled

Valley Journal
Lozar, Lefthand vie for Polson seat......
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Tribal council election: Elmo candidates profiled

Valley Journal
Burke, Mathias campaign for Tribal Council.....
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Hundreds enjoy free community Thanksgiving dinner in Polson

Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal

Volunteers serve drinks to diners at the Polson Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — K.C. and The Valley Cats transformed the Polson Senior Citizen Center into a jazz club on Thanksgiving Day, feeding the musical needs of an appreciative audience before, during and after they stepped up to the dinner table.
The quartet of piano, trumpet, bass and drums warmed up the crowd waiting in line right after 11 a.m. for turkey and fixins’ at the free Community Thanksgiving Dinner.
Volunteers worked to carve 12 turkeys, eight of which were cooked at the center and made the building smell like Thanksgiving — roasting turkey, bubbling gravy, fragrant sage and onion in the dressing and percolating coffee. All that was missing were the scents of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger and pumpkin baking in a flaky crust.
Not to worry, there were plenty of pies — at least 60 — homemade by members of area churches. A long table filled with salads, cranberry sauce and homemade dinner rolls led to an equally long table of pies, mostly pumpkin with a sprinkling of berry and pecan, and whipped cream to top it off.
Diners sat at long tables and were waited on by members of local churches who brought water and coffee.
Attendees came for a variety of reasons. One lady was alone this Thanksgiving because her grown children had to work the day after Thanksgiving and lived too far away to drive for just one day. Another couple did not want to cook a giant meal for just the two of them.
Single moms with children sat with retired folk while couples with teenage children joined grandparents. The clink of silverware on china and the low hum of good dinner conversation and occasional laughter provided a base layer of sound..........
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Girl injured in hit-and-run near Turtle Lake

Valley Journal
POLSON — A 27-year-old Polson man was arrested after a 16-year-old girl was struck by a pickup east of Polson last week. The girl was riding her bicycle on Turtle Lake Road when she was allegedly struck by the man’s truck, who then continued on to his home, according to the Montana Highway Patrol investigation.
The alleged hit-and-run happened at about 8:52 p.m. on Nov. 25. Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Shad Andersen and Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the accident.
The girl was transported to the hospital by ambulance with......
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November 26, 2009

Kiley's fight

Kiley Heffner, a 6-year-old from Dayton, battles leukemia with such dignity and courage that it inspires a community to rally behind her.

Aaric Bryan/Valley Journal

D.J. Heffner protectively watches over his daughter, Kiley, as she has blood drawn from a mediport in her chest at the Infusion Center at Kalispell Regional Wednesday. The blood test revealed that Kiley's white blood cell count was high enough to proceed with a scheduled chemotherapy treatment.

By Aaric Bryan
Valley Journal
Six-year-old Kiley Heffner has a small role, a role she isn’t too happy about, in the upcoming Dayton School Christmas play, but there’s little doubt that she’ll be there to deliver her single line like only she can.
Last December, Kiley was battling a constant fever that would break to only come back stronger. Inexplicable bruises kept showing up on her small body and she was tired, she was always tired.
“But I still went to the Christmas play,” Kiley chimes in as her father D.J. tells the story in the front room of their one-bedroom house in Dayton.
Kiley did make it to last year’s play, but her illness only got worse afterwards. D.J. had taken her to a doctor, but the doctor failed to recognize.........
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H1N1 immunization walk-in clinics offered

Authorities identify body found near Big Arm

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
BIG ARM — A body found in a wooded area near Walking Horse Lane on Oct. 22 has been identified as Lawrence Buston, 57, from Kalispell. Cause of death was suicide according to Lieutenant Mike Sargeant, head of detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
Buston’s mother lives in the Big Arm area. She contacted ......
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The season to Share the Spirit begins

Valley Journal
Share the Spirit Holiday Assistance Program is beginning its 13th year helping children from needy families with toys, clothes and gifts for Christmas.
Share the Spirit is fortunate enough to partner with the Marine Toys for Tots program, which helps manage the daunting task of providing for these children. In 2008, Share the Spirit served almost 1,200 children 12 years old and younger in Lake County and can certainly use help again this year.
Trees with Share the Spirit tags will be at local merchants and banks throughout Lake County beginning the week of Thanksgiving. The trees will be covered with tags filled with children’s Christmas requests so if you see one, please take a tag for someone less fortunate and help make their holiday brighter. The last day to pick up tags will be ......
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Decision day nears for Polson's proposed resort tax

Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal
Montana has designated Polson a resort community. That designation means Polson residents can decide if they wish to implement a resort tax, which will be on the Nov. 3 ballot.

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — City residents will vote on the proposed resort tax on Election Day, Nov. 3.
The proposed resort tax, according to a presentation by Polson City Manager Todd Crossett on Oct. 14, is one of the limited local funding options allowed by the state. The resort tax, if approved by voters, would be three percent on sales of some products and services, and the term would be 10 years. The tax would be collected year-round. From the money raised, 20 percent would go to tax relief. Five percent of gross revenues would go specifically to administrative compensation for collecting businesses. Luxuries, such as lodging, dinners out, alcohol and gifts, etc., would be taxed. Life necessities would be exempt. Tourists and city and county residents who use taxable goods and services would all pay the 3 percent tax except for federally exempt persons.
List of the goods and services that would be taxed or exempted are available on the City of Polson’s Web site at www.cityofpolson.com or at Polson City Hall, 106 1 St. E.........
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September 3, 2009

Community lays trooper, father and friend to rest

Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal
Montana Highway Patrol troopers fold an American flag presented to the family of MHP Trooper Chris Hoyt. Hoyt died in a tragic drowning accident when he jumped into an irrigation canal south of Polson to save his dog. His death is the fourth troopers in his district have suffered over the past two years.

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — On the day of a well-loved community member’s funeral it always seems that the weather should be dark and gloomy, the birds should not sing and traffic should cease.
But Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Hoyt’s funeral was held on Aug. 27, a mostly sunny day with temperatures in the 70s. The birds chirped merrily as streams of cars, many law enforcement vehicles, filled the streets around Linderman Gym and later crept slowly up Hillcrest Drive to Lakeview Cemetery where Hoyt was laid to rest.
The celebration of Hoyt’s life began at 11 a.m. with the Great Scots bagpipers leading in at least 200 uniformed representatives from Tribal Law Enforcement, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Border Patrol, firefighters, Tribal Fish and Game, ambulance crews and EMT’s, Glacier National Park Law Enforcement and the Polson, Ronan and St. Ignatius police. Following were about 50 uniformed Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) officers.

Also packing Linderman Gym were Hoyt’s family, friends and community members, who came to honor Hoyt, 41. Hoyt died on Aug. 23. when he drowned after jumping into an irrigation canal south of Polson to save his dog.
Reverend John Payne conducted the celebration of Hoyt’s life, which painted a picture of Hoyt as a family man, a trooper and a friend.
Payne said, “There are three things that impact our lives — faith, books and people. Chris was one of those people.”
Payne also described Hoyt as a "WYSIWYG" person, with the letters standing for "what you see is what you get." Payne added that Hoyt was a wonderful dad and life partner. To fellow law enforcement officers Hoyt was “competent, courageous, tenacious, tough, brave, dedicated … and obsessed with clean windshields.”
Adding to the event, Mike McElderry played his flute and read scriptures.
Colonel Mike Tooley, Chief Administrator for the MHP, also spoke about Hoyt, whose death made it four MHP troopers who were lost over the last 22 months. Trooper David Graham was killed on Oct. 9, 2007, Trooper Evan Schneider on Aug. 26, 2008 and Trooper Mike Haynes on March 27, 2009.
After Trooper Haynes was killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver, Tooley said, “Trooper Hoyt made it a personal goal to arrest one DUI driver each shift.”
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August 27, 2009

Polson trooper drowns in off-duty accident

Jim Blow
Valley Journal
POLSON — A Montana Highway Patrol trooper lost his life in an off-duty accident Sunday morning. Christopher Lee Hoyt, 41, drowned while saving his dog after it fell into a concrete-lined segment of irrigation canal just south of Polson.
According to Lake County Sheriff Lucky Larson, a woman friend of Hoyt called 911 at 11:13 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, to report the accident. Sheriff's deputies, Polson ambulance and Polson Fire Department crews responded to the scene. Hoyt's body was recovered and transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Polson, where he was pronounced dead.
The canal feeds irrigation water to agricultural fields south of Polson. The dirt access road, known as Pump Canal Road, runs from Skyline Drive to Kerr Dam Road. On Sunday morning Hoyt, his friend and the dog were taking a walk along the road, a popular recreation area for walkers and joggers.
Apparently the dog fell into canal near the spillway area, where two lined east-west canal segments merge and continue south. The concrete banks rise several feet higher there and provide little for someone in the water to grab hold of. Hoyt got his dog, Emra, out of the canal but he was swept under by the rapid current.
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August 20, 2009

Jim Blow/Valley Journal

The prop and engine dominate the profile of the front end of an AT6 advanced trainer.

Planes fly in to provide a show at Polson City Airport

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Grey skies and occasional sprinkles did put a bit of a damper on the Polson Fly-In on Aug. 15, but lots of hardy pilots dropped out of the sky to visit the Polson City Airport from 8 a.m. until noon. Not only did they get a breakfast of ham, eggs, pancakes and coffee, but lots of community members trooped out to the airport to take a gander at their planes.
Mauri Morin, one of the committee members who put on the Fly-In, said approximately 40 airplanes flew in.
“Considering the weather, that was spectacular,” Morin said.
The storm was stacked up against the mountains to the east, Morin said, so most of the air traffic came from up the Bitterroot and down from Kalispell. Morin also said planes from Sandpoint, Idaho, were unable to get into Polson due to the storm.
Although all the planes at the Fly-In were interesting, one plane the Fly-In does not always attract was a de Havilland Beaver with a turbine conversion. Chuck Jarecki, a Polson Fly-In committee member, said the Beavers are the premier bush planes of Canada and were made in the early 1950’s. The planes are taken into a shop after about 15,000 flying hours, completely rebuilt and then hit the skies again..
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New Polson superintendent looks forward to challenges

Jim Blow/Valley Journal

The prop and engine dominate the profile of the front end of an AT6 advanced trainer.

Doctor Down donates wrap for rescue dog

Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal
Peggy Baird, who works at Doctor Down, demonstrates how the rescue wrap can be opened from any side.

Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — A dog named Taz brought rescuers to his mistress. A world-class endurance runner fell and injured herself and had to rely on her dog for help. A search and rescue volunteer followed Taz to find the injured young woman and wrapped her in a Doctor Down Rescue Wrap. Sounds like a movie, right?
The story will be filmed for a series called “I Shouldn’t be Alive” in Marble Canyon, Ariz., this August. And Doctor Down, a local company owned by Bob Ricketts, will donate a Doctor Down Rescue Wrap to the production company for filming.
With a fluid and windproof shell and natural or synthetic down cores, the 12-pound Doctor Down Rescue Wrap with handles is an all weather emergency wrap designed to envelope a patient for medical transport. Hot or cold packs can be placed in pockets on the wrap to warm or cool a patient. The patient in this story was named Danelle Ballengee.
After Taz and Ballengee’s ordeal is filmed, the wrap will go to the Grand County EMS, which located Ballengee with Taz’s help in real life.
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Cruisen By the Bay takes over Polson's Main Street

Jim Blow/Valley Journal
The chrome and color on the front of a 1938 Chevy Master Deluxe, owned by Mike and Sharon Lee of Pablo, beckoned to passersby to take a closer look at the car's styling and detail.

Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Classic rock and roll songs like “Who Wrote the Book of Love?,” “Blueberry Hill,” and “Sea Cruise” played all day Saturday to get car show visitors in the mood to look at vintage, classic and some newer cars at the ninth Annual Cruisen By the Bay Car Show held on Aug. 7, 8 and 9.
And, like every year, there were so many unique, well-restored cars for car aficionados to salivate over or for the casual viewer to appreciate. A host of local Mission Valley car owners participated in the show, along with a large number of cars from throughout the northwestern region.
One unusual car at the Cruisen By the Bay Car Show was a 1963 Amphi-Car displayed by Joe Maura of Spokane, Wash.
The bright red and white convertible could run on the road or cruise in Flathead Lake.
One of Maura’s crew, Marcial Laude, said they took the Amphi-Car for a spin in the lake on Friday evening and were stopping traffic on the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge.
“People thought we went off the bridge,” Laude said.
Only about 3,876 of the amphibian vehicles were produced from 1961 to 1967. The cars were made in Germany and featured a four-cylinder, British-built 43 horsepower engine. With a top speed of seven miles an hour in the water and 70 mph on the highway, the Amphi-Car’s main problem was that it wasn’t particularly watertight. The bilge pump had to keep up with the water leaking. The vehicle sold for $2,800 to $3,300 new.
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Art fills courthouse lawn for festival

Jim Blow/Valley Journal
Square dancers entertained themselves and onlookers at the art festival.

Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Tables and tents full of photographs, paintings, quilts, prints, mirrors and furniture, jewelry, handbags and even a flock of wooden flamingoes clustered on the Polson Courthouse lawn for the 38th Annual Sandpiper Outdoor Art Festival. Held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, the festival drew many visitors.
Margie Hendricks, chair for the Sandpiper Outdoor Art Festival, said the festival made a little more money this year than last. About 50 percent of the artists were returning participants, Hendricks added. The Sandpiper was worried about whether their festival would be as successful as usual because of the recession and because many festivals around western Montana have made less money this year.
Hendricks noted that rainy weather on Friday worried the Sandpiper volunteers, too. In fact, Hendricks said 12 vendors didn’t come to the festival because the weather forecast predicted rain.
“It was just a perfect day, though,” Hendricks said.
Sandpiper member Carole Carberry agreed. Carberry is a watercolor and stained glass artist. She said, ”I was relatively satisfied with how I did.”
Carberry said she talked to other exhibitors, some of whom sold a lot and some of whom sold very little.
“Just like any show,” Carberry said.
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City commissioners discuss tourist surcharge

Linda Sappington/Valley Journal

Tourist surcharges, like those who visit events like last year's Cruisen By The Bay car show, are being considered by the Polson City Commissioners.

POLSON — The Jette Meadows Landowners Association board of directors is holding a special mail-in ballot issue election this week to allow the Jette Meadows Water District permission to use some common area property in the subdivision for a new water reservoir, road access and other facilities. 
"This is urgent," Jette Meadows Water District President John Stromnes said. "Ballots must be returned by Monday to ensure the best site for our new reservoir and best design for the entire water project, and to hold costs down."
The Landowners Association Board of Directors supports the request by the water district for easements or other permission to use the Association's common property for the water utility improvements, Jette Meadows Landowners' Association President Sam Marshall said. 

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Weekend storm damages docks on Flathead Lake

Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal

Susan Evans, left, and Dick Bratton examine their boats to see what sort of damage the July 31 storm inflicted on the watercraft.

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Mother Nature whipped up a bad windstorm at about 3 a.m. on July 31 and sent north winds blowing onto Flathead Lake causing four to five foot waves.
“The Shadow,” the 50-ton cruise boat owned by KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino, came loose from its mooring and crashed into the walkway crossing the marina leading to the fuel station.
The Polson Volunteer Fire Department and Search and Rescue were dispatched to the scene at 3:22 a.m. One of the captains drove “The Shadow” into the middle of the bay to wait out the storm according to Fire Chief John Fairchild.
DeeAnn Cates, KwaTaqNuk General Manager, said The Shadow’s port side out drive was damaged and the boat lost some paint. “The Shadow” will have a new out drive installed on Wednesday and be ready to cruise again.”

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August 6, 2009

Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal

Trustee Vernon Finley makes a point about selecting the right person for each coaching position.

Polson school board holds special meeting

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — At a special school board meeting held at 4:30 p.m. on July 29, the Polson school board of trustees approved the high school district personnel report with the exception of Jose Franco and Mike Ellis. The elementary personnel report was approved with the exception of Mike Ellis. Ellis and Franco will be considered separately.
The board also heard reports from the committees handling negotiations. The certified staff negotiations are “cruising right along” according to Superintendent David Whitesell. Another meeting is scheduled for Aug. 2. Whitesell added that if all goes well teachers should be voting on their contract on their first day of in-service.
The non-certified union met with board members on July 29 at 6:30 p.m. for further negotiations. Administrative negotiations for Bill Appleton’s position as Polson High School Principal are at the verbal stage.
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July 23, 2009

Cherry Festival blossoms on Main Street

By Kelly Moore
Valley Journal
POLSON — On one of the busiest weekends in the valley, Polson’s Main Street Flathead Cherry Festival was easily one of the highlights.
The sunny weather and relatively early cherry harvest combined to make this year’s festival bigger and better than ever before. Thousands of people packed downtown on Saturday and Sunday to take in the festivities and even pick up a few cherries.
Event chairperson Jackie Cripe explained that the Polson Business Community started the event 11 years ago to help local merchants as well as bring people into the area. Three years ago, the Flathead Cherry Growers Association partnered up with the PBC and the event continues to bring in more people every year.
“There isn’t any other place on Earth where you can get Flathead cherries,” Cripe explained.
Eight orchards from the Flathead Cherry Growers Association were able to help visitors get a taste of the now-famous cherries and most also got a chance to check out everything else Polson had to offer while they were here.
“It’s all in working to make Polson a destination,” Cripe said.
And the work seems to be paying off. Not only was the attendance higher than ever this year, but also more visitors came in from further away. Cripe noted that a tour bus came all the way from Bismarck, N.D. specifically for the Flathead Cherry Festival, bringing 41 visitors from miles away.

“Our vendors and attendance has grown every year. It’s just getting better and better every year,” Cripe said.
More than 125 vendors sold 2,000 pounds of cherries and 300 cherry pies this year. Of course, that doesn’t count the loads of cherry themed products doled out by street vendors and Main Street merchants.
Some of the increased attendance can be attributed to this year’s grant from Travel Montana. The grant funded advertising for the event, but only in places outside of a 100-mile radius from Polson. Cripe said that the ads purchased with the grant touched on everything Polson had to offer, not just the festival.
The great turnout this year helped make the event a success for everyone involved. Cripe explained that not only was the attendance up, but also participation. She said that last year the quilt contest had five entries and this year it boasted 27. First place went to Fandy Maki, second place to Brie Aviles, third place to Mary Larkin and fourth place to Holly Flanders.
The children’s cherry pit spitting contest – a new addition to the festival – had 25 participants. Winners were Trinceton Brown in first place, Treva Corley in second place and Emily Corley in third place.
Patrick Hammer won the cherry stem-tying contest, beating out the other 11 contestants with a time of one minute and 15 seconds.
The Three Dog Down pillow case contest drew in entries all the way from Helena. Maxine Ferguson won the grand prize with a case that featured a Three Dog Down appliqué logo in black on green gingham with prairie points outlining the cuff. Chris Wilhelm and Sidney Wilhelm tied for
second place with judges noting use of, “perfect prairie points, neatly finished French seams and a creative use of cherry fabric.”
Cripe refuses to let the success of the event go to her head and is always thinking of ways to make it bigger and better.
“I’ve always been confident that this could be a great, positive thing for Polson and I would have been disappointed with anything less,” she said.
Another addition this year was inflatable games and bungee trampoline jumping.
“It was a hit with the kids, especially with the hot weather I think the water slides were pretty popular,” Cripe said.
Sponsors have already started planning for the 2010 festival, taking in feedback from last weekend and brainstorming improvements and additions.
“We can always keep improving the event. You learn something new every year,” Cripe said.
One improvement Cripe is already thinking about for next year is watering holes for the many animals that accompany the visitors on Main Street.
Cripe also said that Sunday’s cherry recipe contest drew no entries this year, so sponsors will work on emphasizing that more in the future.
The only thing area where sponsors see no room for improvement is in their timing. Despite rumors about moving the festival to a later date to coincide with the cherry harvest, Cripe insists that the festival will always be the third weekend in July.
“It’s taken years to establish that time slot so we just have to keep that consistency,” she explained, saying that vendors from New York, Arizona, Florida and California keep the festival on their national tours and already have their stop in Polson planned for that date. In fact, Cripe said she had calls from seven new vendors on the Monday after the event asking to be a part of next year’s festival.
“We really want to emphasize local products and what we have to offer locally, but it’s nice to have stuff that you can’t normally get here. It’s a nice mix,” Cripe explained.
As far as the cherry harvest goes, dates are unpredictable, so the organizers plan to make do with what is ready with the time rolls around. Last year, Cripe said hardly any cherries were ripe enough in time for the Main Street celebration. She said the timing varies, as one year they hit right at the peak of harvest, but this year was perfect because there were still plenty of cherries and the growers weren’t busy harvesting.
With any luck, the precise planning for the event and welcoming community will keep the festival growing right alongside the harvested cherries for many years to come.

Thunder Alley:

The roar of hydroplane engines was heard across the valley with the return of the Radio Waves Regatta to the Flathead River

By Aaric Bryan
Valley Journal
POLSON — Wind gusts reaching nearly 20 mph Sunday were enough to silence the roar of the engines capable of reaching speeds of 140 mph.
Most of the racing on the second day of the second annual Radio Wave Regatta on the Flathead River just below Polson’s Armed Forces Memorial Bridge was cancelled because the wind made it unsafe for the hydroplanes to race.
The racing was called off before many of the nearly 40 hydroplanes competing in the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association sanctioned event touched the water.
After bringing back hydroplane racing last year after nearly a 20-year hiatus, Dennis Anderson and his wife Nila, the owners of Anderson Broadcasting, did everything in their control to make sure the second year of racing ran more smoothly — unfortunately the two can’t control the wind.
Sunday, while things were running as smoothly as possible on land, things were choppy out on the water, as a steady wind blowing out of the southwest kept all five of the classes except the larger classes from running and kept causing delays. Eventually the gust of winds became too much and the racing was called off for a day.
MMuch like how Anderson went to work on fixing traffic flow and bringing in more food vendors after the inaugural Radio Waves Regatta last year, he is already working on a solution for the wind in next year’s regatta, by trying to bring in more entertainment to keep the audience engaged if there are delays or race stoppages.
“Obviously, you can’t control the wind, but you can keep the crowd entertained during the down time,” Anderson said.
After finishing second in a heat Sunday, Kelly Stocklin, the driver of the Unlimited Light-40 King and Bunny, said driving in the wind is tricky and there was about a 40 mph difference in his boat on the homestretch and backstretch. Stocklin said the pit crew can change the trim of the boat to adjust to the wind, but ultimately it’s up to the driver to keep the boat safe.
“You have to be really attentive and make sure it doesn’t go to the point of no return,” Stocklin said.
The unlimited lights were unable to run their B-heat and final-heat Sunday and the finishing results were based on the preliminary heats. Kayleigh Perkins, driver of the UL-72 Foster Care-Vitamin Water, was named the winner after winning both of her preliminary heats. With three races of the Unlimited Light’s Hydroplane Racing Association’s eight-race circuit finished, Perkins has a commanding lead in the unlimited lights.
The thunderboats, the largest of the five classes in the regatta, was the only class that was able to finish all four heats Sunday, with the G-17 Miss Ted’s Red Apple Market driven by Dustin Echols winning the class. Echols, who was also the winning driver in the Thunderboats in the Radio Waves Regatta last year, finished in front of the G-10 Titeflex Special-Wiggins Supply driven by Cal Phipps. Milton Wiggins, the owner of the G-10, and his seven-man crew traveled from Alabama for the regatta.
“We came a long way to see you,” Wiggins said.
The three inboard classes, the 5-liter, 2.5 liter stock and 1.0 liter classes were unable to run Sunday.
The weather was calmer on Saturday, but the action was wilder with a full day of racing and two boats crashing into each other and another running into a pier. During the warm period for the 5 liter class, the E-222 Power Punch driven by Steve Clark spun out entering the second turn on the 1 1-4 mile course right in front of the boat driven Nick Enderes. Enderes had nowhere to go and the two boats collided. Kip Brown, the driver of the E-55 won the class.
Last year, Anderson signed a three-year contract to sponsor the Radio Waves Regatta at the same site where his father Andy promoted the races in the 1970s and 1980s. At this year’s regatta, there were about 15 more boats than in the inaugural race and Anderson said the ULHRA has told him that the event in Polson had more participants than the seven other race sites.
While the number of participants was up, the number of spectators was down. Anderson predicted that the paid attendance was down by almost 50 percent from last year, but noted that the regatta fell on a weekend when there was a lot going on in the valley. The economic downturn and the heat also may have been a factors in the lack of attendance.
Despite the decrease in attendance, Anderson is committed in making the Radio Waves Regatta better each year for many years to come.
“I’ll keep doing this as long as they let me,” Anderson said.

July 23, 2009

Drowning victim turns out to be a toy

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — At about 10:56 a.m. on July 16, law enforcement dispatch received a call about a possible drowning on the west side of the Blue Bay campground. The caller had noticed a life jacket and what the caller thought were feet.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office asked divers to standby on the call and obtained jet skis. The Lake County Search and Rescue went out on their boat but cancelled the search when they discovered the feet belonged to an inflatable doll.

July 23, 2009

Players return 'Three Voices' to life

"Three Voices," a musical celebration of the lives and times of three distinctive American voices, Gary Cooper, Jeannette Rankin and Nat King Cole, runs for two weeks Wednesday thru Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

POLSON — One of the most unusual and innovative musicals in Port Polson Players history takes the stage for two weeks with the opening of “Three Voices.” The show plays at the John Dowdall Theatre on the lake July 29-Aug. 9, at 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.
The play was the brainchild of Players Managing Director Neal Lewing, who also performs. Joining Lewing on stage is Missoula actress Alicia Bullock-Muth, who has appeared in numerous Missoula Children’s Theatre productions throughout the years. She has performed with Port Polson Players off and on since 1987. Most recently she was seen in “The Voice of the Prairie,” and past credits include “The Fantasticks,” “Play it Again, Sam,” “Tonight on Wildhorse Island” and “Who Gets the Lake Place,” among others.
The show is a musical celebration of the lives and times of three distinctive American voices, Gary Cooper, Jeannette Rankin and Nat King Cole. While seemingly unrelated, these three lives intertwined through everything from actual encounters to coincidental events, providing an in-depth overview of the social, political and artistic climates of the 20th century. While no one actually plays Cooper, Rankin and Cole, the two actors romp through the fast-paced tour-de-force portraying nearly 30 separate characterizations to tell the story.
“And of course,” Lewing explained, “there are more than 60 of the greatest tunes in American musical history represented here.” Included are songs like “Begin the Beguine,” “Straighten up and Fly Right,” “Strike Up the Band," "Fascination,” and “Unforgettable.” Diane Torres and Levi Mazurek round out the company with their musical talent on keyboard and bass.
Reservations are advised by calling the Players box office at 883-9212 or by email at portpolsonplayers@centurytel.net.
Meanwhile, at the John Dowdall Theatre, you have through this Sunday, July 26 to catch the Players production of “On Golden Pond.”

July 9, 2009

Polson festivities celebrate U.S.A.’s birthday

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Fire departments from around the area kicked off the Polson Fourth of July Parade with loud sirens and candy. Beginning at noon on July 4, parade-goers were treated to a full half-hour of vintage cars, a dance troupe, horses and riders, a band on Mission Mountain Real Estate’s truck, lots of cute kids clad in red, white and blue, clowns, dogs and even two Statues of Liberty riding their ponies down the parade route.
Chris Adler from Ronan drove his bright red 1948 Dodge Power Wagon in the parade. Accompanying Adler was his grandpa, Homer Andersen. Andersen owned the vintage vehicle for 30 or 40 years before he passed it on to Adler. Also riding with Adler and Andersen were Logan, Parker and Trenton Adler.
Polson Animal Clinic crewmember Halli Tyler piloted miniature horse Petunia and her colt Thistle in the parade while Brenna McGuinness led Stinkweed, a miniature horse/mule cross. Both girls also had time to throw candy and smile at the crowd.

Parade judges were hard pressed to select winners with such tough competition, but the following parade entrants winners were:
Mayor’s Award: Hughes Ranch- The Candy Ranch, Polson Chamber Award: The Story Shuttle, Polson Veterans Award: Wes Sprunk - The Johnny Popper, Marine Corps League Distinguished Service Award: Annette Schiele.
Category results: Floats – 1st- Heritage Faith Church- The Buzz Box, 2nd- Lake County Public Health, 3rd- Jean’s School of Dance.
Vintage Cars (1900-1931)- 1st- Don Tudhope and Kitty Pedersen, 2nd- Don Probert, 3rd- Lloyd “Buck” Baertsch.
Antique Cars (1932-1948)- 1st- Carl Seifert, 2nd- Chris Adler, 3rd- Richard Santorno.
Classic Cars (1949-newer)- 1st- Tim Arneson, 2nd- Toni Wock, 3rd- Scott Read.
Band/Music- Mission Mountain Realty,
Equestrian- 1st- Karlee Cottle, 2nd- Clair & Erica Bick
Children 14 and under- 1st- Cole Bick and Davis Smith, 2nd- Rene and Katie Furshong, 3rd- Freedom Constitution- Marissa Stepina.
Miscellaneous- 1st- Polson Les Schwab, 2nd- Rody Construction,
3rd- Flathead Raft Company.
Winners may pick up their awards at the Polson Chamber of Commerce on Main St. after Wednesday July 8 or contact John Miller at 406-883-5521 or marinefox21@yahoo.com.
To round off the Fourth of July celebration, James Raymond and his crew set off spectacular fireworks at dusk from the regatta grounds at the Polson Fairgrounds.
Private fireworks blossomed around Flathead Lake and in Polson until the small hours of the morning.

June 25, 2009

The Shadow arrives at KwaTaqNuk

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — The KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino has a new boat — The Shadow. The Shadow came to town on June 18 and squeaked into the parking lot at the KwaTaqNuk at about 6 p.m. after a harrowing journey from Sandpoint, Idaho, through Bonner’s Ferry, Libby and Kalispell down Highway 93 to its home in Polson.

Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal
As The Shadow slips into Flathead Lake, Fred Finney, left, who built The Shadow, Marce Stevens, KwaTaqNuk Marina Manager, Sheila Matt, KwaTaqNuk Human Resources Manager, Alicia Pierce, KwaTaqNuf Sales, DeeAnn Cates, KwaTaqNuk General Manager, and Binky Bowman, KwaTaqNuk Principal Operating Officer, all enjoy front row seats.

June 25, 2009

Mountain lion spied in Polson

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Polson Police Chief Doug Chase said his department and 9-1-1 dispatchers received notice of two sightings of a lone mountain lion in Polson proper.
The first sighting was at Boettcher Park, while the next sighting was a couple of days later on June 15 on Kootenai Avenue near Salish Park. Both reports came in at about 10 p.m.
In case you catch a glimpse of a mountain lion, Chief Chase said, “Make yourself as big as possible, and for heaven’s sake, don’t run.”
Chief Chase asked community members to report any mountain lion activity to dispatch at 883-7301.

June 25, 2009

New Polson city manager gets to work

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Polson City Manager Todd Crossett’s first day in the office was Tuesday, June 16, and he held his first office meeting on June 17 at 8 a.m.
Crossett said he is trying to get up to speed with Polson city business, but he stressed his open-door policy.
“I’m open to talking to everyone,” Crossett said. “I’m all for good communication. If I can’t talk to someone right away, I’ll schedule an appointment.”
Although Crossett has moved to Polson, his family is still in Idaho.
“I’m here; the rest is going to be a process,” Crossett said.
Crossett, his wife, Debbie, and their two children used to live in Cocalla, Idaho, a suburb of Sandpoint, Idaho. Crossett was a Bonner County Commissioner.
With a master’s degree in International Management and bachelor’s degrees in English and business, Crossett’s work experience included the U.S. Department of Commerce and then international marketing, primarily in Russia and the Far East.

June 25, 2009

Rural Fire Board breaks ground for new fire station

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — Contractor Paul Iverson used his excavator to dig up bushes and level ground for the Polson Fairgrounds Fire Station on June 17, but the official groundbreaking took place on June 18. Polson Rural Fire Board members and other community members instrumental in the fire station project gathered at the site of the station in the northeast corner of the Polson fairgrounds.

Berl Tiskus/Valley Journal
Groundbreaking for the Polson Fairgrounds Fire Station was on June 18. Paul Iverson, left, the general contractor, Bonnie Manicke, clerk for the Polson Rural Fire Board of Trustees, Alison Meslin, Chair of the Polson Rural Fire Board, Paul Laisey, vice chair, Bill Barron, Lake County Commissioner, John Fairchild, Fire Chief, Steve Bundy, former board member, and Dave Ottun, former board member dug into the dirt at the construction site.