
POLSON – Smoke and flames forced two Polson families out into the cold on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 19, just before they lost their homes to fire and smoke damage. No people or animals were injured in the fire. “We lived there for over 40 years, and I’m going to live there again,” Rud Knudsen said as he watched firefighters try and save his home, the second one to burn. “That is where God put us.” Emergency dispatch services received the call just before 6:30 a.m. Heavy smoke and flames were pouring from inside the home on the 500 block of Third Street West. Betty Martin was inside the home when the alarm from a smoke detector woke her up...

RONAN – Charlo Middle School eighth-grader August Hertz was all business on the stage in front of a panel of judges on Tuesday evening during the 55th annual Lake County Spelling Bee at the Ronan Performing Arts Center. Hertz clearly and deliberately pronounced each letter of the word “buffoon...
LAKE COUNTY– The Montana Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Board has awarded the Polson, St. Ignatius and Ronan airports grant funds that will be used to improve airport runways. “We do everything we possibly can to extend the life of our runways,” said Rick Newman, ...
LAKE COUNTY – A new state regulation intended to protect school children from drinking contaminated water will require schools to regularly test water students might consume. According to the Centers for Disease Control, lead poisoning — the buildup of lead in the body -- can cause learn...
News from the Montana Census MONTANA – The Montana Census State Complete Count Committee is asking businesses, organizations and community facilities to sign up to become a Be Counted site for the 2020 Census. For the first time, Montanans will be able to respond to the Census online and ...
MONTANA – A proposal by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines to convey the National Bison Range to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes has generated a mixture of excitement, concern and outright opposition in Montana. The provision, included in a broader bill settling the historic water rights claims of t...
RONAN — As another month draws to a close, we will have our monthly birthday party on Friday, Feb. 28. Meals are served at noon and all ages are welcome. Meals are served with coffee, milk and juice. Please call before 10:30 a.m. to request or cancel a home delivered or pick-up meal. For the s...
ST. IGNATIUS — How does a rancher keep track of his cattle? With a cow-culator. AARP will be host an AARP “Safe Driving” class on Friday, May 8, from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Call the St. Ignatius Senior Center at 406-745-4462 to get signed up. Meals can be delivered to qualified senior...

PABLO – Marvin Camel, the only world boxing champion from Montana, who won world titles in 1979 and 1980, is getting back something he likely thought was gone forever: his original championship belt. Ken Camel, Marvin’s brother, said the belt was stolen 30 years ago from the Marvin Camel...
MCDONALD LAKE – The ice started to crack as a man stood on McDonald Lake during the late evening of Monday, Feb. 24. According to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell, the ice completely broke and the man fell through into the cold water at around 10:45 p.m. The man’s name isn’t being released a...