By Kathi Beeks Valley Journal The “summer slide” sounds like fun play equipment - it is anything but. Children lose up to three months worth of reading and math skills during long summer vacations. While there are educators pushing to eliminate long summer vacations, (a touchy subject for some), there are things parents can do to keep children growing academically during their time off from school. According to Linderman principal Kristin Wilson, “Reading is the most important thing to do over the summer in order to prevent summer slide. Reading doesn’t have to be the same thing every day. Childre...
By Rob Zolman Valley Journal POLSON – The Mission Mountain Rodeo wrapped up 79 years of high-energy action Saturday evening, drawing in cowboy and cowgirl competitors from as far away as Canada, Idaho and Wyoming. The National Rodeo Association sanc...
MELITA ISLAND – With the nearest ocean nearly 600 miles away, many Montanans are surprised to learn that the U.S. Coast Guard patrols the waters here in Montana. “We are trying to create an awareness that the U.S. Coast Guard actually exists in Montana,” said U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary P...
RONAN – The sounds of blaring, buzzing chainsaws and power tools filled the air in Ronan over the weekend during the inaugural Mission Valley Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous, held at the Lake County Fairgrounds. With wood chips flying all about, onlookers gathered during the four-day extravaganza to wat...
POLSON – The city council meeting was filled with the remarkable generosity of the Polson community. First, Polson Police Chief and Interim City Manager Wade Nash presented two Special Olympic teams with donation money raised from the Polson Police Tip-A-Cop event hosted at Pizza Hut. K...
ST. IGNATIUS – One of the newest volunteer firefighters with the St. Ignatius Volunteer Fire Department was selling tickets for raffle items at this year’s fundraising picnic on Saturday. Amanda Rice said she recently became a volunteer firefighter with the department because her grandfa...
POLSON – After already racking up a handful of purple qualifying and first-place blue ribbons, a saddleback border collie named Tickle closed out the second day of competition during the agility event with a flawless run and a well-deserved snack. The event was held at the Milliron Arena in Po...
RONAN – From Francis the Lion to Leo the Clown, it was old-fashioned one-ring circus fun Saturday afternoon as the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus entertained the Mission Valley under the bigtop at the Lake County Fairgrounds. SAFE Harbor sponsored the circus this year as a “FUN rais...
RONAN – Who can resist a dinner of all-you-can-eat fresh snow crab legs, melted butter, a generous bowl of baked beans, salad and bread? Apparently, the more than 325 guests at this year’s annual all-you-can-eat Crab Fest could not. “This is pretty awesome,” said festival goer Dot ...
ST. IGNATIUS – “That’s the biggest family picture,” an onlooker said as the attendees at the 2019 Salish Language and Culture Camp gathered for a group photo. The last day of the weeklong day camp had the feeling of a family reunion. People of all ages gathered in small group...
