Valley Journal
Valley Journal

Articles Written By: Daniel Martynowicz

Lake County sees lowest traffic accident fatality rate since 1958

Bumper stickers reading “Pray for me: I drive Highway 93” still adorn the rear windows and bumpers of many vehicles in the valley, and for good reason. According to Arlee fire chief Ken Light, U.S. Highway 93 was one of the most dangerous roads in the nation. In 2006, 22 people died in Lake Co...

In the wake of tragedy, do not forget humanity

Friday morning started like any other. I woke up, let the dog out, showered and dressed for work while the sun was still down and my roommates were getting up. Just a morning, just a sunrise, just a day like any other. The coffee was brewing; the birds were chirping, absolutel nothing out of the ordinary for...

South Valley Creek Bridge gets upgrade South Valley Creek Bridge gets upgrade

ARLEE — Located 4 miles northwest of Arlee, the South Valley Creek Bridge was believed to be more than 100 years old. After a century of carrying school busses, logging trucks, emergency vehicles and farm equipment, the steel structure was beginning to show its age. “It was a really old, worn-...

Westland Seed demolishes 50-year-old silo

RONAN- Westland Seed owner David Sagmiller reclines in his office chair and looks out the window towards one of his oldest grain silos as a demolition crane tears it to shreds. Shaking his head, he says, “It’s hard to see it go. I started working there when I was 14 years old; that’s the la...

Locals place at national rodeo

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo.- Mother Nature threw everything she had at competitors during the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyo., this past week. Charlo competitor Abby Knight’s mother, Rocky Knight, told tales of extreme weather every which-way. From tornado strength winds and rain, to flo...

Montana Skate Series comes to St. Ignatius

ST. IGNATIUS- According to its website, the Skate Ignatius Skatepark was born, “on a bleak winter day in February of 2004 when two boys drank themselves to death in a field outside of Ronan.” One year later, a valley-wide meeting was held to discuss problems like substance abuse and poverty. Sadl...

Good Old Days makes for good old times Good Old Days makes for good old times

ST. IGNATIUS- The sounds of fire engine sirens, car horns, horse whinnies and laughter fills the air in the St. Ignatius High School parking lot as parade organizer Debbie McCollum runs between floats and parade entries. It’s 11:50 a.m. Saturday and the 30th annual Good Old Days parade is about to b...

Locals place at national rodeo

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo.- Mother Nature threw everything she had at competitors during the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyo., last week. Charlo competitor Abby Knight’s mother, Rocky Knight, told tales of extreme weather every which-way. From tornado strength winds and rain, to flooding...

Montana Skate Series comes to St. Ignatius

ST. IGNATIUS- According to its website, the Skate Ignatius Skatepark was born, “on a bleak winter day in February of 2004 when two boys drank themselves to death in a field outside of Ronan.” One year later, a valley-wide meeting was held to discuss problems like substance abuse and poverty. Sadl...

State to allow wolf trapping

Lee Schnase is a lifelong hunter and outdoorsman from Ronan. During last year’s regular and extended wolf season, he was deep in the back country nearly every weekend, flushing out and tracking wolf packs. On some occasions, he would hike 8 to 10 miles at a time through several feet of snow and dense f...


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