Arlee Powwow

Holiday weekend starts with Arlee Powwow

Story and Photos by Taylor Davison / Valley Journal

ARLEE — The Arlee Celebration Powwow kicked off their Fourth of July celebration this year on June 29, unpausing from Covid and carrying on the festivities through the holiday.

The exact date of the first Fourth of July Powwow in Arlee hasn’t been pinned down due to government supression in the late 1800s. The CSKT website states that in 1977 Salish elder Blind Mose Chouteh placed the first Arlee powwow three years before the 1901 smallpox epidemic. This makes the Arlee Fourth of July powwow over a century old; a strong tradition that continues each year.

This year’s celebration started with Campers’ Day, followed by a Memorial Ceremony for all Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal members who passed away in the last year. A material Stick Game took place afterwards. Friday was Traditional or ‘Old Style’ Day to honor the ways of the Salish, followed by a kids’ 3-on-3 basketball tournament and a 5K run on Saturday morning.

Points for grand entries started Saturday afternoon, kicking off a full weekend of dance contests, singing, drums, history and celebration.

“It’s a really important thing,” one attendee said of the powwow. “A lot of people have worked hard to keep these traditions alive, and now here we are.”

“I just love it,” another attendee commented. “I look forward to (the powwow) every year. It really brings the community together.”

By Kristi Niemeyer for the Valley Journal

POLSON — The Port Polson Players kick off their 47th season of summer productions this week at the scenic Theatre on the Lake, adjacent to Boettcher Park in Polson.

Helmed by actors, producers and directors Karen and Neal Lewing – both Governor’s Arts Award recipients – the homegrown theatre company offers a savory season of comedy, romance and relevance.

First up is “Home Games,” a charming comedy by Tom Ziegler, July 7-24. Mert, a lonely truck dispatcher, lives with a blind cat and her father, Anton, a retired baseball player still reliving his glory days.

Mert meets Frank at night school, and as they fall in love, the daughter discovers that her dad is actually more tuned in than she ever realized. Eric Donovan joins real-life father and daughter, Players producer Neal Lewing and Anna Lewing Loehrke, who flies in from her home in Ohio to direct.

“I’m so looking forward to working with Anna on this delightful script dealing with an ‘aging’ but loving father,” says Neal. As to playing father-daughter roles, he adds wryly, “We’ve had a lot of practice.”

“Over the River and Through the Woods,” a moving comedy about family ties by Joe DiPietro, comes to the stage July 28-Aug. 7. The play, originally slated for 2020, was postponed once due to the pandemic, and again year when several cast members had scheduling conflicts.

“We’re finally forging ahead with the original four out of six actors, along with two new cast members,” says director Karen Lewing. “We’ll be ready to deliver this summer with a stellar cast!”

Nick, a young ad executive (played by Kia McDonald), takes a job across the country in Seattle. His two sets of very determined – and very Italian –grandparents try every trick in the book to get him to stay on the East Coast, including guilt, food, and matchmaking. Grandparents are played by Ron Martin-Dent and Ann Peacock and the Lewings, and Veronica Marquardt appears as the arranged blind-date.

The season wraps up Aug. 11-28 with “Driving Miss Daisy,” a play by Alfred Uhry that became an Oscar-winning film in 1989. Set in the deep South, this poignant blend of humor and pathos covers three decades of the relationship between aging Miss Daisy, a wealthy Southern belle (played by Karen Lewing), and her chauffeur, Hoke (played by J. Lee Cook). Set in the latter half of the 20th century, a deep bond develops between the two, despite their disparate backgrounds, ethnicity and politics. The comedy is intensified by Daisy’s businessman son, Booley (Mike Gillpatrick), who tries to keep the playing field level.

Director Neal Lewing worked with Cook when they were student actors at the University of Montana. He says the three-person cast delivers “just what the playwright intends – strength laced with humor, acceptance and love.”

Show times are 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. To learn more or for reservations, call 406-883-9212 or visit www.portpolsonplayers. com.

COURTESY PHOTO “Home Games” stars real-life father and daughter, Players producer Neal Lewing (center) and director Anna Lewing Loehrke (left), with local thespian Eric Donovan.

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Erin Wallace Tate Walbeck

RONAN — Erin Linda Adele Wallace was born on June 27, 2022, at the St. Luke Community Healthcare New Beginnings Birth Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces. Parents are William and Sarah Wallace of Polson. Paternal grandparents are Aaron Wallace and Robin Wallace of Polson. Maternal grandparents are Eric and Linda Jubb of Polson. Erin joins siblings, EJ and Willie.

Erin Wallace

RONAN — Tate Tuff Wayne Walbeck was born on June 28, 2022, at the St. Luke Community Healthcare New Beginnings Birth Center. He weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces. Parents are Tyson Walbeck and Michelle Tomma of Polson. Paternal grandparents are Kade Walbeck and Tate Charie Walbeck of Walbeck Polson. Maternal grandmother is Christy Tomma of Ronan. Tate joins sibling, Qrew.

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Polson

By Pete Mangels for the Valley Journal

POLSON — Enjoy July. It is one month of Summer … plus September. August doesn’t count as summer. I just call it the season of fire.

Exercise for Mobility: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Tai Ji: begins Aug. 2, Tuesdays and Thursdays,

Bridge: Tuesdays and Fridays: Sign up for seating.

Bridge instructor wanted for beginner bridge class … enquire at center

Pinochle: Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Bingo: Friday, 7 p.m. fun, cash prizes, snacks.

Hearing Clinic: July 16 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Veteran’s Rep: Aug. 5 July 16 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Pool: Open tables. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lunch is available from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays. We deliver meals. Sign up at the center.

Menu (subject to change); in-house or take-out: Meals are still only $5 — Thursday, July 7: hash brown bake with link sausage, blueberry muffin, fruit, applesauce cake — Friday, July 8: barbecue meatballs, potato, mixed vegetables, deviled eggs, cheesecake bars — Monday, July 11: split pea soup, cheesy bread, carrot/raisin salad, cookies — Tuesday, July 12: hamburger steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, grape salad, pudding — Wednesday, July 13: chicken enchiladas, refried beans, salsa, veggie Jell-O, raspberry fluff

St. Ignatius

By Irene Pritsak for the Valley Journal

ST. IGNATIUS — Hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday weekend. Our menu next week: — Wednesday, July 6: dinner at 5:30 - pork loin, veggies, potatoes, coleslaw, rolls, flag cake — Friday, July 8: chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies, rolls, fruit, chocolate cake — Tuesday, July 12: tater tot casserole, veggies, fruit, cranberry cake Have a great week! 10:00 AM 11:30 AM 7:30 PM 11:50 AM 7:05 PM 12:00 PM 6:50 PM Flag Stop Flag Stop 12:15 PM 6:30 PM 1:00 PM 6:00 PM 1:25 PM 5:30 PM 2:10 PM 4:55 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 3:10 PM 4:00 PM

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52001 US Hwy 93, Pablo 406-275-2792 • Weekends 406-675-5000 Missoula 1660 W Broadway St • 406-549-2339 Evaro 20750 US Hwy 93, Missoula• 406-275-2792 Arlee 92345 US Hwy 93, Arlee • 406-275-2792 Ravalli 27330 US Hwy 93, Ravalli• 406-275-2792 Saint Ignatius 240 Mnt View Dr, St. Ignatius• 406-275-2792 Pablo • 52001 US Hwy 93 Weekdays: 406-275-2792 • Weekends 406-675-5000 Polson 49708 US Hwy 93, Polson• 406-275-2792 Lakeside

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For Information Call Flathead Transit Weekdays: 406-275-2792 • Weekends 406-675-500 For more information call Flathead Transit Weekdays: 406-275-2792 Weekends: 406-675-5000