Summer Guide 2014 by Valley Journal

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Few places offer as much natural beauty as the Flathead Indian Reservation and Lake County. This is Montana at its best, with countless ways to fulfill outdoor recreational cravings. The area is full of choices: hiking, fishing, cycling, bird watching, boating, water skiing, camping, sightseeing, golfing and so much more. Driving in from the south, the view from the crest of Ravalli Hill is breathtaking. The craggy-topped Mission Mountains jut from the valley floor with eye-catching beauty, towering over a lush landscape of rolling hills and

sweeping fields. Clear mountain streams fed by winter snowpack cut paths from the mountains and meander through the valley floors en route to Flathead River or Flathead Lake. Viewed from atop Polson Hill, the 28mile-long lake, dotted with islands and bordered by mountains, is breathtaking. The area’s postcard beauty is a recreational Nirvana. The National Bison Range and the Ninepipe Wildlife Refuge are home to abundant wildlife including deer, elk, antelope, bear, birds and bison. The area’s museums offer locals and M O N T A N A

visitors a taste of what it was like in days gone by. Numerous town festivals, powwows, rodeos, stockcar racing, basketball tournaments, fishing derbies and fairs throughout the summer offer tourists and local residents plenty to do each and every weekend. If a person can’t find something fun and exhilarating to do, it’s because they aren’t looking — or they prefer to embrace the laid-back lifestyle of the friendly and fortunate folks who call the Flathead Indian Reservation and Lake County home. S U M M E R

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C O N T E N T S FLATHEAD LAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 RECREATIONAL PERMITS . . . . . . 10 QUILTERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DAY TRIP . . . . . . . . . 10 BIKE + PEDESTRIAN PATHS . . . . 11 POWWOWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SKYDIVING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 THEATER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 OFF-LEASH DOG PARK . . . . . . . . 20 NATIONAL BISON RANGE . . . . . . . 22 FLATHEAD BLUES FESTIVAL . . . . 24 MONTANA STATE PARKS . . . . . . 26 GLACIER NATIONAL PARK . . . . . 29 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES . . . . 32 RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 BIOLOGICAL STATION. . . . . . . . . 37 GLACIER LAKE MISSOULA . . . . . 40 EVENT CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . 42 PLACES TO GO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 FLATHEAD CHERRIES . . . . . . . . . 63 POLSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 RONAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 PABLO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 CHARLO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 ST. IGNATIUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 ARLEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

2014

MONTANA SUMMER 2014 Montana Summer is a yearly publication of the Valley Journal, a weekly newspaper published each Wednesday in Lake County, Montana, for readers in the Mission, Jocko and lower Flathead Valleys. Our main office is located in Ronan at 331 Main Street S.W. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Business phone - (406) 676-8989. Fax (406) 676-8990.

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Our mailing address is: Valley Journal, PO Box 326, Ronan, MT 59864. Our Web address is www.valleyjournal.net. News and calendar submissions may be sent by email to vjeditor@valleyjournal.net Copyright 2014, the Valley Journal. All rights reserved. Reproduction, reuse or transmittal in any form or by any means is prohibited without written permission of the Valley Journal.

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STAFF Publisher/Owner ................Summer Goddard

Advertising mgr/Owner......Boone Goddard

Editor..................................Linda Sappington

Advertising sales.................John Schnase

Reporter ............................Berl Tiskus

Production manager ..........Mickele Schultz

Reporter ............................Megan Strickland

Photographer ....................Nicole Tavenner

Copy editor......................... Kathi Beeks

Office manager ..................Leni Baker

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F L A T H E A D • The striking azure of the water is what grabs the attention of most northbound travelers as they top the ascent of Polson Hill and look down at Flathead Lake, but the sparkling body grows more translucent as people grow close. When unobstructed by waves, the clearness reveals every outline of objects along the bottom, which can sometimes give the illusion of shallowness. Don’t be fooled: the deepest part of the lake is 370 feet — the length of approximately 10 standard school buses parked end to end. Average lake depth is 167 feet, greater than that of the Persian Gulf. • Flathead Lake is one of the 300 largest natural lakes in the world and is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States. The 197-square6

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mile water body is known for its impressive size in the current era, but it was actually part of a much larger lake called Lake Missoula that existed an estimated 15,000 years ago. Lake Missoula was created by a 2,000 feet tall ice dam of the Clark Fork River. Lake Missoula was the largest documented ice-damned lake in the world. It covered 3,000 square miles. A sign at the National Bison Range’s Red Sleep Drive designates a high water mark of Lake Missoula and ripple marks from the lake’s former surface are visible in the surrounding hills. Flathead’s remnant size is still significant. It takes approximately 2 hours to drive the 82 miles of roadway around the entire lake without stopping, not accounting for traffic.

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• Flathead Lake contains 10 islands of various sizes and ownership. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks manages four of the islands. Wildhorse Island near Big Arm Bay is the largest island in the lake and consists of 2,163 acres. It doubles as a wildlife refuge and state park that is noted for its herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and several wild horses. Bird Island is located near the Narrows, a small group of islands easily visible from Polson, along the northern part of Polson Bay. The island is owned and managed by the Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Flathead Lake Biological Station as a bird refuge. Geese, osprey, herons and eagles frequent Bird Island. Cedar and O’Neil islands are also managed by the state.

FLATHEAD LAKE is one of the

cleanest watersheds.

America and serves as a summer camp for the organization. Think secluded Flathead Lake living is for you? A few private islands offer opportunity — for a hefty sum. Shelter Island is a 24-acre estate that boasts 32,000 square feet of structures, including a five-bedroom, eight-bath main home and two-bedroom, four-bath guesthouse. A gym, wine cellar and indoor shooting range are some of the lavish amenities that come with a $59 million price tag. That’s far less than the original $78 million asking price set in 2012. Need something a little less pricey? A home on Dream Island, a small island near Big Arm, was listed for $3.5 million earlier this year. What it lacks in size is compensated by historical character — the property was once owned by the prestigious Daly family that headed the Anaconda Mining Company. Cromwell Island is also privately owned, but not for sale. Newspapers reported its worth at $25 million in the 1990s. • Kerr Dam was built between 1930 and 1938 and raised the elevation of the lake by approximately 10 feet, which brings it to 2,893 feet above sea level at full pool. Three turbines within the dam produce 194 megawatts of power, enough to power more than 145,000 homes. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are set to become the first native government in the United States to own a dam when purchase of Kerr Dam is complete in 2015. If runoff conditions in the mountains don’t warrant flood threats, the lake level is brought to full pool by mid-June. • Today, summer brings a myriad of different boats to Flathead Lake. Sailboats, motorboats, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and other types of watercraft teem in the warm months. In days of yesteryear, there were other types of vessels that frequented the lake for less recreational purposes. Historian Paul Fugleburg wrote “Flathead Lake Steamboat Days,” a book about the era of the steamboat in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Steamboats carried passengers and freight on the lake during that time. Native tribes also traversed the lake via canoe. The Pend d’Oreille selfidentified themselves as “people who live along the broad water.” Broad water meant Flathead Lake. • Flathead Lake is one of the cleanest watersheds. Studies at the Flathead Lake Biological SEE PAGE 8

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plume of sediment that covers the lake surface.

Station show that water quality in Flathead Lake is among the best in the world. In spite of its renowned purity, studies at the Bio Station show the water quality of Flathead Lake has declined over the last decade due to the combined effects of increased pollution from human sources, erosion of the shoreline caused by dam operations and introduction of nonnative biota (flora and fauna). • Flathead Lake Biological Station was established in Bigfork in 1899 by Dr. Morton J. Elrod. The Flathead Lake Biological Station was moved to its present location in 1908 and is currently operated as a year-round academic and research facility mainly dealing with aquatic studies. • The lake’s major tributaries are the Flathead and Swan Rivers. Numerous small streams flow directly into the lake at its shoreline, particularly on the wetter East Shore. • Maximum flow in the Flathead River generally occurs during spring freshet between May 15 and June 10, creating a 8

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• Due to its massive volume and normally active winds over the surface, Flathead Lake does not freeze over most winters, although the bays often have winter ice cover. The lake did freeze over in the winters of 1978-79 (all winter), 1987-88 (all winter), 1988-89 (March only) and 1989-90 (January only). • The name Yellow Bay was derived from the yellow rock outcrop on the point which is Precambrian without fossils. The outcrop belongs to the Algonkian substrata, which also outcrops Glacier Park. • The first wagon trail in the 1880s from Polson to the north end of the Lake followed the west side of the lake and was steep and hazardous. At some places, wagons had to be lowered by ropes. In 1911, work started from the south end of the Lake to build an east shore road with the work primarily done by convict labor. It was completed in September of 1946. • Flathead Lake is currently described as oligomesotrophic (oligotrophic means

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being deficient in plant nutrients while mesotrophic means having a moderate amount of dissolved nutrients). • Average surface temperatures of the lake range from 2.3° C (36°F) in midJanuary, to 13.5°C (56°F) in mid-June, to 20.3°C (68°F) in mid-August. • Of the 25 fish species most commonly found in the Flathead River-Lake ecosystem, 10 species are native and 15 have been introduced. The native species include redside shiner, peamouth minnow, squawfish minnow, largescale sucker, longnose sucker, sculpin, bull trout, cutthroat trout, pygmy whitefish and mountain whitefish. Lake trout, lake whitefish and yellow perch are the most common non-natives and have increased in abundance since 1970, whereas native species have declined. Each spring and fall, the Mack Days fishing tournament offers anglers prizes for catching and removing non-native lake trout from the lake. The event is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Polson Main Street

Flathead Cherry

Festival

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Great selection of vendors • Flathead cherries • Cherry quilts on display in store windows Homemade cherry pies • Unique arts & crafts • Entertainment • Sidewalk sales and specials

Fun for the whole family Saturday, July 19 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 9 a.m.

Vendor booths open

3 p.m.

Adult Cherry Pit Spitting Contest in front of Cove Deli and Pizza

1 p.m.

Bagpipers strolling Main Street

4 p.m.

Cherry Stem-tying Contest in front of Cove Deli and Pizza

2 p.m.

Children’s Cherry Pit Spitting Contest in front of Cove Deli and Pizza

6-10 p.m.

Street dance with Southern Comfort Band in front of Cove Deli and Pizza

Sunday, July 20 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 10 a.m. Vendor booths open 1 p.m.

Judging of Most Unique Food Made With Cherries Contest in front of Cove Deli and Pizza - please bring your recipe and 4 samples for judges to taste

3 p.m.

Children’s Pie Eating Contest in front of Cove Deli and Pizza

3:30 p.m. Adult Pie Eating Contest in front of Cove Deli and Pizza

Win gift certificates from downtown merchants! For Vendor space visit our website: www.flatheadcherryfestival.com Questions? Call (406) 686-1155 or email: vendors@flatheadcherryfestival.com

More cherry products than ever before! Proudly sponsored by the Polson Business Community and Flathead Lake Cherry Growers, Inc. M O N T A N A

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P E R M I T S Recreational activities on the Flathead Indian Reservation including hiking, picnicking, swimming, photography, camping, fishing and boating. These activities require various permits and licenses. Non-tribal members are not allowed to pick berries and mushrooms on tribal lands unless they are children or the spouse of a tribal member who accompany and assist their tribal member parent or spouse with berry and mushroom picking. For complete details on fishing and recreation regulations of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks pick up a handbook at any of the following locations where licenses and permits are sold: Polson • CSKT Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation, and Conservation 406 Sixth Ave. E. in Polson Open Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (406) 883-2888 ext.7200 or 7237 • Walmart 36318 Memory Lane (406) 883-9211 Pablo • Zimmer Tackle 32 Carlyle Lane (406) 675-0068 Ronan • Ronan Sports and Western

63298 Hwy. 93 (406) 676-3701 • Westland Seed 36272 Round Butte Rd. (406) 676-4100 St. Ignatius • Mountain View Cenex 240 Mountain View Dr (406) 745-3634 Hot Springs • Cornerstone Convenience 1893 Hwy. 28 (406) 741-3200 Reservation permits are also available on the Internet at http://app.mt.gov/Als/Index. A reservation permit must be purchased initially from a retail outlet/reservation permit vendor, then subsequent permits can be purchased online.

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If you’re a quilter or enjoy textiles, then wake up early, pack a picnic lunch and hit All In Stitches, Polson’s fabric, yarn and pattern shop, when they open at 10 a.m. The store is located on Main Street. The store specializes in new and modern fabric and patterns, according to Susan Brown, manager. They also carry yarn, such as Mountain Color and Cascade. Let Brown and her crew help with fabric choices, a new quilt book, notions, a kit, yarn or even a finished item. Check with All in Stitches; they might even have a twohour class you can attend. Throughout the summer, they are offering Suntastic two-hour, make-and-take classes. After raiding, pillaging and buying fabric to your heart’s content, hit the road with a couple of equally fabricobsessed friends and head up the Swan. The drive is about two hours, more if you stop to picnic. The best way is to get on U.S. Hwy. 93 then turn left on Hwy. 35, which is south of town, and head towards Bigfork, about 34 miles. Turn right on route 209 and drive for about 5 miles, then right on Montana Hwy. 83 and head south to Seeley Lake. There are picnic areas along the way for lunch, and it’s a beautiful drive. Deer Country Quilts is located at 3150 Montana 83 right in Seeley Lake so you can’t miss it. Deer Country Quilts specializes in batiks and flannels, according to owner Pam Rose. The store also carries many Kaffe Fassett fabrics as well as civil war prints. They also stock wool, Rose added. Of course, the store also has quilt kits for customers of all the quilts on display in the store. Summers are busy in the Swan, and if stitchers want to call, they can find out what classes are offered. Also, Rose said Deer Country Quilts holds its summer sale the third weekend in July. The store’s phone number is (406) 677-2730. After a couple of hours quilt therapy, shopping and dreaming of stitching, you can head back to Polson and get there in time for dinner.

Come see us at our

New Location (across from HCP) • Custom Matting and Framing • Art for sale

#10 Seventh Ave. E. Polson 1 0

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883-9469

the PATH less traveled

PAV E D

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O P P O R T U N I T I E S A system of paved pedestrian/bicycle paths are gradually growing throughout the county, linking communities and offering scenic views a safe distance from highway traffic. Each path can be reached by streets or sidewalks connecting cyclists and walkers from Polson to Ronan. Two Polson parks are now connected by a new walking bridge that dips beneath Highway 93 and the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge. The path links Sacajawea Park to the north with the Riverside Park on the south side of the bridge. West of downtown Polson along Kerr Dam Road, a gentle halfmile climb southward alongside ranchland offers a unique perspective of Flathead Lake and the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge. The north end of the 1-mile trail connects to a sidewalk

surrounding a city playground, skate park, sports fields and an off-leash dog park where the trail turns east onto Seventh Avenue West. Sidewalks continue along Seventh Avenue West to Main Street and Polson’s downtown shopping district. A few blocks east, a paved path heads north off Seventh Avenue East SEE PAGE 12

FAMILY FUN ALL SUMMER LONG! • 8 bowling lanes - Kids game area • Daily lunch specials, Friday night prime rib and seafood, breakfast weekends 8 a.m. - noon • Daily happy hour from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. • Enjoy horsehoes, food and drink in our fenced, outdoor area

Sportspage Bowl & Lounge 101 Heritage Lane, Polson

883-4010 or 883-4030

Shannon Nunlist, PT

Debbie McGuinness, PT

A Personal Approach Hour long private sessions and cost effective treatments. We offer experienced and comprehensive care.

51657 Highway 93 • Polson • 883-6863 M O N T A N A

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and follows a former Northern Pacific railroad route. This section of path is dedicated in memory of Polson resident Carol Sampson Sherick, a lifelong community volunteer who loved to hike; a bench along the way is also set in her honor. The path leads to the junction of U.S. Highway 93 and State Highway 35. Cyclists and pedestrians may cross at the signal and head east along Highway 35, passing a cherry orchard and endless green fields dotted with cattle along the south end of Flathead Lake. The path ends two miles east at Ducharme Fishing Access Site, just a short walk north up a gravel road to the lake’s wetland shoreline. Back at the junction, those who continue south along Highway 93 can follow a paved path to within a half-mile from Ronan, roughly 11 miles. Along the way, the path leaves the highway and winds through Ponderosa pine, cherry, mountain ash and fir trees, reaching the top of Polson Hill with a gentle incline and breathtaking views of Flathead Lake and surrounding farmland. A right turn at Caffrey Road and another right turn onto Skyline Drive will lead back uphill into Polson along the newest walking path, completed in early 2014. At the summit of Skyline, the path crosses to the south side of the street, boasting birds-eye views of Flathead Lake, Polson Bay and the Polson community as it makes its descent onto Second Street East. Those who don’t turn at Caffrey Road will continue south toward Pablo and Ronan. Along the way, the path crosses beneath the highway through an underpass and continues to the community of Pablo, headquarters for the government of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Salish Kootenai College.

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Connecting the college with tribal offices across the highway is a 265-foot-long steel pedestrian and bicycle bridge, built in 2011, boasting attractive rockwork and four steel tipi structures. The bridge offers safe passage across the highway to the west side, where the asphalt path continues south. From Pablo, the trail meanders alongside farmland, rising over Mud Creek animal under crossing, one of 47 wildlife crossings built between 2005 and 2008 when most of Highway 93 between Polson and Evaro was widened to four lanes. The unique wildlife underpasses allow deer, bear and small critters to safely access both sides of the highway, and drivers to avoid unnecessary roadkill. Although the paved path ends just before Ronan, the shoulder widens and the speed limit for vehicles slows. A quick right turn onto Third Avenue West will link cyclists and hikers to Main Street Ronan, boasting a café, coffee shop/roaster, numerous beauty salons, barbershops, thrift/ pawn shops, a classic bowling alley, a cozy movie theater and a few bars. Catch another paved path south of Main Street and Second Avenue, and meander alongside Spring Creek through four blocks of Ronan’s beautiful Bockman Park. The park offers playground equipment plus a small waterworks playground during warm summer days. The trail crosses two bridges before curving gently into a residential area south of town. Or, follow Round Butte Road west past the abandoned grain elevator, where a paved, two-mile trail leads to one of the best broadside views of the Mission Mountains in all of Lake County. Random, short segments of paved paths can also be found in small communities along Highway 93, including Big Arm and Arlee.

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Colorful regalia, sure-footed dancing and motivating drumbeats are the heartbeat of Native American powwow celebrations. The public is welcome to attend local events throughout the valley during the spring and summer months. Powwows — gatherings and celebrations with singing, dancing, socializing, education, craft work and feasting — have been an important part of the Salish, Kootenai and Pend d’Orielle Tribes’ — and other Indian tribes’ — lives for centuries. Many Native Americans travel hundreds of miles each year to participate in this important tradition, because the powwow trail is much more than just entertainment; it’s a way to honor a spiritual connection to their ancestors. At powwows, various dance styles are performed in traditional regalia that is colorful, dynamic, and involves countless hours of tanning, sewing and beading. Dances include Intertribal Dance, where everyone is welcome regardless of dress;

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War Dance, where each warrior dances his own style to a wide range of songs with fast and slow tempos; Women’s Traditional Dance, consisting of women remaining stationary with a slight up and down movement; Men’s Traditional Dance, in which the dancers tell stories in dance about battles or hunting. The outfits remain traditional and subdued, often decorated with bead and quill work

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and eagle feather bustles. Round Dance is a happy social dance that is meant to have everyone participate; Scalp Dance is done by women dressed in men’s clothing; Prairie Chicken Dance resembles the movements prairie chickens use for mating or fighting purposes. Some “newer” dances include: Fancy Dance, where dancers are dressed in colorful regalia and dance in less restricted styles with fancy movements; Jingle Dance, where women dance in jingle dresses festooned with 365 metal cones or jingles; Grass Dance, a plains Indian dance where dancers move in swaying motions that move the fringes on the grass dance outfits; and the Owl Dance, which is a social dance where couples dance together in a circular motion with men on the outside circle and women in the inside circle. The Arlee Fourth of July Celebration, a week-long event held each year during the first week of July, first coincided with SEE PAGE 14

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DON AADSEN FORD Y O U R L O C A L LY O W N E D DEALER FOR QUALITY NEW & USED VEHICLES

FROM PAGE 13

COME TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SELECTION Don Aadsen Ford Sales Open Mon. - Sat. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. maralea@donaadsen.com • www.donaadsenford.com

COME IN FOR A CHECKUP. Visit us today for expert service and a great deal on routine maintenance.

$ • Synthetic Blend Oil Change • Tire Rotation & Pressure Check • Brake Inspection • Multi-Point Inspection

• • • •

Fluid Top-Off Battery Test Filter Check Belts & Hoses Check

*Up to five quarts of Motorcraft° oil and oil filter. Taxes, diesel vehicles and disposal fees extra. Hybrid battery test excluded. See Service Advisor for exclusions and details through 5/31/13. Motorcraft° is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. **Source: Based on EPA fuel economy 2010 MY data at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm and the $3.69 average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the U.s. on October 22, 2012, at www.fueleconomy.gov.

DON AADSEN FORD 64194 u.S. Highway 93, Ronan, MT 59864 406.676.4420 •service@donaadsen.com Service Hours: Mon. - Fri. • 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 1 4

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the traditional mid-summer break in the hunting and gathering cycle of the Salish and Pend d’Orielle Tribes, but the road to maintaining the celebratory tradition was fraught with obstacles set up by the federal government. The government policy of assimilation put such traditions on the fast track to elimination. However, through often-clandestine tenacity, that did not happen. Indian people continued to practice traditions despite federal policies aimed at eliminating them. The Arlee Celebration is an example of survival by dovetailing age-old Indian traditions with the relatively new American tradition of celebrating the Declaration of Independence. That made it harder for Indian agents to quash it because of the “patriotic” link. This year, the 116th Arlee Celebration runs Wednesday, July 2 through Sunday, July 6. The official opening of the celebration will take place Friday, July 4, beginning with a Snake Dance. The War Dance Chief usually leads the dance. It is a serpentine single-file dance that begins outside the pavilion and winds into it. The drummers and singers follow the

group singing the Snake Dance song. After the Snake Dance, each session begins with a grand entry that includes an honor guard bearing the flags of the Salish Nation and America. Following the honor guard is the procession of dancers grouped in categories. A Flag Song is sung in honor of the flags, then a prayer is said to complete the opening ceremonies. After a veterans’ honoring ceremony, the dancing begins in earnest. For more event information, go to www.arleepowwow.com Each third weekend in July, the Flathead Indian Reservation hosts the Kootenai Tribes’ annual celebration, the Ksanka Standing Arrow Powwow. The Kootenai Tribe, also known as the Ktunaxa Ksanka Band, welcome all nations and the general public attend July 18 at the Elmo Powwow Grounds. The Indian social gathering in the west shore community of Elmo features drumming, dancing and traditional dress and food. Visitors are welcome and asked to respect the dance area, which is sacred. There will be dance contests with numerous categories, a drum contest and traditional games.

L E A P by Megan Strickland VALLEY JOURNAL

The blue sky behind the Mission Mountains stretch on endlessly as six people on the ground strain their eyes to see through the crystal clear daylight and into the cloud puffs that punctuate the vastness. The distant hum of a motor is the only hint a plane flies somewhere above the runway of the Ronan airport. With a hand cupped above his brow to cut the setting sun’s glare, Jake Pelczar points excitedly at the edge of a puff. “There she is,” Pelczar says excitedly as the plane flies high above the mountains. “I wonder what she’s thinking right now.” “She’s thinking ‘What have I gotten myself into?’” Jake’s mother Tracie Pelczar says with a laugh. “She’s thinking ‘I hate him for this,’” says Tina Sanders, with a smile and teasing look at Jake. His girlfriend Kelsey Miller finally emerges from the plane as the engine cuts. Miller is the barely visible speck falling through the air, 12,000 feet up. “Oh my god,” Tracie says. “I can’t believe she’s doing this. She looks so tiny.” The miniscule dot grows slightly larger as

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Miller pummels toward the ground. After a minute, a multicolored parachute begins to unravel and the fuzzy shapes of the falling bodies grow more distinct — eight limbs can be seen, Miller’s, plus those of tandem jumpmaster Gary Sanders who pulls to make the parachute turn. “If she likes it he’ll let her make the next turn,” Tina says. The parachute makes one turn, and then another. “She must really like it,” Tracie says. Tina laughs. “If you think she’s tiny now, you just wait till she’s down here and you’re up there,” Tina says. Tracie Pelczar smiles and anxiously rubs a palm against her cheek. “Oh my god,” Tracie Pelczar says. “What have I gotten myself into?” Heart-throbbing excitement, gut-wrenching nervousness and anticipation are emotions husband and wife Tina and Gary Sanders often encounter in clients, the majority of whom are making the first and only skydive of their lives. It’s a bold act of bravery and check off the bucket list for most, but it’s become a familiar routine for Tina and Gary who M O N T A N A

have spent 23 years running Skydive Montana from the Ronan Airport. Most clear summer days the runway of the airport sees at least one appearance from The Yellow Bird, a red Cessna 206, marked with “Montana” in blue scrawl across the tail fin, and “Skydive” in a similar red font across the side of the plane. On the evening of the Pelczar’s dive, the plane isn’t yet onto the runway when Tracie Pelczar arrives from her lake house north of Polson. Jake, her son, wanted to give his girlfriend Miller a birthday present she wouldn’t forget. Tracie steps on to the runway with intentions of staying firmly on the ground. She’s the proud mom and photographer today, not a dare devil testing her limits. But after the family enters the pilot’s lounge to sign waivers, Tracie emerges shaking her head. “What am I doing?” she squeals, as she readies herself to jump. Tina says it is common to have tagalong jumpers, who intend to be spectators but end up sailing back to the ground themselves because the lure of the once-in-alifetime opportunity is so strong. SEE PAGE 16 S U M M E R

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“It happens a lot with groups,” Tina says. “They get here and say ‘No, way.’ Then they watch someone and say ‘Oh well, I’ll go too.’” On occasion, people will return to jump again, but it’s unusual. “We did have one 84-year-old woman who jumped four times,” Tina remembers. “She wanted to learn how to skydive, but her family said ‘no way.’” The oldest person who jumped with Gary was 93 years old. There’s no specific age or demographic that jumps more than the others, according to Tina. Anyone who is more than 18 years old and weighs less than 220 pounds can sign the waiver for the extreme sport and jump. The minimum age is the same as how old Gary was when he made his first jump. The intrepid teen decided to pay the $3.50 to skydive in Missoula. Forty years later, Gary has logs books full of each of the more than 10,000 subsequent jumps that followed that initial leap of faith. He holds three world championship titles for skydiving, and was part of a world record jump that consisted of the most people 1 6

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to participate in a single skydive. He has skydived from places across the United States and the world, with a few repeated trips to Thailand, where military aircraft are used for world-record breaking attempts. Despite all of his accomplishments, taking people on their first skydive is something Gary enjoys more than recordbreaking attempts, Tina said. Gary’s vast credentials seem to reassure Miller as she prepares for her birthday jump. Josh and Tracie join her beside the plane as Tina begins to explain how the jump will go. The trio slide in to red and blue jumpsuits. Gary is already decked out in his green suit, and readies the plane as Tina begins the demonstration. The jumper will climb into the Cessna’s cargo hold with Gary as it takes off. The pilot will take the plane down the runway and up over the Mission Mountains. Tina never knows which direction each of the three pilots will go. Some head north over Flathead Lake. Monte Bear, the pilot most familiar with the mountains, sometimes takes the plane past a mountaintop

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where wild sheep can be see seen. The plane will head back to the airport, and drop the skydivers so they land by the pilot’s lounge, just feet from where they were standing before the jump. Once in the air and at the appropriate altitude the pilot will cut the engine. The jumper and Gary will make their way out of the plane strapped together onto a small ledge and jump. It’s a scary task, and people typically grab onto the pilot’s leg before the jump, Tina said. Sometimes Gary and the pilot have to help the person get their second leg out of the plane, because they are slightly frozen from fear. The plane travels at approximately 140 miles per hour, so goggles are worn to protect the eyes. Tina warns that the wind will be loud during free fall. Screaming can be fun, but it will also quickly dry out the mouth. This and a number of other demonstrations and advice follow. Questions from the first-timers abound. “I have a dumb question,” Miller says shyly. Tina reassures Miller that there is no such thing.

“Has anyone ever hit a bird?” Miller asks. Tina laughs and explains that birds fly at much lower altitudes. There is little danger of hitting one. Bugs are also found at lower altitudes so inadvertently swallowing them on the way down isn’t an issue. Jumpers have the option of going up to 9,000 or 12,000 feet. The shorter jump is cheaper at $215, and results in a 30 second freefall. The higher jump costs $40 more and results in 20 more seconds of freefall. After the parachute opens it takes between five and 10 minutes for Gary and the passenger to float back to the ground. Miller hesitates as the process is explained to her. “Wait, five to ten minutes?” she asks. “I thought the thing was only thirty seconds.” Everyone laughs. “That would be an expensive thirty seconds,” pilot Bear says. After a few photos and hugs it is time to go. Miller and Gary climb in, both beaming from ear to ear. Tina reminds Miller to look at the cameras snapped to Gary’s arm that takes photos and video of the entire event. Tina backs away from the plane and Bear drives it toward the runway. Tina grabs two small cameras mounted on a t-shaped stick and runs toward the

After the parachute opens it takes between five and 10 minutes for Gary and the passenger to float back to the ground.

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2014 Polson Events Mission Mtn NRA Rodeo June 27-28

Smokin’ on the Water BBQ Cookoff & Beer Tour & MVA’s Water Daze

Shop Fresh • Buy Local Polson Farmers Market Visit us every Friday from 9 a.m. until 1p.m., May through October

August 2

Polson’s Community 4th of July parade, concert & fireworks show

Summerfest on Flathead Lake

July 4

August 8-10

Arlee Celebration Powwow

Art in the Park

July 4-5

Ksanka Standing Arrow Powwow

Fresh Produce

Fresh Meats

Jams & Jellies

Fresh Eggs

August 9

Baked Goods

Cheese/Honey

Flathead Lake Blues Festival

Bedding Plants

Wood Working

August 15-16

Soaps

Plant Starts

July 18-19

Flathead River Rodeo (INFR) Main Street Cherry Festival & Miracle of America Live History Days

Polson Rotary chili Cook off

July 19-20

August 23

August 22-24

FOR UPDATED INFORMATION CALL (406) 883-5969

Flathead Lake 3 on 3 Hoop shoot

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runway. She gets as close as possible to the runway to capture video, and jokes that Bear tries to run her over. Everyone else remains near the pilot’s lounge. A few spectators have dropped in this evening to see what is going on. The plane heads upward and outward. When it returns everything goes exactly how Tina and Gary said it would. Miller and Gary float down and Miller makes a silly face during the landing. Miller is breathless and gushes about how beautiful the streams and lakes were from the view above. Next, Tracie goes. She can be heard yelling “Woohoo!” on her way down. Jake teases her for this when she lands, but a few minutes later, after Gary has repacked the parachute and it is Jake’s turn to jump, the son follows in the footsteps of his mother and lets out even more calls of “Whohoo!” on his way down. Jake gives Gary a high-five after landing. Gary congratulates him on his first skydive, and everyone heads into the pilot’s lounge to review the video. Gary starts putting things away, as the last remaining sunlight fades. It was one of the first successful jumps of the season, but there are many summer days left to go. “We always have fun,” Gary says. To learn more about Skydive Montana visit www.skydivemt.com or call 406-251-4338. VJ

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Encompassing 39 seasons of live theatre, in a beautiful 1938 log building gracing the southern shores of Flathead Lake, your evening with the Port Polson Players will include pre-show and intermissions watching the sun set on the immaculate “old nine” of the Polson Golf Course, framed by the majestic Mission Mountains. Inside the air-conditioned comfort of the theatre, audiences are treated to musicals, comedies and historical theatrics performed by some of western Montana’s best-loved performers and guest artists. The Players 2014 theatre season continues with Once Upon a Mattress, the musical comedy that brings the medieval story of the Princess and the pea to life. “Mattress” plays May 16, 17, 18 and the following weekend, May 23, 24, 25. Next up is Neil Simon’s “Fools,” a refreshing, delightfully goofy tale of love that captivates with its combination of humor, romance and suspense. Fools plays June 27 through July 6.

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Both Mattress and Fools include Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. With the summer in full swing, you’ll have nine chances to catch “Amelia Earhart.” This marvelous play recounts a still unsolved mystery that has captured the imaginations of old and young for 76 years. Amelia Earhart plays July 10 through July 20. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturdays, with

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Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Please note Amelia Earhart opens on a Thursday. “Who Gets The Lake Place,” written by John Mercer, has proved to be a top selling show. This will be the third time the Players have produced this musical comedy, back by popular demand. Reserve your tickets early. The show plays the Polson stage July 24 through August 10. Lake Place also opens on a Thursday, and will run Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Wrapping up The Summer Theatre season is the comedy “Almost, Maine.” Author John Cariani aims for the heart by way of the funny bone in an utterly endearing crowd-pleaser. Almost Maine plays Thursday, August 14 through August 31. Once again, an 8 p.m. curtain is slated for Wednesday through Saturday evenings, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. Call (406) 883-9212 for reservations and more information, or go to portpolsonplayers.com

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O F F - L E A S H H A V E N AT RIVER’S EDGE

Man’s best friend may make a great travel companion, but often it’s difficult to find space for restless dogs to run with wild abandon within a safe, fenced area. Polson’s Travis Dolphin Park, a free, offleash dog park provides more than two full acres and river access for fourlegged friends to play. The dog park is located at the west end of Seventh Avenue West. The idea for the park was conceived in June 2007 as an Eagle Scout project by John Crosby, a scout with Polson Troop 1947. He earned the support and backing of Polson Parks Superintendent Karen Sargeant and other community members who donated time and resources to bring the park to fruition. Polson Water and Sewer Department donated the land in memory of Travis

Dolphin, a well-loved employee whose life ended too early due to cancer. Before the dog park became the premier jewel it is today, volunteers joined scouts and worked tirelessly throughout 2007 and early 2008, lugging rusty metal car and tractor parts, rubber tires, even 40-gallon drums uphill for disposal or recycling. Bags of broken glass and miscellaneous trash were also removed. Crosby raised money through fundraising projects to pay for the fencing; By November 2007, the park was still a work in progress but open for dogs and their owners. Crosby earned his Eagle Scout status upon completion of the park, and thenGovernor Brian Schweitzer attended the grand opening in June 2008 with his own border collie pup. Since then, the dog park has served as

a springboard for additional Eagle Scout projects: a dock with steps built from recycled picnic shelter wood; an informational kiosk board for posting lost dog signs, sale notices and dog-related services; installation of a drinking fountain designed for dogs and their owners; and a graveled trail system that meets American Disabilities Act requirements for recreation trails, making the shoreline accessible to all. A list of doggie etiquette is posted near the entrance, and dog clean-up bags are also available on site. Dog park hours are the same as all Polson City Parks, 7 a.m. till dusk. Alcohol of any kind is not allowed in city parks without a permit. Permits may be obtained from Polson City Hall 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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The National Bison Range in Moiese is home to herds of elk, white tail and mule deer, antelope, big horn sheep and smaller mammals, such as badgers, fox, coyotes and cottontails, in addition to about 350 bison. Birds abound, too — everything from golden eagles to sage grouse to meadowlarks and mountain bluebirds. The Range is diverse with areas of plains, timbered mountainous areas, valleys and streams. Stop in the Visitors Center to view interesting exhibits, such as a stuffed bison, as well as lots of history on bison and the area. Staff are knowledgeable about animals in the range, directions, where visitors have sighted animals that day and can also steer people to displays in the center. Early mornings or in the evening is prime viewing time for many of the animals, although Pat Jamieson, NBR Outdoor Recreation Planner, said the bison aren’t concerned about the heat. In the summer, the NBR opens at 6:30 a.m. and the range is open until dark. Before Memorial Day, visitors should start through the Red Sleep Mountain Drive by 6 p.m. to finish the 19-mile trek by dark when the gates to the NBR

close. After Memorial Day, people should head through Red Sleep no later than 7 p.m. Visitors to the NBR must remain in their vehicles as they drive the well-maintained gravel and dirt roads. People need to stay in their cars except for a couple of short hiking trails on the Red Sleep Mountain Drive. Trailers and motorhomes can’t negotiate the Red Sleep Mountain Drive’s narrow winding road, but trailers can be dropped in the Visitor Center parking lot, Jamieson said. Bicycles and motorcycles aren’t allowed on the gravel roads. Pack a picnic lunch or dinner since there is a shady day-use site complete with running water, bathrooms, picnic tables and lots of trees. There is also a short nature walk around a pond area. It’s a pack-it-in, pack-it-out situation for trash so stick a couple of trash bags in the back of the vehicle. To drive to the Bison Range from Polson, head south on U.S. Highway 93 and turn right on Highway 212 toward Charlo and continue on about 12 miles to the entrance. Or stay on Hwy. 93 and turn right at the northern edge of Ravalli on U.S. Highway 200, then follow the signage.

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S I N G I N G by Berl Tiskus VALLEY JOURNAL

Mark your calendar for Aug. 15 and 16 when the 4th annual Flathead Lake Blues Festival rolls into town. Some good music is just what’s needed on a warm summer night by Flathead Lake. “It was a great show last year, but it’s not even in the same league as this year’s show. The talent we’ve got is spectacular,” said Steve Pickel, a Flathead Lake Blues Festival board member. On tap Friday, Aug. 15, are Johnny Long, Ben Rice and the iLLamatics, Bill Magee Blues Band and David Raitt and the Baja Boogie Band. The concert starts at 4 p.m. and goes until approximately 11:30 p.m. On Saturday, Aug. 16, the concert begins at 1 p.m. and runs to the midnight hour. Entertainers are MudSlide Charley, Polly O’Keary and The Rhythm Method, The Fat Tones, Lisa Mann and

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Her Really Good Band and The Randy Oxford Band. Advance ticket prices are $20 for Friday evening; at the gate tickets will be $25. For Saturday’s lengthy concert, advance seats cost $25 and $30 at the gate. For folks who want to attend both days, tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the gate. The concerts are held at Salish Point Park, and the seating is on the hillside, on a flat area in front of the stage, along a flat area atop the hill, on the fishing piers and even in Flathead Lake. The website, flatheadlakebluesfestival.com, advises concertgoers to bring lawn chairs or blankets, umbrellas, sunscreen, a swimsuit and towels, and float tubes. The core group of Pickel, Chris Ricciardi, Keryl Lozar and David Venters wanted to put on a music fest to bring music and culture to the area, since many people didn’t want to drive to Missoula or Kalispell for a concert. Although the group originally called the concerts

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Festivals of the Flathead, now the name has changed to Flathead Lake Blues Festival. A hard worker for the group, Darinda Huntley, does their web design and social media. She said Trent and Peggy Oelberg, the main force behind the Riverfront Blues Festival in Libby, took the group under their wing and mentored them. Lorne Riddel of the Big Sky Rhythm and Blues Festival in Trout Creek also gave the group some ideas. Last year the board was still scrambling for bands in June, so they adopted a different strategy for the 2014 show. They attended different blues shows and music events. “If we liked the band, we talked with them. We gave ‘em our cards,” Pickel said. “These bands were hand selected.” The group booked the bands in January. There are extremely good musicians in the group, according to Pickel and Huntley.

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Bill Magee played with Jimi Hendrix, for instance. Ben Rice and iLLamatics were semi-finalists at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn. The Randy Oxford Band was also at the IBC. All the bands are new acts with the exception of The Fat Tones who played Polson before and wanted to return. As well as culture and great music, the Flathead Lake Blues Festival contributes five percent of its ticket sales to the renovation of Salish Point, which will eventually lead to terracing the hill. Another five percent will go to the student band instrument fund, Huntley said. The FLB group would like to provide an instrument to a worthy band student each year. For more information call (406) 646-6816 or see the website www.flatheadlakebluesfestival.com “Rain or shine, we’ll be there,” Huntley said.

RAIN or SHINE “We’ll be there.” — Darinda Huntley

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COME AND EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE. Hours: Mon-Fri. 9-5:30 • Sat. 9-5 • Closed Sunday • (406) 745-7200 61307 Watson Rd. • St. Ignatius, MT ~ Turn East on Airport Rd. to Watson Rd. (Follow Signs) M O N T A N A

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Montana State Parks is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Several of the parks cluster around the perimeter of Flathead Lake. For campers or anglers, here’s a quick tour of the parks, starting at Polson and heading north on U.S. Highway 93 on the west side of the lake, and then following Highway 35 from Polson along the east shore of the lake. For reservations, go to www.montanastateparks.reserveamerica.com or call 1855-922-6768. For more information on the parks, go to stateparks.mt.gov. WEST SHORE PARKS Big Arm State Park “It’s hard to beat Big Arm State Park,” said Dave Landstrom, Region 1 State Park Manager with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Located 13 miles north of Polson on Hwy. 93, the park is shady and has amazing views of Flathead Lake. It’s a great place to watch sunsets or sunrises over the lake. Big Arm also features excellent swimming and a nature trail as well as a dock and a boat ramp. There’s also a walking trail paralleling the highway. To fish, a Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal fishing license is needed. 2 6

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Camp hosts live at the park, are available for questions, and keep the park tidy. Plus, they sell firewood and ice. The park has 40 campsites, a day use area, a picnic shelter, picnic areas, showers and flush toilets as well as pit toilets. Big Arm State Park also has three yurts that are popular with folks who want a unique experience in the park systems. Wild Horse Island State Park Picture horses swimming from the main land, eyes wide, noses raised and water sliding off slick black and sorrel backs. The horses are headed to Wild Horse Island guided by a couple of Salish or Kootenai warriors so the horses would be safe from Blackfeet raiding parties. They may have swam the horses from near where Big Arm State Park is situated, since it’s the most popular “jump-off point” for Wild Horse State Park for modern campers. Legend has it Wild Horse Island got its name from the herd of escaped horses the Salish and Kootenai tribes lost when they used the island to pasture their horses. Wild horses still live on the 2,000-acre primitive park — six at last count, since an ancient gelding on the island died from old age. One gelding and four mares were

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transplanted to the island from the Pryor Mountain herd in the spring of 2010 to join the old gelding, according to David Landstrom, Region One Parks Manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Then one of the mares unexpectedly gave birth to a paint filly, who’s now a four-year old mare. Besides horses, the island is home to mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, marmots, squirrels and many birds, including golden eagles and ospreys — 100 types of birds and mammals in all. “Visitors are really almost guaranteed to have some good wildlife viewing,” Landstrom said. Wild Horse Island is one of the first places where wildflowers bloom, so in May and early June there are lots of balsamroot and bitterroot blooming. Termed a Palouse prairie, which means the island produces lots of native bunchgrasses, Wild Horse provides excellent habitat for bighorn sheep. With enough feed all year round and minimal predation, the herd thrives — so much so that the FWP has thinned the herd by transplanting big horn sheep from Wild Horse to the Tendoy Mountains south of Dillon, Kootenai Falls Wildlife Management near Libby and the Berray

Mountain Wildlife Management area northwest of Noxon. In the fall during the rut, usually October and November, you can hear the bighorn rams “doing their head crashing,” Landstrom said. A weathered cabin and barn are all that remain of a short-lived homestead on the island. Herman Schnitzmeyer, a noted homestead-era photographer, homesteaded the island in 1910 and called his homestead Apollo Heights. Schnitzmeyer proved up on his homestead, which meant he needed to live on the land for five years, build a home and make improvements to his land. By 1912, Schnitzmeyer moved back to Polson and supported himself with his photography, according to the Hockaday Museum of the Arts website. Several private homes and lots remain along the shoreline. Visitors are asked to not encroach on their privacy. Based on survey estimates, Wild Horse Island hosted about 16,000 visitors during 2013, according to Landstrom. “We’re really fortunate with the visitors we get at Wild Horse Island,” Landstrom explained, since there is very little litter left by visitors. Sometimes visitors want to bring dogs or pets, but that is strictly prohibited because of the large wildlife population. Campfires are not allowed on the island due to fire suppression difficulties. Accessible only by boat, Wild Horse Island State Park is open year round for day use only. No camping, motorized vehicles or bicycles are allowed. Boats can be rented in Polson or Bigfork to make the trek to the island. If you have your own boat, public boat launches are available at Walstad Fishing Access, City of Polson docks, Big Arm State Park, Elmo EcoPark or other state parks around Flathead Lake. There are six public landing sites on the island, but no public dock. There is also a tremendous amount of shoreline owned by FWP where boaters may land. Once on the island, visitors can fish, swim, bird watch, picnic or hike the one-mile trail and enjoy the wildlife, wildflowers, forest and prairie landscapes. Trash is strictly pack it in/pack it out, but a restroom is available on the island. “Take advantage of Wild Horse Island,” Landstrom urged. “It’s world-class wildlife viewing, and it’s just a gem in this part of Montana.”

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Lake Mary Ronan State Park A shady, comfortable and peaceful park that’s been recently updated, Lake Mary Ronan State Park is an angler’s delight, according to its website. The only State Park not along Flathead Lake, Lake Mary Ronan has its own body of water just 7.4 miles west of Dayton. Fish in the lake include small mouth bass, kokanee salmon and yellow perch. There are also hiking trails, a beach, a dock, a boat launch, public restrooms, vault toilets, trash cans and trash removal, water and picnic tables. Sites have established fire pits and grills or fire rings, and camp hosts are in residence. The 120-acre park is accommodating for campers in recreational vehicles because the campsites have been leveled, paved and reconfigured so they are easy to pull into and pull out of, according Landstrom. Tent camping sites are available, and there’s a special campsite for a group campers. It’s shaped like a wheel, and six RVs can pull into the “spokes” of the site. The hub has a small picnic shelter and a fire ring. To reach Lake Mary Ronan, head north on U.S. Highway 93 until you reach Dayton. A sign will direct you to turn left to Lake Mary Ronan. West Shore State Park West Shore State Park is timbered with lots of shade, and one of Landstrom’s favorite parks. It offers great views of the Missions and the Swan Range, fishing, boating and camping — 31 campsites of which seven are tent only. RVs must be 40 feet or smaller to camp here. Camp hosts live in

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the park, and there is a dock, a boat launch, picnicking, electricity and water. Campsites have established fire pits and grill or fire rings. Trash cans are available, and there are vault toilets. EAST SHORE PARKS Highway 35 takes travelers through a winding 55 mph leisurely journey set on a narrow road cut out of the side of the Mission Mountains. Along the way are the three state parks of Flathead Lake’s eastern shore. Each park boasts its own individual recreation strong points. Finley Point State Park The southernmost and largest park along the eastern shore is Finely Point State Park, which is located 7 miles east of Polson. The 28-acre park has the most facilities of any park on the eastern shore, but requires a 4-mile drive into the secluded heart of cherry orchard country. Herds of deer dot the fields in the mornings and afternoons beside the roadway. Finley Point State Park is known for its varied camping opportunities on the eastern shore. Want to spend the night aboard a boat? The park has 16 slips for vessels up to 25 feet long, four of which can be used for overnight visits. Looking for a place with lakeside views to park an RV? There are 16 spaces for vehicles up to 16 feet long. All RV spaces and four boat spaces have 30-amp electricity and water hookups available. A pump out station for boats and RVs is on site. The disability-accessible park is a premiere spot for a weekend getaway that includes SEE PAGE 28

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C E L E B R A T E S T A T E The Montana State Parks are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. Commemorative events will be going on around the state in some of the 54 parks, according to Jennifer Lawson, Montana State Parks marketing and communications manager. Actor Sam Elliott, whose deep voice is synonymous with all things western, narrated the TV and radio ads for the MSP. Montana State Parks has a new guidebook. The authors will be in parks around the state talking about the books and a percent of the proceeds will go to the MSP. The books as well as other Montana State Parks apparel, mugs and accessories can be purchased online at stateparks.mt.gov and click on “Parks Store.” Philip Ahlberg, a Grammy nomi-

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nated composer and pianist, will play in three state parks in June. Also artist Monte Dollack was commissioned to do a painting of the Smith River, and that painting will be unveiled on Memorial Day in Helena. Subway is a corporate sponsor of MSP this year. Montana’s 92 Subway stores gave the MSP funds, which they matched, for a TV spot ad advising folks to pick up a Subway sandwich and head out to a park. Subway also sponsored a Facebook contest. Customers can go online and enter a buy one get one free contest for Subway sandwiches.They’ll also be entered in Facebook drawing for six $25 gift cards and Montana State Parks gear. Keep an eye out for announcements of special events near you.

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swimming, hiking, boating, fishing, and trying to catch sight of the eastern shore’s large wild turkey population. Yellow Bay State Park For those who enjoy roughing it in tents, Yellow Bay State Park, located halfway between Polson and Bigfork, might be a better option. The 15-acre site is owned by the University of Montana Flathead Biological Station, and managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The primitive camping haven has five tent sites available, but has one touch of civilization – flush toilets. Don’t plan on singing “Kumbaya” around the campfire, though. Only charcoal and camp stoves are allowed. Yellow Bay is the perfect place to fish or swim on the park’s beach or keep a keen eye out for birds ashore. Wayfarer’s State Park The northernmost park along the eastern shore is Wayfarers State Park, located just south of Bigfork. As the name suggests, the drive-in park is a perfect place to stop and snap photos of the lake, let cranky children unbuckle from their car seats and enjoy the playground, and chow down on a beachside picnic. The 69-acre facility also includes amenities to enjoy overnight stays. There are 30 campsites, six of which are designated for only tents. Flush toilets, showers and a dump station are on-site. VJ

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by Berl Tiskus VALLEY JOURNAL

Say “Montana” and most people nationally or even globally think Glacier National Park. So naturally Glacier National Park is a major draw to the area, with about two million visitors annually. People have flocked to the area since President William Howard Taft pro-

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claimed Glacier the nation’s 10th national park in 1910. A unique mix of mountains, lakes, the trail of the cedars, valleys, glaciers and waterfalls, Glacier is breathtaking. The Glacier Park website provides information — maps, webcams of sites, photos and hours of operation — at www.glacierparkinc.com or the visit Montana website at visitmt.com/nationM O N T A N A

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al_parks/glacier. But don’t just look through the photos and check out the webcams and think you’ve seen Glacier. There’s something about the pine-scented high country air, muddy hiking trails that make your muscles work, interesting rocks and lakes that just can’t be distilled onto a website. The rolling gait of a SEE PAGE 30 S U M M E R

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grizzly bear or a resting mountain goat on the side of Going-to-the-Sun Road can be photographed, but there’s just something about hearing the sheep’s delicate breathing and hoping you’re far enough away from the bear. Glacier is home to many species of wildlife from grizzly bears and moose to elk, wolves, deer, black bear, big horn sheep, mountain lions and coyotes to smaller mammals such as marmots, picas, badgers, porcupines, wolverines and lynx. Birds — 260 species from meadowlarks to bald and golden Eagles and harlequin ducks — also live in the park. One of Glacier’s highlights is Going-ToThe-Sun, a 50-mile engineering marvel that takes people through the wilderness to Logan Pass and down the other side to St. Mary. It carves its way along the edge of mountainsides and seems hardly large enough for two vehicles to meet. Vehicles with large mirrors should fold them in because sometimes the road is littered with mirror frames and pieces from those who didn’t. As of May 10, 16.5 miles of the GoingTo-the-Sun Road are open for vehicles — 15.5 miles from the west entrance to Avalance and 1 mile from the St. Mary Entrance to the foot of St. Mary Lake. According to the park’s website, the earliest Going-To-The-Sun could be open on the east side is June 20. The guess is around the same time on the west side, depending on the weather, said Denise Germann, management assistant at Glacier National Park. Glacier’s website has a plowing status page that shows where snowplows are on a daily basis. The last day for visitors to drive the entire length of Going-To-The-Sun is Sept. 21. Since it’s located on the border of Montana and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, Glacier National Park actually connects with Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park to form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Visiting Glacier is always special, but the summer of 2014 will feature some special events in Glacier Park. One is the 100th anniversary of Lake McDonald Lodge. Glacier National Park Conservancy and Glacier National Park Lodges will host a 3 0

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• Glacier National Park is always open; however, winter snow, weather and construction projects prompt seasonal closures of specific roads. Winter weather dictates when most visitor facilities open and close. Generally visitor services are open from late May to early September to welcome visitors but you can go to www.nps.gov/glac to find hours for specific visitor centers, services, ranger stations and current road conditions. • There are two ways to reach the western entrance of the park from the Mission Valley. To see the west side of Flathead Lake, take U.S. Highway 93 north to Kalispell. Once in Kalispell, Hwy. 93 intersects with U.S. Highway 2, which heads to West Glacier and the park’s western entrance. To go up the east shore of Flathead Lake, turn off Hwy. 93 at the south end of Polson onto Montana 35, which winds north from Polson along Flathead Lake’s eastern shore. Travelers can enjoy fantastic views of the lake as the road makes its way to Bigfork. Once past Bigfork,drive 11.4 miles and turn right on Montana 206, which goes to Columbia Falls. The road ends at U.S. Hwy 2, where a right turn will lead you to West Glacier, where Glacier National Park begins. • Entrance fees for 2014 will be waived on

birthday event on June 14 from 2 to 9 p.m. at Lake McDonald Lodge. The iconic Glacier National Park red buses will run from the transit center to Lake McDonald Lodge free of charge from 12:30 to 8 p.m. to ferry folks to and from the event and alleviate parking snafus. Historic walking tours, a ribbon cutting in the afternoon, and an evening ranger program delving into the history of the

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Aug. 25, National Park Service Birthday; Sept. 27, Public Lands Day; and Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day. • Fees to enter the park from May 1 to Oct. 31 are $12 per day for one person for seven days; a per-vehicle, non-transferable seven-day pass is $25. An annual Glacier Park National Park annual pass is $35 for one year. • Construction began on a 9-mile section between Siyeh Bend and Rising Sun on the east side of Logan Pass and will continue this year. Short travel delays are expected. • Guided park tours are available from park concessioners via boat, bus, foot and horse. For details, visit www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm. Apgar Visitor Center May 17 – June 13 June 14 – September 1 September 2- October 5 October 6 – Spring 2015- (Sat./Sun. only)

9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Logan Pass Visitor Center As snow and road conditions allow September 1 September 2 – September 21

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

St. Mary Visitor Center May 24 – June 28 June 29 – August 16 August 17 – October 5

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

lodge will be available, according to Lauren Alley, director of marketing and communication for the Glacier National Park Conservancy. Also the Sperry and Granite Park Chalets turn 100 this year, and the park will celebrate on Aug. 20. So no matter why you are in the area, visit Glacier.

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The large orange sign sitting alongside Highway 93 just before the rest stop south of Ronan bears a simple message: all watercraft must stop. Ignoring the heed is tempting, but is also illegal and could undermine the multi-layered extreme measures organizations have put in place in recent years to prevent aquatic invasive species from wreaking havoc on the ecosystem and economy of the Flathead Basin. Last year inspectors at the Ronan aquatic invasive species inspection site intercepted 5,594 watercraft, but there were some that tried to sneak past— not out of malice, but of ignorance. “People think: ‘It’s a kayak. That’s not a watercraft,’”

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for enthusiastic lake-goers, but Montana Fish, Wildlife and it’s a small price to be paid to Parks Captain Lee Anderson make sure the crystal blue said of the 40 warnings handed waters and out last year world class to people A N Y T H I N G T H A T fishery who blew F L O A T S – B OAT S , aren’t past the K AYA K S , C A N O E S , harmed by check staPA DD L E B OA R D S , disruptions tion. Only I N F L ATA B L E S , in the one person E T C . , N E E D T O ecosystem. was cited The quick after they S T E P O N T H E scan is admitted that B R A K E S A N D P U L L done by they knew it O V E R OR RU N trained indiwas illegal. T H E R I S K OF A viduals who Anderson C I TAT I O N . can spot clarified the tiny plants situation for or animals that could lead to an all water-bound travelers: anyinfestation. For locals who travthing that floats – boats, el only to Flathead Lake without kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, visiting another water body, a inflatables, etc., need to step sticker certifying inspection is on the brakes and pull over or available to further expedite the run the risk of a citation. process. The five-minute stop might Governor Steve Bullock visited seem like an inconvenient delay the Ronan checkpoint in August 2013 and praised the state for paying the approximate $52,000 per year required to man a single station. The state plans for 19 stations to be open this summer. “Montanans really can be proud that their government is working on their behalf to fight these invasive species,” Bullock said during his visit. Among the species that inspectors are checking for are zebra mussels. The mussels filter large amounts of nutrients from the water – something that could disrupt the food web and spell disaster for species in Flathead Lake that have worked to carve out a niche in an already low-nutrient body of water. The mussels also form a secreted layer of shells on everything that comes within its path. This can completely block pipes and cause financial devastation. In last year’s visit Bullock made it clear that the projected $80

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S P E C I E S million price tag for a theoretical infestation of zebra mussels was too much for the state coffers to handle. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks aquatic invasive species coordinator Allison Bagley said that the inspection measures have worked so far. Montana is not one of the 29 states battling zebra mussels, or the larger but similar quagga mussels. There have been close calls, however. In 2011 a boat carrying zebra mussels was intercepted just before it launched in Flathead Lake from a ramp near Dayton. There were 13 vessels carrying zebra or quagga mussels that were caught at inspection points in Montana last year. Invasive species of plants also remain a concern. Last year 37 boats carrying Eurasian watermilfoil were intercepted at checkpoints, with 23 of those intercepted at the Thompson Falls checkpoint. Eurasian watermilfoil can crowd out native species and is already found in Flathead Lake and the greater Flathead Basin. “Be sure that the plug on your boat is pulled between water bodies,” Schroeer said. “Don’t’ be carrying any water in live wells or in bucket or in any other container in your boat. Standing water can carry microscopic larvae of invasive species. It can carry viruses that cause fish diseases and fragments of plants that can start new populations. I think a lot of people don’t understand the danger of moving even a small amount of standing water.” If invasive mussel species are found, boaters can face hours or days of delays. The best way to prevent delays is to thoroughly clean boats immediately after they are removed from the water, so problems don’t arise later.

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OLD WEST by Berl Tiskus VALLEY JOURNAL

It’s boots and chaps It’s cowboy hats It’s spurs and latigo It’s the ropes and the reins And the joy and the pain and they call the thing rodeo

Just attend one and you’ll understand the magic — rodeos are a glimpse through the shattered silk of time. Not much has changed in the past 100 years or so, except the model of pickup trucks and the style of hats. Even if you’ve lived in Montana for 50 years and gone to 100 rodeos, or if you are traveling through from another state, there’s something tempting about a rodeo. Garth Brooks sang about the age-old tradition in a song written by Larry Bastain called “Rodeo.”

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Maybe it’s the smell of grilling rodeo burgers, the rhythmic thud-thud of horse’s hooves on powdery fairgrounds dust or the glittery sparkle of rodeo queens carrying flags and leading the grand entries. For rookie rodeo goes, all rodeo events evolved from the ranching culture. To accustom horses to being ridden, bronc riding was a necessity since all ranch work was done a horseback. Barrel racing demonstrates a horse’s speed and agility, SEE PAGE 34

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and the athletic ability of both cowgirl and equine. Cattle needed to be doctored, so skillful calf roping and team roping competitions grew out of the neccessity to capture a quick calf. Bull riding came from the fearless, devilmay-care attitude of cowboys. Stock, either a bull, bronc, calf or steer, is drawn for each contestant. Cowboys talk to other cowboys to get information about the animal they’ve drawn. Saddle bronc riding is the classic event of the rodeo. In the bucking chutes, the contestant fits his own bronc rein and bronc saddle onto the horse he’s drawn. A bronc saddle is usually a saddle with no saddle horn. Then the bronc rider lowers himself onto the horse, adjusts his bronc rein and positions the heels of his feet over the points of the horse’s shoulders. A cowboy’s feet have to be in this position when the horse exits the chute. This is called “marking a horse out.” The rider gets a zero, or a “goose egg,” if he fails to mark the horse out. Then the cowboy’s job is to hold the bronc rein in one hand and get into a rhythm with the horse, spurring from the 3 4

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horse’s shoulders to its flanks, and ride for 8 seconds. If the cowboy touches himself or the horse with his free hand, changes hands with his rein or loses his stirrups, he is not scored. For a qualified ride, two cowboy judges in the arena each score the cowboy and the horse from one to 25, for a total of 50 points for each judge. Then their scores are added together to come up with the rider’s score. The cowboy is scored on his spurring action, smoothness and synchronization with the horse. When the ride is over, a horn sounds, and pick-up men position their horses by the bucking horse. Ideally the bronc rider grips one pick-up man around the waist, hangs on and dismounts. Then one of the pick-up men grabs the bronc rein, dallies it around his saddle horn, removes the flank strap and both guide the bronc out of the arena to the unsaddling chute. Bareback riding, as the title suggests, doesn’t involve a saddle. A rigging, with a suitcase-like handle, fits on the horse’s withers and is cinched onto the horse. The rider slips his gloved hand into the handle. He also needs to exit the chute with his feet above the points

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of the horse’s shoulder and to avoid touching the horse or himself to receive a score. As the horse bucks, the cowboy pulls his knees up, spurring up the horse’s shoulders. When the bronc hits the ground, the rider straightens his legs, preparing to spur up with the next jump. “Bareback riding has been compared to riding a jackhammer with one hand,” the PRCA website said. The other rough stock event is bullriding. A flat braided rope with a loop in one end is wrapped around a bull, right behind his front legs. Then the other end, called the tail, is pushed through the loop and tightened around the bull. On the bull’s back, the cowboy wraps the tail around his hand to secure his grip. And then Katie bar the door, the cowboy nods his head, the chute opens and the bull explodes into the arena. The cowboy’s job is to stay on for 8 seconds. The timed-events in a rodeo are tiedown roping, also called calf roping; barrel racing; steer wrestling, also called bull dogging, and team roping. Barrel racing is the cowgirl’s event. Usually mounted on a quarter horse, the

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women of rodeo speed around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern. The best time wins, and a cowgirl can be disqualified for breaking the pattern by not completing the two left turns and one right turn, or two rights and one left. Knocking over a barrel adds 5 seconds to a barrel racer’s time. For tie down roping, the cowboy rides a fast horse and must rope his calf, dismount, run down the rope, flank the calf and tie three of the calf’s four legs with a piggin’ string, a short pliable piece of rope the cowboy carries in his teeth. If the calf is already down when the cowboy reaches it, the roper must allow the calf to get up before he throws him. Then the contestant remounts and allows the calf some slack in the rope. The calf must stay tied for 5 seconds. If the calf struggles and releases himself, the cowboy receives a no-time.

The roper must allow the calf a head start before he begins the chase, and this head start is guaranteed by a string stretched across the roping box. Called a “barrier,” the string is attached to the calf’s neck. When the calf breaks the string, the barrier is released and the horse can pursue the vealer. If a cowboy and his mount “break the barrier,” a 10-second time penalty is added to their time. In steer wrestling, or bull dogging, two mounted cowboys are involved. One does the “wrestling,” and the other is the hazer. When the dogger nods his head, a steer is released from the chute and the cowboys must wait until the barrier opens. Then the hazer keeps the steer close to the wrestler, who slips down off the left side of his running horse, gets his right arm around the steer’s right horn, his left arm around steer’s

left horns, gets his feet in front of him and then slips his left down around the steer’s nose and wrestles the steer to the ground. Team roping is the only team event in rodeo. Two mounted cowboys ride into the roping box, the header and the heeler. When the header nods his head, the steer is released from the chute and he gets his head start with the barrier. When the barrier opens, the header quickly ropes the steer’s head or horns, dallies up and leads the steer ahead so the heeler can rope the steer’s back feet or “heels.” Then the heeler must dally up, and the ropers must face each other with ropes tight to be scored. A broken barrier costs the team 10 seconds. If the heeler catches only one back foot, the team gets a 5-second penalty. The team with the shortest time wins. SEE PAGE 36

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Exposure to rodeo begins at an early age. Kiddie rodeos offer young children a bull riding introduction as they hang on for dear life to the wool of a runaway sheep, often ending up face-first in the ankle-deep arena dirt. The event is called “mutton bustin’.” Older youths ride miniature bulls and chute wrestle steers to the ground, or compete in breakaway roping, dummy roping or even a sheep dressing contest, placing bloomers on the sheep’s rear quarters. Youth rodeo events include goat tail tying and breakaway roping before they grow up and graduate to calves and steers. Pole bending events test the skill of the rider and the agility of the horse. Barrel racing begins at an early age, often as soon as the child can sit in a saddle. Another competition, not seen in most rodeos, pits a rider against a herd of cattle. The rider seperates, or “cuts,” an animal from the herd. It’s a useful skill for the rancher.

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R E S E A R C H E S , by Megan Strickland VALLEY JOURNAL

YELLOW BAY — The breathtaking cliffside views of Flathead Lake’s eastern shore veils a hidden gem that lies tucked away into a curvy bend of Highway 35. For more than 100 years the University of Montana’s Flathead Biological Station has been a hub of world-renowned research and a vigilant sentinel that uses its scientific capabilities to protect one of the state’s most treasured resources. “People love Flathead Lake,” said Tom Bansak, station research scientist/development coordinator. “It’s the crown jewel of the state.” Because University of Montana scientist Morton J. Elrod had the foresight to establish the biological station in 1899,

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more than 115 years of scientific data give meaningful insight into how the crown jewel has changed over time. Elrod, a visionary of his time, played a pivotal role in the establishment of a number of Montana public resources still in use today, including the National Bison Range, the state’s first weather station and the Montana Kaimin student newspaper. He was also the first park naturalist at Glacier National Park. Elrod’s writings from 1903 reveal how the biostation found its first home at Bigfork, before being moved to its present location at Yellow Bay in 1908. In those early days, science in the West was still in its infancy. No hi-tech equipment accompanied the researchers, who were greeted with primitive accommodations. “The site chosen is on the main road to M O N T A N A

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Kalispell, which is 18 miles distant by wagon road, and nearly double that by water,” Elrod wrote. “The steamboat running between Kalispell and the foot of the lake will stop to let off and take on passengers. The launch ‘Undine,’ the property of the Kalispell Club, is also moored here. It is a pleasure resort of considerable prominence. The hotel at Bigfork gives accommodations to those who do not wish to live in tents. The mouth of the river makes an excellent harbor for small boats, which is a very important item on so peculiar a body of water as Flathead Lake, where the waves may rise high in a few minutes.” He further described the station as having a small field laboratory at the banks of the Swan River. The main laboratory in SEE PAGE 38 S U M M E R

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Bigfork was described as “a wooden structure with suitable accommodations.” “There is table room for 12 students,” Elrod wrote. “The site is excellent for camping.” In the summers immediately following the biostation’s foundation, doors of discovery burst open. Scientists from New York and other knowledge hubs made the trek west to study at the station. In 1901, 19 students made the journey from Chicago to complete field work. Expeditions into the Mission Mountains and McDonald Lake were held, with particular focus on freshwater mollusks and insects. By 1903, 1,500 shells and 1,300 butterflies had been collected for study. It appears Elrod wanted to share at least some of the early collection with the outside world. “I will send five perfect specimens of the new shell Pyrimidula elrodi Pils. from Mission Mountains, Mont., for fifty cents, twelve for a dollar, so long as duplicates last,” Elrod wrote in an advertisement for the Delaware Museum of Natural History’s publication Nautilus, printed in 1900. “It is extremely distinct and one of the handsomest of the group.” The foundation laid in those early days gave rise to a scientific powerhouse. Today the Flathead Biological Station is one of the nation’s oldest and most renowned facilities for freshwater research, though it flies under the radar for most locals. “We’re actually known more outside of the Flathead for our work,” Bansak said. The modern biostation has laboratory facilities that are especially designed to study the unique chemistry of Flathead Lake. The lake has is a low-level nutrient system, with scant amounts of certain elements and compounds. However, small increases in those nutrient amounts can lead to large impacts on the ecology of the lake. In order to keep tabs on the trace amounts of nutrients, a special super-sensitive lab was designed to analyze data, according to Bansak. In another lab, high-powered microscopes are used to study species invisible to the naked eye. In the field data collection is done by stations buoyed to Flathead Lake. Most recently extensive data collection by research scientists and automated tools were used to collect 3 8

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information that will be fed into a highpowered computer model that will help researchers project what changing variables in the lake might bring. In the summer months the world-class facilities are flooded with students from across the United States for classes on freshwater ecology and other subjects. As the scholars conduct their studies they live in tiny single-bed cabins built in the 1950s that were recently refurbished. Cabin-row is accompanied by an old telephone booth that now has a hardwired landline sitting on a stand. Bansak encourages people to stop by and observe the station on a tour. “I tell Montanans that this is their biostation,” Bansak said. “It belongs to them.” Those who call in advance can inquire about a guided tour. Self-guided tours are also possible, so long as the visitors don’t interfere with the biostation’s activities. Visitors are asked to leave their dogs at home. Those hiking the trails of the biostation might see the university’s research vessel or other smaller boats used to collect specimens. There are also weather stations and web cameras nestled at the Yellow Bay campus and around the lake. The weather stations and web cameras are a hit among the public that can turn the camera 360 degrees in real-time from the comfort of home.

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Many people take advantage of the biostation’s weather page and web cams to look out over Flathead Lake to assess conditions. “It’s probably the most popular thing we have going on,” Bansak said. Station employees also man a fire substation that responds to emergencies on the east shore if necessary. Early this spring, huge data-collection buoys that are usually moored in the lake were seen on shore. The campus teems with evidence of scientific curiosity. Although the campus is known around the world, the station takes pride as having played a pivotal role in helping local governments and citizens understand changes in the lake that could have a tremendous impact. When algal blooms began popping up in Flathead Lake in the 1970s, the station was able to pinpoint phosphate as the exact nutrient that was leading to the cause of the problem. The nutrient was running off into the lake from wastewater. The biostation invented a water treatment system that would remove the phosphates, and were adopted by some treatments systems. Certain types of detergents that contain phosphates were banned by governments in the Flathead Basin to protect the watershed. The blooms ebbed after the actions were taken.

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This kind of science – the kind that can be applied to solve a pressing problem – is the type of applied research the biostation works to achieve. “To me, science in a file cabinet doesn’t do much for society,” Bansak said. “It’s the most valuable thing we do.” But decreased funding in the sciences have led to increased hardship in finding monies to support the center. State funding only pays for the bare bones facilities to keep the station open, the rest comes from “soft” grant and donation monies that are in constant threat of disappearing if more funding isn’t found. Most of the researchers at the facility work on a contract basis that says they can be terminated from their positions within 10 days of project funding being cut off. Although it might not be an ideal employment strategy, the scientists at the biostation are dedicated to their jobs and love what they do, Bansak said. In light of decreasing funding, a massive

project is underway to provide an endowment for the station’s long-running water quality monitoring project. Since the 1970s the station has assessed water quality in Flathead Lake. “It’s one of the best data sets in the world,” Bansak said. “It is vital for us to keep doing what we’ve been doing.” In some ways the project is a protecting sentinel for both the local economy and the ecosystem of the lake. The project can give insight into the ecological goings on beneath the surface, but also can sound the alarm for problems like algal blooms that could greatly impact the translucent clear blue waters. Studies have shown that people are less likely to visit lakes with lesser water quality, and because tourism makes up a huge portion of the local economy, knowing the status of Flathead Lake’s quality is important to local businesses. “If Flathead Lake gets dirty it’s less appealing and not as many people will come,” Bansak said.

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A $1 million donation was given to the station to start an endowment that would provide continued funding, but the generosity came with a catch – the biostation has to raise another $1 million by the end of 2014. The fundraising campaign’s slogan is “We need more green to keep Flathead Lake Blue.” By May, the station was just more than halfway to the goal. Those wishing to contribute while having fun can attend the Flathead Lake Research Cruise fundraiser that will take place on July 14 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. A free open house will also take place this summer on August 5 from 1-5 p.m. at the campus. A number of exhibits for both adult and younger science lovers will be held. Usually 300 people attend, according to Bansak. More information about the Flathead Lake Biological Station can be found by calling (406) 982-3301. The station is located at 32125 Bio Station Lane, Polson, MT 59860. VJ

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Climb the highest point you can find on the Mission Valley floor, and you’d still be under nearly a half-mile of water in the days of Glacial Lake Missoula, the largest known proglacial (ice-dammed) lake in history. From about 18,000 to 12,000 years ago, a lake big enough to cause a Noah’s Ark-scale flood covered much of Northwestern Montana. The lake formed as an arm of the Cordilleran ice sheet reached into the Idaho Panhandle and present-day Lake Pend Oreille, damming the Clark Fork River drainage. At its fullest, Glacial Lake Missoula held more than 500 cubic miles of water — today’s Lake Erie and Lake Ontario combined — and reached 4,250 feet above sea level. Geologists believe Lake Missoula drained with catastrophic flooding, but how many times severe flooding occurred is up for debate. As evidenced by sediment layers and old lakeshore lines visible on surrounding hills, the lake filled and drained at least 50 times and possibly more than 100, said Dr. Gordon Warrington, a member of the Glacial Lake Missoula chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute. According to the Institute, Glacial Lake Missoula drained about every 40 to 140 years as its waters pushed through the 2,000-foot-thick Clark Fork ice dam. If you’ve seen the popular children’s movie “Ice Age 2: The Meltdown,” you have some idea of what the dam bursting would have looked like, Warrington said. While it’s unlikely that a squirrel pulling an acorn out of the ice could cause the dam to fail, as purported in the movie, the dam probably burst in a matter of an hour or two, and the ensuing torrents

of glacial floodwaters would have been an incredible sight. Whether anyone was there to see it is another story, but some sacred tales of the Kootenai Tribes imply that their ancestors may have witnessed some of the flooding, Warrington said, and “there could have been a mammoth around.” Without eyewitnesses, it’s hard to say what the lake itself would’ve looked like, but it was most likely not the vibrant bluish-green color depicted in artists’ renderings, geologist Norm Smyers said. As glaciers migrated, the ice ground rocks into a fine white powder known as glacial flour, which would have given the lake a milky appearance, perhaps with browner areas where streams and groundwater entered the lake. “It was very likely a milky white,” Smyers said. “It wasn’t clear … I’m not saying there weren’t periods when it looked (blue-green), but I doubt it.” In modern-day glacial lakes, glacial flour often turns the water turquoise, in part due to the refraction of sunlight. But Glacial Lake Missoula would have had so much rock flour suspended in its waters that light couldn’t penetrate, Smyers explained. A lack of sunlight, along with glacial temperatures, made the lake unfriendly to life, and no evidence has been found to suggest that anything lived in Glacial Lake Missoula, Smyers added. But the lake forever left its mark on the region, carving out gullies, transporting giant rocks encased in ice to new locations — even forming giant ripples of earth along the lake bottom. “What happened in a giant lake like this isn’t what happens in a static lake like

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Flathead (Lake),” Warrington said. The first geologist to note curious features in the Flathead Lake region was T.C. Chamberlin, head of the glacial division of the U.S. Geological Survey. In a report from 1885, he described “a series of parallel watermarks of the nature of exceptionally slight terraces sweeping around the sides of the valley and encircling the isolated hills within it, like giant musical staves.” “(Chamberlin) didn’t know what he was looking at, at that time,” Warrington said. A quarter of a century later, J.T. Pardee argued in a paper titled “The Glacial Lake Missoula” that a huge ice-dammed lake had once covered much of Northwestern Montana, but he offered no explanation as to where all the water had gone. J Harlen Bretz took up that charge in the 1920s as he studied the channeled scablands of Eastern Washington. He determined that a catastrophic flood must

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have formed the scablands: “The only genetic interpretation yet proposed which is inherently harmonious and which fits all known facts is that of a great flood of water abruptly issuing from the Spokane icesheet,” Bretz told colleagues at a meeting sponsored by the Geological Society of Washington D.C., in 1927. But his idea was rejected, partly because he didn’t know where the flood could have originated. In 1942, Pardee proposed that cataclysmic flooding had formed features such as giant ripple marks in Camas Prairie — these ripples had to have been caused by “unusually large and rapid currents,” he wrote. This evidence provided Bretz with a source for his giant flood, but it would be decades later before a Glacial Lake Missoula flood (or floods) was considered a sound explanation for the giant ripples in Montana and th 0e channeled scablands in Washington. Up until the 1960s, the idea of epic flooding in the Western United States wasn’t widely accepted; most scientists still bought into a theory that landscapes were formed gradually, Warrington explained. With a relatively short history of studying Glacial Lake Missoula, scientists still have a lot to learn about this fantastic tale of one of the world’s largest known floods. “The interesting thing about this story is that there’s a lot we don’t know,” said Ice Age Floods Institute member Larry Lambert. For more information on the Ice Age Floods and the Glacial Lake Missoula chapter of IAFI, visit www.iafi.org.

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Mental Health month). “Temple Grandin” will be shown in the library meeting room at 6:30 p.m. After the film there will be a discussion. The event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served. For more information, call (406) 883-8225.

TUESDAY, MAY 21 • RONAN — The Garden of the Rockies Museum, located at 400 Round Butte Road, will open for the season on Tuesday, May 27. The museum features the historic Round Butte Gym, the fire escape from the old Ronan School, Sloan’s Flat Stage Stop, a oneroom schoolhouse, an old log home with dovetailed construction, a tool shed and a farm machinery building. Hours for the museum are Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Call (406) 6765454 or (406) 546-4270 for more information. • POLSON — The North Lake County Public Library will host the final in a film/discussion on Tuesday, May 27, (May is National

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FRIDAY, MAY 30 • POLSON — Sandpiper Gallery will host a reception for the “Under the Big Sky Exhibition” on Friday, May 30, from 5-7 p.m. This will be a Montana-themed show highlighting pottery, landscape and wildlife photography and woodcut prints. • HOT SPRINGS — John Kelley will perform the Blues at the Symes Hotel from 8-10 p.m. Call

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(406) 741-2361 for more information.

SATURDAY, MAY 31 • NINEPIPE — Kids Fishing Day at the Ninepipe Pond takes place on Saturday, May 31, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Three age groups are included: 6 years and younger; 7 to 9 years; and 10 to 13 years. There will be door prizes, drawings and a fish identification test. There will be limited fishing poles, tackle and bait provided for kids who do not have fishing equipment. The pond will be stocked with Rainbow Trout. For more information, contact Jason McDonald at (406) 381-7574; Josh Gallant at (406) 381-6041 or visit: www.facebook.com/kidsfishingdaymt.

• HOT SPRINGS — Alan Lane and Frank Chiaverini will play rock music at the Symes Hotel from 8-10 p.m. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information.

TUESDAY, JUNE 3 • RONAN — The Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen will meet on Tuesday, June 3. There will be no meetings in July with meetings resuming on Aug. 5. The horsemen meet at the Ronan VFW. For more information, call (406) 8835876.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5 • HOT SPRINGS — Soul City Cowboys (Country Rock) will play at the Symes Hotel from 8-10 p.m. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

MONDAY, JUNE 9

• HOT SPRINGS — Rob Quist, Tim Ryan and Halladay Quist (Montana Legend Country Singers) will play at the Symes Hotel from 8-10 p.m. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information. • ST. IGNATIUS — Pack up the family for a day of fun on June 7 and come to the second annual Progressive Horse Days event. Be ready to be taken back in time with horse-drawn equipment demonstrations, wagon rides, and a country-style lunch. Watch horses demonstrate how each piece of equipment works and what it does. You will see plowing, harrowing, discing, haying, and round pen training. Also come see some 6-up driving and harnessing. Don’t forget to bring any horse or horse-related items that you would like to sell during the auction. For more information or to see highlights from last year’s event, visit our website at: www.pioneercoaches.com or call us at (406) 745-6555.

• CHARLO — Free breakfast for children 18 years of age and younger will be served at 9 a.m. in the lobby of the Charlo gymnasium Monday –Thursday, June 926. • CHARLO — Football and basketball camps will take place at the Charlo School June 9-12 for third to eighth grade students. Call (406) 644-2206 for details. • RONAN — The Ronan Library District and D’Arcy McNickle Library will partner once again to offer a family summer reading program for 2014. This year’s theme is “Fizz, Boom, Read!” and will feature fun science-related activities. The family summer reading program is open to anyone of any age. Registration begins Monday, June 9. The program runs through Saturday, Aug. 9. Registered participants will receive reading logs to track time read and will receive incentive prizes and tickets to put in for the grand prize drawings. Story times and craft activities will be held at the D’Arcy McNickle Library on Wednesday mornings from 10:3011:30 a.m. and at the Ronan Library on Thursday mornings from 10:30-11:30 a.m. This year’s summer reading program will also feature a short story and poetry-writing contest for children. For more information, call the Ronan Library at (406) 6763682.

SUNDAY, JUNE 8 • RONAN —The Red Poppy, located at 1 Eisenhower Street, is opening to the public on Sunday, June 8, from 1-4 p.m. Katherine Skinner and friends from Missoula will play classical music at a reception featuring Olivia Olsen’s “Masked Emotions” assemblage. Call (406) 676-3010 or go to: www.theredpoppy.org for more information.

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• RONAN — From June 9-Aug. 15, all children 18 years of age and younger will be served breakfast and lunch at no cost to their families. Food will also be served at Pablo Elementary School from June 9-July 8. Meals will be served at the Ronan Middle School commons from 8:30 a.m.10:30 a.m. for breakfast and from 11:30 a.m.-12:55 p.m. for lunch. Ronan School District No. 30 is considered an “open site” and may feed at no cost any and all children who wish to participate. Children are not required to live in the district. All adults must pay cash for meals at the time of service at a rate of $4 for lunch and $2.50 for breakfast. • PABLO — Making Fitness Fun is a free program for children ages 7 and older. Activities run Monday to Thursday, June 9 to Aug. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Joe McDonald Fitness Center on Salish Kootenai College campus. Sign ups can be done at any time throughout the summer at the fitness center. Free supervision is provided for children while they participate in organized activities like swimming, hiking trips, kickball, football, baseball, basketball, dodge ball, Native games, volleyball, soccer, shinny, bike riding, nutritional education and more. Free transportation to Ronan and Polson Boys and Girls Clubs will be offered at noon. A free nutritional breakfast and lunch is also offered at the fitness center,

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Monday-Thursday with breakfast served from 8:30-10 a.m. and lunch served from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Meals are for any age child up to 18 years old. Making Fitness Fun is designed to keep kids active during the summer by involving them in fun activities that also improve their fitness levels. To sign up or for more information contact Paul Phillips at (406) 275-4917 or Mike Tryon at (406) 275-4916. • ST. IGNATIUS — St. Ignatius High School will offer a “Mission Forward Credit Recovery” program Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.12:30 p.m. from June 9-27. Courses will take place in the Mission Forward Academy room. St. Ignatius Schools’ regular summer school program will be held Monday-Thursday, June 9-26 from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room. St. Ignatius Schools’ summer food service program will be offered June 9 through July 24. Breakfast will be served from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and lunch will be served from noon-1 p.m. Call (406) 745-2800 for more information. • ARLEE — Jocko Valley Library’s 2014 summer reading program is titled: “Fizz, Boom, Read!” Young readers will participate in activities and read interesting books related to science themes. For more information, call the library at (406) 726-3572. SEE PAGE 44

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• HOT SPRINGS — The 65th annual Homesteader Days celebration will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 13, 14, and 15. This family fun weekend includes street games, live music on Main Street, a two-day rodeo, food and craft street vendors, a kiddie parade on Saturday, a grand parade on Sunday, art and craft shows, and much more. Join us the second weekend in June for this traditional event, which honors the original homesteaders in the Hot Springs area. For questions about being a vendor call (406) 741-2361, or visit: www.hotspringsmtchamber.org. • HOT SPRINGS — Andrea Harsell will play (Americana) music at the Symes Hotel on June 13 from 8–10 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 • POLSON — EAA chapter 1122 will be flying Young Eagles at the Polson airport on Saturday, June 14, from 9-11 a.m. for International Young Eagles Day. All children between the ages of 8 and 17, with their parents’ approval, can get a ride in an airplane free of charge. A breakfast of pancakes, ham and eggs will be available from 8 to 11 a.m. (Entire event is weather dependent.) The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered free of charge and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers. Breakfast proceeds will be used to pay for fuel costs incurred flying the Young Eagles. Membership in the EAA and the local chapter is open to all who are interested in aviation. For more information, call Bud Radtke at (406) 883-1245 or Mauri Morin at (406) 249-2250. • ST. IGNATIUS — Get your family and friends together and start collecting cans of food. Then come up with a unique sculpture you can construct on site with your -

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cans. Bring your cans to the Mission Valley United Methodist Church on June 14 by 9 a.m. to compete for prizes and have a lot of fun. Judging will take pace at 10:30 a.m. In the past, more than 1,000 cans of food have been collected and donated to the Ronan and St. Ignatius food pantries. Let’s see if we can top that this year. For more information, call (406) 6768571 or (406) 212-3853. • RONAN — The 4-H Fun Run and Walk is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. June 14 at Community Bank, Highway 93, Ronan, where the race starts and packet pick-up will be. Race fees are $20 for adults and $15 for children. Make checks payable to Lake County 4-H Council. Visit: ronan.net/doc/Fun_Run_Entry2014 .pdf to download a race application/shirt order form.

SUNDAY, JUNE 15 FATHER’S DAY • POLSON — The first cruise of the season aboard KwaTaqNuk’s 65-foot lake boat, the Shadow, will be Sunday, June 15. Ninety minute cruises on beautiful Flathead Lake leave at 4 and 7 p.m. daily from the KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino in Polson. For more information or reservations, call (406) 883-3636.

MONDAY, JUNE 16 • POLSON — The summer food service program will be held at Cherry Valley Elementary School, 107 Eighth Ave. W. from June 16Aug. 8. This program provides free breakfast and lunch for all children ages 18 and younger, and will be served Monday through Friday. Breakfast will be served from 7:30-9 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m.-1:15 p.m. For further information, call (406) 8836355 ext. 604. • CHARLO — A basketball camp will be held in Charlo from June 16-19 for third to eighth grade students. Call (406) 644-2206 for details. • POLSON — Registration for North Lake County Library’s summer reading program begins on

Monday, June 16, during regular summer hours, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Any person, any age, who reads or is read to may participate. • RONAN and POLSON — Summer programs for the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation begin June 16 and end Aug. 22. Summer hours run from 12 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. This summer there will be several field trips to the lake, different museums and also many local businesses and farms. The Flathead Reservation Extension Office’s Master Gardeners will also teach members how to garden. The Boys and Girls Club provides activity-based learning, a variety of specific interest clubs, and many other activities. The club will partner with Mission Valley Aquatics to provide swimming lessons to interested club members. Thanks to financial assistance from the Greater Polson Community Foundation, swimming lessons are available free to Boys and Girls Club members. Club membership is $50 for the entire year. For more information, call either the Polson or Ronan unit at (406) 883-0521 or (406) 676-5437.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19 • POLSON — North Lake County Public Library family summer reading program weekly activities are on Thursday at 10 a.m. for schoolage children accompanied by an adult. There will be a “Kewl Science” physics demonstration with special guest Jim Semmelroth. • KALISPELL — For One Another Family Camp is a fun summer camp held each year for families who have a member diagnosed with cancer. The first place the effects of cancer spreads to is the family. Many times families are pulled apart by a cancer diagnosis. Our family camp activities are intended to provide a place of fun, support, and sense of community for the whole family. Families who have members with cancer are welcome to attend. This camp is

J offered free of charge. This year’s camp is June 19-22 at Flathead Lutheran Camp near Kalispell. The camp is a gathering of people who celebrate life, cherish family time, discover new strategies and hope, appreciate good company, and need to kick back and relax. A sampling of the fun, high adventure, family-based activities include: fishing, swimming, canoeing and kayaking, daily explorations, quality family time and campfires. A variety of support seminars are also offered for caregivers and survivors. For more information, call Sarah at (406) 582-1600 or email her at sarah@cancersupportmontana.org or download the registration packet at cancersupportmontana.org. • RONAN — Story times will be on Thursdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Ronan City Library. Bat Honey will present an exciting and special puppet show during story time. • POLSON — Support Polson Late Afternoon Social Hour (SPLASH) will be held Thursday, June 19, from 5-7 p.m. Your host will be Polson RV Resort and KOA. Each month a different Polson business hosts an afternoon social hour. Residents and business operators come together to support each other and socialize with light appetizers and beverages. These get-togethers are free, fun and open to the public. Call the Polson Chamber of Commerce if you have any questions at (406) 883-5969.

FRIDAY, JUNE 20 • POLSON — Mark your calendar for Friday, June 20, for the “Summer Kick-Off Party Cruise” for two hours on the Shadow. The boat leaves from the dock at the KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino at 9 p.m. For more information, call (406) 883-3636.

SATURDAY, JUNE 21 • BIG ARM — On Saturday, June 21, The Big Arm Association will host the Fire Department Hamburger Fry at the Big Arm Fire Department. Children’s games will be held at the Big Arm Historic S E E

School. All are welcome to attend. • DAYTON — An ice cream social will be held at Mission Mountain Winery. All summer gourmets are encouraged to attend this free event on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This is part of the winery’s continuing program to educate the community about the pleasurable synergies created by the pairing of food and wine. Mission Mountain Winery is located on Highway 93 in Dayton on the west shore of beautiful Flathead Lake. For more information, call (406) 849-5524.

MONDAY, JUNE 23 • CHARLO — Charlo Art Camp will be held for first to 12th grade students at the Charlo School from June 23-26. For more information, call (406) 644-2206.

THURSDAY, JUNE 26 • POLSON — North Lake County Public Library Family Summer Reading Program weekly activities are on Thursday at 10 a.m. for school-age children accompanied by an adult. This is “Outdoor Game Day” at Sacajawea Park.

FRIDAY, JUNE 27 • HOT SPRINGS — Soul City Cowboys (Country Rock) will play at the Symes Hotel from 8-10 p.m. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information. • POLSON — Mission Mountain NRA Rodeo will be held on Friday and Saturday, June 27 and 28 at the Polson Fairgrounds at 8 p.m. As a treat to vendors (no food vendors), there will be no vendor fee for participating and setting up at the vendor fair. The vendor fair will take place on rodeo grounds before and during the rodeo. Rodeo youth events include: mutton bustin’ and mini bull riding. Food and beverages will be available. Live music after the rodeo on Friday night will feature the band Dark Horse. This event is a twonight, action-packed pro rodeo in a beautiful setting at the Polson Fairgrounds arena. Polson Fairgrounds are located across the bridge on Highway 93 north and

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bordered by the Flathead River with spectacular views of the Mission Mountains and Flathead Lake. For more information, contact Una Rose Graham at (406) 883-1100 or the Polson Chamber of Commerce at (406) 883-5969.

SATURDAY, JUNE 28 • HOT SPRINGS — Without Annette (Americana) will play at the Symes Hotel from 8-10 p.m. Call (406) 741-2361, for more information. • ST. IGNATIUS — Join the St. Ignatius Volunteer Fire Department’s 20th annual Firemen’s Picnic on June 28 at the old town field (across from Cenex). Dinner is served from 2-4 p.m. Single tickets are $7 and children under 10 are free. Dinner includes barbecue beef, pork, turkey, salad, rolls, baked beans, ice cream, pop and popcorn. Purchase of a ticket automatically enters you into a drawing for a tablet. An auction will take place at 5 p.m. To donate auction items, please call (406) 745-4190 or (406) 745-4266. Raffle tickets will be for: a hunting rifle with a scope, a 15 cu. ft. freezer with half a beef and a whole hog cut and wrapped, and other items. Raffle ticket drawings will be held at 6 p.m. Games for kids, University of Montana Grizzly players and cheerleaders, as well as the U of M’s dance team and Smokey Bear will also be on hand. • PABLO — An art market open to all vendors will take place at the People’s Center in Pablo on Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The fee is $25 or an item donated to help with the People’s Center fundraising. Call (406) 6750160 to register for the art market. • POLSON — The Mission Mountain NRA Rodeo continues on Saturday, June 28, at the Polson Fairgrounds at 8 p.m. Polson Fairgrounds are located across the bridge on Highway 93 north. For more information, contact Una Rose Graham at (406) 883-1100 or the Polson Chamber of Commerce at (406) 883-5969.

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• ARLEE — The 116th annual Arlee Celebration powwow continues with “Old Style Day.” Dances take place at 1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. and there will be an evening “ride parade” at 8 p.m. Visit: arleepowwow.com for more information. • POLSON — Mission Valley Aquatics Center is tentatively planning to host a one-year anniversary celebration on July 3. The event will be a combination ice-cream social and bowl painting party (similar to the bowls painted two years ago). Stop by and see the facility and sign-up for summer programs. Everyone is welcome. For more information, visit: mvaquatics.com. • ARLEE — The 2014 Arlee Celebration 3-on-3 games will be held at the Thomas Lyles Memorial Courts at the Arlee Powwow grounds. Registration deadline is June 25. For more information, visit: www.missionvalley3on3.com. • POLSON — North Lake County

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 2 • ARLEE — The 116th annual Arlee Celebration powwow begins Wednesday, July 2, and ends Sunday, July 6. All events are open to the public and free of charge. Arts, crafts, stick games, dance competitions, Native American and other ethnic foods will be available. Absolutely no alcohol, firearms, unleashed dogs or motorcycles are allowed in the camp area. The event takes place on powwow grounds on Powwow Road in Arlee. Wednesday is “Campers’ Day.” The memorial ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. There will also be a material stickgame on Wednesday. Visit: arleepowwow.com for more information. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Nation and Yamncut (drum groups) sponsor this event.

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Public Library Family Summer Reading Program weekly activities are on Thursday at 10 a.m. for school-age children accompanied by an adult. There will be an egg drop contest.

FRIDAY, JULY 4 INDEPENDENCE DAY • ARLEE — The 116th annual Arlee Celebration powwow continues with snake dance at 2 p.m. and competition grand entry at 7 p.m. The Arlee Celebration includes arts, crafts, stick games, dance competitions, Native American and other ethnic foods. The celebration is open to the public and admission is free. Visit: arleepowwow.com for more information. • POLSON — North Lake County Public Library will be closed Friday and Saturday, July 4 and 5. • POLSON —Port Polson Players will present “Fools,” a Neil Simon comedy, June 27-29 and July 4-6 at Polson’s beautiful theatre on the Lake. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays

and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $16 for adults and $15 for senior citizens and students. For reservations or for more information, call (406) 8839212. • POLSON — The sixth annual Firecracker Fun Run will be held on Thursday, July 4. The Polson 1 mile walk/run starts at 11:45 a.m. at St. Joseph Medical Center. Participants walk or run down Main Street in red, white and blue just prior to the 4th of July parade at noon. Cost is a nonperishable food item to be donated to Polson Loaves and Fish. For more details, visit: www.polsonrunning.com. • POLSON —The Polson 4th of July parade begins at noon. Contact the Polson Chamber for more information, (406) 8835969. • POLSON — The Mission Mountain Wood Band will perform a 4th of July concert in Polson. Visit www.polsonchamber.com for more information.

J • ARLEE — The Arlee Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the old Arlee Fire Hall. The cost is $5 for adults and $4 for children and is “all you can eat.” For more information, call (406) 210-4144. • ARLEE — The Arlee Open Rodeo will be held at the Arlee rodeo grounds. This popular rodeo features a mix of local and regional cowboys and cowgirls competing in traditional rodeo events. Call (406) 726-3762 for more information. • ARLEE — The Arlee Jocko Valley Museum, run by the Arlee Historical Society, opens for the summer July 4 and will be open every other Saturday from 2-4 p.m. or by appointment, until Labor Day. The museum has many historical displays including a copy of the 1855 Hellgate Treaty, Dawes Act (1887), The

Flathead Allotment Act (1904), and many photographs of Native and homesteading families. There are hundreds of obituaries with genealogy information. There is also a military display commemorating those who have given their lives for this country. The Arlee Museum is located at the corner of Bouch and Fyant (by the grade school). For more information or to arrange a viewing appointment, call (406) 726-3167.

SATURDAY, JULY 5 • ARLEE — The 116th annual Arlee Celebration powwow continues with the “Powwow Trail” run/walk at 9 a.m. Grand entry will be at 1 and 7 p.m. The Arlee Celebration includes arts, crafts, stick games, dance competitions, Native American and other ethnic foods. The celebration is open to the public and admission is free. Visit: arleepowwow.com for more information. S E E

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• HOT SPRINGS — Allen James Geague (Piano) will play at the Symes Hotel from 8-10 p.m. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information.

summer school program from July 7 to July 31. Call Charlo Schools at (406) 644-2206 for more information.

SUNDAY, JULY 6

• POLSON — North Lake County Public Library family summer reading program weekly activities are on Thursday at 10 a.m. for school-age children accompanied by an adult. “Volcanoes Part I” will include building with paper mache. • POLSON — The Port Polson Players will present “Amelia Earhart, an Unsolved Mystery,” July 10-20 at Polson’s beautiful theatre on the Lake. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $16 for adults and $15 for senior citizens and students. For reservations or more information, call (406) 883-9212.

THURSDAY, JULY 10 • ARLEE — The 116th annual Arlee Celebration ends on this day. Activities for Sunday, July 6, include an Indian Mass at 10 a.m. and grand entry at 2 p.m. The celebration is open to the public and admission is free. Visit: arleepowwow.com for more information.

MONDAY, JULY 7 • DIXON — A summer food service program will begin on July 7 and run until Aug. 1, Monday through Thursday, with breakfast served from 7:30-9 a.m. and lunch served from 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. in the Dixon School community room. • CHARLO — Charlo will run a

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July 12. All games will take place in the Bigfork High School parking lot. Visit: www.missionvalley3on3.com for details. • HOT SPRINGS — Scarlet Ribbons will play at 7 p.m. and John Patrick Williams (local singer, songwriter) will play at the Symes Hotel from 8-10 p.m. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information.

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FRIDAY, JULY 11 • POLSON — Sandpiper Gallery will host a reception on Friday, July 11, from 5-7 p.m. for “Eye Candy,” a multi-media show featuring paintings, ceramics, woodworking, sculptures and jewelry. • RONAN — The Lake County Relay for Life event will be held at the Ronan Sports Complex on July 11-12. It is an all night event that begins on Friday at 6 p.m. The event celebrates those who have won the battle against cancer, remembers those who have lost their battle and encourages everyone to fight back against the disease so that people cannot be hurt by cancer in the future. There are activities throughout the night, plenty of food, lots of laughs and many tears. It is truly an amazing experience that everyone is invited to participate in and help us toward one common goal...to find a cure for cancer. For more information, go to: www.relayforlife.org • HOT SPRINGS — “Kathy-Way cool music” (Eclectic Trio) will play at the Symes Hotel from 810 p.m. Call (406) 741-2361, for more information.

SUNDAY, JULY 13 • LAKE MARY RONAN — Kootenai Christian Senior Camp for students entering grades 10 to 12 will be held July 13-18. The camp offers swimming, boating, fishing, sports, plus Bible study, daily devotions and group worship times and will be held at Lake Mary Ronan. Registration forms and camp brochures can be picked up at First Christian Church in St. Ignatius. For more details call Dan Larsson at (406) 546-9015.

THURSDAY, JULY 17 • POLSON — North Lake County Public Library Family Summer Reading Program weekly activities are on Thursday at 10 a.m. for school-age children accompanied by an adult. “Volcanoes Part II” will include explosions and celebration. • POLSON — Support Polson Late Afternoon Social Hour (SPLASH) will be held Thursday, July 17, from 5-7 p.m. at the KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino. Each month a different Polson

SATURDAY, JULY 12 • BIGFORK — The 4th annual Bigfork Battle in the Bay basketball tournament will take place on

business hosts an afternoon social hour. Residents and business operators come together to support each other and socialize with light appetizers and beverages. These get-togethers are free, fun and open to the public. Call the Polson Chamber of Commerce if you have any questions at (406) 883-5969.

FRIDAY, JULY 18 • ST. IGNATIUS — The 32nd Good Old Days celebration will take place all day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 18, 19, and 20 at the St. Ignatius Good Old Days Park. Friday family night will start with a barbecue dinner, followed by entertainment and fireworks. Saturday will be the Buffalo Run, pancake breakfast, parade, fun and games in the park, lots of special events and food. • ELMO — The Kootenai Tribe, also known as the Ktunaxa Ksanka Band, welcome all nations and the general public to the Ksanka Standing Arrow Powwow the third weekend of July at the Elmo Powwow Grounds. This event takes place all day Friday, July 18 and continues all weekend. It is a Native American gathering featuring drumming, dancing and traditional dress.

SATURDAY, JULY 19 • ST. IGNATIUS — The 2014 Buffalo Run in St. Ignatius, is a one-mile fun run, 4-mile run-walk, 7-mile, and a half marathon. The

half marathon starts promptly at 7 a.m. All other races start at 8 a.m. Races start on Main Street in front of Gambles. Entry forms are available at: stlukehealthnet.org. • POLSON — Live History Days takes place at the Miracle of American Museum on July 19-20. There will be ice cream; rides on two trains; Army rigs; spinners and wood carvers; a sawmill in action; a jet trainer cockpit; a blacksmith shop; whirling flywheel engines; a tennis ball cannon; a one room schoolhouse and historic movies. The “Country Combo” of fiddlers, pickers, singers and accordions will play music on Saturday. We welcome new exhibitors and volunteers. Vendors must have a direct link to things historical i.e.: soap making, broom making, pottery, beading, etc. For more information, call (406) 883-6264. • POLSON —The annual Polson Main Street Flathead Cherry Festival will take place on Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and on Sunday, July 20, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be fun for the whole family. Enjoy over 125 vendors; Flathead cherries; homemade cherry pies; unique arts and crafts; entertainment, sales and more. The street dance on Saturday night will feature the Southern Comfort band. For more information, visit: vendors@flatheadcherryfestival.com and to inquire about vendor space call (406) 686-1155.

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brochures can be picked up at First Christian Church in St. Ignatius, or for more details call Dan Larsson at (406) 546-9015. • ST. IGNATIUS — In conjunction with Good Old Days in St Ignatius, the Lake County Chapter 1122 of the Experimental Aircraft Association will offer Young Eagles flights at St. Ignatius Airport on Sunday morning, July 20, starting at 9 a.m. All children between the ages of 817, with their parents’ approval, can get a ride in an airplane free of charge. (Entire event is weather dependent.)

• LAKE MARY RONAN — Kootenai Christian Intermediate Camp for students entering grades 7 to 9 will be held July 20-25. The camp offers swimming, boating, fishing, sports, plus Bible study, daily devotions and group worship times and will be held at Lake Mary Ronan. Registration forms and camp

• POLSON — North Lake County Public Library Family Summer Reading Program weekly activities are on Thursday at 10 a.m. for school-age children accompanied by an adult. There will be a puppet show entitled, “A Fizzbang Read” by special guest Sherry

• DAYTON — On Saturday, July 19, from 10-5, “Muscat Madness” will take place at Mission Mountain Winery. This will be a complementary tasting of Muscat wines. This is part of the winery’s continuing program to educate the community about the pleasurable synergies created by the pairing of food and wine. Mission Mountain Winery is located on Highway 93 in Dayton on the west shore of beautiful Flathead Lake. For more information, call (406) 849-5524.

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Johns. • POLSON — Port Polson Players will present “Who Gets The Lake Place,” a musical comedy, July 24-Aug. 10 at Polson’s beautiful theatre on the Lake. Curtain time is at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $16 for adults and $15 for senior citizens and students. For reservations or more information, call (406) 883-9212. • RONAN — Ronan Farmers Market will take place Thursdays until Sept. 12 on Main Street in front of Ronan Flower Mill. There will be fresh produce, baked goods and local artists with their works. For more information call (406) 676-5323 or (406) 6762326.

proceeds from the 300-plus team tournament are donated back to the community including $1,000 to chamber beautification. To enter and for other information, visit: www.flatheadlake3on3.com. Packet pick up is on Friday, July 25, from 5-9 p.m. at First Citizens Bank. Tournament games start at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27. Submit your slamdunk video for a chance at $1,000 in the Budweiser/Town Pump Slam Dunk Contest. For more information, call (406) 8835255. • HOT SPRINGS — Hot Springs Blues Festival takes place July 25 and 26. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information.

SATURDAY, JULY 26 FRIDAY, JULY 25 • POLSON — The 22nd annual Flathead Lake 3-on-3 tournament will take place in downtown Polson on July 25, 26 and 27. All

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and John Kelley. Call (406) 7412361, for more information.

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• HOT SPRINGS — Chautauaua will perform at the Towanda Gardens in Hot Springs. Call (406) 741-2361, for more information.

breakfast on Saturday, July 26, at the Big Arm Historical School. • POLSON — The MSU Scholarship Golf Scramble and Barbecue will be held Saturday, July 26. The 18-hole golf scramble starts at 12:30 p.m. with a $125 fee per golfer or $500 per team. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. for $25 per person, (no charge for registered golfers and spouses). Reservations are required. All proceeds to benefit Montana State University student athlete scholarships. For more information, call Shad at (406) 883-8803. • HOT SPRINGS — Hot Springs Blues Festival will include the following entertainers: Big Daddy and the Blue Notes; Mudslide Charley; Mike Bader; Bearjam;

MONDAY, JULY 28 • RONAN — The Lake County Fair begins on Monday, July 28 and ends Sunday, Aug. 3. There will be 4-H and open class fair exhibits, food booths and kids games and activities all week. Founded in 1938, this rural country fair is recognized as one of Montana’s finest and frequently has as many as 350 exhibitors each with several entries. Youth from all over the county exhibit livestock and projects with a 4-H emphasis. Open class entries of all kinds are encouraged from Lake County residents. Each day of the fair offers spectator interaction with livestock shows,

entertainment, youth activities and project judging. For complete information refer to the Lake County Fair Premium Book available in June at the Lake County Extension Office, (406) 676-4271, or from local businesses. The fairgrounds are located adjacent to Ronan High School west of Highway 93 at the north end of Ronan. • LAKE MARY RONAN — Kootenai Christian First Chance Camp for students entering grades 1 and 2 will be held July 28-30. The camp offers swimming, boating, fishing, sports, plus Bible study, daily devotions and group worship times. Registration forms and camp brochures can be picked up at First Christian Church in St. Ignatius, or for more details call Dan Larsson at (406) 546-9015. • LAKE MARY RONAN — Kootenai Christian Junior Camp for students entering grades 4 to 6 will be held July 28-Aug. 1. The camp offers swimming, boating,

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fishing, sports, plus Bible study, daily devotions and group worship times. Registration forms and camp brochures can be picked up at First Christian Church in St. Ignatius, or for more details, call Dan Larsson at (406) 546-9015.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30 • RONAN — The Lake County Fair will hold a concert with Jim Pettit and the Little Big Band from 5-8 p.m. at the main courtyard stage at the fairgrounds. This family-friendly event is free of charge.

THURSDAY, JULY 31 • POLSON — North Lake County Public Library family summer reading program weekly activities are on Thursday at 10 a.m. for school-age children accompanied by an adult. It’s movie day at the Polson Theatre, popcorn is on us and “Flubber” is on the big screen.

• RONAN — The Lake County Fair will hold a concert with “Mega Karma” from 5-7 p.m. at the main courtyard stage at the fairgrounds. This is a familyfriendly event and free of charge. In addition, a market livestock auction will take place at 7 p.m.

• RONAN — On Friday evening at the main courtyard at the fairgrounds, there will be a talent show entitled, “Lake County’s Got Talent.” There will be two divisions: 4-H and open class. The show takes place from 5-7 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 1

• RONAN — On Saturday, Aug. 2, the 19th annual Pioneer Days’ Mission Valley 3-on-3 basketball tournament will take place. For more information, visit: www.missionvalley3on3.com. • RONAN — The Ronan VFW, 35981 Round Butte Road, will serve breakfast from 7 a.m.-noon the first Saturday of every month. Prices are $7 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. Everyone is welcome. Profits help with VFW expenses and running the car show in Ronan. At 9 a.m. there will be a co-ed softball tournament and the Experimental Aircraft Association will be giving free airplane rides. • RONAN — At Ronan’s annual Pioneer Days there will be a car show on Aug. 2 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Community Bank’s parking lot. Call Amy at (406) 6763961, for information or to sign up. There will also be a quilt show at 10 a.m. at the K. W. Harvey Elementary gym. The City Slicker Rodeo takes place at noon with kid’s sheep riding, stick-horse races, kid’s sheep dressing, calf cash race, a chicken scramble, a pig scramble and a calf dressing.

SATURDAY, AUG. 2 • HOT SPRINGS — Harold IGA (Folk-Indie-Rock) will perform at the Symes Hotel. Call (406) 741-2361, for more information. • RONAN — Pioneer Days celebration begins in Ronan on Aug. 1. Pioneer Days will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday Aug. 1-3. Ronan Pioneer Days is a community event with fun for the whole family. There will be plenty of good old-fashioned entertainment. The Mission Mountain Classic Run, 3-on-3-basketball and volleyball tournaments are some of the athletic events. Three open rodeos with a wild cow race and a wild buffalo ride plus street dances Friday and Saturday night and a car show are also on tap. For the kids there will be a fishing derby and a kid’s rodeo with sheep riding. Don’t miss the big parade and kid’s parade. Events get underway Friday at 10 a.m. with the quilt show at K. W. Harvey Elementary Gym. The Bulls and Broncs Rodeo is at 7 p.m. and KD’s Valley Club street dance is at 9 p.m. For more information, call at (406) 675-0177.

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At 3 p.m. there will be a barbecue cook-off complete with judging. KD’s Valley Club will hold a street dance at 9 p.m. At 9:30 p.m. there will be a street dance outside the Pheasant and Second Chance Lounges on Main Street. • RONAN — EAA chapter 1122 will be flying Young Eagles at the Polson airport on Saturday, Aug. 2, starting at 9 a.m. The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people, ages 8-17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered free of charge and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers. So, kids, grab your parents (or parents grab your kids) and bring them to the Polson airport Saturday morning to learn more about airplanes and go flying. For more information, call Bud Radtke at (406) 8831245 or Mauri Morin at (406) 2492250. • RONAN — Judging for the Boys and Girls Club “Smoke Off” will be held at the Lake County Fair from 5-7 p.m. This is a meatsmoking contest and should be lots of fun. This family-friendly event is free of charge. • POLSON — Port Polson Players presents “Who Gets The Lake Place,” a musical comedy, July 24-Aug. 10 at Polson’s beautiful theatre on the Lake. Curtain time is at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets

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are $16 for adults and $15 for senior citizens and students. For reservations or more information, call (406) 883-9212. • BIG ARM — The Big Arm Association will continue their yard sale on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Big Arm Historical School. • RONAN — The Mission Mountain Classic 5/10K run, sponsored by the Flathead Reservation Boys and Girls Club, will be held on Aug. 2. Call the Ronan Club at (406) 676-5437 or the Polson club at (406) 8830521, for more information. • POLSON — Celebrate with the Mission Valley’s Aquatic Center at the 12th annual Polson Bay’s Water Daze Swim, on Saturday, Aug. 2, at Boettcher Park in Polson. This great family event has activities for everyone: a beautiful 1.3 mile open water swim race; free, fun swims for kids; a huge water slide; educational activities by the Flathead Lakers; and a delicious post-swim barbeque. The swim race registration form is available for download on: www.mvaquatics.org, or there is race-day registration at the park from 11 a.m.-noon, with racers taking off from the KwaTaqNuk docks at 1 p.m. • POLSON —The sixth annual Smokin’ On The Water Barbecue Cook-Off, sponsored by the Polson Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, is on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at SEE PAGE 52

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• RONAN — The Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The horsemen meet at the Ronan VFW. For more information, call (406) 8835876 • WEST SHORE FLATHEAD LAKE — The Flathead Lake Biological Station’s annual open house will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 1-5 p.m. The open house provides the public with an opportunity to learn more about the ecology of Flathead Lake and its watershed, as well as FLBS and its research around the globe. For more information, call Tom Bansak at (406) 982-3301 ext. 229.

the KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino. Trophies will be awarded in all categories. In conjunction with Smokin’ On The Water, beer from all the breweries around Flathead Lake will be available at the KwaTaqNuk’s Polson Beer Tour. • HOT SPRINGS — Pamela VanKirk (Contemporary Coffee Shop) will perform at the Symes Hotel. Call (406) 741-2361, for more information.

SUNDAY, AUG. 3 • RONAN — The Pioneer Days’ volleyball tournament takes place at Bockman Park in Ronan at 9 a.m. Parade registration also takes place at 9 a.m. The big parade starts at 12:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “The Grass is Greener…” Rodeo and wild buffalo riding events begin at 3 p.m. Family karaoke night starts at 6:30 p.m. at KD’s Valley Club. For more information, contact the 5 2

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THURSDAY, AUG 7 • POLSON – North Lake County Public Library family summer reading program’s weekly activities are on Thursday at 10 a.m. for school-age children accompanied by an adult. It’s the annual “Bug Race” on this date. The location is t.b.a. Call (406) 8838225 for details.

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• RONAN — This is the last day for Ronan Library summer reading program participants to turn in reading logs.

Broadcasting at (406) 883-5255. • HOT SPRINGS — Wind Before Wolf (Folk-Rock) will perform at the Symes Hotel. Call (406) 7412361, for more information.

FRIDAY, AUG. 8 • RONAN — The Rocky Mountain Breeders Association’s Ranch Horse Competition Series will take place at the Lake County Fairgrounds on Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9. This competition is designed to demonstrate a horse’s ability to perform various tasks that may be part of work on a ranch. For more information, contact Mike Lyons at (406) 6752965 or visit: www.montanarmba.org. • POLSON — Summerfest on Flathead Lake is a new and exciting three-day event that will include a car show; an arts and crafts festival; live music concerts, boat and water events, a poker walk/run, an ice cream social, a pie eating contest, cookoffs, a horseshoe competition, carnival activities, a quilt show, a fireworks show and so much more. Mark your calendars for Aug. 8, 9 and 10. For more information, call Anderson Radio

SATURDAY, AUG. 9 • DAYTON — On Saturday, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., enjoy “Vertical tasting of Reserve Merlots” a free event at Mission Mountain Winery. This event allows you to make a comparison of older and current release of Reserve Merlots. This is part of the winery’s continuing program to educate the community about the pleasurable synergies created by the pairing of food and wine. Mission Mountain Winery is located on Highway 93 in Dayton on the west shore of beautiful Flathead Lake. For more information, call (406) 849-5524. • RONAN — The Rocky Mountain Breeders Association will hold a “Round Pen Shoot Out” at the Lake County Fair Grounds on Aug. 8 and 9. In this event, three trainers will start colts provided by an outside party, usually an RMBA member, over the course of two evenings, followed by a SEE PAGE 54

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ice cream social, pie eating contest, cook-offs, horse shoe competition, carnival activities, quilt show, fireworks show and so much more. Mark your calendars for Aug. 8, 9 and 10. For more information call Anderson Radio Broadcasting at (406) 883-5255. • HOT SPRINGS — Swingaderos (Bluegrass) will perform at the Symes Hotel. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information.

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short trail course competition. Contact Mike Lyons at (406) 6752965, for more information or visit: www.montanarmba.org. • RONAN — The Ronan Library reading program’s grand prize drawings and picnic will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Bockman Park in Ronan. For more information please call (406) 676-3682. • POLSON —The 43rd annual Outdoor Art Festival takes place on the Lake County Courthouse lawn on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sandpiper Art Gallery is the sponsor of this event. There will be fine art originals in all media, jewelry, handmade furniture, birdhouses, handsewn items, stained glass, rose mauling, pottery, candles and sculptures and many other interesting and unique items. There will be varied musical entertainment and food concessions throughout the day. Call the gallery at (406) 883-5956 or visit their website at Sandpiperartgallery.com, for more information or for a participant application. • POLSON — Summerfest on Flathead Lake will be a new and exciting three day event including the car show, arts and crafts festival, live music concerts, boat and water events, poker walk/run,

SUNDAY, AUG. 10 • RONAN — The Rocky Mountain Breeders Association will hold a “Point Show” at the Lake County Fair Grounds on Aug. 10. Contact Mike Lyons at (406) 675-2965, for more information or visit: www.montanarmba.org • POLSON — Summerfest on Flathead Lake will be a new and exciting three day event including the car show, arts and crafts festival, live music concerts, boat and water events, poker walk/run, ice cream social, pie eating contest, cook-offs, horse shoe competition, carnival activities, quilt show, fireworks show and so much more. Mark your calendars for August 8, 9 and 10. For more information call Anderson Radio Broadcasting at (406) 883-5255.

THURSDAY, AUG. 14 • POLSON — Prize drawings for North Lake County Public Library’s 2014 Summer Reading Program take place at 10 a.m. • POLSON — Port Polson Players presents “Almost, Maine,” a

romantic comedy Aug. 14-31, at Polson’s beautiful theatre on the lake. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $16 for adults and $15 for senior citizens and students. For reservations or more information, call (406) 883-9212.

FRIDAY, AUG. 15 • POLSON — The fourth annual Flathead Lake Blues Festival will be held Friday, Aug. 15 and Saturday, Aug. 16 at Salish Point. For tickets or more information, visit www.flatheadlakebluesfestival.com or contact David Venters at (406) 885-2377. • HOT SPRINGS — Blue Music Dream will perform at the Symes Hotel. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information.

SATURDAY, AUG. 16 • POLSON —Wings For Wishes Over Montana is a radio controlled airplane fun fly event (R/C air show) designed to benefit The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Montana. Model aviation pilots from as far east as Mississippi, Georgia, and Illinois will be coming to our location on the corner of Minesinger and Farm Roads in Polson for this 2-day fun-filled fundraising event for such a great cause. Saturday begins at 9 a.m. and Sunday begins at 4 p.m. There is a landing fee for pilots in the amount of $25 for a weekend pass. A valid proof of AMA must be shown at registration. Checks

and cash only, no credit cards accepted. As always, spectators are free. Please have all dogs on leashes. All of the funds raised will go to Make-A-Wish Montana. Visit www.wingsforwishes.weebly.com for more details. • POLSON —The third annual Polson Triathlon will be held on Saturday, Aug. 16, beginning at 8:40 a.m. at Riverside Park. Standard entry fee until Aug. 1 is $75 online only and team fees are $150. Late entry (from Aug. 1 Aug. 12) fees are $95 online and teams are $195. No race registration after Tuesday, Aug. 12. Race capacity is 200 competitors (teams count as one). For more information, call (406) 883-9264 or visit: polsontriathlon.com. • HOT SPRINGS — John Patrick Williams (local singer-songwriter) will perform at the Symes Hotel. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information.

THURSDAY, AUG. 21 • POLSON — Support Polson Late Afternoon Social Hour (SPLASH) will be held Thursday, Aug. 21, from 5-7 p.m. Your host will be Miracle of America Museum. Each month a different Polson business hosts an afternoon social hour. Residents and business operators come together to support each other and socialize. These get-togethers are free, fun and open to the public. Call the Polson Chamber of Commerce if you have any questions at (406) 883-5969.

Mission Mountain

NRA Rodeo Friday & Saturday, June 27 & 28 Youth events begin at 6:30 p.m. Rodeo 7:30 p.m. both nights! Food & Beverage Concessions Available

Polson Fairgrounds Arena 883-1100

for more information - www.polsonfairgroundsinc.com

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A • POLSON —Indian National Finals Tour Rodeo, sponsored by the KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino and the CSKT Tribes, will be held Aug. 21-23 at the Polson Fairgrounds. Events begin each evening at 6:30 p.m. with live music after the rodeo each night. Food and beverage concessions will be available as well as vendor spaces. This rodeo was voted “Rodeo of the Year” for the past two years. Don’t miss it. For more information, contact Pete White or Sheila Matt at (406) 883-3636.

FRIDAY, AUG. 22 • POLSON — A reception will be held on Aug. 22, from 5-7 p.m. at the Sandpiper Gallery for five Sandpiper member artists who will show their hands with a “full house” of art mediums: oils, watercolor and ink, photography, watercolor, and mixed media. The full house art show is on exhibit at from Aug. 19-Sept. 26.

• HOT SPRINGS — Troy Ricciardi (Pop-Rock-Dance) will perform at the Symes Hotel. Call (406) 7412361 for more information.

SATURDAY, AUG. 23 • PABLO — The People’s Center Powwow will take place in Pablo at the center grounds. There will be traditional Native American dancing, drumming and singing. Vendors of beadwork, local art and food will be on hand. Everyone is welcome. No admission fee is charged. For more information, call the center at (406) 675-0160. • POLSON — This year’s annual Rotary Festival for Youth and Chili Cook-off will take place on Saturday, Aug. 23. Call the Polson Chamber of Commerce at (406) 883-5696, for more information. • HOT SPRINGS — Andrea Harsell (Americana) will perform at the Symes Hotel. Call (406) 741S E E

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2361 for more information. • DIXON — The Annual Dixon Melon Days celebration is typically held the third weekend in August when melons are at their peak for ripeness. The event is free to the public with fun for the entire family. Activities include a parade and a dance. There will be food booths, old time kids and adult games, lawn tractor races, live entertainment, “Farmer Olympics,” horseshoes, “the Little Buckaroo Rodeo” and the best melons in western Montana. A good time for all is guaranteed. For exact date, times and more details visit: www.facebook.com/DixonMelon Days

SUNDAY, AUG. 24 • CHARLO — Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will perform “As You Like It” Sunday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m., in Palmer Park on Highway 212, about 3 miles west of Highway 93. (If it rains,

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the play will move to the Charlo gym.) In a Montana twist, the comedy, “As You Like It,” will be set in Butte during the tumultuous years of the Copper Kings and the union conflicts. In its 42nd season, the company features 10 professional actors selected by national auditions. The actors bring quality live theatre to communities in primarily rural areas.

MONDAY, AUG. 25 • GLACIER PARK — Entrance fees to Glacier National Park, as well as other units of the National Park Service, will be waived on Monday, Aug. 25, in commemoration of the birthday of the National Park Service. For more information please call (406) 8838225. • PLAINS — The Sanders County Fair will be held at the Sanders County Fairgrounds Aug. 25 to Aug. 31, daily from 10 a.m. to SEE PAGE 56

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Appliances and a whole lot more!

Send it packed, shipped, insured right from our convenient Main Street office. Leanin’ Tree cards & gifts, Flathead Lake maps Featuring greeting cards and postcards, from the Mission Valley and Flathead Lake.

Kenmore • Kenmore Elite • Frigidaire

• Copies • Office Supplies • Printing • Signs • Banners

Jenn-Air • GE • LG • Kitchen Aid • Samsung

Gull Printing & Signs

Maytag • Bosch • Decor • Electrolux

Fax, Scan, Email & Notary Service

213 Main St. • Downtown Polson • 883-4345

Your locally owned Hometown store. M O N T A N A

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Polson, MT 214 First St. E. 406-571-2018

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8 p.m. There is a $5 fee for parking. Fairgrounds entrance is free. Event fees vary. Visit: www.sanderscountyfair.com for more information.

THURSDAY, AUG. 28

• PLAINS — The Sanders County Fair will be held at the Sanders County Fairgrounds Aug. 25 to Aug. 31, daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is a $5 fee for parking. Fairgrounds entrance is free. Event fees vary. Visit: www.sanderscountyfair.com for more information.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27

• PLAINS — The Sanders County

TUESDAY, AUG. 26

FRIDAY, AUG. 29

• PLAINS — The Sanders County

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Fair will be held at the Sanders County Fairgrounds Aug. 25 to Aug. 31, daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is a $5 fee for parking. Fairgrounds entrance is free. Event fees vary. Visit: www.sanderscountyfair.com for more information. • PLAINS — Sanders County Fair’s PRCA Rodeo begins at 8 p.m. • HOT SPRINGS — Muddy Bogwater (Americana) will perform at the Symes Hotel. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information.

SATURDAY, AUG. 30 • PLAINS — The Sanders County Fair will be held at the Sanders County Fairgrounds Aug. 25 to Aug. 31, daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is a $5 fee for parking. Fairgrounds entrance is free. Event fees vary. Visit: www.sanderscountyfair.com for

more information. • PLAINS — Sanders County Fair’s PRCA Rodeo begins at 8 p.m. • HOT SPRINGS — Ray and Rose will perform at the Symes Hotel. Call (406) 741-2361 for more information.

SUNDAY, AUG. 31 • PLAINS — The Sanders County Fair will be held at the Sanders County Fairgrounds Aug. 25 to Aug. 31, daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is a $5 fee for parking. Fairgrounds entrance is free. Event fees vary. Visit: www.sanderscountyfair.com for more information. • PLAINS — The Sanders County Fair Demolition Derby closes the arena activities each fair. This event is usually a sell out. The show starts at 7 p.m. and is produced by the Plains Lions Club.

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S MONDAY, SEPT. 1 LABOR DAY • POLSON — North Lake County Public Library will be closed on Labor Day, Sept. 1.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 2 • RONAN — The Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The horsemen meet at the Ronan VFW. For more information, call (406) 8835876.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 6 • DAYTON — While celebrating its 103rd anniversary, Dayton is traveling back to the 1920s for the costume party of the summer. This annual Dayton Daze

fundraiser for the Chief Cliff Volunteer Fire Department is the “bees’ knees” and takes place on Sept. 6 this year. Festivities include a parade at 3 p.m. (with prizes for best entries and best costumes), a barbecue, live music, and raffles. There will be no end to the fun. The entire community will get involved: the Dayton Church with its luncheon and bazaar; the Yacht Club with free sailboat rides; and the Mission Mountain Winery with free wine-tasting. Grab your feather boa (or your fedora); crank up the Model T and tottle on down (or up) to Dayton for an afternoon of wholesome entertainment with flappers, jellybeans and an S E E

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You like it, we’ll ship it. Custom Framing

assortment of little rascals. It’s good wholesome fun for a great cause. For more information, call Zoe at (406) 849-5917. • BIG ARM — Big Arm will hold their sixth annual barn dance featuring live music on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the historic Big Arm School. Food will be available for sale. Email jeffrey.foster@sbcglobal.net for more information. • POLSON — The Mission Valley Animal Shelter’s annual Doggy Dash will be held Saturday, Sept. 6, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the Linderman track in Polson. For more information call Jackie Smart at (406) 261-6793. • POLSON — Chapter 1122 of the Experimental Aircraft

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Association (EAA) will host the Polson Fly-In at the Polson Airport on Saturday, Sept. 6. Admission is free. The event includes static displays, float planes, antique aircraft, experimental airplanes. Young Eagles will be signed-up to fly on Oct. 11, weather permitting.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 • KALISPELL — The third annual Montana Dragon Boat Festival will be held on Sept. 13-14, at the Flathead Lake Lodge on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake. For more information about registration and the festival, visit: MontanaDragonBoat.com. SEE PAGE 58

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Friendly service. Fair prices. On-location rental cars.

crownest@centurytel.net ~ 1-888-533-8507 • 883-2488 214 Main Street • Polson, MT

Brendeon Schoening/Owner 53466 Hwy. 93 • Polson, MT • Office: (406) 883-3041 • Fax: (406) 883-3042 M O N T A N A

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• ARLEE — Save the date for the 10th Annual Festival of Peace and the 4th Annual Walk-A-Mile for Peace at the Garden of 1,000 Buddhas on Saturday, Sept 13, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. featuring Grammy nominee Tibetan flutist Nawang Kechog, considered to be the global ambassador of Tibetan music. People will come together to pray for peace and harmony. Food, clothing and art vendors will round out the festival atmosphere on the garden grounds. Call (406) 726-0555 or visit: www.ewambuddhagarden.org for more information. • POLSON — Painters, young and old: come join in the 12th annual World Wide Paint-Out in Polson, on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m. Join painters from all

BBQ Cook-off, Beer Tour, & Live Music on the shores of Flathead Lake. The Montana Dragon Boaters will be paddling in the Polson Bay all day! Join us at the KwaTaqNuk Resort

August 2nd 2014 from 11-6. www.polsonchamber.com 5 8

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over the world, all painting on the same day. There is no charge; just bring your painting gear down to Riverside Park, at the east end of the Polson Memorial Bridge. You may paint there or any location you choose. We meet back at the park at 4 p.m. for a group photo to be posted on the IPAP website. Your work will be shown and the public is invited to view and purchase paintings. The Sandpiper Gallery sponsors this event. • POLSON — Lake County High School Rodeo will be held at Polson Fairgrounds Sept. 13-14. Watch as girls and boys participate in a wide range of rodeo activities: barrels, saddle broncs, goat tying, and breakaway. There may also possibly be a sports shooting event. Concessions with homegrown Montana beef direct from our valley will also be available. For more information call (406) 644-2874 or (406) 6767600.

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 16 • PABLO – Native American Awareness Days at the People’s Center in Pablo will be held Sept. 16-18. Free and open to the public, the purpose of the event is to educate the community on lifestyles and history of the Salish, Kootenai and Pend d’ Oreille people. A few of the activities taking place include: Native arts, crafts, dancing and cooking demonstrations with fry-bread and dry meats available to eat. Call Marie at (406) 675-0160, for more information.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18 • POLSON — Support Polson Late Afternoon Social Hour will be held on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 5-7 p.m. Your host will be Polson Physical Therapy.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 20 • DAYTON — On Sept. 20, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., enjoy “Vertical Tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon,” a

free event at Mission Mountain Winery. You can compare older and current releases of Cabernet Sauvignon. This is part of the winery’s continuing program to educate the community about the pleasurable synergies created by the pairing of food and wine. Mission Mountain Winery is located on Highway 93 in Dayton on the west shore of beautiful Flathead Lake. For more information, call (406) 849-5524. • RONAN — Come to Ronan’s Harvest Festival to be held at Community Bank parking lot and Ronan City Park from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Call the Ronan Chamber at (406) 676-8300 for more information.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 • GLACIER PARK — To honor National Public Lands Day you can enjoy free admission to one of 402 National Parks across the country, including Glacier National Park.

• Shipping • Receiving • Personal Mailboxes • Notary • Letterhead

• Printing • Posters • Brochures • Color Press • Business Cards

Paper shredder available

Convenient, Quality Service Located just across the bridge 48901 Hwy 93 St. A Polson

883-6630 Open Mon-Fri 8-6 • Sat 9:30-2

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• POLSON — North Lake County Public Library will host Mother Goose Time, a half-hour program, at 10:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., for toddlers ages 1-3, and their caregivers. Mother Goose is here and always ready to do nursery rhymes and stories with her friends. The North Lake County Public Library is located at 2 First Ave., E. in Polson. For more information call (406) 883-8225. • POLSON — A cancer support group for cancer patients, cancer survivors and caregivers meets twice a month on the second and fourth Mondays at the United Methodist Church, 301 Sixteenth Ave. E from noon-1 p.m. Participants can bring lunch or join members at a restaurant following the meeting. For more information about the support group, call Tammy at (406) 8837284 or (406) 824-2868. If you need a ride and/or more information, please feel free to call Jon Denton at (406) 4992355. • ARLEE — An A.A. meeting is held every Monday night from 6-7 p.m. at the Hangin’ Art Gallery (enter through Morin Street entrance). If you or a loved one have a problem with alcohol or other substance abuse issues and want to stop, please join us. It’s free and confidential. Call (406) 552-5819 or come Monday evening, for more information.

• POLSON — The Marine Corps League meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Driftwood Family Restaurant in Polson. For more information, call John Miller at (406) 890-0964 or email: usmcfox21@gmail.com.

senior, sponsors a girl for participation to Girls State, volunteers once a month at Soup’s On, contributes to the food bank and sends care packages to the troops overseas. We also have a lot of fun. Come check us out.

THURSDAYS WEDNESDAYS • PABLO — Story times and crafts will be on Wednesdays from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the D’Arcy McNickle Library in Pablo at SKC College. • POLSON — The Montana Association of the Blind will meet the second Wednesday of each month at noon in the Polson Senior Citizens Center for lunch. A business meeting will follow lunch. People with low vision or blindness are invited to attend. • ARLEE — Jocko Valley Farmers Market runs every Wednesday from 4:30-7 p.m., at Hangin’ Art Gallery and Coffee House, located at 92555 Highway 93 in Arlee. Call (406) 726-5005 for more information. • POLSON — The Montecahto Club, located on the East Shore on Highway 35 at the 6-mile marker, is a women’s club. We are a social and service club that meets at 1 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. The Montecahto Club gives a scholarship yearly to a Polson High School graduating

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT Days we will be open are Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is our intention to operate on this schedule through October 9, 2014 (excluding holidays). Pay by phone: 1-877-779-7947 www.missionvalleypower.org Drive up window open 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. except Wed. 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 36079 Pablo West Rd. ~ Pablo, MT 59855 ~ 883-7900 After hours emergency call: 883-7972

• RONAN — Ronan City Library will hold story time and crafts at the library at 10:30 a.m. If you have any questions or want more information, feel free to call the Ronan Library at 676-3682. • PABLO — The Beading Circle takes place at the People’s Center in Pablo every Thursday from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Local bead workers come to together to work on their projects or to help new bead workers learn to bead. Everyone is welcome. • PABLO — Rez Hope Talk Circle holds their weekly talk circle every Thursday night from 6-7 p.m. at the Respite House in Pablo. • POLSON — North Lake County Public Library family summer reading program weekly activities are on Thursdays at 10 a.m., June 19-Aug. 14, for school-age children accompanied by an adult. • RONAN — Ronan Farmers Market will take place Thursdays until Sept. 12 on Main Street in front of Ronan Flower Mill. There will be fresh produce, baked goods and local artists with their

E V E N T S works. For more information call (406) 676-5323 or (406) 6762326.

FRIDAYS • POLSON — Polson Farmers Market, 11 Third Ave. W, takes place on Fridays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May to October. They are now accepting debit and credit cards. You can find everything from fresh, locally grown foods to a variety of homemade breads, pottery, handcrafted woodwork and jewelry. Please call (406) 675-0177 for more information. • POLSON — North Lake County Public Library will hold “Friday Flicks” with free G- or PG-rated movies showing from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. Free theater-style popcorn will be served. On alternate Fridays the Library presents “Game Day” for kids and adults of all ages and features various floor games, card games, and board games. The North Lake County Public Library is located at 2 First Avenue E. For more information call (406) 883-8225.

SATURDAYS • RONAN — The Ronan VFW, 35981 Round Butte Road, will serve breakfast from 7 a.m.-noon the first Saturday of every month. Prices are $7 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. Everyone is welcome. Profits help with VFW expenses and running the June car show in Ronan.

Loving & working in the Mission Valley since 1994. Janette Rosman 63506 Highway 93, Ronan 406-676-3443/261-6792

www.RonanMTRealEstate.com M O N T A N A

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Fun in the Sun on the Flathead. Don’t miss it!

Car show • Sandpiper Gallery Art Festival Bop-A-Dips Concert • Boating event Community member events

Friday and Saturday August 8-9 presented by Anderson Broadcasting. For more information visit: www.andersonbroadcasting.com

Be sure to join us

July 25-27 for the 22nd annual

Flathead Lake 3-on-3 Three point shooting contest presented by Universal Athletic Service/ $1000 Slam Dunk contest presented by Budweiser and Town Pump Saturday July 26th. Enter and find out more at www.flatheadlake3on3.com.

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PLACES TO GO AND

S I G H T S • MOIESE — The N a t i o n a l B i s o n R a n g e visitor center is open weekdays from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends and holidays. Red Sleep Mountain Drive is open daily at 6:30 a.m. Please begin the drive by 6 p.m. to finish before dark. • PABLO — The P e o p l e ’ s C e n t e r a n d M u s e u m in Pablo is open Monday-Saturday, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., during the months of June through September. The People’s Center Museum invites you to enrich your knowledge and understanding of the Salish, Pend d’ Oreille and Kootenai Tribes. Come share a part of our lives, our history and our culture. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, $10 for a family and $3 each for a group of 10 or more. The People’s Center is located at 53253 Highway 93 West in Pablo. Call (406) 8835344, for more information. • NINEPIPE — The N i n e p i p e s M u s e u m o f E a r l y M o n t a n a is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. MondaysSaturdays through November 1. Named after Chief Joseph Ninepipes, a sub-chief of the Bitterroot Salish, the museum is nestled under the protection of the Mission Mountain Range. It contains a wealth of photographs, artifacts and antiques representing more than a century of life on the Flathead Indian Reservation and early Montana and is one of

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the area’s finest treasures. The diorama room contains mounted animals and a depiction of a Native American camp. Our gift shop includes a nice selection of books, greeting cards, beads and craft items, jewelry, children’s toys and books, and much more. A nature trail allows visitors to enjoy the sounds and sights of being adjacent to the Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge. The Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana was established in 1997 to discover and memorialize the history and culture of the Flathead Reservation and early Montana. It is designed for the enrichment, education, and recreation of local residents and visitors. Admission is $5 for adults, $4.50 for seniors, $4 for students, $2.50 for children ages 612 years of age, and no cost for children younger than 6 years old when accompanied by an adult. The museum’s phone number is (406) 644-3435. Please visit the website for further information: www.ninepipesmuseum.org. • POLSON — The M i s s i o n V a l l e y A q u a t i c C e n t e r , 309 Ridgewater Drive, is an indoor swimming facility for the Mission Valley community. Our vision is to provide a state-of-the-art aquatic facility that enhances the health, fitness, safety, recreation and quality of life for all in the Mission Valley. The facility has: a 25-yard

competitive/fitness pool with eight lanes, a warm water therapy/instructional pool, a party room, locker rooms and a lobby. The pools accommodate a variety of programs such as: youth and adult competitive swimming, recreational swimming, swim lessons for all ages, water safety instruction, senior fitness, physical therapy/cardiac rehabilitation and family fun. Call (406) 8834567 or visit: www.mvaquatics.org, for more information. • POLSON – The M i r a c l e o f A m e r i c a M u s e u m in Polson, located just south of Polson on Memory Lane, hosts a variety of activities throughout the summer. For more information, call (406) 883-6804 or (406) 883-6264. • POLSON – Share in the Homestead Heritage of the Mission Valley and Flathead Lake area as it is preserved in the Polson Flathead Historical M u s e u m . The museum focuses on the pioneers and homesteaders who first inhabited the region. View real-life exhibits like the Trading Post to see what it was actually like to shop in the only store in the region in the 1880s. Among the treasures are stagecoaches and buggies that carried passengers to and from in the valley, an old time fire truck and a true-to-life kitchen from the “good old days.” Just drive down Polson’s Main Street, five blocks south of Highway 93. • POLSON – S a n d p i p e r A r t a n d G i f t G a l l e r y is a non-profit artists’

cooperative, whose mission is to support, promote and encourage the arts and art education in Lake County, Montana. An allvolunteer membership operates the gallery and gift shop. Sandpiper Art Festival in August, scholarships and educational workshops, exhibits, a library, and other resources are some valuable endeavors the Sandpiper Gallery undertakes. Members believe there is great value gained by everyone in the participation/encouragement of fine arts. The Sandpiper Gallery is located at 306 Main St. in Polson. Their phone number is (406) 883-5956. Hours are: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.—5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • POLSON — C i t y P a r k s (Note: Alcohol is not allowed in any Polson park without a permit, which must be obtained from Polson City Hall, 106 First St. E.) + Boettcher Park, adjacent to the Polson Bay Golf Club, offers picnic tables and shelters, swimming area, playground, restrooms and shower, concession stand, volleyball court and horseshoe pits. + Sacagawea Park, north of the bridge in Polson, provides large shaded grassy areas, swimming (area is not roped off), picnic tables, benches, restrooms and dogs are allowed on a leash. + Riverside Park is on Flathead River just south of the bridge. It includes a swimming area, boat

launch ramp, children’s playground, picnic tables, benches, volleyball court and restrooms. + Ducharme Park is on Highway 93 and Seventh St E. in Polson with shady trees and benches to enjoy the outstanding lake view + O’Malley Park is on the corner of 11th Ave. E. and Fourth St. E. in Polson and consists of an American Legion baseball field, Little League baseball field, concession stand, basketball court, swings, horseshoe pits, restrooms and picnic tables. + Pomajevich Park is on the corner of 12th Ave. E. and Third St. E. in Polson and offers a baseball field, children’s playground and restrooms. + Sports Complex (Kerr Dam Field) is on Seventh Ave. W. and Kerr Dam Road and includes soccer fields, two softball fields, basketball court, children’s playground, picnic tables, shelter and restrooms. + 7th Avenue Skatepark, located at 613 Seventh Ave. W. in Polson, next to Kerr Dam Fields, offers skaters of all levels and BMX bikers a great place to spend an afternoon. It boasts the first-ever helmet-shaped bowl. • PLAINS – A variety of camps and summer programs for youth begin at C a m p B i g h o r n , a nondenominational Christian adventure camp. Camp Bighorn is next to the beautiful Clark Fork River near Plains. More information is available at: campbighorn.org. • DAYTON — The D a y t o n / P r o c t o r P a r k , located in

Dayton, provides 10 picnic tables, a nice playground set, complete with a swing, bouncy rides and a slide, and lots of parking. Located just one block from the Dayton public swimming dock (no parking at dock), the park has beautiful trees donated by arborist Rick Jennison that were relocated with grants from the Greater Polson Community Foundation and Plum Creek. • ST. IGNATIUS — The S t . I g n a t i u s S k a t e P a r k is open seven days a week during the daylight hours. The park is free to the public. • ST. IGNATIUS – G o o d O l d D a y s P a r k , across from Cenex in St. Ignatius, includes a large shaded picnic area and a grandstand. • ST. IGNATIUS — F o r t C o n n a h , an historic trading post established in 1846 by Hudson’s Bay Company, offers a beautiful opportunity for travelers to get a brief glimpse of early history in Montana. Located a few miles north of St. Ignatius, it is the oldest wooden building still standing in Montana - a handhewn, 375 square-foot log building that is the only surviving structure of a once bustling fur trading post built in 1846 and operated until 1871. Massive 10-inch-square, handhewn timber posts support the corners. Timber beams run horizontally to form the walls. Each beam is cut at its ends to fit into a notch carved out of the post a type of construction used often SEE PAGE 62

Polson Community Church 1814 First Street East, Polson polsoncommunitychurch.com • 883-0260

Sunday Services: (June, July, & August) Worship - 10 a.m. Seekers - 8:45 a.m. (September-May:) Worship - 11:00 a.m. Seekers - 9:45 a.m.

Pastor Russell Barber 883-0584 M O N T A N A

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F O R T by Hudson’s Bay Company for its trading posts, called “post on the sill” construction. In 1975, volunteers of the Fort Connah Restoration Society took the structure apart log by log and poured a new foundation. Then they reconstructed the building just as it stood in the 1850s. Despite its name, Fort Connah was never a military station. It is significant for a variety of reasons. It is an example of the fur trade, one of the earliest industries in western Montana. It preserves the heritage of two cultures, white settlers and Indians, who came together in good faith for commerce and interacted with goodwill. “The Indians would bring in their buffalo robes and their beaver pelts,” said George Knapp, the president and a strong moving force behind the Fort Connah Restoration Society. “They would trade for goods like weapons, pots, pans and blankets.” The Hudson’s Bay Company sent Scotsman fur trader Angus McDonald to Fort Connah with his wife of Nez Perce/Mohawk/French descent and their family. In 1847, McDonald completed construction of Fort Connah, which has the distinction of being the last Hudson’s Bay Company post to be constructed in what is now the United States. In 1871 Duncan McDonald closed Fort Connah, son of old Angus who had opened it 25 years before. • ST. IGNATIUS — T h e S t . I g n a t i u s M i s s i o n is a landmark Roman Catholic mission founded at its present location in 1854 by Father Pierre-Jean De Smet and Father Adrian Hoecken. The current mission church, the interior emblazened with painted murals, was built between 1891 and 1893, and listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Garden of the Rockies Museum, • RONAN —G 518 Round Butte Road in Ronan, features Sloan’s Flat Stage Stop, a one-room school-

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house, an old log home with dovetailed construction, and a tool shed and farm machinery building. Call (406) 676-5210 for more information. • RONAN – B o c k m a n P a r k offers a paved walking path alongside Spring Creek, playground equipment and a small waterworks playground. • CHARLO — C h a r l o P a r k , located next to the Charlo Senior Center, is a shaded grassy park with picnic tables and rose bushes. • ARLEE — A r l e e J o c k o V a l l e y M u s e u m , run by the Arlee Historical Society, opens July 4 on Saturdays from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. or by appointment. It’s located two blocks east of Highway 93 on the corner of Bouch and Fyant, south of the Arlee Elementary School. The museum features a military display, with stories and photos of Jocko Valley residents who lost their lives in the service of their country and athletic trophies, uniforms, pictures, and stories about the athletes from Arlee schools. For more information on special features this summer and to arrange a viewing appointment, call Alvaretta Morin at (406) 726-3167. Other attractions: • N i n e p i p e W i l d l i f e R e f u g e is located right off Highway 93, five miles south of Ronan. The

refuge includes numerous observation areas and walking paths and provides prime nesting habitat for grebes, loons, cormorants, great blue herons, swans, geese, various species of ducks, to name a few. Nearly 200 bird species have been observed in the refuge. • P a b l o W i l d l i f e R e f u g e is approximately three miles west of Pablo. The wetland habitat supports Canada geese, mallards, redheads, pintails, American wigeon, northern shovelers, ruddy ducks, gadwalls, common mergansers, western and red-necked grebes, and American coots. The refuge has an active bald eagle nest and is home to yellow warblers, American robins, warbling vireos and many other bird varieties. • K e r r D a m is located off Kerr Dam Road. Head west on Seventh Avenue and continue as Seventh Avenue turns into Kerr Dam Road and follow the signs. The concrete arch-type dam stands at 205 feet high. A 1,000-foot boardwalk takes spectators down, right above the falls, where they can enjoy an amazing view of the canyon — and sometimes a rainbow in the mist. In the spring and early summer, the water is fantastic. It offers picnicking, white-water rafting, fishing and vista overlook. Tours are by appointment. Call (406) 883-4450 for more information. • F l a t h e a d L a k e , the largest freshwater lake in the western U.S., is 28 miles long by 15 miles wide and more than 300 feet deep in places. The lake was originally formed by a glacier and is now continuously fed by the Swan and Flathead Rivers. Swimming, fishing and boating access is available in most communities surrounding the lake. Two scenic highways parallel the lake. Highway 93 on the west side and Highway 35 on the east side wind along the curving shorelines, offering majestic views of the lake, mountains and the beautiful Montana scenery.

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While Western Montana offers no shortage of natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities, the Flathead Lake area’s “cherry on top,” so to speak, might just be the juicy, sweet fruit produced by the ton in local orchards. “Most people can’t even believe we can grow cherries in Montana,” said Ken Edgington, whose orchard is near Yellow Bay. Fast-draining soil and the warmer climate caused by Flathead Lake’s close proximity create an ideal growing environment, said Edgington, who also is secretary of the cherry growers co-op, Flathead Lake Cherry Growers. The cherry co-op was founded in 1935; today there are currently 80-100 growers averaging 3.5 million pounds of Flathead cherries per year. Cooler nights cause the fruit to hang on branches longer, and the cherries build up more sugar, making for a sweeter cherry. People can pick up the fruit from a myriad of

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SEE PAGE 64

RONAN Friday Aug. 1st

Saturday Aug. 2nd

10 am

7 am 8 am 8 am

7 pm

7:30 pm 9 pm 9:30 pm

Quilt Show at the K. William Harvey Elementary Gym BBQ Cook Off *ready to begin at 7 pm for cook time * judging at 3 pm Sat. Bulls & Broncs Rodeo KD’s Valley Club street dance Street Dance outside the Pheasant and Second Chance

Benefits the Ronan Pioneer Days Scholarship Fund Contact Pioneer Days members to purchase!

PIONEER DAYS

VFW Pancake Breakfast 3 on 3 Basketball 34th Annual Mission Mountain Classic Run *5k and 10K 9 am CO Ed Softball Tournament 9 am Experimental Aircraft Association Open House at the Ronan Airport 10 am Car Show 10 am Quilt Show at the K. William Harvey Elementary Gym 12 pm City Slicker Rodeo Events not limited to: * Kids Sheep Riding * Stickhorse Races * Kids Sheep Dressing * Calf Cash Race * Chicken Scramble * Pig Scramble * Calf Dressing ** events subject to change without notification ** 3 pm BBQ Cook Off Judging 7:30 pm Open Rodeo and Ring of Fire 9 pm KD’s Valley Club street dance 9:30 pm Street dance outside the Pheasant and Second Chance

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2014 Sunday Aug. 3rd 9 am 9 am

Volleyball Tournament at the City Park Big Parade Registration Big Parade theme “The Grass Is Greener...” 12:30 pm Big Parade down Main Street 3 pm Open Rodeo and Wild Buffalo Riding 6:30 pm Family Karaoke Night at KD’s Valley Club

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FROM PAGE 63

roadside stands along the lake, or in grocery stores primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Some cherries make their way as far as Florida or Korea, Edgington said. Most are sold as fresh pack, meaning fresh with their stems on. Each year, growers strive for a better product, Edgington said. “We’re doing this as a labor of love,” he said, adding cherries are particularly susceptible to the elements and sometimes get a late start depending on how cool and wet spring is. Flathead cherries are booming in popularity, thanks in part to the ideal climate found on the lakeshore, and in part to the accompanying Polson Main Street Flathead Cherry Festival. Held each July, the event has grown into one of the largest festivals in the state, drawing crowds of around 8,000. The 2014 festival will be held in downtown Polson July 19-10. In addition to showcasing local stores and products and the area’s natural beauty and recreation opportunities, the event brings more sales than any other weekend to local businesses. Sometimes the cherries are ready for the festival; sometimes, they’re not. Cherries from other areas are never substituted; the festival is loyal to local ones. Flathead cherry products are always available, though. Cherry festival details can be found at www.flatheadcherryfestival.com. To learn more about Montana-grown cherries, visit www.montanacherries.com.

F L AT H E A D

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P O L S O N Located at the base of Flathead Lake, 70 miles north of Missoula and 51 miles south of Kalispell, Polson is Lake Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat and has a total population of 4,488.* School District #23 Schools: Cherry Valley Elementary School (grades K-1) Linderman Elementary School (grades 2-4) Polson Middle School (grades 5-8) Polson High School (grades 9-12) Valley View School (grades K-6) Dayton Elementary School (grades K-6) Private School: Mission Valley Christian Academy (grades K-12) Hospital: St. Joseph Hospital Library: North Lake County Public Library

B U S I N E S S

D I R E C T O R Y Navigator Travel 225 Main Street Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-5222 / (800) 735-6472 Fax (406) 883-5238

805 Main Street Polson, MT 5960 (406) 883-3904

East Shore Smoke House 35103 MT Highway 35 Polson, MT 59860 (406) 887-2096 www.eastshoresmokehouse.com

Clearwater Montana Properties, Inc. 201 Main Street Polson, MT 59860 (406) 571-2220 www.cmpmontana.com

Fisher Painting LLC (406) 270-7590 justin@fisherpainting.net www.fisherpainting.net

Lake County Transfer Station and Recycling Center 36117 N. Reservoir Rd. Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-7323

Glacier Lake Sand & Gravel 37246 Caffrey Road Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883- 3773 www.glacierlakesandandgravel.com

Lambros Real Estate ERA 51045 Highway 93 Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-1372 www.LambrosERA.com

Nifty Thrifty 417 Main Street Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-3443

Driftwood CafĂŠ 50249 Highway 93 Polson, MT 59860 (406) 319-2154

KwaTaqNuk Resort & Casino 49708 US Hwy. 93 East Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-3636 www.kwataqnuk.com

Mission Valley Aquatics 309 Ridgewater Drive Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-4567 www.mvaquatics.org

Polson Chamber of Commerce 418 Main Street Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-5969 www.polsonchamber.com

Eagle Bank 80 Heritage Lane Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-2949 www.eaglebankmt.com

Lake County Construction and Demolition Landfill 39276 Kerr Dam Rd. Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-5412

Napa Auto Parts 49560 US Highway 93 Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-5251

Polson Farmers Market Third Ave West Downtown Polson (406) 675-0177 or (406) 261-5700 Check us out on Facebook!

Appliance Care

Cove Deli and Pizza 11 3rd Avenue W. Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-0434 www.covedeli.com

Lake County Rental Services 784 Shoreline Drive Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883- 8000

Nickel Auto Group 35986 Memory Lane, Polson, MT 59860 3906 Brooks St., Missoula, MT 59804 617 West Idaho, Kalispell, MT 59901 nickelautogroup@yahoo.com

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based on 2010 census

Polson City Commission meetings are the first and third Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. at City Hall. For more information about Polson, visit the Polson Chamber of Commerce: www.polsonchamber.com

Polson Flathead Historical Museum 708 Main Street Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-3049 www.polsonflatheadmuseum.org

Polson Outdoor Equipment 705 First Street East Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-RENT (7368) www.polsonrental.com

Polson Propane 47291 Highway 93 Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-3588

Pop’s Grill $0.10 fresh, hot coffee 214 Main Street Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-1115

Providence St. Joseph Assisted Living 11 Seventeenth Avenue East Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-1011

6 13th Avenue Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-5377 www.saintjoes.org

The UPS Store 48901 Highway 93, Suite A Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-6630 www.theupsstorelocal.com/2265/

Richwine’s Burgerville 50567 Highway 93 Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-2620 www.richwinesburgerville.com

Subway 50033 US Highway 93 Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-9202

Total Screen Design & Embroidery 40735 MT Highway 35 Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-9218 www.totalscreendesign.com

Super 1 Foods 50331 Highway 93 Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-2498 www.super1foods.com

Walmart 36318 Memory Lane Polson, MT 59860 (406) 883-9211 www.walmart.com

Sears 214 First Street East Polson, MT 59860 (406) 571-2018 www.searshometownstores.com/lo cations/polson-mt

St. Joseph Medical Center

* based on 2010 census M O N T A N A

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R O N A N Located 56 miles north of Missoula and 14 miles south of Polson along Hwy. 93, Ronan is a community based largely on agriculture with a population of 1,871.*

School District #30 Schools: Pablo Elementary School (grades K-4) K. William Harvey Elementary School (grades K-6) Ronan Middle School (grades 6-8) Ronan High School (grades 9-12) Private School: Glacier View Christian School (grades K-9) H o s p i t a l : St. Luke Community Hospital L i b r a r y : Ronan City Library

Ronan City Council meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 6 p.m. at City Hall. For more information about Ronan, visit the Ronan Chamber of Commerce: www.ronanchamber.com

B U S I N E S S Arnieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gas & Tire Center Tires, Oil changes, Mufflers 63145 Highway 93 Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-0400

Harvest Foods 63802 Highway 93 S. Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-3301 www.harvestfoods.com

Bagnell Family Dentistry Dr. Timothy Bagnell Dr. Jeffrey Bird Ronan, MT (406) 676-8880

Lake Seed Inc. 35822 Spring Creek Rd. Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-2174

Les Schwab Tire Center 63360 Highway 93 Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-7800

Dobson Creek Coffee Company 319 Main Street Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 261-5845 www.dobsoncreekcoffee.com

Mission Mountain Golf Course 46664 Golf Course Way Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-4653 www.golfmissionmountain.com

Don Aadsen Ford 64194 Highway 93 Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-4420 www.donaadsen.com

Mexpress 63951 Highway 93 Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-9000 www.mexpress.org

The Gift Gallery & Family Health Pharmacy 63307 Highway 93 S. Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-2111

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D I R E C T O R Y Napa Auto Parts 10 Main Street SW Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-5700

Pheasant Lounge 117 Main Street SW Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-9431

Ronan Area Chamber of Commerce Hwy. 93 next to Community Bank Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-8300 www.ronanchamber.com

The Red Poppy, Mission Valley Arts Center Highway 93 across from True Value Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-3010 www.theredpoppy.org

St. Luke Community Hospital 107 Sixth Ave. SW Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-4441 www.stlukehealthnet.org

Stageline Pizza Old Creamery Mall 63915A Highway 93 Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-4411

Twice But Nice 229 Main Street SW Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-2727

Valley Journal 331 Main Street Ronan, MT. 59864 (406) 676-8989 www.valleyjournal.net Westland Seed Your Complete Outdoor Outfitter 36272 Round Butte Rd. Ronan, MT 59864 (406) 676-4100

Wright Real Estate P.O. Box 725 63228 Highway 93 S Ronan, MT 59864 www.westernmontanaland.com

* based on 2010 census -

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P A B L O Located 62 miles north of Missoula and 60 miles south of Kalispell off of Hwy. 93, Pablo serves as headquarters for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation. Pablo is also home to Salish Kootenai College. Population: 2,254.* Public Schools: Pablo Elementary School (part of School District #30, grades K-4) Private Schools: Two Eagle River School (grades 7-12) Salish Kootenai College (Tribal College) Learn more about the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes by visiting their website at: www.cskt.org Learn more about Salish Kootenai College by visiting their website at: www.skc.edu

B U S I N E S S Mission Valley Power 36079 Pablo West Rd Pablo, MT (406) 675-7900 www.missionvalleypower.org

D I R E C T O R Y

Salish Kootenai College 58138 Hwy 93 Pablo, MT (406) 275-4800 www.skc.edu

C H A R L O Located 55 miles north of Missoula and 5 miles east of Hwy. 93 on MT Hwy 212, Charlo is a small town rooted in farming and ranching with a population of 379.*

School District #7 Schools: Charlo Schools (grades K-12)

B U S I N E S S Ninepipes Lodge/Allentown Restaurant 69286 Highway 93 Charlo, MT 59824 (406) 644-2588 www.ninepipeslodge.com

D I R E C T O R Y

Ninepipes Musem of Early Montana 69316 Highway 93 Charlo, MT 59824 (406) 644-3435 www.ninepipesmuseum.org M O N T A N A

* based on 2010 census S U M M E R

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S T . I G N A T I U S Located 43 miles north of Missoula on Hwy. 93, St. Ignatius is Lake Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest town founded in 1854 by Jesuit missionaries, and has a population of 842.* The Mission Church, more than 100 years old, is adorned with beautiful frescoes and murals and is open daily to visitors. School District #28 Schools: St. Ignatius Elementary School (grades K-5) St. Ignatius Middle School (grades 6-8) Mission High School (grades 9-12)

St. Ignatius Town Council meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at City Hall. For more information about St. Ignatius visit www.stignatiusmt.com

B U S I N E S S Altitude Bar & Grill 77547 US Highway 93 St. Ignatius, MT 59865 (406) 745-2951 www.missionvalleyproperties.com

Mission General Store 61307 Watson Road St. Ignatius, MT 59865 Turn East on Airport Rd to Watson Rd (follow signs) (406) 745-7200

D I R E C T O R Y Mission Valley Properties 101 Mountain View Drive St. Ignatius, MT 59865 (406) 745-4940 www.missionvalleyproperties.com

Mountain View Cenex 240 Mountain View Drive Just off Highway 93 St. Ignatius, MT 59865 (406) 745-3634 Stuartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Napa 153 N. Main Street St. Ignatius, MT 59865 (406) 745-2190

A R L E E Located 26 miles north of Missoula on Hwy. 93, Arlee is a developing community grounded in the arts with a population of 636.* Arlee is also home to the annual Arlee Celebration and Powwow. School District #8J Schools: Arlee Elementary School (grades K-6) Arlee Junior High (grades 7-8) Arlee High School (grades 9-12) Private Schools: Nkwusm School (grades preschool-8) Library: Jocko Valley Library

The Arlee Community Development Corporation meets the third Tuesday of each month, September through June, at 6 p.m. in the Arlee High School business lab. For more information about Arlee visit www.arleemontana.org

B U S I N E S S 93 Feed & Supply 72539 North Couture Loop Arlee, MT 59821 (406) 726-2166

D I R E C T O R Y

Gray Wolf Peak Casino 20750 US Highway 93 (Evaro) Missoula, MT 59808 (406) 726-3778 www.graywolfpeakcasino.com

Wilson Family Foods 92345 Highway 93 Arlee, MT 59821 (406) 726-DELI (3354)

* based on 2010 census 7 0

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When Visiting the Lower Flathead River... Remember to Do Your Part! • Never leave a campfire unattended. • Keep it clean - if you pack it in, pack it out. • Be sure to keep track of fishing hooks, lures, baits and line - loose line can injure and kill animals.

• Treat wildlife with respect by observing without disturbing plants and animals. • Use the river shoreline rather than a stream-bed as a pathway in order to protect fragile stream-bottom habitats.

Remind your friends and relatives that off-road vehicle use is strictly prohibited!

“O

ver 50 miles of the Lower Flathead River remain undeveloped, with no homes along the shoreline, few roads with little traffic, and mile upon mile of scenic free-flowing River. Visitors will not see “NO TRESPASSING” signs. The landowners - the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - allow access not only to Tribal members, but also to non-members who purchase a valid Tribal recreation use permit. Continued public access to the river depends upon visitors treating this fragile landscape with respect. Only in this way can we maintain and improve the health of the land and the purity of the waters. Unfortunately, in recent years, we have seen a dramatic increase in vandalism, noxious weeds, illegal off-road vehicle use, and excessive livestock grazing. These abuses often result in scars upon the land that can last for generations. We ask visitors to respect this special place, and to report to Tribal authorities anyone violating the regulations that are in place to protect the resource for all visitors. If everyone does their part, we can ensure continued open access for all.” Lester Bigcrane, Manager, Appropriate use of this precious resource will allow for continued public access in the future. Wildland Recreation Program For more information please contact the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Natural Resources Department at 883-2888. M O N T A N A

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Full service bar for your favorite cocktail or 10 Montana Craft Beers on tap, plus 60 of the best beers in bottles

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35103 MT Hwy 35 Just North of Finley Point Rd.

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