The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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OVANDO – Wildlife officials captured a grizzly bear in the Ovando area on Sept. 2 and relocated it to the north side of the Rattlesnake Wilderness the same day. The bear was captured after it repeatedly returned to an abandoned shed in search of grain and horse food. The 211-pound female grizzly did not have a prior history of conflicts. In fall, bears are increasingly active in preparation for winter denning, and many conflicts involve bears getting into livestock feed and un...
Although most hunters respect the land, property, and wildlife they are hunting, many others do not. FWP would like to remind hunters and all outdoor enthusiasts to be good stewards of the land, and respect both private and public property. Every hunting season, there are reports of vandalizing of Block Management Area (BMA) boxes, hunters driving off road, illegal trespassing, hunters being shot over, littering, and livestock being shot. FWP encourages everyone to be good...
SEELEY LAKE – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are seeking information on a female grizzly bear that was shot and killed in the Woodworth area south of Seeley Lake. The bear was discovered by a local landowner on Sept. 8, south of Woodworth Road on the boundary of the Blackfoot Clearwater Wildlife Management Area. Wildlife officials investigated the scene and determined that the bear had two gunshot wounds and was likely killed sometime d...
LINCOLN, Oct. 19 - This week, a final decision was signed for the Hogum project that will authorize the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest to conduct 2,451 acres of treatments, including prescribed burning, about nine miles east of the Lincoln community near Flesher Pass. "This project is directly aligned with county, state, and federal goals of reducing fuel loading near communities," said Lincoln District Ranger Rob Gump. "I'd like to thank those in the community that...
LINCOLN (Oct. 27, 2021) -The Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is preparing to conduct fall prescribed burning in the areas of Ogden Mountain, Poorman Creek, Marsh Creek, and Flesher Pass. Burning would not begin until weather and fuel conditions allow and will continue into mid-winter. Pile burning is planned along Marsh Creek Road, West Flesher Road and along the Continental Divide Trail from Flesher Pass Trailhead to Stemple Pass. This wo...
MISSOULA – Deer and elk harvest reported at the hunter check stations near Darby, Anaconda, Bonner, and Fish Creek sit below the five-year average as snow depths remain low and temperatures mild. Just under two weeks remain in Montana's general big game hunting season, which closes on November 28. Over the first four weekends of the season, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff tallied 6,947 hunter trips through the Anaconda, Bonner, Darby and Fish Creek check stations c...
HELENA, Oct. 29 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service has released the revised Helena–Lewis and Clark National Forest Land Management Plan and final environmental impact statement. "This plan is the culmination of seven years of public engagement, community involvement, analysis and coordination with our partners," said Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Supervisor Bill Avey. "I am very thankful for the members of our communities who spoke up and got inv...
MISSOULA – The 2021 general big game hunting season closed Sunday, Nov. 28, with the four west-central Montana wildlife check stations reporting overall hunter activity and harvest totals down just slightly from last season, despite extra mild November weather. In the six weekends of the season, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks operated wildlife check stations in four locations around west-central Montana, where biologists recorded 10,216 hunter stops and a harvest of 192 e...
MISSOULA – Hunting regulation proposals for the 2022/2023 seasons were approved for public comment by the Fish and Wildlife Commission last week and are now out for review and comment online through January 14, 2022. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will hold public meetings throughout the state to provide information and answer questions. Montana hunting season regulations are adopted biennially for most game species. Review the proposals and comment online at f...
HELENA – Wolf trapping is now open in all Montana Wolf Management Units. After monitoring grizzly bear activity across much of the state, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists have determined the potential risk for trapping conflicts in grizzly bear areas is low. FWP biologists have been monitoring grizzly bear activity with a variety of methods since early November. This includes monitoring collared grizzly bears, sightings of bears in the field, weather assessments a...
LINCOLN, Mont. (February 25, 2022) -The Lincoln Ranger District is preparing to conduct spring prescribed burning as early as next week, Feb 28. Residents of Lincoln live in a fire-adapted landscape and at the right time and place, prescribed fire can provide numerous benefits to land, wildlife and people including opening understory, reducing the risk of crisis wildfires, and returning nutrients to the soil. Prescribed burning is planned around Ogden Mountain, Poorman Creek,...
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the appointment of Christy Clark as the director of the Montana Department of Agriculture. "Montana producers work hard to feed the world, and today they have a partner and established advocate in Christy Clark as the director of the Montana Department of Ag," Gov. Gianforte said. "A fifth-generation rancher, Christy understands the challenges and opportunities our producers face, and shares my commitment to s...
HELENA, Mont. (January 28, 2022) - Emily Platt has been named the new forest supervisor of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest and is expected to start in March. Platt currently serves as special project coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service. "I am very excited to announce Emily Platt as the new Forest Supervisor for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest," said Regional Forester Leanne Marten. "Emily has a wealth of experience and a...
HELENA, Mont., (December 15, 2021) – The Helena–Lewis and Clark National Forest invites interested parties to submit project proposals for funding consideration by the Missouri River Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC will consider proposals for projects that are on or provide substantial benefits to National Forest System lands within Broadwater, Lewis and Clark, and Teton counties. Funding and administration for the RACs is provided under the authority of the Sec...
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today launched the 2021 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation and seeks nominations for the award. “Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedoms and our way of life. Even after their time in military service, many Montana veterans have kept the flame of service burning by helping others in their community,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I’m asking Montanans to help me identify and recognize these outstanding Montana veterans, and I look forward to...
MISSOULA – Multiple accounts of scam calls have been reported to Montana’s Senior Medicare Patrol including new attempts to take advantage of Montanans’ increased use of telehealth during the pandemic. The current complaints document unsolicited phone calls people are receiving with the purpose of sending unnecessary medical supplies or stealing Medicare numbers. Those calls include “we need to confirm your Medicare number” and “you are eligible to receive a free genetic test kit.” Telehealth fraud has increased alo...
MISSOULA – The University of Montana has launched a major new scholarship to help Montana students pay for college. The Payne Family Impact Scholarship, established with a significant $7.5 million gift from longtime UM supporters Terry and Patt Payne, will be awarded to hundreds of Montana high school students who choose to attend UM beginning in fall 2022. "When it comes to paying for school, too often Montana families find themselves caught in the middle of a financial gap w...
Anyone who has lost a friend or loved one to suicide is encouraged to attend Montana's International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on Nov. 20 for a morning of healing, hope and togetherness. This free program begins at 10 a.m. and will be offered virtually. Survivor Day is the one day a year when people affected by suicide loss gather in their communities to find comfort and gain understanding about suicide loss as they share stories, honor loved ones and connect with fellow...
Cold weather is coming and heating bills can pile up fast. Are you or someone you know worried about how to pay those bills? Energy Share of Montana is a private, nonprofit organization whose main purpose is to help Montanans facing energy emergencies. An “energy emergency” usually means someone facing loss of heat or lights in their home due to unforeseen circumstances or issues beyond their control, and who have no resources to pay that bill themselves. Energy Share hel...
LINCOLN, MONTANA - The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is hosting a public open house to discuss the proposed bridge replacement on Dalton Mountain Road 3 miles west of Lincoln. Proposed work includes removal of the existing bridge and constructing a new bridge. The roadway approaches will also be reconstructed to connect to the new structure. The purpose of the project is to replace the deteriorating bridge and maintain safe passage across the river for the...
October 27, 2021 (Helena, MT)-In an effort to ensure community access to continued, if limited, library services, the Lincoln and Augusta Branches of the Lewis & Clark Library will be closed until further notice. We will be closely monitoring the situation in these communities and will reopen the branches as soon as we deem it safe to do so. During this time, staff will be available during regular branch hours to assist with curbside pickup, telephone and email reference...
AUGUSTA, Mont. October 17, 2021 - Following two new human-caused fire starts, the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, and the entirety of the Scapegoat Wilderness on the Lincoln Ranger District, have returned to Stage 1 fire restrictions as of 12:01 a.m. on October 17. "Our district is working to contain the Crown Mountain Fire and yesterday, we received reports of two new human-caused starts, putting us at 6 human-caused starts on the district in the last month," said Rocky...
Helena - The Montana Department of Transportation would like to announce and invite the public to comment on a proposal to install safety improvements at three sites around the Helena Valley. The proposed work includes adding safety measures at the following three sites: SITE 1 – Prospect Ave & Gibbon St Intersection – Remove the Gibbon St southbound left-turn movement and replace the left-turn bay with raised concrete refuge island for pedestrians. Install ladder-style cro...
HELENA- Beginning Oct. 24, all local calls in Montana must be dialed with the 406 area code to connect. Montana's 406 area code currently allows seven-digit dialing to complete local calls. That will change this month due to a Federal Communications Commission order designating 988 as the new, nationwide, three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Some seven-digit phone numbers in Montana's 406 area code begin with 988. To prevent misdialing the 988...
Helena-The Lewis & Clark Library will host "the Lewis and Clark Expedition Near Misses: How Lucky are those Men – and Woman," a virtual program by Mark Jordan on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Mark Jordan will tell stories about near disasters that could have ended the Expedition or significantly compromised its ability to succeed or resulted in the death of its participants. What danger or disaster lurked for the Expedition? Does one of the Captains almost die? More than o...
