The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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The Lincoln High Volleyball team put up a spirited fight against Victor in Saturday night's Homecoming game, but the Pirates had the wind in their sails and ended the night besting Lincoln three sets to two. Lincoln dropped the first set with a 25-18 loss, but rallied for the second and third sets, winning 25-20 and 25-23. By the fourth set, however, the pirates powered back, sinking the Lynx 25-7. Lincoln fought back in the final set, but were once again outgunned as Victor...
Lincoln's gold mining tradition, dating to the gold mining boom of the 1860's that led to the establishment of the town, continues today as the Blackfoot River Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America share their knowledge and experience. About 34 club members took part in a search for gold during their monthly meeting Saturday, Sept. 19. The members met up for their meeting at the club's claim on Poorman Creek, where they spent the day processing material from...
Concerns about speeding and other traffic violations are nothing new to Lincoln, but after about a year without a Montana Highway Patrol trooper assigned to Lincoln, those concerns have grown due to the limited enforcement here. Last fall resident trooper Jesse Knaff left the Highway Patrol and there hasn't been a trooper stationed here on a full-time basis since, and that may not change in the near future due to changes in the MHP recruiting process. Capt. Josh Brown, the Dis...
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality wildfire smoke outlook for Sunday showed that Seeley Lake reported air quality levels as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups" at 11:30 a.m.,while Helena showed moderate air quality. An unofficial observation by the BVD indicated visibility in Lincoln dropped to about two miles by 4 p.m. Sunday. Based on the DEQ's visibility range, used to determine the smoke index values for local areas, air quality in the Lincoln Valley dropped...
Last week’s story in our print edition regarding the county’s mail-in voting decision included an indirect quote from Lincoln Post Master Zach Muse regarding ballot postmarks that was inaccurate. During the Government Day meeting Muse urged people to mail their ballots in by Oct. 31 at the latest. In explaining the time it takes for a ballot to go through the U.S. Mail, he made a comment that sounded like “it’s not postmarked.” Although it sounded like a clear statement, we should have confirmed with him that what we heard...
Lincoln Public Schools released new guidelines for attendance at sporting events Sept. 10, a week after the Lewis and Clark Board of Health approved an amendment to exclude youth activities from the health order limiting gatherings to 250 people. Under the guidelines, a limited number of spectators are now allowed at both volleyball and football games. Volleyball games held in the gym can now have up to 50 spectators, while football games can have up to 125. Lincoln Schools At...
A very large pile of bear poop, laden with chokecherry pits, appeared on Stemple Pass Road near the Community River Park late last week. Although there's no indication whether it was left by a grizzly or a black bear, it served as a reminder that both species of bear frequent the Lincoln area. Lincoln Game Warden Ezra Schwalm hadn't had any reports of a bear in the area, but knows they're around. "They're gonna be active right now," he said. With the first day of fall just...
LINCOLN – Lincoln Fire Rescue joined several agencies in the fight against a fire near mile marker 105 on Highway 200, north of Bowman's Corner. The Panama Fire began at about 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 10 and spread quickly, burning an estimated 100-plus acres of mostly grass by 4:15. Firefighters, aided by a DNRC helicopter, stopped the fire at 228 acres. Firefighters from the Helena DNRC, Lincoln Fire Rescue, Wolf Creek and Augusta Volunteer Fire Departments and the U.S. F...
SEELEY LAKE – An airplane crash Saturday night, Sept. 12 north of Seeley Lake left two people dead and one hospitalized. Wayne D. Cahoon, 59, of Seeley lake and Charles E. Wolff, 67 of Green Valley Ariz. died when the Single engineCessna 172 went down north of the Seeley Lake Airport. A passenger, identified in a GoFundMe page as Christian Cahoon, survived but was badly injured and ultimately taken to a hospital in Washington. According to the Missoula County Sheriff ’s office, a possible plane crash north of Seeley Lake at...
Although much of Friday’s Governement Day meeting revolved around the upcoming November election, Lewis & Clark County Treasurer/Clerk and Recorder Paulette DeHart won’t be on hand come election day. Geise reported that Dehart will be retiring Sept. 25, after 38 years. Dehart started in the job at just 18. As Treasurer/Clerk and Recorder DeHart has overseen elections, motor vehicle licensing, the recording of plats and property tax collection. “It’s just a huge, huge job,” Geise said. The commissioners received 12 applicati...
The 56th Annual Helmville Labor Day Rodeo wrapped up the Northern Rodeo Association season Sept. 6 and 7, with a shift in weather that presaged the coming change of seasons. Sunday saw temperatures in the 80's with a slight breeze throughout the day, but by Monday things turned cold and blustery. This year's rodeo also saw changes as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests no longer paid an entry fee as they entered to park, but instead paid at a controlled access gate,...
Citizens Alliance Bank formally opened the expansion of their Lincoln branch with a visit from the Forstrom brothers and a ribbon cutting Tuesday, Aug. 27. Lincoln Branch Manager Shane Lindsay and Montana Market Manager Ryan Fritz snipped a red, white and blue ribbon while Citizens Alliance Bank president John Gill and Chairman Philip Forstrom, local staff members and board members looked on. "The Forstrom brothers really appreciate the support and investment in the community...
The Lincoln School gym received something of a makeover over the summer. Derek Perez, Lincoln School Custodian, said the gym floor was sanded down to bare wood, refinished, given new school graphics and resealed. He said it's the first time the floor has been rejuvenated worked on since the original gym floor was replaced in 2007. Superintendent Jennifer Packer, Athletic Director Shane Brown and Perez all had input into the new floor design. The design features the ears and...
The Lincoln Rural Fire District board of trustees held their Aug. 27 meeting in their new digs at Station 4, which will be the site for their meetings going forward. "As you can see, this thing is really coming together," District Chairman Dick Birkholz said. "It's come a long way in a couple months. The meeting itself dealt primarily with the budget for Fiscal Year 2021 and a plan to pay down the mortgage on Station 4, which was acquired from Chris Waits in early 2019....
Heading east out of Lincoln, the speed limit on Highway 200 jumps up to 70 mph, with a passing zone that stretches from the Blackfoot Valley Bible Church to the Lincoln Ranger Station, but with increased traffic and more people discovering Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild, concerns about safety have grown amid recent accidents and near misses. The issue had been a concern for the BPSW board since the sculpture park's inception, and a recent analysis of visitation to...
The 2020-21 school year began Monday with students returning to the classroom for the first time since March. The start of a new school year is always an uncertain time, but few have likely started off with as many uncertainties as this one as COVID-19 guidance from the state and county continues to evolve. Last Monday, Aug.17, the Lincoln School Board held an emergency Zoom meeting to discuss the impacts of Governor Steve Bullock's Aug. 12 face mask requirements for students...
Hunters, if you plan to hunt using a tree stand, keep in mind that tree stands on leased state lands are only allowed for three days. Lincoln Game Warden Ezra Schwalm said the three-day limit on leased land is a little know regulation, but it affects most of the state land in the Lincoln area, which have been leased for various purposes. Stands are allowed on unleased state forested land for 16 days in a 30 day period. If you're unsure whether the state land you plan to hunt...
Following a pair of meetings over the last month, the Envision Lincoln core team agreed to apply for a Montana Main Street grant to help hire a professional to develop a master plan for the community. The need for a master plan has become apparent since Envision Lincoln hosted an open house in February to discuss the in-town trails plan and to kick off the discussion of downtown revitalization. The core team first discussed the issue of master planning during a July 30 Zoom...
At their regular Aug. 10 meeting, the Lincoln School Board opted to resume in-person teaching at Lincoln Public Schools when classes start Aug. 24. However, a directive issued by Governor Steve Bullock Aug. 12 prompted an emergency Zoom meeting Aug. 17, to re-examine their decision. "We approved going back to school, and parents had the option of their kids going online," School board President Aaron Birkholz told the BVD. He said under their initial school re-opening plan,...
The Fields Gulch Fire six miles south of Lincoln went into "patrol status" at the end of last week, with firefighters from the Lincoln Ranger District Initial Attack crew mopping up hotspots and cold-trailing fireline over the weekend. Lincoln Ranger District Fire Management Officer said the fire's containment was rated at about 80 percent Monday. "The weekend was real calm, no change with the fire," he said, adding that firefighters are being especially watchful as they walk...
Sixteen teams took part in the 37th Annual Bob Purdy Co-Ed Softball Tournament at Hooper Park over the weekend. The slow-pitch tournament was one of the only softball tournaments to be played in the state this year, and both the players and the umpires took precautions to help ensure social distancing, including the use of strike zone mats. "We followed all (COVID-19) guidelines. They had mat ball, where there's a mat behind home plate...so everybody can stand at a distance,"...
The Upper Blackfoot Mining Complex re-opened to the public this week as the last of the major restoration and reconstruction of the headwaters of the Blackfoot River drew to a close at the end of July. While the main roads in the area are open to the public, Dave Bowers, UBMC project manager with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and Steve Opp, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Minerals and Geology Program Manager, hope people respect the effort that has...
A small fire that sprang to life in Fields Gulch on Aug. 6 marked the start of the fire season in the Lincoln area, following several days of warm, dry weather. The lookout on Stonewall Mountain first identified the fire in a remote area of Fields Gulch six miles south of Lincoln, prompting a response the following day that included two helicopters and three engines from the Lincoln Ranger District. Lincoln Fire Rescue also responded to the initial attack. A thunderstorm...
As a child, Kyle Greenwood would watch his father Jim pull lawnmowers out of the trash, repair them and sell them. Jim gave that sideline up for a few years, but around ten years ago, when Kyle was about 16 he took an interest in fixing things, so Jim started recovering lawnmowers again. "We stated fixing them and selling them," Kyle said. "Made a lot of money that way. At least when you're 16, it seemed like a lot of money." From push mowers, Kyle moved on to riding mowers...
Downtown Ovando got a face lift with the buildings on the south side of the town's central square getting a distinctive new paint job this month, updating the look of the small downtown for the first time in years. "Pretty cool, huh?" said Fred Valiton, owner of the Blackfoot Commercial Company, which sits on the opposite side ofthe square, facing the refreshed buildings. "I wasn't sure it would turn out as well as it did, but now that it's up, it looks real good." "This is th...
