The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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Readers of the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch have probably noticed that for several months our stories and updates have been pretty hit or miss – mostly miss. For anyone wondering about the future of Lincoln's only local news, I'll be blunt: the BVD's future with us is short. We will continue with our printing business, but unless we can find someone to take over the news business and website in the next few weeks, we anticipate closing down the BVD around the end of January. W...
AA Tradition One if you need to talk, call Jay at 406-750-1238 or Dawn at 406-362-4697 Alcoholics Anonymous, Lincoln Chapter 6-7 p.m., Lambkins restaurant back room. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. American Legion, Post 9 7 p.m., Third Wednesday of the month, Lincoln Community Hall Blackfoot Community Conservation Area Council Meeting 7 p.m., First Thursday of the month, Ovando Fire Hall Cal 406-739-3900 to confirm Blackfoot Challenge Board...
DESTINATION: WESTERN MONTANA (REGION 2) After a colder and snowier 2022-2023 winter, we returned to a milder and much less snowy winter during 2023-2024 (although there were a few cold snaps). Given the milder winter conditions and the decent fall leading up to it, animals fared well and were observed to be in good late-winter/early-spring body condition during our annual spring surveys. Spring green-up arrived early this year, benefiting wildlife. We suspect that the mild...
The UBVHS has some exciting projects on the horizon for 2024, starting with the continued reconstruc- tion of the historic Matt King House on the UBVHS property adjacent to the school in downtown Lincoln. The King house is a true representation of the pioneer era in the valley. It may be taking more time than we'd like, but the UBVHS is still working to realize our vision for the historic museum in downtown Lincoln. It will not only add appeal and charm to downtown Lincoln,...
An open house at the Lincoln Library April 24, designed to gather the first round of information for updates to the Lewis and Clark County Comprehensive Growth Policy, saw only light turnout. About eight people showed up to the event facilitated by the planning and design firm SE Group, which is partnering with the county on the growth policy update. They provided input on ta variety of topics that will be taken into account as the county develops the policy updates The open...
About every 20 years, Lewis and Clark County tackles the thorny issue of drafting a new, updated policy to plan for anticipated changes as the result of population growth in the county. Later this month, Lewis and Clark County will host a series of open house meetings to gather information from residents on the direction the county should take in develping a new Comprehensive Growth Policy. Since the county adopted its current policy in 2004, the county has seen a population i...
The Upper Blackfoot Valley, specifically the community of Lincoln, is not just where I live, it is also where I serve. As a native Montanan, I moved to Lincoln 20 years ago and found my place. I was surrounded by country where I could fish, hunt, and enjoy the backcountry whether on a snowmobile or a mule. I first served as a volunteer firefighter, and now serve as the Lincoln Fire Chief and as a member of the Upper Blackfoot Valley Community Council. Almost ten years ago, I...
If there's one thing Montanans seem to love, it's bragging about how cold their town got during a cold snap. Maybe it's pride in being able to deal with extreme cold; maybe it's due to the old idea that "40 below keeps the riff raff out;" or maybe its because record cold temperatures often make both state and national headlines, as Lincoln did on Dec. 22, 2022. It hit minus 49 at the Lincoln Ranger Station weather site and broke the previous local records of 48 below, set...
The first Lincoln Government Day meeting of 2024 Jan. 5 proved to be short and to the point, despite getting off to a slightly late start. The start of the meeting was delayed for a few minutes as a camera was set up to record the meeting. A new law that goes onto effect in June, aimed at increasing transparency, will require the county to post video of their meetings in Lincoln and Augusta on line just as they do with their meeting in Helena. Commission Chair Andy Hunthausen...
Helena – This year, Wild Montana will offer a fall Wilderness Walks season for the first time as part of the organization's effort to provide year-round educational opportunities. The free group outings combine education with wilderness experiences on public lands. Participants can graze on wild berries, marvel at constellations, summit a peak, and write poetry, all in the name of conservation and community. "Thanks to our amazing volunteers, we're offering fall Wilderness Wal...
The eldest daughter of Leonard and Mary Lambkin, Virginia was born in Great Falls in 1921, and spent much of her life in Lincoln, growing up at her parents' hotel, the now -iconic Hotel Lincoln and Lambkins of Lincoln Bar and Restaurant. Virginia was born with intense beauty, intelligence, a great sense of humor, and real grit. Virginia navigated through life with confidence and pride, and because of these traits she greatly influenced those lucky enough to be in her...
Lewis and Clark County Special Districts Program coordinator Jessica Makus proposed an increase to the maintenance assessments for the Lincoln and Lambkins Rural Improvement Districts during a public meeting held in conjunction with the monthly meeting of the Upper Blackfoot Valley Community Council June 20. The county Public Works Department held the meeting to discuss the change that is designed to fully fund the 2029 chips seal projects for Lincoln's paved streets. "The...
The Lewis and Clark County Public Works Department is hosting a public meeting to discuss a proposed increase to the assessments that fund both the Lincoln and Lambkin Rural Improvement Districts. The meeting is slated to be held in conjunction with the Upper Blackfoot Valley Community Council meeting at the Lincoln Library Tuesday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. According to information provided by Special Districts Program Coordinator Jessica Makus, increasing the assessments to...
WILDERNESS WALKS HOSTED BY WILD MONTANA'S WILD DIVIDE CHAPTER Keeping the Divide Wild: The Lincoln Prosperity Proposal Tuesday, June 6 Webinar Join us online to learn how the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal will permanently protect the wild Continental Divide around Lincoln. We'll converse with Wild Montana Federal Legislative Director Zach Angstead to get grounded in the basics of the proposal and hear what makes this landscape so special. We'll also hear from partners in the...
It all began with an idea at the Lincoln Community Hall meeting. Now, with more than 20 organizations, the Lincoln Community Social (a.k.a. Get to Know Your Community and Neighbors Social) event is well on its way. The event, hosted by the Lincoln Community Hall and the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce at the historic Lincoln Community Hall, is scheduled for Friday, April 14, from 4-8 p.m.. There are four main reasons the thought of a community social came about: First,...
Community Social Comes to Lincoln Tammy Jordan It all began with an idea at the Lincoln Community Hall meeting. Now, with more than 20 organizations, the Lincoln Community Social (a.k.a. Get to Know Your Community and Neighbors Social) event is well on its way. The event is hosted by the Lincoln Community Hall and the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce and will take place Friday, April 14, 2023 from 4pm-8pm at the historic Lincoln Community Hall. There were four main reasons t...
It's been nearly eight years since Heritage Timber of Bonner disassembled the historic Matt King ranch house and moved it from its original location east of Sucker Creek Road. Since then, efforts to rebuild the historic house on a new location in Lincoln has been fraught with delays and hurdles, but a recent bequest to the Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society and a bit of happenstance have breathed new life into the project. "It is a relief that things are starting to...
Steve Williamson Stocks was the youngest of four children born to William Heber and Ella Maude (Williamson) Stocks. He was born on the 4th day of August, 1925, in the beautiful town of Lewiston, Utah, which is situated at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains in Cache Valley. He resided most of his young life in Southern California, graduating from Compton High School. In 1943, Steve joined the United States Coast Guard. Within several months he had been trained as a radar...
At the end of the year, Lincoln District Ranger Rob Gump will bid farewell to both Lincoln and his time with the U.S. Forest Service. Gump will retire Dec. 31 after a year and a half in Lincoln and more than 38 years with the Forest Service. "I didn't really come here with the idea I was going to retire at this moment. At the end of the day, life is kind of short," he said, noting that he's been eligible for retirement for a while. Although he didn't go into detail about his...
After a two years without an in-person Lincoln Community Benefit , the fundraiser made arousing comeback Saturday night, Nov. 5. In a break from decades of tradition, the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce handed the benefit off to Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society and the Ponderosa Snow Warriors after it became clear the Chamber didn't have the volunteer manpower to put it on. UBVHS President Erin Dey, who was involved in organizing past community benefits for the...
Ron Lydiard really wanted to do something for Lincoln, Norm Grosfield told the board of the Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society during their meeting Oct. 26. Lydiard was an unassuming but talkative man who lived a quiet life in Lincoln, a town he had a special connection with dating back to 1963. When he was 11 his parents Robert and Neve bought the Silver King Ranch, where he spent most of his summers into the 1970s. Ron passed away from a heart condition at his cabin...
With the 2022 midterms on the line many Lincoln-area residents will be heading to the Lincoln Community Hall to cast their ballots in person in a federal election for the first time since 2018. Voters who live in Precinct 31 - Lincoln and the Upper Blackfoot Valley south of Highway 200 from the county line to the divide, and Precinct 32, north of Lincoln and Highway 200, can vote in person until 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov.8 at the Hall. Bring your photo ID or another other...
The community benefit is back on! Due to lack of volunteers for the Lincoln Chamber, the Ponderosa Snow Warriors and the Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society have agreed keep it going. Things will be a little bit different since this is our first-year cohosting. Both organizations don't have much money to put towards it, but we will make it happen. Tickets will be $75 per person. Ten percent of the ticket sales will go to the fireworks fund. We will be providing the main...
Greetings Community, The community benefit is back on! Due to lack of volunteers for the Lincoln Chamber, the Ponderosa Snow Warriors and the Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society have agreed keep it going. Things will be a little bit different since this is our first-year cohosting. Both organizations don't have much money to put towards it, but we will make it happen. Tickets will be $75 per person. Ten percent of the ticket sales will go to the fireworks fund. We will...
For the past ten-and-a-half years I've seen Lincoln move from a town stuck in an economic rut to one that began to take control of its own destiny. The successful development of Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild showed Lincoln can do something new and unexpected and be more than just "stinkin' drinkin' Lincoln." People began look at ways to grow the economy beyond that, without making too many drastic changes to the community. Discussions that had been going on...
