Jean Pocha

Scientists along backroads in the Blackfoot Valley have been seen holding up radio telemetry antennas. Instead of tuning into their favorite station, they could be dialing in a sharp-tailed grouse, part of a massive reintroduction plan.

The 22nd annual Tour of the Arts on Oct. 12-13, put on by Alpine Artisans, gave local people and visitors a chance to visit working studios, galleries and museums from Condon to Lincoln. Sixteen local artisans in the Seeley-Swan and Blackfoot Valleys had their crafts on display and often showed their production processes to attendees.

With fishing access sites overflowing in the summer, drought pressure on the rivers, more garbage, increased weeds along roadsides and packed eateries, it's obvious there's more traffic in the Blackfoot watershed.

Convoys of cattle trucks will soon be trundling loads of cattle along Highway 141 and Highway 200, moving cattle from mountain pastures to home ranches and hauling weaned calves to feedlots across the Midwest.

Members of the community gathered at Seeley-Swan High School to celebrate Halloween. Businesses and families were represented at Trunk or Treat as they handed out candy and a carnival put on by the high school drama elective was a change from last year's haunted house.

The Blackfoot Challenge has long hosted international groups to the Blackfoot Valley. Through a cultural exchange grant, a team of seven Blackfoot Challenge staff and a former Natural Resources Conservation Science Powell County District Conservationist were able to travel to Slovenia and Croatia in October to meet with colleagues with no expenses paid by the Challenge.

Nearing the end of his 18-state book tour to introduce "Becoming Little Shell, A Landless Indian's Journey Home," Chris La Tray, Métis author and Montana Poet Laureate, presented his new book at the Alpine Artisans Open Book Club on Nov. 9 at the Swan Valley Community Center. La Tray read from his new book, shared poetry and answered questions from the crowd.

Traditionally Norma Hughes, 95-year-old Ovando resident, has brought two dozen eggs to the Ovando Harvest Dinner. The eggs are a high seller, earning $1,700 in 2023 to support the Ovando Sew and So club in its community projects.

The "Harry Morgan Story" was recently published by the Ovando Historical Society and written by Sheri Ritchlin, Ovando resident. Harry Morgan was one of the first game wardens in Montana. He served in northern Powell County and parts of Missoula and Lewis & Clark Counties from 1913-1946. Ovando was his home base while game warden.

The Blackfoot Watershed Recreation Planning Workshop held at the Ovando gym Dec. 3 drew 15 participants. This meeting presented a summary from the six community meetings held in Bonner, Potomac, Ovando, Lincoln, Helmville and Seeley Lake in November. Marley Held-Wilson, Blackfoot Challenge recreation coordinator, welcomed everyone and reminded part...