Lake County Leader

The Lake County Leader has been serving the Lake County area since 1910, providing news coverage for the communities of Polson, Pablo, Ronan, St. Ignatius, Charlo, Arlee, Dixon, Big Arm, Finley Point, Yellow Bay, Elmo, Dayton, Hot Springs, and Ravalli. You can find local news, sports updates, and advertising in the Lake County Leader, which is published every Thursday in Montana's Lake County. Our office is situated at 108 1st Street East in Polson, and you can contact our news and advertising departments at (406) 883-4343.

Local

English

Newspaper

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#1285700

United States

#308180

Heavy Industry and Engineering

#5068

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

Ronan City Council tutored on SIDs

1 week ago | leaderadvertiser.com | Berl Tiskus

Local bankers Jamie Buhr and Brennin Grainey attended the April 9 Ronan City Council meeting to present facts on Special Improvement Districts. Mark Drinkwater, developer of Mission Valley Homesites, had approached the council regarding an SID for the first phase of a 221-lot subdivision on the southeast edge of Ronan.
Rocky Point residents worry about traffic impact of casino

1 week ago | leaderadvertiser.com | Berl Tiskus

More than 15 people interested in traffic on Hwy. 93 near Irvine Flats Road and Rocky Point Road attended a meeting at the Lake County Courthouse last Monday with Bob Vosen from the Montana Department of Transportation. Their concern was safety, especially in light of S&K Gaming’s new 400 Horses Casino, which also broke ground last week on Irvine Flats Road.
Conservation District offers free pollinator seeds

1 week ago | leaderadvertiser.com | Caroline McDonald

Spring has sprung, and the Lake County Conservation District (LCCD) is buzzing with excitement as it launches its annual Pollinator Seed Giveaway, encouraging local residents to join a growing movement to protect pollinators and restore native habitat. As part of its Pollinator Initiative, LCCD is offering free native seed mixes to residents interested in planting their own pollinator-friendly plots.
Siips aims to creatively quench thirst

2 weeks ago | leaderadvertiser.com | Berl Tiskus

Does a “dirty” Dr. Pepper, concocted with fresh lime, coconut and vanilla, sound good? Siips at 80 Heritage Lane in Polson makes this drink and many other custom beverages. Nora Hendrickson, a mixologist at Siips, said the “dirty” Dr. Pepper is her fave. Siips opened its window last June, according to owner Karey Lundberg.
Dog Tag Buddies brings healing to local veteran

2 weeks ago | leaderadvertiser.com | Berl Tiskus

A gabled house with a killer view of the Mission Mountains is home to Bill and Janet Austin and their dogs, Gretchen and Zippy. The Austins moved to Montana in 2013, because “it’s quiet,” Bill said. Outside, two horses nibble on greening-up spring grass; there’s a chicken house, a greenhouse, a tractor, and other farm accoutrements. Wriggly Zippy is a carefree Boxer, but four-year-old Gretchen has a serious side.
Ronan Police Officer Gilliland honored at council meeting

3 weeks ago | leaderadvertiser.com | Berl Tiskus

The Ronan City Council’s March 26 meeting began with Ronan Police Chief Rob Jacobson presenting Ronan Police Officer J. Gilliland a commendation issued by the Montana Public Safety Board Standards and Training Post Council for outstanding conduct and excellence in public safety. The award stems from a minor crash Sept. 19, 2024, which Officer Gilliland responded to. He noticed the man whose motorcycle had been hit had collapsed and was unresponsive.
Ronan Mill blends coffee, flowers and wildebeest

3 weeks ago | leaderadvertiser.com | Berl Tiskus

Wildebeests, coffee, lotus drinks, and flowers lend a unique ambiance to the Ronan Mill on Round Butte Road. The neon coffee sign in its window gives just a hint of the surprising business inside. The surprise isn’t the cozy room that smells deliciously of coffee; it’s the taxidermy mounts of wildebeest and eland and longhorn skulls that decorate the walls and are conversation starters. Owner Trinity Rosenbaum makes delicious coffee drinks and lotus concoctions, and arranges fresh flowers.
Local ranchers feted at annual ag banquet

3 weeks ago | leaderadvertiser.com | Berl Tiskus

St. Ignatius farmers Dennis and Melvina Krantz were honored for their contributions to agriculture in the Mission Valley at the 45th annual Ag Appreciation Banquet, held March 28 at the community center in Ronan. Melvina and Dennis have been married 54 years and have two sons, Tim and Justin. “Justin boots, you know,” Melvina explained later of her son's name.
B-I-N-G-O: Polson seniors host weekly game

4 weeks ago | leaderadvertiser.com | Berl Tiskus

Bingo is a regular Friday night event at the Polson Senior Citizens Center. About 30 people were seated in the main room of the center recently as Randy Burley called out the letter and number combo, and players quickly scanned the rows on their cards. Alice Johnson was selling “flimsies” and “hard” cards to players. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m., and bingo players gather a little earlier to buy their cards and a snack. The center offers hot dogs, cookies and sometimes cake, popcorn and soda.
Air Alert: UM, Tribes join forces to protect air quality

4 weeks ago | leaderadvertiser.com | Emily Senkosky

Blending Western science with tribal knowledge, the University of Montana and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are working together to build infrastructure to combat the growing threat of wildfire smoke exposure in Montana. UM’s Montana Climate Office and CSKT joined forces to install the first comprehensive PurpleAir network across the Flathead Reservation.