Montana Public Radio

Frenchtown Montana

Fire Near Libby Grows To 20 Acres

By • Jul 17, 2018
The Zulu fire is burning north of Libby in the Zulu Creek area.
Google Maps

The Zulu fire that it is believed lightning started Sunday in the Kootenai National Forest north of Libby expanded to 20 acres today.

Forest spokesman Willie Sykes tells the Flathead Beacon about 80 firefighters and several aircraft are fighting the fire. No structures are threatened.

Milltown Dam Wouldn't Have Contained Missoula Flood Waters

By • May 14, 2018
Remediation work at the Milltown Reservoir Superfund Site in 2008, Bonner Montana.
M. Kustudia (CC-BY-SA-3)

This spring Missoula celebrated the 10th anniversary of the removal of the Milltown Dam on the Clark Fork river east of town. Now, some people are saying that the old dam could have mitigated some of this year’s flooding.

Clark Fork Flooding Raises Concerns Of Environmental Contamination

By • May 10, 2018
Smurfit-Stone Container mill outside Frenchtown, Montana.
Djembayz (CC-BY-SA-3)

The Clark Fork River at Missoula has reached major flood stage at 13 feet. This is exacerbating longstanding concerns over environmental contamination at the Smurfit-Stone Mill, and putting homeless people camped near the river at risk.

Smurfit-Stone Clean Up Update Tonight

By • Feb 13, 2018
Smurfit-Stone Container mill outside Frenchtown, Montana.
Djembayz (CC-BY-SA-3)

The public will get an update on the polluted Smurfit-Stone paper mill site near Frenchtown Tuesday, February 13th at 7:00pm.

Conservation Group Raising Funds For Air Filters In Frenchtown Schools

By MTPR News • Sep 5, 2017

An organization that's usually focused on bear conservation is raising money for air filters for schools in Frenchtown.

Missoula-based Bear Trust International is about $3,000 away from its goal of raising about $8,200 to place air filters in all 32 Frenchtown classrooms. A press release says the need is acute because there is no air conditioning in Frenchtown schools, so teachers have to open windows to moderate temperatures.

Meeting Scheduled Tuesday For Updates On Smurfit-Stone Site

By • Jun 19, 2017

Representatives of state and federal environmental agencies will give an update on the polluted Smurfit-Stone mill near Frenchtown Tuesday, June 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the fire hall in Frenchtown.

'The Big Moment': Five Valleys Area Special Olympics Spring Games Begin

By • Apr 18, 2017
Fans cheer on the athletes during the Bozeman Hawks & Bozeman Mighty Mustangs game at the 2016 Montana Special Olympics.
Bree Zender

Over 600 athletes, coaches and volunteers will assemble tomorrow to kick-off the Special Olympics Spring Games. The Five Valleys Area Spring Games will take place in Missoula and Frenchtown April 19-21.

Smurfit-Stone Community Advisory Group Meeting Tonight

By MTPR News • Mar 16, 2017
Smurfit-Stone Container mill outside Frenchtown, Montana.
Djembayz (CC-BY-SA-3)

People concerned about the contaminated Smurfit-Stone paper mill site west of Missoula are meeting tonight in Frenchtown at 6:00 p.m. They're considering forming a Community Advisory Group to better communicate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The 3,200 acre Smurfit-Stone site was proposed for listing under the EPA's Superfund program in 2013 over concerns about soil and groundwater contamination.

A Response To Melissa Mylchreest's poem 'Frenchtown'

By Chérie Newman • Dec 5, 2016
http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/

by  Kristy Bixler

Ten minutes from my house in any direction I can climb a mountain, or catch a fish, play a round of folf, or cross country ski. I live in a world of adventure and life that I never want to leave. There is nothing better than living in a place that is so rich in its beauty, a natural theme park. I have been unbelievably fortunate with a good secure life in Missoula, Montana, that allows me to take part in all of my favorite activities.

However, another ten minutes from my house lay the ruin of the Mill. Not everyone in my town has been as lucky as my family. Even though I was fairly young when the mill shut its doors forever, I remember it vividly. It played out just the way it did in Melissa Mylchreest’s poem “Frenchtown.” All of a sudden the mill was gone. When I would drive to Frenchtown to swim in the pond or play a game of softball, everything seemed different, quieter, as though the life had gone out of the previously bustling little area.

Flooding Causes Over $500,000 In Damage To Frenchtown Schools

By • Jan 4, 2016
A broken waterpipe ruined the Frenchtown high school gym floor and bleachers. They will have to be replaced.
Courtesy Frenchtown School District

Classes resumed this week in Frenchtown where a broken water pipe last month cancelled classes a week before the scheduled winter break. Superintendent Randy Cline says the flooding caused over $500,000 worth of damage in the junior and senior high schools.

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