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Terry Jennings with Discover Deer Lodge Development Group stands outside what will be the new visitor center.
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Group creating downtown
visitor center
by Michael Stafford
There’s a new visitor/welcome center coming to the heart of downtown Deer Lodge. Work will soon begin on renovations to the building and the hope is to have it somewhat up and running by this summer with full activity by summer 2021.
“I think in the long run this is going to be good for the community, good for Powell County,” said Terry Jennings with the Discover Deer Lodge Development Group.
Recently, on December 31, Discover Deer Lodge closed on the purchase of 502 Main Street which they intend to convert into the new visitor center. Previously the building had served as a restaurant and long ago served as a bowling alley.
“”I actually think this is really exciting for Deer Lodge,” said Jennings, “Deer Lodge needs a place for visitors to know what’s going on.”
The organization of which Jennings is a part of has a mission to promote Deer Lodge as well as preserve its character and improve the look of Main Street. They also hold various events which are highly supported by the community and visitors including the annual Cookin’ on the Clark Fork BBQ and Brewfest, the annual Western Harvest Weekend and the All-Class PCHS Reunion which is held every four years. Profits brought in from those events have allowed the group to further pursue their mission and the new project of creating a visitor center.
In addition to providing information to visitors on what is going on in the community and promoting it, the center will serve as a venue to sell Deer Lodge branded merchandise such as clothing.
see Center page nine
There’s a new visitor/welcome center coming to the heart of downtown Deer Lodge. Work will soon begin on renovations to the building and the hope is to have it somewhat up and running by this summer with full activity by summer 2021.
“I think in the long run this is going to be good for the community, good for Powell County,” said Terry Jennings with the Discover Deer Lodge Development Group.
Recently, on December 31, Discover Deer Lodge closed on the purchase of 502 Main Street which they intend to convert into the new visitor center. Previously the building had served as a restaurant and long ago served as a bowling alley.
“”I actually think this is really exciting for Deer Lodge,” said Jennings, “Deer Lodge needs a place for visitors to know what’s going on.”
The organization of which Jennings is a part of has a mission to promote Deer Lodge as well as preserve its character and improve the look of Main Street. They also hold various events which are highly supported by the community and visitors including the annual Cookin’ on the Clark Fork BBQ and Brewfest, the annual Western Harvest Weekend and the All-Class PCHS Reunion which is held every four years. Profits brought in from those events have allowed the group to further pursue their mission and the new project of creating a visitor center.
In addition to providing information to visitors on what is going on in the community and promoting it, the center will serve as a venue to sell Deer Lodge branded merchandise such as clothing.
see Center page nine
Plans for access site draw concernby Cathy Harding
The hottest topic at the high school board meeting was the proposed fishing access site at the Powell County High School farm. This was the introduction of the subject to the board, and it was met with hesitation and resistance. Superintendent Rick Duncan shared a site plan of the proposal with the board. The proposed site is along the north end of the school farm along the Clark Fork River. The district currently leases 73.94 acres from the state, and the proposal calls for lopping off three acres on the north end of the school farm. If the fishing access site is approved, the project will break ground in September or October and should be completed in two weeks. Duncan said that while he has some concerns, he believes the boating and fishing access would be a great benefit to the public. As such, he supports the site plan proposal. He said he is in conversation with FWP and the DNRC and was bringing the issue to the board for any input members may have. Multiple people expressed concern and the desire for more information. Duncan said they’re working through the process right now, and several issues still need to be addressed. Livestock fencing, signage, dog rules, overnight camping, and restroom facility maintenance would need to be ironed out. Board member Mark Vetter raised concerns that the fishing access site would turn into an unofficial rest stop, with people stopping and camping there as has happened in Gold Creek. Ag teacher Bill Lombardi spoke vehemently against the creation of the fishing access site. He said FWP and the DNRC have not been forthcoming during the entire process, and he feels his opinions have not been considered or even asked for. “I’m not in support of this at all, and my students aren’t, and the parents aren’t. We’ve been railroaded from day one in this,” said Lombardi. “They never sent us a letter. We were contacted in hindsight. They lopped off that section of land behind the school farm. They didn’t put up any signs. It took me almost a year to figure out who put the gate there and locked it. When I went to them, they were like, ‘Well, we put a sign there.’ I told them, ‘No, you didn’t ‘cause here’s the photo.’” see Annexation page 11 |
Board goes over museum’s progressby Michael Stafford
There have been a number of things happening at the Old Prison Museum and associated museums over the past year and at the special annual meeting of the Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation (PCMAF) board members and others in attendance got to hear a reap of things. From successful events to the continuation of the very popular ghost tours and lockdowns to the replacement of a couple roofs, the activities at the museums have had good attendance and created potential for the expansion of exhibit areas. One of the first things that the board of the PCMAF did was hear a rundown on the financials for 2019 in comparison to 2018. Director Sandy Petty went through them and said that the cash in the bank for operating expenses was down for 2019 by $59,503.80 due to the expense of projects undertaken over the year such as the replacement of the roof over the hospital at the complex. The gift shop inventory was down also with a couple reasons being that it was not stocked so heavily this year and there had not been an inventory correction that should have taken place in the past. see Going page eight |
More on this and the other issues grabbing this week's headlines
can be found in our print edition, out every Wednesday.
can be found in our print edition, out every Wednesday.
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Silver State Post
312 Missouri Avenue, Deer Lodge, MT 59722 • 406-846-2424 |
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