Polson icon passes away

We got news yesterday that beloved Barry Webb passed away on Tuesday night. He was at his home with family. He had lymphoma.
We've had several people ask when a memorial will be. I spoke with his sister, Charlotte, this morning, she told me a memorial around March 15 its planned.
While she's already had a great outpouring of memories and prayers, Charlotte said she would love any stories to add to Barry's obituary. You can call her at 883-4854.
Meanwhile, we keep Barry and his family in our thoughts. For me, just remembering Barry's smile brings a smile to my face.

New Leader Web site coming

If you've tried to access the Leader Web site today, you'll notice it's somewhat of a mess. Because today, we are beginning the transition and launching our newly designed and comprehensive Web site.

All of us are so excited for the new avenues it will give us to reach you as readers. Not only will it be a more readable and eye-catching template, the new site will allow us to do some much more with photos and other multimedia.

Also, it should be easier for us to get the updates and breaking news in spots you can see the minute you pull up leaderadvertiser.com

Our tech gurus are telling me the new site should be up by Friday - but there are always glitches. That's what we will be working on all day Thursday.

Let us know what you think.


Here's the notice I posted at leaderadvertiser.com:
At 10 a.m. today, Thursday, Feb. 25, the Leader will begin the switch to its brand new Web site. We ask that you please excuse our mess until the transition is complete.

With the new site will come the same thorough, one-of-a-kind coverage of the Mission Valley, only enhanced with new multimedia and reporting features. It's an exciting step we've been waiting for.

Thanks for checking in with us today, look back again soon. We can't wait for you to see it.

A1 preview for Feb. 25

A1 Feb. 18 preview

A VERY early preview this week - I'm getting it posted before I take off for a few days of vacation. Heading to NYC for the first time.
See you next week.
Jenna

Feb. 18 content preview

The help for Haiti continued in Polson this week, as a local family with two boys from Haiti hosted a crepe breakfast fundraiser. David will have photos and the story. David's also got photos and a story from Arlee's annual chocolate festival. Pretty nice assignment, covering a chocolate fest.
We'll have a story from Sasha about a foreclosure scam that landed a man in jail. He'll also have all the latest cops/courts news and a story on the state of the lake.
Heidi has all the results from the state wrestling tournament and reaction from the winners.
For Outdoors this week: Learn how to tell which animals left all those paw prints in the snow.
Can't wait for you to read it.

Barry update

I got an update on Barry Webb today: He was at Cherry Valley being presented with Valentine's from several classes there. He's a a wheelchair pretty much all the time now, but he's in good spirits (who would have guessed any different?).
He's made it to church the last several weeks as well, as he battles the symptoms of lymphoma.
Along with the cards, Barry was presented an honorary diploma, which he is displaying in the picture, from PHS principal Bill Appleton.
Barry's sister Charlotte told me people from all over had responded to the various stories written about him. A man down in California who works in a studio near the Wheel of Fortune office heard of Barry's love for the game show and had a package sent with all kinds of goodies. Even a signed picture of Vanna White.
What a great gift.

A1 ad

The open space at the bottom of the A1 you see below isn't a mistake. We didn't leave anything out, but a new 'feature' was added to the frontpage this week: An advertisement. (I upload PDFs from the pages I design to this blog, ads are added in afterward at the press, leaving the blank space on this week's PDF)
It will be replacing the teaser bar we've had there for more than a year. This is a step the helps the bottom line for revenue.
From my standpoint, it's a tough pill to swallow. I understand the "bottom line" and that A1 ads have become an industry trend (I guess you could say standard now), but it stings.
I feel that space belongs to the readers, and not the highest bidder. I guess it's a fact of life: the revenue bottom line will almost always beat out the sentimental bottom line.
The most important thing for readers to know is that this new ad will not change the way we cover the news.

A1 Feb. 11 preview

Content preview Feb. 11

We've to an update on the man who was rescued by law enforcement after jumping from the Polson bridge last Wednesday. We were first and only news team on the scene, so hopefully we'll have room to get some of the rescue photos in this week's paper. If not, they will be up in the Feb. 11 photo album on Wednesday.
Sasha will have the story on the local CSKT drum group going to perform at the Olympic opening ceremony festivities beginning on Friday. He's also got the latest on the cops and courts beat. On a lighter side, he'll get you updated on the Ronan robotics team, which competed in Bozeman last weekend.
David is charging onto the scene with a story about a math research project slated to begin in Charlo this spring. He's also got a feature on the Livestock and Expo show in Ronan and his first Home of.
Heidi will let you know about the dozens of area wrestlers headed for state next weekend in Billings. Once again, the Mission Valley will be strongly represented.
Look for that and MORE of course.
Can't wait for you to read it.

New Tribal language Web site

This new Tribal language Web site is a pretty cool state page designed to encourage educators to learn and use the names of Tribal Nations in Montana, as used in the Tribes’ own languages.
It came about under House Joint Resolution 27. The site gives written examples and has audio recordings of Tribal Nations’ names.

Let's more fully fund our drug task forces

Here's the latest Notes from the Newsroom
You can read Sasha's full story about the drug bust/chase here.

A disturbing trend was highlighted in last week’s high speed car chase that ended in a drug bust and arrest of two out-of-state men near Charlo. Both were apprehended after the chase and charged with criminal endangerment, possession with intent to sell, tampering with evidence and numerous traffic offenses.
Stephen Dale Leischner, 23, of American Falls, Idaho, and driver Dustin Jade Morgan, 23, of Idaho, were allegedly in town to distribute meth they’d brought.
It seems that more and more these days, drugs are being shuttled into our area.
Brian Fyant, a Northwest Drug Task Force member and narcotics investigator for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, told report Sasha Goldstein that rather than cooking, producing and selling methamphetamine on the reservation, drug dealers are bringing meth to the reservation from other parts of the country or leaving the area to procure the drug and bringing it back.
Drugs of any kind, no matter how they’re made, sold and used, have no place here. That’s obvious. What is particularly disturbing in this case is the added violation of safety and well-being of residents by the men. The chase reached upwards of 120 MPH, ending in no injuries, but chases like that put everyone on the road in danger.
What this says to us is that more funding needs to go to groups like the NW Drug Task Force.
The Northwest Drug Task Force covers a five county area that encompasses most of Western Montana. The force on the Flathead Reservation is staffed solely by tribal police. The work between counties is key, but so is a well-funded, wider-reaching network that will allow communication that can provide crucial background that will keep officials ahead of criminals.
Cutting the snake off at its head is the best way to combat drug problems. Our area law enforcement officials do a stellar job of combatting drug activies around our area. Think of what they could do if more funds, data and communication to stop out-of-town drug operations from infiltrating our area.
Drug trafficking problems are intricate and far-reaching webs. That’s evident by the fact that people bring mere ounces of substances like meth hundreds of miles.
It was top-notch work by the plainclothes Task Force members to secure an informant, recognize and stop the two Idaho men. That’s two more drug dealers off the street.
Think of what a fully funded force ten times that big could do to keep drugs off out streets.

A1 Feb. 4 preview

Content preview first February issue

Both the Polson and Ronan drama teams took home trophies at last weekend's state speech, debate and drama competition. I will have the full story and some photos.
Sasha had the latest on a stabbing incident that resulted in felony charges for a Pablo man. We'll have a first-hand account from the victim. Sasha will also fill you in on how to get signed up to work for the census this year. It does involve a test, but Sasha passed it, and so can you.
We'll have meeting rundowns from Polson City Council and the rural fire board advisory committee, which held it's first meeting last Wednesday.
Heidi will have the results of the Polson/Ronan wrestling meet and all the sports from last week.
We also welcomed new reporter David Flores today. David came up from Texas las week to join our staff. He's still getting settled in, but you'll see his byline next week.
Can't wait for you to read it.