Montana
Harmon’s Histories: Pop quiz! Do you know these western Montana place names?
By Jim Harmon/Missoula Current
OK, it’s time to play: “Name That Place,” a game show testing your knowledge of local landmarks – but offering absolutely no cash, no prizes, no trips to exotic places, not a thing – except perhaps bragging rights. Here we go!
1. Just south of Missoula, it’s a mountain named for the founder of the University of Montana School of Journalism.
Mystery photo – Archives & Special Collections, The University of Montana
2. A creek and a peak named after followers of a certain faith.
3. West of Missoula, it was named by settlers Baptiste Ducharme and Louis Brown.
4. A nearby lake and a river named after migratory birds.
Photo – Mystery River
5. Southwest of Missoula (under the right weather and light conditions) it appears a certain color.
6. North of Missoula, it’s named for Jacques (“Jocko”) Raphael Flnley, a trader and trapper for the Northwest Fur Company.
7. Once used as the water supply for the city of Missoula, this creek was named after a deadly serpent.
8. Two mountains: one named after a circus animal and a neighboring mountain used as an observation point.
Morton J. Elrod Photo 1904
9. A small community near Missoula named by R.S. Ashby, a Virginian, for a prominent river back East.
10. Two area creeks named after the same man – but spelled differently.
The histories of the places named above (and many more) are available online, through the research of Don Bert Omindson in his “Study of Place Names in Missoula County, Montana” (Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers, 3727) at Montana State University, Missoula in 1961.
Now, to the answers!
1. Arthur L. Stone, a well-known Montana journalist, working for The Anaconda Standard, and later editor of the Missoulian, established the journalism school at The University of Montana. Dean Stone Mountain, named after him, today sports antennas for TV broadcasts and other communications.
Dean Arthur L. Stone – photo circa 1915 UM Archives
2. Mormon Creek and Mormon Peak.
3. Frenchtown.
4. Swan.
5. Blue Mountain.
6. Jocko.
7. Rattlesnake Creek.
8. Mounts Jumbo and Sentinel.
9. Potomac.
10. Pattee Creek and Petty Creek, as well as Pattee Canyon, were named after David Pattee, who homesteaded the Pattee Canyon area in 1871.
How did you do? 100%, I’m sure.
No tests next week – I promise.
Jim Harmon is a longtime Missoula news broadcaster, now retired, who writes a weekly history column for Missoula Current. You can contact Jim at fuzzyfossil187@gmail.com. His best-selling book, “The Sneakin’est Man That Ever Was,” a collection of 46 vignettes of Western Montana history, is available at harmonshistories.com.
Montana
Former Montana State QB Sean Chambers gets NFL rookie minicamp invite from Carolina Panthers
BOZEMAN — Former Montana State quarterback Sean Chambers was extended a rookie minicamp invitation by the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-3, 221-pound Chambers, from Kerman, Calif., finished his career with 33 rushing touchdowns, the program’s second-most all time. He was was a first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection following his senior season in 2023 after finishing with 23 total touchdowns (14 rushing), 896 yards throwing and 671 yards rushing.
Slim Kimmel/MTN Sports
He also earned AP second-team All-America and Stats Perform third-team All-America honors for his performance last season. In 2022, he earned the Big Sky newcomer of the year accolade after transferring from Wyoming.
Throughout his career with the Bobcats, Chambers finished with 50 total touchdowns, 1,519 yards throwing and 1,516 yards rushing.
He joins former teammates Treyton Pickering and Clevan Thomas Jr., in getting a minicamp invites.
Pickering announced on Saturday he got an invite with the New York Giants.Thomas announced on Wednesday he received an invite with the Cleveland Browns.
No players from the Bobcats or the Montana Grizzlies were drafted, and none have signed rookie free-agent contracts as of Wednesday. All tryout invitations were reported by the Montana State football program via its X account.
Dear Editor,
Did you get your new property tax bill? Well, if you’re not crying or in a fit of rage, the Montana Republicans just gave you another increase in your taxes! Last week, the Secretary of State announced that the Legislature failed to override Governor Gianforte’s veto of SB442, a bi-partisan piece of legislation that flew through the House and Senate by overwhelming majorities.
This important legislation would have directed the use of Marijuana taxes and, according to the Legislative Services Division, invested more than $16 million to fix county roads in every county in Montana. The bill also would have made major investments in public lands, behavioral health, and veteran’s services. Now, these revenues will be directed to the General Fund instead of locally, where they would have been put to good use.
After months of litigation, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the Governor’s veto was unconstitutional. In typical fashion, Republicans cried foul, citing government overreach, and chose to take it out on the taxpayers instead of the increasingly unpopular Governor for his unbelievable actions.
It only makes one wonder if the Governor plans to distribute these funds to his wealthy contributors or corporate interests as he did in 2023.
Maybe you should ask Becky Beard, a sitting Senator, why she declined to vote on this matter. It certainly wasn’t to help the local hunters, recreationists, or taxpayers.
JEFF BENSON
Boulder, Montana
District 38 Senate Candidate
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