Russ Thomas
KPAX Missoula News
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Past articles by Russ:
One Class at a Time: Jefferson Elementary School
This week’s One Class at a Time grant winner is Jefferson Elementary School teacher Jenny Danielson. → Read More
Missoula County Public Schools begin the 2020-21 school year
Missoula County's kindergarten, sixth, and ninth grade students were the first to step inside school buildings for the new school year on Wednesday. → Read More
2 Missoula schools are ready to get the year started
The beginning of the 2020 school year finds elementary, middle, and high school staff and students working to find a new norm. It can be a lot to take in, and schools are trying to alleviate any anxiety. → Read More
California wildfires impacting western Montana air quality
As smoke from massive California wildfires continues invading western Montana, air quality continues to take a hit. → Read More
University of Montana students back on campus during ongoing pandemic
Excitement and apprehension filled the air as a sense of normalcy was balanced with the fear of the spread of the coronavirus. → Read More
Fire Danger Raised to 'Very High' in Missoula area and Flathead County
MISSOULA — Hot and dry weather conditions have brought an increase in fire danger from 'high' to 'very high' in both the Missoula and Flathead County. The designation of Very High danger is the result of decreasing fuel moistures and higher burning indices meaning fire starts are much easier from all causes, a more immediate ignition, a more rapid spread, and increased intensity in fires. There… → Read More
New policies in place for students moving into The Sawyer student housing
This time last year, the doors of The Sawyer student housing located in Missoula’s Sawmill District opened for the first time for University of Montana students. Just one year later, the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing with it new procedures for incoming tenants. → Read More
UM child care open with new procedures in place
While most of her staff has been furloughed this summer, ASUM Director of Child Care Preschool, Vicki Olson, spent much of her time working on a plan to make sure university students and faculty have a place to take their young children while they are in the classroom. → Read More
MDT working on safety plan surrounding Reserve Street Bridge
It’s been an ongoing challenge for the Montana Department of Transportation according to MDT Missoula District Administrator, Bob Vosen, and the concern is greater now more than ever with protecting the infrastructure of the Reserve Street Bridge. → Read More
Missoula's Sleepy Inn Motel seeing steady use for those testing positive for COVID-19
Since early April, Missoula’s Sleepy Inn Motel has been designated as an isolation and quarantine site for some in the community who have tested positive for COVID-19. → Read More
Late July heatwave escalates wildland fire danger
The entirety of western Montana is projected to see above normal fire behavior in the weeks ahead. → Read More
Homeless encampment near Reserve Street Bridge may be forced to relocate
The homeless encampment may have to vacate the area near the Reserve Street Bridge. → Read More
Fire Mitigation Suggested For Homeowners Ahead of Fire Season
MISSOULA — A crew from the Frenchtown Rural Fire Department was hard at work today, thinning trees, and cleaning brush and debris as wildfire season draws closer. “We are removing the vegetation fuels, so trees and brush," said Wildland Fire Hazard Fuels Mitigation Crew Foreman, Ben Murphy. "By removing that we’re hoping to reduce fire intensity around here, and where people live.” Looking… → Read More
Nice weather will continue into Monday
MISSOULA — Happy Sunday! I hope you had a wonderful and safe Fourth of July weekend! We have certainly end of the weekend on a nice note as our Sunday has brought a clear blue sky with temperatures warming into the upper 70s and low 80s across Western Montana. As we look ahead to the work week, other than one day which looks to be a wet one, the rest of the week is shaping up to be very nice.… → Read More
Missoula Sentinel COVID-19 testing begins
Testing began on Monday. → Read More
Florence School Breaks Ground On New Building
MISSOULA — On Monday, the Florence-Carlton School District celebrated a day three years in the making by breaking ground on a new building. In 2017, the community of Florence passed a 15.9-million-dollar bond dedicating to this project. Current Superintendent, Bud Scully, says “This will be the start of our building project for a new cafeteria/multi-purpose building, k-5 elementary building, and… → Read More
Bowlers return to lanes after Phase 2 lifted restrictions
Now that Montana is in Phase 2, bowling lanes can officially reopen. → Read More
Rivers rise after a hot Saturday
MISSOULA — Temperatures in the 80s and 90s on Friday and Saturday brought another rise in area rivers. The area most impacted by warm temperatures is in the Flathead along the Northfork of the Flathead River and the Flathead River between Columbia Falls and Kalispell due to rapid snowmelt in an area that had a well above average snow-pack. The Bitterroot River in Missoula, along with the Clark… → Read More
Splash Montana working on reopening Date
In year’s past, summer-like temperatures have been synonymous with the opening of Splash Montana in Missoula. → Read More
Clark Fork River near Missoula overruns banks with more rain to come
As expected, the Clark Fork River west of downtown Missoula spilled over its banks and is now covering parts of Tower Street and Kehrwald Drive thanks to a prolonged, widespread rainfall event overnight. → Read More