The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Archive for the ‘Community’ Category

Frugal Diamond Ring Cleaner

By ERIN TURNER- Here is a quick, easy and frugal way to clean diamond rings at home!... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Jan 19

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- The Montana Grizzlies 62-47 win over the MSU Bobcats Saturday marked the ninth straight win in the series for UM.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 19

Jobs this week: Legal Assistant/Receptionist, Firefighting and Fire Management jobs, Bookkeeper, Infant/Toddler Assistant Teacher, A Conveyor Belt Technician, Forestry Nursery Workers, and more! ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Jan 19

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

The Bar Gig From Hell, Part I

By BOB WIRE- My ego was beaten like a dirty throw rug this weekend, when we played a double-header in a new bar in unfamiliar territory. I overheard someone say, “who the hell is Bob Wire?” ... more

Fire and Ice–Wildland Firefighting Recruitment Begins Mid-Winter

By CHERY SABOL - If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to explore work as a wildland firefighter this summer, hopefully another resolution was to not procrastinate.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Jan 12

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Restoring Household Order

By ERIN TURNER- This last week I spent packing up the Christmas decorations, cleaning the house after all the holiday parties and of course, hitting all the after Christmas clearance sales.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Jan 12

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- On March 7, 2009 Brad Huse’s Bobcats downed the Griz 56-54 in the Big Sky quarterfinals ending UM’s season. Since then, Montana has taken off having won 116 games to MSU's mere 71 w... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Jan 12

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 12

Jobs this week: Level 3 Mechanic(s) and Welders, Line Technician, Evironmental Health Specialt and more! ... more

The Guitar that Invented Rock n’ Roll

By BOB WIRE- The Fender Stratocaster is to rock and roll what the basketball is to basketball. Its importance to rock music can’t be overstated.... more

Frisco Is Great Location For FCS Championship Game

By JIM O'DAY - I was part of a small committee assigned to look into the facilities and communities being considered as the site for the NCAA Division I Football Championship title game starting in 2010. ... more

Liz Marchi: Paper Bliss

By LIZ MARCHI - As much as I love to clean and organize, my husband loves to keep every piece of paper that he's ever owned. Whatever your bliss is, nurture it, edit it and own it in 2015!... more

A Delicious Way to support the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Montana

This month Mothers' Milk Bank of Montana is teaming up with Liquid Planet offering "Liquid Gold" as a way of supporting the Milk Bank. Check it out!... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Jan 5

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Couponing in 2015

By ERIN TURNER- While I still am passionate about saving money and getting the very best deal available, how I save money looks different than it did 5 years ago. ... more

Citizens Urged to Call 911 to Report Mount Jumbo Trespassers

Parks & Rec Reminder: Mount Jumbo is closed for the winter and with the new snowfall Avalanche Danger is HIGH. Cititzens are urged to call 911 to report Trespassers.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Jan 5

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- It was 40 years ago this weekend that the University’s first sanctioned women’s basketball team (The Honey Bears) took the floor for its opening weekend of play.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Jan 5

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 5

Jobs this week: Field Assistants for Geophysical Surveying, a Janitorial Suprvisor, Baker, Store Supervisor, and a Portable Restoom Service Tech in the Bakken oilfields. ... more

After Christmas Savings Ideas

By ERIN TURNER- Afraid you've missed all post-Christmas sales? Not to worry. There are still many good sales opportunities and over the next two weeks the sales will get better and better.... more

It’s All About First Night–New Year’s Eve in Missoula

Celebrate New Year's Eve in Missoula First Night Missoula--the community-wide celebration of the arts with more than 80 events and activities from noon until Midnight.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Dec 29

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- For the first time in since Montana entered the Big Sky Conference the Griz and Lady Griz will play a league game on New Year’s Day. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 29

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 29

Jobs this week: A Dental Hygienist, Caregivers, Enroller/Care Coach, Housekeeping Inspector/Housekeeper, Service Writer, Over-the-road Drivers, and more! ... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Dec 22

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 12/22/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Dec 22

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- New Montana Grizzly football coach Bob Stitt is well aware of the high expectations that come with being the head coach at UM. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 22

Jobs this week: A Plans Examiner/Building Inspector, Licensed Clinical Therapist, Accounting Associate, Computer Systems Analyst and more! ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 22

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Top Album Picks for 2014

By BOB WIRE- I'm sorry, but if you make beats that doesn't make you a musician or songwriter any more than picking up dog poop makes me a veterinarian.... more

The Dark Side of Native Plant Enthusiasm

By PAUL WHEATON - What’s wrong with native plants? The problem has nothing to do with advocating for native plants, but in advocating against all other plants – not just for oneself, but for all people.... more

Missoula REALTORS Help Kids in Need Through MOR4Kids

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG- MOR4Kids has provided $33,975 in direct contributions to Missoula’s schools for food, milk, clothing, and gas to help parents get their kids to school. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Dec 15

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- No, Bob Stitt may not have any previous connection to the University of Montana, but Stitt does have something in common with Don Read and Joe Glenn...... more

Roundup of Christmas Savings Ideas

By ERIN TURNER- I’ve compiled a list of various blogs/websites which provide some fantastic ideas on how to be frugal while still getting the most out of the holidays! ... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Dec 15

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 12/15/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 8

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 15

Jobs this week: Machinist, CNC Machin Operator, Repair Dispatch Manager, Program Manager, Pick-up and Delivery Driver, Accounting Technician and more! ... more

Ten Things To Tell Your Dog Today

By BOB WIRE- My dog Houdini knows fewer English language words than Koko the gorilla. If only for one day, this magnificent beast could understand everything I’m telling him.... more

Did you Just Should on Me?

By PAUL WHEATON - The word “should” is seriously embedded in our culture and habits. And I think it is possible that it may have slightly different meanings for different people. ... more

Selling Your Home During the Winter

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG- Selling your home during the winter months can be a daunting task. However, there are distinct advantages to selling your home at this time of year. ... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Dec 8

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 12/1/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Simple Homemade Caramel Sauce

By ERIN TURNER- Every Christmas I like to make homemade gifts for family and friends. This year I am excited to be making up batches of Homemade Caramel Sauce. It's Heavenly!... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Dec 8

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- Mick Delaney’s run as Grizzly head football coach ended Saturday in Cheney with a loss to Eastern Washington. Like his 5 immediate predecessors Delaney's last game at UM was in the po... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 8

Jobs this week: Housekeepers, Mechanic, Front Office Supervisor, Communications Director, Driver/Warehouse Worker, 14 Diesel Mechanics, 4 parts counter associates, lube techs and more! ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 8

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Liz Marchi: Working in Yoga Pants

By LIZ MARCHI - What’s great about yoga pants, other than they are comfortable, is that I don’t use any mental energy getting dressed on days when I work from the barn. ... more

My Turkey Can Beat Your Turkey

By BOB WIRE- Our Thanksgiving meal was circumvented in a twisted, serpentine, Gordian knot of cooking contortions thanks to the numerous dietary considerations presented by our family.... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Dec 1

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 12/1/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Dec 1

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- This Saturday for the fifth time in their FCS play-off history the Grizzly football team has a rematch in the post-season with a team they faced in the regular season. ... more