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 ‘All News & Opinion’ Category

Tips and Tricks for Navigating the Winter Months in Missoula

Preparing for emergency situations in winter is a task that remains a challenge not only for the county, but also to its residents.... more

Refund Policy: An Essential Part of Any Purchase

Online business owners know how exciting it is to see that someone has made a purchase on a website. But this excitement vanishes if a customer asks for a refund.... more

Olson Once Again Making a Strong Case for Defensive Player of the Year

By ERIC TABER Montana defensive coordinator Kent Baer's resume reads like a laundry list of some of the greatest programs in college football history. He's coached the Cal Golden Bears, the Stanford Card... more

Montana WILD and VA Program Helps Veterans Recover From PTSD, Substance Abuse

A collaborative program between the Montana Veterans Affairs Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park’s Montana WILD has earned national attention.... more

Griz Rise in Polls Setting Up Top-5 Showdown With Weber State

The Montana Grizzlies rose to No. 4 in the NCAA FCS Coaches' Poll and No. 5 in the STATS FCS Media Poll on Monday, setting up a top-5 showdown with No. 3 Weber State on Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in... more

Missoula Sailor Participates in Multinational Exercise in Africa

Lt. Justin Mueller, from Missoula, Montana, is currently serving in Djibouti, Africa participating in the multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express 2019... more

Cyberbullying Has Become A Pandemic

When teens or young kids, as well as adults, use electronic devices to send any threatening or intimidating message to another person, it is cyberbullying. Many will say that bullying has been around forever, i... more

“Equitable Homes for All” Subject of Two Public Meetings

“In My Backyard: Equitable Homes for All” is a two-part series of free public meetings to explore: How do we finance housing to bring down the cost and where do we put it? ... more

Memorial Rose Garden Volunteer Workday Slated for October 26

By BECKY GOODRICH - Parks and Recreation and the Missoula Rose Society invite residents to volunteer in the Garden, located at 800 Brooks, on Saturday, October 26, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.... more

Local Snowmobile Store to Host Annual Avalanche Training Event

Gull Boats & RV will host a free annual avalanche traiing event at Big Sky Brewing on October 30 at 6pm featuring instructor Mike Duffy from the American Avalanche Association.... more

How to Successfully Optimize and Manage Your Business?

Below are some of the tips that business owners could use for them to optimize and manage their business.... more

Some Tips on How to Write a Stunning Resume

Below are some of the tips that you use in order to write a stunning resume.... more

Invasive Mussels Found on Boat at CSKT AIS Check Station

A boat from Chicago bound for Seattle was quarantined and decontaminated at the Ravalli watercraft inspection station operated by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (CSKT).... more

Increase Sales By Making Deployment Easier

By MARK RIFFEY - Has your team ever watched your customers unpack, assemble, & use your product?... more

Carousel Reopens With a Little Help From Our Friends

By THERESA COX - A Carousel for Missoula reopened on Thur., Aug. 8, following a fifteen-day closure due to a broken cylinder bearing.... more

Solution is in Sight for Carousel Closure

While it isn’t possible to run down to the carousel store to buy a cylinder bearing for a 101 year old carousel, the machinists of Missoula have proven that if they know what we need, they can make it.... more

Customers For Life Are Often Made, Rather Than Found

By MARK RIFFEY - On their worst day, what can you do to make your customer's situation better, less frustrating, and memorable in a positive way?... more

What Kinds Of Posts Do People Engage With On Social Media?

The image your brand portrays on social media plays an important role in your success online.... more

Season Ticket Pick Up Party Set for Aug. 14

Season ticket holders will again get a head start on the season at the annual ticket pick up party, scheduled from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on August 14 at the Adams Center lobby.... more

Missoula’s Annual Chip Seal Program at Work

City of Missoula Street Division crews are hard at work applying oil and chips to city streets in the City’s annual Chip Seal Street Maintenance Program July 22 through Aug. 8.... more

Griz Picked Fourth, Fitfth, in Preseason Polls

By ERIC TABER - With a first-place vote in each, the Grizzlies have been selected to finish fourth by the Big Sky Conference's coaches and fifth by the media in the league's annual preseason polls.... more

Drive Sober to Save Lives

City of Missoula increases patrols to encourage sober driving during the holiday.... more

Accountability Starts With You

By MARK RIFFEY - Are you holding your team members accountable for their work based on key performance indicators (KPIs), key process areas (KPAs), and/or key result areas (KRAs)?... more

Boaters: Remember to “Clean, Drain, Dry” This Summer

By JOLEEN TADEJ - The summer boating season in Montana has begun, and more than 24,000 watercraft have already been inspected at aquatic invasive species inspection stations around the state. ... more

Lighting the Tree of Resilience

Missoula's Western Montana Lighting has the honor of supporting art installation for Parkinson’s disease awareness.... more

Poverello Center Needs Our Help!

Early in the morning of Wednesday, May 8th the Poverello Center experienced a significant plumbing failure resulting in the loss of all of their food.... more

Please Volunteer to Help Save the Dragon

Approximately one-third of that number have signed up to date. Another 1,500 volunteers are needed to turn Dragon Hollow into an all-abilities playground.... more

The Markets Are Back in Town

Clark Fork Farmer's Market, Missoula Farmers Market, Missoula People's Market is starting in Missoula in May!... more

Montana’s Special Drawing Deadlines Reminder

Montana FWP's deadlines to apply for special license drawings is May 1 for bison, moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat; and June 1 for the elk B, deer B and antelope license drawings.... more

Mount JumboNorth Zone to Remain Closed until May 15

By BECKY GOODRICH - Parks and Recreation, in consultation with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, has extended the winter wildlife closure for Mount Jumbo’s North Zone.... more

Griz Football Set to Host Marrow Registry Drive in UC Friday

By ERIC TABER - The Grizzly football team will do its part to help save lives this week by rallying the UM campus community to join the National Marrow Donor Program's Be the Match Registry.... more

High Water is Dangerous. Don’t Go!

Snowmelt creates high water in our streams and rivers. You might want to get out there in your boat, but high water can be deadly when conditions are too extreme for safe boating.... more

Thinking About Your Thinking

By MARK RIFFEY - What else can go wrong? What'd we assume? How would others think about this?... more

27th Annual Run for the Trees Slated For April 20th

By BECKY GOODRICH - Celebrate National Arbor Month with a fun walk or run along the Riverfront trail system.... more

New Community Transportation Plan Set For Implementation Soon

The community of Missoula is determined to make the roads of the city safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.... more

Montana, Michigan Paired Up Once Again

By NIC HALLISEY - Montana is headed back to the NCAA tournament, and it will begin Thursday vs. a familiar opponent.... more

Don’t Let Poor Planning Crash Your Party This St. Patrick’s Day

Increased law enforcement will be on alert in and around the Missoula area this St. Patrick’s Day weekend to deter and detect drunk drivers. ... more

Can you help your customers too much? Part 1

By MARK RIFFEY - When providing help is both the lifeblood and possible death of your business... more

Team Players Make The Team Better

By MARK RIFFEY - The best make the whole team better. But how to find them?... more

Selling Your Company?

By MARK RIFFEY - Being asked to sell your company is often unprovoked. You haven't listed it or said you're ready to retire. "I'm not ready", you might think.... more

Missoula in Motion Launches January Clear the Air Challenge

For the month of January, Missoula In Motion will challenge citizens to reduce the amount of C02 they emit into the air by trying to limit their solo driving trips.... more

Finish Important Work This Year

By MARK RIFFEY - Everything will not magically change the week of January 1st. It didn’t last year, remember?... more

Seven Deer Killed in Montana Test Positive for Wasting Disease

Officials say seven more deer killed by hunters in Montana have tested positive for a brain wasting disease.... more

An Essay on a Bird Feeder

By BRUCE AUCHLY - All animals that spend at least part of their lives in Montana have three strategies for coping with winter: leave, go to sleep or tough it out.... more

Dickenson Set For Star-Studded Hall of Fame Induction

Head coach and legendary Montana quarterback, Dave Dickenson is officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.... more

Liz Marchi: Life Interrupted

By LIZ MARCHI - As I age, I have found it very valuable to look at life’s circumstances as opportunities to learn more about this amazing journey we call life.... more

Finish Something.

By MARK RIFFEY - Unfinished, procrastinated tasks have the same effect as that bag of flour. Finish something today. Check that box.... more

Support Someone’s Dream on Small Business Saturday

The Downtown Missoula Partnership encourages all Missoulians to support the local economy by shopping and dining Downtown November 24 on Small Business Saturday.... more

Compelling Reasons to Buy

By MARK RIFFEY - Your chances of success improve when you meet someone's needs and/or wants with a compelling offer.... more

Memorial Rose Garden Volunteer Project Slated for October 27

By BECKY GOODRICH - Parks and Recreation is hosting a volunteer workday on Saturday, October 27, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.... more