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

MDA Announces Downtown Holiday Window Decorating Winners

(Photo Gallery) Fact & Fiction Bookstore won the MDA’s Best Overall Window in the annual Downtown Window Decorating Competition. Here are the other winners.... more

Dec 19-20 Last Chance for Free Horse Drawn Carriage Rides

With just eight days of shopping left before Christmas, this Sat.and Sun., Dec. 19-20 will be the last two days for FREE horse-drawn carriage rides, offered by the MDA.... more

Is Your Business 2016 Ready?

By MARK RIFFEY - Planning for 2016 is about more than adjusting numbers in a spreadsheet.... more

Avoid a DUI During the Holiday Crackdown

By TRAVIS WELSH-From Dec.16 through Jan. 2, law enforcement across the state will add extra patrols during the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” national crackdown. ... more

Jones Named Montana’s All-Time Leading Receiver

By ERIC TABER - (PHOTO GALLERY) Jamaal Jones earns place in Montana Football history books after all.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 14

Featured Jobs: A legal assistant , paralegal, manager/bookeeper, line/prep cook and customer service agent, over-the-road truck driver, wildland firefighters & more.... more

Break Out the Snow Shovels

Snow is falling and is expected to accumulate over the weekend. Now it’s time for residents to do their part by keeping the sidewalks in front of their homes and businesses clear.... more

Do They Have Each Other’s Back?

By MARK RIFFEY - Culture is critical, not only day to day, but to make sure you can take a punch.... more

Crittenden Set For “Academic Heisman” Ceremony

Montana defensive end and Rhodes Scholarship finalist Derek Crittenden is one of 12 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Read more about the Press Conference/Award.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 7

Featured Jobs: A parking Services Director, Restaurant Team Members, Store Merchandiser, Sales & Marketing Assistant, Shipping & Recieving Clerk, Financial Specialist & more.... more

TubaChristmas Comes Again to Missoula

TubaChristmas will take place on Friday, Dec. 11 at Southgate Mall Center Clock Court. Local tubist and euphoniumists--sign-up now!... more

Holmes and Jones Named Griz MVPs at Annual Awards Banquet

By ERIC TABER-Defensive end Tyrone Holmes and wide receiver Jamaal Jones have been named the University of Montana's 2015 Steve Carlson Award co-winners for Griz football’s MVPs.... more

Downtown Missoula Parade of Lights Saturday, Dec 5

The 13th Annual Parade of Lights will take place this Saturday, December 5, 2015 in Downtown Missoula. Santa will arrive in Downtown at 1 pm at the Historic Florence Building.... more

Crittenden Named to Academic All-America First Team

By ERIC TABER-Montana Grizzly football captain and senior defensive end Derek Crittenden has been named to the 2015 Academic All-America® Division I football first team.... more

Griz Legend Becomes Head Coach of Calgary Stampeders

By ERIC TABER-Dave Dickenson, the quarterback who led Montana to its first National Championship has now taken over as the head coach of the Calgary Stampeders.... more

Strategies to Improve Your Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday

By MARK RIFFEY -The rushes are over. What did you learn? What can you fix now? What needs to be fixed for next time? Write it down.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 30

Featured Jobs: An Insulation Installer/Driver, Auto Detailer, Production Team Member, Treatment Services Technician, Respite Provider, Administrative Assistant, and more.... more

Elk Harvest at Augusta Check Station Best in 20 Years

By BRUCE AUCHLY-Hunters on a portion of the Rocky Mountain Front this fall took home more elk than any year in the past 20.... more

Mount Jumbo Wildlife Closure Begins December 1

By BECKY GOODRICH-Most of Mount Jumbo closes to recreational use during the winter months to protect wintering elk. Read more about the closures areas.... more

Where to Watch the Griz Playoff Game

By ERIC TABER - Fans across the nation can tune in LIVE to watch the Griz take on South Dakota State in the opening round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs exclusively via web stream on ESPN 3. ... more

Support Someone’s Dream on Small Business Saturday

Saturday, Nov 28 marks the fifth annual Small Business Saturday. Downtown Missoula businesses are participating in the event that saw $14.3 billion in consumer spending nationally last year. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 23

Featured Jobs: A Human Resources Generalist, Administrative Assistant, Lead Teacher, Accounting Clerk, Legal Assistant/Paralegal and more.... more

Downtown Holiday Decor to be Installed This Week

With support from the Missoula Downtown Foundation and the City , the MDA has funded the holiday décor infrastructure repairs to light and decorate Downtown Missoula for the season. ... more

Lessons From Working at Home

By MARK RIFFEY -Geoffrey James put together a list of 10 lessons learned from his working from home. I’ve worked at home and in my kayak since 1999 so I thought I'd chime in. ... more

Holmes Picks Up Second Big Sky Player of the Week Award

By ERIC TABER-Tyrone Holmes has been named the BSC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.... more

Griz Move Up in Rankings, Playoff Picture Taking Shape

Playoff hopes remain alive following Montana’s 57-16 dismantling of then No. 10 EWU. The Grizzlies have moved up to No. 17 in both the FCS media and Coaches’ polls.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 16

Featured Jobs: A Marketing Director, Inventory Clerk, TIG Welder, Deputy Coordinator of Disaster and Emergency Services, General Laborers, An Adult and Youth Case Manager, & more!... more

Your Referrals Leave An Impression

By MARK RIFFEY -Only a fool would believe that a referral doesn’t reflect on the one who makes it. So why do it poorly?... more

Police Dept. Accepting Applications for Citizens’ Law Enforcement Academy

By LAURIE CLARK - The Missoula Police Department is accepting applications for its 2016 Citizens' Law Enforcement Academy (CLEA). ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 9

Featured Jobs: Permanent Fire Positions with the Northern Rockies Region of the Forest Service, Substitute workers, a Full-time Recreation specialist & more!... more

Governor Bullock to Headline Carousel Expansion Groundbreaking Event

Governor Bullock will be on hand to help A Carousel for Missoula celebrate the groundbreaking on its 640 square foot expansion Monday, Nov. 9 at 11:00a.m.... more

Five Region 4 Districts With Deer Hunting Changes in November

By BRUCE AUCHLY-Deer hunters need to be aware of changes taking place this month in five hunting districts in Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 4, north central Montana.... more

U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to Visit Missoula During 2015 Trek

“People’s Tree” To Make Historic Journey from Alaska to Washington D.C. As the nation’s Christmas tree makes its way from Alaska to Wash., D.C. it will stop in Missoula on November 8, 2015.  Music, cr... more

Crittenden a Finalist for Rhodes Scholarship

By ERIC TABER-University of Montana football team captain and William V. Campbell Trophy finalist Derek Crittenden is officially one step closer to becoming a Rhodes Scholar.... more

Hunters Report Self Defense in Two Grizzly Bear Deaths

By JOLEEN TADEJ-Montana wildlife officials said today that two grizzly bears were killed last week in separate incidents reported by hunters in southwestern Montana.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 2

Featured Jobs: A Registered Nurse, Salesperson for Manufactured Homes, Roofing Laborer, Library Page, Delinquent Collection/Treasurer & more!... more

Draught Works Brewery And Volunteer Missoula Launch Pints for Partnership Program

Volunteer Missoula is partnering with Draught Works Brewery to launch a new Pints For Partnership Program.... more

Crittenden a Finalist for College Football’s Premiere Scholar-Athlete Award

By ERIC TABER - Montana football team captain Derek Crittenden has been announced as one of 12 finalists for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy.... more

Leaf Collection Starts Monday, Nov. 2

The City of Missoula will begin fall leaf pickup on Monday, Nov. 2, starting in the neighborhoods north of the Clark Fork River during the first week. ... more

Making Employees Feel Safe

By MARK RIFFEY -When people don’t feel safe, it damages every conversation. Often they say nothing, as if they have no opinion, have nothing to add, and agree with whatever’s already been said.... more

Simis Earns Accolades, Griz Move Up After UND Win

By ERIC TABER - When you tie the Montana school record for touchdown passes in a single game, in your first college football start, people sit up and take notice.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Oct 26

Featured Jobs: Health-care-related positions, Therapist, Caregivers, Road Reporter, Family Advocate, Registered Nurse, Clinic Receptionist & more!... more

The Ones You Can’t Trust

By MARK RIFFEY -Stop putting up with them. Stop encouraging them. Stop tolerating them.... more

Liz Marchi: Curiosity and Perfection

By LIZ MARCHI - I am so glad I lived to read Lean In by Cheryl Sandburg. She affirms both curiosity and bossiness as positive attributes in girls. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Oct 19

Featured Jobs: Bookkeeper, Auto Detailer, Program Director, Mobile-Home Set-Up Worker, Medical Scribe/Assistant, Habilitation Technician HVAC Installer & more!... more

On The Playing Field, Little Things Matter

By MARK RIFFEY -Little things drive the quality of your customers' experience but they don't happen by accident.... more

Missoula Food Bank Expands Efforts to End Childhood Hunger

As part of Missoula Food Bank’s ongoing efforts to address the growing issue of childhood hunger in our community, our food local bank is launching Kids Table Afterschool. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Oct 12

Featured Jobs: A Behavioral Intervention Specialist, Kitchen Manager, Kitchen Staff, part-time Clerk, Assistant Art Museum Director, Parent as Teachers Educator, & more!... more

Liz Marchi: Seasons Change

By LIZ MARCHI - Fall has arrived and we are preparing the ranch for winter. We downsized this year but the plan is to ranch until the end. I am good with that.... more

Selling, Marketing and Wyoming’s Cutt-Slam

By MARK RIFFEY -The fish rejects your fly for the same reason that prospects ignore your message.... more