🌱 Patch AM: How Swan Valley’s new plan could shape future growth and business

Good morning to you Missoula! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Swan Valley’s new plan could shape future growth and business
• Which Missoula stars made the prestigious East-West Shrine Game roster?
• How a new UM lab could change hearing care in Missoula

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons.

Today's riddle: What did the clock say when it ran out of batteries? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Cloudy with a bit of rain, with a high of 41 and low of 27 degrees.
• Saturday: A little snow, up to 1", temps: high: 32, low: 11. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Clouds and sun, with a high of 25 and low of 13 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Swan Valley neighborhood plan moves to County Commissioners (seeleylake.com) — Missoula County’s planning board has endorsed a new Swan Valley neighborhood plan that updates a 1995 Missoula County document and now heads to county commissioners on Jan. 29, 2026. The recommended option favors limiting large businesses and resorts while keeping zoning on homes relatively light, after two years of local debate and public input.
   

2. Rosters announced for 79th Montana East-West Shrine Game (krtv.com) — Missoula football standouts from Sentinel, Hellgate, Big Sky and Loyola have been selected for the 2025 Montana East-West Shrine all-star game in Butte. The long-running charity matchup, benefiting Shriners Children’s Hospital in Spokane, will showcase top seniors from across the state, with the West roster especially heavy on Missoula talent.
   

3. munity Medical Center in Missoula, .... (northernplainsindependent.com) — Work at Community Medical Center in Missoula is inspiring a UM student aiming to help older adults with speech and hearing challenges, while a new BEAR Lab on campus prepares to welcome real patients. Led by audiologist Anoop, the lab will partner with Rocky Mountain Ear, Nose and Throat Center and UM’s physical therapy program to study how aging, concussions, hearing, and balance intersect.
   

4. Weigel appointed to Seeley Lake Fire Board (seeleylake.com) — Missoula-area residents should know that Seeley Lake’s fire board has appointed retired Marine and former City of Missoula police officer Mike Weigel to fill a vacant seat through May 2027. With experience alongside Missoula’s fire department and statewide hospital safety work, he says he hopes to improve equipment and support local ambulance crews.
   

📸 Around Missoula

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Missoula

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Saturday December 27

• Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
  200 N Adams St , Missoula
  8:30 pm

Wednesday January 7

• The Ancient Connection Between Siberia & the Rocky Mountains
  Xplorer Maps , 1245 S 3rd St W , Missoula
  6:30 pm

📣 Missoula Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 27

• Missoula Valley Winter Market at Southgate Mall
  Southgate Mall , 2901 Brooks St , Missoula
  9:00 am
• YOGA at Big Sky Lavender Farms
  Big Sky Lavender Farms , On Chief Looking Glass at lavender flag , 21845 5 Wounds Way , Florence
  9:00 am
• Joe Martinez Band at The Jack Saloon
  The Jack Saloon , 7000 Graves Creek Rd , Lolo
  7:00 pm
• Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
  Missoula Children's Theatre , 425 E Broadway St , Missoula
  8:30 pm

Monday December 29

• Guided Tours
  Historic St. Mary's Mission , 315 Charlos St , Stevensville
  11:00 am
• Centered Strength
  Arlee Community Center , 34086 Pow Wow Rd , Arlee
  6:00 pm
• Team Trivia Monday Nights at KT’s Hayloft Saloon
  KT's Hayloft Saloon , 11885 US-93 , Lolo
  7:00 pm
• Trivia Monday Nights at KT’s Hayloft Saloon
  KT's Hayloft Saloon , 11885 US-93 , Lolo
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 31

• New Year's Eve Events at the Library! - Missoula on Main
  Missoula Public Library , 455 E Main St , Missoula
  12:00 pm
• Trivia Wednesday Night at Cranky Sam Public House
  Cranky Sam Public House , 233 W Main St , Missoula
  7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Missoula PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• We haven't been receiving my daughter's Dolly Parton's Imagination Library books for a couple of months now.
  If anyone lives on S Grant and have been receiving these, please let me know! (Nextdoor Westside)
• Happy Holidays everyone.
  May your Celebration of choice, bring you special thoughts and feelings of contentment. A New Year for Peace and goodwill towards All. (Nextdoor Westside)

• Missoula County Public Schools posted a job opening for Substitute Custodian 2025-2026 in Missoula. Apply here.
• Community Medical Ctr posted a job opening for Physician Billing - Coding Specialist OP Certified in Missoula. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Missoula here.

Ok Missoula! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I guess I’m out of time.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook