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12/19/2025
“Missoula This Week” is reported by Katie Fairbanks. Send Missoula news and tips to kfairbanks@montanafreepress.org.
Festivities continue in Missoula through New Year’s Eve as the holiday season peaks. Schools are on winter break, giving kids a chance to see Santa on Saturday before he returns to the North Pole.
The Missoula Public Library hosts a Santa story time at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Imaginarium. Children can talk to Santa, and parents can take pictures.
Residents have one last opportunity for free horse-drawn carriage rides downtown. Old West Wagon Rides will offer rides first-come, first-served from noon to 3 p.m. on East Pine Street and North Pattee Street near the Missoula Art Museum Park on Saturday and Sunday.
To relieve holiday stress, sign up for the Light the Way 5k at Fort Missoula Regional Park. A free half-mile kids’ run starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the festive 5k at 6 p.m. with lights, cookies, and cocoa. Runners can wear their ugliest sweater for the contest. More details and registration are available online.
For a cozy day, attend the Roxy Theater’s holiday movie marathon through December. Screenings include “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” on Friday and Saturday, “Die Hard” on Sunday through Tuesday, and “The Holdovers” on Dec. 28. “Meet Me in St. Louis” will be at the theater’s annex Dec. 19-21. Movie times and tickets are on the Roxy’s website.
On Christmas Day, visit the Western Montana LGBTQ+ Community Center from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for coffee, cocoa, and cookies.
Celebrate New Year with the Missoula on Main arts festival on Dec. 30-31, featuring 32 performances, workshops, and other events. Family-friendly events are from noon to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Missoula Public Library, ending with a Midnight Ball at the Hellgate Elk’s Lodge. A full schedule and tickets are available online.
Public (Parking) Notice
Downtown Missoula will see steeper parking fines and increased enforcement in the Hip Strip starting Jan. 1.
The Missoula City Council approved higher parking fees to curb repeat violations. Downtown meter fines will rise by $10 per violation from $0 to $40, reset after 180 days without violations, with improper parking violations starting at $20 and rising to $100. The University District will follow the same scale.
Earlier this fall, fines for disabled parking violations increased from $100 to $150 for the first offense to comply with a new state law, with subsequent violations rising significantly.
In November, the council expanded the Parking Commission’s jurisdiction to include the Hip Strip, introducing safety and accessibility patrols, with twice-daily patrols set for weekdays. The commission is also developing a parking permit program for the area.
Following Up
The developer proposing a gravel pit near Bonner recently responded to Missoula County’s request for more information about the project.
Riverside Contracting, Inc. applied for a permit in September, describing the project as an “opencut, sand and gravel operation” with a portable crusher and asphalt plant. The 66-acre site is unzoned, allowing for varied uses pending state approval.
Earlier this month, county commissioners paused the permit review, asking for detailed plans, including mine location, size, and mitigation strategies.
Riverside Contracting’s response stated that while the inquiries were “pertinent,” the company is in early planning stages and is evaluating potential site uses.
The developer needs a county permit for its state Department of Environmental Quality application, which will ultimately approve or deny the mine. In November, the Blackfoot River Community group urged emergency zoning to halt the project.
Caroline Krenn, the group’s founder, expressed continued concern, stating, “No amount of study changes the fundamental reality that this is a terrible place for a gravel pit.” The group requested a public hearing on their zoning request early next year.
Missoula school board chair resigns, position added to 2026 ballot
Wilena Old Person, Missoula County Public Schools’ first Native American chair, resigned this month — the fourth trustee to do so this year.
Elected to her third term last year, Old Person moved to Pryor, Montana, due to housing insecurity. She indicated plans to eventually return to Missoula, her home for over 25 years.
In her resignation letter, she expressed sadness to leave, citing institutional racism as a challenge during her tenure. She noted efforts to counter the “good ole [sic] boys club” within the district.
Old Person shared experiences of racism, such as microaggressions at school events. She began her board journey after starting a PTA at Russell Elementary, motivated by a lack of diversity in decision-making spaces.
She was notably proud of her work on the IVALUE initiative, promoting inclusivity. She advocated for adherence to the Indian Education for All Act and emphasized the district’s need for more support for students of color.
The board declared the position vacant and will accept applications until Jan. 5, with interviews set for Jan. 13. The board voted to add the position to the May 2026 ballot. More information is available on the county elections website.
5 Things to Know in Missoula
Missoula County commissioners approved a $90,000 settlement with Rhinoceros Inc. over the Zootown Music Festival alcohol contract. The Rhino bar sued after being overlooked as the vendor. The amended contract now designates The Rhinoceros as the exclusive caterer for Western Montana Fair events, except those involving Always On, LLC. The deal expires in 2026 while Always On’s festival contract extends through 2029.
Missoula County Public Schools Board joined a new statewide health insurance trust. Legislators passed House Bill 332 to reduce employee health costs. Despite some opposition, Superintendent Micah Hill cited potential savings and autonomy as benefits. The board passed the measure with contingencies in a 7-3 vote.
Missoula City Council will hold a Jan. 5 hearing on a proposed radio tower in South Hills. The Lighthouse Baptist Church seeks to build an 80-foot tower for FM radio broadcasts, sparking noise and height concerns from neighbors. Insulation will address noise issues, and the tower’s location was adjusted to preserve views.
A memorial for unhoused individuals who died in 2025 will be held at Caras Park. The Poverello Center and partners will host the 5:30 p.m. event, featuring speakers, an honor song, and a reading of names. The public is invited to reflect and support the community.
Missoula seeks feedback on its website before a planned redesign. The city wants input to make improvements. The online survey runs until Dec. 30, coinciding with a $75,000 budget allocation for website modernization next year.
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