people, places & issues

Male Griz Athlete

Was there a more breath-taking display of athleticism than Marc Mariani’s playoff performance this past year? The 93 yard kick return and the go-ahead TD catch in the sensational game against South Dakota State? The diving, lunging catch in the first quarter against Villanova in the National Championship game? The way he could work his way down the field after the catch on a constant basis? Easy to see why the talented wide receiver took the top spot this year.

  1. Marc Mariani
  2. Chase Reynolds
  3. John Halligan

Female Griz Athlete

She could have gone to Princeton and played basketball in the Ivy Leagues. Or Penn State. Or any number of Division I basketball programs. Instead, she chose the mountains of Montana and the winning ways of Lady Griz coach Robin Selvig. Sadly, Katie Baker is out for the remainder of her freshman season with a knee injury. But not before she showed what she’s capable of by putting up jaw-dropping numbers in her first few games as a Grizzly. And she already won the hearts of many of our readers. This was a close vote with Lady Griz stars Shaunte Nance-Johnson and Sarah Ena garnering a lot of votes as well.

  1. Katie Baker
  2. Shaunte Nance-Johnson
  3. Sara Ena

Sports Coach

It’s not just Lady Griz basketball games that Robin Selvig wins on a regular basis. It’s Missoula’s Choice awards, too. Having won Missoula’s Choice for sports coach last year and 2008, the mastermind behind the always-intimidating NCAA basketball team has run a consistently impressive program with team after team winning Big Sky Conference titles. Men’s Griz basketball coach Wayne Tinkle and gone-to-UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck got in the top three.

  1. Robin Selvig
  2. Wayne Tinkle
  3. Bobby Hauck

UM Professor

Anthropology professor Gary Kerr doesn’t just bring the study of human culture to his students, he also brings his students to the study of human culture. Last year, Kerr took some of his students to Tanzania and Zanzibar in east Africa to get a look at the archeological site of Olduvai Gorge where early human ancestors lived. Also in the top three were Health and Human Performance professor Gene Burns and Darryl Stolle from UM’s College of Education and Human Sciences.

  1. Gary Kerr
  2. Gene Burns
  3. Darryl Stolle

Interesting Public Official

Just what does ‘interesting’ mean? Entertaining? Definitely. Humorous? Probably. A male mayor who will put on a super-sized dress for a role as Mother Ginger in the Nutcracker Ballet? Evidently. The self-deprecating, low key mayor of Missoula, John Engen, ran away with this one to probably no one’s surprise.

  1. Mayor John Engen
  2. City councilman Jason Weiner
  3. Judge Don Louden

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Police Officer

It’s quite possible that the best cops go largely unnoticed by the general population. That may explain why the winner of this competition has been retired from the Missoula police force for four years. Rocky Harris, who has been working as an investigator for the state department of justice for several years, got the most number of votes this year. Community resource officer Jim Johnson and investigator Guy Baker, however, are both currently serving on the police force and got a heap of votes each.

  1. Rocky Harris
  2. Jim Johnson
  3. Guy Baker

Non-Profit

Missoula has outstanding non-profits. Many grassroots, community building, compassionate places that strive to help and to help in the right way. It’s a tough contest trying to whittle that down to three. The Poverello has been a staple in Missoula and has been helping the homeless and working to find permanent solutions to homelessness and at-risk families for nearly 35 years. The Missoula Food Bank and Planned Parenthood were also recognized.

  1. The Poverello Center
  2. Missoula Food Bank
  3. Planned Parenthood

Employer

Missoula is home to many mid to small businesses, many of which are probably great places to work. But we all know the university and the hospitals in town are the big draws and it’s no surprise that the University of Montana took the top spot and St. Pat’s got second. Opportunity Resources which does an amazing job of facilitating employment for the disabled also received a good amount of votes.

  1. University of Montana
  2. St. Patrick Hospital
  3. Opportunity Resources

Local Blog

Where do you go when you want an unfiltered clearing house for all things UM sports? Egriz.com. The site, which includes scores, stats, pictures, a message board, and even a Facebook application enables Griz sports fans from near and far an easy way to keep up to date and rant or rave about the latest game. Montana blog and news site of political and cultural issues in the Big Sky state, 4 & 20 Blackbirds got some love as did beer aficionado Tim Akimoff and his Grizzly Growler blog.

  1. egriz.com
  2. 4&20 Blackbirds
  3. Grizzly Growler

Local Radio Station

The Trail FM at 103.3 on the radio dial just recently bucked the media consolidation trend when it got bought by three local media entrepreneurs. The station, which plays a nice blend of new and older rock music from respected, quality acts squeaked out a win over contemporary pop station 107.5 Zoo FM. Missoula mainstay Z100 rounded out the list.

  1. Trail 103.3 FM
  2. Zoo FM 107.5
  3. Z100 100.1 FM

Local Radio Personality

While country radio didn’t make the top 3 list for stations in this year’s awards, KYSS FM and Missoula DJ mainstays Craig & Al were the people’s choice for radio personalities. The duo who have long made us chuckle in the morning got a close contest from the “tallest DJ in America” Aaron Traylor from Zoo FM (he’s 6’10”). Z100’s morning duo, Brian and Chris had their share of fans as well.

  1. Craig & Al
  2. Aaron Traylor
  3. Brian & Chris

Local TV Station

Local news is like a nice, warm blanket at the end of the day. It’s always there to comfortably wrap up what went on in Missoula that day. You find out what to expect from the weather the next day and what kind of small talk the anchors will make as they transition from news to sports and weather. Voters liked KPAX’s style the most this year and KECI came in close behind.

  1. KPAX
  2. KECI
  3. KUFM

Local TV Personality

While KPAX took the top spot for local TV station, KECI’s Hasalyn Harris, one of the anchors of its morning show Montana Today, drew the most votes for TV personality. Harris garnered a lot of attention when she went to Havana, Cuba on assignment and gave local viewers a look at the communist country. She’ll probably be among the favorites for years until NBC replaces her with Jay Leno. Perennial favorite Jill Valley was also honored as was energetic meteorologist Mark Heyka.

  1. Hasalyn Harris
  2. Jill Valley
  3. Mark Heyka

Local Meteorologist

Mark Heyka may very well dream in doppler radar. It’s hard to find a person who loves to explore the intricacies of weather patterns and explain them in an easy-to-follow way at the same time more than Heyka. Who else would have taught us the word graupel? KPAX’s Russ Thomas and KECI First Alert weatherman Adam Painter also made the top three.

  1. Mark Heyka
  2. Russ Thomas
  3. Adam Painter

Local Print Reporter

For this spot, Missoulian reporter Tristan Scott got the most votes. Scott who, in addition to doing a thorough and immersive job of reporting on the gripping WR Grace trial last year, covers breaking police and fire news with clarity and professionalism.

  1. Tristan Scott
  2. Michael Moore
  3. Jamie Kelly

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Local Photographer

Even in this day of ubiquitous digital video, there is still something about photography that can’t be captured any other way. A good picture finds the essence of its subject, telling us as much, if not more, about something in a millisecond than in five minutes of film. Missoula’s Choice voters picked professional photographer Youa Vang. Professional photographer Jamie Lynn Reil and Missoulian photojournalist Michael Gallacher were also popular vote getters.

  1. Youa Vang
  2. Jamie Lynn Reil
  3. Michael Gallacher

Top Local Story of 2009

Nothing good about the top local story this year. The Smurfit Stone closure is a tough blow both for our local economy but even more acutely to the workers who will be laid off in the middle of a tough economy. The long smokey Kootenai Creek Fire that seemed to last as long as the summer itself took second and the raucous brawling bachelor party that stretched from Hooter’s to Red’s came in third.

  1. Smurfit-Stone closure
  2. Kootenai Creek Fire
  3. Frenchtown Groom Assault Story

Spot for First Date

It’s safe to say you’d have a much different experience on a first date at the top vote getting destination than the second place spot. At Washington Grizzly Stadium, you’d probably not have the most in-depth conversation and there’s a pretty good chance you’d get some beer spilled on you. But then again, you’re more likely to jump up and yell in excitement. If, instead, you chose Big Dipper ice cream, you’d get a chance to have a real discussion with your potential companion, but you might fall in love with something sweeter and richer than the person you came with.

  1. Washington Grizzly Stadium
  2. Big Dipper
  3. Caras Park

Mingle if Single

A college town is a preferable place to live for a single person. There are a lot of bars and activities geared toward the person on the prowl. Yet, Missoula is not peppered with sleazy meat market joints. The top spot to mingle if single for Missoula’s Choice voters was the vibrant, always busy Iron Horse. For a different flavor, voters also thought Charlie B’s was a pretty good joint to meet and greet and the Badlander got its share of votes as well.

  1. Iron Horse
  2. Charlie B’s
  3. The Badlander

Playground/Park

Bonner and Caras Park are the epitome of multi-use facilities. Bonner has the bandshell, the playground equipment, oodles of green, open space and the newly installed spray park. It’s great for picnics, volleyball, symphonies and just plain running around. Caras Park has Brennan’s Wave, The Carousel, the tent for activities from Brew Fest to Out to Lunch, and is not a bad spot for a wedding. It also has Dragon’s Hollow, which many Missoula voters particularly like.

  1. Bonner Park
  2. Caras Park
  3. Dragon’s Hollow

Running Route

Considering it runs by the river, the university, and downtown, it’s easy to see why the Kim Williams Trail would be the most popular place to run. It also helps that it’s mostly a slope-less route and goes on for a long way. The Rattlesnake, with its scenic beauty, had fans too.

  1. Kim Williams Trail
  2. The Rattlesnake
  3. Greenough Park

Place to Walk Your Dog

If the census counted dogs, Missoula might easily double in size. It’s hard to go anywhere in town without seeing at least a couple of people walking their dogs and downtown is almost lined with dogs waiting for their owners to emerge from whatever store they are in. They’ve replaced the horses of yesteryear. It’s not surprising, then, that Bark Park, designed specifically for dog owners, was the place receiving the most votes. It’s open, it includes river access and the always-important poo-poo picker upper bag. Blue Mountain, which sometimes feels like a dog family reunion, came in a close second.

  1. Bark Park
  2. Blue Mountain
  3. Kim Williams Trail

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Hiking Trail

The walk up Mount Sentinel to the M can leave you gasping for air. But the view of the Missoula Valley, once you make it to the M, will take your breath away. On just about any sunny day, you can see from afar active waves of people going up and down the switchbacks. The popular landmark in Missoula was the easy winner in this category.

  1. The “M”
  2. The Rattlesnake
  3. Greenough Park

Cross-Country Ski Trail

There aren’t many outdoor activities better for your health than cross-country skiing. Combine that with the fact that you’re immersed in the depths of the beauty of nature in the winter and you don’t have to come up with many more reasons to go. Lolo Pass has long been a popular spot for skiing and got the most votes this year. Pattee Canyon and The Rattlesnake were also noted spots.

  1. Lolo Pass
  2. Pattee Canyon
  3. The Rattlesnake

Mountain Biking Trail

It didn’t win the top spot for running route, hiking trail or cross country ski trail, but the Rattlesnake did prove to be, by a wide margin, the favorite place to go mountain biking by Missoula’s Choice voters. And why not? It’s long, elevation-changing trail and access to wilderness is a mountain biker’s dream.

  1. The Rattlesnake
  2. Blue Mountain
  3. Pattee Canyon

Second-Best Fishing Spot

This is where you tell your out-of-town visiting guests to go. You want to make sure they get a good taste of fishing in the area but you also don’t want them hitting your spot and taking that prized rainbow you just barely missed netting. You know, the one that was THIS big.

  1. Russell Street Bridge
  2. Blackfoot River
  3. Bitterroot River

Ski Resort

Yet another category that you wouldn’t find in an Iowa competition, the skiing options for Missoulians is somewhat like throwing a rock and going where it lands. Local resort Snowbowl edged out the slightly more distant Discovery Ski Area in Philipsburg. Sula’s Lost Trail Powder Mountain had many fans too.

  1. Snowbowl
  2. Discovery Ski Area
  3. Lost Trail Powder Mountain

Golf Course

In these winter months, golfers around Missoula can think about the upcoming season, picturing that perfect stroke and that gently carrying ball with just the right amount of backspin to land a few feet from the hole. You know, fiction.

  1. Canyon River
  2. The University Golf Course
  3. Ranch Club

Folf Course

You say the word “folf” outside of Missoula and you’re likely to get a strange look. Apparently, the rest of the country seems to think it’s called “Frisbee Golf.” Please. With courses like the ones at Blue Mountain and Pattee Canyon, you go with the people who have the best spots to play.

  1. Blue Mountain
  2. Pattee Canyon
  3. Frenchtown

Area Attraction

For most of us, the city itself would easily be considered the main attraction. But if you want to break it down, voters think Griz football, the Carousel, and the Farmer’s Market are the three best places to go to maximize your Missoula experience.

  1. Griz Football
  2. The Carousel
  3. The Farmer’s Market

Weekend Getaway

This is a category where you could blindfold yourself, spin around several times, and then point in any direction and you’re bound to be headed for a good weekend trip. Still, with the intimidatingly beautiful Glacier Park just three hours away and the gorgeous Flathead Lake even closer, there are two good northern choices. Swinging over east to Fairmont Hot Springs for winter skiing at Discovery and a good soaking in the hot springs isn’t too shabby either

  1. Glacier National Park
  2. Flathead Lake
  3. Fairmont Hot Springs

Climbing Spot

Life in the Rocky Mountains offers a seemingly-infinite supply of views for those willing to climb to get there. This would be a much more difficult category in Iowa. If you want a good look at the town, somewhere where you can say, “I can see my house from here,” your best bet is probably the M. That’s what our readers picked for their favorite climbing destination.

  1. The M
  2. Kootenai Canyon
  3. Mount Sentinel

Place to People Watch

There’s always a rich supply of people at the Missoula Southgate Mall. Combine that with the fact that it’s indoors and there are plenty of benches, and you have numerous opportunities to watch people coming out of basically any store in the building. The festive Caras Park was also a hot spot for people watching as was the always-crowded Saturday Farmers Market.

  1. Southgate Mall
  2. Caras Park
  3. Farmers Market

Things You Love to Hate

Driving around town can make you either laugh or cry. Looks like a good chunk of Missoula’s Choice voters do a bit of both as traffic was the most cited head-shaker. Missoula hippies are also a popular subgroup to joke about as are those seemingly endless supply of people driving Subarus with Obama stickers on them. That was so one year ago!

  1. Traffic
  2. Hippies
  3. Mindless Obama Liberals

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