|
Subscribe | Get featured
Hey Missoula, hope your week’s off to a good start! Gold and silver surge, Neko Case, a butterfly release, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
Gas prices in context: Earlier this month, Montana’s average gas price rose 2.1¢, with prices flat from a month ago and still lower than a year ago for Missoula drivers — see Montana and national trends.
Congressional presence in flux: Rep. Ryan Zinke has closed the Missoula field office and is searching for a new site after lease wasn’t renewed at the end of 2025, leaving a gap for constituents — read the full story.
Runners face a deadline: Missoula Marathon entry fees already climbed on February 16 and will jump again on March 31, with more increases during race weekend amid an unusually warm Montana winter — see key dates and prices.
Local leaders weigh interim fixes: Holland Lake Lodge is seeking a temporary health code variance to use wastewater holding tanks while it awaits a Forest Service lagoon replacement, discussed at a Seeley Lake council meeting — read the full story.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why precious metals are back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
|
🫶 We got your back
Campus numbers climb again: UM reported spring 2026 enrollment rose to 11,123 students, up 3% from spring 2025, marking a fifth straight year of growth. Graduate programs and Missoula College helped drive gains. More than 90% of fall students returned for spring, and 72% of enrollees were Montana residents. See what’s driving the gains.
From garage to global brand: Montana Knife Company is wrapping up its new facility at the Wye west of Missoula. The onsite coffee shop is open to the public. The grand opening will be on April 11. The company has 105 employees and plans to hire 40 to 50 more over the next year. Read the full story.
Bean-to-bar bliss: Ducrey Chocolate Maker is a legit local fix for midweek cravings, with organic small-batch bars from Missoula and a sipping chocolate called The Sentinel that warms you to the core. Consider it your treat-yourself moment… no special occasion required.
Closet glow-up, anyone?: Magpies Chic Consignment Boutique makes the treasure hunt easy with stylish, gently loved pieces that feel fresh without sticker shock. It’s the kind of low-key, friendly spot you pop into “just to look,” then leave feeling unexpectedly pulled-together and pretty pleased with your smarter wardrobe.
What do people see when they search your name? Search results can surface past mistakes or outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. BetterReputation helps remove and clean up unwanted content so your online presence matches your real life today. Not worried about yourself? Doesn’t hurt to mention it to family or friends who might be.
Take control of your credit card debt: High interest can keep you stuck paying more than you need to. A balance transfer card with 0% intro APR until 2027 and no annual fee gives you time to pay down what you owe without interest working against you. By transferring your balance, more of your payment goes toward the principal so you can actually make a dent in what you owe.
|
📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
🐹 Pocket Pets and Friends @ Zootown Arts Community Center | Tuesday (2/24) at 4:00 PM – If your kid keeps turning socks into dragons, steer it to ZACC’s six-week after school sewing camp for ages 6 to 12. They’ll make fuzzy monsters and pocket pets with soft sculpture, sewing, and pattern-making, while you enjoy two quiet hours and fewer missing buttons.
🦋 Butterfly Release @ Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium | Wednesday (2/25) at 11:00 AM – Take a breather and swing by the butterfly house for the morning release, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 11 am. Watch brand-new wings test-drive the greenhouse, no confetti, just quiet magic, and a rare excuse to hush your phone. Surprisingly zen, undeniably wholesome.
🔨 Reclaimed Wood Stool @ Home ReSource | Wednesday (2/25) at 5:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to trade screen time for sawdust, here it is. Build a reclaimed-wood step stool at Home ReSource, learn the planer, jointer, and miter saw, then leave with something sturdy, useful, and actually level. All skill levels, materials provided.
This weekend
🛍 Clark Fork Winter Market @ The Badlander | Saturday (2/28) at 9:00 AM – Winter in Missoula calls for shopping indoors, so the Clark Fork crew is hosting its first-ever Winter Market at The Badlander / Locals Only downtown. Swing by Saturdays for local goods, familiar faces, and the feeling you braved snow for fresh stuff, minus the frostbite.
📿 Bead Sale @ Clark Fork Market | Saturday (2/28) at 9:00 AM – Stock up at the Clark Fork Market’s gemstone bead sale, a glittery spread from agate to amber, turquoise to tiger’s eye, lapis, onyx, and pearls. Swing by with your coffee, refresh the stash, and call it self-care, not hoarding.
🌸 Annual Orchid Show @ Caras Nursery and Landscape | Saturday (2/28) at 10:00 AM – Nothing beats a room full of diva orchids and their proud humans. Bring your own blooming beauty, owned at least a year and squeaky clean, enter for free, and vie for category bragging rights, prizes, and best in show. No pressure, just plant nerd glory.
🛠 Fix-It Clinic @ The Space | Saturday (2/28) at 11:00 AM – That stubborn lamp is out of excuses. Bring it, and your other cranky gear, to The Space DIY Studio where Fix-It coaches teach you to repair it for free. Less landfill, more know-how, and bragging rights at dinner.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
📻 Missoula report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 43°F – Low: 32°F – Precip: 92%
Rain and snow before 7am, then patchy fog and rain and snow likely between 7am and 1pm, then rain and snow likely between 1pm and 3pm, then rain and snow. Cloudy, with a high near 43. West southwest wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Later: Rain before 11pm, then rain and snow between 11pm and 2am, then rain and snow. Cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind 3 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
—
Tomorrow – High: 41°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 60%
Snow likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of snow before 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
This house is wild
Set in Stone Mountain Estates in Missoula, this bright home offers over 5,000 square feet, all above ground, pairing rustic warmth with sleek modern lines. Walls of windows frame panoramic views and sunsets. Highlights include a great room, three fireplaces, five beds and four baths, a circular drive, and two flat acres minutes from trails, skiing, dining, and the airport.
Take a peek inside →
|
🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
|
 |
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
|
|
|
|
