MINES MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO
ITS PROFESSIONAL STAFF AT THE MONTANORE PROJECT

Spokane, Washington � December 19, 2007 � MINES MANAGEMENT, INC. (Amex: MGN, TSX: MGT) ("Mines Management" or the "Company") is pleased to announce recent appointments to its operational team at the Montanore Silver-Copper Project, located in northwestern Montana.

John Thompson is a professional engineer and has been appointed to serve as Vice President of the Company�s wholly-owned subsidiary, Montanore Minerals Corporation and General Manager of the Montanore Project. Mr. Thompson will oversee advancement of the upcoming underground drill program and the feasibility study for the Montanore Project, and will start in January, 2008.

Mr. Thompson has more than 30 years of experience in the mining sector with significant underground operations experience, including at the Stillwater platinum-palladium mine in southeastern Montana, Gulf Minerals and United Nuclear. Mr. Thompson has also provided consulting services to companies internationally including Pan American Silver, Bema Gold, Endeavour Silver, and Strathmore Minerals.

Rod MacLeod is a professional geologist who joins Mines Management as Chief Geologist and will oversee planning, analysis and handling processes for the drill program, resource estimation modeling, and collaboration with the third party contractor for the feasibility study. Mr. MacLeod has over 20 years of experience, during which time he has worked for companies including Newmont Exploration, Dakota Mining, Lacana Gold Corp, and Homestake Mining. Most recently, Mr. MacLeod worked for Phelps Dodge at its Bagdad, Arizona copper project, where he served as Senior Geologist.

Denver Winslow has been appointed as Project Engineer. A mining engineer, Mr. Winslow will oversee engineering activities for the drill program at the Montanore, and coordinate development of the planned feasibility study. Mr. Winslow has significant experience in mining operations, including with Barrick Gold as Senior Mine Engineer at the Meikle/Rodeo Mine in Nevada, as well as for Kennecott, Phelps Dodge and Asarco. Most recently, Mr. Winslow served as Senior Mine Engineer for J.R. Simplot at the Smoky Canyon Mine in Afton, Wyoming.

Mines Management's President and CEO, Mr. Glenn Dobbs, stated, "We are gratified with the high level of experience and expertise attracted to the Montanore. These and the other individuals that make up the Montanore team have already demonstrated a high level of excellence in advancing this large project and a conscientious effort to do it safely and responsibly."

The Company's Montanore Project team now totals fourteen people between the operational office in Libby and the Montanore Project site. The Company anticipates that its Libby, Montana, based team will grow to approximately 25-35 employees during 2008 as it ramps up activities related to the underground evaluation program.

Mines Management is a U.S. based mineral exploration company currently focused on advancement of the Montanore Silver-Copper Project located in northwestern Montana. The Montanore Project is currently undergoing an advanced stage underground evaluation program and permitting process.

Forward Looking Statements

Some information contained in or incorporated by reference into this report may contain forward looking statements. These statements include comments regarding the process and timing of environmental assessment and permitting activities. The use of any of the words "development", "anticipate", "continues", "estimate", "expect", "may", "project", "should", "believe", and similar expressions are intended to identify uncertainties. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward looking statements are reasonable. However, the Company cannot assure that the expectations will prove to be correct. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward looking statements as a result of the factors set forth below and other factors set forth and incorporated by reference into this report: Worldwide economic and political events affecting the supply of and demand for silver and copper; volatility in the market price for silver and copper; uncertainties associated with developing new mines; technical, permitting, mining and processing problems; the availability, terms, conditions and timing of required governmental permits and approvals, and potential opposition to the majority of permits; uncertainty regarding future changes in applicable law or implementation of existing law and the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in our Form 10-K, as amended, for the period ending December 31, 2006.