Stories for December 2006

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Wednesday, December 27

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Drug busts nab meth dealers

A collaborative effort by the Northwest Drug Task Force, Montana State Division of Criminal Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Montana State Adult Probation and Parole has led to the arrests of six mid- to high-level methamphetamine traffickers in the area.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Thanks to VFW and Auxiliary

The family of James C. "Jimmy" Meyers Jr. would like to take this time to thank everyone for their many kindnesses following the untimely death of our brother, Jim.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

He is not a marine

I am writing this letter to apologize for my actions. For years I have lied about having served in the U.S. Marine Corps. I have repeated this lie to my family, my friends, my acquaintances, my federal probation officer and to the Honorable Donald W. Molloy, Chief United States District Judge for the District of Montana.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Park bridge work will result in temporary area closure

The North Lake McDonald Bridge (also known as the Kelly Camp Bridge), located approximately .5 miles behind the winter vehicular closure at Lake McDonald Lodge, is temporarily closed to pedestrians due to structural damage sustained during the November flooding. Glacier Park officials also report that two recently discovered washouts along the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road- approximately three and five miles beyond Avalanche- will undergo emergency repairs this winter. Officials hope to begin work on the bridge and the washouts in January and to complete the projects within a month. During bridge construction an area closure, similar to the spring closure, will be in place for the shoreline from the north end of the Lake McDonald Lodge complex to the inlet below this bridge. The closure will mitigate for construction disturbance on bald eagles .

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Community Choir

The Columbia Falls Community Choir will begin practices Jan. 7 from 2-4 p.m. Sundays at the Columbia Falls Junior High. Sign-in and music pickup is from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at the first practice. There are 12 practices this year, with the final rehearsal March 30. The concert is March 31. For more information, call 892-5174.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Girls start conference play at 1-1

Hungry Horse News

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Martha Allen

Martha Mary Allen, 89, passed away peacefully at Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Dec. 21, 2006, with her family by her side.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Afghanistan traffic stop

I would love to see what would happen the first time police chief Bill Dial gives a ticket for defective windshield wipers, license plate light out or rolling-stop to a Taliban rebel. That could be the main attraction for the next Merry Maker.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Resolution revolution

Sigmund Freud, in his "Pleasure Principle," basically stated that every act a human undertakes is done with the intent of making that person happy.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Richard Guymon

Richard Michael 'Mike' Guymon, 56, passed away at his home in Missoula on Nov. 22, 2006.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Lois Gee

Lois Jean Gee, 76, passed away on Dec. 19, 2006, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Don't marginalize immigrants

It is puzzling to read both that the United States is a nation of immigrants and that immigration is a threat to the United States. The "Hispanic transformation" of the Western states described in Bob Brown's op-ed piece deserves our attention, certainly, but equally deserves careful consideration of national and local policy alternatives.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Community

Mike Richeson/Bigfork Eagle

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Twenty years ago

2006, about to end this week, was not the best kind of year for my personal family or for my radio family so . . . would prefer going back 20 years to a better one: - REMEMBER 86-

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Students deserve financial support

I t was just about this time of year 35 years ago when the Congress passed into law a peculiarly American idea — every person should have access to a college or university.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

Jack Oliver

Jack J. Oliver, 83, died of natural causes Dec. 9, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. His loving family was with him.

December 27, 2006 11 p.m.

The best of 2006 part I

Jan. 5

Friday, December 22

December 22, 2006 11 p.m.

Meeting the Canadians on mutual ground

Relations between Canada and the United States have been at low ebb in recent years. What with differences over the invasion of Iraq and scraps over lumber and cattle, it seems important that folks get a chance to look each other in the eye once in a while and talk about mutual concerns. We shouldn't allow distrust and suspicion to overshadow cross-border friendships and the great deal we have in common.

December 22, 2006 11 p.m.

Brown supports a 2,000-mile long southern border fence

Except for Native Americans, we are a nation of immigrants as noted in the title of the 1958 book by that name written by John F, Kennedy.

December 22, 2006 11 p.m.

Board votes to deny recommendation for South Fork Addition

Hungry Horse News

December 22, 2006 11 p.m.

Evelyn Janicke

Evelyn Janicke, age 89, passed away Dec. 12, 2006, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

December 22, 2006 11 p.m.

Support your local coffee kiosk

It had to arrive sooner or later I guess. What a shame there's going to be a Starbucks in the new Safeway store.

December 22, 2006 11 p.m.

Keep Montana Expresso

Montana Expresso is a company with wonderful people and great coffee that over the years has donated all of its profits to area youth.

December 22, 2006 11 p.m.

Clark Leaphart

Clark Leaphart, 82, passed away surrounded by his family on Dec. 10, 2006.

December 22, 2006 11 p.m.

Glenda Reed

Glenda Mae Reed, 72, passed away Dec. 15, 2006, held in the arms of her family at Brendan House in Kalispell.

December 22, 2006 11 p.m.

Donna Henderson

Donna Marie (Long) Henderson, 45, went home to be with our heavenly Father on Friday, Dec. 9, 2006, at her home in Whitefish.

December 22, 2006 11 p.m.

Whitefish grapplers face-off against Eureka

Whitefish Bulldog wrestlers pinned Eureka grapplers in four different matches to win a dual in Eureka on Tuesday night, 48-33.

Thursday, December 21

December 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Community Choir

The Columbia Falls Community Choir will begin practices Jan. 7 from 2-4 p.m. Sundays at the Columbia Falls Junior High. Sign-in and music pickup is from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at the first practice. There are 12 practices this year, with the final rehearsal March 30. The concert is March 31. For more information, call 892-5174.

December 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Hurricane-force winds recorded in Glacier

Hungry Horse News

December 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Alvin A. Larsen, 54, passed away Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006, near Columbia Falls.

He was born May 11, 1952 in Fargo, N.D.

December 21, 2006 11 p.m.

By HEIDI DESCH

Hungry Horse News

Wednesday, December 20

December 20, 2006 11 p.m.

Stop attacking the attacked

Isn't about time to get off the cat crusade? If you look at the facts, and the intent of the situation, there is no way a reasonable person could conclude that there is cause to continue to attack and accuse the people directly involved.

December 20, 2006 11 p.m.

Bloopers for Christmas

A column of stolen bloopers is better than what I had started about crime, especially this close to Christmas; so we are running a few more of the student reports collected by Richard Lederer at St. Pauls School. In the first collections we learned Sir Francis Drake had circumcised the world with a 100-foot clipper. There is more:

December 20, 2006 11 p.m.

Evelyn Janicke

Evelyn Janicke, age 89, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell Montana. She was born Oct. 21, 1917 in Wannaska, Minnesota to John and Emma Johnson.

December 20, 2006 11 p.m.

Kenneth William "Ted" Young

Kenneth William "Ted" Young, 88, passed away at his home on Dec. 12. He was born on June 3, 1918 to Hollis and Ethel Young in Chinook, Montana.

December 20, 2006 11 p.m.

Glenda Mae Reed

Glenda Mae Reed, age 72, passed away on Friday, Dec. 15, held in the arms of her family at the Brendan House in Kalispell, Montana. She was born on Sept. 19, 1934 in Kalispell to Glen and Thelma Mikesell. She was raised on the family farm west of Whitefish. Glenda attended grade school and high school in Whitefish.

December 20, 2006 11 p.m.

Enough is enough

I'm writing in to reference to those few, three or four, who have written in to the Eagle and the Inter Lake regarding the incident at Sliters where they have castigated Mr. Dalton for the actions he took in protecting his business and his employees. The writings in my opinion are not only ridiculous but if it had not appeared in an opinion column would be libelous.

Thursday, December 14

December 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Winfred Conway

Winfred F. "Win" Conway, 91, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Dec. 8, 2006, at Brendan House, in Kalispell.

December 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Lucia Waldt

Lucia H. Waldt, 83, went into eternal rest at Brendan House in Kalispell on Dec. 8, 2006. Much of her family was present to comfort her.

December 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Donna Henderson

Donna Marie Henderson, 45, a Flathead Valley resident, passed away Saturday, Dec. 9 2006, at her home of natural causes.

December 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Hate groups and their death threats

Have you ever wondered what a high-caliber rifle bullet would do to a human head?

December 14, 2006 11 p.m.

First glimpse of new auditorium

Many thanks to more than 125 people who visited the new Middle School Auditorium and Performing Arts Center last Friday evening.

December 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Christmas cards sought for Ole

Merle "Ole" Beller, who returned this summer to Whitefish, where he was born and raised and still has family and friends, has since been residing in the French Prairie Nursing Center in Woodburn, Ore., where he and his mate, Judi Slack, resided prior to his need for care in the nursing center.

December 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Does Tester have the starch?

Many Montana gun owners have asked me how we fared with the outcome of the recent Montana election for U.S. Senator. The short answer is, only time will tell.

December 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Protecting our waterways

On Monday, Dec. 4, the Whitefish City Council approved a proposal by councilor John Muhlfeld to increase setbacks to 75 feet on Whitefish waterways.

Wednesday, December 13

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

Letter from Iraq

My name is Mike Dooley, and I am currently serving with the Military Police in Baghdad, Iraq. My wife is Kari Dooley who some of you may know from the Lake View Care Center. I'm writing this to say Happy Holidays and to say that I am very proud to be a part of your community. I grew up in Montana, but have traveled all over the world in the service of our country. I have never found a place that I love as much as the Flathead Valley and the Bigfork community. You should all be proud of where you live, and happy that you have such caring friends as the people in this community. I will not be with you on this holiday, but thinking about Bigfork all dressed up for Christmas makes me feel a little closer to home. To my wife and children, I love and miss you all very much! To the people of Bigfork, please take the time to be nice to one another! I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!SSG Michael B. Dooley, Jr.Live from Iraq

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

Stewart, Ruth M. (nee Donovan)

Beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, Age 91.

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

A cat's life

Could we all pause for a second and take a deep breath?

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

London

relief

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

New fire captains

After losing numerous fire captains and gaining a large class of new recruits, the Bigfork Volunteer Fire Department found itself in new of more captains.

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

Speech and drama delivers in Whitefish

This week at the drama, speech and debate meet Dec. 9 in Whitefish, Bigfork had another triumphant day. Overall, Bigfork placed fifth in Speech and second in drama.

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

Felt sentenced to 40 months

Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on Dec. 8, 2006, before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, Myron "Mike" Kenneth Felt, a 77-year-old resident of Bigfork, appeared for sentencing. Felt was sentenced to a term of:

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

Mass

St. Richard's Catholic Church will celebrate a Christmas candlelight mass at 7 p.m. Dec. 24 with mass at 10 a.m. Christmas day.

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

Unbelievable but true stories

Sometimes news stories coming in over the wires, or I should say, "through the computers", are so far out it is difficult believing the facts are correct. Nowadays crazy acts and even crazier statements are getting more common, both in the government and in the citizen world.

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

Family is the foundation of our culture

Thanks you residents of Flathead and Lake Counties who supported me during my primary and general elections.

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

CFAC protests taxes

According to documents, company claims 807 acres of land it owns is worth $1

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

Bigfork does need a new Library, BUT….

I agree Bigfork definitely needs a newer, bigger library and if the current location of Potoczny field is where it will be I can live with that. But, I truly hope that whoever moves it does a far better job of designing a baseball field than what currently exists at the Carlyle-Johnson Sports Complex now.

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

Julie Marie (Turner) James

Julie Marie (Turner) James, 62, passed away after a long illness on Dec. 2, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

December 13, 2006 11 p.m.

Wilbur Leland Anderson, 74

Wilbur Leland Anderson, 74, died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006 at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls, Mont. He was born Feb. 8, 1932 near Colony, Wyo. at the family home. The doctor came from Belle Fourche, South Dakota so Wilbur's birth certificate lists that incorrectly.

Wednesday, December 6

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

Bicycle mechanics and the space age

More than the Pearl Harbor bombing marks Dec. 7 as an important day in American history. Exactly 10 years before the Japanese awakened a sleeping giant, a different giant was laying an icon to rest.

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

Phyllis Turk Harmon

Phyllis Turk Harmon, age 82, passed away on Nov. 25, 2006 at Heritage Place in Kalispell, Montana. She was born March 28, 1924 in Shelby, Montana to Amos and Nellie (Stover) Turk.

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

Looking north: Montana and the Canadian border

When the elusive Al Capone was asked where in Canada he was getting his illegal whiskey, he answered, "I don't even know what street Canada is on."

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

Nordic Club is grateful

The Glacier Nordic Club would truly like to thank all those merchants who donated generous gifts toward our annual fund-raiser and to those folks who came to the fund-raiser to support the club.

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

Avela McKee

Avela Wildermuth McKee, 87, of Polson, passed away Nov. 26, 2006, at St. Joseph Hospital in Polson from natural causes.

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

Richard "Dick" Otto Jenkins

Richard "Dick" Otto Jenkins, age 88, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 26, 2006 at the Lakeview Care Center in Bigfork, Montana, due to natural causes with family by his side. He was born on June 12, 1918 in Great Falls, Montana to Jess and Edna Jenkins.

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

James Garner

James Raymond Garner, 54, died of heart failure Oct. 31, 2006, while at home in California on his ship, Sea Wave. An accomplished and versatile musician, he was also at various times an organ-builder, sea captain and computer retailer.

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

Parents laud football coaches

The parents of the 2006 Bulldog football team would like to publicly thank the football coaches and trainer for making the 2006 season one of the best in history.

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

Thomas Glanville

Thomas R. Glanville, 83, passed away Nov. 23, 2006, at his home in Whitefish after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

Interesting weekend

It's been a rather interesting weekend, starting with a ride on the Eagle Transit ride in Columbia Falls. There is a crowded parking lot at North Valley Senior Center and I decided a $2 round trip bus ride would leave room for one more car. Night of Light festivities were underway.

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

Madams and Mercedes

Interesting trial coming up next month in Seattle involving international intrigue and hanky panky. It's not exactly James Bond caper, but it still might make a fun movie.

December 6, 2006 11 p.m.

No charges in death of Bigfork cat

Criminal charges won't be filed in the death of a kitten on Nov. 21 at Sliters Ace Hardware in Bigfork.