Stories for June 2006

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Thursday, June 29

June 29, 2006 11 p.m.

James Robert Clark, Jr.

Jimmy was taken from us unexpectedly on June 25 doing what he loved—helping people.

June 29, 2006 11 p.m.

James G. "Jim" Walter

James G. "Jim" Walter, 77, "went to be with the Lord" on June 25, 2006, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He will be remembered by his family and friends as a very loving and caring man. Jim was born Sept. 21, 1928, in Froid, Mont. to Joseph and Inez (Tunison) Walter. Jim died at his home in Bigfork.

June 29, 2006 11 p.m.

Hundred year beer can

Do you believe an aluminum beer can could lay beside the road for a hundred years?

June 29, 2006 11 p.m.

Bigfork Eagle letter from the editor

Farewell, Bigfork

Wednesday, June 28

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Louise Phillips

Louise A. Phillips, 76, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on June 2, 2006.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

4th of July tourney draws 'scratch' players

Fourth of July Tournament

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Elsie Robinson

Elsie May Robinson, 88, passed away peacefully of natural causes on June 7, 2006, at her home in Whitefish.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Glacier Twins head coach resigns

Jack Helber, the head coach of the Glacier Twins AA American Legion baseball team, resigned from his position last week, citing personal reasons.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Getting the 9/11 facts straight

I was disappointed to hear Conrad Burns get his facts wrong and slander our closest ally during the Tester-Burns debate in Whitefish. He repeated the discredited myth that two of the 9/11 terrorists "came out of Canada."

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Packer seriously hurt in odd accident in Glacier

A 60-year-old Mule Shoe Outfitter packer returning from Granite Park Chalet Tuesday was seriously injured when one of the propane tanks he was hauling apparently released some gas, spooking the pack train on the Loop Trail.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Harold Dalen

Harold Arne "Buz" Dalen Jr., 56, passed away Jan. 31, 2006, in Albany, Mo., from cancer of the larynx.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Citizen speaks with police

My name is Nick Ferring-ton, and as some of this community may know, I recently published and distributed petitions regarding the actions and activities of the Whitefish Police Department.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Saying goodbye

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of Big Mountain Tire Store in Whitefish.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

You can call me sandy

There's a lot of people out there who get a lot of satisfaction from working with wood. Wood boards. Wood spindles. Wooden Nickels. You name it.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Helber resigns as Twins AA coach

Hungry Horse News

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Jacob Lee

Jacob Randall Lee, 19, died Saturday, June 24, 2006, in Eureka from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Whitefish basketball head coach resigns

Derek Schulz has resigned from his position as head coach of the Whitefish High School boys basketball team.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Park visitation down, but picking up with better weather

Hungry Horse News

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Thanks, Stacy Oil

My wife and I moved to Whitefish in September of 1981, having vacationed here each summer and winter (Eastern Montana was just too windy). Our first credit application was for fuel delivery to our new home. George Stacy set the tone of Whitefish for us.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Park can

It's been a while since I've updated the public on the status of the public rest room facilities at the Kiddie Park. We've been successful in raising nearly $35,000, and we're now making a final push to raise the remaining $5000.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

James Kane

James Thomas Kane, 79, a longtime Whitefish area resident, passed away of natural causes at the North Valley Hospital on June 23, 2006.

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

Lost Johnny Bridge will go in Friday

Hungry Horse News

June 28, 2006 11 p.m.

All star game

The Babe Ruth all-star team will take on the Glacier Twins' A team on June 29 at Memorial Field, starting at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 21

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Cecil Rhodes

Cecil M. "Dusty" Rhodes passed away at home on June 6, 2006. The oldest of four children, he was born in Havre on June 7, 1919, to Leroy E. and Jeanne Maris Rhodes.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

A, um, (un) balanced life

So at any rate I was wandering around the other day on the edge of this wet meadow and there were two deer laying out there watching me.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Dennis Poncelet

Dennis Jeffrey Poncelet was carried home by the angels on Friday, June 16, 2006, following a tragic electrical accident.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Dreaming sounds

There was a mountain near my grandma's ranch where we kids used to ride our saddle horses. The Northern Pacific ran through the deep canyons of the Clark Fork and Flathead rivers to the south, so if the wind was right we could hear the haunting whistles of the big steam engines pulling their winding loads of passengers and freight to mysterious and faraway places like Chicago or Seattle. I often daydreamed about the magic lands beyond our mountains…where those trains went; but to a kid of the depression 1930s, that seemed a dream with out much chance of coming true.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

'Exploring' the wetlands

Local news just before the Memorial Day weekend is that a group called "Friends of Wisconsin Avenue Wetlands" proposes to raise money to buy and save the swamp that's proposed as part of the Lake Cabins and Boardwalk development.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Twins A team wins doubleheader

For the Hungry Horse News

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Trails Day success

On behalf of the Whitefish Bike and Pedestrian Committee, we would like to convey our sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone for attending National Trails Day and the dedication of the Burlington Northern Loop section of the trail. It could not have happened without the help of many people who share our belief that our trail system is an important part of our community.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Thanks for pizza

Thanks to the couple who treated us to our dinner at the Pizza Hut Wednesday.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Paul Kent

Paul Dickson Kent passed away June 8, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center of head injuries sustained in a bicycle accident. His wife Sheri (Rosie) and her sister Mary Hartman, daughter Alice, grandson Shane and son-in-law Bill Madsen were at his side.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Park flooding slows Sun Road opening

Heavy rains last week forced Glacier National Park crews to delay road work on the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road so they could concentrate on flood damage elsewhere in the Park.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Ronald Dodge

Ronald W. "Ron - Ronnie" Dodge, 19, of Columbia Falls, passed away in Billings on June 13, 2006, as the result of a vehicle accident.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Whitefish Lake Run scheduled for Saturday

It's time to lace up the running shoes.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Guest opinion

Don't kill the goose that laid the housing egg

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

To serve and be protected

The theft of 26.5 million veterans' personal data from the Department of Veterans' Affairs is extremely serious, and I urge all Montana veterans to personally protect themselves. The immediate action is to notify any of the three national credit reporting agencies-Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion- and report an "Initial Fraud Alert." This places a "flag" on your credit file, and alerts credit grantors to verify your identity before establishing new credit in your name. The "flag" is automatically reported to the other two credit reporting agencies.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Aleen Chestnut

Aleen B. Chestnut, a resident of the Flathead Valley, died June 13, 2006, in Whitefish. She was born June 6, 1916, in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, daughter of Henry and Viola Byington. She graduated from high school in Lava Hot Springs in 1934. She attended the University of Idaho in Moscow and graduated in 1939. Upon graduation, she married John H. Chestnut and moved to his hometown of Havre.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Toole challenges Taylor to debates

To Mike Taylor,

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Golden Agers help needed

The Whitefish Golden Agers, your senior center, needs help. As our membership continues to become grayer, we need the volunteers of any age to continue to provide needed services to the senior community.

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Twins AA team places second

For the Hungry Horse News

June 21, 2006 11 p.m.

Letters to the Editor

Team work

Wednesday, June 14

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Columbia Falls gears up for swim season

This week the Columbia Falls swim team began practicing for this summer's meets.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Athletes report from California track meet

Taylor Ferda, Chris Hicks and the Whitefish High School track program would like to deeply thank the city of Whitefish and the businesses that so generously donated money to enable them to embark on such a special trip down to Sacramento, Calif.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Congressional support critical for Glacier,

local economy

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Gary Morin

Gary Alan Morin, 61, devoted father, partner and friend, passed away June 9, 2006, surrounded by his loved ones after a long and courageous battle with colon cancer. Throughout this journey, his hope and character remained steadfast and strong.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Getting involved

We want to thank the neighbors around Soroptimist Park for their enthusiasm and interest in helping to create a pesticide-free park in their neighborhood. Several residents, of a variety of ages, recently attended an informal gathering in the park to hear a vision of what could happen.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Guest opinion

Congressional support critical for Glacier, local economy

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

From Tee to Green

Tournament of champions

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Miriam Murdock

Miriam Lee Murdock, 75, of Polson, passed away June 6, 2006, from natural causes at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Tourist season

National Park Service officials today confirmed reports of the shooting of two tourists in Yellowstone Park early this season. The shootings were authorized under a newly implemented policy to protect bears.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Stepping forward

I would like to express my appreciation to all of the Flathead County officials and employees who had the courage to step forward over the last 15 months to request my assistance in attempting to arrest the myriad of financial and managerial crises facing county government.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Part-timers

Regarding the Whitefish Pilot article "Growth is inevitable, but major change is not."

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Juanita Logan

Juanita Haney Logan, 98, passed away at Heritage Place in Kalispell the morning of June 5, 2006.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Thanks for votes

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me in the primary for House District 6.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Four Columbia Falls athletes qualify for state rodeo

Hungry Horse News

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Paul Kent

Paul Dickson Kent, 77, of Whitefish, died June 8, 2006 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center due to head injuries from a bicycle accident.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Roger Frampton

Roger Milton Frampton, 60, passed away at Kalispell Regional Medical Center on June 5, 2006, due to complications from surgery.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Letters to the Editor

Have a seat

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Audubon trip

Join Flathead Audubon on Saturday, June 17, on a trip through a wide variety of bird habitats on the road to Tally Lake. Meet at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks building on 490 N. Meridian at 7 a.m. and return by 1 p.m. Bring binoculars. For more information, contact trip leader Bruce Tannehill at 862-4548. Everyone is welcome.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

DEQ recycling event successful

Thank you to the 127 Flathead Valley businesses, schools and individuals who dropped off used electronics at the CollEctronics Event in Whitefish on May 26-27 at The Wave.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Walter Day

Walter Day, 87 of Bigfork, died May 27, 2006.

June 14, 2006 11 p.m.

Velma Muhleman

Velma Muhleman, 88, of Bigfork passed away in peace at her home Monday, May 29, 2006, after a very long illness. She was surrounded by her daughters and husband.

Wednesday, June 7

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Park plows nearing the end of the line

Glacier Park plowing crews have made it through the Big Drift on the Going-to-the-Sun Highway and are now down to bare pavement, said Dave Dahlen, Park Chief of Interpretation on Tuesday.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Mr. Mom

So on a perfectly beautiful evening there I was watching this woodpecker feed its young while a horde of mosquitoes fed on me.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Chandler Melton / Whitefish Pilot

During the 110-pound bout, Columbia Falls sophomore Clayton Patterson, right, bloodies Whitefish's Phillip Murphy. Patterson won the three-round fight. Whitefish won the event, beating Columbia Falls 7-4.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Molly Strong

Molly Strong, beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, friend and unforgettable Flathead Valley character, left this dimension on May 30, 2006, after suffering respiratory failure.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Bigfork Eagle editorial

Wake up

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Bear Spray for turkeys

This is the wild turkey mating season. At least that is what it seemed like last week along Whitefish Stage where I saw four gobblers strutting their stuff. Don't forget that earlier this year we had several reports of local people being threatened by the male gobblers. One man from Columbia Falls told me about being chased around his pickup on Hilltop Road by a "really mean one."

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Dogs edge Cats in smoker

The Whitefish Bulldogs edged the Columbia Falls Wildcats in the annual Cat/Dog Smoker Monday night. The boxing matches raise money each year for the Glacier Twins.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Food drive success

The Flathead Food Bank's five countywide pantries — in Kalispell, Evergreen, Columbia Falls, Martin City and Bigfork — received about 14,400 pounds of food during the May 13 Letter Carriers Food Drive.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Wilbur Lee

Wilbur "Bill" Lee, 82, passed away May 31, 2006, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Robert "Bob" Ross Gordon

Robert "Bob" Ross Gordon, "our wonderful Dad, Papa, Brother and Uncle," passed away at Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland, Wash., on May 21, 2006, after a short battle with brain cancer. He joins his beloved wife, Donna, who preceded him in death in October 2000.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Bill Gress

A memorial service will be held for Bill Gress on June 9, 2006, beginning at 6 p.m. Call 881-2222 for directions.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Letters to the Editor

So many to thank

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Meehan posts resounding win

With 17,051 ballots cast, Flat-head County voters picked a new sheriff on Tuesday. Undersheriff Mike Meehan easily defeated his two opponents, taking more than 55 percent of the votes in the Republican primary.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

From tee to green

Has the game of golf improved since the days of wooden clubs, hickory shafts and feather filled balls? The answer depends on whom you talk to about the changes.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

High school inducts six into Hall of Fame

Columbia Falls High School recently announced that six graduating athletes have been inducted into the high school's Hall of Fame.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Patrick Dryden named head football coach

Patrick Dryden wears many hats — and now he has one more to put on.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Geri Crosswhite

Geri L. Crosswhite, 68, entered into eternal rest on May 27, 2006, at Brendan House in Kalispell, after a long, courageous battle with lupus and most recently cancer.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

A grad night to remember

On behalf of the Whitefish High School Class of 2006, a huge thank you to our community, including Whitefish, Kalispell and Columbia Falls, your generosity was overwhelming.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Geri L. Crosswhite

Geri L. Crosswhite, 68, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, May 27, 2006, at Brendan House in Kalispell, after a long, courageous battle with Lupus and most recently cancer.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Football camp June 20-22

Wildcat Football Camp is scheduled for June 20-22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. The camp is designed for all students entering first through eighth grade in the fall of 2006.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Good year for PTA

On behalf of the Whitefish PTA board of directors, we want to thank all our volunteers for their countless hours of dedication to the PTA this year.

June 7, 2006 11 p.m.

Muldown thanks

Every year, Muldown Elementary students benefit from tremendous community support for our Health Enhancement program. This winter, the Big Mountain Ski Club again made a large donation to cover the transportation costs for our third- and fourth-grade ski and snowboard lesson day on The Big Mountain.