Thursday, August 30
Girls soccer downed by C-Falls
By FAITH MOLDAN
Power of the pen
Letter from the editor
Margaret Martin Swigart
Margaret Martin Swigart, 92, died at 9 p.m. on Aug. 23, 2007 at The Hearth at Windemere in Fishers, Ind.
Memorial Field conditions are sad
It was a pleasure coming back to my hometown this past summer. Whitefish is a beautiful area and was a great place for me to play the game of baseball.
Thanks for Senior Citizen Center chairs
To the editor,
Logan Pass will close Sept. 16
By CHRIS PETERSON
Elmer Sprunger
Elmer Sprunger, 87, died Aug. 22, 2007, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center after a six-month illness with lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
Evacuations lifted as fires settle down
Governor calls for special legislative session for additional firefighting funding
Wildcats kick off grid season at Browning
By JOE SOVA
Kats thump Bigfork, 8-1
By CHRIS PETERSON
Vision quest
By MIKE RICHESON
Regarding busts and bighorns
Sunday was a mighty exciting time after the TV baseball game. Luckily I have a strong heart. Was reclined in the living room chair scrolling through the channels when suddenly there were beautiful girls doing erotic dances on a raised bar and they had lost the top part of their costumes. Was thankful a commercial came on just when Iris entered the room… but then she stayed until the "Striptease" movie started again. "George Ostrom!" she said, "What in heavens name are you watching?"
Goodbye, Elmer
Jack Whitney introduced me Elmer Sprunger at a downtown Bigfork cafe in June 1983 and urged me to give Elmer a job.
Spikers look tough at tournament
By DAVID ERICKSON
Finding a formula for resource protection
By RICHARD HANNERS
Big Brothers Big Sisters a valuable asset
Big Brothers Big Sisters is an organization that's been around for more than a century, but many people don't realize the role it plays in the development of a youngster.
Mayor Feury will be missed
I am writing to thank Andy Feury for his 12 years of service to the city of Whitefish as a city councilman and most recently as our mayor.
Support the fire department
Dear Community Member,
Imagine Health hosts open house
You are invited to celebrate the "Birth of Imagine Health Wellness and Wisdom Center" in downtown Columbia Falls on Thursday, Sept. 6. The event runs from 12:14 to 6:44 p.m. at 305 1st Ave. W., behind Whitefish Credit Union on Nucleus Avenue.
Blue Moon celebrates 35 years in business
By HEIDI DESCH
Fall sports preview
By FAITH MOLDAN
Sprunger, beloved local artist, dies
By MIKE RICHESON
Wildkat spikers finish tourney strong
By JOE SOVA
2007 Whitefish Lake Swim
Fifty people were brave enough to participate in the annual Whitefish Lake Swim early Sunday morning at City Beach. The race consisted of a one-mile swim for ages 18-and-over and a half-mile swim for ages 17-and-under. The sky was gray and cloudy, but spirits were high as competitors lunged into the chilly water. Proceeds from the event benefited The Wave Scholarship Fund and the Wave Ryder Swim Team.
A broken trust
Dale Reisch was wronged. So was the Whitefish Pilot and its readers.
Leave the barber pole alone
Forcing Melissa at the Clip Joint to remove the barber pole that's been residing in that spot for 60 years is beyond petty.
Earleen Zinke
Earleen Grace Zinke, 89 a longtime Whitefish resident, passed away of natural causes on Aug. 17, 2007, at the Colonial Manor nursing home in Whitefish.
Vikings win season opener
By FAITH MOLDAN
John Kessinger
John M. Kessinger, 61, passed away Aug. 12, 2007, at his home in Columbia Falls surrounded by family and friends. He had been struggling with COPD and asthma for months.
Valley Christian outclassed by Dogs
By DAVID ERICKSON
Don't believe the campaign lies
I am so weary of reading the gobbledy-goop written to the editor page of the Whitefish Pilot and Daily Inter Lake downgrading the city of Whitefish. I can hardly stand it.
Bill Foley is misunderstood
It is understandable but very unfortunate that Kelly Mull (Whitefish Pilot, Aug. 16) and all the Pilot readers were left the false impression that the Foleys are in violation of the Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Protection Regulations.
Barbecue Fundraiser
The members of the Ferndale Volunteer Fire District would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the entire community for the overwhelming display of support at our annual barbecue fundraiser. The July event was a huge success with the best turn-out ever! Thanks to many generous donations from local residents and businesses, our silent auction received spirited bidding. The funds raised will assist our district in the purchasing of additional safety equipment.
Glacier could see nearly $6 million in projects
By CHRIS PETERSON
Monday, August 27
This is a dummy article
Four score and seven years ago.
Thursday, August 23
No smoke or mirrors in Whitefish budget
I was truly saddened to read the recent article from my friend Tom Muri wherein he made several attacking statements against me and the city. I was most troubled to find that he says things about me that are not true and, worse yet, that he selectively edited one of my written comments and then quoted the edited statement to make it appear that I said something that in fact I never said.
Rough weather doesn't deter triathletes
David Erickson/ Whitefish Pilot
Harriers could have best team in years
By CHRIS PETERSON
Lake article shows need for balance
In your Aug. 2 article "Battening down the hatches," Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Protection Committee chairman Jim Stack states "it's a difficult balance between property rights and protecting the lake."
Salute to the firefighters
We at Oettiker Creek Ranch cannot let this fire season pass without expressing our immense gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly and given so much of themselves to make sure we were safe.
Weird stuff and a letter
By GEORGE OSTROM
Theodore Rugland
Theodore “Ted” Carl Rugland, 79, died Aug. 8, 2007, at Brendan House in Kalispell after a long, brave battle with cancer.
Out-of-state interests are organizing PACS already
Whitefish is the fastest growing city in Montana. Recently, we grew at the staggering double digit pace of Helena. I can see why.
Osborn speaks out in support of Dr. West
To the editor,
Blue and White Barbecue set Friday
The Blue & White BBQ Fundraiser, hosted by the Columbia Falls High School Booster Club, will be held Friday, Aug. 24 in front of the high school gym. The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. and everyone is encouraged to attend.
Boys take 3rd, girls 4th in Great Falls
By DAVID ERICKSON
Rockin' for Ravenwood fundraiser
It was a very busy weekend in July for the fifth annual Rockin' for Ravenwood fundraiser and we want to thank all those who came out to support this special community organization. Together, we raised over $6000.00! These funds will help us get more kids outside for safe, hands-on learning adventures in the years to come. We would like to send a very special thank you to all the volunteers, businesses, individual supporters, and attendees who helped make Rockin' for Ravenwood possible. Over 70 businesses and individuals sponsored or donated items for the event. More than 300 people enjoyed the music of Somewhere Down the Road and the Clumsy Lovers, thirty-five volunteers banked more than 150 hours of work, and countless others baked desserts, sent out of town guests our way, or called to wish us well in their absence. We even had an online donation from some nearby neighbors who enjoyed the music from their deck!
Teen pleads not guilty in wreck death
By HEIDI DESCH
Boys' soccer gears up for opener
By JOE SOVA Hungry Horse News
Residents demand larger no wake zone
By MIKE RICHESON
Taking a stance on slopes
Council's resolution affirms city position on Walton case
Riverbend Concert Series
Sunday night was the last concert of the 25th concert season of the Riverbend Concert Series. After a smoky day, many people came out with lawn chairs and umbrellas to enjoy the Don Lawrence Orchestra end the season. The gentle rain that started midway deterred few people and it was a wonderful concert.
Doctor shortage expected here
By CONSTANCE SEE
CF Uptown Merchants meet
Columbia Falls Uptown Merchants Association will be meeting on Thursday, Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. at Arrowhead Fine Art & Framing, 422 Nucleus Ave. The public is invited.
Farewell, sweet little Whitefish
Good-bye sweet little Whitefish town, known for its wonderful down-home feeling and sense of community.
Evacuation lifted at Star Meadow, but fire situation statewide remains serious
By RICHARD HANNERS
Creston inventor claims to prolong plant life
By CONSTANCE SEE
Bulldogs look to defend state titles
By DAVID ERICKSON
Zoning boundaries chosen
By MIKE RICHESON
Wildkat spikers look to make mark
By JOE SOVA
Tester, BP square off on North Fork gas drilling
By CHRIS PETERSON
Showers stem fire growth for now
By CHRIS PETERSON
Local fans love Pedacter
By FAITH MOLDAN
"A rattlesnake will not die before the sun goes down."
That is what I was told by old timers while being raised at Camas Prairie, and I sort of believed them. In that part of Sanders County those creatures were found in abundance. After I got older and had more experience of my own with the rattlers, I decided the old timers were probably wrong.
Discrimination against Christianity
I'm writing concerning the discrimination against Christianity expressed at the Bigfork "Relay for Life". My son's band, "The Four Square Arena" (a popular local teen rock band whose lyrics reflect their Christian world view) was scheduled to play at the Relay. They even rebooked a gig in Spokane so they could do it and be of service to the community. But the organizers wanted just "regular" music. In walking around at one Relay for Life I noticed the singer was singing Clapton's song "Cocaine". Nobody seemed to have a problem with a song promoting drug use but the promoters cancel four 16 year olds whose lyrics reflect the "In God We Trust" values our founding Fathers held to in establishing this great county.
Occasionally I talk to myself
Occasionally I talk to myself and I say "self, what sacrifice did you make this week for your readers, your viewers, your friends?"
Support sought for vandalized shop owner
It is not easy to make a living in Montana, much less start a business and make it a success. Imagine being a small-business owner and showing up to work, only to find that someone broke in and completely vandalized your shop.
Hazel Bjornstad
Hazel F. Bjornstad, 99, passed away Aug. 13, 2007, at the Village Health Care Center in Missoula.
Markus & Alpine not sold to Foley
I can't count the numerous letters, innuendoes, personal contacts and third-party information I have received in the past three or four months concerning the sale of Markus Foods and the Alpine Market.
Elementary teacher retires
By FAITH MOLDAN
New group fights for paved roads
By MIKE RICHESON
Girls' soccer won't have much of a bench this season
CHRIS PETERSON
Brits help Bandits
By FAITH MOLDAN
Thursday, August 16
Quilt guild meets
A Teakettle Quild Guild meeting is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Columbia Falls Community Center, 235 Nucleus Ave. Kathie Bauer will demonstrate making pillow cases.
Mayor Feury to step down
City Council will lose its ‘institutional memory’
Donna LuElla
Redfield Mitchell
City needs to rein in spending
Whitefish has gone from an affordable place to live and raise a family to Montana's most expensive community — in less than a generation. Most citizens have a simple question. Why?
Better baseball bleachers needed
This letter is concerning the condition of the facility the Glacier Twins are currently playing on in Whitefish. I attended my first game there in over 20 years in late July.
Fire tab reaches $41 million
By CHRIS PETERSON
Tourism plays major role in new economy
Natural resources play lesser role these days, but service sector wages lag
Coal bed methane problems
As the treasurer of Montana Trout Unlimited, I write to express our organization's serious concern regarding potential coal bed methane extraction and open pit coal mining at the headwaters of Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.
Wilma Jean Casterline
Wilma Jean Casterline of Columbia Falls, died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007, at the North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.
Thanks for concerts
To the editor,
Relay succeeds again
By FAITH MOLDAN
Betty Lou Smith
Betty Lou Smith, 67, of Columbia Falls, died Aug. 5, 2007, at the Colonial Manor in Whitefish, after a long brave battle with Alzheimer’s.
CFHS golfers kick off golf season
By JOE SOVA
Attack on Foley is disgusting
I was stunned when I saw the sign with graffiti on it in last week’s paper. After hearing that the sign was then stolen made things even worse. What in the world is happening here?
First best place
It's not to the boiling point, but the heat has been turned up a notch. With the approval by Columbia Falls City Council to purchase 28 acres of land west of the Flathead River for a new park, the community took a huge step forward.
Club Championship big success
Champions
School board approves budget
By JOE SOVA
Juanita Katherine
“Billye” Beatty
NVH birthing staff 'amazing'
I would like to extend a public thank you to the amazing staff at the North Valley Hospital Birth Center. They helped my wife, Lynn, deliver a perfect baby boy.
Student collapses during practice
By FAITH MOLDAN
Develop hospital site for city use
Whitefish citizens, please take a stand with me whatever the cost (legally) to stop the powers-at-be from completely ruining Whitefish.
Lake fisheries continue to change
By MIKE RICHESON
Soccer referee clinics coming up
A Grade 9 clinic for beginning youth soccer referees will be held Monday, Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Summit Fitness Center in Kalispell. Grade 9 officials can center small-sided fall recreational games, and can be assistant referees (ARs) on spring competitive matches up to U-14.
"Sweet victory"
Fire smoke erodes air quality
By MIKE RICHESON
The language of sports
By FAITH MOLDAN
Grass fire up North Fork Road doused
By CHRIS PETERSON
Foley doesn't understand locals
I recently read a letter to the editor from Robert Foley, son of Bill Foley, with regards to the graffiti sign. I do not agree with graffiti in general, and the statement by my daughter about it being great was a complete misinterpretation of her comment.
Whitefish Lake Triathlon coming Aug. 19
By DAVID ERICKSON
Bulldog football gets going
By DAVID ERICKSON
Recalling August 1967
A young man named Don Gullet put the bleeding Roy Ducat in Don's new sleeping bag at Granite Park campground after the fatal grizzly bear mauling of Julie Helgeson … that awful night.
Columbia Falls artist rewarded for logo
By HEIDI DESCH
Night of the grizzlies
By GEORGE OSTROM
Community helps ranch in fire crisis
When the Brush Creek fire forced the evacuation of our therapeutic boarding school program, we saw the best of the heart and energy of a caring community. First to be named are the firefighters, volunteer crews, law enforcement, and emergency response agencies. They stood on the "front line" to protect first the young people whose safety has been entrusted to us.
Thursday, August 9
Two Bear Marathon is big draw
The third annual Two Bear Marathon will host the largest and most geographically diverse group of runners yet, with 86 runners from 24 states and three foreign countries registered so far.
Isabel Boardman Follett
Isabel Boardman Follett, 104, died Aug. 2, 2007. She was born to William Ralph and Mary Ann Boardman in Wigan, Lancashire, England on March 8, 1903. They traveled by ship a year later and settled in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. After fire destroyed Fernie in 1908, Isabel, her grandparents, parents and six younger brothers and sisters went to live in "the bush" at the foot of the Lizard Range. The homesteads are now the Fernie Ski Resort.
Wildfires reaching historic proportions
By RICHARD HANNERS
Practices for CFHS fall sports begin Aug. 13
Practices for Columbia Falls High School fall sports, including soccer, football, volleyball, cross country and cheerleading, begin on Monday, Aug. 13. Athletes out for golf meet on Wednesday, Aug. 15. The practice and try-out times were posted by the individual coaches at the high school prior to Tuesday's meeting.
Columbia Falls Swim Team earns third at state meet
The Columbia Falls swim team earned third place at the state swim meet in Lewistown last weekend as it wrapped up the summer season in style, edging rival Bitterroot for the third spot.
Skyland Fire races out to prairie
By CHRIS PETERSON
Brush adventures
Hear that voice? Sure, maybe you can’t hear it, but I can. I hear all sorts of voices (as if you didn’t know that already) but the voice I’ve been listening to lately, the one that I’m really tuning in, is a mix of Liv Tyler and Ozzy Osbourne.
Punting on the Thames
By BARBARA ELVY STRATE
Speaking Out
Establishing park has financial advantages
Trial scheduled in Lakeside assault case
By RICHARD HANNERS
State of the lake
By MIKE RICHESON
Concert series
Due to the wildfire smoke, the final performance in the Lions Club concert series tonight (Thursday) has been moved to St. Richards Catholic Church. The Columbia Falls Community Choir performs at 8 p.m. at the church rather than at Marantette Park. Donations of $3 and $5 per family are suggested to help with concert expenses.
Two hole-in-ones in one month
Hole-in-one club
Checks and balances
Your issue of Aug. 2 features a letter/editorial by Eric Young which basically attacks Sean Frampton and those who have hired him for disagreeing with city rules or city proposals.
Stand up for Big Mountain
Robert Foley stated that the vandalism to the Whitefish Mountain Resort sign gives locals a bad name, and that the actions show we don't appreciate the mountain.
Thanks for park vote
To the editor,
In response to Foley's letter to the editor in the Aug. 2 Pilot, that's pretty much the point here. We don't want you here making this a "world-class resort."
This used to be a great peaceful town where everyone knew everyone. Now you can't even go to your favorite spots without being stampeded by ignorant, snobbish outsiders.
Downtown development on the horizon
By RICHARD HANNERS
Night of the grizzlies - 40 years later
By HEIDI DESCH
David Erickson / Whitefish Pilot
A kayaker momentarily gets flipped by a small standing wave at Bonecrusher rapids on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River on Aug. 4. While water levels have steadily dropped in the past few weeks, there has been no apparent slow down in the amount of boat traffic going down the river.
The code of the New West
Over the last few months I’ve been following an issue that strikes a chord with a lot of folks here in Big Sky Country. It’s an issue that isn’t going away. In fact, it’s one that’s getting bigger as wealthy out-of-staters discover Montana and decide to buy up huge chunks of it for exclusive getaway homes.
Benzene levels at City Beach exceed federal standards
By RICHARD HANNERS
Duke coach helps Bigfork soccer
By FAITH MOLDAN
Council listens
Last week, Jason Callihan's letter to the editor expressed his opinion that there are far more important things for the city council to be concerned with than the complaint of an elderly man about the music at a neighborhood block party. The party was allowed through a special-event permit. Mr. Callihan also expressed the fear the council might make special-event permits harder to get.
The threat of Canada's mines
By MIKE RICHESON
Platke earns third in Junior State Amateur Golf Tournament
By JOE SOVA
Join the next river cleanup
The organizers of the Whitefish River Cleanup held July 28 would like to extend a hearty thank you to its sponsors and participants.
Zebra mussel a serious threat
By MIKE RICHESON
Appalled by Big Mountain graffiti
As a local of Whitefish, I must admit that lately I have not been proud to be one.
Sports provide comfort, hope
By FAITH MOLDAN
City Council OKs purchase of land for park
By HEIDI DESCH
Thursday, August 2
Has ImageArts Festival returns
By MIKE RICHESON
Sign vandalism uncalled for
I know that the recent name change on the mountain has touched quite a few nerves here in Whitefish, but it does not call for the vandalism of Winter Sports Inc. property.
Unhappy camper
In the summer of 2006 I was at the Big Creek campground on the North Fork of the Flathead for the 14 days allowed, and I had a great time. I asked the host about how much time was needed to be able to stay another 14 days, but she didn’t know. She let me stay another 14 days. Jump ahead a year. In July 2007 I went to Big Creek again and there were sites available. I occupied a camping spot and paid the fee for one night. The host asked me how long I planned to camp. I told here I had decided to pay for one night at a time until one of the nicer sites opened up. She said some of the sites were reserved for her family reunion. The next morning, on Saturday, I went to pay the fee, and I saw that the No. 13 site was vacant. So I occupied the site and paid for four nights. Sunday afternoon, I received a note saying that campsite was reserved. I told host I was planning to finish my 14 days there. She said no, that site is reserved. When I asked how that was possible in a first-come first-serve campground, she said someone had accessed the Web site and saw the group-use area was booked, which meant they could reserve camp sites. But no campers used that campsite for the full 10 days I was there. Still, I moved my camp. On Monday morning, there were reserved signs on sites 13, 14, 16 and 17. When I spoked to recreation forester in Hungry Horse, she confirmed that reservations are not accepted at that campground. If any of your readers have had to pass up a camp site at Big Creek, the reservatons were not legal, and many were probably over the 14-day limit. Their rights to access have been taken and given to family and friends of the camp host. Not a happy camper. Mark Hanson, Kalispell.
One-sided story
As Devra West's financial manger, I am appalled at your front page "smut story" that frames West as suspect of a host of misdeeds that border of sheer lunacy, pumped with statements that are conjured, false, inaccurate, out-dated, and out of context.
Marquardt wins bareback title at Heritage Days Rodeo
Chad Marquardt of Kalispell scored an 80 in the barebacks on Friday night in the Heritage Days Rodeo at the Blue Moon Arena and that score held up Saturday — allowing him to pocket the first-place money.
Columbia Falls men's teams dominate 3-on-3 tourney
The annual Heritage Days basketball tournament drew another large crowd, with men's and boys' teams from Columbia Falls all taking first-place honors.
Glacier splits doubleheader with Stallions, barely miss playoffs
By DAVID ERICKSON
Lightning storms ignite bone-dry timber across Northwest Montana
By RICHARD HANNERS
Susan Green
Susan M. Green, 55, died July 23, 2007, in her sleep at the home of her parents in Whitefish.
Early Progress Days remembered
A front page story in the Aug. 9, 1957 issue of the Hungry Horse News answered the question as to when Progress Days started in Columbia Falls. Promotion was to show progress made in the town which had seen little population or business increase in probably 40 or 50 years.
Worry about the visitors
By GEORGE OSTROM
Attorney a force behind special interest group
When the Waltons applied for a reasonable-use exemption (RUE) to build on a steep slope on their property, they probably did not anticipate the controversy the application would create. Two pieces that ran in the Whitefish Pilot on July 26 concern the court decision in the Waltons' case against the city, while highlighting the emerging role of special-interest groups in Whitefish.
Capital improvements program clarified
In the past month or two, the subject of city spending has become very popular with the citizens of Whitefish. It appears that interest in this topic was generated after the adoption of the Capital Improvement Program at the May 21 council meeting.
Don't burst the bubble
Letter from the Editor
Fire crews respond to fires
By MIKE RICHESON
Bigfork's favorite firefighter
By LAURA BEHENNA
Vandals go after ski resort signs. . . .
By RICHARD HANNERS
Charlemagne L'Allier
Charlemagne (Chuck) Joseph L’Allier, Jr., 79, passed away July 26, 2007, at his home in Whitefish.
Theodore (Ted) A. Laugen
Theodore (Ted) A. Laugen, 71, went home to be with Jesus on Wednesday, July 25, 2007, at his family home in Hungry Horse with loving family at his side.
Flathead travel an adventure
Maybe it's my age. Or perhaps it's just that drivers are more in a hurry than they used to be.
Find out what it means to me
By FAITH MOLDAN
Guide On comes to Montana
By MIKE RICHESON
Increasing lakeshore violations could lead to stricter regulations
By RICHARD HANNERS
Brobst sentenced for child pornography
By MIKE RICHESON
By JOE SOVAHungry Horse News
Aurora, Colo., resident Lisa Mills was a long way from home when she won the women's division of the 10-kilometer race on Saturday in the Heritage Days Boogie to the Bank. But Mills, a former Boogie to the Bank champion, is no stranger to the Flathead Valley.
Who's making North Fork dust?
Funny that the guy in the big, new pickup with the "Pave NF" license plate roared past us on the North Fork Road going at least 60 mph, spewing dust everywhere, blinding us, almost causing an accident.
By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News
Even though Logan Pass wasn't open in June, visitation to Glacier National Park was up about 5 percent over last year, according to Park Service figures.
Rodeo action in Columbia Falls
Keep selling Big Mtn merchandise
Lately it seems that all our local businesses are eager to liquidate 60 years of heritage by discounting all Big Mountain merchandise. From mugs to T-shirts, it's all gotta go.
What noise?
Flipping through the newspaper the other day, I stumbled upon a section which is usually overrun with zoning issues, resort tax increase proposals, and housing development approvals.
HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News
A special sky diving jump Saturday will honor Joel Atkinson.
All-Stars take tourney
By FAITH MOLDAN
Leipheimer finishes third in Tour de France
By RICHARD HANNERS
Letters to the Editor
Road dust in the Valley
By DAVID ERICKSON Whitefish Pilot
Tim Torgerson, former Montana men's Class A singles champion for three consecutive years beginning in 1981, is back on the local courts. He's not competing this time, but coaching kids for the Whitefish Parks and Recreation summer tennis camp.
Emma Webster
Emma K. Webster, 89, of Whitefish died peacefully at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Jolene and Marvin Mikesell, on July 4, 2007.