Ellington

Forests challenged, grizzlies threatened

Flathead County is very unique for many reasons: (1) It is 70 percent registered Republicans; (2) There is a strong migration path history of Deep South Dixie Post-Civil War immigrants settling here; (3) "Outsiders" currently moving here, from all over America, to enjoy and preserve this "last best place", are not welcome to contribute to and participate in local government; (4) The multi-generational native-born "locals" believe that the wildlife is for hunting and their national forest habitat is for logging, coal mining, oil and gas exploration, real estate development, and a personal playground for their motorized recreational vehicle access; and (5) It contains much of Glacier National Park, the Great Bear Wilderness Area, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, and Flathead National Forest.

VFW Awards

Rock salt, not bear spray

Thank you, Eric Payne, for explaining what really happened with yourself and Vic Workman.

Resolution for a year of health

New Year's resolutions seem to be a tradition in America, and it's the time of year to figure out what you want to accomplish — in terms of goals — in 2008.

KGEZ owner will not give up

Twice this week (Dec. 9-15), I've been contacted by reporters regarding the KGEZ towers. First the towers are not violating any laws. I've also read that the city of Kalispell was going to dispatch representatives to talk with me. No one from the city has made any contact with me. Certainly not anyone with ethics, honesty or integrity.

Jody Smith

Jody Alene Smith, 46, died tragically at her home in Hungry Horse on Dec. 9, 2007. Jody is now living with the Lord, and will be greatly missed by her family and all her Canyon friends that she considered family.

Property rights in our county sacrificed

It seems that every time we open a newspaper, a new lawsuit has been filed against the county. With years of experience in dealing with planning and property rights issues in Flathead County, I would offer as an observation that there are four reasons for this phenomenon:

Barbara Conners

Barbara A. Conners, 81, passed away peacefully at her home on Whitefish Lake on Dec. 21, 2007.

Getting soldiers out of Iraq overdue

While serving in Baghdad and throughout Iraq, I transported many medical supplies, reserves of blood and other necessities for the wounded. When not preparing for convoys of sustainability, I became familiar with helicopters flying into base, landing, and unloading bodies and pouches of human remains, all to be kept in large refrigerators. This is a glimpse of what I participated in, witnessed and understand as the reality of war. I have a very hard time remaining silent as I listen to Montana's congressional delegation falter over how and when to bring our service men and women home safely from the failed war in Iraq.

Carries firearms and bear spray

Regarding the bear spray brouhaha involving Mr. Workman of the Montana Fish and Game Commission, I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Bill Pounds, the developer of Counter Assault bear spray in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service Research Lab at Fort Missoula.

A time to say thanks

One thing I think most of us forget to do in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season is count our blessings.

A look back, a look ahead

Beginning in this week's Eagle you'll find a selection of photos that we're calling the Year in Review. It's by no means a comprehensive look at Bigfork over the past 12 months, but it hits some of the high points. At the very least it highlights some nice photographs and memories. The second half of the package will be in next week's paper.

JoAnn Welles

JoAnn Welles, 80, passed away peacefully in her home in Whitefish on Dec. 17, 2007.

Columbia Falls boy first baby of 2008 born at North Valley Hospital

Pavel and Luba Abramchuk of Columbia Falls are the parents of the first baby born in 2008 at North Valley Hospital. Toly Abramchuk was born at 1:56 p.m. on Tuesday, New Year's Day. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and was 19.5 inches long. In the photo, Luba holds her newborn son.

Saving a dog's life

We would like to send a huge thank you to the two men who helped save our yellow lab's life two weekends ago in Whitefish.

Finding affordable housing difficult

It is shameful that Flathead County has allowed this problem to arise. I watched houses that are not newly built go from reasonable to "you want how much?" I'm talking about houses that are 20-plus years old costing as much as a new home; in some cases more. The problem with some of the houses is they have not had an uplift of any kind for years and if you were to buy it you would have to have thousands of dollars extra to do the repairs. This is a bad situation throughout the entire valley.

Resort tax issues

I've recently read two articles promoting a resort tax (sales tax) in your paper. They both quoted Mr. Bruce Solberg the director of the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce.

No confusing barber poles

It has been brought to my attention that there is some confusion about the difference between a barber and a cosmetologist and the use of the barber pole.

Stephen Keeney

Stephen Park Keeney of Columbia Falls passed away in November. He was born in San Francisco, Calif., on June 29, 1956 and lived in California and Connecticut before moving to Montana in 1980.

City management must be changed

To the editor,

Regulate growth, take pride in resources

To the editor,

Save downtown and its parking spaces

I think a parking garage downtown is a long overdue addition. I have many concerns, though, about the re-figuring of the blocks along Central Avenue. I had to miss Wednesday's meeting to staff our shop. Its Christmas. I appreciate these meetings, but for those who can't make a meeting, let's take another look at the proposed changes and their costs.

Keith S. Rodaway, 84

Keith S. Rodaway, 84, passed away on Wednesday, December 5, 2007, at his home at 148 Hilldale Drive in Somers. He was born November 20, 1923, in Lincoln, NE, the son of Edgar Paul and Mary Bernice (Soller) Rodaway. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Ruth Ellen Nett, one half-bother Dick Miller, one half-sister Evelyn McCarty, and one son, Keith Rodaway, Jr.

State's first white Christmas

Young Ross Cox kept a diary when he came up the Columbia River to Spokane House in 1812, and when he worked with great difficulty, eastward to the Flathead country the following year. His boss in the Northwest Fur Company gave orders that if he and the "brigade" men got to starving he should kill the skinniest horses for food. A measure of this English teacher's personality was when the hunger arrived, he ate the fattest horse.

Environmental authorities should help people

To the editor,

Helen Greve, 90

Helen Greve was born Helen Forsch in Mott North Dakota to Eva and Adam Forsch. It was there on the family homestead that Helen and her seven sisters and one brother were raised. When Helen was 16, she moved to town and there met, at the local dance, the love of her life Henry Greve.

Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree…

So last week I scoured the 750,000 acres or so of the Flathead National Forest where you can legally cut down a tree and I came to the following conclusion: It holds not one decent Christmas Tree.

Faith restored by Samaritan

To the editor and community at large,

Turkey is a vegetable

To the editor,

Go ahead and say 'Merry Christmas'

Advent season is in full swing. This should be a season of celebration as we anticipate Christmas and the birth of the Lord Jesus. Advent is also a time of preparation and reflection. What does the future hold? These thoughts come to mind as we look past Christmas and into a new year.

Montana Madness: National Forests challenged, grizzlies threatened

Flathead County is very unique for many reasons: (1) It is 70% registered Republicans; (2) There is a strong migration path history of Deep South Dixie Post-Civil War immigrants settling here; (3) "Outsiders" currently moving here, from all over America, to enjoy and preserve this "last best place", are not welcome to contribute to and participate in local government; (4) The multi-generational native-born "locals" believe that the wildlife is for hunting and their national forest habitat is for logging, coal mining, oil & gas exploration, real estate development, and a personal playground for their motorized recreational vehicle access; (5) It contains much of Glacier National Park, the Great Bear Wilderness Area, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, and Flathead National Forest.

Come, let us spray … bears

Vic Workman was charged by a grizzly bear on Nov. 25 and fired a high-powered rifle from the hip when the bear was about 10 feet away. Vic told me he thought he hit the bear in the chest before it veered past him and disappeared.

Flathead County stream setback proposal needs sound science

As a former member and past president of the Flathead County Planning Board and a professional engineer, I have participated and been involved with the stream setback proposal being pushed by Flathead County.

Bear spray works

I have read and heard, with much chagrin, the comments of Fish, Wildlife and Parks commissioner Vic Workman concerning his recent surprise encounter with a grizzly north of Whitefish. I find his disparaging remarks regarding bear spray particularly disconcerting.

Columbia Falls man killed when SUV crashes into ravine

A 23-year-old Columbia Falls man was killed Wednesday morning when a vehicle in which he was riding left an unpaved roadway and plunged about 200 feet into a ravine leading to the north bank of the Flathead River. The vehicle, an SUV, was traveling on a frontage road along the railroad tracks just south of Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. Apparently the vehicle failed to stop at the end of the road and went over a cliff, rolling several times. According to the Flathead County Sheriff's Department, the man was ejected and the front of the vehicle came to rest on the chest of the victim. The man died at the scene of positional asphyxiation. The other occupant of the vehicle walked away from the scene and later contacted a friend about the incident, the report said. Law enforcement searched the area and eventually located the vehicle after an initial report that a rollover had occurred up the North Fork Road. Rescue crews reportedly were going to get a boat and cross the river from the south side in order to retrieve the victim's body. The name of the victim was withheld pending notification of family members.

Thank you for donations to A Joyful Noise float

To the editor,

Ruth Anne Bergvist, 70

Ruth Anne Bergvist went to live with the Lord on December 15, 2007, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, Montana. She was the first daughter of James L and Virginia Hays, and was born March 16, 1937 in Franklin, PA.

Asia Day Marie Gray, 28

Asia Day Marie Gray, 28, met an untimely death in Kalispell, Montana on December 12, 2007. Asia was born September 25, 1979 in St. Ignatius, Montana to Jack and Jane Whiting. Jack and Jane brought their second daughter home to the family home in Big Arm where she resided until she was married. Asia was raised along with her older sister Ann on a farm with goats, chickens and ponies. She owned her first real horse when she was 13 and from that time on was determined to be a horsewoman. She spent her summers galloping bareback through the hills with her cousins and around Flathead Lake to see her grandparents. She loved to be outdoors in every season.

Donald Weiand Jr.

Donald N. Weiand Jr., 54, passed away Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007 at the North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

An appropriate holiday read

It's rare for me to recommend books to people I don't know very well. While I might see the barely contained brilliance in "The Boys of Summer," an unassuming stranger who thinks that baseball is something you watch in purgatory might rather steer clear.

Speakers: Thanks

I want to extend a special, hearty thank you to the judges who volunteered Dec. 1 at the Whitefish Speech, Debate and Drama Tournament.

Fish and Game commissioner responds

How can Mr. Peck (in a Dec. 13 letter to the editor) attack someone he doesn't know, has never met and has no more information on which to formulate his attack than what he reads in a newspaper? This is just wrong. I promise you, several of the quotes in another paper concerning my encounter with a grizzly were misrepresented in many ways.

Save setbacks

If you would like to give a meaningful gift to your children and grandchildren this year, think about clean water.

Get permission to build first

What do we do about people (developers, hospital administrators, homeowners on the lake, the Bush administration, or any one else in the future) who use the strategy of “doing it first, and then getting permission or a variance or a retroactive law passed or a pardon delivered later?”

A local's colors

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

Hilton saying goodbye to community

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

Brown wants to rein in taxes

Gov. Brown or Gov. Schweitzer, why should you switch horses in the middle of the stream? Things are going reasonably well. Jobs are plentiful and wages are up. What is the problem?

Lady Bulldogs start strong in tourney

Whitefish girls go 1-1, starting guard Chelsea Ray out indefinitely due to knee injury

Yule-Revue featured a cavalcade of talent

Sunday was the first real snowy day of the season, but it really set the tone for the Holly Daze Yule-Review at the Outlaw Inn in Kalispell. It was an all-Columbia Falls event and a showcase of young and veteran talent from the area.

Bigfork defeats Frenchtown in first game of season

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Kats bounce back to blast Blue Devils, 62-41

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Blanche Kastella

Blanche M. Parks Kastella, 92, died Dec. 8, 2007 at the Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes.

Eagle's Crest lands county in court

By Jacob Doran / Of the WSN

Don Lynch

Donald Walton Lynch, 92, passed away quietly on Dec. 4, 2007.

Frank Brousseau

Frank James Brousseau, 83, passed away Dec. 5, 2007, at Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

Thanks for the support

I wanted to thank and acknowledge all of you who voted for me, as well as all of you who supported me during this past election.

Southerners let loose on Montana

Where I grew up, in and around Memphis, Tenn., snow was — oh, how to say this — nonexistent.

Growing up with Evel Knievel

It was a late night in the mid-1960s. I walked into my cousin Nick's bar out at the nine-mile on Butte's Harrison Avenue.

Amnesty for rentals now on the books

Many landlords may find it difficult to comply with the conditions

Not impressed with griz shooter

Recent newspapers reported about Fish, Wildlife and Parks commissioner Vic Workman’s close encounter with a grizzly while hunting. A number of things should trouble every ethical sportsman in the state.

The power of presence

By Jacob Doran

BHS unveils new eligibility procedures

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

Last-minute snow help opening day

Parking lots were packed at Whitefish Mountain Resort as it celebrated 60 years of skiing

Hockey team says thanks

The Whitefish women’s hockey teams would like to take this opportunity to thank the following businesses and individuals for their generous support of the fifth annual Winter Faceoff Hockey Tournament.

Matcats cap Mining City Duals with win over Butte

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Grizzly Smarts

Recently, a regional newspaper published a full page of letters of appreciation that acknowledged the style, class and grace of "Griz" players, staff and fans. Most impressively, six of the letters came from fans of our November 24th playoff opponents, the victorious Wolford Terriers of South Carolina. The letters were so heartfelt that I actually read each one twice.

Officials do it for the love of the game

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Saddlehorn Foundation gives $50k to local causes

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

Valkyries go 1-1 at tipoff tournament

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Come… Let us spray

Vic Workman was charged by a grizzly bear on Nov. 25, and fired a high-powered rifle from the hip when the bear was about 10 feet away. Vic told me he thought he hit the bear in the chest before it veered past him and disappeared.

BHS welcomes new teachers back to town

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Land concerns

By Clarice Ryan

Teens killed had Whitefish ties

By RICHARD HANNERS / For the Hungry Horse News

CFHS boys open with win over Corvallis

By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News

Forfeits hurt 'Dogs at Mining City Duals

Boys also travel to Polson to battle the Pirates, again lose with missing weights

`Dogs hit the court running

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

Parks department rescinds lease on controversial property

By JACOB DORAN / Bigfork Eagle

Hungry Horse man charged in shooting death of wife

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Church shooting hits home

Sisters who died in Colorado shooting lived and attended church in Whitefish

Leaders are lying to us

As you know, our president has become known as a liar. I am completely appalled that he is up to it again.

Tellin' tales from ridin' the rails

Andy Johnson recalls 33 years with the Great Northern Railway

Barbara Shryock

Barbara F. (Gosney) Shryock, 94, died peacefully at her home in Bigfork, on Flathead Lake, on Nov. 23, 2007.

Gladys LaFrance

Gladys Opal LaFrance, 88, an Olney resident, went to be with her Lord on Dec. 1, 2007.

Four Wildcats earn class A all-state football honors

Four Columbia Falls High School players have been honored as part of the class A all-state football team for 2007. Northwestern A all-conference and class A all-state teams were selected by vote of the coaches on Saturday.

Bigfork bowler wins senior tournament championship

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Hoop teams open season tourney

Taste of success in mind for Wildcats

Parking garage slated for 2008

Public input needed for this project and Central Avenue's 2009 reconstruction

Colt Idol and Bulldogs ready to roll

By DAVID ERICKSON - Whitefish Pilot

Rockford Plawman

Rockford Alan Plawman, 16, passed away Nov. 25, 2007, in Whitefish.

Hospital helps the community

Since Joan only included Craig’s phone number in her letter and not her own, I am having to respond to her letter about North Valley Hospital’s sign via the newspaper.

Decorating the downtown

Thanks to the many willing volunteers that made this year’s Whitefish Christmas decorations effort a success.

Protect lakes

As a professional engineer who has spent almost 50 years in the environmental engineering field, I applaud the setback regulations as a first step in the protection of our lakes.

Mat Cats outpointed by Ronan

By JOE SOVA - Hungry Horse News

Vikings, Valkyries hit hardwood in annual scrimmage

By FAITH MOLDAN

Newspaper policies update

Another year has nearly come and gone, and it's time to give you an explanation of our editorial policies at the Hungry Horse News. You will find the names of dozens, and sometimes more than 100 people who live in the northern part of the Flathead Valley in each issue of the newspaper. Here's a look at what we feel is important to get to our readers.

Taking a long look across the lake

At last weekend's Wake Up Old Man Winter Party in Lakeside, the band had just finished one of their blue-sy, if ear-rattling, songs when the lead singer picked up the microphone to get the crowd going.

Ladies ready for tourney

By DAVID ERICKSON - Whitefish Pilot

Free clinic very professional

Thank you all for your time and devotion to the people you serve. I arrived at your clinic in great pain due to a pinched sciatic nerve (those who have had this condition know of what I speak).

Hungry Horse man charged in shooting death of wife

A 50-year-old Hungry Horse man has been charged with deliberate homicide in the shooting death of his wife on Sunday at their home in Hungry Horse. His initial appearance was Tuesday.According to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a report of shots fired at 120 First Ave. NW in Hungry Horse at 7:38 p.m. Sunday. Sheriff's deputies responded and found the body of 46-year-old Jody Smith due to multiple gunshot wounds.Charles Glenn Smith, the deceased woman's husband, was at the scene of the alleged homicide when deputies arrived. He was taken into custody and was charged with homicide in his wife's death.The sheriff's office Major Crime Scene Unit responded to investigate and process the crime scene. Jody Smith's body was taken to the State Crime Lab in Missoula for a forensic autopsy.Neighbors said they weren't surprised by the shooting. They said the couple argued all the time. In fact, one neighbor said when he heard the noise of the shooting, he didn't think anything of it. Even so, the neighbors also said they were also a good couple and good neighbors.They said Glenn Smith was dying from cancer, which may have played into the motive for the shooting.Smith's arraignment has been set for Dec. 27 at 9 a.m.

Finding a home in the Flathead

Sixteen years ago, I was but a young girl forced onto a train for a family vacation. A train from Harrisburg, Pa., to Glacier National Park.

Big Mountain celebrating 60th year

By RICHARD HANNERS / For the Hungry Horse News

Hold the blame in fire stories

It's easy to play the blame game after a fire season like the one many Montanans have experienced this year. Anger is understandable when some of our favorite places have burned, when livelihoods have been affected, and thousands of acres of private property have been threatened or damaged, including my own place near Dog Gun Lake, just inside the Lewis and Clark National Forest.

State and local weather records

It has been years since snockered friends called me in the middle of the night to settle bar bets about local weather; nevertheless, the subject does arise regularly for all of us. To help, every five or six years I run the major Flathead and Montana weather records from the U.S. Weather Bureau.

Resort tax committee taking questions

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

Historical Society gets in gear

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Winter formal: Making a night to remember

In the hours before students start arriving in their tuxedos and dresses, Bigfork buzzed with activity as high school cheerleaders transformed the Swan River Inn into a Chinese-themed parlor. A writhing dragon hung from the ceiling above the dance floor and small Buddha statues adorned the table tops, while students finished sewing banners to dangle throughout the room. And prepping the venue wasn't the only job to be done before heading out for dinner; some of the group headed across the street to have hair and nails done with the same attention paid to the dance hall.

North Shore Ranch put on hold again

By JACOB DORAN / Bigfork Eagle

Construction finishes on new concession building

By FAITH MOLDAN

Paralegal vows to open up the legal system

By RICHARD HANNERS - Whitefish Pilot

Vacation rentals

Whitefish has many laws and ordinances on record, all argumentatively designed to ameliorate our community life and which we are obligated to uphold. One such ordinance is the highly debated 30-day minimum on rental properties.

2007 Northwest - Southwest Class A High School Basketball Tip-off Tourney Schedule

lldogs, along with 11 other girls teams, will play games at Whitefish High School on Friday, while the boys are in Columbia Falls. On Saturday, the boys teams will play in Whitefish, while the girls head to Columbia Falls. For more information call Jackie Fuller at 862-8600.

A Heartfelt thank you

On behalf of the Whitefish High School Key Club and the Whitefish Middle School Builder’s Club, I want to send a heartfelt thank you to all of the wonderful people in our community who donated food for the club’s Thanksgiving Food Drive.

Great Falls native wins Glacier centennial logo contest

By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News

Allan Greene

Allan O. "Al" Greene, 86, passed away Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, at his home in Columbia Falls with his son, Mike, at his side.

Lakeside Council opposes lot division

By JACOB DORAN - Bigfork Eagle

Missing slots hurt Bulldog grapplers

By DAVID ERICKSON - Whitefish Pilot

Drama, speech teams place in Whitefish

The Bigfork High School speech, debate and drama teams didn't have their best showing of the year at the Whitefish Speech Invitational Dec. 1.

Pizzeria gets OK on alcohol

By ALEX STRICKLAND - Bigfork Eagle