Thursday, September 27
Some school bond ballots returned to sender
By ALEX STRCKLAND - Bigfork Eagle
Fire bans lifted for area forests
By ALEX STRICKLAND - Bigfork Eagle
Every child is BBD: Brilliant Beyond Normal
By CHRIS PETERSON
Gerald 'Gary' Yates
Gerald “Gary” Dallas Yates, a resident of Crooked River Ranch, Ore., passed away Sept. 4, 2007.
When Booze was Banned
By G. George Ostrom
Students want to be heard about concerns as high schools diverge
On Sept. 5 I entered the hallowed halls of Flathead High School with the understanding that this year I would be wrapping up my contribution to the more than 100 years of Flathead tradition and history. Upon arriving, however, it became fairly evident that the district split we had been easing into for an entire year had not happened.
George Stocking
George Edgar Stocking passed away peacefully at his home in Whitefish on Sept. 17, 2007.
Ruth Hansz
Ruth Hansz, 90, of Whitefish, passed away Sept. 18, 2007, at her home at Riverside Assisted Living in Whitefish.
City-county planning board approves draft growth policy after short debate
By RICHARD HANNERS
Saluting volunteers
Volunteers seem to keep the world moving. I've often been an admirer of anyone who volunteers their time to help others. From those who spend countless hours helping at their church or coaching youth sports to those who take the time to shovel their walks.
Cats crush Chiefs, 55-16, host Libby in Homecoming game
By JOE SOVA
Commissioner Hall should rescind city-county agreement
For a brief moment there, when reading a recent op-ed by Flathead County Commissioner Gary Hall, I actually thought that Hall was finally going to admit he made a mistake when he turned control of private property outside the city of Whitefish over to the city.
Bulldogs sink the Pirates
By DAVID ERICKSON
Football team misses win again
By FAITH MOLDAN
The Winter Carnival horn goes silent
By CONSTANCE SEE
Blanchard Lake setbacks not fair
Although I was unable to attend the Whitefish Critical Areas Ordinance hearing on Sept. 20, I do have a suggestion which I would like to present to the public.
Jewel Basin lakes to be rid of invasive fish
By ALEX STRICKLAND - Bigfork Eagle
Linda Trickey
Linda Ivers Trickey, 55, of Spokane and formerly of Whitefish, passed away Sept. 15, 2007, after a brief battle with lung cancer. She was at home surrounded by her loving family at the time of her death.
Gerald Yates
Gerald “Gary” Dallas Yates, 74, a resident of Crooked River Ranch, Ore., passed away of heart failure on Sept. 4, 2007.
Mailer inflamed the public
Tim Grattan's letter to the Sept. 20 Pilot was remarkable in its arrogance. Perhaps we should be grateful he chose to sign his work this time.
Bewarned: Bears on the prowl
By CHRIS PETERSON
Lady spikers overcome by Loggers
By DAVID ERICKSON
Homecoming week kicks off
David Erickson photos / Whitefish Pilot
Marcellyn Clogg
Marcellyn “Marcie” Dee Clogg, 57, passed away at North Valley Hospital on Sept. 11, 2007, after living successfully with cancer for more than six years.
Whitefish or Deadfish?
Whitefish or Deadfish, you choose.
Volleyball team aces division oppenents; Wildkats, Maidens
by FAITH MOLDAN
Young teenagers face multiple felony charges for vandalism and theft
By RICHARD HANNERS
City and county can communicate
At the Whitefish City Coun-cil meeting last week, I heard the city councilors say that they realize they are having a communication problem with the county.
Tailgate BBQ slated Sept. 28
The Columbia Falls Booster Club invites all football fans to a tailgate barbecue at CFHS prior to the Homecoming game on Friday. The barbecue begins at 5 p.m. The cost for a hamburger meal is $5, and $3 for a hot dog meal.
Girls blank Polson, Bonners Ferry
By CHRIS PETERSON
Bulldog gridders finally taste victory
By DAVID ERICKSON
Wildcat boys shut out Pirates
By JOE SOVA
Auction raises more than $80k for Bigfork
By ALEX STRICKLAND
Landowners deserve protection, too
If you think the Critical Areas Ordinance for Whitefish is fine just as it is, you probably don't own any property and don't hope to build or buy property sometime in the future. If you did, you would see things altogether differently.
County seeks input on Canyon Plan
By CHRIS PETERSON
Hall not representing us
To the editor,
Yasuko M. Aklestad, 81
Yasuko M. Aklestad died Tuesday, September 18, 2007, at her home in Bigfork. Yasuko was born September 7, 1926, in Tokyo, Japan. Her mother passed away in 1928 when she was just two years old, and her father passed away in 1954.
Vikings blank Polson, Vals lose close ones
By FAITH MOLDAN
Whitefish City Beach lot price a joke
The notion that, because an appraisal says the lot next to City Beach is worth $3 million that it would sell for $3 million, is a joke.
Thursday, September 20
Bigfork's unquenchable thirst
Water use hits record highs as demand grows
Fires and forest mismanagement
A few days ago, my wife and I spent several days in Glacier National Park. As we looked at the smoke which impacted the enjoyment of our trip, a Park ranger told us that we needed to reduce our carbon footprint because global warming is impacting the glaciers.
Property owners ask about regulations aimed at protecting streams, lakes and wetlands
By RICHARD HANNERS
Viola Slusher
Viola Eileen Slusher, 88, a longtime Whitefish resident, died peacefully Sept. 12, 2007, at the Heritage Place nursing facility in Kalispell.
Lady Bulldogs out-shoot Corvallis
By DAVID ERICKSON
Bigfork walker has lifetime of ideas
By ALEX STRICKLAND - Bigfork Eagle
Preliminary engineering report worries owners
By RICHARD HANNERS
Carlson continues cross country success
By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle
Politicians should work together
I must take exception to the slant House Speaker Scott Sales and Representative Sonju took, when they recently appeared on a local talk show, regarding the way unbudgeted revenue was spent during the last session. They made repeated reference to a 23 percent increase in State government spending which did not take into account that a good percentage of the expenditures were one time allocations which were necessary to compensate for short comings created by previously misguided legislation.
Sensible land use
I am glad my efforts to bring the effects of the new critical areas ordinance to the people have paid off.
Special treatment
I am now an outsider twice over. As an "original" outsider, I bought some beautiful property northwest of Whitefish about 15 years ago and recently sold it since our family's plans changed.
Doris Smith
Doris Wilna Smith, 95, passed away peacefully at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell on Sept. 7, 2007.
Volleyball team presses on in conference action
By FAITH MOLDAN - Bigfork Eagle
From the halls of Montezuma
What do you do when the world is spiraling out of control?
George Stocking
George Edgar (Ed) Stocking, 74, passed away peacefully at his home in Whitefish on Sept. 17, 2007.
Disgruntled
For those of you who didn’t get the memo, this letter is to inform you all that the resort formerly known as the Big Mountain, under sage guidance of its proprietor, Mr. Foley, has decided to break with established tradition and open Dec. 8, effectively reducing your ski season by 16 days and eliminating the time-honored tradition of skiing on Turkey Day.
Third annual Two Bear Marathon
The race began three miles north of Whitefish and wound through the Beaver Lakes area, south on East Lakeshore Drive, across City Beach, finishing at The Wave. Jeff Caba, of Bend, Ore., was the overall winner with a time of 2:53:32. The top-20 Whitefish finishers were Kuntz, Andrew Matulionis, Christopher Burke, Marc Burnham, Robert Hagler, Kris Caister, Luke Cummings, Seth Carbonari, Kristin Voisin, Kasey Young, Shawn Otto, Ann Piersall, Jim Archibald, Don Hanks, Brandom Price, Richard Hildner, Sadie Schwenk, Cindy Weaver, David Mercer, Suzanne Hildner and Catherine Relf. The top female finisher was Sheila Nykwist, of Lethbridge, Alberta, with a time of 3:37:03.
Bigfork native continues musical success with Friday Mile
By FAITH MOLDAN - Bigfork Eagle
Canadians concerned about border issues
By RICHARD HANNERS
Merrie Thompson
Merrie Elaine Thompson, 84, a longtime Whitefish resident, passed away of natural causes Sept. 8, 2007, at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Whitefish.
Diane Adams
Diane Kay Adams passed away and went home Sept. 10, 2007, after a yearlong battle with cancer. She left us with dignity and with courage.
The never-ending battle
A local guy named Melvin was in New York walking down Madison Avenue. As usual, he was wearing slightly torn jeans, a tired T-shirt, dusty boots and a black hat that looked like one Jed Clampett threw away.
Glacier Bank finally opens its doors
By ALEX STRICKLAND - Bigfork Eagle
Broncs run all over the Dogs
By DAVID ERICKSON
hadowy group
The expensive, professionally-created alert that arrived in my mailbox from Sensible Land Use recently immediately raised a red flag. I searched the alert carefully for a name or phone contact but found only a post office box and reference to a Web site.
Dolores M. Young, 89
On Sept. 10, 2007, at 4:10 a.m., Dolores M. Young, 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep at St. Joseph Hospital in Polson. Dolores was born May 20, 1918, in Crosby, N.D., to Knute and Lulu Huso. She grew up in the oil fields of Kevin and Shelby. The family then moved to Kalispell, where she graduated from Flathead County High School. Dolores later attended business school in Spokane.
Viking soccer stifles Stillwater Christian, Vals remain winless
By FAITH MOLDAN - Bigfork Eagle
New building models Old West
By ALEX STRICKLAND - Bigfork Eagle
Girls run away with another title
Boys take a close second
Lady spikers win two conference sets
By DAVID ERICKSON
Message in a bottle gets through dam, finds fisherman in Dixon
By ALEX STRICKLAND - Bigfork Eagle
Wednesday, September 19
Knitting Guild
Big Sky Knitting and Spinning Guild is new to the Columbia Falls area and anyone interested is invited to attend their meetings. The guild meets at 7 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month, beginning Sept. 25, at the Columbia Mountain Missionary Baptist Church, across the corner from the Columbia Falls police station.
CF City Council approves budget hike
By HEIDI DESCH
Wildcats wallop Stevensville, 32-14
By JOE SOVA
Rep. Sales: Too much growth in Montana government
By JOE SOVA
Thanks for donation to Community Kitchen
To the editor,
CF Chamber cranks up Fall Decorating Contest
By JOE SOVA
Building business
In this day and age, when the big retailers have a huge impact on our buying habits, it is important to keep small business alive.
Wildcats post 3-1 victory over Vikings
By JOE SOVA
Kat girls blank Bigfork, 4-0
By CHRIS PETERSON
My new nose made by Sears
September is a special anniversary month for me. It has been 10 years since I had a new nose made by Sears.
Fire restrictions in NW Montana lifted
Fire restrictions in Northwest Montana have been lifted, according to a Flathead National Forest news release. This includes all lands in Northwest Montana within Flathead and Lincoln counties, plus that portion of Lake County outside of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Lands, plus all lands administered by the Kootenai National Forest, Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park. These administrative boundaries include portions of Sanders County west of Whitepine, Glacier County within Glacier National Park, Missoula County north of Summit Lake and Powell County within the Flathead National Forest.
Thursday, September 13
Bulldog golfers keep rolling at Libby Invite
Last week, the Whitefish High School golf teams competed in the first-ever Glacier, Flathead and Whitefish Triangular event at Village Greens Golf Course.
Lady harriers claim team title
By DAVID ERICKSON
Marathon help
The Two Bear Marathon is set for Sunday, Sept. 16 in Whitefish and volunteers are needed for aide stations. Volunteers will work two- to three-hour shifts starting at 6 a.m.
Doris Wilna Smith
Doris Wilna Smith, 95, passed away peacefully at Immanuel Lutheran Home, in Kalispell, on Sept. 7, 2007.
Lightning rod for lawsuits
The citizens committee currently wrestling with the technicalities of ticklish land-use proposals might bear in mind two ancient lessons which resurfaced in recent court activity.
An apology to county residents around Whitefish
Politics in the Flathead Valley has definitely changed in recent years, but I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the process.
Grant kicks off fire department fund-raising
By MIKE RICHESON
Friday was a 2006 playoff rematch
By DAVID ERICKSON
Columbia Falls and Whitefish boys soccer teams battle it out
By JOE SOVA
Owner of popular downtown music venue faced six alcohol violations in 3-year period
By RICHARD HANNERS
Advice to the Loveworn
In its ideal state, marriage is a moral as well as a legal relationship between a man and a woman, based on mutual love, trust, cooperation and respect. It is also necessary to have patience tempered with a lack of selfishness.
Peace is a pretty nice way to forget a sliver
I’m off to Peace, ohh-ahh-ooh-ahh-ooh-ahhh.
Thomas Harris
Thomas Lee Harris, Sr., 74, died Sept. 5, 2007, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center after an illness of five months caused by pancreatic cancer.
Whitefish blanks Wildkats, 1-0
By CHRIS PETERSON
Isabella Myers
Isabella Myers, 95, died Saturday, April 14, 2007, at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.
The handshake heard 'round the World
By CHRIS PETERSON
Spikers take second in Bitterroot tourney
By DAVID ERICKSON
Baucus, Tester expect 'knock-down, drag-out fight' in BP mining
By CHRIS PETERSON
Help the teachers
Letter from the editor
Remembering camping days past
Camping experiences years ago were discussed when visiting with friends this week.
School District 6 enrollment comparable to last year
By JOE SOVA
Not yet ready for prime time?
Planning board flooded with testimony at draft Whitefish growth policy hearing
Building justice center in Virginia City wrong
An open letter to the people of Montana,
Bush policy is bad
During my August listening sessions, I heard Montanans voice their opposition to the latest attempt by the Bush Administration to allow Mexican truckers to operate within the U.S. I want to start by saying this proposal is a bad idea and it's great to see many Montanans feel the same way I do. This program poses a threat to American truckers, businesses, and the security of our nation's families.
Bottle your own water at home
I recently heard on National Public Radio that Americans buy more than 500 million bottles of bottled water every week. Every week.
Bulldogs edge cross-valley rivals
By DAVID ERICKSON
Merrie Thompson
Merrie Elaine (Pritchard) Thompson 84, passed away on Sept. 9, 2007.
Theo Kearl
Theo Jones Kearl, 90, died Sept. 3, 2007, at his daughter’s home in Whitefish.
Butte Central too quick for Wildcats
By JOE SOVA
Life's challenge
Life is full of ups and downs. You have to be careful not to get too far down when times are tough.
Start dancing the pole polka
I was sure glad to read the letter from Diane Rice (Whitefish Pilot, Sept. 6) announcing that pole dancing was going on in ol' Whitefish.
Glacier Babe Ruth is grateful for the support
Being the first year as president of Glacier Babe Ruth, I want to take the time to thank all the people who helped out and supported Glacier Babe Ruth this past year.
Carlson wins again
By MIKE RICHESON
Respect our women and daughters
During a recent discussion among those gathered for what may be the final "Socrates Cafe," the question we posed was, "What effect did the women's movement of the 1960s and 1970s have on society?"
Zoning committee seeks public input
By ALEX STRICKLAND
Advice for the lovelorn
By GEORGE OSTROM
City not yet ready to give up City Hall
By RICHARD HANNERS
Volunteer wins education award
By Alex Strickland
Thursday, September 6
Myrtle Hofacker
Myrtle E. Hofacker, 90, died peacefully Aug. 29, 2007, at her home in Billings.
Jay Wartnow
Jay “J.P” Patrick Wartnow, 68, passed away Aug. 26, 2007, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, after a five-month battle with brain cancer.
Jim Quenemoen
Friends of Jim Quenemoen are invited to a memorial service at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Whitefish Senior Center, located at 221 Second Street East.
City Hall needs a charter change
If anyone is looking for a heated discussion about Whitefish these days, the topic of City Hall is sure to be near the top of the list. While it is tempting to assign individual blame to our city’s woes, the heart of the problem lies much deeper.
BP moves ahead with mine
By CHRIS PETERSON
Clarice Wood
Clarice Jane Wood, a longtime Whitefish resident passed away Aug. 31, 2007, at home near Whitefish.
Wayward sheep shows up in Canyon
By CHRIS PETERSON
Boy's death triggers new stoplight
By Jacob Doran
Girls soccer drop three in a row
By FAITH MOLDAN
NV Music classes begins fall session
North Valley Music School in Whitefish, celebrating its 10th year of serving the Flathead Valley, begins its fall group classes the week of Sept. 10.
Montessori community saves school
By Jacob Doran
Draft growth policy is missing key items - it's time to update
Whitefish has been blessed with the wisdom and guidance of a comprehensive growth policy that has help to shape the rapid growth the city has faced since 1996.
Whitefish runners dominate opener
Whitefish Pilot
Letters to the editor
Elmer Sprunger was much more than a cartoonist. He was a teacher and a friend.
Broncs blank Vikings, 46-0
By FAITH MOLDAN
City Council votes to use total mills
By HEIDI DESCH
Bulldog spikers sweep Polson
Whitefish Pilot
Employment numbers in state looking good
Statistical graphs really tell a story with just a quick glance. As referred to in sales, “up and to the right” is good. That means there is growth in that department.
Wildcats thump Browning, 42-7
By JOE SOVA
Clarification on lakeshore issues
This letter is to clarify facts about the purported lakeshore violation on the Whitefish Lake Ranch, owned by William Foley, that were discussed in two recent Whitefish Pilot articles and in a letter submitted by Tom LaChance last week.
Fire threat remains
By MIKE RICHESON
July's record-high temperatures contribute to long-term glacial wasting
By RICHARD HANNERS
CFHS golfers third in home meet
Micah Jam carded an 88 and Tanner Lineberry came in with a 91 to lead the Columbia Falls boys to third place at a four-team golf tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at Meadow Lake Golf Resort. Jam was fifth overall.
Cats post soccer wins over Park, Belgrade
By JOE SOVA
Vals break top 10
By FAITH MOLDAN
Thanks for support of Babe Ruth baseball
To the editor,
More shutouts for Bulldog boys
Whitefish Pilot
An outsider's point of view
In response to Kelly Mull’s letter: SnowBowl probably would have been cheaper. However, that is not the area in which the Foleys decided they loved, that they wanted to invest in, that they would donate their own hard-earned money to better. They chose Whitefish.
Real estate on the mountain
Born and raised in White-fish, I’m proud to call myself a local and not afraid to state my opinion.
MHP honors McKay for effort at crash scene
By JOE SOVA
Muslim whining grows old
Are you ready for a brief quiz? Here is a list of events. After reading the list, you must make a choice to determine the perpetrator of all these acts. Read carefully.
Meetings of groups, organizations
It seemed to me there were several events which were too small for individual stories, but would make a good combined column. An early deadline helped make the decision to write about these activities.
Do we need pole dancing?
What are we thinking?
Clarice Jane Wood
Clarice Jane Wood, a longtime Whitefish resident passed away Friday, Aug. 31, 2007 at home near Whitefish. She was born Oct. 2, 1924 in White Earth, N. D., the daughter of Clara and Joseph Imsland.
Election rumors stir pot
City attorney warns group to register if supporting candidates
City workers tear down billboard sign
Both trailer court owner and advertising company are suing the city