Thursday, May 28
Owners split on Bad Rock Drive paving plan
Landowners who might be forced to pay for paving Bad Rock Drive acknowledge the road is dusty, but don't think they should shoulder the costs of paving the road.
Whitewater Festival
The war on terrorism is not over
As we remember our veterans on this Memorial Day weekend, I stand troubled at our Commander-in-Chief’s position regarding Guantanamo Bay, aka GITMO. As much as I respect our president, I fundamentally disagree with his assessment that moving the detainees to U.S. territory is in our nation’s best interest.
Mitchell Kopczyk
Mitchell Allen Kopczyk, 50, passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2009, near Bigfork as the result of a motor vehicle accident. He was born on Nov. 4, 1958, in Elyria, Ohio, to John and Carmela (DiMichele) Kopczyk.
WEB UDPATE: BHS graduates Class of 2009
Bigfork Eagle
City budget balancing economic impacts
Whitefish Pilot
Harris wins state after tough final match
Whitefish's Matt Harris ended his prep tennis career in style at the Class A state tennis championship held at Flathead Valley Community College on May 21-22. The boys team placed third, after Billings Central and Havre.
Park avalanche was Class 5 monster
An avalanche that crossed the Sun Road twice and ran beyond the Packer's Roost Road was the largest of its kind, Glacier Park avalanche experts said last week.
'Kats face Park at state SB
Columbia Falls is on a mission on the softball diamond during the 2009 Class A State Tournament today (Thursday) through Saturday in Polson. And the Wildkats (8-2 conference, 18-4 overall) will go as far as five seniors and their supporting cast will take them.
C-Falls native took down Glasgow sniper
It was supposed to be a night out with the girls. It was Alexandra Steven Burke's day off. She's a Bureau of Land Management ranger. Oversees about 1 million acres near Glasgow. Milk River country. Burke, 36, grew up in Columbia Falls. Graduated in 1991.
Getts, Ronish runners-up at state tennis tournament
The script for the boys doubles division of the Class A State Tennis Tournament could not have been written any better. Yes, Columbia Falls seniors Grant Getts and Jake Ronish finished second rather than first, but it was getting to the championship match that meant the most.
Richard Fliehler
Richard "Hog Dick" Fliehler, 56, passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2009, near Bigfork as the result of a motor vehicle accident. He was born on March 5, 1953, in Arlington, Iowa, to Donald and Dorothy (Astor) Fliehler.
Letters to the Editor
Where our money went
C-Falls boys second at Divisionals
Winning three events and going 1-2 in the 100-meter dash, Columbia Falls earned a solid second place in the boys division of the Northwestern A Divisional Track and Field Meet held Friday and Saturday in Polson.
Thursday
Stumptown Art Studio will host its 14th annual Spring Show of Student Artwork and Ice Cream Social on Thursday, June 4, from 6-9 p.m. during First Thursday Gallery Nights. The exhibition of works by young neighborhood artists is a culmination from Stumptown Art Studioís youth classes since last fall. More than 100 works of student art will be on display through June 30, including drawings and paintings, collage and printmaking, pottery and sculpture. For more information, call 862-5929 or visit online at www.stumptownartstudio.org.
State tourist numbers and expenditures, down for 2008
Whitefish Pilot
Board struggles with lakeshore regs update
Whitefish Pilot
Sophomore Knoll making waves in short career
To say that it is an accomplishment for a high school athlete to be on the All-Conference list for both volleyball and basketball and go to the state track meet for the second year in a row in multiple events would be an understatement; especially if the student was just a sophomore.
Scholarships roll in for BHS seniors
Money may be tight, but that hasn't stopped Bigfork High School's senior class from raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship awards as the 75 students prepare to graduate next week.
Babe Ruth team wins 8th in a row
Bigfork's Babe Ruth Baseball team extended their winning streak to eight last week, having not lost since their season opener on May 1 to Montana Build.
Who Should We Hate?
There are many Letters to the Editor these days which seem to me unnecessarily malicious. Feel like mailing a note to such writers telling them, "Some nut is sending letters to the paper and signing your name."
Rehberg urges restraint at Lake Co. talk
The Lake County Republican Women's Club hosted a special meeting earlier this month at Camp Marshall, near Big Arm, during which Congressman Denny Rehberg served as the keynote speaker.
Lady Bulldogs close season with three losses
Whitefish lose on road in Libby
Weekend crash kills 2
Bigfork Eagle
Dickie Howell
Dickie Lee Howell, 68, passed on peacefully in the company of his family on May 19, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center due to advanced heart disease.
Response: People should fear their government
I disagree with Pat Williams in his May 7 op-ed in the Whitefish Pilot and believe today, more than ever we need to fear our government. Williams stated, “From the early 1930s and Franklin D. Roosevelt through every president, people believed that aggressive government made a positive difference in their lives.”
http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/bigforkeagle
http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/bigforkeagle/about_us
Glacier Park Scenes II
Appreciate travel plan
To the editor,
Jack retiring again
Jack Therrien is retiring again.
Cat Dog Smoker
Neighbors protest commercial growth on Baker Avenue
Whitefish Pilot
Boys win divisionals, girls place second
The Whitefish boys held on at the Northwestern A divisional track meet on Saturday and set themselves up for a good shot at defending their state title.
Flathead jobless rate drops to 10.5% in April
Bigfork Eagle
Tenure and seniority do matter
The impassioned statements about one Whitefish High School teacher peppering the news lately are precisely why tenure and seniority matter. If a teaching job were based solely on vocal popularity, the quality of learning in the classroom would surely be compromised. In this instance, however, I feel proud of the Whitefish School District for continuing to hire the best teachers that can be found.
BHS graduation week
Summer learning key for students
Dave Wick / For the Hungry Horse News
Letter from the editor
Good luck, BHS Class of 2009
Support middle school art programs
The fact that Whitefish school officials are contemplating a possible cut of art programs in the Whitefish Middle School is mind-boggling. Art programs are a necessity for further learning and growth and if these necessary programs are cut, an unfortunate lasting negative consequence will be inflicted upon our society’s young people.
Tuesday, May 26
Taking a look at what bills made it into law
As the 61st Legislative Session has come to a close, I first want to thank each and every one of you for providing me the honor to serve you once again in Helena. I also want to send out a very special thanks to Rep. Janna Taylor of Rollins for doing such a wonderful job of keeping the West Shore Community informed of the weekly activities going on in Helena.
Glacier Park, mid-spring
Rehberg: 'Small town America' will save us
Though he had to rush off after a talk with the Lake County Republican Women at Camp Marshall, near Big Arm, two weeks ago for his daughter's birthday, Congressman Denny Rehberg provided a private follow-up interview with the West Shore News last week.
Black bear illegally killed near Columbia Falls
Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking information about the illegal killing of a black bear that was discovered May 1 on Cedar Flats Road, north of Columbia Falls. The black bear carcass had been gutted, skinned and abandoned.
Thursday
The Columbia Falls Lions Club meets at 6:30 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays each month at the Back Room, in the same building as the Nite Owl Restaurant. Contact a Lions Club member for information about joining the organization.
Thursday, May 21
John Morley 'Zeke' Edgerton, 80
John Morley 'Zeke' Edgerton, age 80, passed away suddenly on Friday, May 15, 2009 at his residence in Bigfork, Montana. He was born on September 3, 1928 at the American Swedish Hospital in Rockford, Illinois; at two years old he became the son of Harold and Beatrice Edgerton.
Fond farewell
To the community of Whitefish: As of May 15, 2009, I officially resigned as head boys basketball coach for the Whitefish School District.
Let's not fund a road to nowhere
CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News
Thursday
The Columbia Falls Lions Club meets at 6:30 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays each month at the Back Room, in the same building as the Nite Owl Restaurant. Contact a Lions Club member for information about joining the organization.
WEB UDPATE: Two killed in Ferndale crash
Bigfork Eagle
Margaret Ann Bronder
Margaret “Maggie” Ann Bronder, 55, passed away May 9, 2009, at home with family, after a courageous 18-year battle with cancer.
Credit should be given to Gary
Gary W. Thacker came to Columbia Falls as a teenager and became a longtime businessman.
Flathead Lake slowly filling up for summer
It's been a wet spring in the Flathead Valley, but with warm weather just starting to set in up in the high country, Flathead Lake is beginning to feel big effects from runoff.
Loretta Howe
Loretta Jean Howe, 73, joined her heavenly father on Friday May 15, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center with her beloved family by her side.
Wants motor access to Badger
To the editor,
Council approves River's Edge Park master plan
Plans for River's Edge Park along the Flathead River will remain fluid for now.
BHS track heads to divisionals on high note
With just one week left before the Northwest A Divisional Track Meet, the Bigfork team showed they were ready, placing 14 times at Saturday's ABC meet in Polson. The Bigfork girls placed sixth and the boys were seventh among the 10 schools that participated.
Avalanche won't stop Sun Road opening
Whitefish Pilot
Wayne Gary Treat
Wayne Gary Treat, 64, "headed on his final hike along Highway 2 to heaven" on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, in Columbia Falls. Wayne was born in Radisson, Wis., on May 21, 1944, to Howard and Marion (Jordan) Treat.
Memorial Day ceremonies
Once again, it is time to celebrate our nation’s fallen defenders of freedom. On Memorial Day, May 25, the citizens of Whitefish will assemble to parade and pay tribute to the brave men and women who defended our great nation and have now passed.
Work to start on emergency services center, bond financing continuing
Whitefish Pilot
Legislature's reappraisal bill not acceptable
We have all read articles from legislators extolling the merits of House Bill 658, where the format and content of the bill is practically identical to the reappraisal mitigation bill of 2003 (Senate Bill 461).
Coco and Roche take firsts at Polson meet
The Whitefish boys took third and the girls took fourth place at the Polson ABC track meet on Saturday.
Boys win tennis divisionals
Whitefish senior Matt Harris captured his fourth divisional tennis title on Saturday at the Western A with a 6-0, 6-3 verdict over Bigfork's Scott Taylor on the courts at Flathead Valley Community College.
Bigfork Food Bank moves into new home
To say the Bigfork Food Bank is in a new, expanded location would be to sell the striking difference short. The local pantry's new digs in the Nelson Electric building at Streeter's Corner are literally five times larger than the previous location.
WEB UPDATE: Fugitive caught in Bigfork
Northwest Montana News Network
Park will add osprey cam to its Web site
Soon, online visitors to Glacier National Park's Web site will be able to watch a pair of osprey raise chicks.
Dick Howell
Dick L. Howell, 68, Columbia Falls, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He was born Sept. 19, 1940 in Whitefish.
Hydro plant could be money-maker
Whitefish Pilot
Letter from the editor
A river runs into it
Ferndale church starting community garden
It may not seem like a square foot of soil is enough space to grow anything, but by next spring, area residents will be able to get the most out of a tiny bit of dirt by subscribing to "Square Foot Gardening" behind St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Ferndale.
Slide damage to Sun Road not as bad as first thought
Damage from a huge avalanche that swept across the Sun Road isn't as bad as first expected and shouldn't hinder opening the highway, Park officials said last week.
Twins win Canadian Days
The Glacier Twins are Canadian Days champions. The Twins bounced back from a four-run deficit in the fifth inning to defeat the Kalispell Lakers 9-6 in the championship game on Sunday.
Getts, Ronish qualify for state
Columbia Falls seniors Grant Getts and Jake Ronish captured the doubles championship at the Western A Divisional Tournament in Kalispell last weekend and will return to the Flathead Valley Community College courts for the state tournament Thursday and Friday.
Clare Elizabeth Aganek
Clare Elizabeth Aganek, daughter of Mary and Paul Aganek, of Whitefish, was born May 7, 2009, at North Valley Hospital.
Letters to the Editor
Don't let the dogs slip
Odd News Reviews
There continue to be strange things in the news each week, at least strange to me. Some items seem worth discussing further.
Paddlers getting set for Whitewater this weekend
With the 33rd Annual Whitewater Festival just two days away, preparations for the annual kayaking — and unofficial start to summer in Bigfork — are well under way by paddlers and organizers alike.
Big Creek Adventure
Wildkats have second seed at state softball
With a split with Polson and Libby last week, Columbia Falls will have the No. 2 seed from the Western A Conference in next week's Class A State Softball Tournament in Polson.
Richard Timlick
Richard "Papa Dick" Timlick, 65, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 10, 2009, at Health Center Northwest in Kalispell, with his loving family by his side. He had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor on Feb. 22, 2009. He was born on May 14, 1943 in Rolla, N., the son of James Robert and Ella Louise (Wicks' Timlick.
Lake committee chairman pans minority report
Whitefish Pilot
'Cats primed for Divisionals run
If the cards fall into place and the Wildcats compete to their capabilities, Columbia Falls can hoist the Northwest A Divisional boys championship trophy Saturday in Polson.
Plowing the Sun Road
Tuesday, May 19
County installs new Ben Williams Park equipment
You may have wondered if it would ever happen. If so, you're not alone.
Lakeside Community Club celebrates 100 years
This month's meeting of the Lakeside Community Club was far from a typical club meeting. In fact, the gathering looked less like a meeting and more like a big birthday party, complete with balloons, cake, more than 70 guests and about 100 candles.
Letters to the editor"In Search of the Truth"
In search of the truth and to set the record straight the recent diatribe that degenerated into a personal attack on me by Bruce Barrett of Lakeside cannot go unanswered (WSN 4/1509). Reasonable people can and do have differing opinions on certain issues and can debate an issue without resorting to invective and untrue aspersions of character.
Thursday
All students who plan to participate in any extracurricular activity at Whitefish High School in 2009-2010 must have a parent attend a mandatory informational meeting on one of the two following dates ó Thursday, May 21, and Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Whitefish High School Gym. A parent must attend one of these meetings before a student will be allowed to practice or participate.
West Shore Library shares 'grand opening'
The West Shore Library may have been around for 13 years, but that didn't stop the library board of directors from holding an official "grand opening" to celebrate the recent changes that have taken place, like the new bookstore and 800 additional square feet added back in January.
Somers track team excels in Polson, Kalispell meets
The Somers track team thrilled fans who made the trip to Polson last week to watch them net their best overall scores to date.
Thursday, May 14
Spring flowers, Glacier Park
Elizabeth (Biz) Purdom
Elizabeth Anne (Biz) Purdom passed away Sunday, April 26, 2009, at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Born Elizabeth Anne McDonald on Nov. 2, 1946, in Minot, N.D., she grew up in Great Falls. She graduated from Great Falls High School in 1965 and then attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where she met her future husband, Wayne G. Purdom.
Time does fly by
Amazing how time flies. Seems things friends consider as occurring yesterday were probably 40, 50 or 60 years ago or more.
cartoon
Letter from the editor
'Life after people' easy to imagine in Montana
Whitefish High School Talent Show 2009.
David Erickson / Whitefish Pilot
Vikes win, Vals split heading into divisional tournament
The Bigfork High School boys tennis team is going into the divisional tournament with a little boost of confidence after defeating both Polson and Ronan last week. Divisionals start today, May 14, in Kalispell.
Wildcat netters edge Libby in tune-up for Divisionals
Every tennis coach wants his players to be on top of their game heading into the postseason, and Columbia Falls boys coach Gary Yee believes that is the case.
It's a good time for a new track
JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
Wildcat thinclads seventh at Archie Roe Invite
Columbia Falls finished in seventh place in the boys division of the 35th annual Archie Roe Invitational track and field meet on a warm, sunny Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell. Glacier eased to the team title with 108 points in the 19-school meet. Missoula Big Sky was second with 79, followed by Flathead with 64, Whitefish and Missoula Sentinel 42 and Plains 29.
Minority report rips proposed lakeshore regs
Whitefish Pilot
School board approves budget layoffs
Whitefish Pilot
Bulldog boys still on a roll in tennis action
Whitefish Pilot
Need to address reason animals are in town
To the editor,
BHS students get back bond survey results
Back in April, a group of Bigfork High School seniors sent out 450 carefully crafted surveys to voters in the BHS school district asking why they said "yes' or "no" to the $11.1 million bond that failed twice during the previous school year.
City takes back the doughnut for now
Whitefish Pilot
Andrew Johnson
Andrew “Andy” Gustaf Johnson, 91, of Whitefish, passed away peacefully May 4, 2009.
Property tax reappraisal bill is fair
Property-tax reappraisal and the appropriate mitigation strategy was a major issue for the 2009 Legislature. Residential property values increased 55 percent from the last statewide reappraisal in 2003, and 73 percent in Flathead County. Mitigating this increase in property values in a way that met the mandates of the Montana Constitution and is fair across the state is a very complex issue.
Downtown packed for Spring Art Walk
Credit the gloomy economy or the rainy spring weather, but downtown Bigfork was full of people on Saturday out enjoying the sunshine at the Spring Art Walk.
It's generational theft
I am writing to voice my concerns about the massive spending that is going on in Washington, D.C.
Lady Dogs down Copperheads
Whitefish Pilot
Haines Drug closes doors after 98 years
Whitefish Pilot
Four city positions up for election this year
Woodruff says she won’t run again for council
Averill stays on school board
The Bigfork School District 38 board looks just like it did last month, with Maureen Averill and Denny Sabo still on it.
'Sharing' means everyone gets to play
I'm writing in response to a letter by Edd Blackler (5/7/09), a local public land user impacting the environment of our Flathead National Forest lands both on foot and hoof, who wrote to complain about having to share his trails with others. After reading Edd's "thoughts' on 'sharing", I find myself wondering if Edd's Kindergarten teacher marked the box on his report card – "Does Not Play Well with Others." Like most kindergartners, Edd just doesn't like to share "his" sandbox Let's examine some of Edd's sandboxes, he has quite a few that he won't ever have to share.
N. Fork plight in U.N. spotlight
Sen. Max Baucus last week said he would push to have the North Fork of the Flathead designated as a World Heritage Site in Danger, a dubious distinction as Glacier National Park turns 100 next year.
Thursday
The Columbia Falls Lions Club meets at 6:30 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays each month at the Back Room, in the same building as the Nite Owl Restaurant. Contact a Lions Club member for information about joining the organization.
Coco, Tkachyk win big at Archie Roe track meet
Whitefish Pilot
Business owners get behind 'contribution'
With a wide sampling of business owners in attendance, the support for instituting a voluntary 1 percent "contribution" program for Bigfork was near unanimous on Thursday night.
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Diane Delaney
Diane K. Delaney, 56, passed away April 25, 2009, at St. Pat's Hospital in Missoula of natural causes.
Bigfork keeps up with bigger competition
Bigfork High School may not be one of the largest schools in Northwest Montana, but several athletes on the track team proved that they can still hold their own at last Saturday's Archie Roe Invitational track meet in Kalispell, which drew about 1,000 athletes from 18 schools, including five AA schools.
Wildkats hand Belgrade first loss, 6-5
Columbia Falls softball players probably didn't know Belgrade, the third-place finisher at state last year, was unbeaten going into their non-conference game Friday to open the LaVerne Combo Invitational in Butte. But coach Dave Kehr did.
Senior tennis player keeps it interesting
Bigfork High School's senior class has its share of talented kids, but few are as varied in their talents, or as modest about them, as Sean Barrett.
James (Jim) Allen Bell, 70
James (Jim) Allen Bell was called to heaven on May 6, 2009. He enjoyed his final days peacefully at his summer home in Bigfork, Montana, overlooking the Flathead Lake surrounded by his wife, daughter, son and their spouses along with his most treasured five grandchildren who affectionately referred to him as Poppa.
Layoffs don't make sense
I am writing to you concerning one of the biggest problems at Whitefish High School. Mr. Holloway is one of the greatest teachers at the high school, and the school has decided to discontinue his job.
Sun Road could see work on both sides
The Going-to-the-Sun Road could very well see repairs on both sides of the Divide by next year. That seems to be the most palatable proposal as the road will see $27.6 million in stimulus funding starting this summer, but that funding also comes with strict timelines.
Letters to the Editor
Bows and arrows
Bryant Sandefer
Bryant Sandefer, 73, passed away Friday, May 8, 2009, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center after a long illness.
Adventures in Liar Land
In the past here we have discussed the possibility that misrepresenting the truth when it doesn't hurt anyone is not a sin deserving the threat of hell fire and brimstone. Can recall writing about serious research being done by social scientists who were studying lying and they made distinctions between white lies, fibs, blatant lies and harmful prevarications even had a category for thoughtful untruths which were justified because they kept from hurting someone's feelings; however, they had left out what we tall-tale spinners have labeled "high quality B.S." In honest labors, those researchers had determined just about everyone tells mistruths (lies' on a daily basis, some a lot more than others. I've admitted in this column to occasionally using the gift of "creative recall," especially when it comes to such difficult to remember things as waist measurements, golf scores, size of fish, etc.
A ballet for Mother's Day
When Keiko Sagami was a toddler she loved to move around and make noise, so much so that her mother, Kelly, enrolled her in dance classes at the age of three. At the time Kelly had no idea that she was setting up her daughter, who is currently a freshman at Bigfork High School, for over a decade of dancing, or that it eventually would turn into a Mother's Day surprise for her.
Tuesday, May 12
Whitefish High School Talent Show
Miller, Brown to fill vacant council seats
Lakeside voters headed to the polling at Lakeside Elementary School, last Tuesday, to determine the outcome of two open seats on the Lakeside Community Council. The seats were being sought by three contenders, Keith Brown, Marc Liechti and Barbara Miller.
Lakeside students join P.A.C.E. Trek
This Tuesday, sixth-grade students at Somers Middle School completed a four-week-long team effort to match endurance runner Paul Staso of Missoula mile-for-mile on his 500-mile run from Juneau, Alaska to the Arctic Circle.
Thursday
Flathead Valley IONS (Institute of Noetic Sciences) Community Group will meet Thursday, May 14, 7 p.m. at the Bohemian Grange, directly west of Montana Coffee Traders on U.S. 93. Kate O’Brien will explain the basic ethics and principles of permaculture and show examples of how it is being used around the world today. For further information, call 862-7711.
Letters to the editorNew park needs care
Lakeside already has a swim park on north Lakeside Boulevard, but because of the very limited parking, small picnic area, poor pedestrian accommodations throughout Lakeside and no well marked, safe crosswalk across Hwy. 93 near the park, it doesn't get the recognition it deserves. We need to do what we can to fix those deficiencies, but Lakeside still needs every park and recreational lake access that can be reasonably developed, including the proposed new park at Adams Street and Hwy. 93.
No headline
Republican women's club hosts Rehberg at Camp Marshall
The ultimate Boy Scout
W. Richard Dukelow
No headline
Republican women's club hosts Rehberg at Camp Marshall
Thursday, May 7
Lady Bulldogs claim two big victories
The Lady Bulldogs played their best game of the season so far on Saturday, drilling Browning 12-0 to move to 3-4 in Western A conference action and 5-7 overall.
Boosters host annual fund-raiser
A few rain showers weren't enough to keep the Bigfork community from attending the 11th annual Bigfork Booster Club Barbecue Sunday afternoon at the Flathead Lake Lodge.
WEB UPDATE: Averill retains school board seat
Bigfork Eagle
Tagging along for news
Becky always has interesting entertainment for me.
61st Legislature closes in Helena
HELENA – The final gavel fell on Montana's 61st Legislature Tuesday, as lawmakers gave final approval to the state budget, the federal stimulus plan and a bill that seeks to lessen the financial blow to taxpayers from the state's recent property appraisal.
C-Falls boys second at A.R.M. Meet; Wildkats tie for seventh
Propelled by strong scoring in the distance events, Columbia Falls earned second place in the boys division of the 11th annual A.R.M. Invitational on a pleasant Saturday in Whitefish.
Bigfork Babe Ruth splits season openers
Bigfork's Babe Ruth Baseball team started their season off last week with two games, one of which they won.
Recycler turns to biodiesel
If you happen to catch a strong whiff of French fries while you're driving around town this summer, it's not just because you're craving fried food.
Middle school schedule change could hurt music program
There is a proposed change to how electives are handled for seventh- and eighth-grade students at the Whitefish Middle School. Principal Kerry Drown recently announced having a 'strong interest" in implementing a new Advisory Program into the daily class schedule.
Property owners looking at legal options
While it's difficult enough to understand large complex remedial investigation reports, silence on the part of BNSF Railway has made Railroad District property owners nervous about their real estate investments — especially as BNSF recently began to acquire properties.
Big wind here, big snow east
Wild weather last week dumped upwards of four feet of snow at St. Mary and East Glacier, and high winds that topped out near 75 mph toppled trees on homes south of Columbia Falls.
North Fork should be better maintained
To the editor,
Avalanche could mean big problems for Sun Road
The Going-to-the-Sun Road has seen significant damage on the west side at Granite Creek, where a massive avalanche partially removed at least a lane of the highway.
Letters to the Editor
Thoughts on sharing
HB658 is a failure
REP. MIKE JOPEK / For the Hungry Horse News
Carlson, Tudahl lead the way in Whitefish
It seems as though it is all starting to click for the Bigfork High School track team. Last Saturday in Whitefish they had 14 top six finishes; eight for the girls, who placed fifth as a team among 13 schools, and six for the boys, who placed eighth among 15 schools.
Letter from the editor
With session over, a few thanks in order
'Cats fall to Bigfork, Libby, Polson
Columbia Falls boys tennis coach Gary Yee is looking for improvement on the court each week, and he's seeing it.
DOT to cut passing lanes on Hwy. 35
When a truck and pup carrying dry cement powder flipped into a barrow ditch along Highway 35 last week, Montana Department of Transportation Director Jim Lynch was on site to see it.
May 7, 2009
16 new Habitat homes on tap
The Columbia Falls City Council on Monday approved Habitat for Humanity's plan to construct 16 homes units here.
Burglary string suspect in district court in Polson
POLSON — In four separate cases associated with an extensive local burglary string, Cote Wheeler pleaded not guilty to four felony counts of burglary and one felony count of tampering with physical evidence in an April 29 Lake County District Court arraignment hearing.
Tea and taxes
On April 15, a respectable number of folks conducted "Tea Parties' across Montana to protest what they view as high taxes. It's all a matter of perception, I suppose, I know a lot of people who think their taxes are pretty reasonable, but I think it would be hard to get them to a "My Taxes Are OK" rally.
Failure of the 61st Legislature
The spirit of the 61st Legislature produced many good things, from freezing tuition at Flathead Valley Community College to funding K-12 schools at a 3 percent annual increase. The legislature also listened to the 70 percent of Montanans that voted to provide children health insurance.
Witnessing the healing power of a mother's touch
At Coffee Traders downtown one morning, Robin Rice of Whitefish is accosted by two other women. Rice, who describes herself as "a round woman with a puffball on top," accepts coffee from one woman and compliments from them both. They say things to her like, "I'm a big fan," and she thanks them and they chat for a moment about their children.
Babe Ruth baseball league kicks offDavid Erickson / Whitefish Pilot
Above, Glacier Babe Ruth batter Kylee Bowerman tracks the ball before connecting on a single against Bigfork on Friday afternoon at Smith Fields. Results from last week's Glacier Babe Ruth League games: April 27 — Backroom vs. Montana Build, 0-13; Hill Brothers vs. Blue Moon, 8-9; April 28 — WF Sports Medicine vs. MacKenzie River, 6-9; CF Les Schwab vs. First Interstate Bank, 14 -11; April 30 — Backroom vs. Hill Brothers, 3-23; Montana Build vs. Blue Moon, 11-1; May 1 — MacKenzie River vs. First Interstate Bank, 6-9; CF Les Schwab vs. WF Sports Medicine, 6-11; Montana Build vs. Bigfork, 5-1; May 2 — Hill Brothers vs. Bigfork, 5-6.
BHS Vals tennis sweeps four matchups
Bigfork High School's boys and girls tennis teams had a busy week as they played four schools. The girls won all four matches and the boys won two of theirs.
BHS sophomores plant trees, improve trail
The clank of shovels hitting rocks and the whine of chainsaws sounded like a forced-labor camp along the East Shore of Flathead Lake on Friday morning. But the labor there was purely voluntary, as nearly the entire sophomore class and a few juniors from Bigfork High School did trail work and put up interpretive signs along the Beardance Trail south of Woods Bay.
A Letter from Rose
YES! Last week's column on economic depressions, and how I see the future, was serious … meant to be. The views were from a man of near 81 years experience speaking to those who don't have that frame of reference. Will try to put some humor in this week, but first, let me share part of a letter from Rose Ottosen of Bigfork. Received other nice comments, but Rose made my week:
People need to stop fearing government
For almost 50 years, we Americans held common purpose with our government. From the early 1930s and Franklin D. Roosevelt through seven presidents, people believed that aggressive government made a positive difference in their lives.
Thursday
Whitefish Theatre Company will present “Annie Jr.” on May 1-10 at the O’Shaughnessy. With a cast and crew of more than 40 Flathead Valley youths, “Annie Jr.” will tug at the heartstrings with its familiar songs and a story based on the popular comic strip. The cast and crew will collect non-perishable food items for the North Valley Food Bank during the entire production. They will also collect dog and cat food to donate to local animal shelters. Performance dates are May 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. and May 10 at 4 p.m. with all seats reserved. Tickets are $14 adults and $10 students and seniors. Saturday matinee on May 9 at 2 p.m. is general admission. Ticket prices are $12 adults and $8 students and seniors. To purchase tickets, call 862-5371.
A century of trains leaves unwanted legacy
BNSF consultants: Diesel plumes are 'weathering' away
'Kats take two from Havre
By virtue of a pair of weekend wins over Havre, Columbia Falls moved into first place in the Western A in high school softball.
Bulldogs host A.R.M. invitational meet
The 11th annual A.R.M. (Achey, Rosenberg, Murphy) Invitational track meet drew 16 teams from around the state to Whitefish High School on Saturday.
Tuesday, May 5
Lakeside Council releases draft neighborhood plan
After more than a year of intensive study and an equally aggressive meeting schedule, the Lakeside Neighborhood Plan Committee presented their revised neighborhood plan to the Lakeside Community Council last Tuesday.
Well-traveled local student learns leadership in D.C.
It's no secret that the West Shore is home to some remarkable talent, but not all have set the bar as high as 17 year-old Daniella Rottier of Lakeside.
Somers Middle does well at Whitefish meet
West Shore News
Photos from the Whitefish Pilot 5-7-09
Snowy East Side
Thursday
Whitefish Theatre Company will present “Annie Jr.” on May 1-10 at the O’Shaughnessy. With a cast and crew of more than 40 Flathead Valley youths, “Annie Jr.” will tug at the heartstrings with its familiar songs and a story based on the popular comic strip. The cast and crew will collect non-perishable food items for the North Valley Food Bank during the entire production. They will also collect dog and cat food to donate to local animal shelters. Performance dates are May 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. and May 10 at 4 p.m. with all seats reserved. Tickets are $14 adults and $10 students and seniors. Saturday matinee on May 9 at 2 p.m. is general admission. Ticket prices are $12 adults and $8 students and seniors. To purchase tickets, call 862-5371.
Final word from Helena
It is wonderful to be home. We are blest to live in the most beautiful place in the state, along with the greatest people.
Council backs 5-lot proposal
After voting to release the draft neighborhood plan, last Tuesday, the Lakeside Community Council reviewed and voted unanimously to approve a request for preliminary plat approval of the Flathead Vista subdivision, north of Lakeside.
WEB UPDATE: Averill retains school board seat
Bigfork Eagle
Friday, May 1
The budget debate ends
The debate over the budget took center stage as the Republicans and the Democrats squared off over how to fund the $8.1 billion House Bill 2 and how to spend the $820 million House Bill 645, also known as the Federal stimulus bill. The Republicans wanted a balanced budget by ensuring expenditures equal revenues and keeping a minimum of $250 million in the ending fund balance. The Republicans justified their position by pointing to the almost $1 billion drop in the ending fund balance from a year ago and an estimated $130 million reduction in this year's tax receipts.
Montana Recreation Responsibility Act signed into law
The 61st Legislature is now in the books and the taxpayers will have new laws to learn as the enforcement begins. Many positive things have been done this session with some a bit harder to swallow.
Glacier will see $17.5 million in stimulus money
Several projects in Glacier National Park will get a multi-million dollar shot in the arm from the recently passed economic stimulus bill.
Answers about the Bigfork Enhancement Program
For the Bigfork Eagle
