Ellington

Officials warn about backcountry avalanche conditions

Officials are warning backcountry travels of high avalanche danger in the mountains of Glacier Park and the Flathead National Forest.

Avalanche warning issued

Officials are warning backcountry travelers of high avalanche danger in the mountains of Glacier Park and the Flathead National Forest.

119 mph wind gust recorded at Logan Pass; avy danger high

Officials are warning backcountry travelers of high avalanche danger in the mountains of Glacier Park and the Flathead National Forest.

Blacktail closes for day as result of power outage

Blacktail Mountain Ski Area has been forced to close for the day after a power outage.

Thomas Edison Smith

Post office cuts could impact newspapers

Lawsuit seeks to void doughnut referendum

Christmas Eve blaze at Mountain Manor

Be prepared for winter jaunts into the Montana backcountry

As I write this on the Friday before Christmas, knowing that it won't be read until after Christmas, I still can't help but wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Job creation in the Flathead

Unemployment figures in Columbia Falls were headline news 61 years ago. There was an office of the State Unemployment Service in Columbia Falls. Dave Lake was in charge of the office, which served area between Columbia Falls, Hungry Horse, Martin City, Coram, West Glacier and Essex.

A Christmas correction

An incorrect assumption on Montana history was made in this column four years ago and I just discovered it. Top is "The First Christmas in Montana." The Ross Cox account of 1813 was the only one I could recall about such a notable event; however, legendary explorer David Thompson did establish his "Saleesh" post, now Thompson Falls, in 1809. Following is a short revision of the "Cox Christmas" 198 years ago.

Rehberg vows to protect small-town newspapers

About the time the first Montana settlers cleared their fields and built homes and barns, there was someone there with a paper and pencil who wanted to write about it. Rural roots run deep in this state, and those roots are often most evident in our appreciation for our small-town newspapers.

Newspapers are the first rough draft of history

I could not agree more with Frank Miele's Christmas gift and message of Dec. 25 when he wrote that "Our community newspapers are the lifeblood of America." One of his lines was that "[T]hose old-time stories from yellowed and brittle newspapers tell the history of America better than any historian could ever do." Author Shirley Craig, "December 1941-31 Days That Changed America And Saved the World" and I agree.

Schweitzer is wrong on pipeline

Editor's note: The following is a rebuttal to Gov. Brian Schweitzer's recent statements regarding the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

Candidate has the right stuff

The New Hampshire primary has produced dramatic political upsets, and 2012 could be the year of another one. Mitt Romney has been leading the pack there for many months, but some polls show him slipping. Lesser-known former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman is moving up, and probably at the expense of Romney.

William Haverkorn

William C. Haverkorn, 69, of Columbia Falls, passed away Dec. 24, 2011, with his family by his side.

Glenna Schaeffer

Glenna Grace Schaeffer, 83, of Columbia Falls, passed away Dec. 25, 2011.

Gerald Hough

Gerald Edward Hough, 74, passed away Dec. 7, 2011, at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., after a three-year battle with cancer.

Barbara Buentemeier

Barbara L. Buentemeier 79, of Columbia Falls, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Dec. 19, 2011. She passed away as a result of a staph infection induced stroke at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

Frenchtown edges Matcats in dual

The Frenchtown Broncs beat the Columbia Falls wrestling team by the slimmest margins last week in a Dec. 20 dual, 36-34.

Barth picked to play in Shrine game

Austin Barth, a senior at Columbia Falls High School, was the lone Wildcat from the school's 2011 football team picked to play in the 66th annual Montana East-West Shrine Game next year.

Telemark racing slated at Big Mtn.

Whitefish Mountain Resort will host a two-day telemark race series on Jan. 7 and 8 presented by the U.S. Telemark Ski Association.

Golden from the line at Eureka, Wildkats get first win, 59-43

The free throws finally fell. After dismal shooting at the start of the season, the Columbia Falls girls basketball team got their first win Dec. 20 in Eureka, 59-43.

Cats crush Class B Eureka, go to 3-2 overall

With five players in double figures, the Columbia Falls boys routed Class B Eureka last week, 90-53.

Museum lectures cover trails, bears, furs and surveying

The Museum at Central School, in Kalispell, will present its 10th annual John White lecture series on alternate Sundays in January and February, all at 2:30 p.m.

Fishing on the open water and frozen lakes

So, where are the fish biting? Conditions, by now, have obviously changed since last weekend when I wrote this story, but most of our better opportunities to catch fish are unchanged. Who knows? By now, we might even have enough snow for skiing.

Park to make Rose Creek better for fish

Glacier National Park hopes to make Rose Creek at Rising Sun a little more fish friendly. The creek, which drains Otokomi Lake, has two places where spawning fish can't migrate beyond man-made concrete barriers.

Park wrangler will present virtual trail ride circa 1926

Guide and wrangler Tom Nelesen will present a free virtual trail ride through Glacier National Park during the next meeting of Flathead Audubon on Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at The Summit, in Kalispell.

ACLU critical of public defender system

A recent report sharply critical of the state's public defender system has Columbia Falls city officials concerned it could translate into higher prosecution costs if local public defenders step up defenses for their clients.

Canyon burglary suspects in custody

The Flathead County Sheriff's Office has two men in custody they suspect were involved in a burglary attempt at a home near the Snow Slip Inn, on U.S. 2 near Marias Pass.

Newspapers could see impacts from proposed post office consolidation

Talk about consolidating post offices across the U.S. has newspaper companies looking at potential impacts to deliveries and billing.

Contractor found guilty in federal court

A Washington man accused of defrauding homeowners and media in Flathead County was found guilty in U.S. District Court in Missoula following a Dec. 5-9 trial.

Federal judge adds 16 more years for man charged with sexual assault

A 60-year-old Kalispell man could spend about 24 years in state and federal prison for charges relating to the sexual assault of his stepchild over a seven year period.

Community news

Canyon bike trail

The pinnacle of teaching profession

Jenny Lovering always wanted to be a teacher. When she was young, she'd be one of the girls with the glasses holding the ruler. It was just meant to be.

Ice-fishing derbies scheduled

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has approved a slate of ice-fishing contests for this winter. Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits. Most contests require catch-and-release fishing. Approved contests are also listed online at fwp.mt.gov on the Montana Fishing Guide page.

Two timber projects proposed on Hungry Horse district

The Flathead National Forest has announced deadlines for appeals or comments on two timber projects on the Hungry Horse Ranger District.

Amtrak operations funding cut 17%

Amtrak will receive $64 million less in federal funding this fiscal year, according to an appropriations bill signed by President Obama in November.

Two medical marijuana men sentenced

Two men who worked in the medical marijuana business were recently sentenced for drug charges, one in federal court and the other in Flathead County District Court.

An old fashioned Christmas

When our family lived on a stump ranch during the depression, lean Christmases didn't lessen their importance.

2 men arrested after theft from security vehicle

(AP) — Two men were arrested on suspicion of stealing a flashlight and camera from an armored security truck while the driver checked on a call at a Whitefish-area condominium.

The magic of Christmas

Cats win Eureka tourney, fall to Libby in dual

The Columbia Falls wrestling team took team honors at the Buzz Lucey Memorial Tournament in Eureka, with four grapplers taking first-place finishes.

Kats play better defense, but offense is elusive

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team had a rough weekend, losing to both Flathead and Frenchtown at home.

Boys crush Frenchtown for first conference win

Cats have a tougher time against Flathead

Dolly Sproul

Dolly Edna Fisher Sproul, 90, passed away Dec. 14, 2011.

Mabel Robert

Mabel Imogene Robert, 82, of Columbia Falls, passed away Dec. 15, 2011, at The Springs in Whitefish.

Clarence Wright

Clarence H. Wright, 94, of Columbia Falls, formerly of Great Falls, died of natural causes at the Montana Veterans Home on Dec. 10, 2011.

Alfred Laber

Alfred Wilmer "Bill" Laber died Dec. 13, 2011, in Mims, Fla., of congestive heart failure. He was 80 years old.

The pipeline and jobs

If we build it, jobs will come. With the thousands of miles of pipelines in this country and modern technology to make it safe and able to be shut down within seconds, it's hard to believe we have halted one critical to putting thousands of people to work to help our crippled economy, and if we drag our feet too long, Canada will ship it to other countries via the ocean. Ever wonder what an environmental hazard that will be?

Dear Santa letters from 1926

Dear Santa Claus letters, written by Columbia Falls youngsters in 1926, were mailed to Icy Cape, Alaska, care of the Columbia Forum. Following are copies of some of the letters, all dated Dec. 14, 1926.

The 'oldest profession'

This writer is not going to speculate "why," but to my knowledge Northwest Montana has had no commercial sporting palaces since Libby Dam was completed in the late seventies. Well, maybe a small one in the Yaak. Wasn't always like that. From the first settlement days in the Flathead until those few years ago, there were always "houses." Many of them.

The story of the National Christmas Tree

An inspection of the National Christmas Tree in 1929 found severe damage from the decorating process and the heat and weight of the lights. Another 35-foot-tall Norway spruce was planted, and for the first time decorations were placed on the tree. However, the decorating process and natural events have caused the National Christmas Tree to be replaced several times over the decades.

Filling the void in the sky

A nonprofit organization made up of local emergency-response personnel has formed to ensure the Flathead has a dedicated aircraft lined up for search and rescue operations.

Scientists studying the signature sounds of rivers

Imagine plunging under the surface of the North Fork of the Flathead River and floating for miles. What you would see would be very different from what was above the surface.

It's the no-brainer X-mas list for the outdoorsman

For three decades, Fishfull Thinking has offered gift suggestions for the outdoorsies on your Christmas list. This year I got so self-absorbed in recent fishing trips, I forgot.

The Tiber Reservoir predator-prey puzzle

Winter days can be perfect for working out puzzles. Plenty of time to spend indoors trying to solve a riddle. And so it goes with fisheries workers, who spend cold days inside warm laboratories looking at fish guts.

Glacier National Park's stonefly considered for ESA listing

Glacier National Park is home to several threatened or endangered species, including bull trout, lynx and grizzly bears. The next species on the list could be a bug.

Cross-valley run raises more than $4,000

Zach Perrin crossed the finish line and didn't collapse or throw up or even drop his hands to his knees. He just smiled.

Vandals strike Holiday Village display

Vandals spray-painted several displays at the Christmas Holiday Village in Marantette Park last week, ruining several of the hand-painted displays. The vandalism likely occurred sometime Monday evening, Dec. 12.

Mountain lions kill and eat miniature horse

A pair of mountain lions killed and partially ate a miniature horse near a residence on Blanchard Lake Road, south of Whitefish, on Dec. 8. After the lions killed the 31-inch high horse, they dragged it away, ate part of it and cached the rest.

Man charged in shooting incident

A 50-year-old Columbia Falls man is facing three felony counts after a shooting incident at his shop on U.S. 2 south of Highway 40 on Sept. 30.

Community news

Toastmasters

Military news

Air Force Airman Joshua Wieringa recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas. He was an honor graduate. Wieringa graduated from the National Guard Youth Challenge Academy, in Dillon, in 2010. He is the son of Ridge Wieringa, of Coram.

Depression-era mayor found career in the Park

Editor's note: Current Columbia Falls Mayor Don Barnhart and his father, former mayor Ray Barnhart, are not the only father-son mayoral team. An earlier pair were James and Dwight Grist. All four mayors played important roles in the city's fire department. Here's the story of Dwight Grist.

Chamber honors citizens, businesses

Thirteen businesses and people were awarded Community Spirit Awards at the Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce's annual Christmas luncheon Dec. 13.

Laura Jean Newman

Zinke gets heavyweight win at Eureka

Turnovers plague Lady Bulldogs

Library room named after Jake and Connie Heckathorn

School board asks city for $2.5M

Lions eat miniature horse

CAO gets new name in amended document

Appeal keeps 'doughnut' door open

Two Whitefish men have filed an appeal with the Montana Supreme Court that preserves the option for the state’s courts to weigh in on jurisdiction of Whitefish’s two-mile planning “doughnut.”

XC standout to run from Lakeside to Glacier

Flathead High School cross-country runner Zach Perrin will run from his home in Lakeside to the west entrance of Glacier National Park this Saturday, Dec. 17. Perrin will take on the 50-mile run to raise money for Jamie Founds. The 11-year-old girl from Marion has leukemia, and her family has no health insurance, Perrin said.

Sled Dog Days pints for a purpose

Flathead Sled Dog Days is gearing up for its fifth annual dog sled race Jan. 6-8. Race organizers have partnered with the Whitefish Winter Carnival to become part of their festivities next month.

Run-a-thon crosses the valley

Perrin to run from Lakeside to Glacier National Park to support girl with cancer

Flathead High School cross-country runner Zach Perrin will run from his home in Lakeside to the west entrance of Glacier National Park this Saturday, Dec. 17.

Run-a-thon crosses the valley

Perrin to run from Lakeside to Glacier National Park to support girl with cancer

An oil education for Montana legislators

Kyle Thomas

C-Falls takes 2nd in Missoula speech and debate tourney

Facing its toughest competition to date, the Columbia Falls speech and debate team took second among Class A high schools at the Missoula tournament on Dec. 9-10.

Cats have a bumpy Mining City tourney

The Columbia Falls wrestling team went 1-5 at the Mining City Duals in Butte Dec. 9-10, with some tough matches against Class AA opponents.

Wolf hunt extended to Feb. 15

Wildkats start season with losses at NW-SW tourney

A young Columbia Falls girls basketball team did a pretty good job of running plays in its first action of the season last week.

Lukewarm response to parking deck idea

Cats split the bill in opening tourney

In a rematch of last year's state championship, the Columbia Falls boys basketball team once again held off Dillon for a win.

Ambulance fees going up for non-residents

Clarence Wright

Clarence H. Wright, 94, of Columbia Falls, formerly of Great Falls, died of natural causes at the Montana Veterans Home on Dec. 10, 2011.

Joseph Sias

Joseph Sias, 94, died in Kalispell on Dec. 8, 2011.

Gregory Siravo

Gregory Eric Siravo, 44, of Columbia Falls, died Dec. 8, 2011, in Kalispell.

Lucille Smith

Lucille Mae Smith, 92, of Kalispell, died Dec. 5, 2011, at Heritage Place, in Kalispell.

Eldon Kerney

Eldon James Kerney, 31, died Dec. 1, 2011.

Ida Paulson

Ida L. Paulson, 87, of Columbia Falls, passed away Dec. 11, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

A minefield of traps snares dogs

During the mild weather before Thanksgiving, I took my grandchildren for a walk on the trail behind my house, looking at big rocks, watching the larch needles rain down, listening to the grouse thumping and checking out the trees.

Seeking common ground

This week at the invitation of the Swan Valley Community organization, I traveled with Mark Shiltz, Montana Land Reliance staffer, to speak to that community about how the North Fork got involved in land-use planning.

Getting even with Chandler

While visiting longtime artist friend Frank Hagel last week, the name of an old-time buddy of ours came up. I first met Al Chandler when he came here with his TV associate, Bob Empee, to run the new television station, KCFW.

Big changes at Big Mountain 62 years ago

Big news for Big Mountain 62 years ago was December skiing schedule. It was announced the 3,220-foot lift that goes up for 1,024 feet would be operating.

Historic officer backs bridge rehab

Editor's note: The following letter was sent to the Flathead County Commissioners, Columbia Falls Mayor Don Barnhart and the First Best Place nonprofit group.

Citizen scientists count the loons

Spring's high water flooded some common loon nests in Glacier National Park this year, but for the most part the charismatic birds had an average nesting year in the Park.

FWP open house on hunting regs

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will hold a meeting on the tentative hunting regulations for 2012-2013 at the Red Lion Hotel, in Kalispell, on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, with an open house at 9 a.m. and a hearing at 10 a.m.

Skunked by sea-run cutts in Puget Sound

Nan and I spent most of last week in Seattle baby-sitting the kids of our niece and nephew while they were on a business trip.

Snowmobile season kicks off on the Flathead Forest

General snowmobiling season opened Dec. 1 on the Flathead National Forest, with groomed and ungroomed trails available on 800,000 acres of land.

Suspended sentence in sex case

A 49-year-old Hungry Horse man recently received a 10-year suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to sexual assault of a girl who was 13 years old at the time.

FWP commission extends wolf hunt to Feb. 15

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission on Dec. 8 extended the state's wolf hunt until Feb. 15.

Man faces bail-jumping charge

A third bench warrant has been issued for a Columbia Falls man who faces charges of writing 15 bad checks and who failed to show up at two initial arraignment hearings in Flathead County District Court.

Money found for Discovery Square

The heat will be back on at the Glacier Discovery Square building in January, thanks to some fast fundraising by First Best Place and a big donation from Flathead Electric Cooperative's Roundup for Safety program.

Feds raid 12 marijuana sites in the Flathead

Two from March raid in Olney sentenced

Community news

Ski races at Essex

A Darling of a gift for children

A few lucky children will find a hand-built rocking horse under their Christmas tree this year.

Lost skiers rescued from Hellroaring Basin

Two teenage girls were rescued from the lower slopes of Big Mountain late Saturday night after ducking an out-of-bounds rope at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Glacier Park is open for winter

Reduced winter season entrance fees are in effect through April 30 at Glacier National Park — $15 for vehicles and $10 for hikers, bicyclists and motorcyclists for a seven-day pass.

Couple plead innocent to rape

A Whitefish couple charged with the rape of their 15-year-old babysitter pleaded not guilty Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Thousands comment on mountain Jesus statue

Cartoon 12-7-11

Senior Peck to lead Valkyries at point guard

Humane Society seeks donations for abandoned, injured puppy

Robert Allen

New look for Bulldogs on hardwood

Substantial work needed on donated railway homes

Two from pot raid in Olney sentenced

C-Falls speakers take first at Libby Invitational meet

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team amassed 191 points and took first place at the Libby Invitational meet on Dec. 3. Polson was second with 51 points.

Williams runs in California regional meet

Wildcat runner Derrick Williams did well recently at the Foot Locker West Regional cross-country meet, competing with some of the best high school runners in the West.

All state, all conference

Austin Barth was recently named as an all-state football selection as a linebacker. The Columbia Falls senior plans on playing football for Montana State University after he graduates from high school.

MatCats pound Bulldogs in opener

Columbia Falls wrestlers walloped Whitefish in their opening-season dual last week. The Wildcats beat the Bulldogs 72-9 on Dec. 2 at home.

Terrance Grilley

Terrance Frank Grilley, 74, of Kalispell, passed away Nov. 20, 2011, in Lewistown.

Lester Bauska

Lester Osborn Bauska, 92, passed away Nov. 11, 2011, at the Heritage Place in Kalispell.

Betty Miller

Betty L. Claridge Miller, 82, passed away at Immanuel Lutheran Home on Nov. 23, 2011, after a 14-year battle with Alzheimer's.

Irene Corbett

Irene Agnes Corbett, 102, passed away Nov. 24, 2011, at Brendan House, in Kalispell.

Animal shelter

As we quickly approach the season of giving, I believe it is important to remember those who don't have a voice and are in need.

Wondering where the elk are?

Didn't get your elk? Too bad. It may have been from lack of effort on your part, or simply bad luck. With few exceptions, it's not from too few elk.

Thanks from Wounded Warriors

When Jesse Mann and I talked about forming a stand-alone Wounded Warriors organization based here in Columbia Falls, we hoped we could convince the community that taking wounded veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq on high-quality hunting and fishing trips here in Montana would be well received.

On North Fork curmudgeons

Earlier in November, it looked like it was going to be a long winter. Snow was getting deeper and deeper, temperatures dropped below zero, and Lynn Ogle was getting grumpier by the hour.

Recalling a local teacher, Irene Corbett

It was interesting to write a column about Irene Corbett when she celebrated her 100th birthday anniversary with relatives and friends two years ago. This column honors the little lady who passed away at the age of 102 years, Nov. 24.

'No knees' nonsense

Should lady pugilists at the coming 2012 Olympics in London be forced to wear skirts instead of boxing shorts? That subject was raising hackles among female athletes from 21 countries during warm-up bouts in England during the last week of November.

Forest Service to offer free avalanche presentation

Avalanche specialist Stan Bones will give a free presentation about early-season backcountry snow and avalanche conditions in Northwest Montana at the Flathead National Forest office in Kalispell, 650 Wolfpack Way, on Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Big Mountain to open Saturday with limited runs

Whitefish Mountain Resort will open some of its slopes for skiing on Saturday, Dec. 10, one week after the scheduled opening day.

Record number of grizzlies captured this year

Six grizzly bears in two family groups were captured in the Elk Park Road area east of Highway 206 in November and removed from the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE), Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently reported.

'Night of the Grizzlies' TV documentary wins PBS award

Gus Chambers, a television producer at The University of Montana's Broadcast Media Center and MontanaPBS, recently received a Programming Excellence Award from American Public Television for his documentary "Glacier Park's Night of the Grizzlies."

Park visitation up in September, down in October

Visitation to Glacier National Park in October was down 17.8 percent from 2010, according to recent figures. The Park saw 54,356 visits in October, while 66,155 were counted last year.

Glacier Park is open for winter

Reduced winter season entrance fees are in effect through April 30 at Glacier National Park - $15 for vehicles and $10 for hikers, bicyclists and motorcyclists for a seven-day pass.

Hungry Horse Fire Department finances still under county control

Flathead County continues to have control over the Hungry Horse Fire Department's finances in the wake of the Ross Barker case.

DUI and chase leads to deferred sentence

A 36-year-old Columbia Falls woman who eluded a sheriff's deputy in the Canyon in June received a two-year deferred sentence for a charge of felony criminal endangerment.

County moving forward on bridge removal

Citing safety concerns, the Flathead County Commissioners on Nov. 30 directed staff to begin gathering information on the costs of dismantling and removing the historic Red Bridge in Columbia Falls.

Fundraising for family struggling after house fire

A dinner and silent auction to benefit a family whose home on Middle Road was destroyed in a Nov. 15 fire will be held at Deer Park School on Friday, Dec. 9, from 4-7 p.m. Cost is $5 per person. Auction items can be dropped off at the school prior to the event.

Flathead pioneer was a progressive mayor

Editor's note: The fact that current Columbia Falls Mayor Don Barnhart is the son of a former mayor, Ray Barnhart, has not gone unnoticed. An earlier father and son team of mayors were James and Dwight Grist. Coincidentally, all four mayors played important roles in the city's fire department. Here's the story of James Grist.

Big Mountain to open Saturday

County growth policy review winding down

Revision and rewriting of the Flathead County Growth Policy should wrap up in January, according to county planning director BJ Grieve. The text work is mostly done, he said, and map work should be finished in January.

Now hiring: BNSF adds dozens of new employees

All aboard — freight trains could be a ticket out of the unemployment line. While the jobless rate in Flathead County stays high, one major employer is bucking the trend.

Avalanche Center issues first advisory

Glacier Country Avalanche Center issued their first backcounty avalanche advisory on Friday. Due to the spotty nature of the area’s snowpack, they had very little to report.

Big Mountain delays ski opener

Citing lack of snow, Whitefish Mountain Resort will not open for the ski season on Saturday, Dec. 3, as planned.