Wednesday, May 30
An Emotional Holiday
A bag of fast food, something I haven’t eaten since a rather college-type evening in Missoula, sits with grease spots on top of a tall table I got as a gift and am not sure where to put but in the middle of my living room.
Local plants good for healing
Thomas Tracey points out a red and green leaved plant from the hill alongside Swan River Nature Trail.
Bigfork Masons encourage reading through bike program
Eight Swan River School students read their way to a new bicycle this year through the Bigfork Masonic Lodge’s Bikes for Books program.
Lakeside resident wins Mack Days with 1,551 fish
Don Beville of Lakeside won this spring’s Mack Days fishing tournament by catching 1,551 non-native lake trout. This was Beville’s fourth time participating in the tournament and his wife, Sharon, placed fifth in the women’s division with 74 and his son, Garrett, placed fourth in the youth’s 13-17 division with 130.
Testing under way on Mount Aeneas antenna
An antenna was ferried by helicopter to a building on Mount Aeneas last week so tests of the county’s emergency services signals finally could begin.
Commissioner candidates' reasons vary for filing for bankruptcy
Three of the 15 active candidates for the two open seats on the Flathead County commission have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Montana.
Stan Watkins, Whitewater Regular
For 25 straight years Kalispell Athletic Club owner Stan Watkins raced down the Wild Mile during Bigfork’s annual Whitewater Festival.
Morley wins two at State B
Bigfork High School freshman Makena Morley won two events at the Class B state meet in Bozeman on May 25 and 26. Overall, the Vals placed fifth at state with 30 of the 33 points earned by Morley. The Vikes placed 21st with four points.
Bigfork Schools to seek funds for school garden
The Bigfork School Board approved Sue McGregor’s request to begin applying for grants so the school can eventually have a school garden similar to the one in Lakeside/Somers School District during their meeting last Wednesday.
Hoop camp set for June 11
Basketball season may be over, but the ball is still in the court for Northshore Hoop Camp at Bigfork High School gym. For the last three summers boys and girls from kindergarten through eighth-grade spend a week learning about fundamentals with BHS basketball coaches Kurt Paulson and Mark Hanson
Doughnuts, handmade and fried fresh in Bigfork
They’re glazed, cakey and fried in Bigfork.
New store to sell made in Montana outdoor equipment
Handmade signs with names of towns and places in the Flathead Valley hang on the walls along with a pair of antique ice skates, and a view of the river in the back creates the rustic and creative vibe that Hilary and Levi Shepard were going for with their new store, The Mountaineer.
Lakeside man wins Mack Days with 1,551 dish
Don Beville of Lakeside won this spring’s Mack Days fishing tournament by catching 1,551 non-native lake trout. This was Beville’s fourth time participating in the tournament and his wife, Sharon, placed fifth in the women’s division with 74 and his son, Garrett, placed fourth in the youth’s 13-17 division with 130.
Whitewater Fest 2012
Marie Therese Ohaneson
Marie Therese Ohaneson, age 94, passed away on Thursday April 26 at Lakeview Care Center. Marie was born on May 22, 1917 in Liege, Belgium, the fourth child of Edouard and Germaine Schroeder.
Flathead Audubon and Montana Audubon to co-host bird fest
Flathead Audubon will co-host the annual Montana Audubon Wings Across the Big Sky bird festival in Kalispell on June 8-10. The festival will be headquartered at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Bigfork Summer Playhouse to open two plays this week
The Bigfork Summer Playhouse is hitting homeruns this week with their production of “Damn Yankees” and stirring up some laughs with “9 to 5.”
Swan River Principal Loyda resigns
Music blasted out of Swan River School’s gym on May 25 for an all-grades assembly and everyone had Mountain Dew ice cream floats afterwards. The students weren’t celebrating the end of the school year, but saying goodbye and thank you to their principal, Peter Loyda.
Couple retires from Bigfork Schools
Financial past not a concern in interim appointment
The 2009 bankruptcy filing of Cal Scott was not known to the two sitting county commissioners who appointed him to fill the seat left vacant by Commissioner Jim Dupont’s death, but neither thinks it would have made a difference in their decision.
Meg and Taliana Miller, Bigfork's Tae Kwon Do Kids
BHS Jazz Combo prepares for State
Bigfork High School musicians honored
Cowboy Action Shooting
Park concessionaires post schedules
The 2012 operating dates for concessioners operating in Glacier National Park are scheduled.
Brutal weather doesn't slow Dogs at state
Joint C-Falls, Whitefish swim team won't happen this year
Artist works with students
Zebra scare delays lake cleanup
City moves forward with wayfinding sign project
North Fork road improvements
It has been an interesting week weather wise on the North Fork. One day, I was wearing short pants and a T-shirt in near 80-degree weather. The next, I was back in long johns, long pants, flannel shirt and needing a jacket to go outside. Normal spring weather.
Fist fight with a griz
Glacier Park grizzlies are out and about, but there is most concern about the big bears down in the Yellowstone area, which had two fatal maulings last summer.
Wants a commissioner who recycles
Why do we live here in the Flathead Valley? Because we’re smart, smart, smart. But you’re blind, blind, blind. We have huge issues with what’s going on with the county landfill.
Senate candidate on the record
The run for Senate District 2 has certainly been very interesting and educational. I have met people who have expressed their feelings covering a multitude of concerns both political and non-political.
Likes Fern
Now is that time of year where students at the University of Montana log-on and pay their bills for next fall. As a fourth-year, 3.7 GPA student there, I am intimately familiar with the bank account siphoning procedures adopted by our education systems. Since I call Columbia Falls home and am therefore an in-state student, UM’s tuition is comparatively low. For some of us, however, comparatively low is still too high.
Beaver Lake boat launch to stay open despite milfoil
Likes Brown
Dee Brown, Republican candidate for Senate District 2, is an articulate community leader. Her voting record as a four-term Montana state legislator proves she places constituents and family values first.
Sports news
Cat Dog Smoker
Cross-valley alumni soccer match slated
The Flathead Rapids will hold their first Flathead Valley alumni game at Grouse Mountain Fields, in Whitefish, on Sunday, July 1, with games from 10 a.m. into the evening.
Glacier Twins lose two on the road
The Glacier Twins AA Legion baseball club dropped a pair of close games on the road last week.
Joint C-Falls, Whitefish swim team won't happen
A joint Columbia Falls-Whitefish high school swim team won’t happen this year. Organizer Courtney Babcock learned late last month that The Wave in Whitefish can’t accommodate the new team.
Wildkats take fourth at state softball tourney
The Columbia Falls girls softball team battled to a fourth-place finish after a rocky start at the state Class A tournament last week in Anaconda.
Cats take third at state behind Williams, Jones
Derrick Williams won three races and Daniel Jones won the javelin and shot put as the Columbia Falls boys track team took third at the state Class A meet May 25-26 in Bozeman.
Outdoor news
Festival of the Fly
Life jackets for dogs is a good idea
The first time I saw a dog wearing a life jacket, I started laughing. Then I took some photos. I’d never seen such a thing.
Big Creek restoration efforts pay off for bull trout
After decades of restoration efforts, one of the main tributaries of the North Fork of the Flathead will be removed from the state’s list of sediment-impaired waters.
State wants to continue Swan Lake netting
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently released an environmental assessment proposing a five-year extension for the lake trout gill-netting project completed on Swan Lake in the fall of 2011.
Park plans for fish, cabins and fundraising merger
Glacier National Park officials announced a number of future changes at a community meeting last week in Columbia Falls that ranged from the Sun Road to entrance passes. Three others included:
One fish barrier going up, another down
To improve fish habitat in Glacier National Park, one fish barrier will be torn down and another will be beefed up, Park officials announced last week.
Active military get free Park passes
They’re serving their country. Now they can go to Glacier National Park and any other national park for free.
Little mussels a big concern for Park
A little mussel is a big worry for Glacier National Park superintendent Chas Cartwright.
Candidate wants to bring business to the valley
When Gary Krueger talks about why he decided to run for Flathead County Commissioner for District 3, the seat now held by Dale Lauman, it’s all about public service.
Candidate's focus is on job creation in the valley
Kalispell business owner Terry Kramer says if he’s elected Flathead County Commissioner for District 3, his business experience will be put to good use creating more jobs in the Flathead Valley.
Dinner supports community garden
First Best Place will host a dinner event at Glacier Discovery Square on Saturday, June 23, from 5 to 8 p.m. to support the Columbia Falls Community Garden at River’s Edge Park, now in its second growing season.
Candidate sells off assets to commit time to job
Looking after the needs of a community can be a full-time job. That’s why Republican Jay Scott says he plans to dedicate his time to the people of Flathead County if he’s elected county commissioner for District 3.
Community news
Kids quilting
Mack Days results
Don Beville, of Lakeside, set a record with the most fish caught in this year’s Spring Mack Days by hauling in 38,085 lake trout from Flathead Lake over the 11-week period. The previous record was 34,350 in 2010.
A passion for the bassoon means full ride for C-Falls graduate
Natalie Law remembers her first piano lesson. She was four years old and had been playing on the family piano since she was a toddler, making up her own songs. Her parents wanted her to learn the right way, so they took her to lessons.
Thursday, May 24
Bartkoski graduates from Naval Academy
The Bartkoski family will have a special graduation party next month. Their son, Weston, will return home after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in aeronautical engineering.
County needs better roads, less equipment tax
If there’s one thing Republican Mike Schlegel knows, it’s roads. A former member and chairman of the Flathead County Road Advisory Committee, Schlegel is also president of Schlegel and Sons, a road construction company. Schlegel said this experience will serve him well as Flathead County Commissioner for District 3.
Commissioner candidate wants more logging
Republican Bob Herron is a businessman at heart. As owner of a Kalispell insurance company, Herron said he’s worked to grow not only his own business but to improve the business community in the valley as a whole.
Mahlum wins State B tennis title
Victory is sweet.
Teacher retires from same school she attended
BHS reminds students to think before they hit that send button
Stop.
Likes Brown for Senate District 2
Dee Brown, Republican candidate for Senate District 2, is an articulate community leader. Her voting record as a four-term Montana state legislator proves she places constituents and family values first.
Wednesday, May 23
Food bank loses key volunteer
Evelyn Boyd
Elizabeth Ann Tarr
Why not for our teachers?
I’m compelled to correct some of the misinformation given by former Somers Trustee, Mike Schlegel, in the story about the failure of the Somers district levy. He is quoted in the article as saying, “The teachers making $80,000 can take a freeze so the ones making $27,000 can catch up, that’s what’s fair, that’s what I’ve learned from six years of being on the board.” Evidentially, during the six years that Mr. Schlegel was on the Board, he never actually saw the teachers’ salary schedule.
Teacher supports Lakeside/Somers School's decisions
I am writing this letter in support of Somers School District. I have been a teacher in this district for 28 years and can attest to the high quality of our school system. The district has worked hard to be fiscally responsible in the face of declining state funding. The last time the voters were asked for additional funding was in 2006, when a levy was passed to fund curriculum. Last year, the staff requested a two year base salary freeze and many took on more responsibilities to help balance the budget.
Speeders and thieves cause vandalism at Angel Point
As I sat on my neighbors deck, she pointed out how fast the cars and trucks drove this bend in the road. Not only was there potential for an auto accident, but three out of the five houses on this south to east corner of Angel Point Road live little children. Bicyclists, dog walkers, and wild animals also utilize this curve.
Regarding the school board
Let’s get this straight. Mike Schlegel (Somers School board trustee for the last 6 years until last Tuesday night and current county commissioner candidate) was quoted last week in the West Shore News saying he believes our schools’ financial crisis is due to teachers being overpaid and that he finds it offensive to call this budget expense (teacher salaries) ‘education’. He also offered an inaccurate figure when quoting the top salaries of our most experienced teachers. He overstated the amount by $20,000 dollars per year.
Lake County tracks down sex offenders
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has been updating its portion of the state Sexual and Violent Offender Registry.
Previous school board approves volunteer football coach contract, new board begins
About 50 people attended The Lakeside/Somers School Board meeting on May 15 to discuss the future of the school’s football program with the previous board of trustees before the induction of the new trustees, Sam Bagley and John Hollensteiner. The previous board’s final action was to approve a contract for Randy Gilpin to serve as volunteer football coach.
City to consider yard sale restrictions
Bachelors and bears, a proposed documentary
I don’t watch TV, but I love to stream documentaries online. Anything from polar bears to ancient civilizations to the more bizarre ones about UFOs.
Jacob A. Wormsbecker
Jacob A. “Jake” Wormsbecker, 95, a WWII Army veteran and Hi-Line area farmer who lived on a small cherry orchard near Bigfork from 1980-2011, died on March 25 at the Whitefish hospital. His Yellow Bay orchard, flowers, & handmade “Whirligigs” were a local tourist attraction for many years.
Big money, out-of-state PAC jumps into state AG race
It has come to my attention that a political action committee (PAC) from Back East has jumped into the Republican primary race for Montana Attorney General in support of my opponent.
U.S. House candidate introduces himself
Have you ever wanted a representative in Congress who said “no” to money from special interest groups? A representative who stayed independent from those groups by not pledging in advance to consider only their positions in Congress? A representative who actually demonstrates that the people are the top priority?
Candidate claims criticism helps his campaign
Russ Crowder claims that in the race for the Republican nomination for Flathead County commissioner for District 1, I’m running on the platform “Russ Crowder is picking on me.”
Questions commissioner race
Immediately after paying my fee to run for Flathead County Commissioner for District 1, upon Jim Dupont’s death, my cell phone rang the next evening. On it was a young lady representing herself as a Republican Central Committee representative from the city of Whitefish.
The most dedicated volunteers in the county
United Veterans of the Flathead County are among most dedicated volunteers in the county. Military honors for any veteran are performed by United Veterans. Honor guard is composed of captain of the guard, flag bearers, firing squad and a bugler with 12 to 15 members participating. Local National Guard Honor Guard contingent folds and presents the flag. Local mortuaries make arrangements at the request of families.
Re: government incompetence
I admit that, as I have aged, I have become more and more cynical. I have been involved with law enforcement since I was a boy. My dad became a game warden when I was 10 and later served two terms as Flathead County sheriff.
Raymond Toole
Raymond Kenneth Toole, 74, passed away May 6, 2012, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.
Elizabeth Tarr
Elizabeth “Ann” Tarr, 74 passed on quietly April 15, 2012, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center after a brave year and a half fight with pancreatic cancer.
Peter Hofer
Peter John “Don” Hofer, 68, passed away May 4, 2012, in Kalispell.
Eron Nicholls
Eron Margene “Marge” Nicholls, 81, died May 12, 2012, at her home of seven years, Sun Terrace Assisted Living, in Hermiston, Ore.
Unbeaten Broncs unbeaten no more
To heck with run differentials and tie break scenarios. The Columbia Falls softball team set its own destiny last week by beating the unbeaten Frenchtown Broncs 4-3 on May 12.
Four C-Falls tennis players head to state
The Columbia Falls tennis teams will send four athletes to the state Class A tournament this week in Great Falls.
Boys run away with Northwest A crown
Wildcat Daniel Jones broke the divisional and school record in the javelin, and teammate Derrick Williams won three races as the Columbia Falls boys track team easily won the Northwest A divisional track title last week at home.
Twins notch a few nonconference wins
The pieces are falling in place for the Glacier Twins AA baseball club just as the season kicks into full swing.
Chicken-eating grizzly brothers moved
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks report that two young male grizzly bears were caught last week near Lake of the Woods, east of Kalispell.
Outdoor news
Conservation award
Build a flicker nest and save your house
How in the world does an animal build itself a house, in this case a nest, using just its mouth? Though not a riddle, the answer might be either one piece at a time or very carefully.
A tip on how to cast farther
Seems like every year my fly-casting classes trigger a casting tip to pass on to the Fishfull Faithful. This year’s tip is a handy trick to stop your rod abruptly on the forward cast.
Park gets $1 million for trail work this year
Glacier National Park will have about a $1 million in their budget for trail clearing and trail work this coming season, Park officials said last week. The Park annually spends between $675,000 and $1 million on its 730-plus miles of trails.
Park official: Shuttle is overloading alpine areas
Road management plan has $1.3 million price tag
End is near on alpine road work
After several years of traffic jams, opening delays, dust and jackhammers, the end is near for work in the alpine areas of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
Sun Road should open by June 15
If the weather holds, Glacier National Park plows crews are expected to be at Logan Pass by May 25, and the Going-to-the-Sun Road should open all the way over Logan Pass by June 15, Park assistant superintendent Kym Hall said last week.
Suspended sentence in Evergreen beating case
A 33-year-old Columbia Falls man has been sentenced to five years with the Montana Department of Corrections with all suspended after being accused of beating a 38-year-old man with a baseball bat in the White Birch Motel in Evergreen in April 2011.
Crosswalk work could last into July
From now through June, motorists traveling through Columbia Falls can expect short delays and one-lane traffic on the U.S. 2 strip as crews work on upgrading the crosswalks from Nucleus Avenue to Fourth Avenue West.
Man sentenced for Marias Pass burglary
A 24-year-old Missoula man charged in the attempted burglary of a home near Marias Pass last fall was sentenced to prison in Flathead County District Court on May 10.
School news
Honor scholarships
Sports news
Cat-Dog Smoker
Law's garden embraces native plants
A few years ago, Laura Law decided she was tired of looking at — and cutting — the lawn at her home. But instead of putting in a “traditional” landscape of ornamental flowers and shrubs, she opted for native plants wherever possible.
Friday, May 18
Whooping cough cases continue to climb
The Flathead City-County Health Department’s count of confirmed cases of pertussis in Flathead County climbed to 47 by Monday, May 22, while the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services reported more than 200 confirmed cases statewide.
Wednesday, May 16
Somers-Lakeside School District levy defeated
The Somers-Lakeside School District general-fund levy request of $405,000 was defeated last week with 626 votes against it and 515 votes for it. John Hollensteiner and Sam Bagley won the trustee election with 541 votes for Hollensteiner and 446 votes for Bagley. Dave Alexander had 426 votes and Stephen Naso had 315.
Growing gardens at SMS: 'Learning to feed yourself is a life skill'
Somers Middle School nutrition teacher Robin Vogler’s innovative classroom is outdoors.
Swan River School takes on pertussis
Flathead County has 19 confirmed cases of pertussis, or more commonly known as whooping cough, and as of May 12 four cases of pertussis have been confirmed at Swan River School, three from the second grade class and one from the fourth grade. Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes intense coughing for six or more weeks.
Mack Days nearly over, $10,000 lake trout still swimming
Anglers in the 2012 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event have turned in a total of 29,855 lake trout in the 27 days of the 34-day event. Beautiful blue skies and calm water has given the weather-weary anglers a break.
Tad Lee Frazier
Tad Lee Frazier passed away on May 7 at home. Tad was 47 years old, born in Casa Grande, Ariz. in 1964 to Ray Don and Susan Frazier. He graduated from Coolidge High School, attended Northern Arizona University, El Camino College in Torrance, Calif., and Flathead Valley Community College.
Lorraine B. Lankford
Lorraine B. Lankford, 86, of Bigfork, died on April 13 at home.
Thomas Dixon Reed
Thomas Dixon Reed, 87, of Kalispell, died on April 28 at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls where he had resided for the last years.
Outdoor news
East side road opens
C-Falls tennis sweeps Whitefish
The Columbia Falls tennis teams wrapped up their regular seasons last week. On May 10 the girls edged Whitefish 4-3 while the boys won 5-2.
Kats state playoff hopes hinge on this week
Columbia Falls softball team’s state playoff hopes will come down to the last week of the season. The Kats lost May 10 to Polson 7-5. A win would have secured the team a playoff spot, but the score could still prove advantageous for the girls, even without the victory.
Cats host divisional meet this week
For the first time in years, Columbia Falls will host the Northwest A divisional track meet. The meet is scheduled to begin Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. and will run through Saturday.
Mysterious old rocks
During the last rebuilding of U.S. Highway 2 just north of Coram years ago, a boulder size rock was found in trees within the new right of way, and it was extremely unique because of very old but still visible lettering carved into it.
D.A.R. names new officers
Officers of Bird Woman Falls D.A.R. Chapter have been announced.
Early North Fork squabbles
I have written often in this column that the real North Fork is so special because of the people who live here – full time or part time. Since homestead days North Fork residents have been independent, self reliant, and argumentative.
Crowder responds to Adams
From a recent letter to the editor it appears that Doug Adams, county commissioner candidate for District 1, is running on the platform, “Russ Crowder is picking on me.”
Do you know where your boat has been?
Montana’s aquatic invasive species watercraft inspection program is gearing up for another summer, and the first question inspectors will ask is, “Where has your boat been in the past 30 days.” More than 45 newly trained Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks seasonal employees will man the check stations beginning in mid-May in key locations throughout the state.
Monte Senner
Monte Lorrin Senner Jr., 56, passed away suddenly at his home in Columbia Falls on Friday, May 11, 2012, of a heart attack.
Virginia Slater
Virginia M. “Jinny” Slater, 70, of Kingston, died at 4:40 a.m. Sunday, May 13, 2012, surrounded by family following a brief illness.
Quintin Richter
Quintin H. “Rick” Richter, 86 of West Glacier, passed away at home of natural causes May 8, 2012.
Timothy Piland
Tim W. Piland, 43 of Columbia Falls, died May 12, 2012 in Missoula.
William Foster
William “Bill” Duane Foster passed away on May 7, 2012 in Klamath Falls, Ore.
Fishing tips for east of the divide
A few weeks ago, Blackfeet tribal fisheries biologist Toby Taber gave a report on fisheries management and outlook for this season’s fishing on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
He shoots trout, with a camera
Ryan Thompson has always been good at catching fish. Now he’s proving he excels at filming them, too.
Emergencies in Park over the weekend
Glacier National Park rangers responded to two emergencies on the Going-to-the Sun Road May 12. In one incident a woman fell off her bicycle and apparently broke her arm. Rangers transported her to Avalanche Creek by vehicle and family members then took her to the hospital for treatment by private vehicle.
Bowman, Kintla Lake roads open
Motorists can now travel to Kintla and Bowman Lakes in the North Fork of Glacier National Park as those roads opened last week. The Inside North Fork Road is also now open south to Logging Creek. Between Logging Creek and Fish Creek the road is still closed.
Twins edge Redbirds
Wolves, aspen, elk and fire - keys to healthy forests?
There are things one knows to be true in the natural world of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. There are wolves, there are elk, elk are chased down and eaten by wolves, and elk do everything they can to avoid being eaten. It’s nature.
Community news
Candidates speak
Gary W. Gephart
Alvira Marie Starks
Co-op to raise rates for members
Flathead Electric Cooperative Inc. members on average will see a 3.25 percent rate increase on their electric power bills effective June 1.
Johnson wants another term as Sec. of State
Montana Secretary of State candidate Brad Johnson said he wants to do away with same-day voting registration and he thinks people should have to show government-issued photo identification before they’re allowed to vote.
Streets leave $1.1M to foundation
Candidate wants to return American greatness
Ken Miller stopped in Columbia Falls on May 2 after appearing on a stage in Whitefish alongside four other Montana gubernatorial candidates. With everyone calling for more natural resource development and less taxes and regulations, it’s hard to distinguish oneself from the rest of the pack, he agreed.
'100 day cough' hits Columbia Falls schools
Whooping cough (pertussis) infected several people in the Columbia Falls School District last week, according to county health officials. The highly contagious ailment was spread by an adult who was misdiagnosed with bronchitis, said Jody White, a nurse with the Flathead City-County Health Department. The adult, in turn, gave it to the children. All told, there were three cases reported at Ruder Elementary and one case at Glacier Gateway.
Schools craft new TIF policy
Longtime district ranger will retire
Even if you didn’t see eye-to-eye with Jimmy DeHerrera, he was always willing to listen to concerns about issues on the Flathead National Forest.
Firemen respond to burning beard
The Columbia Falls Fire Department responded to a report of a fire in the men's bathroom at City Hall on Wednesday morning, May 16.
Oversized Casey's sign stymies city councilors
Bigfork Vals Western B tennis champions
The Bigfork Valkyries took the Western B tennis title this weekend in Libby with the top two spots in singles play and second and fifth place in doubles play.
Family memories take crayons, salsa and time
My parents are salsa dancing in my living room. “Lilly” by Pink Martini is playing out of my father’s iPad.
New grapes take root in Flathead Valley
The roots of twelve experimental grape varieties touched down in Montana soil last Thursday off West Reserve Street in Kalispell.
Paddleboard maker brings sport to Flathead
The smell of mahogany and wood stain prefaces the view of two 12-foot paddle boards in various stages of development at the front of Terry Click’s shop on Montana 35 outside of Woodsbay.
Survey results show most want new city cemetery
City explores septic cleanup solutions
Former councilor running for commissioner seat
Wednesday, May 9
Lakeside professional boxer sweeps bouts
The Burton Boxing fighters swept the pro bouts and capped an exciting night of boxing on Friday night at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
Baucus brews up a batch at Tamarack
Senator Max Baucus, Dem., stopped in Lakeside on Friday to make his first batch of beer, Wakeboard Wit, at the Tamarack Brewery.
Move-in date for new school pushed back
BHS senior makes UM cheer squad
Bigfork High School senior Keiko Sagami will trade red, white and blue for maroon, silver and white after she graduates in June.
Golf team takes three to State
Three Bigfork High School golfers, senior Sara Keenan, sophomore Dylan Carlson and freshman Lars Gittings, guaranteed their spots at state by placing in the top 15 at Monday’s divisionals tournament in Ronan.
1989 diesel spill in Whitefish Lake to see further cleanup
Top sprinter Amanda Foley signs with Griz
Wendy Zalutsky
Nancy Picucci
Robert Vaughan
Boese signs with MCC
Miles Community College head men’s basketball coach Chase Tait has announced the signing of a pair of Montana products, Jackson Boese (Bigfork) and Connor Smyle (Billings).
Girl Scout camp future at risk
Food bank plans new building
Big Mountain to expand bike trails
Inspiration can come from anywhere, even rap music
Adam Yauch, or more commonly known by his stage-name MCA from the Beastie Boys, died last week at the age of 47. The Beastie Boys helped bring rap music into the mainstream in the 1980s and continued to produce energetic and often hilarious rap songs up through the present.
Reject influence of big money in votes
At the Flathead Democrats’ spring dinner, we were reminded by Attorney General Bullock that Montana is still standing firm in defense of our state’s 100-year-old statute which prohibits corporate spending to elect or defeat candidates in city, county, legislative or statewide (non-federal) elections.
BHS senior nominated for highest academic honor
Out of 3.2 million students, Bigfork High School senior Amber McDaniel was named one of 550 semifinalists in the 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, the highest academic honor in the country.
Republicans push resource development
Expanding Montana’s natural resource production was a running theme during the Republican gubernatorial forum May 2 at the Whitefish Middle School auditorium. The forum featured candidates Rick Hill, Neil Livingstone, Jim Lynch, Ken Miller and Corey Stapleton.
Voters pass levies, back incumbents
Columbia Falls voters gave the thumbs up to high school and elementary school levies and voted in two incumbent school board members Tuesday.
Friday, May 4
Tourism-trade mission to Canada planned
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., visited Whitefish on Friday to talk about an upcoming tourism and trade mission to Canada. He met with local tourism and business leaders as part of his Flathead jobs tour and encouraged networking across the border as a way to help boost job growth in Northwest Montana.
Glacier Park campgrounds opening for summer season
Many of Glacier National Park’s campgrounds will open for the summer season in upcoming weeks. Apgar Campground opened with services on Friday, May 4, and St. Mary Campground will open with services on May 14. Additional campgrounds will open as the season progresses.
Candidate wants to stand up to federal mandates
County commissioner candidate Ben Stormes, of Whitefish, believes there are steps the county can take to address federal mandates and regulations on water quality, timber harvesting, mining, stream access and wolves.
Interim commissioner talks about experience
Cal Scott, a fifth-generation Flathead Valley native, has an arm’s-length resume that includes a congressman, a TV news program and numerous awards from around the country.
Woods a codebreaker
Two spies in separate prison cells are somehow communicating to each other through the walls. A hidden microphone picks up tapping sounds one night. Can someone listen to the taps and decipher the code — which obviously wasn’t done by Samuel Morse — and find out what the prisoners are up to?
Thursday, May 3
BFD upgrades interior
New paint and drywall pave the way to a pair of sleeping quarters and an upgrade at the Bigfork Fire Department.
Rain and I have a love/hate relationship
I think spring, not winter, is the hardest part about living in Montana.
Couple teams up to write for stage
He writes the words, she writes the music.
Wednesday, May 2
Superintendent Casey Love steps down
School faces cuts without levy approval
Second annual flea market anticipated to be bigger than last
Blacktail Trail is one quarter of the way to meeting community match fund
Local teams issue a challenge for the upcoming Dragon Boat Race
Robert Bob Lindborg
Bigfork Elementary teacher set to retire after 33 years
Columbia Falls school officials say levy will not raise taxes
Reductions in non general fund budgets will offset levy request
Sprinters lead Lady Dogs at A.R.M.
Lady Dogs sweep Kats in doubles
Sattler takes epic battle at Corvallis
BPCT has one more show left
Hanson is lone Democrat in SD3 race
Bricks available for park's memorial path
School board, levy election May 8
Helen Morris is 65th and final First Lady
City plans to replace fire trucks
BERT to host Preparedness Fair
Care center closes to visitors because of flu
School Board discusses tech benefits
Flathead Fishing Fair to be held at Snappy's
Postscript to defeat
Last week’s column about occupation to G.I.s and German women raised questions from readers which prompts me to supply more background. Those were terrible times for millions of Europeans, and especially European women; however, servicemen like me had to find what little humor there was in order to tolerate the misery we observed. Following is information many have forgotten or never knew:
Don't trust government for advice
The last few weeks, I have been amused (again) by the “experts” from various state and federal agencies regarding the possibility of flooding and/or a major fire season.
International highway dispute hot topic in 1920s
Competition between Columbia Falls and Kalispell Chambers of Commerce was intense during the 1920s.
Finding the real Republicans
With 13 Republicans vying for two open county commission seats this year, the elections promise to be more entertaining than a junior goat rope at the county fair.
Fair questions
I have some questions for former fair manager Jay Scott, who sued the county and is now running for Flathead County Commissioner. Following are my questions:
Williams sets two records at Whitefish A.R.M.
Derrick Williams continues to wow them at track. On April 28, the Columbia Falls long-distance runner set two meet records at the Whitefish A.R.M. meet. Williams won the 3,200 meters with a time of 9:54.54 and the 1,600 meters in 4:20.44, just two seconds ahead of Flathead’s Troy Fraley, who ran a 4:22.64.
Kats sweep Broncs tourney
The Columbia Falls softball team had a good weekend at the Frenchtown tournament April 28, downing Corvallis 4-1 and Hamilton 12-5.
Stenger leading Kat tennis
Gabrielle Stenger continues to play solid tennis for the Columbia Falls tennis squad.
Grapplers take seventh at state freestyle tourney
The Columbia Falls Wrestling Club finished in seventh place out of 33 teams from Canada and across Montana in the USA-Wrestling Freestyle State tournament at Majestic Valley Arena over the weekend.
Duane Macal
Duane Harry Macal, 76, died April 23, 2012, at his home in Columbia Falls.
Glacier Twins have rough season opener
The Glacier Twins AA Legion baseball club took some hard knocks last weekend as they kicked off the 2012 season. The Twins were shut out twice in four losses to Helena and Missoula.
Patricia Ramseth
Patricia Louise Piper Ramseth, 59 died April 22, 2012, at her home.
Burning permits required
Burning permits will be required in Flathead County from May 1 through June 30. Open burning is not allowed within the city limits of Whitefish, Kalispell and Columbia Falls. No burning is allowed from July 1 through Sept. 30.
Outdoor news
Reservoir road closure
Correction
George Ostrom’s column about his role in the book “Night of the Grizzlies” contained an error. Ostrom did receive a payment for use of his photos in the edition published by Homestead Publishing in 1996. He mistakenly said no photo fee was paid.
Why we love water and birds
Last week, one warm sunny afternoon — the kind of spring day that makes one believe, even hope, that global warming is not only true but winter has been outlawed — mayflies hovered in clouds over the Missouri River in north central Montana.
Lake fish facts are stubborn things
President John Adams famously said, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
Ski resort posts record numbers despite tough start
Despite a slow start to the ski season, with the extreme drought conditions in December and a weeklong opening delay, Whitefish Mountain Resort posted record skier-visit numbers for the 2011-2012 ski season on April 25.
Many Glacier, Two Medicine roads fully open to vehicles
The Many Glacier and Two Medicine roads in Glacier National Park opened last week. Meanwhile, Park plows continue their progress toward Logan Pass on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Facebook users sure like Glacier Park
Glacier National Park recently surpassed the 100,000 “likes” mark with its Facebook page, making it one of the most popular Facebook pages in the National Park Service.
Brawl blamed on school drug bust
A 28-year-old Hungry Horse man was arrested April 23 following a brawl in the Aluminum City subdivision involving perhaps a dozen people and handheld weapons.
C-Falls woman sentenced to 10 years for drug charge
A 21-year-old Columbia Falls woman who pleaded guilty to forgery and distribution of dangerous drugs, both felonies, was sentenced to 10 years with the Montana Department of Corrections with five suspended.
School and military news
MSU-B graduates
Schweitzer promotes the Big Sky in the Big Apple
Gov. Brian Schweitzer cruised the streets of New York City in a semi-truck last week promoting Montana as a vacation destination.
Wilderness exhibit set up at Discovery Square
The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation recently set up an historic display in the big bank vault in the lobby of Glacier Discovery Square, in Columbia Falls.
