Wednesday, August 28
Fifty-one acres near Swan Lake preserved in conservation easement
“It’s what we like about Montana, and what everybody likes about Montana, so I thought we’d try to do our share to preserve a very small piece of it,” Paul Johnson said.
Body of missing Whitefish climber recovered from Glacier
The body of missing mountaineer Grant Marcuccio, a 32-year-old man from Whitefish, was recovered Sunday from alpine terrain in Glacier National Park. Glacier Park officials said in a media release on Monday that Marcuccio’s body was found by Two Bear Air at approximately 2 p.m. His cause of death is still under investigation, but traumatic injuries and location of the body are indicative of a fall, the release stated.
Fundraiser for student athlete injured by lightning strike receives tens of thousands in donations
The GoFundMe was organized by the student’s older sister, Maddy Schaefer, on Wednesday and has since received money from over 600 donors. Schaefer wrote on the website that her brother is “stable at this time and able to squeeze our hands.”
Bigfork school board signs off on Swan River cooperative agreement
In an effort to create opportunities for seventh and eighth grade football, track and cross country at Swan River, Bigfork covers the costs to operate those programs with the condition that Swan River allows three members of their staff to coach at Bigfork per year, no more than two a season. Contention was how many days of paid absence Swan River teachers would receive for coaching at Bigfork; a previous draft of the agreement granted eight days but was whittled down to six this year.
Storm batters Bigfork
“That thunderstorm just kind of came blazing up the lake with super strong winds and really heavy rain. It just knocked out power all over the place,” Flathead Electric Cooperative communications supervisor Courtney Stone said. “It was good in that we thought we had more damage to equipment than we actually ended up having, what actually ended up being was we just had so many trees in the line.”
Three Bigfork organizations take on the Great Fish Challenge
“I think one of the stats we looked at for the applicants this year is that 95% of the nonprofits participating in the challenge, regardless of where they’re located, are benefiting the entire valley,” Whitefish Community Foundation president and CEO Alan Davis said. “We are excited to invite new organizations from Bigfork to the challenge, and I think supporting those groups that are supporting our quality of life across the Flathead.”
Republicans raised your property taxes
The governor and the Montana Legislature raised your home’s taxes at the fastest rate in history.
HAPPENINGS: First day of school, BLUAC meeting, Rumble Around the Lake
The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee will meet at 4 p.m. downstairs at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8559 Highway 35, to discuss the update of the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan.
BLOTTER: Please don’t touch the power lines
A caller asked that law enforcement reprimand people trying to move downed trees and powerlines from the storm.
Bigfork sports teams back in action for the fall season
“We have a lot of kids who have worked hard and are very coachable. They are all ready to step up and excited for the season,” football coach Hunter Johnson said.
Montana man survives on creek water for 5 days after motorcycle crash
A Montana motorcyclist who was missing for five days after crashing along an Idaho mountain highway survived by drinking creek water until he was found, authorities say.
Rumble in the Bay revving up for Labor Day weekend
“This year’s featured car is the rat rod, so we’re really excited to see all the creative, one-of-a-kind builds on display,” Bigfork Area Chamber executive director Rebekah King said. “But beyond the cars, it’s also about spending an amazing day in Bigfork, supporting the local businesses that make our community so unique. It’s really a celebration of community, nostalgia, and automotive art.”
Wednesday, August 21
Buttons and Bows brings home ribbons
“We had a good year and the kids did real well,” club organizer Linda Stewart said.
Last show of the season opens at Bigfork Summer Playhouse
Get ready to rock and roll down memory lane as the Bigfork Summer Playhouse finishes its 65th season with a bang. “The Hits of the 50s, 60s & 70s” opens on August 27 at 7:30 p.m.
HAPPENINGS: Recreation impacts on Flathead River, Vacation Bible School, Lakeside Garages Open House
Recreation impacts on Flathead River, Vacation Bible School, Lakeside Garages Open House
BLOTTER: WaveRunner missing in Somers
A man in Somers reported his WaveRunner personal watercraft stolen, missing from the dock.
Tinch takes reins as Bigfork Water and Sewer District’s first female president
“I want to be a face that the community recognizes, knows and has comfort with calling, reaching, out to, and asking for help. I want the community to know how hard the staff and organization works to ensure that we have clean water, both in our lake and that we drink,” Alida Tinch said.
Wallace Dale Vinnedge, 90
Wallace Dale Vinnedge
Our Threatened Outdoors
For many Montanans, our state’s attraction is its abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities, especially hunting and fishing. These resources have traditionally been managed according to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which holds that wildlife is a public resource held in trust by the state, should be allocated democratically, and should not be commercially exploited. These principles have allowed Montanans of ordinary means to enjoy our outdoors.
Fear, anger and self-centeredness
This is our present three-party political system: Democratic, Republican, and what I term Trumpism.
Woman killed in Highway 83 wreck from Bigfork, not Butte
The woman, identified as 43-year old Dusty Ann Fratzke, had Butte listed as her address on her driver’s license and was initially reported to be a resident there.
Harmful algae bloom identified west of Flathead Lake
An algal bloom that can sicken people or pets has been confirmed in Lake Mary Ronan, near the northeast shoreline of the lake just west of Flathead Lake, warned officials with Lake County Environmental Health.
Wednesday, August 14
Bears, fruit trees and gleaning in Northwest Montana
Fruit gleaning programs organize volunteers to collect fruit on public and private property throughout a given area. Gleaning events can be organized through local non-profits or community groups, ensuring that excess fruit is harvested and distributed to those in need while removing bear attractants.
‘No man is poor…’
"I’ll sit on the ground and eat lunch and maybe take a nap and sometimes my neighbor joins me and we’ll both take a nap.”
PHOTOS: Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival
Photos from Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival on Saturday, August 10. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle photos)
One dead, two injured in wreck north of Bigfork
A 43-year old Butte woman died in a vehicular collision on Montana 83 northeast of Bigfork Friday, Aug. 9.
Paving project completed on Highway 83
The Montana Department of Transportation and LHC Inc. have completed the South Segment of the Montana Highway 83 Swan Lake Pavement Preservation project. Pavement marking installation is taking place and will be completed this week. This marks the final item to be completed.
Board works to rebuild Bigfork Senior Center
Need for Meals on Wheels volunteers, capital improvements and community events
Bigfork man pleads guilty to deliberate homicide charge
Twentieth Judicial District Judge Molly Owen set a sentencing date of Sept. 18 for a Bigfork man accused of shooting three people last year, killing one of them.
Search expands for woman missing from Hungry Horse Reservoir
Friends and family of a woman who vanished while paddleboarding on the Hungry Horse Reservoir last month are expanding a public outreach campaign in the hopes of finding the missing 33-year-old.
BLOTTER: Fight on Grand Drive
An intoxicated woman reportedly pulled the caller from their car and punched them in the face on Grand Drive.
Diving into history: Flathead Maritime Archeology expands underwater archiving and stewardship
“We’ve been on the Kee-O-Mee several times, and as we go back down, things are missing, things that don’t drift off, they’re being cut off and taken up and in private hands,” BACC executive director Julie Bottum said. “Our goal is to archive these things before they disappear.”
Community meeting to discuss recreation impacts on Flathead River
Flathead Conservation District and Flathead River Commission will soon present their findings from a 2022 study on the impacts of recreational boating on the Flathead River; initiated in response to concern from landowners.
HAPPENINGS: Vacation Bible school, Teen Switch Days, Drop-in fiber circle
Vacation Bible school, Teen Switch Days, Drop-in fiber circle
Thursday, August 8
Agencies look to lift Stage I fire restrictions across much of the Flathead
Following rainfall and lower temperatures across the valley, Flathead National Forest, Flathead County and Glacier National Park will lift Stage I fire restrictions in the coming days, though much of Northwest Montana will keep them in place. Next week, interagency fire managers will meet to make recommendations on fire restrictions moving forward.
Wednesday, August 7
Volunteers sought for Flathead Waters Cleanup
Those who spend time on local lakes and rivers are encouraged to put some muscle into cleaning them up during the annual Flathead Waters Cleanup Event from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 10.
Bigfork man drowns in Hungry Horse Reservoir
A Bigfork man drowned in the Hungry Horse Reservoir on Sunday, July 28 near Wounded Buck Creek.
New Bigfork Library receives warm welcome from community
The new Bigfork branch of Flathead County Library is now open after years of hard work from dedicated community members, library and foundation staff.
10-year old Schiffman twins take on the Alps
“It’s a tradition to bike up Logan Pass at Glacier every year for our birthday,” 10-year old Sawyer Schiffman said. He and his twin brother Darien have been doing the Sun Road on their own bikes since they were seven years old.
HAPPENINGS: Flathead Maritime Archaeology, Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival, Flathead Waters Cleanup
Hosting a FREE community event in Bigfork or the surrounding communities? Email editor@bigforkeagle.com to be posted in Happenings.
BLOTTER: Fight with the landlord
A man reported his landlord and two other men assaulted him, punching him in the stomach.
Landowners surrounding Bigfork’s downtown bridge consulted by MDT
Montana Department of Transportation hosted a listening session on Thursday, August 1 for landowners adjacent to Bigfork’s downtown Bridge Street Bridge.
Picklers from across the country headed to Bigfork for Crown of the Continent Tournament
Two Rivers Pickleball Club will host their Fourth Annual Crown of the Continent Tournament this weekend, August 9-11, with roughly 275 registrants from 18 states and Canada set to hit the courts.
Lake County bills state for Public Law 280 expenses
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen was sent a bill Monday for $151,038 – the cost Lake County says was spent to detain, transport and prosecute tribal members accused of committing felonies in Lake County during the month of June.
PHOTOS: Festival of the Arts
Bigfork hosted its annual Festival of the Arts on Electric Avenue and Grand Drive Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4. Vendors from across the country braved a little rain to show off their wares. There was an emphasis on local artists and vendors, with Montana-made a frequent product descriptor. A free shuttle ran from the Bigfork Rodeo Grounds to aid with parking issues due in part to the downtown bridge closure.
Flathead County SWAT team aids in stand-off in Lake County
A Lake County man is accused of brandishing a firearm that led to a brief armed stand-off with law enforcement last month.
Agency on Aging seeks donations from 4-H and FFA Livestock sale to bolster meals on wheels
The Flathead County Agency on Aging is looking to obtain 10 steers and 10 hogs from the 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale for its Meals on Wheels Program.
Commissioners call for EA on Steamboat Landing subdivision following Superfund, wetlands concerns
Flathead County commissioners want environmental testing on a site proposed for a large-scale housing subdivision in Somers before considering whether to approve the project near a Superfund site.
This is not political. It’s people’s homes.
Property taxes aren’t red/blue or political; the State writes the rules on property taxes, counties follow the rules. And everyone—no matter what your political stripe—pays.
James Strizich
James "Jim" Strizich, of Bigfork, an avid outdoorsman and professional trap shooter, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
Thursday, August 1
Fire restrictions start Saturday for Flathead County
Following hot, dry and windy conditions, Stage I fire restrictions will be implemented Saturday, August 3 at 12:01 a.m. across Flathead County.
