Wednesday, July 31
HAPPENINGS: Festival of the Arts, Library ribbon-cutting, Great Gray Owl potluck
Festival of the Arts, community blood drive, Great Gray Owl potluck
Flathead Lake Biological Station celebrates 125 years
The University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station is 125 years old this year and is holding a free FLBS125 anniversary open house celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2.
New Bigfork Library will open its doors August 6
The new Bigfork library is poised to welcome patrons when it opens following a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 6 at 9:30 a.m.
Lake County Search and Rescue saves two in water rescue
On July 25, at about 5 p.m., Lake County 911 took a call from two kayakers on Flathead Lake who were requesting a water rescue due to sudden harsh conditions on the water, according to a press release from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
BLOTTER: Man takes bathroom break at daycare
A man was reported for urinating and defecating near a daycare in Bigfork.
Buttons and Bows 4-H prepares for fair
Sage Harapat sits in the passenger seat of her mom’s car as they bounce down Jewel Basin Road to visit the neighbor, a duck swaddled in her lap.
Respect, on and off the road
“Yeah, I remember him,” my friend said, “He used to drive home from the bar, pull off the highway onto Swamp Creek Road, turn off his car right there in the middle of the intersection and go to sleep. He was a pain in the butt.”
Donald 'Don' Franklin, 89
Donald "Don" Ray Franklin, 89, Christian, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and coach, left our world on July 22, 2024, in McMinnville, Oregon.
Robert Gorsuch, 97
Robert V. Gorsuch passed away on July 6, 2024, at age 97.
Precipitation forecast and wildfire updates
Northwest Montana was expected to receive its first wetting rain in more than three weeks with the arrival of a cold front on Tuesday, July 30.
Updates on Montana FWP black bear study presented at Bear Fair
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Black Bear Monitoring Biologist Colby Anton presented an ongoing statewide black bear population study during Swan Valley Resources’ Bear Fair at Swan River Community Hall on Saturday. The project aims to estimate the overall density and abundance of black bears across the state
Wednesday, July 24
Bigfork revives community choir for the summer
“There aren’t a lot of churches that have choirs anymore, and there’s lots of reasons for that,” Community United pastor Wendy Ochs said. “People enjoy choir music and people love to sing, so we just thought it would be fun to give an opportunity for anyone in the community to be able to sing.”
Flathead Forest OKs 3 projects to reduce wildfire risks
Work is expected to begin this fall on projects aimed at reducing the severity of wildfires at three locations around the Flathead Valley.
Botello talks a wide range of issues facing Flathead Forest
The loss of Pyramid Lumber in the Swan Valley was also a concern. “Anytime we lose an industry partner we feel it,” Flathead National Forest Supervisor Anthony Botello said. With the closure of the Pyramid mill, there are just two large mills left in the area – F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber and Weyerhaeuser.
BLOTTER: Camper catches fire in Somers
In Somers, a camper was reported on fire off the highway near Marco Bay.
HAPPENINGS: Flathead Cherry Festival, Bear Fair, Bring Your Own Book Club
Hosting a FREE community event in Bigfork or the surrounding communities? Email editor@bigforkeagle.com to be posted in Happenings.
Freemasons award annual trades scholarships
Bigfork Masonic Lodge 150 held their scholarship award luncheon July 8 and presented three Bigfork High School students with $1,000 scholarships each.
Wheels of Time: Stagecoach tours at Wrangler Springs Ranch
Dale Mee and Doug Howser are hooking the horses up to the stagecoach before the summer heat fills the barn, their mustaches waxed to hooked points “for historical accuracy, and a little drama.”
Woods Bay author’s book delves into secrets of Flathead Lake
“I look at Flathead Lake as kind of everybody’s favorite Montana lake,” author Butch Larcombe said. “I’m proud of the research too, I’ve written about some of these things that nobody’s really written about before.”
Bigfork Library design team had a focus on ethical building practices
The new Bigfork branch of Flathead County Library — set to open August 6 — is one of a series of projects worldwide that aims to draw awareness toward unethical practices in the building industry, according to the firm behind the branch’s architecture.
Adaptive recreation program makes splash during watersports week
“We’re really focused on providing a safe environment for people to feel confident to push their limits,” said Julie Tickle, DREAM’s executive director.
Forest management could help Montanans breathe easier next fire season
We’ve all watched the white haze roll in on an otherwise sunny afternoon and lost the mountains and buttes on the horizon with it. While this haze produces some awesome sunsets, wildfire smoke also brings a slew of issues with it.
Wednesday, July 17
Tester, Daines split on abortion bill
Montana’s senators split last Wednesday on whether to proceed with a bill that would have expressed support for abortion access.
Navigating local and national tensions
As a weekly news source in rural Montana, the Eagle will not be the first place readers hear about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump this Saturday at a Butler, Pennsylvania campaign event. But I do think it can serve as a good place for community discussion.
Adaptive exercise in action: Chair yoga comes to Bigfork
“I think people need to know that this class is accessible to anyone who’s maybe having some difficulties with balance and flexibility,” Krista Sanderson said. “There are always ways to work around limitations, so they shouldn’t feel like they can’t do it because they’re not flexible, because they can’t balance, because those are all things that we continue to work on through class.”
Sportsman’s Bridge project will begin with new fishing access site
“After recent delays, we are excited to have this project moving forward,” Bob Vosen, MDT Missoula District Administrator, said in a press release. “Construction of the new bridge is anticipated to begin in 2025, once the new fishing access site has been built.”
Bigfork School Board tables sports and activities cooperative agreement
Bigfork Public Schools Board of Trustees tabled a decision on their cooperative sports and activities agreement with Swan River School after a decision by the Swan River board to limit the time their teachers can be outside of the classroom to coach high school sports.
Happenings: Vacation bible school
Bigfork Summer Community Choir welcomes all singers 15 and up to practices at the Community United Methodist Church Mondays at 5:30 p.m., directed by Dr. Art Crane and Dr. Jordan Neiman. Bigfork Community United Methodist Church hosts Vacation Bible School August 19-22, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Children ages three to twelve are invited for breakfast, bible stories, music, games, crafts, science, raptors and more. Register at bigforkumc.org/vacation-bible-school, call 406-837-4547 or email bigforkcumc@gmail.com for more info.
BLOTTER: Boat sinks in Echo Lake
A 22-foot surfboat was reported fully submerged about 12 to 15 feet deep at a dock in Echo Lake overnight, Bigfork Fire Department was called to assist.
Electric fencing for bear attractants garners 50% reimbursement program
Here in Montana, many of us live, travel and recreate in bear country. Being “bear aware” here is more a requirement than a recommendation. However, it can be easy to overlook the common bear attractants in our backyards that can become sources of human-bear conflict, especially if you are new to living in landscapes populated by bears.
Montana lawmakers want answers from Secret Service
Montana’s representatives in Congress, many of whom have shared a stage with Donald Trump, pivoted Sunday to toning down political rhetoric and investigating how a would-be assassin came within 140 yards of the former president at a Pennsylvania campaign rally on Saturday.
Despite summer heat wave, 20,000 music fans attend Under the Big Sky
Fans and water misters were as ubiquitous as cowboy hats as concertgoers did their best to beat the sweltering heat during the opening day of the Under the Big Sky music festival Friday.
State wildlife agency gives boost to native rainbow trout species
Most rainbow trout swimming in Montana’s waters are not native to the state — with the singular exception of the redband trout in the Kootenai drainage.
Black bear euthanized after breaking into vehicle at campground
State wildlife officials trapped and euthanized a black bear at a Northwest Montana campground on Monday after it broke a vehicle window to get food in a cooler.
Wednesday, July 10
What Montanans lose with each APR land acquisition
American Prairie Reserve has been crowing about their recent ranch purchases in Phillips County. What they won’t tell you is those acquisitions come at a cost to you and every other Montanan.
PHOTOS: Bigfork Summer Rodeo
Photos from the Bigfork Summer Rodeo on Friday, July 5. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
The sky’s the limit: 50 years of flying in local author’s new book
A highlight of Combs’s career was being selected as the star of a series of Wrigley’s Gum commercials.
Co-op seeks photo submissions for calendar
Photo submissions for the 2025 Flathead Electric Cooperative Members’ Calendar opened July 1. Submissions are considered through August 31. Winners receive $25 and are notified in late September. Calendars are typically printed and available for members in November.
Blotter: Tailgate stolen at rodeo
A tailgate was reported stolen from a truck at the Bigfork Rodeo.
Federal judge stops Forest Service plan for Flathead Forest over endangered species
Federal Judge Dana Christensen has stopped the Flathead National Forest from implementing its forest plan for the 2.4 million acres because the U.S. Forest Service ignored the impact of roads on the endangered grizzly bear and bull trout populations.
Bigfork Soccer Club continues to grow
Bigfork’s soccer players are out on the newly redone Carlyle Johnson fields this week for One. Soccer Schools. Kids from kindergarten to high school will be taught by coaches from all over the world; including Ireland, Uruguay, England, Mexico.
Democratic candidate support
Our nation is at a point of desperation. We could be losing our democracy, our personal freedoms, and our country’s values. We are facing the possibility of falling under a dictatorial form of government.
Thursday, July 4
PHOTOS: Bigfork Fourth of July Parade
Photos from the Bigfork Fourth of July parade through downtown Bigfork on Thursday, July 4. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle photos)
Body of missing boater recovered from Flathead Lake
A dive crew on Wednesday evening recovered the body of a Missoula man who drowned in Flathead Lake last week.
Wednesday, July 3
Yes, build in my backyard
Housing affordability is the top voting issue for an astounding 91 percent of Gen Zers ahead of the 2024 election, according to a new survey by Redfin, beating out abortion, democracy and student debt.
Fourth of July festivities across the Flathead
Head to Bigfork for the community’s annual Fourth of July Parade at noon. This year’s parade theme honors the parade’s grand marshal Gretchen Gates of Eva Gates Preserves, which is marking its 75th anniversary with the theme “Preserving Bigfork Traditions.”
Ferndale Fire Department hosts annual Bison Burger BBQ
“Our long-term purpose is to help raise money for our local fire department which has financial needs to catch up with current firefighting technique and training,” Atlee Hitchcock, Friends of Ferndale Montana Fire Department board member noted.
Driving change: New owners clean up Bigfork’s car wash
Steve Davis and Liana Orsolini held high-stakes executive jobs when they lived in Virginia.
Blotter: Fuel spill in Bigfork Bay
A boat was reported leaking gas near the Swan River access off Bigfork Bay; two quarts of drive oil were found spilled and cleared from the water by Fish and Game.
Missing boater presumed drowned in Flathead Lake
Search and rescue teams from Lake, Flathead and Missoula counties, as well as Kootenai County, Idaho, on Monday continued scouring Flathead Lake for the body of a missing boater, presumed to have drowned after becoming separated from his boat Thursday, June 27.
Powerful rain drenches parts of Flathead Valley
This week starts out cool with more rain, but warms up nicely by Fourth of July on Thursday.
Bigfork library temporarily closes for move to new building
The Bigfork branch of Flathead County Library will be closed for a month while staff move into their new Bridge Street building.
Local author shares story of hope in new children’s book
Michelle Weltz and her family were playing fetch with their black lab, Sky, having a fun Labor Day at the lake in 2014. When Sky brought back the ball covered in blood, they took her to the vet. Suddenly, their 8-year-old dog had a cancer diagnosis and was given 30 days to live.
Joyce 'Peach' Graeff, 81
Compassionate and dedicated servant and friend to the community of Bigfork, Peach from Bigfork was called to her eternal home on May 24, 2024; her room was ready.
