Wednesday, October 30
PHOTOS: Fall band concert
Bigfork Middle and High Schoolers put on a show in the gym Monday night for their Fall concert.
BLOTTER: Dogs, dogs, dogs
A caller reported they had video footage of their neighbor’s dog chasing their cows in Bigfork. In Lakeside, a man reported he was bit by a dog; another call was received regarding an aggressive dog in Lakeside.
State XC results
Boys 13th Overall Class A Ty Anderson - 47th (18:07)
Late season trip to Snowbird Mine
Snowbird Mine, in the Bitterroots, was started as a fluorite mine in 1956 and only used through 1957. Fluorite has historically been used for iron smelting and ornamentally for jewelry. It can also be converted into fluoride for toothpaste.
Where to Vote: Bigfork polling locations
Polling locations include: Precinct 46, 53, 54, 55 – Bethany Lutheran Church, 8559 MT Highway 35 BEA 1 – Bear Dance Club House, 19269 MT Highway 35 FER 1 – Ferndale Fire Department, 100 Ferndale Drive Precinct 38, 39, 40 – Lakeside QRU, 201 Bills Road
Last chance to see ‘The Play that Goes Wrong’
The comedy will have its final performances at Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts this weekend, 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available at Bigfork Drug, at the door, and online at BigforkCommunityPlayers.com.
Katie Hicks celebrates a year of good neighbors
National Good Neighbor Day, Sept. 28, has its roots in Lakeside. One Bigfork business has worked to grow that tradition, and this September celebrated one year of promoting positivity.
Bigfork Food Bank part of Town Pump fundraising campaign
As increasing food costs and other everyday expenses push more Montanans to local food banks for help, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation is matching over $1.1 million to help raise $4 million during its annual fundraising campaign for food banks, including the Bigfork Food Bank.
Bigfork Art and Cultural Center to move into old library space
Bigfork Art and Cultural Center has received the lease from Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork for the space next door that used to house Bigfork’s library, an endeavor that will change the landscape of the building.
Contract in place for Holland Lake Lodge sale
Eric Jacobsen, a private equity investor who splits his time between Park City, Utah, and Whitefish, announced earlier this month that he has secured a contract to purchase Holland Lake Lodge near Condon.
Here’s how to lower costs for Montanans
If you live in Montana, there’s no doubt you feel the sting of this sobering fact: Montana just surpassed California to become the most unaffordable state in the nation. That’s not political hype; that’s according to the National Association of Realtors.
Steven T. Smith, 76
Steven T. Smith, 76, died peacefully at home on Oct. 17, 2024, attended by his wife, Martha, of 54 years
Wednesday, October 23
Migration Mystery: ORI seeks to track saw-whet owls’ journey through Montana
At 7:20 p.m., a northern saw-whet owl call pierces through the forest at Flathead Lake Biological Station. Although these little owls are some of the more common on the North American continent and native to Northwest Montana’s woods, this sound is coming from a speaker.
HAPPENINGS: Seed cleaning, Trunk or Treat, community dinner
Community meeting with Eric Jacobsen and Thomas Knowles concerning Holland Lake Lodge, Condon Community Hall, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Taxpayers fund party primaries. Why can’t we vote in all of them?
I just got a flier in the mail from the Montana Republican Party asking me to vote “no” on CI-126, that’s the ballot initiative to allow a primary election where the top four vote getters advance to the general election.
Feed the Need benefit concert for Flathead Food bank tomorrow
The Flathead Food Bank presents the third annual Feed the Need benefit concert. The event will take place at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell, the evening of Thursday, October 24.
Bobfest celebrations set for Friday
The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation invites the Flathead Valley to attend their annual year-end celebration and fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
Biological station study shows potential for toxic algae in Montana river systems
Blooms of toxin-producing algae exist in some pristine river systems, it’s a discovery from the Flathead Lake Biological Station that could have implications for Montana rivers and streams.
Lake County entrepreneur proposes innovative housing option
At a meeting Oct. 10 with the Lake County Commissioners, Keith DeVille offered an overview of the “big idea” that he and his partners are planning and why.
Work on Bigfork bridge to begin this winter
Work to rebuild the Bridge Street Bridge in Bigfork is expected to begin this winter, according to state transportation officials.
BLOTTER: Llama on the loose
A llama was reported running loose in Bigfork.
Ronan woman missing from Buffalo Bridge area
Lake County law enforcement officers are looking for information about a Ronan woman who has not been seen since early October.
Wednesday, October 16
BLOTTER: House not actually for sale
A person in Bigfork reported their house was being used for an online scam, with photos of it posted for sale when it was not in actuality.
Aase Veseth, 99
As Aase Veseth, 99, would say, Takk for sist! That is Norwegian for thank you for the last time we were together.
Who is Tim Sheehy... really?
The Billings Gazette has recently run front page articles about the truth of campaign ads by Sen. Jon Tester and Tim Sheehy, opponents in the Montana U.S. Senate race. The articles discuss political crossfire between the two on important public issues, but they do not inquire into the personal integrity of the candidates.
Votes no on CI-126, 127
The left is not satisfied with the amount of chaos they have sewn nationally in the past 4 years with open border crime and gender confusion indoctrination in public schools.
Hansens Honored with Bucklew Service Award
The couple, who reside in Bigfork a portion of the year, said they were inspired to give back to UM to create educational opportunities for future generations.
Bigfork Booster Club eyeing new stadium
Survey to be released on four-day school week
The goal of Turf Club, a subset of the Booster Club, will be to install an artificial turf field, renovate walkways and paving around the stadium, expand storage space, upgrade entry points and put in an improved scoreboard and lighting. A donor recognition wall would also be put up.
Tamarack Time! draws a crowd
Two hundred and twenty-seven people attended Tamarack Time! in downtown Bigfork this weekend, raising $1,135 for the upkeep of the Swan River Trail.
Lost piece of art found in Bigfork church
A piece of history, lost for 90 years, has turned up in the back of the sanctuary at Community United Methodist Church in Bigfork.
PHOTOS: Bigfork Homecoming
Football, volleyball, soccer and celebrations
Wednesday, October 9
Michael Howard Hodsdon, 71
Michael Howard Hodsdon, 71, died suddenly on Sept. 23, 2024, of heart failure.
HAPPENINGS: Homecoming parade, Fall Fest at Wayfarers, Flu clinic
Bigfork High School Homecoming Parade, starting at Bigfork High School and going through Bigfork Village, about 1:45 p.m.
Tamarack Time! takes over Bigfork Saturday
Tamarack Time! is back Saturday, Oct. 12, so bring on your best baking and come to taste the best dishes Bigfork has to offer. Bragging rights are at stake, and all money raised will go towards the maintenance of Swan River Trail by Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork.
Volunteers pitch in on Wild Horse Island for National Public Lands Day
“I love public lands because they’re kind of that final defense against a lot of development and human interference. And our access to it is kind of a portal to a world beyond humanity,” Kallie Fox, the land improvement specialist for Flathead Lake State Park, said.
Aero Lane mechanic shop will continue to run out of home
Flathead County Board of Adjustments approved a conditional use permit for an after-the-fact home occupation mechanic shop in Bigfork during their Oct. 1 meeting, with recommended changes from Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee.
BLOTTER: Bear in the barn
An angry bear was reported trapped in a Bigfork barn.
Somers man dies in crash on Foys Canyon Road
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office on Monday identified the motorist killed in a wreck on Foys Canyon Road over the weekend as 44-year-old Shaun Madrazo of Somers.
Northshore Woods preliminary plat moves forward
Flathead County Commissioners approved Northshore Woods housing development’s preliminary plat on Tuesday, Oct. 1, despite resounding disapproval received in public comment.
Bigfork’s bank building gets new owners
Dustin and Molly Cumming closed on Bigfork’s “bank building” last Tuesday and started construction that week, determined and excited to bring a new set of businesses to the 100-year-old downtown fixture.
Are you better off today than you were 4 years ago?
Under the Biden/Harris administration, with the help of Jon Tester, we are experiencing high inflation, open borders, a fentanyl crisis, letting boys compete in girls sports, allowing boys to use girls bathrooms, woke agendas, a broken justice system, an attack on our baseload energy resources, stricter gun control, wars abroad, late term abortions, and our own government providing more to illegal immigrants then to the citizens of the United States. The Harris/Walz administration would continue these failed policies. We must stop this insanity and vote for Trump.
Courtney Tait, 68
Courtney Anderson Tait, 68, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, July 20, 2024, at his home of natural causes.
Thursday, October 3
Bigfork Homecoming schedule
Bigfork High School’s Homecoming week will kick off Monday, Oct. 7.
Wednesday, October 2
Photos from Flathead Nation students on display at Bigfork library
"What was cool about today is that the students hadn't seen this work [on display] before because only one of them traveled to the festival, so they were pretty excited to see it,” A VOICE Co-Director and founder David Spear said.
Whited celebrates 25 years at Flathead Lake Biological Station
Diane Whited moved to the Flathead Valley for a one-year research position with the Flathead Lake Biological Station in 1999. Twenty-five years, she’s celebrating over two decades of continued work there.
HAPPENINGS: Rare carnivore presentation, community firewood day, Chess Club & LEGOs
Rare carnivore monitoring presentation at Swan Valley Community Hall, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Swan Valley Connection’s quarterly community potluck, featuring a presentation by Luke Lamar and Mike Mayernik, who will both be discussing the results from 10 years of wolverine and Canada lynx monitoring in the Southwest Crown of the Continent. Presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.
Forecast shows healthy numbers for big game hunting season
Big game survival and recruitment in Northwest Montana showed positive trends this spring, according to a hunting forecast by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, released as hunting season falls upon the Flathead Valley.
BLOTTER: Kids shooting at pedestrians with airsoft gun
In Lakeside, kids were reported shooting an airsoft gun at pedestrians from their vehicle. Also in Lakeside, an electric pole was reported hit by a trailer.
Saw-whet owl banding at Flathead Lake Biological Station
Join Darcy Thomas and Flathead Audubon on Wednesday, Oct. 2 or Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 7 p.m. to approximately 10 p.m. to observe the Owl Research Institute capture and band the small Northern Saw-whet Owl.
BLUAC hears case for mechanic shop built out of zoning regs
“It just seems to me you put the cart way ahead of the horse. There needs to be conditional use permits before you build something, and you’re already in business,” committee member Jerry Sorensen said.
Sister business: Sonder Montana Co offers a place for local women’s work to shine
“It sounds so cheesy, but I feel like Sonder is so much more than a coffee shop and a retail store. We just want to be part of the community that helped raise us,” Carly Reedy said.
Tim Sheehy: Side-stepping responsibility for his words
CSKT’s Tribal Council stands in solidarity with the Crow Tribe who were on the receiving end of Sheehy's remarks. Our elders have described his words as hateful and we listened. Sheehy said nothing of the many great achievements in our communities, of ever-increasing numbers of Indian people making their way through college to earn advanced degrees, to learn our languages and culture, and support our communities. Our community battles high suicide rates especially among our young people who should have their heritage honored, not disparaged by someone who wants to represent us all in the U.S. Senate.
Nathan Eugene Jordt, 59
Nathan Eugene Jordt, 59, left this world on Sept. 20, 2024.
