Wednesday, September 25
James F. Hagan, 95
James F. Hagan, 95, passed away in Bigfork on Sept. 12, 2024, of natural causes.
Repairs to Montana 35 south of Creston will continue through 2025
This section of highway was originally constructed in 1957 and has seen much use since then. The last major reconstruction on this stretch of roadway was in 1996, but since then it has only received minor repairs and maintenance. This project is a cost-effective way of ensuring the highway receives these critical repairs, so it can continue to serve the traveling public for many years to come.
BLOTTER: Kicking son out of cabin
A caller reported his mother broke into his home in Bigfork, claiming he was being evicted from the guest cabin. His mother allegedly cleaned up broken glass he had placed to keep the family out, an in-person response was requested as the suspect may have started a fire.
HAPPENINGS: REzMaDe reception, BLUAC, Senior Center fundraiser
REzMaDe Artist Reception at Bigfork Art and Cultural Center, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. A VOICE along with the Fine Art and Digital Design Technology Departments at Salish Kootenai College are proud to present REzMaDe: photographs by SKC and Two Eagle River School photographers from the Flathead Nation.
‘Melt and dump’ kept Flathead Lake at full pool in 2024
Flathead Lake sat at full pool this summer following a dry 2023 season that saw its water level plunge to record lows.
Volunteers headed to Wild Horse Island for National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day is Sept. 28 and recognizes volunteer efforts that steward public lands. As part of that celebration, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is organizing a forest project on Wild Horse Island that day. Volunteers will work with staff to thin out trees with hand tools.
Country music’s hidden voices tell their story at BCPA’s ‘Origins’
The Bigfork Center of the Performing Arts is kick-starting their latest fundraising campaign with the presentation of “Origins,” created by singer-songwriter March Leach to provide audiences a behind-the-curtain look at the creative process and lives of three successful country singer-songwriters from Nashville.
It’s Tamarack Time!
Bring your best dish to Bigfork’s Tamarack Time! Bragging rights are at stake.
Bears in Hyperphagia: A seasonal strategy for survival
The first brisk mornings of early fall have people thinking about pulling out winter coats, flannels, and hats in preparation for the winter ahead. Bears are also preparing for the cold winter in Montana. However, instead of wool coats and mittens, their idea of bundling up involves layering on a few extra hundred pounds of fat reserves.
Neighbors voice opposition to Northshore Woods housing development
“A proactive approach to this development and the traffic generated by it must be in place prior to the commencement of new construction to safeguard the welfare of Bigfork residents and visitors,” said Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee member Shelley Gonzales.
Glacier Park will take no action against grizzly that bit hiker
Glacier National Park will take no action against a grizzly bear that bit a man who was hiking on the Highline Trail last week, as it was determined to be a surprise encounter.
Vitek sentenced to 100 years for murder of Tammi Jordan
Matthew Vitek of Bigfork was sentenced to 100 years in Montana State Prison on Wednesday, Sept. 18 for the deliberate homicide of Tammi Jordan.
Care Closet brings community mindset to the classroom
“We’re trying to tell kids, just get to school and we’ll take care of you,” teacher Mandy Fausett said.
Kids, cats and humility
I am looking at a copy of a Sunday cartoon that appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of January 14, 1900. It is called “Woman’s Craze for Animal Pets Versus Babies — what we might expect in the 20th Century.”
Jacob O'Farrell, 44
Jacob O’Farrell returned to his heavenly Father after a long and difficult battle with chronic illness.
Troy Curtis Schnell, 56
Troy Curtis Schnell, 56, returned to his heavenly home on Sept. 14, 2024.
Wednesday, September 18
High school students onboard Flathead Maritime Archaeology Project
Fugro is partnering with the Bigfork Arts & Cultural Center to identify, locate, and document underwater cultural heritage sites in Flathead Lake, Montana, as part of the Flathead Maritime Archaeology Project. Working under the supervision of marine archaeologist Dr. Calvin Mires, the project is providing cultural heritage mapping and community education.
‘Don’t commodify our public land’
Two years ago, a Utah ski corporation and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced a plan to highly develop the rustic Holland Lake Lodge on public land in Condon in the rural Swan Valley.
Chemical fire puts Bigfork man in burn unit
Bigfork native Ken Williams left for work Sept. 6 with his dog in his truck, headed down to Polson. Williams had been working for an asbestos removal company for about two months, a job he enjoyed. He left that day in an ambulance, burnt by chemical fire.
Quilted journey: Bigfork maker’s work to be featured in ‘Think Modern, Montana!’
Merrie Ford’s quilting journey started in eighth grade sewing class in Kalispell. Now, after moving around the country and picking up different skills and styles along the way, she has returned to the Flathead to start her own studio, theArtBarnMT, in Bigfork.
Glacier High School student injured in lightning strike released from ICU
A Glacier High School student injured in a lightning strike last month was released from intensive care, according to an online fundraiser for the teenager.
Ronan community mourns victim of alleged murder
The community of Ronan is reeling from the loss of Ed Loder, 67, who was allegedly murdered Saturday, Aug. 31, as he walked along the bike trail near his home and shop on Timberlane Road, southeast of Ronan.
Northshore Woods development back before commissioners
The Northshore Woods housing development is back on the Flathead County Commissioner’s agenda tomorrow following a settlement agreement that allowed the company to resubmit their plans.
Water and Sewer facing lawsuit, capacity issues
Bigfork Water and Sewer District is facing a lawsuit from Snowflake Land Ventures, LLC alleging it didn’t honor a 2004 easement agreement requiring the district to annex the property and to provide water and sewer hooks-ups.
REzMaDe artist reception comes to Bigfork Library
A VOICE (Art Vision & Outreach in Community Education) along with the Fine Art and Digital Design Technology Departments at Salish Kootenai College (SKC) are proud to present REzMaDe: photographs by SKC and Two Eagle River School photographers from the Flathead Nation.
Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre premieres ‘The Little Mermaid, Jr.’
The show will be performed at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 20, 21, 27 and 28, with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. on Sept. 29. Tickets are available online or at the box office one hour before the show.
Fundraiser for Bigfork Senior Center
Bigfork Community United Methodist Church will host an evening of supper, songs and local stories to benefit Bigfork Senior Center Saturday, Sept. 28 at 5 p.m.
New book features Montana’s ‘Stagecoach Mary’ Fields
She was instantly fascinating to me, as I think she is to a lot of people because we don’t know the stories of Black people in the American west. They just are not talked about a lot. And yet Black people were here,” author Leslie Budewitz said.
HAPPENINGS: Stockman Bank grand opening, “Seeing Things” at BACC, Ethical Material Sourcing Discussion Panel
Ethical Material Sourcing Discussion Panel at the Bigfork Library, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Learn about the new library’s participation with Design for Freedom.
Wednesday, September 11
K9 units used to apprehend shooter on Columbia Falls Stage Road
A Flathead County K9 unit was used to apprehend a suspect involved in a standoff early Wednesday, Sept. 4 after he allegedly shot at multiple people and the Two Bear Air helicopter.
Fruit gleaning for West Yellowstone bears upcoming
“Several of the Grizzly and Wolf Center's captive bears were wild bears from the Flathead and Swan Valley areas who were pulled from the wild due to repeated human-bear conflicts,” Swan Valley Connections conservation associate Jackie Pagano said, “so it is a nice full-circle moment to have community members donate their unwanted fruit to these captive animals to prevent potential bear conflicts with wild bears in our areas.”
FWP workshops show history of river regulation and how it could impact the future of recreation
Colin Maas, manager of the Smith River south of Great Falls, presented on the water body, one of the most highly regulated by FWP. “How we got from no restrictions to a fully restricted river didn’t happen overnight,” he said.
HAPPENINGS: Niner Niner fundraisers for Bigfork Fire Department
Pickleball, tennis, golf, BBQ
BLOTTER: Cats left by renters
In Somers, a landlord reported their former tenants left four cats in the house.
A visit to Hornet Lookout
I sat on a fold out wooden chair that had to be older than my grandfather and admired all the artifacts people had left behind — a ripped deer stuffed toy, a philosophy book, mismatched pans blackened by years over the flame, a can of Coke someone left as a treat for the next visitor. Then there were the old old things, a crate marked “flour and sugar, etc.,” that in my mind was carried up by mules back in the day, a handmade table and ladder. The room smelled like Pine-Sol. I slept on a cot that had held countless strangers.
Vikes start season strong with new head coach Hunter Johnson
“Football’s not an easy thing and these kids have risen to the occasion, they’re great kids, they work their butts off, and they’ve gotten way better from two-a-days to now and we’re just getting started,” Hunter Johnson said.
Brats, Baseball, Bigfork
Bigfork Baseball is hosting their second annual fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 14. “Our High School team is only partially funded by the school -- coaches stipend and MHSA dues -- the rest of the annual cost is up to us to fundraise, and that is the primary goal of this fundraiser. With last year being our inaugural year, we hope to keep the momentum going and roll into this second year strong,” organizer Jill Parish said.
PHOTOS: Vikings cut down the Loggers
Bigfork soccer had another set of wins Thursday night against Libby; Vals 8-0 and Vikes 4-2.
Bigfork gas station goes solar
Most of Bigfork went dark when a summer storm took out electricity throughout the Flathead a couple weeks ago. The exception was a little gas station and casino at the intersection of Highways 35 and 83.
Stewards of the Swan Valley a resource for Holland Lake Lodge discussion
“Stewards of the Swan Valley is dedicated to using a ‘home-grown approach’ to protect the historic Holland Lake Lodge and ensure that all Americans can enjoy this piece of public land in the shadow of the Swan and Mission mountains."
Suspected homicide victim found, Polson man arrested in connection
Lake County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of 67-year-old Ed Loder in the Twin Lakes area southeast of St. Ignatius on Friday, Sept. 6 with the cooperation of homicide suspect James Lawrence of Polson.
Wednesday, September 4
Brevik at BACC
As a Montana native, Ron Brevik began riding motorcycles at the age of twelve. “I was promptly pulled over by the law enforcement for not having a driver’s license”, he remembers. “That didn’t stop me.”
BLUAC appoints new member; work begins to update neighborhood plan
The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee appointed Laura Perry to an open seat during its Thursday, Aug. 29 meeting. Perry has a background in real estate, development and mortgages, and has worked in California, Nevada and Canada. She expressed interest in creating low-cost housing opportunities, responsible development and in exploring incorporation.
Bigfork-Ferndale native makes name for herself in pro archery
When Emily McCarthy steps up to the target she only has a minute to assess her shot before pulling back on her bow and firing.
EPA grant funds program to monitor pesticides in water
Currently, “We have almost no data of what's in our water” in terms of pesticide residue, says Malison.
Fall Mack Days begins early
The 2024 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake will begin two weeks early on Sept. 5 and will end on Nov. 3. The event dates were moved up to try and alleviate the cold mid-November temperatures anglers have endured the past couple of years.
Debate over recreational boating and erosion on Flathead River
“We had heard a lot from landowners in recent years about concerns with erosion,” Flathead Conservation District resource conservationist Samantha Tappenbeck said. “These are riverfront landowners that are contacting us and saying, ‘We are losing a crazy amount of ground to erosion that’s unprecedented.’”
Florence Ross, 92
Florence Fern (Nelson) Ross, affectionately known as "Flossie" was called to her eternal home on Aug. 23, 2024, at the age of 92, surrounded by her loving family.
TJ and Toot Sward back turning grocery receipts into school supplies
“It’s kind of gotten to be a joke, because I’ve got friends that do Sudoku and it’s supposed to keep your mind alert and all kinds of stuff; I say let me tell you something, Harvest Foods receipts are my Sudoku,” Toot laughed.
Commissioners commend Zinke
We, the Flathead County Board of Commissioners, are extending our deepest gratitude to Congressman Ryan Zinke for his instrumental role in securing $1.3 million in funding to upgrade the Flathead Emergency Communication Center’s radio system.
Let’s bring education back to basics
Schools of every size are experiencing teacher shortages. Student proficiency in core subjects such as reading, math, and science continues to decline. And we grapple with growing mental and physical health issues in young people.
L. Marlene Orr, 100
Lela Marlene Barrick Orr, 100, was born Jan. 8, 1924, to Troy R. and Edna Pearl Barrick in Butler, Oklahoma.
Dusty Ann Fratzke, 43
On Aug. 9, 2024, Dusty Ann Fratzke, 43, of Kalispell, passed away.
PHOTOS: Vikes dominate in season opener
Bigfork won their first game of the season 38-3 against Polson Friday. Up next, they play in Ronan Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.
HAPPENINGS: CFBB auction, Ron Brevik at BACC, community yard sale
CFBB auction, Ron Brevik at BACC, community yard sale
