Wednesday, February 26
Bomb threats investigated at Bigfork Schools
Bigfork Schools were closed this morning due to threats of violence against the district.
Uncharted Waters: UM students study wildfire impacts on mountain lakes
Brooke Bain-White has dedicated her career to studying high-elevation watersheds across the West. A decade ago, she flew to a subalpine lake in the North Cascades. Despite its location over 5,000 feet above sea level in a remote part of the national park, Sourdough Lake contained nonnative fish species.
Lost 79-year-old skier recovered from Blacktail
A lost skier was rescued from an out-of-bounds area near Blacktail Mountain Ski Area on Tuesday afternoon after taking shelter overnight in a tree well.
High winter temps create flood concerns, expected to continue
High temperatures in the Flathead Valley in the 40s are expected to continue this week.
Forest Service terminations cut deep on Flathead National Forest
About 360 Forest Service employees across Montana received similar calls following a Feb. 11 executive order that promised to “remake America’s federal workforce.” Former Flathead National Forest employees estimated that as many as 40 blue collar workers were released from local ranger districts, prompting dire forecasts for the future of the forest.
HAPPENINGS: Bigfork Brewfest, Craft and Wellness Fair, DEQ hearing
Bigfork Brewfest in Downtown Bigfork, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets available at http://huminitix.com/.
Man suspected of murdering girlfriend before shooting at cops in Polson
The man arrested in Lake County for allegedly shooting at a Polson Police officer on Feb. 14 had earlier murdered his girlfriend, prosecutors allege.
CSKT receives Tribal Business Development Grant
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will receive a Tribal Business Development Grant for $150,600 from the Montana Department of Commerce. The funds help finance an office and small retail space at the Tribes' meat-processing plant in Ronan.
Cayuse Prairie School business manager earns prestigious designation
Cayuse Prairie School Business Manager and Clerk Heather Mumby has earned the Association of School Business Officials International’s Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations designation.
Wednesday, February 19
Elk slaughter bill step to end public hunting
Montana is at a crossroads in our management of wildlife. We will either maintain our decades-long tradition in which everyone has equal opportunity to enjoy our public wildlife, or we hand control to a handful of wealthy landowners and outfitters to pick who gets to hunt.
DEQ receives over 200 comments, will hold public hearing on Lakeside County Sewer District permit
“The decision to hold a public hearing and further extend the comment period was made to ensure that DEQ has all the necessary information to make an informed permitting decision,” DEQ stated in a press release.
Man arrested at Elmo Post Office after allegedly firing at Polson police officer
A Polson Police officer was allegedly fired upon Friday, Feb. 14 during a traffic stop on U.S. 93 North, near The Shoe restaurant. A suspect is in custody at the Lake County Jail.
Gianforte visits firefighters returned from California
Gov. Greg Gianforte visited the Whitefish Fire Department last week to thank firefighters who recently returned from their deployment to southern California to aid in the state’s fire response.
Housing affordability remains a top economic concern for Flathead Valley
While Montana ranks high for new jobs, most of the salaries associated with available positions are not conducive to living in gateway communities like the Flathead Valley.
Suspicious death in Lake County
On Feb. 16 at approximately 1 p.m., Lake County 911 received a call requesting a welfare check on a woman in Polson who hadn’t been heard from by family for a few days. Officers responded and found the woman deceased in her home under suspicious circumstances, according to a press release from authorities.
Buffalo Bridge remains identified
Lake County Sheriff's Office announced the identity of the human remains located at Buffalo Bridge on Feb. 4 has been determined by the Montana State Medical Examiner's Office to be 54-year-old Danette Tenas of Ronan.
Bigfork speech and debate will send three to nationals
Brody Henion won first place for his dramatic interpretation piece, with team Jake Baldi and Olivia Close earning second for their duo interpretation. Micah Butler earned third place in dramatic interpretation and will serve as a first alternate for nationals.
FWP hears petitions on boating regulations for Bull River, Swan Lake
Wildlife officials will consider new rules regulating the use of motorized boats on the Bull River south of Libby, following a petition from a local landowner.
Mountainfilm on Tour comes to Bigfork
The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is bringing Mountainfilm on Tour to the Flathead with film screenings in both Bigfork and Whitefish this March.
Vera Louise (Adams) Roth, 93
Vera Louise (Adams) Roth departed her earthly existence Thursday evening, Jan. 30, 2025, in search of the answer to the great mystery of what happens after death.
Wednesday, February 12
New fire department bond pushed to a later vote
Project planning and design drawings are scheduled for completion by the end of February now, with the intention to distribute them to local contractors for bids in March.
Power Grab
Our Congressional representatives: Congressman Ryan Zinke, Senator Steve Daines, and Senator Tim Sheehy are not honoring the pledge that each of them took to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
The surreptitious invasion of the Judicial branch
Before entering upon the duties of his or her office, a legislator “shall,” according to Article III of the Montana Constitution, solemnly swear to faithfully support, protect and defend the constitutions of Montana and the United States of America.
FWP expands study of South Fork elk herds to Bob Marshall Wilderness
“For years, hunters have sounded the alarm about elk declines in the South Fork. However, FWP’s response has rung hollow due to limited information and management tools. This project will provide information that will improve discussions on factors limiting elk number in the Bob Marshall and help to formulate potential management actions,” said Franz Ingelfinger, FWP’s wildlife biologist leading the project.
Vehicle reservations for Glacier Park opening
Vehicle reservations for Glacier National Park’s upcoming summer season will be available starting Feb. 13, at 8 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Jantzen divisional champion
Bigfork’s Holland Jantzen was the heavyweight champion of the Western A Divisional Wrestling Tournament in Browning this weekend, bringing in 29 team points for the Vikings.
HAPPENINGS: Valentine's concert, People Spread Love, Legislative advocacy
People Spread Love at Mountain Vibes Gallery and Gifts, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Do you know someone who is having a rough time in the valley? Put in a request for notes of love from the community at: https://peoplespreadlove.com/request-love/. Come by 483 Electric Ave on February 13 to make the cards. It’s Free!
Children’s Theatre holding auditions for ‘NEWSIES!’
The Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre is excited to announce auditions for its upcoming production of Disney’s “NEWSIES!”
Human remains found near Buffalo Bridge
The Lake County Sheriff's Office was notified at around 10:15 a.m. that a Tribal Fish and Game warden had located the remains of a human skeleton near the bridge, which spans the Flathead River west of Polson.
Border Patrol makes arrests in Columbia Falls, Hungry Horse
Nine people were apprehended in the past week by the Border Patrol in Hungry Horse and Columbia Falls, according to posts on the agency’s Facebook page.
BLOTTER: Flooded yard
In Bigfork, a caller reported someone turned on their spigot overnight and flooded their back yard.
Flathead Reservation fish and wildlife board meets Feb. 26
The agenda includes enforcement reports from the state, Tribes, and Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as a discussion of proposed pheasant, partridge and waterfowl hunting regulations.
Zinke reintroduces efforts to regulate summer water levels on Flathead Lake
Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke has again introduced legislation that would require the Interior Department to maintain water levels in Flathead Lake during the warmer months.
Bigfork Food Bank hires first paid executive director
“There’s a concept in every community, especially when you get into like Bigfork and Lakeside and Whitefish, that you don’t need a food bank, that there aren’t people that live in these communities that need food access, and it’s really pretty far from the truth,” new Bigfork Food Bank executive director Jamie Quinn said.
Wednesday, February 5
Ferndale Firefighters free feline
The Ferndale Fire Department was called to our local residence today, Tuesday the 28th, because our daughter’s beloved cat had been stuck in the tree for nearly two days.
Comment period for Flathead River management plan ends February 7
More than 100 people both nights showed up at public meetings last week to learn more about the proposed action for the Flathead River Comprehensive River Management Plan.
Tribes, wildlife officials oppose proposed hunting bill for Flathead Indian Reservation
Tribal advocates argued during hearing in Helena last week that a proposed hunting bill could jeopardize tribal-state relations and result in years of costly litigation.
Bill could increase fines for transporting aquatic invasives
Millet and Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, are sponsoring House Bill 242, which would double the maximum fines for boaters that bypass inspection stations.
PHOTOS: Vikes down the Dogs
The Vikings had a second-half comeback in their home game against Whitefish last week, upsetting the Bulldogs 58-51.
Baldi and Close earn second state title, Bigfork speech and debate headed for Nat Quals
Bigfork’s Jake Baldi and Olivia Close defended their Class A title in duo interpretation at the State Speech Tournament in Laurel this weekend, with several teammates advancing to National Qualifiers.
Donations for new baseball field matched through May 1
It is anticipated that both baseball teams will be practicing and playing games on the new field sometime in April 2025 thanks to their efforts. However, BYBA still faces substantial costs to complete the project. A northwest Montana family, which wishes to remain anonymous, has set up a dollar-for-dollar matching donation up to $25,000 through May 1, 2025.
Informational meetings planned for U.S. 93 Polson-Somers corridor study
The Montana Department of Transportation in partnership with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Federal Highway Administration, local jurisdictions, resource agencies, and the public, is developing a corridor study of US Highway 93 between Polson and Somers, Montana.
BLUAC presents slow but steady progress on neighborhood plan
BLUAC intends to revamp the neighborhood plan, a document for the Bigfork area referenced by county planners, which was last updated in 2009. The progress is expected to take at least a year to complete, with committee members completing individual research to be compiled at a later date.
Shield Arms ‘expanding in every direction’
Shield Arms, created in 2017 by Brandon Zeider and Seth Berglee, specializes in firearms accessories, such as magazine extensions and Mag wells, AR-15 assault style rifles, knifes, soft gear and more. The newest product, the manual pistol system, is a system designed for versatility using S15 and S10 magazines.
Lake County seeks input on housing shortage
With the median home price in Lake County perched at $530,000 in December (rocket.com), Abby Moore, a member of the Lake County Planning Department, doesn’t expect to purchase a house anytime soon – even though she would much rather be building equity for her family than paying rent.
Bridge to the Past: BACC seeks community’s help to open Bigfork’s own history museum
Several thousands of hours of volunteer time have gone into the new museum, with more anticipated. Volunteer work has allowed the project to allocate funds directly to the museum buildout and exhibits.
Non-existent problem
It’s disheartening to learn Rep. Courtney Sprunger has spent her time crafting a bill which at best addresses less than 1% of the Montana workforce.
Don’t mandate a state religion
As former Chrisian missionaries, we are more than capable, along with our parish and pastor to guide our children in their religious education. Public schools should have no role nor should the State of Montana in religious indoctrination.
In Glacier National Park, a rally for public lands and the people who work there
Kellie Ileto stood at the edge of the Going-to-the-Sun Road Saturday as it enters West Glacier holding one sign that said, “Only you can stand up for National Parks, National Forests and State Trust Lands” and another that said, “Why? Federal employees who protect them were fired.”
Somers Waterfowl Protection Area closes for incoming migration
A seasonal closure started March 1 along a large portion of the north shore of Flathead Lake between Bigfork and Somers to support migrating and nesting birds.
HAPPENINGS: MSU Hort Report, Mountainfilm on Tour, School Board meeting
MSU Extension Hort Report at Andy’s Crafthouse, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Food, trivia, learn about cover crops for northwest Montana. For more info call 406-758-5554.
In Glacier National Park, a rally for public lands and the people who work there
Kellie Ileto stood at the edge of the Going-to-the-Sun Road Saturday as it enters West Glacier holding one sign that said, “Only you can stand up for National Parks, National Forests and State Trust Lands” and another that said, “Why? Federal employees who protect them were fired.”
