Friday, March 28
State lawmakers dip into debate over Flathead Lake summer water level
The Montana Legislature is wading into an ongoing debate over Flathead Lake’s water level following the introduction of a new resolution by Kalispell Republican Sen. Matt Regier.
Wednesday, March 26
Whitefish Community Foundation awards $100,000 to Nate Chute Foundation
Whitefish Community Foundation’s multi-year Kids Fund Grant will help Nate Chute Foundation expand mental health curricula in local schools, including Happiness for 6th Graders and Happiness for 9th Graders, as well as support an annual youth summit to empower high school students to become mental health advocates in their schools.
Braeden Gunlock again league MVP
Add four-time All-State selection and two-time league most valuable player to Braeden Gunlock’s list of accomplishments.
Lynnette Marie Haug Hintze, 68
Lynnette Marie Haug Hintze passed away on March 17, 2025, at the age of 68 in Houston, Texas where she was recovering from a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Bibler Home and Garden tours support student scholarships at FVCC
Join the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation to celebrate spring and summer with a walk amidst thousands of beautiful flowers at Bibler Home and Gardens.
Unique wellness treatments focus for Lakeside spa
Annie Dillard constantly looks for calming treatment options to add to the spa that are unique and contribute to a serene experience.
Swan Valley naturalist program offers chance to learn from the landscape
There are lots of things in nature that are easier to hear than to see. The cricket in the bush, the frog on the pond, the little songbird way up at the top of the tree – the songs are beautiful, but it’s nearly impossible to watch the performance. For me, the ultimate example of this is the drumming display of the ruffed grouse.
Bigfork baseball falls to Frenchtown
The Bigfork baseball team faced a tough outing on Saturday, March 22, falling 16-6 to Class A foe Frenchtown in a challenging early-season matchup.
BLUAC to review permit for proposed tavern
A new tavern proposed for the former Stonehill Restaurant location on Montana 35 is the top agenda item for the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee at its next meeting.
Bigfork Bridge truss to be placed April 1
St. Patrick’s Day brought the delivery of the new Bridge Street Bridge truss to the project site on Monday, March 17.
PHOTOS: Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre's 'Newsies, Jr.'
The Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre staged a production of Disney’s “Newsies, Jr.” last week. The high-energy musical with show-stopping dance numbers includes unforgettable songs.
Bigfork meetings and events calendar
Bigfork meetings and events calendar
Vikings look to keep momentum going in tennis
As the Bigfork High School tennis team gears up for the 2025 season, Head Coach Matt Porrovecchio reflects on the progress his athletes made last year and looks ahead to this year’s campaign.
Monday, March 24
Bigfork track and field gears up for strong season
With spring here, hopefully, the Bigfork Vikings and Valkyries are preparing for what promises to be another exciting season. Head coach Sue Loeffler lost key seniors from last year but is optimistic about the team’s potential.
Wednesday, March 19
Bigfork Soccer Club scores big with benefit concert fundraiser
When musician Tommy Edwards’ oldest daughter started playing soccer this year, he asked Shannon Garner, a volunteer, “What can I do to help?”
Upcoming Bigfork events
Upcoming Bigfork events
Week 1: Mack Days angler lands 38-inch lake trout
The 2025 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake started out with anglers saying “fish on” many times over the first few days of the event.
87th annual Cherry Growers’ meeting is April 5
The 87th Annual Cherry Growers’ Meeting is slated for April 5 at the Yellow Bay Community Clubhouse on Montana 35.
Yellow Bay State Park to close temporarily for construction upgrades
KALISPELL — Beginning March 17, the Yellow Bay Unit of Flathead Lake State Park will be closed to the public for an upgrade of the 15-acre park between Bigfork and Polson.
Hunter ed instructor Dan Atkinson honored with lifetime achievement award
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks honored the service of its volunteer Hunter and Bowhunter education instructors at a workshop and awards luncheon this month in Kalispell.
Valkyries’ ride ends with loss to Havre
BILLINGS — The rematch with Havre didn’t go any better, but the Bigfork Valkyries still had quite a ride.
Flathead Valley contractor to pay $200K to customers he allegedly defrauded
Nathaniel Gevern Lewis, through his construction businesses NGL Construction and From the Ground Up Construction, took customers' payment and then failed to complete the work, said Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen on March 12.
Bigfork Bridge trusses to arrive this week
The Montana Department of Transportation and Battle Ridge Builders will continue working on the concrete foundation on the north side of the river over the next few weeks. This work includes constructing a retaining wall.
High-energy musical ‘Newsies, Jr.’ concludes this weekend
Based on the hit Broadway show and 1992 Disney film, the musical runs March 14, 15, 21, and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and March 16 and March 23 at 2 p.m.
Applications open for vocational and technical education scholarships
The Bigfork Ladies Service Club is taking applications for its annual vocational and technical education scholarships.
Richard Allan 'Dick' Davies, 75
Our friend, Dick Davies, 75, passed away Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Logan Health in Kalispell after 29 courageous years of living with Parkinson's disease.
Friday, March 14
Probationary federal employees in Montana given temporary reprieve, Zinke says
Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke said Friday that Forest Service and National Park Service probationary workers fired earlier this year by the Trump administration will get their jobs back — at least for the time being.
Thursday, March 13
Bigfork man admits to firing assault rifle
A Bigfork man admitted to firing rounds from an assault rifle during a domestic disturbance with his girlfriend.
Wednesday, March 12
Efforts to recover skiers buried in Alaska avalanche on hold because of dangerous conditions
Efforts to recover the three men who died in an avalanche Tuesday while they were on a guided heli-ski trip in the Chugach Mountains near Girdwood were halted because of dangerous conditions and difficult terrain — and may not resume until conditions improve, Alaska State Troopers said Friday.
Gravel beach plan aims to mitigate shoreline erosion on Flathead Lake
State parks officials are fast-tracking plans to install more gravel beaches around Flathead Lake as part of ongoing efforts to combat shoreline erosion.
Up to $1 million available for community-led bear conflict prevention
Montanans living and working around grizzly bears are invited to apply for funding to help their communities adopt bear-resistant infrastructure and public education initiatives aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflicts.
Local artists protect wildlife habitat with conservation easement
Darrell and Lael Gray partnered with Flathead Land Trust to safeguard their vibrant 20-acre forested property at the base of the Swan Mountains east of Bigfork. Located near extensive areas of the Flathead National Forest, the Gray’s lush property, rich with diverse woodlands, springs, creeks and wetlands, provides habitat for a wealth of wildlife migrating through thousands of acres of nearby public land.
HAPPENINGS: Poet Laureate, Newsies Jr. The Musical and Water and Sewer meeting
Bigfork Water and Sewer public board meeting at United Methodist Church, 6 p.m. Agenda at bigforkwater.com.
BACC partnering with local schools for #BigforkArtivism
Bigfork Art and Cultural Center is partnering with Bigfork High School and Swan River School to implement a Youth Artivism Project, giving students a platform to tackle social, environmental and community issues through art.
LaRue Lebel, 83
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Hauline "LaRue" Lebel of Bigfork.
PHOTOS: Divisional basketball
The Valkyries took third place at the Western A Divisional Tournament in Whitefish this weekend, clinching their spot at state.
Four paddlers rescued from Wild Horse Island
Lake County Search and Rescue reported four people were rescued from Wild Horse Island on Sunday.
Thursday, March 6
Bigfork man among victims of Alaska avalanche
Authorities in Alaska said they would attempt Thursday to reach the site of an avalanche that trapped three skiers, who were believed to have died after being buried in snow.
Wednesday, March 5
Lower Valley landmark: Effort to restore Blasdel Barn comes forward
The Blasdel Barn, a large barn over 100 years old southeast of Kalispell, has had an uncertain future after years of deteriorating on U.S. Fish and Wildlife land. In coming years, however, a generational family member hopes to find the funds to restore it.
Bigfork on a winning streak heading into divisionals
The Vals finalized their trouncing of the Northwest region last Tuesday, defeating Whitefish 67-13. The Vikings won back-to-back play-in matches versus Whitefish and Polson this week to break into the Northwest Divisional Tournament.
A Reel Big Night: Chamber honors local leaders
The Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce held their “A Reel Big Night” awards banquet on Tuesday, Feb. 25 to honor local business and community leaders and thank them for their service. Attendees put on their best Hollywood character getups and cruised into Andy’s Crafthouse for the event.
Fire first, ask questions later
If I were a guy who was in charge of making government more efficient, I would want to carry out the job in an – for lack of a better word – efficient manner. Sort of like setting an example for how to run a government agency.
Public offers mixed opinions on Lakeside sewer permit
Views were split in Thursday’s hearing. The majority of speakers were in favor of the permit, composed of public works employees, a few elected officials and members of the public.
Neighbors, health department oppose addition to wellness retreat
Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee heard a request from Samaa Retreat for a conditional use permit to add a retreat center building on their property on Aero Lane during their Thursday, Feb. 27 meeting.
