Friday, May 30
Flathead County confirms second measles case
Public health officials confirmed a second case of measles in Flathead County this week, noting two potential locations for public exposure near Logan Health facilities.
Wednesday, May 28
Upcoming events and meetings
Upcoming events and meetings
Governor signs bill addressing Public Law 280
With little fanfare, Senate Bill 393 became law last week. The legislation, carried by Polson Sen. Greg Hertz, signals a major breakthrough in the funding and future cooperation surrounding law enforcement on the Flathead Reservation.
The Big (true) Beautiful (not so much) Bill
After all the concern about runaway government spending and the hand wringing about the budget deficit why on earth would Congress want to pass a tax bill that cuts taxes for the 400-plus American billionaires, pays for it by penalizing sick and lower income people and STILL increases the deficit by $3 trillion?
Bigfork doubles duo shines at State A tennis tournament
Bigfork's tennis season concluded with a strong showing at the Class A State Tournament, as the Valkyries’ doubles team of Taylor Howlett and Raegen Waller made an impressive run in the girls doubles bracket, securing multiple wins and narrowly missing out on a podium finish.
Bigfork senior Sam Ayers is tough to slow down
Sam Ayers has been an integral part of the Bigfork cross-country team since he moved to the school district in his freshman year. His positive attitude has helped him overcome obstacles, including bouncing back from surgery to correct his chest cavity.
Bigfork Water and Sewer manager to retire next month
Bigfork Water and Sewer District’s longtime manager Julie Spencer is retiring at the end of June. Her predecessor will be Assistant District Manager Tyler Hantz.
Bigfork caps track season with top performances at State A
Bigfork athletes made their presence known at the Class A State Track and Field Championships held at Legends Stadium in Kalispell over the weekend. Despite a powerhouse collection of teams, the Vikings still were part of the conversation.
Bigfork Fire Department seeks funding for new headquarters, staffing
The Bigfork Fire District Board of Trustees recently approved a bond initiative and mill levy to present to voters in a Sept. 9 special election that will address infrastructure and staffing deficiencies.
Gloria Edith Lawrenz, 92
Gloria Edith Lawrenz, 92, June 29, 1932—May 14, 2025.
Forest Service approves permit to operate Holland Lake Lodge
The Flathead National Forest has granted an operating permit to the new owners of the Holland Lake Lodge south of Condon.
Monday, May 26
PHOTOS: Paddlers tame 'Wild Mile' Bigfork Whitewater Festival
Fifty years ago a small group of passionate kayakers and locals held the first Whitewater Festival on the “Wild Mile” -- previously known as the “Mad Mile” -- of the Swan River in Bigfork. The festival started with just a few boaters and loads of spectators and quickly grew into a world renowned event, drawing in professional boaters from all over the world.
Wednesday, May 21
Bigfork High School students sweep National History Day competition
Eleven Bigfork High School juniors are headed to Washington D.C. after sweeping at the National History Day competition at the state level with their projects about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, the 1917 Butte Miners Strike and Marias Massacre, among others.
Jack Oliver Paulson, 86
Jack Oliver Paulson, 86, of Chinook, passed away on March 8, 2025, in his winter home in Phoenix.
My Glacier Village expanding into Bigfork
My Glacier Village is a local nonprofit serving area seniors by connecting, empowering and supporting those who are aging independently in their homes.
Bigfork Whitewater festival marks 50 years on the 'Wild Mile'
The Swan River will once again be alive near downtown Bigfork this Memorial Day weekend as the Bigfork Whitewater Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary, welcoming paddlers and spectators from across the country — and the world — for three days of races, music and community.
Upcoming events and meetings
Upcoming events and meetings
Learn bear spray basics at June 14 event
As spring rains give way to clear summer skies, locals and visitors alike begin to spend more time outdoors. The same is true for our local wildlife populations who occupy the same alpine mountaintops, cool river bottoms, and packed down hiking trails.
Sidney Aschim, 75
On Friday, May 9, 2025, at 12:15 a.m., Sidney Robert Aschim left the Home Hospice Care bed at his daughter, Cari's Bigfork home and moved Heavenward after a brave battle with cancer.
Road work on Montana 35 resumes this week
Construction work on Montana 35 between Creston and Bigfork will resume this week.
Bigfork tracksters punch ticket to state meet
Bigfork High School athletes delivered a series of standout performances at the Western A Divisional Track and Field Championships in Polson on May 16-17, with several Vikings and Valkyries finishing in the top six and securing spots at the upcoming State A meet.
Bigfork Baseball wraps up season
The Bigfork Vikings baseball team ended its 2025 campaign at the Sapa-Johnsrud Tournament in Whitefish with two tightly contested games that showcased their talent but showed the sport can have a fine margin at times.
Work session planned on Bigfork Neighborhood Plan
Work on the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan continues at the next Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee meeting.
Sunday, May 18
Repairing history: Workshop lays the foundation for restoration of historic Mountain Brook School
The little white schoolhouse has stood sentinel over Mountain Brook since 1922, though a myriad of safety concerns now bars the building from use. Cracks zigzag through the concrete foundation.
Wednesday, May 14
Cabin and infrastructure upgrades come to Loon Lake 4-H Camp
Loon Lake 4-H Camp is a hidden gem to many, but manager Jill Kahanek wants to introduce the picturesque spot in Ferndale to others as they continue to renovate for their 4-H campers and summer guests.
Ponderosa pines planted at Finley Point for Earth Day restoration project
On Earth Day 2025, Encompass LLC sponsored a tree restoration project at the Finley Point Unit of Flathead Lake State Park in partnership with Montana State Parks, AmeriCorps and the Montana State Parks Foundation.
Montana’s growth depends on smart investment policy
Montanans understand that building something meaningful requires time, determination, and some risk. Whether it's a family business, a new startup, or a local infrastructure project, real growth doesn't happen overnight — it is earned and requires capital, whether that be human or financial.
Bigfork athletes earn top finishes at Nelson-Thomas ABC meet
Bigfork High School athletes turned in several standout performances at the Nelson-Thomas ABC track meet on Saturday, May 10, with multiple top-three finishes across sprints, distance, hurdles and field events.
Bigfork baseball improves to 11-5 overall
The Bigfork Vikings baseball team bounced back from a narrow loss to open the week with dominant performances in their next two games, cruising to a 23-0 win over Browning and a 9-2 victory against Whitefish.
Road work on Montana 82 underway
Road work is planned for Montana 82 from the intersection with U.S. 93 and continuing east for approximately 1.5 miles to the intersection with Hard Rock Road.
Flathead Lake Biological Station adds second erosion control beach
A second dynamic erosion control beach has been established at Flathead Lake Biological Station on Yellow Bay to help prevent land from being washed away by waves.
Spring Mack Days total smashes record
Spring Mack Days ended on Saturday, May 10 with a total haul that smashed the 2019 Spring Event record of 40,362 lake trout with a total of 60,138 entries turned in over the nine weeks of fishing on Flathead Lake.
Upcoming events and meetings
Upcoming events and meetings
Thursday, May 8
Solutions over politics
Montanans sounded a clear call for the Legislature to accomplish one thing this session: To provide them with real, permanent property tax relief. We are proud to say that we have answered the call, and 400,000 Montanans will see hundreds of millions in property tax relief.
Wednesday, May 7
Bigfork Band wins division in jazz competition and sees success at state
The Bigfork High School band is closing another successful year with wins at an Idaho jazz competition and students getting to go to the state music festival.
Lawsuit claims Lakeside sewer district didn't follow public participation rules
A lawsuit filed against the Lakeside County Water and Sewer District alleges the public was not given adequate notice before the board approved construction of a new wastewater treatment facility and service for a proposed resort development.
Spring Mack Days enters final weekend
The 100 fish limit was on the minds of many anglers on Friday, May 1 at Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake.
Upcoming events and meetings
Upcoming events and meetings
Saturday is family day at Forestry Expo
The Family Forestry Expo is an annual, weeklong event that offers hands-on exposure to the role forests play in our everyday lives. This year the Family Forestry Expo is scheduled May 5 through May 10 with the theme of “Forests-Landscapes of Many Uses.”
Bigfork tennis tested in Polson dual
The Bigfork tennis teams played Polson on Friday, May 2, in a series of hard-fought matchups, with the boys falling 5-1 and the girls narrowly edged 4-3.
Lakeside project aimed at preventing powerline-caused fires
The Flathead Forest is planning to remove hazardous fuels to help protect electrical infrastructure along the road to Blacktail Mountain Ski Area above Lakeside.
Bigfork baseball goes 2-1 in busy week
Bigfork’s baseball team wrapped up a packed week with a pair of wins and a narrow loss, improving to 9-4 on the season after three games against Polson, Plains-Hot Springs, and Big Sky.
Bigfork track delivers strong performances in Triangular
Bigfork athletes stood tall during a competitive home triangular meet with Whitefish and Columbia Falls on Thursday, May 1.
Legislative accomplishments put Montana first
As the 2025 legislative session wraps up, I’m proud of what we accomplished. It was a long session — full of long nights, hard debates, and tough decisions — but in the end, we passed good, meaningful legislation for the people of Montana.
Tree removal planned on Montana 35 near Woods Bay
Flathead Electric Cooperative will remove a dead tree at the intersection of Montana 35 and Sunset Heights Road on Tuesday, May 13, at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 1
Cherry growers hopeful for big crop after total loss in 2024
The rows of cherry trees at Buena Vista Orchard in Bigfork last week were flaunting thousands of buds of the delicate white flowers that will eventually turn to delicious fruit this summer.
