New shop on Nucleus features local, regional artists
Nucleus Avenue has a new art shop with deep roots in the valley. Callie Hulslander-Cooper and Traci Staves have opened Persimmon in Columbia Falls.
Quietly, Forest Service seeks comment on 23 special use permits
Trail running tours. ATV tours. Even a business that wants to transport docks out to private landowners on Swan Lake. Those are just a sampling of the 23 special use permits the Flathead National Forest is considering for this summer season.
Despite best efforts, swan dies from lead poisoning
Last week, an adult trumpeter swan was found lethargic on the ice of Somers Bay of Flathead Lake, something was obviously wrong with the majestic bird.
Byrd resigns as Wildkat soccer coach
COLUMBIA FALLS — The Columbia Falls School Board Monday Night accepted the resignation of coach O’Brien Byrd from the girls soccer team. He will continue to coach the boys team.
Glacier confirms structure losses
Numerous privately owned cabins and National Park Service structures burned to the ground after the lightning-caused Howe Ridge Fire made a run Sunday night, Glacier National Park officials confirmed Tuesday.
Death to word play
Photographing 100 species in 100 days
I’ve done a host of different photographic projects in Glacier National Park and the Crown of the Continent over the course of my 18-year career at the Hungry Horse News. In 2009 I photographed Glacier for 100 straight days for the Park’s centennial year in 2010. In 2010 I did a 100-mile hike through the Park for its centennial (where I got to watch a black bear swim by a big bull moose in Kootenai Lakes, which was definitely a very fun thing to watch. When a bull moose locks eyes with a black bear, let’s just say it’s an interesting moment. But I digress...) and in 2014 I retraced a big chunk of Bob Marshall’s original hike through what is now the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Behind the scenes of a coffee table book
It was just a quick e-mail from Nikon, but it was pretty bad news. The 300 mm whiz-bang autofocus lens I had sent them could be repaired, they said, but a part was on hold and it would be at least a month before they could get it fixed.
Major Stoltze easement moving forward
A major conservation easement that would preserve more than 10,000 acres of F.H. Stoltze Land Lumber Co. property from development continues to move forward.
Girls thwarted by Laurel in first round of playoffs
Dillon takes it to the Wildcats, 48-20, on the road
The Columbia Falls football team had a tough time on the road against the Dillon Beavers last Friday, losing 48-20. Coach Jackson Schweikert said the team is just playing inconsistent ball. At one point, they look unstoppable, at another, they make a key turnover.
Kats wallop Bigfork
The Columbia Falls girls soccer team blanked Bigfork for its first conference victory Tuesday night. The Wildkats outshot the Valkyries 20-7 in a game where they dominated possessions.
Glacier National Park visitation down in August
Three solid weeks of smoke from area wildfires resulted in about 14 percent less visitors to Glacier National Park in August. August visitation was at 579,000 people compared to 675,119 last year, but even so, the Park is still at an overall pace to break last year's record mark, as visitation is up 2.1 percent due to a robust start to the tourist season.
No one hurt in Plum Creek Fire, MDF explosion
The Plum Creek Medium Density Fiberboard plant experienced an explosion and fire this morning, but no one was injured in the blaze.
As fire eases, Logan Pass should see west side access Wednesday
Logan Pass in Glacier National Park is expected to open from the west side on Wednesday, superintendent Jeff Mow said Sunday evening. The pass has been closed since July 22 due to the Reynolds Creek Fire. The east side of the Sun Road will remain closed.
Hope for rain over Glacier Park fire by Sunday night, Monday
The National Weather Service is predicting rain and cooler temperatures over the Reynolds Creek Fire in Glacier National Park late Sunday into Monday.
Tester: Hire Blackfeet firefighters
Montana Sen. Jon Tester wants to see Blackfeet Indian firefighters put to work on the Reynolds Creek Fire if need be.
Reynolds Creek Fire doubles in size, frying Rose Creek
The Reynolds Creek Fire in Glacier National Park doubled in size on Wednesday sending a stream of smoke over the plains of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
Fire closes big section of Sun Road, no through traffic
A wildfire in Glacier National Park Tuesday has forced the closure of the Going-to-the-Sun Road from Logan Pass to St. Mary. On the west side, the road is now closed at Big Bend. The fire was first reported near Grizzly Point, about six miles east of Logan Pass about 3:45 p.m.
Criticism, praise, for police chief
By CHRIS PETERSON
Bump in Park fees coming this fall and winter
Starting this fall, visitors to Glacier National Park will have to pay more to get in, but not as much as originally proposed.
Businesses, Glacier, talk Sun Road solutions
Glacier National Park is looking to ease visitor pressure on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and it listened to Canyon and Columbia Falls business owners on ways to do just that during a meeting last week.
C-Falls man stumps for second Sun Road
A Columbia Falls man thinks he has the solution to easing traffic and congestion on Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road: Build another road across the Park.
Planning board OKs zone change for industrial park
The Columbia Falls City-County Planning Board Tuesday approved a zone change for an industrial park on the north end of Columbia Falls that could pave the way for an expansion of SmartLam to the site.
Farm bill could help further timber projects
Preparing for Bakken oil trains
Smelly neighbors at Red Eagle Lake
There’s a whole host of joys to be had while camping in the backcountry of Glacier National Park. The sounds of birds singing, the breeze blowing, the views of the surrounding hills and, oh yeah, the stink of smoke from the party camping next you toking on some Mary Jane.
State seeks to revoke Blue Moon license
The Montana Department of Revenue is seeking to revoke the Blue Moon Nite Club's liquor license, claiming that seven bartenders at the establishment served alcohol to a man later sentenced to prison for vehicular homicide while under the influence.
The good grizzly
The creek wasn't that wide. I only had to jump from the one big rock over to the little sandbar and then I could hop on about three other smaller rocks and I'd be right over the creek.
Opinion: Apgar parking plan has some flaws
A couple of weeks ago, Glacier National Park officials released a plan to improve services at Apgar. The best idea is to move the existing visitor center services to the transit center, which is a short walk away.
A political misstep to remember
Over the course of a career, you get to interview and meet thousands of interesting people. Some of their stories will haunt you for the rest of your life. Others will make you smile.
Moose and goats - the big picture
If you wander around the woods enough, you begin to take a different perspective on things. You notice minute details about places, and you also take in a bigger picture, which might seem like a contradiction in terms until you actually experience it.
Not-so-lady-like bugs
Earlier this spring, just as the maple tree in the backyard began to leaf out, it was attacked by aphids. Well, I guess they were aphids. They were small and black and seemed to be sucking the life out the leaves, which were having a hard enough time as it was with all the cold and rain.
The Quartz Lake Loop
So there I was on the snow-capped Cerulean Ridge, wandering around, having completely lost the trail. I had this bright idea that if I just kept walking over the ridge that eventually I'd find it. But, like an idiot, I left the map in the truck.
The beaver and the bear
The beaver pulled itself out of the water beneath me and started chewing on a stick. Well, at least for a few seconds. I was standing on the bank above it, and I had the camera on a monopod resting on my shoulder and tried to ease it down slowly and get a picture of the beaver eating dinner, but no dice.
Feds pass budget, get your bike, Glacier is open!
In the 11th hour Friday night, Congress passed a federal spending bill. That means Glacier National Park will remain open.
Against Pirates, a thriller
Whew! That was close.
Kats claw past Loggers
The Columbia Falls girls basketball team won their third straight Northwest A Divisional Title in convincing fashion last week. The Kats dropped Whitefish 37-26 Friday and held off Libby 46-37 in the title game at Ronan High School.
Wacky wildlife bills progress through legislature
Hunters just might be able to use a spear next season if a law that makes them legal holds up. The Senate passed a bill by a 27-21 vote in January that would make a spear a legal weapon.
Dave Perry, a cop at heart
When Dave Perry was a teenager he didn’t think much of high school.
Kats also beat Pirates for conference crown
The Columbia Falls girls basketball team finished the regular season on a high note, taking the regular season conference title.
Panel votes to slash vets home funding
A state legislative panel last week voted to slash funding for the Montana Veterans Home, a move that could ultimately lead to the shut down of the home, administrators claim.
For veterans, the Home is their home
Jack McFadden is a 20-year Army veteran. Took shrapnel in his leg when the helicopter he was in was shot down in Vietnam. Has crashed a couple of other times since. Survived them all.
Old Red Bridge fundraising begins
A fundraising effort to save the Old Red Bridge in Columbia Falls will begin in earnest next month. Supporters of the project can purchase a section of the new railing, which will have their name or family name engraved on it.
Cats get their mojo back
Call him a good luck charm. On a night when barber and photographer Randy Bocksnick was an honorary assistant coach, the Columbia Falls Wildcats got their groove back and hammered the Whitefish Bulldogs, 68-44 last Saturday.
Girls drop Maidens, Bulldogs handily
The Columbia Falls girls basketball team continued its winning ways last week, downing Ronan 58-31 last Friday and thumping rival Whitefish 50-22 at home Saturday.
Whitman 2nd, Baccaro 3rd at state
Columbia Falls wrestler Justin Whitman took second at the state A wrestling tournament last week in the 125-pound weight class. Teammate Sal Baccaro took third at 119. The rest of the team failed to place.
Conservancy to pay B.C. province
Finally, the specter of mining in the North Fork of the Flathead looks like it’s over.
Veterans Home on state chopping block
The Montana Veterans Home is an idyllic campus along the Flathead River with an orchard, a hay field, a walking path, historic buildings and a top-notch five-star care rating from Medicaid.
Girls edge Pirates, take first
The Columbia Falls girls basketball team took sole possession of first place in the conference last week.