Ellington

In appreciation

I am writing to ask you to help me say thanks to two people in your area.

People's choice

Sen. Jim Elliot

Send soldier support

As some of you know, our son Frank Jasper is stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan with the U.S. training forces. He sends us frequent emails that describe the countryside, the people and the work being done. "For a Montana boy" the climate is perfect, the country is magnificent and the people handsome, especially the children. Everywhere there is construction and reconstruction as the people, grateful to the United States, are working to rebuild their country.

Trout with a clout

G. George Ostrom

'Phenomenal!' Whitefish boys, girls win Flatfish tourney

Golf coach Terry Nelson used words like "phenomenal" and "unbelievable" to describe the Bulldogs' efforts at the annual Flatfish Invitational Monday and Tuesday, where both the Whitefish boys and girls came out on top.

When fish fly

There are not many things more surprising to the average human than being clobbered by a fish from the sky. Remember when somebody up at Whitefish got smacked by a good-sized rainbow trout from heaven? Can't recall who or when, but it seems to me the person was hurt badly enough to require medical care. It happened sometime since they built the Whitefish mall because experts determined the trout was one of those planted in that kiddie fishing pond they dug there.

Noxious mine

To the editor,

Olga Knutson

Olga Signe Viola Knutson, 74, died Sept. 9, 2004.

Shirley Mae (Breitenfeldt) Barrow

Shirley Mae (Breitenfeldt) Barrow, retired, died at the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, in Trail, British Columbia, on Sept. 22, 2004, at the age of 74.

Davita Michelle Colker Bryant

Davita Michelle Colker Bryant, 32, of Whitefish, passed away Monday, Sept. 20, 2004, after the plane in which she was traveling crashed into Mount Liebig in the Great Bear Wilderness.

Samuel Bakshas

Samuel E. Bakshas went into the loving arms of his Lord on Sept. 8, 2004, in Spokane, Wash.

Of horse and mules

Attending the 28th Annual Idaho State Draft Horse and Mule International Show provided interesting weekend entertainment.

Bissell School relies on community support

As we begin a new school year at Bissell, we are hoping to enrich our curriculum by providing our students experiences outside the walls of our classrooms.

Whitefish CARE grateful for back-to-school bash support

On Sept. 1, Whitefish CARE sponsored the first back-to-school bash in its history. Whitefish CARE's mission is to promote a safe and drug free school environment and a community network through education, intervention, and prevention that will support continued healthy lifestyles for youth. The back-to-school bash had something for everyone and we want to thank all those businesses, groups and individuals who helped make this first time event such a success.

Miraculous survival

This week, we present readers with what amounts to a front-page correction. Last week, we said that all five people on a Forest Service plane died in a fiery crash. That, obviously, wasn't the case. Two survivors were found just a few hours after the Hungry Horse News went to press on Wednesday.

Davita Bryant

Davita Michelle Colker Bryant, 32, of Whitefish, passed away Monday, Sept. 20, 2004, after the plane in which she was traveling crashed into Mount Liebig in the Great Bear Wilderness.

Panama Canal lost

To the editor,

Bird of a different feather

Carol Newbury stopped by the Pilot office this week to show us a photograph she took of a robin in her yard on Eighth Street West in Whitefish. This was no ordinary robin, though. It had the telltale red breast, but it also had a small white head. Other robins flying around had black heads, she reported. Seems she's uncovered some kind of fowl play.

No real Democrats

To the editor,

Homecoming brings out the best in school spirit

I'm getting ready to go to my youngest son's 8th grade football game and I'm excited about that. I always love going to his and his older brother's events, no matter what they are, but this week is different. It's Homecoming week and I have actually felt school pride in the air from these kids… from 8th grade on up through high school. I had the pleasure of attending the high school boys and girls soccer homecoming against Bigfork, on Tuesday night and I had a wonderful time. Not only was it great to sit amongst my friends, something I don't do near enough but more importantly, there it was, in the air… that sense of pride for our kids, our school, our town. The game was very exciting and my hands actually "hurt" after the game, from so much clapping. I also found myself looking down on that field at those young boys and girls and felt a little tug of the old heart now and then. A lot of those kids I have known most of their lives and now they are on the edge of adulthood and will soon be out on their own. Yes, there's that old lump in the throat.

Rotary dictionary donations appreciated

The fifth grade teachers and students of Central School want to express our appreciation to the Whitefish Rotary for their generous contribution of a personal, hardbound edition of Webster's New Dictionary for each child enrolled in fifth grade at Central School. This is the third year of what has become an annual event. Each September, eager young faces enter our school and with the support of the Rotary, Central welcomes students to learn and grow. Thank you Whitefish Rotary for your kindness and support.

Kenneth Lloyd "Ken" Good

Kenneth Lloyd "Ken" Good of Whitefish passed away on Sept. 21, 2004, as the result of injuries sustained in a plane crash on Mount Liebig, while in the pursuit of one of his many passions, the repair and maintenance of communications equipment in the Bob Marshall Wilderness as an employee of the U.S. Forest Service.

James Long

James H. "Jim" Long Jr., of Columbia Falls, passed away Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, as a result of an airplane accident in the Great Bear Wilderness. He was 60 years old.

George Mattheisen

George Griffin Mattheisen, age 84, passed away Sept. 22, 2004, at his home in Kalispell. He was born April 21, 1920, in Columbia Falls, the son of George and Katie Mattheisen.

The getaway

Went out to the big bear controversy last week in Hungry Horse. Got a call that there was a bear up a tree. Turn right at the light, the caller said. You can't miss it.

Krag the Ram revisited

To the editor,

Hertha Moore

Hertha Ann Moore was called peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Sept. 16, 2004, at the age of 87.

Kenneth Good

Kenneth Lloyd "Ken" Good, of Whitefish, passed away on Sept. 21, 2004, as the result of injuries sustained in a plane crash on Mount Liebig while in the pursuit of one of his many passions, the repair and maintenance of communications equipment in the Bob Marshall Wilderness as an employee of the U.S. Forest Service.

More information about the ram's head

To George Ostrom: George, I read your article on "Krag The Kootenay Ram" this morning. A ram's head of similiar description was shot by my great uncle, Art Stahl, of whom Stahl Peak is named after before the turn of the century. That head hung for many years over the fireplace at my grandfather Hollensteiner's house in Kalispell. We never knew what happened to that head other than the rumor that it had somehow wound up in a big fancy hotel in San Fancisco. I have many photos of that head over that fireplace and my mother and father were married standing under that ram's head. And, I, too, have that old book by Thompson Seaton. It is pretty dog-eared but is still a treasure.

Friends who come and go

Whitefish is a wonderful community. I really do love everything there is to love about Whitefish. The people, the beautiful surroundings, the community encompass so many appealing things.

Letters to the editor

Tough decisions await education funding

Plane-crash victims remembered at memorial service

Talented.

One last time

Barbara elvy Strate

Good Samaritans

To the editor,

Jerome Larson

Jerome (Jerry) Larson, 67, died Sept. 12, 2004, at his home on Flathead Lake following a courageous battle with cancer.

The Krag Krinklehorn mystery

G. George Ostrom

Learn from the past

To the editor,

BCA thank you

The Bigfork Community Advocates would like to thank all that showed their support through their encouragement and generous donations. It is only through individual contributions that we will continue to be an active and vital presence in protecting Bigfork from developers who discover our quaint little village.

Girls lose to Hellgate 3-1, face Libby

The Columbia Falls girls soccer team lost to non-conference AA Missoula Hellgate Saturday, but the game was closer than the score suggests.

LeRoy Diemert

LeRoy Walter Diemert, 74, of Las Vegas, Nev., and formally of Columbia Falls, died Aug. 31, 2004, due to complications of surgery.

Cats battle Hellgate to a 1-1 tie

It was a tie, but they'll take it.

Wake up, U.N. conspiracy

To the editor,

Mad Hatter's court

To the editor,

Who shot who

There weren't too many times in his adult life when my grandfather missed the six o'clock news. If he did miss it, then he caught the McNeil/Lehrer report at 7 on PBS.

In response

Regarding Catherine Haug's letter of Sept. 16. I would like to know what cave she has been living in for the last 30 years?

Enough wilderness

To the editor,

A good customer

We're encouraged by the community effort to secure the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. more Bonneville Power Administration power.

Aldine Charles Kauffman

Aldine Charles Kauffman died Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004, of cardiac arrest at his home on Lake Blaine Road east of Kalispell.

The Trailwatcher

The Krag Krinklehorn mystery

George E. Waggoner

George E. Waggoner died Sept. 20, 2004, of cancer, peacefully at home with his family.

City wins annexation lawsuit

a_bfh_9-23 The city of Whitefish was the center of a landmark annexation case in which the Montana Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in favor of the city's move to annex five neighborhoods.

Editorial View

Annexation decision should yield orderly growth for Whitefish

Arthur Paul La Brie

Arthur Paul La Brie, 92, of Whitefish, passed away Sept. 17, 2004, at North Valley Hospital as a result of complications due to congestive heart failure.

Stefanie Michelle-Hermes Gamble

Stefanie Michelle-Hermes Gamble, 34, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, at her residence in the Kila community.

Derek Lee Hirsch

Derek Lee Hirsch, 17, of Whitefish, passed away Monday, Sept, 13, 2004, in Billings from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Miles Gregory Anderson

Miles Gregory Anderson, 73, of Whitefish, passed away from natural causes on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

Olga Knutson

Olga Knutson, 74, of New Rockford, N.D., died Sept. 9, 2004, in a Bismarck medical center.

Girls thump Vals in lopsided victory

The Columbia Falls girls soccer team got their first conference win in convincing fashion last week, walloping Bigfork 12-0.

Norwegian horse trophy

We had a great time at the Nordicfest in Libby. One of the highlights was attending the afternoon International Fjord Horse Show at J. Neils Memorial Park. It was almost a downfall for me, but more about that later.

Humdrum of have and have-nots should cease

Tick-tock, tick-tock — familiar sounds that elope native minds in a serenade of life and circumstance! I wonder, therefore, if life isn't the fabric woven by discrete portions of time? Take for instance, Ward B. McCartney, III, who touts in last week's editorial, "Stop Immigration!" Citing the cost of housing from 1990 and targeting out-of-state residents who dislocate, McCartney, III, righteously suffixed, displays the unripened mind of everyone who roused from the 90s to greet his or her neighbor. The suffix is a funny thing; it's like an abbreviation for, not the original, removed, farther down the line. Which coincides with the regurgitating argument that Whitefish should remain unchanged. A small island unaffected by economic climate and immune to foreign occupation.

Pit-bull puppy stolen from shelter

I am a volunteer at the Humane Society of Northwest Montana. I raised eight pit-bull puppies through their foster care program from 3 weeks to 8 weeks of age. This week they were all at the new animal adoption facility on Hwy. 93 when a woman stole one of the puppies from the shelter. We are now searching desperately for him. He's about 10 weeks old, an unneutered male pit bull with a black patch over one eye. We called him "The Pirate." If anyone sees this puppy, we are asking them to immediately call the Humane Society at 752-7297. If there's anything you can do to help us spread the word, it would be much appreciated. We are extremely concerned about what kind of person would steal a puppy, and what they may do with an unneutered male pit bull. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the shelter at the above number, or myself 862-3195.

Donation of vehicles makes fire training possible

The Whitefish Fire Department would like to thank Hill's Brother's Auto Body & Towing for their generous donation of vehicles, time and facilitation for our auto extrication training. We thank them for giving us the opportunity to become better skilled and trained fire personnel.

To the rescue

To the editor,

The gloves are off and it's everybody's fight

In My View

Jailbirds and jokes

Most every Monday morning the Flathead County Crowbar Hotel has around a hundred nonpaying guests in a jail built just a few years ago for 65 inmates. When I was growing up in the '30s the jails and prisons were not running over, possibly because of several reasons that no longer exist.

Not a ghetto

To the editor,

War against terrorism is absolutely necessary

No civilized society wants war. However, war is sometimes necessary.

It makes no sense

It's not often that we're stunned here at the Hungry Horse News. We see a lot of strange things and odd circumstances, but last week's Montana Supreme Court ruling that gives a creep like Joe Aceto another trial makes no sense.

Ryan Hoerner

Ryan Dave Hoerner, 31, was killed in a plane accident 13 miles northeast of Koliganek, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004.

Letters to the editor Kootenai sign vandalism a travesty

I read with dismay about the trashing of a historical sign about the Kootenai Indians at City Beach. Shame! Deep shame on whomever did this dirty deed.

Brazil!

My wife came home from the long Labor Day weekend and dropped her pants right in front of me. No, she wasn't happy to see me.

A former Whitefish resident who was acquitted of murder in Flathead District Court in 1999 is serving one year of jail time in Alaska for another crime.

Showen jailed in Alaska

Perverted, twisted minds

To the editor,

Winter weather

Fish Tales

Falling apart

Barbara elvy Strate

Wolverines and street girls

G. George Ostrom

Frederick Henry Salter

Frederick Henry Salter, age 82, died Friday September 3, 2004 at his home of Foothill Road. He was born August 19, 1922 in Gulph Mills, Pa. to Frederick Evan and Ethel M. (Jordan) Salter.

Paul Thomas Lambert

Paul Thomas Lambert, 52, passed away on Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He was born June 1, 1952 in Charleroi, Penn. To Paul and Margaret (Ledna) Lambert.

Dear commissioners

You have offered a 30-day comment period for the proposed amendment to the Bigfork Area Land Use Plan for the Pierce property. I hope you will take note of the community response to this amendment.

That particular day

September 11-it has become a date that Americans all ask "Where were you when…?" I was in my apartment in Riverside, Calif., getting ready to brave the traffic to my job at the Inland Valley section of the LA Times. My pager started beeping at just after 7 a.m. There was no way I was going to answer my pager that early in the morning. Then my phone started ringing. It was a coworker and fellow photographer. "You have to get to the Ontario airport right away to cover grounded planes," he said. "What's up?" I asked. "The twin towers have been bombed." "Well, that's in New York and we're in LA, so what is the urgency?" "You haven't turned on the TV yet, have you?" he asked. With that I flipped on my television and replied "I'll be there in 15 minutes."

For my brother

It was a warm summer night in San Francisco, California, and the sky was crystal clear at SBC Park. In the Bay Area, clear summer nights are extremely rare as June, July, and August usually bring a fog so thick you can eat it with a spoon, but tonight was a special occasion.

Wolverines and street girls

A recent issue of the Hungry Horse News contained a picture of the wolverine trap near Fishercap Lake. If you studied the inside of one, you'd have a good idea of how powerful those huge weasels are. The logs are seven to 10 inches thick and many of them are chewed and clawed almost completely through. If the researchers don't get to the trap soon after a wolverine is caught, it might just tear the thing apart.

Russell Andrew Myers

Russell Andrew Myers, 91, beloved husband and father, died Sept. 1, 2004 at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls of natural causes.

Ray Dale Zinke

Ray Dale Zinke died Aug. 29, 2004, as a result of a tragic aircraft accident in Kalispell.

Frederick Salter

Frederick Henry Salter, 82, died Sept. 3, 2004, at his home on Foothill Road in Kalispell.

Soccer teams do well on the road, girls look solid

A little scare on a road trip was a good thing.

Leonard Howell

Leonard H. "Len" Howell, 85, died Aug. 30, 2004, after a short illness.

Another reprieve

Last week, we reported on the failure of tenure sales for coal bed methane development north of Glacier National Park.

Ruth Greene

Ruth Eid Greene passed away Aug. 30, 2004, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home, where she has been residing since Sept. 6, 2002, of natural causes.

The good word

It's funny how such a little thing can be the biggest thorn in my side.

Carlo "Barp" Gallo

Carlo "Barp" Gallo died peacefully at his home in Whitefish on Sept. 4, 2004.

Lake swim went swimmingly

On Aug. 29, we had 39 swimmers take part in the Whitefish Lake Swim. Many swimmers came from out of town, including Seattle and Bozeman, in order to swim in our beautiful lake. It was a complete success and we hope to build on it each year.

Boat ramp doesn't belong at City Beach

The true worth of a city is reflected in who is watching the local politician and how they vote on key community issues.

Big fish, little river

I was talking with Matt, a good friend of mine, and he had this observation about his father, who had a career as a school principal. "My Dad was great with kids, with the exception of me and my sister."

Community teamwork helped make soccer trip possible

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful community for support they afforded our team in our efforts to travel to Europe this last July. In a town where small businesses are constantly being asked to support our youth, these same businesses once again stepped forward to sponsor our trip to Czech Republic and Holland.

Dean F. Schneider

Dean F. Schneider, 79, passed away Monday, Aug. 16, 2004, at Greeley County Hospital in Tribune, Kan.

Neighborhood planning in jeopardy

North Forkers who have been told by the Flathead County Planning Office that they need to update their neighborhood plans may not be alone.

Freedom to believe

To the editor,

Rain, fire, and huckleberries

It is August 30th as I write the column and it has rained an inch or two this past week. Not much sunshine, hardly any blue sky, and a few people are complaining. For those with short memories let's visit August 30th last year.

Outrage over assault

After reading your article on the front page about Patrick Larson last week, and his admitted guilt to sexual assault (RAPE) of a teenage girl in Bigfork, I want the unpublished facts and truths to be printed so all the parents of young girls in Lake and Flathead counties can know that their children are not protected by the judicial system.

Shaky form

So the other night I was planning out my future with my daughter, Olivia, who is 8-and-15/16ths-years-old. She turns nine exactly six days from today.

Marian F. Abbott

Marian F. Abbott, 101, died Sunday, August 29, 2004 at Lakeview Care Center in Bigfork, Montana. She was born February 12, 1903 in Butte, Mont. to Henry A. and Jenny W. (Ayers) Fitzpatrick.

'Nuff said

To the editor,

Violet Freese

Violet Maish Freese, 80, passed away on Aug. 21, 2004, at her home in Kalispell.

The end is near

To the editor,

Ten months in 'Nam

To the editor,

Violet Maish Freese

Violet Maish Freese, 80, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2004 at her home in Kalispell. She was born on Oct. 24, 1923 in Blackduck, Minn. to William Sherman and Charlotte (Horton) Maish.

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Charles Joseph Schott

Dr. Charles Joseph Schott, age 81, passed away Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004 at his home on Swan Lake near Bigfork. He was born November 28, 1922 in New York City to Charles J and Lena (Matzner) Schott.

In search of inspiration

Bigfork Eagle

William Ladenburg

William Michael "Bill" Ladenburg, 48, passed away Aug 25, 2004, at his home in Milan, Ill., after a nine-month battle with brain cancer.

Steve Crawford

Steve Curtis Crawford 59, loving husband, father and friend, passed away Aug. 27, 2004, at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish due to heart failure.

Planning fee unfair

Like many communities in the county, the North Fork neighborhood will start the planning process all over again soon by creating a new neighborhood plan. It promises to be a rocky road.

Five acres of dock

To the editor,

C.F "Smokey" Sorensen

C.F "Smokey".Sorensen died Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004, at his home on the shore of Flathead Lake in Woods Bay.

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Principal principles

In regards to the new Swan River School principal-in the last six years my kids have been going to Swan River School and they have had a new principal almost every year. What is going on in this school district that they keep leaving? Sure each one of them had their own reason, but the most common thing is money. Swan River never has any of their levies pass when Bigfork schools have all of them pass. I think all of the schools in Flathead County should have the same privileges and pay scale. This is a very bad example on the kids when the principal of their school keeps leaving just when they are getting use to them. Maybe someday all of this will change.

Gertrude J. "Sue" Potthoff

Gertrude J. "Sue" Potthoff passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Aug. 23, 2004.

Rain, fire and huckleberries

It is August 30th as I write the column and it has rained an inch or two this past week. Not much sunshine, hardly any blue sky, and a few people are complaining. For those with short memories let's visit August 30th last year.

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Clyde A. Turner

Clyde A. Turner, 90, of Whitefish, passed away Thursday, August 26, 2004, at the Lakeview Care Center in Bigfork of natural causes.

WHS says goodbye to Leah, hello to Kim

Whitefish High School is regrettably saying goodbye to our veteran athletic trainer, Leah Salois. Leah was the Bulldog trainer for nine years. Our student athletes directly benefited from her presence. Leah's dependability, technical abilities and loyalty to Bulldog athletics provided stability between seasons and sports. Whitefish High School would like to thank Leah for her service and loyalty to our program. You will be missed Leah, but not forgotten. We love you - THE BULLDOGS!

Stolen bike a sign Whitefish is changing

Recently, my bicycle was stolen right out of our garage. It wasn't just a bike, it was a great black and gray Schwinn cruiser with a metal basket, and even better, a baby seat on the back. It was fueled by memories in the making and tiny voices cheering me or my husband on.

Phantom concerts and wandering bears: A few days in the Whitefish life

A few weeks ago, I was sitting on our neighbor's deck, celebrating Kevin's birthday, breathing in the perfect evening air with friends before the wonderful rains came. The air was the texture of velvet, and upon this quilt wafted beautiful live music. But from where?

Out-of-staters to blame for rising housing costs

The week before last J. Bailey wrote a letter to the editor, "There's too much hype about the have-nots." Mr. Bailey's contention is that the 65 percent of our community who can no longer afford to own a house should become entrepreneurs or further their education. Up until 1990 affordable housing in Whitefish wasn't a problem. An older house on Columbia or Dakota sold for $50,000 and you could find a house in the railroad district for $20,000 or $25,000. Those same houses now sell for four times as much. Meanwhile, Montana was last in the nation in personal income a few years ago and is now 47th.

Muriel Ethel Wallingford

Muriel Ethel Wallingford, 82, passed away Friday, Aug. 27, 2004, at her residence in Kalispell. She was born July 9, 1922, in Stamford, Conn. to George and Marie Nicol.

The river of growth won't be denied

In My View-Dave Skinner

Stand strong Whitefish, you are worth it

Just think. No architectural review, no control on strip development, no guidelines, no sewer, no clean water, NO STATE LANDS, no affordable housing. Is that what you want to surround yourself by? I don't. I live in the outer limits of the doughnut, the mile two to four area that the current proposed interlocal agreement between the city and county will place under sole county planning if approved by a City Council vote scheduled for Sept. 7 at City Hall. I am very concerned that I don't know what this will mean for me, our community and its future.

Alpine Theatre Project commended

We heartily applaud the efforts of The Alpine Theatre Project in bringing the highest quality equity theater to Northwest Montana. The two offerings this summer, "Songs for a New World" and "Art," were both thought-provoking in concept and exceptional in execution. After seeing the performance of "Art," we overheard a couple comment that they had seen the play four times, once in Chicago, and that Alpine's presentation was the best one of the four. We urge all Flathead Valley residents to support this landmark effort.

Marvin "Tony" Arnold

A ceremony to spread the ashes of Marvin "Tony Arnold," who died Nov. 10, 2003, will be held Saturday, Sept. 4 on the top of Chief Mountain. Meet at Lee's Creek at 1 p.m. for a potluck meal. Bring four-wheelers.

Lance Cole Beecher

Lance Cole Beecher, 66, of Whitefish, passed away Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004, at his home of natural causes.