Tuesday, April 30
'Clean Your Fork' keeps Bigfork tidy
Every April, the Bigfork community comes together for the annual “Clean Your Fork.” This was designed to tidy up the trash on the side of the highway and other overlooked places throughout the town.
Vikings baseball scores wins over Whitefish, Mission
4 West Division victory over Whitefish on Tuesday, April 23. The Vikings turned five hits into six runs as they downed their Flathead Valley foe.
Friday, April 26
Glacier National Park plows less than a mile from Logan Pass
Glacier National Park Going-to-the-Sun Road snowplow crews are knocking on the door of Logan Pass. This week they reached the point just below Rim Rocks on the west side and plan to start plowing that area on Monday.
Wednesday, April 24
Tom Sliter Community Partnership Awards presented to Flathead Land Trust
On April 10th the NW District, Montana Council, Boy Scouts of America hosted an Investment in Character and Leadership fundraising luncheon and silent auction event at the Red Lion, which included the Tom Sliter Community Partnership Awards.
Tracy will represent HD11
My name is Shawn Hall and I have been a resident of Bigfork since 2014 and have served as Bigfork’s head wrestling coach for the past six years.
Bigfork boys take second at Seeley-Swan Invite
The Bigfork boys placed second at the Seeley Swan Invite in Missoula on Saturday, April 20. The girls placed fourth, with both teams having several placers in multiple events.
Bigfork School District holds trustee election
The election is May 7.
Energy Keepers offers weekly “Range of Forecast”
Energy Keepers Inc., the owner and operator of Salish Ksanka Qlispe (SKQ) Dam, began posting a new graphic last week that shows the possible lake level ranges this summer.
Mack Days: Angler turns in 42-inch lunker
Lake trout entries for the 2024 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event keep climbing, thanks to the endurance and tenacity of the lake trout anglers on Flathead Lake.
Swan River School holds trustee election
The election is May 7.
Characters of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ dance through story in ballet performance
Characters include the White Rabbit, Smoking Caterpillar, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, March Hare, Sleepy Dormouse, Playing Cards, King and Queen of Hearts, the Tweedles, and of course, Alice herself. Performances are May 11 and 12.
Youth bowling league takes root in Bigfork
“Someday, Bigfork will be known for bowling,” stated Rhino Page, head coach of the youth bowling league at Grizzly Lanes when he bought the bowling alley in December of 2021.
Tuesday, April 23
Interior Department pushes Glacier Range Riders to drop logo
The U.S. Department of the Interior is calling foul on the Glacier Range Riders’ logo, arguing it violates trademark rights held by the National Park Service.
Friday, April 19
One person killed in house fire south of Bigfork
One person died and another was injured Thursday morning in a structure fire along Flathead Lake south of Woods Bay.
Thursday, April 18
Yellow Bay boat ramp closed through April 22
The boat ramp at the Yellow Bay unit of Flathead Lake State Park is closed for construction April 15-22.
Three-story hotel proposed for Bigfork
A 64-room hotel is planned for a new subdivision on the north side of Bigfork.
Mack Days angler lands, releases bull trout
Spring Mack Days, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, is moving into week number six in the nine-week long event. Entries continue to be taken until 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11.
Gates now open to scenic SKQ Overlook
The gates to the SKQ Overlook opened April 15 and will remain open in the morning and close at sunset until Oct. 15.
Wednesday, April 17
Bigfork's iconic pine tree comes down
An iconic Bigfork tree that stood outside of the Tall Pine lounge, which was itself named after the tree, was cut down April 3. The species was estimated to be four centuries old.
Two Republicans and a Democrat vie for newly-drawn House District 11
Three candidates are looking to represent the newly-drawn House District 11, an area encompassing southeast Kalispell, Creston, Lake Blaine and north Bigfork, come November.
Comedy-drama ‘Steel Magnolias’ opens in Bigfork
Michele Mank (formerly Shapero) directed “Steel Magnolias” nine years ago in 2015 and, after directing a dozen plays with the Bigfork Community Players, she is directing “Steel Magnolias” a second time.
The bears you don’t hear about
Whenever a bear gets into trouble in your area, you usually hear about it.
Endorsement for Rob Tracy
Hello, my name is Jim Sticka, a full-time resident from Bigfork since 1993.
Bigfork baseball picks up two wins
Last week, Bigfork kept their opponents off the scoreboard and they defeated Troy 13-0 and followed that up with a 16-0 win over Browning.
Bigfork tennis teams sweep Ronan
Bigfork tennis didn’t leave things to chance, sweeping the Ronan girls 7-0 and powering past the Ronan boys 5-2 on Thursday, April 11.
Bigfork boys finish first at Libby Invite
The Bigfork boys track and field team won the Libby Invitational with 117 points Saturday at Loggers Stadium.
Sunday, April 14
Conceptual plans emerge for luxury resort in Lakeside
Four years ago, Glenn Housman invested in 100 acres at the end of Blacktail Heights Road atop a knob above Lakeside.
Thursday, April 11
Mack Days anglers lauded as relentless
How to describe those anglers who put in countless hours, dollars, sweat, and a little bit of blood out on Flathead Lake during the Mack Days fishing events? They are the best of the best when it comes to lake trout fishing, a sport that they love.
More snow needed to improve summer’s water outlook
While February moisture boosted snowpack levels across the state, March didn’t help much – except in southwest and southern parts of the state. However, recent rains have boosted precipitation in the Flathead basin, dumping 153% of the 1991-2020 average precipitation for the first week of April. The upper and lower Clark Fork basins also received significant boosts, and the Kootenai was at 91% for the first week.
Wednesday, April 10
History foundation awards grants to Northwest Montana projects
Grants were awarded to three different organizations in Northwest Montana.
FEC holds annual meeting April 18
The Annual Meeting & Energy Expo open house will be Thursday, April 18 at Flathead Valley Community College’s Wachholz College Center.
Talk looks at vanished Montana town that was once America's wickedest
John Shontz, Helena lawyer and author, will tell the story of the short-lived town in a presentation April 15 in Kalispell.
Tuesday, April 9
Zinke lauds decision to hold more water in Flathead Lake this spring
Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke applauded Monday a plan to hold more water in Flathead Lake this spring.
Sunday, April 7
A bridge in Bigfork is just as important as Baltimore
For hours after the tragic accident that took down a bridge over the Pabsco River in Baltimore, our nation sat together in sadness for the seven construction workers who lost their lives.
Job fair provides opportunities for job seekers and businesses
The Northwest Montana Job & Opportunity Fair returns to the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center on Thursday, April 11, offering a dynamic platform for both job seekers and businesses to connect and explore potential opportunities.
Saturday, April 6
PHOTOS: 58th annual Creston Auction and Country Fair
Scenes from the 58th annual Creston Auction and Country Fair on Saturday, April 6. The event is the largest fundraiser for the Creston Fire Department and has been held since 1966. On Sunday, April 7 the vehicle and equipment sale begins at 11 a.m. The day’s $10 bid tickets go on sale at 9 a.m.
Thursday, April 4
Temporary Bigfork pedestrian bridge deemed unworkable
The report released Wednesday ruled out seven alternatives that ranged from erecting a suspension bridge over the Swan River, to installing a rental kit bridge or prefabricated steel truss span.
Dam operators keeping more water in Flathead Lake this spring
The operators of the Séliš Ksanka QÍispé Dam got the go-ahead in March to keep more water in Flathead Lake this spring in an effort to avoid a repeat of last summer’s low water levels.
Wednesday, April 3
Wilderness Speaker Series concludes with Artist Wilderness Connection panel
The final installment in the 2024 Wilderness Speaker Series will feature a panel of local artists who have participated in the Artist Wilderness Connection residency program in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.
Cherry Growers hold annual meeting April 13
The 86th annual cherry growers’ meeting presented by the Flathead Lake Cherry Growers Association will be held on Saturday, April 13, at the Yellow Bay Community Clubhouse.
Barry Johnston, 70
Barry Leigh Johnston, also known as "Banker Barry" or "BDB," was born on Jan. 3, 1954, and passed away on Feb. 11, 2024, surrounded by family and friends.
Local roundup: Taste of Bigfork coming up; BLUAC seat open
The Bigfork Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Taste of Bigfork showcase on Sunday, April 28 from 2-5 p.m. Sponsorship tickets are available.
Mack Days: Week three count tops 13,000
After three weekends of fishing beneath the snowcapped Mission Mountains on Flathead Lake, our Spring Mack Days angler’s total lake trout count stands at 13,417. Totals of recent years at the three-week mark are: 2023: 11,315 entries; 2022: 9,039 entries; 2021: 11,135 entries; 2020: 12,925 entries; and 2019: 13,622 entries.
Judge calls Bigfork driver's behavior "disturbing"
A Bigfork man was sentenced in Polson District Court March 27 by Judge Molly Owen to the Montana Department of Corrections for two years on one count of felony criminal mischief, with all but three days jail time already served suspended.
Baseball: Eureka spoils Bigfork’s home opener
Ryeln Rodriguez pitched three innings in relief for Bigfork, allowing no hits and striking out three, but Eureka won 13-0 over the Vikings on Tuesday, April 2. Nine errors stymied the Vikings.
Annual Creston Auction returns this weekend
The auction, which runs April 6-7, is the largest fundraiser for the Creston Fire Department and has been held since 1966.
Tuesday, April 2
The birds are back: Migrating flocks settle at Freezout
You really can’t miss the birds.
Flathead County Library trustees open search for a new logo to the public
Have an idea for the new Flathead County Library logo? Library board trustees are taking submissions and suggestions on designs leading up to their next board in April.
County board considers Evergreen RV park, event venue near Whitefish
A new RV park in Evergreen and a property wanting to host large events southwest of Whitefish have both applied for approval with Flathead County.
