Sunday, February 25
James 'Jim' Greytak, 74
James “Jim” Greytak, 74, was born on Aug. 17, 1949, in Kalispell, to Philip and Rosemary Greytak of Bigfork (formerly of Havre).
Clay Benkelman, 73
Dr. Clay E. Benkelman, 73, passed away Jan. 23, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula.
Friday, February 23
ImagineIF Libraries returns to original Flathead County Libraries name, hires Dugan as new director
The county library system’s board of trustees voted Thursday to drop the ImagineIF Libraries brand and revert back a moniker last used a decade ago.
Wednesday, February 21
Record-low snowpacks endure despite midwinter storms
Mid-January and early February storms brought some much-needed snow to the region, but a third of Montana’s basins continued to post record-low snowpacks as of Feb. 7, a situation likely to produce low summer streamflows and uncomfortably dry forests heading into fire season.
BACC to host Salish storytelling, art, tool-making programs
The Bigfork Art and Cultural Center will be hosting Aspen and Cameron Decker for several special walk-in events this weekend as the pair present programs on Sqelix (Salish) storytelling, art and tool making.
Trees for Life honored at conference
In January, at the Association of Montana Turf, Ornamental, and Pest Professionals (AMTOPP) Conference in Fairmont Hot Springs, Trees for Life from Bigfork sent all of its 12 employees to the conference for arboricultural training.
My biggest lesson from Super Bowl Sunday
Voices chattered downstairs, the chink of glasses and hiss of opening soda cans filling the room. Mountains of food were arranged across the kitchen table, a kind of haphazard buffet that everyone had contributed to. Between my friends and family, we had about 15 people occupying our home.
Following Closure of historic bridge, Tester urges Secretary Buttigieg to ‘act rapidly’
U.S. Senator Jon Tester last week sent a letter pressing Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg regarding Bigfork’s historic Bridge Street Bridge, which safety inspectors closed in January after a troubling inspection revealed safety concerns.
Law Roundup
Here are the calls for service made to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office from the Bigfork area over the past few weeks.
Finley Point arsonist McCrea found guilty on two charges
Former firefighter Craig McCrea was found guilty Feb. 8 on two of four counts of arson after a dramatic four-day trial at the Lake County Courthouse.
Bigfork man accused of erratic driving enters Alford plea
A Bigfork man who allegedly posed as a firefighter while driving recklessly through Lake County in 2020 pleaded guilty to felony criminal endangerment in district court last month.
Valkyries begin tournament play against Corvallis Thursday
The stage is set and the brackets are ready as the Valkyries are prepared to begin the playoffs in search of their second-straight state basketball title.
Vikings to open Divisionals against Butte Central Thursday
Postseason play gets underway for the Vikings basketball team in Butte Thursday as they take on Butte Central in the opening round of the Western A Divisional Tournament at 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 20
Rheba Bohannon, 84
Rheba Bohannon, 84
Thursday, February 15
Josef Carl Ollerman, 56
Josef Carl Ollerman, 56
Drew Hubatsek, 72
Drew Hubatsek, 72
Grant provides $90,000 for Bigfork ACES after-school program
Bigfork’s middle students will soon have a new place to spend their afternoons as a $90,000 grant from the Whitefish Community Foundation aims to expand the Bigfork ACES after-school program.
Vals close out regular season on 17-game win streak
The stage is set for what could be an epic girls Western A Divisional basketball tournament next weekend and the Valkyries downed Ronan and Whitefish last week to finish the regular season on a 17-game winning streak.
Vikings capture third seed for divisional tourney
In need of two wins to keep their hopes of avoiding the divisional play-in alive, the Vikings got just that last week as they survived tough tests against Ronan and Whitefish.
Vals swimmers compete at state meet in Great Falls
The Valkyries swim team made the trip to Great Falls for the state meet over the weekend, where Danika Bucklin earned a pair of seventh-place finishes.
Vikes grapplers earn 16th at state wrestling meet
Jerin Coles led the way for the Bigfork wrestling team over the weekend as the Vikings grappled their way to a 16th place finish at the State Wrestling Tournament in Billings.
Thursday, February 8
Possibility of wildlife-to-human crossover heightens concern about Chronic Wasting Disease danger
The neurological disease, which is contagious, rapidly spreading, and always fatal, is caused by misfolded proteins called prions. It currently is known to infect only members of the cervid family — elk, deer, reindeer, caribou, and moose.
Owners of Lakeside alpine coaster seek permission for public water supply well, public comment sought
The owners of the Flathead Lake Alpine Coaster are seeking state permission to turn a private well at the Lakeside attraction into a public supply well.
Patricia Molen, 86
Patricia Molen, 86
Democrats offer a way to ‘dance around’ political divisions at Feb. 10 event
A community dance, featuring live music and an experienced Contra dance caller, is set for Feb. 10 at the Swan River Community Hall, 115 Swan River Rd., Bigfork.
Uncertainty is nothing to be afraid of
I have had my voting registration sheet sitting stationary at my house for an embarrassingly long time...
Bigfork wrestling sending eight to state meet in Billings this weekend
Bigfork will be sending eight wrestlers to the state meet in Billings this weekend after the Vikings battled to take sixth at the Western A Divisional in Hamilton over the weekend.
Valkyries swim season a challenging one, but fun
The 2023-2024 season for Bigfork’s swim team has been an eventful one, to say the least. The group has undergone a few changes this year such as getting a new coach, former Vikings head football coach Jim Benn.
Vikes fighting for postseason positioning
A win over Polson last Tuesday and tough double-overtime loss to Browning Thursday left the Vikings with a tenuous hold on third place with a 5-5 conference mark, but Bigfork could still finish anywhere from second to fifth as the last few games of the regular season unfold.
Valkyries win 15th straight, lock up Northwest A title
The Valkyries overcame sickness and injury and locked up a Northwest A title last week as the downed Browning and Polson for their 15th straight victory and a 10-0 mark in conference play.
Monday, February 5
Officials meet with locals in search of solutions for closed bridge
Bigfork is no closer to a solution for the closing of the downtown Bridge Street bridge despite a meeting between Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), Flathead County representatives and Bigfork residents and business owners Friday.
Thursday, February 1
Speech and debate team enjoys success at state meet
Bigfork’s speech, debate and drama partners Jake Baldi and Olivia Close took first place at state in Columbia Falls on Saturday with their humorous piece entitled “Romeo and Juliet”, the musical.
Vals win 13th straight, dominating Northwest A
The Valkyries basketball squad had little trouble going 3-0 last week to improve to 13-1 and a Northwest A best 8-0 in league play.
Valkyries swimmers take 16th at Missoula Invite
The Valkyries swimmers were in action over the weekend, taking 16th at the Missoula Invite.
Vikings win 2 of 3 in strong week of hoops action
The Vikings put together a strong week of basketball to go 2-1 in their last three games, picking up road wins at Browning a Libby last Tuesday and Thursday before dropping a tough contest at home to Columbia Falls Saturday.
Douglas Smith, 85
Douglas Smith, 85
Small team, big success: SBG Bigfork team does well at Missoula Jiu Jitsu tournament
With only five competitors (three kids, one teen, and one adult) SBG Bigfork brought home a whopping 20 medals this past weekend at the American Grappling Federation tournament in Missoula.
Glenn W Miller
Glenn W Miller
Patricia Jane Molen, 86
Patricia Jane Molen, 86
BLUAC considers zone change for land near Conifer Lane
The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee heard from several concerned citizens at their meeting Thursday before voting unanimously to recommend the approval of a zone change request for land near Conifer Lane.
Law Roundup
Here are the calls for service made to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office from the Bigfork area over the past few weeks.
BRIEFS
Events happening in and around Bigfork
Bigfork Community Players to hold auditions for ‘Steel Magnolias’
Michele Mank will direct the production, which will play April 19 - 21, and 26 - 28 at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts.
