Ellington

Griz, Bobcats move up in polls

What a difference a day makes.

UM's Sneed honored

In the past two games, Montana dual-threat quarterback Dalton Sneed has run and passed for a combined 704 yards and nine touchdowns.

State AA golf rescheduled

The 2019 MHSA State Class AA golf tournament scheduled for today-Thursday this week at Meadowlark Country Club in Great Falls has been moved to October 7-9 at Meadowlark Country Club.

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Flu-shot clinic Wednesday at fairgrounds

The Flathead City-County Health Department’s annual flu clinic takes place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

Person hospitalized after fire

One person was transported the hospital for possible smoke inhalation from a structure fire Sunday.

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- Knife River will begin work on Monegan Road Improvements Project today (weather permitting). Monegan Road will be closed to through traffic between JP Road and Voerman Road. Call Knife River, 752-2755.

Studying new lakes one of director's key focuses

In his own words, the director of the Flathead Lake Biological Station was bit of a swamp rat growing up.

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- Knife River will begin work on Monegan Road Improvements Project today (weather permitting). Monegan Road will be closed to through traffic between JP Road and Voerman Road. Call Knife River, 752-2755.

Firefighters respond to restaurant fire

Whitefish Fire Department responded to a kitchen fire around 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Ciao Mambo, 234 Second St. E.

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- Knife River will begin work on Monegan Road Improvements Project today (weather permitting). Monegan Road will be closed to through traffic between JP Road and Voerman Road. Call Knife River, 752-2755.

Libby spikers beat Frenchtown

FRENCHTOWN — The Libby Loggers knocked off the Frenchtown Broncs in four sets on Saturday.

Windauer scores three goals, Wildkats roll

COLUMBIA FALLS — Josie Windauer scored three goals and Cheyanne Johnston-Heinz had one goal and two assists as the Columbia Falls Wildkats dumped visiting Bigfork 5-0 on the soccer pitch on Saturday.

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Births NVH

Brysen Jay Wayne Wassam, son of Alysha and Brady Wassam of Columbia Falls, was born Aug. 13 at North Valley Hospital.

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Births NVH

Brysen Jay Wayne Wassam, son of Alysha and Brady Wassam of Columbia Falls, was born Aug. 13 at North Valley Hospital.

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Births NVH

Brysen Jay Wayne Wassam, son of Alysha and Brady Wassam of Columbia Falls, was born Aug. 13 at North Valley Hospital.

Kalispell pet store focuses on 'holistic, all natural' products

The latest addition to the Treeline Drive development north of Kalispell is a pet store, but you might not know it from talking to the staff.

Owners work to transform, relaunch Wild Horse Hot Springs in Lake County

When asked to recall some standout memories from his 25 years as the owner of Wild Horse Hot Springs, Denny Larson jokingly asked if those within ear shot had a few hours to spare.

Collaboration key to solving worker shortage

All of the indicators point to a robust economy in the Flathead Valley. Unemployment rates are at historic lows and wages are up. Visitation levels are still on the rise and tourists are spending more than ever before.

Whitefish kitchen touts 'clean eating'

Stefanie Bridges is a rebel with a cause: to supply Whitefish with a healthy lunch option.

What about the North Fork?

Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow was recently quoted as saying “Maintaining a quality experience while sustaining the park for generations to come will continue to be a community conversation as we develop tools and implement strategies to address substantial increases in visitation to our park and surrounding local areas”.

Help Montana's birds survive and thrive

In the late 19th century bird populations in the United States declined drastically. That was obvious. William T. Hornaday, director of the New York Zoological Park, tried to quantify the bird losses. He published his numbers in 1899. The numbers varied state by state, from a low of 10 percent for Nebraska to a high of 77 percent for Florida. Hornaday estimated that Montana had lost 75 percent of its birds in the previous 15 years.

New fund, partnerships help make projects possible

Flathead Lake State Park Manager Amy Grout says for some mysterious reason, everything on Wild Horse Island happens a bit ahead of schedule.

Energy savings act hurts housing affordability

With our local communities and state suffering from an ongoing housing affordability crisis, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will be voting on legislation this week that would make the situation even worse.

Board to consider commercial airfield near Whitefish

A request for a conditional-use permit for an airfield that would allow commercial use of an existing helicopter landing pad will be considered by the Flathead County Board of Adjustment during a public hearing on Tuesday.

Letters to the editor Sept. 29

To the people of Kalispell: The story of how you helped Carole and Verne King find their Border collie, Katie, has now gone around the U.S. We wonder: What kind of people live in Kalispell, Montana?

LA woman brings 'human remains' to Whitefish

A woman told the Whitefish Police Department she believed she “found human remains while running away from a gang in Los Angeles” and claimed she still had the remains in her possession. She believed she had spoken to a police officer at a bar, but she didn’t have a cell phone because she alleged it was stolen at a pizza joint.

Don't spare the spare keys

Technology has given us magnetic keys, key cards, keyless entry remotes, smart keys, and chip keys — also called transponder keys or, in more common vernacular, fobs.

Breezy sweeps for Whitefish, Columbia Falls

WHITEFISH — The Whitefish Bulldogs continued their winning ways with an 11-0 rout of the Libby Loggers in a Northern A game on Saturday, braving high winds and cold temperatures.

Glacier's Hill fourth at Mountain West Classic

MISSOULA — Glacier’s Simon Hill ran to a fourth-place finish at the Mountain West Classic cross-country meet at the University of Montana Golf Course on Saturday.

Wind, heavy snow cause outages, road closures

Strong winds and heavy snow caused power outages and temporary road closures in northwestern Montana as a wintry storm threatened to drop several feet of snow in some areas of the northern Rocky Mountains.

Columbia Falls native wins NBC comedy competition

Marty Bereta of Columbia Falls is a proud parent. His son Joe recently won NBC’s comedy competition, “Bring the Funny.”

Robert Francis 'Bud' Daley, 72

Robert Francis “Bud” Daley, 72, of Bigfork, died suddenly at home on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019.

Shiela Kite-LeCount, 48

Shiela Kite-LeCount was born on March 2, 1971.

Warming Center continues push for low-barrier shelter

Rick Syth spent last Christmas Eve behind Walmart.

Whole lot of shaking is simply tree removal

A man called the Whitefish Police Department to report a supposed “earthquake.” Then he changed his mind and thought someone had run into his apartment building. It turned out there were trees being removed in the lot next to his residence.

Fox talks governor's race, record as attorney general

Even with the Republican primary over eight months away, Attorney General Tim Fox is wasting no time courting Montanans as he seeks the Republican nomination for governor.

James Wilfred Kimmery, 81

James Wilfred Kimmery, 81, passed away Sept. 24, 2019, in Kalispell.

Harold J. Vachal, 94

Harold J. Vachal died In Kalispell Sept. 23, 2019, active and joking even in his last few days. The grandkids always said that Grandpa could fix anything. But he could no longer fix his tired body, so God gave him a brand new one.

John Henry Oberlitner, 85

John Henry Oberlitner, 85, died on Aug. 27, 2019, in Kalispell from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Virgil John Kirkland, 85

Virgil John Kirkland went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, at age 85.

Bruce Jerome Harris, 95

Bruce Jerome Harris, 95, of Kalispell, died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, of natural causes at home. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Reynolds; son Chris Harris (Karen) and granddaughter Jazmine of Vallejo, California; eight stepchildren; and 25 stepgrandchildren or stepgreat-grandchildren.

Columbia Falls teens arrested for widespread vandalism

Columbia Falls Police have arrested four teenagers in the wake of a vandalism spree over the past month that caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage, Columbia Falls Police Chief Clint Peters said in a press release Friday afternoon.

Huge waves, power outages likely

A high wind warning was issued Friday for Flathead and Mission valley residents as a rare and potentially historic winter storm was expected to roar into the region overnight.

When classroom budgets are tight, teachers turn to crowdfunding

Teachers are tapping into the power of the people when searching for funding beyond the classroom budget.

Flu clinic, health fair planned in Pablo

Tribal Health is conducting a mass flu clinic and health fair for the community on Oct. 23. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Salish Kootenai College Joe McDonald Gymnasium in Pablo.

Girl goes missing, but only for 5 minutes

Someone called the Kalispell Police Department because he thought a 6-year-old girl was missing, but within 5 minutes she had returned with her mother.

Whitefish food bank now Hunters Against Hunger meat processor

North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish, which has processed cattle, bison, game and some roadkill for many years, is partnering with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Montana Food Bank Network to get paid for their processing efforts.

Braves fight but fall to Bruins

A fourth-quarter rally was almost enough for the Flathead Braves to overcome the Helena Capital Bruins at Legends Stadium on Friday in Western AA play.

Eureka spikers best Bigfork in three

EUREKA — Eureka’s Lady Lions took out the Bigfork Valkyries in three sets in a District 7B matchup on Friday.

Stillwater ties Columbia Falls JV in soccer

Columbia Falls Wildkats JV and Stillwater Christian Cougars varsity played to a 1-1 tie on Thursday.

PHOTOS: Glacier storms back for crosstown volleyball win

Photos from Glacier’s crosstown volleyball win over Flathead in five sets at Glacier High School on Thursday evening. Flathead won the first two sets, 27-25 and 25-21 before the Wolfpack won three straight sets 25-19, 25-23 and 15-12 to take the match.

Whitefish Oktoberfest marks 10th anniversary

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Great Northwest Oktoberfest in Whitefish — time to celebrate Bavarian-style!

Septem-brrrr! Valley braces for 'historic' storm

A rare and potentially historic winter storm is expected to bear down on Western Montana this weekend, bringing damaging winds and several inches of snow to most valley locations.

Letters to the editor Sept. 26

Bravo to the Daily Inter Lake article (Sept. 12) regarding the status of a Columbia Falls subdivision proposed for the area near Flathead River and River Road. The journalist covered the comments of Luci Yeats (and others) at the public meeting whose family has owned farmland adjacent to the proposed subdivision for more than 100 years. For all the folks in shock and horror at the unprecedented growth in the valley and more particularly Whitefish, her comments echo and ring true for all of us.

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- Kalispell Public Schools IT Committee meets 8:30 a.m., IT office.

Stomp grapes at Tailing Loop Winery

Tailing Loop Winery in Kalispell is having a community Grape Stomp from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.

Whitefish Trail races Oct. 5-6

The Whitefish Trail Legacy Run will host a weekend of trail running events on Oct. 5-6.

Independent feature film uses favorite local backdrops

“Pictures up!”

Report: Vaccination rates differ from school to school

Immunization rates dipped slightly among Flathead County students in the 2018-19 school year, but there is a wide gap in vaccination rates between schools, according to new data released by the Flathead City-County Health Department.

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- Kalispell Public Schools IT Committee meets 8:30 a.m., IT office.

'Tintoretto' documentary kicks off series in Whitefish

Three Great Art on Screen broadcasts will be shown this fall at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. This art series is brought to you by the Whitefish Arts Council, which also brings Met opera broadcasts to the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.

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- Kalispell Public Schools IT Committee meets 8:30 a.m., IT office.

FVCC Theatre stages Pulitzer-prize winning 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'

Flathead Valley Community College Theatre will open its 2019-2020 season with the modern classic by Tennessee Williams, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

The best time of the year is finally here

Ahh, autumn. For the outdoors person, especially the hunter, this is best time of the year.

CFAC cleanup hits important milestones

Significant progress has been made with the ongoing cleanup at the former Columbia Falls Aluminum Co., plant Superfund site. Following a little more than three years of work, many of the structures that once defined the site of the valley’s largest employer have been demolished. The aluminum unloader is gone, as is the compressor building, the laboratory and the main plant building.

Glacier tops Flathead in thriller

The first two sets might have belonged to the Flathead Bravettes but the Glacier Wolfpack fought hard for the rest.

Whitefish's Shaw, Kahle shine at Western A golf

FRENCHTOWN ­— Ella Shaw and Cameron Kahle of Whitefish were earned divisional titles and Whitefish won the girls’ team title at the Western A Golf Divisional Tournament at King Ranch Golf Course on Thursday.

Columbia Falls nets soccer sweep in Libby

LIBBY — The Wildkats had a couple of firsts in a Northern A 7-1 romp over the Libby Loggers on Thursday.

Glacier golfers keep Crosstown Cup

For the fifth straight year, the Crosstown Cup belongs to Glacier High School.

Talent abounds in crosstown volleyball

The prep volleyball season is nearly halfway through and next on the slate is a crosstown meeting between Glacier and Flathead teams at Glacier High School.

Chance Michael Holmstrom, 17

Chance Michael Holmstrom, our son, brother, father, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend, a beautiful soul! has been called home to heaven by a faithful God whom we can trust and knows when our time has come. He passed away on Sept. 2, 2019, after a motorcycle accident.

Dennis Nielsen, 60

Dennis Brian Nielsen was born to Rose and Grant Nielsen in Kalispell on April 16, 1959, the sixth of seven children. He loved his parents above all else.

Teen's voicemail threatens Lakeside employee

A store manager on U.S. 93 in Lakeside told Flathead County Sheriff’s Office that a 14-year-old who was kicked off the store property allegedly left a voicemail message wanting to blow an employee’s head off with a shotgun.

Contractor picked to finish Kalispell vo-ag center

The Construction Group Montana is finishing approximately $255,000 of substandard or incomplete work on phase one of the H.E. Robinson Vocational Agriculture Center renovation and addition.

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- Best Beginnings Council hosts a symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. titled “Screen Time, Social Media and Parenting in the Digital Age” for parents, care givers, educators and all concerned, FVCC Arts and Technology Building, room 139. Keynote speakers, workshops, evening session. No pre-registration required. For child care, contact Mary Buenz in advance, 406-253-2215.

Paul M. Marshall Jr., 94

Paul M. Marshall Jr., 94, died Saturday Aug. 8, 2019, at his home, The Springs in Whitefish.

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- Best Beginnings Council hosts a symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. titled “Screen Time, Social Media and Parenting in the Digital Age” for parents, care givers, educators and all concerned, FVCC Arts and Technology Building, room 139. Keynote speakers, workshops, evening session. No pre-registration required. For child care, contact Mary Buenz in advance, 406-253-2215.

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- Best Beginnings Council hosts a symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. titled “Screen Time, Social Media and Parenting in the Digital Age” for parents, care givers, educators and all concerned, FVCC Arts and Technology Building, room 139. Keynote speakers, workshops, evening session. No pre-registration required. For child care, contact Mary Buenz in advance, 406-253-2215.

EPA: Canadian mines polluting Lake Koocanusa

Results from a water-quality sampling project on the Kootenai River indicate there are elevated levels of selenium in water and fish tissue and elevated nitrates in water — two findings the United States Environmental Protection Agency says are associated with upstream mining sources in Canada’s Elk Valley and at Lake Koocanusa.

FWP purchase of Big Arm State Park on track for 2020

Fish, Wildlife and Parks is inching toward securing a permanent recreation easement for Big Arm State Park after legislation passed earlier this year gave the initial OK for the agency to appropriate an estimated $12 million needed to purchase the popular park from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Reg Morris, 75

Reg Morris went home to be with the Lord Sept. 13, 2019.

C-Falls, Troy net volleyball wins

COLUMBIA FALLS — The Wildkats dominated three sets to take out Ronan at Columbia Falls High School on Tuesday.

PHOTOS: Flathead boys, girls take home wins in crosstown soccer

Photos from crosstown soccer action between Flathead and Glacier high schools at Legends Stadium in Kalispell on Tuesday. The Bravettes topped the Wolfpack girls, 2-1, in the first match, while the Flathead boys won, 1-0, over the Wolfpack boys in the nightcap.

Explosion, fire caused by child playing with lighter

A child playing with a lighter caused an explosion and fire in a large shed on Bernard Road in Evergreen Monday evening, according to Evergreen Fire Rescue.

Group cuts bison plan for huge nature reserve

BILLINGS — A conservation group trying to create the largest nature reserve in the Lower 48 U.S. states said Tuesday it was scaling back its request to expand bison grazing in Montana, following strong opposition from ranchers and Republican lawmakers.

Valley snow possible for weekend

Summer ended Monday and already the “s” word is back in the forecast for Northwest Montana.

Man tells teens to get off his lawn

A man on U.S 2 in Hungry Horse alleged three bicycle-riding teens were on his lawn and wouldn’t leave. He claimed the boys had been a nuisance all summer, according to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

Blackfeet Nation to host tribunal on murdered, missing indigenous women

The Blackfeet Nation will host the first-ever Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW) tribunal in the United States over the weekend of Oct. 4 and 5 at the Blackfeet Community College in Browning.

ImagineIF aims to supply library cards to all Kalispell first-graders

ImagineIF is seeking to get a library card in the hand of every first-grader.

Event raises more than $2.2 million

Donors gave generously to the 2019 Great Fish Community Challenge, which concluded Sept.13.

Kalispell boy snags fair's Exhibitor of the Year award

All of Jacob Linden’s hard work during the 2019 Northwest Montana Fair has paid off.

C-Falls' Erickson tops Whitefish Invite field

WHITEFISH — Lara Erickson of Columbia Falls won the girls cross country race at the Whitefish Invitiational at Whitefish Lake Golf Course on Tuesday, with Whitefish’s Jessica Henson and Paetra Cooke placing second and third overall.

Clean crosstown sweep for Flathead

Skyleigh Thompson scored the game-winner for the Flathead Bravettes in a Western AA crosstown soccer game against the Glacier Wolfpack at Legends Stadium on Tuesday.

Civil suit against Goguen tossed

A California arbitrator last week threw out a civil breach-of-contract suit alleging sexual and emotional abuse by Michael Goguen, a venture capitalist who has donated to many causes in Whitefish and the Flathead Valley.

A heart for service

Les Kodlick has had an illustrious career in the United States Air Force, though you wouldn’t know it at first glance. He’s not the type to be verbose about his achievements and doesn’t display his accolades on a wall. He’s humble, but dedicated — the mark of a true servant.

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- AARP Driver Safety Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. , Gateway Community Center, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 752-7266.

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- AARP Driver Safety Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. , Gateway Community Center, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 752-7266.

Letters to the editor Sept. 23

Imagine driving to your local grocery store and suddenly feeling hopelessly lost. You don’t know where you are or where to go. Finding the grocery store is no longer a possibility. The way home is a mystery.

City to work on stormwater management program

The Kalispell City Council will hold a work session tonight to discuss the city’s stormwater management program. The work session will provide an overview of the future of the program and include time for the public to comment on the system.

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- AARP Driver Safety Course, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. , Gateway Community Center, Kalispell. $20 fee ($15 for AARP card-holding members.) Call 752-7266.

Births NVH

Blake William Keck, son of Tyler and Jessica Keck of Whitefish, was born Aug. 4 at North Valley Hospital.

A president is not a king

It was fascinating last week to watch as British legislators did what American legislators would be wise to do; stand up for principle.

Flathead neuroscience researchers awarded $1.4M grant

Local neuroscience company Expesicor has received a $1.4 million Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institute of Health, a reward for its cutting-edge research on treating and preventing neurological disorders and traumatic brain injuries.

Safeguard all our children against hunger

What could be more important than how we care for our children? Pragmatists recognize that how we treat our children today in their dependency will shape how they treat us tomorrow in our old age. People of faith recognize all God’s children are just that – created in the creator’s image. High-minded folks appreciate our most worthy charge as a society is to care well for all our children. Followers of Christ, observe, Jesus fed the hungry and taught us to do the same.

Farmer's Almanac predicts weather, with humor

Every year around the middle of September, a copy of “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” arrives at the Daily Inter Lake office, addressed to me. I typically page through the longstanding publication that’s an alleged tried-and-true predictor of how the weather will be over the next year.

Worst summer yet for seasonal staffing shortage

Summer 2019 was a great season for business, but a hard time for the businesses themselves. From Bigfork to Whitefish, employers confronted a workforce shortage more extreme than they had ever experienced before. Even as business boomed, many managers and owners resorted to cutting hours and services to meet the growing demand with shrinking staffs.

September is suicide prevention month

“We need to talk about suicide,” teachers said choking back tears, or letting them flow, as they interviewed recently for Montana’s Teacher of the Year award. They shared with us on the selection committee that student suicides hurt their hearts and devastate schools, and we need to bring the problem out in the open to solve it. That’s what September’s National Suicide Prevention Month aims to do – create suicide prevention awareness and reduce stigma of mental illness. It’s a time for communities all over Montana and the country to give pause and pull together to stop suicide.

Unintended consequences of new ordinance

The Kalispell City Council last week narrowly approved an ordinance making it a civil infraction to sleep overnight in vehicles parked on city streets.

Letters to the editor Sept. 22

September 14 marked 12 years since my sister Jessica was shot to death by her husband in front of her two young children. He had recently attempted suicide and displayed violent behavior towards her on one occasion.

Main Street event center offers slate of all-ages activities

After nearly 40 years of combined experience working with children, Sherri Sanders and Brenna Neater are adding another side to their childcare business — the Wild Side.

New manager joins Majestic Valley Arena

Longtime county employee Tim Harmon recently joined the staff of the Majestic Valley Arena as the general manager and facility director. He will start work Oct. 1.

Small farmers open bed and breakfast, cafe

The Peerman family is proving size doesn’t matter when running a successful local business.

Federal price controls on health care would harm Montanans

Price controls are a primary hallmark of a socialist economy. When the government takes over in any market, bad things happen. Whether it is bread lines in the former USSR or the dire lack of medicines in today’s Venezuela, price controls lead quickly to shortages, rationing, and worse.

Real estate sales up across Flathead Lake

Real estate sales of Flathead Lake properties have shown a general increase compared to last year’s numbers, according to the August Flathead Lake Real Estate News Waterfront Market Report.

Condon store rebuilt after fire is full of surprises

Condon seems like an unlikely spot to find edamame hummus, but the rebuilt and revitalized Mission Mountains Mercantile carries specialty foods like this and much more.

Saturday pitch splits for C-Falls, a sweep for Whitefish

LAUREL — Josie Windauer scored two goals for the Columbia Falls Wildkats in a 2-1 nonconference Class A victory over the Laurel Locomotives on Saturday.

Wolfpack beats Butte, Eureka downs T-Falls

The Glacier Wolfpack took Butte to five sets and emerged victorious in a Western AA volleyball game on Saturday at Glacier High School.

Kalispell man charged in 31-pound meth bust

A Kalispell man is among three people charged with trafficking methamphetamine in Montana.

Bigfork launches Watch D.O.G.S program

Calling all Bigfork fathers and father-figures: A national program is launching at Bigfork Elementary to increase positive male role model involvement.

Woman fears ineffective poisoning

The Columbia Falls Police Department learned of a woman who believed she was poisoned by her husband even though she had no symptoms. She requested an ambulance to “check her out.”

Milestones reached in CFAC cleanup project

It’s been just over three years since the Environmental Protection Agency formally declared the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant a Superfund site — a label that cued a massive undertaking to create human health and ecological risk assessments of the site and to demolish the facility.

Gloria America (Huff) Werntz

Gloria America (Huff) Werntz, our beautiful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and loving friend, is in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ after passing away Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019.

David G. 'Dave' Campbell, 47

David G. “Dave” Campbell passed away suddenly on Dec. 5. 2018, at his home in Kalispell.

Senior center celebrates members 90 and over

As the guests of honor walked into the Kalispell Senior Center Thursday afternoon, they were fitted with crowns — shimmery blue and green ones for the ladies, classic Burger King models for the gents.

PHOTOS: Glacier falls to Butte, 55-28

Photos from Glacier’s loss to Butte, 55-28, in Class AA high school football at Legends Stadium in Kalispell on Friday night.

Cause of West Valley house fire unknown

The cause of a significant house fire west of Kalispell on Thursday remains under investigation.

Bob Kieser, 83

Bob Kieser, 83, died Sept. 6, 2019, in his sleep.

'Meth heads' cause a ruckus in front yard

A Hungry Horse store owner called Flathead County Sheriff’s Office claiming a man and woman were “causing a ruckus” and were yelling at each other in the front yard. The owner reportedly believed they were “meth heads.” The parties were separated for the evening.

Weekend update

The Friends of the Library have their annual book sale this weekend. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Kalispell Center Mall. Books, DVDs, and CDs are for sale with all proceeds benefiting ImagineIF Libraries throughout Flathead County.

Arthur 'Art' Delventhal, 93

Arthur “Art” Delventhal, 93, passed away at North Valley Hospital on Sept. 18, 2019.

Columbia Falls purchases propane school buses

Columbia Falls School District plans to save thousands on fuel and maintenance costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the purchase of three propane buses.

Flathead Dems seek replacement for Col. Falls legislative seat

Flathead County Democrats are seeking a replacement for a local legislative seat following the resignation of Zac Perry.

Bruce Donald Bardwell, 57

Bruce Donald Bardwell, 57, passed way in his home on Sept. 14, 2019, after a yearlong battle with multiple myeloma (cancer of the spine).

Test scores show local students on par with state

Most Flathead Valley high schools are doing better, or comparable to the rest of the state, in the percentage of juniors who are college-ready, according to ACT results released by the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Butte's Bulldogs blow by Wolfpack

Butte’s offensive onslaught was too much for Glacier to overcome as the Wolfpack fell 55-28 to the Bulldogs in Class AA football action on Friday night at Legends Stadium.

Lions, Loggers stay perfect, Flathead falls to Hellgate toHellgate

EUREKA — The Eureka Lions stayed undefeated (4-0) on Friday as they pummelled the Anaconda Copperheads 63-6 in Class B play.

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Pitch split for C-Falls in Billings

BILLINGS — The Columbia Falls Wildcats came from behind twice to end in a 2-2 tie Friday against the Billings Central Rams in Western A soccer.

Glacier drops Hellgate

MISSOULA — The visiting Glacier Wolfpack volleyball team took down Missoula Hellgate in four sets on Thursday.

Avery, Mercer winners at Kalispell Invite

Golfers from Glacier and Flathead claimed medalist and team honors at the Kalispell Invitational at Buffalo Hill Golf Club on Thursday.

Glacier sweeps Big Sky, Flathead splits with Sentinel

MISSOULA — Four different players scored for the Glacier Wolfpack (3-2-2) as they beat Missoula Big Sky 5-1 on Thursday.

West Valley home destroyed in blaze

A home west of Kalispell was destroyed in a fire Thursday afternoon.

Bobcats host Norfolk State in intersectional matchup

BOZEMAN — Jeff Choate is impressed with what he’s seen of Norfolk State, from several key performers to the Spartans’ 18 seniors to the big-picture view of how veteran coach Latrell Scott has patiently and purposefully built his program. But Choate always returns to one factor.

Griz hosting a “really, really, quality opponent” in Monmouth

MISSOULA — The Montana Grizzlies made a big impression under the lights of Autzen Stadium and in the national spotlight of a #Pac12AfterDark game last week, holding the potent #15 Oregon offense to just 35 points.

Too many grizzlies?

Allow me a detour if you will…

Glacier Symphony showcases young talent in season opener

The Glacier Symphony announces the start of its 37th season themed “The Music Makers.”

Club screens movie filmed in Montana

The Historic Film Club screens the football drama “The Slaughter Rule,” Tuesday, Sept. 24.

'Frozen JR.' at Bigfork Children's Theatre

The Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre opens its first production of the 2019-2020 season, “Disney’s Frozen JR.,” this weekend.

NW Montana composer, musicians to play Kennedy Center

Emmy Award-winning composer and producer Lance Bendiksen will perform with violinists Wai Mizutani and Lauren Welch and singer/songwriter Halladay Quist Sept. 22 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Lead the festivities as Oktoberfest's Hop Queen

The 10th Annual Great Northwest Oktoberfest is less than two weeks away, and organizers are searching for a Hop Queen to lead Oktoberfest into its second decade.

Latin fusion band brings dynamic energy

The Whitefish Theatre Company presents the San Diego-based Latin fusion band Jarabe Mexicano, performing for the first time in Montana for one night only, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.

'The Roommate' a dark comedy about reimagining life

The Whitefish Theatre Co. presents its first Black Curtain Theatre production of the 2019-2020 season with “The Roommate” at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.

Hockaday exhibit showcases the art of the railway

The people, the buildings, the tracks and the trains themselves make a powerful and common visual representation of the railroad.

Caller claims 'the guy is not good'

Someone calling from Beach Road in Bigfork thought a man who was reportedly in and out of a location eight times within a few hours was “coming and going to try and make them look bad.” They claimed the “guy is not good” and requested to speak with certain deputies who were off duty.

Public weighs in on Sun Road options

Extending a trail from Big Bend to the popular Highline Trail, implementing an actual bike path on the Going-to-the-Sun Road and rotating days in which the famed road is a one-way westbound or one-way eastbound during peak summer season in Glacier National Park.

Valley unites in search for Katie

From “Lassie” and “Lady & the Tramp” to “Benji” and “Beethoven,” who doesn’t love a good dog story?

Letters to the editor Sept. 19

In response to the letter “Does a title make a difference?” (Sept. 9) it’s probable that Dr. Myerowitz worked closely with physician anesthesiologists, but not Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists during his career. Like our physician colleagues; CRNAs are licensed, board certified and are experts in the science and administration of anesthesia.

Mercer paces field at Kalispell Invite

Flathead’s Wynne in 2nd, Polson’s Kelley 3rd

Smith Valley Fire levy rejected

For the second time in a year, Smith Valley voters have rejected a mill-levy request that would have raised $450,000 annually for the Smith Valley Fire Department.

Jim Walter, 87

Jim Walter passed away on Sept. 6, 2019, at home.

David 'Dale' Fredenberg, 93

David “Dale” Fredenberg, 93, of Kalispell, passed away Sept. 14, 2019, at the Vets’ Home in Columbia Falls.

Florence A. Natelson, 101

Florence A. Natelson of Kalispell passed away on Aug. 27, 2019, of natural causes. She was 101.

Ronald Larry Rowsey, 67

Ronald Larry Rowsey, 67, resident of Fernwood, Idaho, went home to be with the Lord on Sept. 6, 2019.

James Dorr 'Bigfoot' Nowlin, 66

James Nowlin, 66, of Kalispell, was called home on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.

City OKs law against lodging in cars

The Kalispell City Council on Monday narrowly approved an ordinance making it a civil infraction to lodge in vehicles on city streets.

Resort brings ski pass sales events to valley

Whitefish Mountain Resort is holding in-town season-pass sales events this month at locations in Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish.

Roberta 'Bobbi' Wright, 78

Roberta “Bobbi” 78, passed away Sept. 9, 2019, unexpectedly, secondary to complications arising from a medical procedure.

David William Skranak, 67

David William Skranak, 67, passed away on Sept. 10, 2019, at the Health Center Northwest in Kalispell.

Joseph Eugene Gulledge, 44

Joseph Eugene Gulledge, 44, passed away peacefully on Aug. 31, 2019, in Kalispell, after a long battle with cancer.

Border collie found after going missing for 57 days

After 57 days, a Washington woman’s exhaustive search for her missing border collie ended in tears of happiness when the pair were reunited in a Kalispell subdivision on Sunday. Carole King, of Deer Park, Washington, had traveled to Flathead County for a four-day getaway with her husband when the unthinkable happened. They arrived the night of July 20 and left their 7-year-old border collie, Katie, in their hotel room while they went out for dinner. When the couple returned to My Place Hotel in Kalispell, Katie was nowhere to be found.

Lois Ann (Thacker) Johnson, 89

On Aug. 25, 2019, Lois Ann (Thacker) Johnson passed away peacefully at home with her daughter by her side.

Forest officials aim to inform on prescribed burns

Officials with the Flathead National Forest are eyeing multiple large-scale prescribed burns for this fall, a few of which will be highly visible throughout the Flathead Valley, including one in the Mission Mountain Wilderness and another near Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Rockanna Rand, 62

Rockanna Bell Sterner-Arneson-Rand, 62, of Columbia Falls, went to be with the Lord on Sept. 5, 2019, at The HealthCenter.

Ronald M. Iverson, 71

Ronald Michael Iverson was born Jan. 29, 1948, the second son of Kenneth and Elsie (Mickelson) Iverson, in Williston, North Dakota. The family moved to Glasgow, where Ron attended school and graduated in 1966. Ron always wanted to earn extra money and had his first job setting bowling pins at 9 years of age, with other jobs to follow.

Marion resident salty about situation

Someone on Pleasant Valley Road in Marion wanted to speak to Flathead County Sheriff’s Office about salt reportedly being poured into her dog’s bowl. No animals were harmed, but she wanted law enforcement to be aware of the situation.

Christian academy expansion back on board's agenda

After a two-month deferral at the school’s request, the Whitefish Planning Board on Thursday will hold a public hearing to consider an 11,000-square-foot addition to the existing school at 820 Ashar Ave.

Wiener dogs race for glory and charity

Half a dozen wiener dog owners squatted down at the finish line, wielding anything from their pup’s favorite toy to eggs and bags of beef jerky in hopes of luring their long-bodied companions down the course in a hurry.

David William Skranak, 67

David William Skranak, 67, passed away on Sept. 10, 2019, at Health Center Northwest in Kalispell,

Bigfork guild makes quilts for babies of USS Montana sailors

A nuclear submarine named in honor of the Big Sky State won’t be commissioned for at least another year, but one group of Bigfork quilters is already giving the sailors a warm welcome.

Donald W. Pearson, 89

A celebration of life was held for Donald W. Pearson on Sept. 5 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork with the Rev. Tom Dopp officiating.

Bulldogs sweep Pirates

WHITEFISH — Whitefish blanked the Polson Pirates 4-0 at Smith Fields on Tuesday in a Northern A soccer game to stay undefeated.

Road volleyball wins for C-Falls, Flathead and Libby

The Columbia Falls Wildkats volleyball team stymied the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs with hard serving and tough defense to earn a road win at Whitefish High School on Tuesday night.

Whitefish girls winners at Polson Invite golf

POLSON — Whitefish golfer Ella Shaw finished five strokes behind Corvallis’ Macee Greenwood to take second place at the Polson Invitational at Polson Bay Golf Club on Monday.

Whitefish water, sewer rates pegged for another increase

Water and sewer rates for Whitefish residents are on track to increase once again as the City Council vote on a resolution tonight that outlines rate increases in anticipation of upcoming improvements to the city’s utility systems.

Whitefish summit aims to tackle staffing shortage

Seasonal staffing has been a persistent challenge for Flathead Valley businesses. The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce will look to address this dilemma at their first Summer Staffing Summit on Tuesday.

City considers new civil infractions

The Kalispell City Council will discuss a number of potential ordinances that would establish additional civil infractions at tonight’s meeting.

Person calls in stomping emergency

Someone called 911 because their neighbor was “stomping around and being loud” and he wanted an officer “to make him stop being noisy.”

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- Flathead County Republican Women meet at noon to 1 p.m., Hampton Inn, Kalispell. Doors open 11:30 a.m. Speaker is County Commissioner Pam Holmquist. Call Heidi Roedel, 270-5606.

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- Flathead County Republican Women meet at noon to 1 p.m., Hampton Inn, Kalispell. Doors open 11:30 a.m. Speaker is County Commissioner Pam Holmquist. Call Heidi Roedel, 270-5606.

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- Flathead County Republican Women meet at noon to 1 p.m., Hampton Inn, Kalispell. Doors open 11:30 a.m. Speaker is County Commissioner Pam Holmquist. Call Heidi Roedel, 270-5606.

New Lakeside principal returns to Montana roots

New Lakeside Elementary School Principal Steffanie Broyles is glad to be back in Montana.

Letters to the editor Sept. 16

Last summer, a group of the country’s largest telecom providers, including CenturyLink, filed a petition with the Republican-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, DC, to cut-off access competitive broadband providers have to portions of their networks. Independent broadband providers like Blackfoot Communications rely on portions of CenturyLink’s network to provide network connections to thousands of business customers.

William Edward 'Fuzzy' Fine Jr., 87

Ed “Fuzzy” Fine, 87, of Missoula, passed away on Aug. 16, 2019, at Hillside Health and Rehabilitation from kidney disease. Born on May 14, 1932, in Somers, Ed was the son of Sara (Kleinhans) and William E. Fine Sr.

Coffee Traders barista to compete at national event

Barista Andy Hao has been supplying Whitefish with specialty coffee for over a year now, but soon he will take his talents to the national level.

Sun Road plan eyes dramatic changes to parking, trail use

Day-use parking permits, switching Avalanche camping spots to parking spaces, and one-way travel on a section of the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park are three of the many proposals in the Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor Management Plan — a sweeping 184-page document that aims to address challenges that have surfaced amid unprecedented use of the popular road.

Shop expects 'new type of clientele' in North Kalispell

Riddle’s Jewelry has relocated from Kalispell Center Mall to a new location on U.S. 93 North, between MOD Pizza and T-Mobile.

Eclectic record shop moves to Whitefish storefront

After 15 years and nearly as many moves, Spanky Guzman believes she has found her record store’s forever home.

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- Parade of Homes, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; www.buildingflathead.com

Man trespassed for inappropriate bathroom use

The Kalispell Police Department was called for a man who “defecated all through the store.” He was trespassed from the store after leaving the men’s restroom.

An unofficial end to summer

Last weekend was all about synchronicity for me. Though it wasn’t what I would have preferred to do, my activities seemed to fall into perfect order with the planet’s inclination.

Ruby Foss, 66

On Sept. 13, 2019, Ruby Foss went home to walk the streets of heaven with the love of her life Bill Foss and to sing and dance with the angels. Ruby fought stage 4 cancer with all her might, always a smile on her face and faith in her heart. She loved to spend time with family, camp, the lights of Vegas, Elvis in his blue suede shoes, sunsets and every shade of ruby. Ruby worked hard, never wanting anything in return. Holidays were a must to her. Every birth, celebration and chaotic event, she was there loving everyone along the way. Ruby was a wonderfully loving wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, sister and best friend to her niece Leslie Foss-Herman. She is survived by her children Ben Foss, Ken Foss, Joe Foss and Bobbie Chapman; brother Dale Clark, sister MaryJane Foss along with many (great) grandchildren, (great) nieces and (great) nephews. She is preceded in passing by her father Duane Clark Sr., mother Bernice Stevens-Clark, brother Daniel Clark, brother Duane Clark Jr., sister Emily Clark-Williams, daughter Pearl Foss, niece TinaMay Foss, niece Felicia Foss and brother-in-law Bennie Foss. She will be greatly missed by us all, until we meet again. Services will be announced later.

Link between domestic violence and mass shootings

The link between domestic violence and mass shootings is staggering: 54% of mass shootings in the United States stem from domestic violence. The presence of guns in an abusive relationship increases the risk of lethality eightfold, according to a study conducted by a researcher at Johns Hopkins University.

Letters to the editor Sept. 15

The feral hog article (Sept. 8) was informative, but also discouraging.

Students deserve a safe learning enviornment

Montana’s children are off to a new school year and the excitement of learning.

Pitfalls of 'red flag' laws

Presently there are many people who want to make it a criminal offense to possess guns that can hold more than a specified number of bullets.

Sun Road plan offers bold solutions

Challenging times call for extreme measures, and that’s exactly the approach Glacier Park officials are taking with a new management plan for Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Jim Walter, 87

Jim Walter passed away on Sept. 6 at home. He is survived by his wife Josephine (Bruyer) after 66 years of marriage; children Catherine (Larry Pearson), Barbara (Keith Schultz), James Jr., John, Chris (Jennifer) and Glenn (Jennifer); six grandchildren: Michael, Jeff, Tom, Susanna, Daniel and Eirwyn and three great-grandchildren.

CenturyLink plans to install new cable west of Whitefish

CenturyLink has proposed an amendment to the company’s existing special-use permit that would allow for the installation of thousands of feet of buried fiber optic telecommunication line west of Whitefish.

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The war in Vietnam ended over 40 years ago — but not for Martin Cole.

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The war in Vietnam ended over 40 years ago — but not for Martin Cole.

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- Parade of Homes, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; www.buildingflathead.com

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- Parade of Homes, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; www.buildingflathead.com

Kalispell attorney joins Attorney General race

Kalispell bankruptcy attorney Jim Cossitt has announced his candidacy for the position of Montana attorney general.

Whitefish downtown road work starts Monday

LHC Inc. will begin work on Spokane Avenue and Depot Street in Whitefish for the Depot Park project on Monday, Sept. 16.

Flathead Lake Lodge to host critically ill children

For decades, Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork has prided itself on providing unique Western vacations in a family-friendly atmosphere. To celebrate its 75th anniversary next summer, the guest ranch will welcome a very special group of guests.

Columbia Falls voters to decide $37M bond issue for schools

Glacier Gateway and Ruder Elementary schools are the focus of a proposed $37 million bond issue in Columbia Falls.

Portion of Sun Road closed starting Monday

Due to this year’s ongoing pavement preservation project in Glacier National Park, the Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Creek and Logan Pass will be closed Sept. 16-29, according to a press release from the park.

Billy Earl Butts, 89

Billy Earl Butts went to his heavenly home on Sept. 3, 2019 after a long and wonderful life and a short battle with cancer. We were able to celebrate his 90th birthday early (Sept. 1) with many family members in attendance. What a wonderful afternoon it was for all of us, especially Billy.

Cat owner concerned her pet is too desirable

A concerned cat owner called the Columbia Falls Police Department for advice on how to handle her sought-after pet. She said she knew her fetching feline was in heat “and [is] drawing every tomcat in the valley.”

Kalispell schools hire help for super search

The search is ready to begin for a new Kalispell Public Schools superintendent.

Flathead girls, C-Falls boys 2nd at invite

Columbia Falls Wildcat runners Aidan Jarvis and Lara Erickson placed third and fourth at the Flathead Invitational at Rebecca Farm on Saturday.

Flathead wins consolation bracket at Electric City Invite

GREAT FALLS — Flathead Bravettes volleyball won the consolation bracket at the Electric City Invitational in Great Falls on Saturday after finishing sixth in pool play on Friday.

Libby woman wins RV from state lottery

GREAT FALLS – Sabrina Spiger makes a single Montana Lottery purchase once a week. She buys “The Works,” which for less than $20, gets her one of every Montana Lottery lotto game the lottery sells.

Prolific burglars facing state prison time

A couple from Northwest Montana has pleaded guilty to their respective roles in a string of burglaries that occurred more than a year ago across the Flathead Valley.

Corwin Auto Group takes reins of Eisinger dealerships

The Kalispell Chevrolet and Honda dealerships previously known as Eisinger Motors and Eisinger Honda are now under the names Corwin Motors and Corwin Honda of Kalispell.

Smith Lake waterfowl area expanded

Another 257 acres of vital bird habitat was tacked onto the Smith Lake Waterfowl Production Area last week, adding to an existing 1,800 acres of conserved land that safeguards a large wetland complex in the Smith Valley.

Harry 'Bucky' Puryer Jr., 77

Harry “Bucky” Puryer Jr. was born Oct. 19, 1941, to Harry Puryer and Anna Ashlaw in Hopkinton, New York.

Barbara Swartzenberger Fleming, 70

Barbara Swartzen-berger Fleming, 70, passed away on Sept. 10, 2019, at her home surrounded by close family.

Columbia Falls legislator resigns to go back to school

House District 3 Rep. Zac Perry of Columbia Falls has resigned.

Sword-wielding woman upsets customers

The Kalispell Police Department learned a woman was walking around a convenience store “in a gothic outfit,” complete with swords, knives and a wagon. It was reported she was “making everyone uncomfortable” and she left the store.

Sentinel shreds Flathead

Eureka, Libby stay perfect; Dawgs top Cats

Kahle, Greenwood winners at Libby Invite

LIBBY — Whitefish golfer Cameron Kahle paced the field with 70 strokes to take medalist honors at the Libby Invitational golf tournament at Cabinet View Golf Course on Friday.

Glacier beats Capital, Flathead tops Helena

The Glacier Wolfpack girls soccer team gave up a goal in the first three minutes to Helena Capital on Friday but answered the bell quickly in a 6-3 win.

Dawgs top Stillwater spikers

WHITEFISH — The Whitefish Lady Bulldogs volleyball team dropped their first set to the Stillwater Christian School Cougars but regrouped to win the next three sets to seal the victory at Whitefish High School on Thursday.

Mercer earns medalist honors in Butte, Glacier boys second

BUTTE — Flathead Bravettes golfer Marcella Mercer took medalist honors at the Butte-Anaconda Golf Tournament at Butte Country Club on Thursday.

New doctor performs Flathead's first corneal transplant

On Aug. 5, Flathead County welcomed Dr. Caleb Morris to its rapidly expanding pool of specialty surgeons, a newcomer to the Glacier Eye Clinic in Kalispell who recently performed the valley’s first single-layer corneal transplant surgery.

Organic farm builds giant bear-shaped maze

A giant grizzly bear can be seen prowling around Whitefish Stage Road, but there’s no need for concern. The bear is actually a massive straw bale maze, the latest creation by Whitefish Stage Organic Farms for its fall festivities.

Mental-health mapping tool is worthy project

Those working with behavioral-health issues in Flathead County have a new mapping tool at their disposal that aims to develop a justice system model that doesn’t criminalize mental-health or substance-use disorders. The idea is to divert those offenders whose criminal history is secondary to their mental-health or substance-abuse issues and steer them instead into effective treatment and recovery services.

Mark McClean performs 'Montana Cadence' concert

Mark J. McLean is presenting a one-of-a-kind evening exhibit of music and storytelling titled “Montana Cadence” this weekend at the Angel Theater in the Old LaSalle Grange.

Museum at Central School renamed, rebranded to honor past, focus on future

Back in 1997, the Daily Inter Lake sponsored a call line called “Your Call” where readers could phone in their responses to certain questions of public interest.

Woman weighs her options for unruly kids

A potential vigilante calling from First Avenue in Martin City wanted to speak to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office about what her options were regarding 10- to 13-year-olds who come onto her property and constantly cause problems by tearing up trees, cussing at her and flipping her off, leading her to contemplate using pepper spray on them “if they continue.”

Family shares story of loss to inspire conversations about suicide

Perfectionist.

Board favors big subdivision, but with conditions

The Columbia Falls City-County Planning Board on Tuesday voted to recommend approval of a new major subdivision east of the Flathead River just outside Columbia Falls, though it added several conditions that could lower the density of the project and mitigate at least some of the impacts to wetlands on the property.

Wolfpack Theatre opens season with 'Cyrano'

Embark on a glorious romance steeped in gorgeous, witty language and exquisitely painful, unrequited love as the Wolfpack Theatre Company presents “Cyrano de Bergerac” Sept. 17, 18 and 19. Curtain time is 6:33 p.m. in the Wolfpack Theatre at Glacier High School.

Letters to the editor Sept. 12

Why does our country have their military stationed all over the world? Why is a big proportion of our gross national product devoted to arms? Are we trying to take over the world as some claim? Let’s examine a few things for the answer.

Rita Mae Otten, 70

The angels came and took Rita Mae Otten on Aug. 31, 2019.

Libby gears up for carving competition

It’s time to carve!

Weekly events Sept. 12-19

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12

Met Opera Live in HD sets schedule

The Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD broadcasts begin again in mid-October at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.

Mercer tied for 2nd at Butte-Anaconda golf tournament

ANACONDA — Flathead’s Marcella Mercer shot an 82 to tie for second at the first day of the Butte-Anaconda golf tournament on Wednesday.

Food-conditioned grizzly euthanized in Seeley-Swan Valley

An adult female grizzly bear captured in the Seeley-Swan Valley was euthanized on Tuesday after wildlife officials determined the animal had become food-conditioned, according to a press release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Kalispell woman pleads guilty to drug distribution

MISSOULA (AP) — A 66-year-old Kalispell woman who initially was charged with murder-for-hire has pleaded guilty to a federal drug distribution charge that carries a longer potential prison sentence.

2020 dates announced for Under the Big Sky festival

After a successful debut in July, which drew 30,000 attendees across two days, the Under The Big Sky music festival will return to Whitefish July 18 and 19, 2020.

Clara Lee Wells Constantine, 76

Clara Lee Wells Constantine passed away peacefully Sept. 4, 2019, at The HealthCenter of a stroke. She was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but was spared having to go through treatment.

Kalispell drill sergeant helps save family from burning car

Four United States Army Reserve drill sergeants, including Sgt. 1st Class Eric Juhl of Kalispell, pulled a family to safety after their car crashed and ignited outside a Wisconsin military base on Aug. 15.

Board considers Bigfork lakeshore variance

A request for a major lakeshore variance pertaining to the fill standards at Flathead Lake tops a full agenda for the Flathead County Planning and Zoning department’s meeting tonight.

Wiener dog races celebrate 25 years in Lakeside

There’s nothing quite like the eccentric combination of a chili cook-off and wiener dog races to celebrate the end of summer.

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- Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Flathead Electric Pulse Project, Kalispell.

Judith Lynn Pennington, 73

Heaven just received a beautiful angel:

Michael Stoken, 65

Michael Stoken, 65, passed away surrounded by his family on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019. You may not have known him but he made your life better.

Forest project proposed in Woods Bay

In an effort to improve public safety and resiliency to insects in the Bigfork area, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is proposing forest management projects at fishing access sites in Woods Bay and Horseshoe Lake.

Silas Michael Schwarz, 20

Silas Michael Schwarz passed away Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. After several years of challenges with seizures while sleeping, Friday morning he did not awaken.

Cayuse Prairie receives sports equipment grant

Cayuse Prairie School has received a $2,080 American Heart Association grant for new volleyball equipment.

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- Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Flathead Electric Pulse Project, Kalispell.

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- Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Flathead Electric Pulse Project, Kalispell.

Man threatens to drive ex's pickup off cliff

A woman’s ex on U.S. 2 in Kalispell purportedly was threatening to take her truck and “drive it off a cliff,” claiming it was his, and she wanted Flathead County Sheriff’s Office to tell him he couldn’t drive it. Both bickered while on the phone with dispatchers and she refused to separate from the man. Deputies spoke with both parties, advising them of the legal action that can be taken if he took the vehicle without permission.

C-Falls spikers fell Loggers

COLUMBIA FALLS — The Columbia Falls Wildkats offense was too much for the Libby Loggers to overcome in a Western A volleyball match at Columbia Falls High School on Tuesday.

Schneider scores hatty, Bulldogs shut out Vikings

BIGFORK — Josie Schneider had five points for the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs soccer team in a 5-0 win against the Bigfork Valkyries on Tuesday.

Man pleads not guilty in Glacier Park fatal wreck

An East Glacier area man accused of causing the death of one person and injuring another while driving in Glacier National Park in June pleaded not guilty in federal court Monday.

Record rainfall tallied in Flathead

Total rainfall for Kalispell thus far this month has already surpassed the typical September average thanks to a weather system that soaked the region Sunday and Monday.

Mental-health mapping tool launches locally

Multiple behavioral-health leaders in Flathead County have turned their attention toward finding ways to divert individuals suffering from mental-health issues from the criminal justice system — a process experts say is costly to taxpayers and doesn’t help the individual in crisis connect to resources that can help them avoid re-entry into the correctional system.

GPI flight makes emergency landing at Missoula airport

A flight departing Glacier Park International Airport bound for Utah early Monday morning was forced to make a diverted emergency landing in Missoula following an issue with the aircraft’s engine.

Locals can recycle glass at nonprofit fundraiser

It’s been over 10 months since Flathead Valley residents have been able to recycle their glass locally. Changes in the global recycling market, coupled with the high cost of transporting materials, have rocked local programs and forced the last remaining glass recycler, New World Recycling, to close up shop last November.

Kalispell woman pleads to role in hit and run fatal

A Kalispell woman accused of running over an 89-year-old man in the street last fall has pleaded no contest to the offense.

'Widow-maker' tree ready to fall

Someone calling from Kuhns Road in Whitefish told Flathead County Sheriff’s Office about a tree that reportedly had been notched and was leaning the wrong way, ready to fall, on Farm to Market Road, referring to it as a “widow-maker.” Agencies were notified and the plan was to send equipment to handle it.

Stand Down for veterans set for Libby

The 20th annual Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down honoring all veterans will take place Oct. 5-6 at Asa Wood Elementary School, 700 Idaho St., in Libby.

Nonprofit leader addresses national issues at local level

Jamie Campbell has been working for children essentially since she was a child herself.

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- Creston School board special meeting 8 a.m.

Man waits days for clean car

Someone hired a woman to clean their vehicle and she reportedly picked it up a few days ago and hadn’t returned it. The person told Kalispell Police Department that she said she supposedly had not had time to clean it.

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- Creston School board special meeting 8 a.m.

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- Creston School board special meeting 8 a.m.

Major subdivision proposed east of C-Falls

The Columbia Falls Planning Board on Tuesday will hold a public hearing for the first major subdivision to be proposed in that planning jurisdiction in several years.

Letters to the editor Sept. 9

Apparently a brilliant judge in Florida has determined that a nurse anesthetist can call herself an anesthesiologist, a term, until now, reserved for doctors. So when an unsuspecting patient now has someone introduce him/herself as their anesthesiologist for a surgical procedure (at least in Florida, so far), one may have no idea if they are about to have a doctor or a nurse manage their anesthesia, essentially controlling life, death, pain and memory of pain that one may experience.

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Kaden Scott Kazmierczak, son of Alisha and Anthony Kazmierczak of Kalispell, was born Aug. 2 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

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Kaden Scott Kazmierczak, son of Alisha and Anthony Kazmierczak of Kalispell, was born Aug. 2 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

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Kaden Scott Kazmierczak, son of Alisha and Anthony Kazmierczak of Kalispell, was born Aug. 2 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

International company to hire 250 employees in Kalispell

SoClean, an international medical supply company, is opening its second North American location in Kalispell in October and eventually anticipates having a workforce of “upwards of 250 or more employees.”

The guts to stand up to guns

The president has frequently repeated the NRA talking point that more extensive background checks on gun sales would not have prevented the recent rash of mass murders. Maybe so. It’s hard to accurately see what lurks in a murderer’s mind.

Sun Road plan notes traffic 'near capacity'

A public meeting for the review of Glacier National Park’s long-awaited Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor Management Plan is expected to be scheduled for mid-September, giving local residents an opportunity to weigh in on the plan that aims to identify strategies and actions for improving transportation, visitation, trails and access during the park’s peak season.

Mount Jackson offers big views, fun climbing

Glacier National Park holds more than 150 named mountain peaks, but only six climb above 10,000 feet in elevation. Many a mountaineer has sought to bag each of these high points, and Mount Jackson is often one of the first to be checked off the list due to its central location and impressive stature.

State should promote value-added centers

Montana has a geographical humidity advantage for growing hemp worldwide. Our issue is value-added centers for raw materials as a state. We as a state need to be working toward hemp production for CBD oil, hemp oil and other uses. The CBD is extracted from the flower, the hemp oil from the stalk. From my limited knowledge the hemp fiber industry is not flourishing because we don’t have the correct seed stock. Hemp fiber can be grown in dryland situations. We as a state must appeal to interests in Europe and/or internationally who have the correct seed stock for growing hemp fiber. Hemp fiber can enable hemp plastics, fiberglass and green concrete. As a plant, hemp can help re-mineralize the soil and be hail resistant.

New plan details habitat upgrades, wildlife protection

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a final Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the National Bison Range that emphasizes wildlife protection and habitat improvements to the 18,800 acres of the range’s grassland, timber and riparian areas.

Treeline Road development adds coffee shop

Sable Coffee in North Kalispell isn’t just another coffee shop.

Richard William 'Rich' Cavalar, 88

Richard William “Rich” Cavalar, 88, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019.

Order on e-bikes conjures questions

A recent secretarial order from the Interior Department classifies electric-powered bicycles as non-motorized bikes. While seemingly insignificant at first glance, this order could alter the recreational landscape of the West — for better or worse.

Oh, deer: a love/hate relationship

I knew it was a bad idea to create a new flower bed next to our house last spring, but I did it anyway.

Gilbert W. Washburn, 73

Gilbert Welles Washburn passed away at his residence in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019, at 73 years of age.

Letters to the editor Sept. 8

The odds that Congress will reform the Electoral College are about the same odds as Congress reducing our $22 trillion dollar national debt.

Carleen Erickson Thomas, 62

Carleen Erickson Thomas, A Proverbs 31: Woman, beloved wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and friend, joined her heavenly Father on Sept. 2, 2019, after a short illness.

Feral hogs encroaching on Montana-Canada border

Looming among our neighbors to the north is an invasive species Montana experts say would cause extensive environmental degradation to the Big Sky state, should they ever successfully saunter across the border.

Roommate's shower goes awry

A woman reported her “crazy” roommate to the Kalispell Police Department for going naked around the apartment and leaving the shower on.

Republicans need to remain united to win in 2020

Rugged-individualism, an independent spirit, a strong work ethic, personal responsibility, and a commitment to our families and communities — these are the values that define conservatives across our great state. And these values are what I believe make our cause and our candidates best suited to represent Montanans in elected office.

Hellgate sweeps Flathead

Flathead scored twice in the first half but the Braves couldn’t keep the momentum going in a 6-2 Western AA soccer loss to Missoula Hellgate on Saturday.

Bigfork beats Cut Bank in OT, C-Falls rips Ronan

CUT BANK — Levi Taylor’s rushing touchdown in overtime gave the Bigfork Vikings football team a 12-6 win over Cut Bank on Friday.

Stillwater spikers top Flathead JV

Stillwater Christian volleyball beat Flathead JV in five sets on Saturday.

Whitefish city manager abruptly resigns

Whitefish City Manager Adam Hammatt has resigned from his position with the city.

Judge denies defense motions in murder case

The homicide case against a Whitefish man accused of murdering his boyfriend during a sexual encounter will go forward after the presiding judge ruled against defense motions to dismiss the case.

First residents move into affordable C-Falls apartments

A ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at The Highline Apartments in Columbia Falls ushered in some much-needed affordable housing in the North Valley.

Whitefish man pleads guilty in DUI crash that injured couple

A Whitefish man who struck and nearly killed two people while driving drunk last summer pleaded guilty by way of an Alford plea Thursday morning in Flathead County District Court.

Project yields 43% reduction in energy use

With a few light bulbs left to be changed, Kalispell Public Schools wraps up roughly $4 million in energy-saving projects that began in 2013 and resulted in reduced electrical, heating and water usage, even with the district expanding its footprint.

Flathead Lakers welcome new executive director

Kate Sheridan’s penchant for open water swimming has earned her a certain rapport with Flathead Lake that few others share — she understands the lake’s marine trail, its shorelines and islands and its purity and personality.

PHOTOS: Glacier falls to Mount Spokane, 38-35

Photos from Glacier vs. Mount Spokane in a Class AA high school football game at Legends Stadium in Kalispell on Friday. Mount Spokane topped the Wolfpack, 38-35. Glacier falls to 1-1 on the season and travels to Helena Capital next Friday.

7th deer in Libby area suspected positive for CWD

Following initial testing, a white-tailed deer in Lincoln County is suspected to be positive for chronic wasting disease, according to a press release from Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Bigfork group recommends denial of lakeshore variance

A request to repair eroding shoreline on Flathead Lake’s north shore by adding gravel fill was deemed “premature” by the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee during its Aug. 29 meeting.

Shelter sees upswing in trafficking victims

Over the course of its existence, Safe Harbor in Lake County has become much more than an emergency shelter for victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence and stalking.

Annette Jeanne Craig Smith, 61

Annette Jeanne Craig Smith, 61, known to most as Annie, began her journey across the Big River the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. Her daughter Ellie, brother Michael and trusted friend Eileen stayed close by to offer comfort to our redheaded Montana legend while she finally gave in to the vicious and painful beat down from esophageal cancer. While Annie may have lost the physical battle, until she could talk no more, she kept whispering, “Don’t worry, I’ll be getting better tomorrow.” She was not about to let the cancer inside her overcome her mind and spirit.

Fist-shaking sparks fear at grocery store

A woman told the Kalispell Police Department she was too scared to stay at a grocery store after a man hurriedly pulled into a parking spot, jumped out of his vehicle and shook his fist at her. She described him as “missing teeth,” bearded and sporting “scraggly blonde hair.”

Harold Dwane Oney, 87

Harold Dwane Oney, 87, passed away peacefully at the Montana Veterans Home on Sept. 3, 2019.

Dragon Boat Festival races back to Bigfork

More than 20 teams of dragon-boat racers will go head-to-head in Bigfork Bay this weekend at the 2019 Montana Dragon Boat Festival.

Bob Anderson, 64

With love, and broken hearts, we say farewell for now to one of the hardest working and strongest men we have ever known. Bob Anderson, passed away with his children, daughter-in-law and grandchildren by his side in the early morning hours of Sept. 2, 2019. A Flathead Valley native and true outdoorsman, Bob was rough, fair, simple and proud — an all-around genuine man.

Pack edged by Mount Spokane

It came down to the wire for the Glacier Wolfpack at Legends Stadium on Friday night against tough Class AA nonconference opponent Mount Spokane,

Libby beats Eureka in XC dual

EUREKA — Libby topped Eureka in a cross country dual on Thursday by a score of 42-19.

Glacier soccer sweeps Butte, Whitefish sweeps Park

Alma Patrick scored a hat trick, Emma Paulson scored two goals and Madison Becker added two goals and two assists in the Glacier Wolfpack’s 8-0 rout of Butte in Western AA soccer on Friday.

Flathead, C-Falls top time trials in Cut Bank

CUT BANK — Flathead girls and Columbia Falls boys clinched team titles on Friday at the Mike Reynold Time Trials.

Flathead boys, Glacier girls nab crosstown wins

Eric Gardner scored in the 53rd minute to break a tie and help the Flathead Braves beat the Glacier Wolfpack 5-2 in a Western AA crosstown clash at Legends Stadium on Thursday.

Glacier spikers beat Big Sky, Flathead falls to Sentinel

Glacier knocked off Missoula Big Sky in Western AA conference volleyball at Glacier High School on Thursday,

Flathead's Mercer second at Butte Invite

BUTTE — Flathead’s Marcella Mercer took second at the Butte Invite at Fairmont Hot Springs in Butte on Thursday.

Shaw 2nd, Kahle 3rd in Frenchtown

MISSOULA ­— Macee Greenwood of Corvallis and Tristan Hanson of Hamilton claimed individual titles at the Frenchtown Invitational at King Ranch Golf Course on Thursday.

PHOTOS: Glacier, Flathead split crosstown soccer

Photos from crosstown soccer action between Glacier and Flathead at Legends Stadium in Kalispell on Thursday. The Glacier girls topped the Bravettes, 3-2, while the Flathead boys took home a W over the Wolfpack, 4-2.

Victim of falling tree identified

Montana Highway Patrol officials have released the name of a 71-year-old Libby man who died after he was struck by a falling tree while he was riding an all-terrain vehicle.

Watching the rods…

Trolling is not for everybody. While it is the primary method we use to catch Lake Trout out on Flathead Lake, and big Gerrard Rainbows on Little Bitterroot, we get talk to many folks who say “trolling is boring.”

High Plains Book Award finalists announced

Finalists for the 2019 High Plains Book Awards were released in June.

Grab a kilt and head to the Flathead Celtic Festival

The annual Flathead Celtic Festival converges on a new venue for 2019. The two-day event will be held at Centennial Farm, 563 McMannamy Draw in Kalispell.

Recent books showcase Montana authors and settings

Charming con artist Cassandra Maza has cornered her prey, Moe Rosenbaum, an addled millionaire with nine cats, until investigator Tawny Lindholm disrupts the scam. Tawny suspects elder fraud and won’t stop digging until she finds the truth. Cassandra can’t allow that. She’s killed before and each time it’s easier. Tawny will be next.

Weekly events

THURSDAY, SEPT. 5

Mosteller's images capture Montana in light and shadow

Photographer Rosella Mosteller’s new coffee-table book “Montana: Mountains & More” has been chosen to be a part of the Montana Book Festival Sept.12 to 15 in Missoula.

Two identified in fatal crash near Marion

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has identified two Kalispell residents who were killed in a head-on collision in Marion Saturday evening.

Daniel David Donahue, 86

Dan passed away at his home in Whitefish Sept. 2, 2019, at age 86.

Kerry Lynn West, 68

Kerry Lynn West passed away Aug. 22, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas, from complications with cancer.

Mary Susan 'Suzy' Como, 73

The angels in heaven decided Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, it was time to deliver our beautiful, loving wife ( Bucky), mother( Mom), grandmother (Gramsy), great-grandma (Grammy) to her eternal resting place in heaven. She took her last breath surrounded by the family she loved so dearly, a woman that gave her heart and soul to everyone she ever encountered.

Letters to the editor Sept. 5

Whose side did you take with the spotted owl controversy back when it grabbed the national headlines? The environmentalists who argued that this small predator bird was at risk of extinction, or the 10,000 loggers and sawmill workers in the Pacific Northwest who lost their jobs because of federally mandated restrictions on the timber industry?

Evergreen can overcome latest retail closure

Kmart announced last week that it will be closing its Evergreen location after decades of serving the community. Liquidation sales will soon begin and by the end of the year the iconic “Big K” store will go dark.

Event aims to bring awareness of Alzheimer's disease

On Sunday, hundreds of Flathead Valley residents will participate in the Kalispell Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The event is one of hundreds that will take place across the country “to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research,” according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Kalispell OKs health funding increase despite concerns

The Kalispell City Council on Tuesday approved an increased mill levy for the Flathead City-County Health Department’s after mulling the request over several weeks.

Glacier fish preservation project launches

Glacier National Park, in collaboration with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, will launch a native fish preservation project in the Upper Camas Drainage this week.

County adopts final 2020 budget

The Flathead County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the county’s fiscal year 2020 budget during a meeting Wednesday morning, giving the final thumbs-up to $99.2 million in projected expenditures.

Kalispell teen dies in motorcycle crash

A 17-year-old Kalispell man died Monday from injuries he suffered in a traffic accident Saturday morning in Evergreen.

Flathead's Mercer cards 78 to lead Butte Invite golf

BUTTE — Marcella Mercer continues to set the pace for girls golf in Class AA as the Flathead star shot an opening round 78 to top the leader board at the Butte Invitational on Wednesday.

Whitefish's Kahle, Shaw finish 2nd at Frenchtown golf

FRENCHTOWN — Tristan Hanson of Hamilton and Macee Greenwood of Corvallis were the medalists on Wednesday at Frenchtown Invitational golf tournament at the Ranch Club Golf Course.

Crosstown soccer time arrives for Flathead, Glacier

The Flathead Braves/Bravettes and Glacier Wolfpack soccer programs kicked off their Western AA Conference seasons over the weekend on either a good note, or with positive results.

Dennie L. Gasser, 72

Dennie L. Gasser died Aug. 30, 2019, of lung cancer.

9/11 memorial event planned near Bigfork

In recognition of Patriot’s Day, the 9/11 Honor and Serve Foundation will host a 9/11 Memorial Event in remembrance of the fallen and the heroes of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States and the attack in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012.

Andrew 'Andy' Carl Flack, 63

Andrew “Andy” Carl Flack, 63, passed away Aug. 22, 2019, at his home in Kalispell after a long battle of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, IPF.

Domingo Vizcarra Guerrero, 75

On Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, Domingo Vizcarra Guerrero, also known as Mingo, loving husband and father of three children, passed away peacefully at his home in Bigfork, at the age of 75.

Man caps night with yoga workout

Kalispell Police Department responded to a report of a strange man seen walking down the center of the road and into someone’s yard where he sprawled around on the ground and then proceeded to balance on one leg.

Leo Allen McDonald, 70

Leo Allen McDonald died unexpectedly at Lake Alva with a fishing pole in his hand, on Aug. 31, 2019, at the age of 70.

Inter Lake, KRH partner in program to honor exemplary students

In communities across Montana, there are students who are not only high achievers, but also are making an impact in their communities. Maybe this exemplary student is a club president, volunteers at the local food bank, or organizes fundraisers for those in need.

Franklin 'Frank' Wynne Noble, 64

Frank Noble skied into the arms of Jesus and his children, Krystal and Franklin, on Tuesday, Aug, 27, 2019.

Longtime Inter Lake sports editor retiring

Five days a week at around 4 p.m., Inter Lake Sports Editor David Lesnick arrives to begin his shift. He’s a fixture at his standing desk, tucked away in a dark corner of the newsroom, where he steadily plugs away at the day’s copy, bringing local sports stories to life.

New room sponsorship helps maintain historic home

The Conrad Mansion may be well over a century old, but there’s a new twist on fundraising at the historic Kalispell home.

Bravettes best Big Sky spikers; Glacier, Bigfork fall in three matches

MISSOULA — The Flathead Bravettes knocked off Missoula Big Sky in four games on Tuesday night in a Western AA match.

Pitch split for C-Falls, Whitefish

WHITEFISH — A Josie Windauer goal tied it at 2-all at 38 minutes and the Columbia Falls Wildkats added two more en route to a 4-3 Northern A girls soccer victory over rival Whitefish on Tuesday at Smith Fields.

West side access to Logan Pass to close Sept. 16-29

Glacier National Park is reminding visitors that a portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Creek and Logan Pass will close temporarily Sept. 16-29 to allow pavement preservation crews to complete remaining work on the alpine section of the road.

Lake County mulling $15M levy for jail expansion

The Lake County commissioners are seeking a mill levy increase that would help pay for jail and courtroom expansions, along with better treatment options to handle an ever-increasing number of offenders ravaged by illegal drugs.

One man dead, two injured after car hits tree

A Florida man is dead and two women from Ronan and Polson are injured after a vehicle hit a tree on Moiese Valley Road.

Kalispell council to decide on increased mill levy

Due to the Labor Day holiday, the Kalispell City Council will hold its first September meeting this evening to discuss an increased mill levy and a wastewater facility update, among other city matters.

Whitefish mulls tax-increment priorities, future districts

With the sunset of Whitefish’s tax-increment finance district less than a year away, the Whitefish City Council is contemplating priorities for the remaining TIF revenue and potential new tax districts within the resort city.

New Whitefish school 60% complete; on budget

On Aug. 28, Muldown Elementary students were having fun out on the playground during their first day of school while across the way, construction crews were building the two-story facility that will replace the existing school.

Flathead quilt show to feature longstanding Tuesday Group

There’s strength in numbers, as the saying goes, and when 13 quilters get together week after week, that strength translates into beautifully crafted masterpieces.

No headline

- Columbia Falls School board Insurance Committee meets at 4 p.m.

SoClean plans to open Kalispell facility by October

SoClean, a company that sells continuous positive airwave pressure (CPAP) machines, has plans to open a facility in Kalispell that eventually will employ upwards of 250 people.

Fire and Flood demos new technology in Polson

Fire and Flood Emergency Services will hold its first U.S. demonstration of new mobile water management technology in Polson on Saturday, Sept. 7.

No headline

- Columbia Falls School board Insurance Committee meets at 4 p.m.

Flathead Forest announces prescribed fire projects

The Flathead National Forest is planning to conduct fall prescribed fire projects, when weather, fuel conditions, and air quality become favorable. Smoke will be visible from various places in the Flathead Valley depending on the location of the burn units and weather conditions.

No headline

- Columbia Falls School board Insurance Committee meets at 4 p.m.

Gordon, Grattan claim Labor Day golf titles

While Kali Gordon of Okotoks, Alberta, was a runaway champion in women’s play by a massive 31 strokes, the men’s championship came down to the final hole for the 82nd annual Labor Day Tournament on Monday evening at Buffalo Hill Golf Club.

Two dead in head-on collision in Marion

Two people were killed in a head-on collision in Marion Saturday evening.

Falling tree strikes, kills Libby man on ATV

A 71-year-old Libby man is dead after he was struck by a falling tree while he was riding an all-terrain vehicle.

No headline

Kelsey Kunsman, daughter of Zach and Sarah Kunsman of Columbia Falls, was born July 27 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

No headline

Kelsey Kunsman, daughter of Zach and Sarah Kunsman of Columbia Falls, was born July 27 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

No headline

Kelsey Kunsman, daughter of Zach and Sarah Kunsman of Columbia Falls, was born July 27 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

James Charles Sharp

Jim was born on June 12, 1940, and left us on April 18, 2019. According to Google he lived 28,799 days.

Ramona Joyce Vincent, 87

On July 17, 2019, our mother was united with her husband William Vincent on what would have been their 71st wedding anniversary.

Gail Seelye-Weimar, 93

Gail Seelye-Weimar took God’s hand to travel home Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019 surrounded by her family.

Richard Mark Sherwood, 65

Richard Mark Sherwood, 65, passed away on Aug. 10, 2019. Mark was born on February 19, 1954 in Seattle, Wash.

Georgina (Gina) Kay Lanfear Owen, 69

Gina went to be with the Lord on Aug. 21, 2019, at her home in Kalispell with her husband by her side.

Winston Manicke, 93

Winston Manicke, 93, of Whitefish, died Aug. 28, 2019 at North Valley Hospital. Winston is survived by his wife Rose Manicke, sons Fred Manicke, Brian Manicke, daughter Shelly Solle and granddaughter Contessa Birky. No services are scheduled. Austin Funeral and Cremation Services in Whitefish is caring for Winston’s family.

Curtis “Curt” Lester Rice, 77

Curtis “Curt” Lester Rice passed away Aug. 29, 2019. The official cause of death was O.D.T.A.A. (one damn thing after another) and lung cancer.

Clinton Jerome Haugen

Clinton Jerome Haugen passed away at home on Aug. 27, 2019. Clint was born Oct. 21, 1938 to Agnes and Harold Haugen in Sydney. He spent his childhood in Sydney, Williston and on the farm in Arnegard, N.D. In 1956 he joined the Navy and married Joan Trieder. They had three children: Mike, Julie and Suzy.

Thomas William Howard, 72

Thomas William Howard, 72, passed away on Aug. 8, 2019 surrounded by family, at his cabin on Wild Horse Island after battling esophageal cancer. Tom was a loving father of seven children and devoted husband to his wife, Beatrice. Tom was born in Madison, S.D. on Sept. 22, 1946. He attended the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, where he was an outstanding athlete.

A mad dash for Hatches

The past couple of years, around mid-August, Hatch chili peppers have found their way into the produce departments at local groceries. It’s a short window for this particular variety of hot pepper that’s gained popularity with local folks who’ve discovered how delicious they are when roasted on an open grill.

Petroleum clean-up work continues on Whitefish River

BNSF Railway Co. continues to perform work on the Whitefish River related to a petroleum sheen spotted in the river this summer.

Independent clinic in C-Falls centered around community

Laura Hall has served on multiple international mission trips in areas such as El Salvador and Slovakia, but it’s the work she does as a certified family nurse practitioner at Heaven’s Peak Health Care in her home town of Columbia Falls she considers to be her daily mission.

Vaccination rates continue to decline in local schools

An annual review of vaccination rates in Flathead County schools conducted by the Flathead City-County Health Department shows a continued decline in school immunization rates and an increase in religious exemptions.

Entrepreneur opens eclectic community hub in Marion

Nancy Krause is bringing the world to Marion.

No headline

- Evergreen Disposal in Kalispell, Libby, Troy and Eureka will not be running routes today and offices are closed. All route days the rest of the week will be running one day late.

No headline

- Evergreen Disposal in Kalispell, Libby, Troy and Eureka will not be running routes today and offices are closed. All route days the rest of the week will be running one day late.

Someone steals man's cash stash

A man told Kalispell Police Department that someone allegedly broke into his home and stole a handgun. He also noticed a “stash of money” was missing amount to about $300. The man said he could think of some people who might have done it but wasn’t sure.

No headline

- Evergreen Disposal in Kalispell, Libby, Troy and Eureka will not be running routes today and offices are closed. All route days the rest of the week will be running one day late.

No headline

- Evergreen Disposal in Kalispell, Libby, Troy and Eureka will not be running routes today and offices are closed. All route days the rest of the week will be running one day late.

No headline

- Evergreen Disposal in Kalispell, Libby, Troy and Eureka will not be running routes today and offices are closed. All route days the rest of the week will be running one day late.

Musician has played worldwide, even in war zone

The pedestrians could hear Mike Gilbert long before they saw him. Slowly, but surely a small gaggle emerged from nearby shops and sidewalks, collecting outside the gazebo at Depot Park in Whitefish. Beneath it, in full Scottish regalia, Gilbert rewarded their curiosity with an impromptu performance, delighting the audience with the hauntingly beautiful cry of bagpipes.

No headline

- Evergreen Disposal in Kalispell, Libby, Troy and Eureka will not be running routes today and offices are closed. All route days the rest of the week will be running one day late.

Lindholm, Gordon chasing Labor Day golf titles

Logan Lindholm of Kalispell didn’t have the top score, or even the second best on Sunday during the second round of the 82nd annual Labor Day Tournament at Buffalo Hill Golf Club.

Births KRMC

Emery McGregor-Bell, daughter of Brenna McGregor and Jacob Bell of Whitefish, was born July 15 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Consider the injustice of forced union dues

As you shop for back-to-school supplies for your kids or food for the Labor Day cookout, consider this: the clerks, shelf stockers, truck drivers and factory workers who make that possible can all be legally forced to pay money to a union or else be fired.

Letters to the editor Sept. 1

Medicaid was established for low-income children, pregnant women, the disabled and seniors. In 2015 Montana’s Medicaid program added adults without children, costing taxpayers another $800 million a year. But are recipients really low-income?

Tick tock. It's time to stop Rx sticker shock

As United States Senators representing the Big Sky state and Hawkeye country, older Montanans and Iowans keep a watchful eye on spending. Like millions of Americans across the country, they are mindful that they need to stretch their savings in order to pay the bills and uphold their quality of life in retirement.

Where corporations fail, unions follow through

This Labor Day I want to thank the workers of Montana — and especially those engaged in the labor movement. 

Citizens' closure is a loss in planning arena

For 27 years Citizens for a Better Flathead has been the watchdog for land-use planning and smart growth in the Flathead Valley, but that oversight will now be gone as the nonprofit shutters its office amid a funding shortfall. Gone also is the Waste Not Project that brought recycling education to the forefront.

Bigfork brewery expands with new lounge

Flathead Lake Brewing Company is getting back to its roots as it expands into a new lower-level space known as the Cellar. The downstairs area debuted in mid-August with cozy seating, a dance floor, an outdoor deck and other new amenities.

Whitefish couple creates business out of passion for fossil-finding

Aamon Jaeger spends his days digging for treasure.