Ellington

Bigfork to offer free COVID-19 testing

A free coronavirus testing clinic is now open to people in the Bigfork area on Tuesdays from 1-6 p.m. Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rebekah King said the clinic is geared toward people who are employed in the Bigfork Area and who work with the public, but is available to anyone who is asymptomatic.

Ready, aim, fire!

Youth clay shooting club fosters safety and skills

The COVID-19 pandemic may have cut their season short, but the members of the Bigfork Scholastic Clay Target Program team are back in action at the Bigfork Gun Club.

Man catches $10,000 Mack Days fish

For the just the second time in tournament history, the famous $10,000 tagged lake trout has been caught during the annual Mack Days event on Flathead Lake.

Three grizzly bears euthanized

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recently euthanized three grizzly bears in Northwest Montana because the bears were food conditioned and habituated to people.

Local home stager makes homes market-ready

Real estate is one local industry that has stayed strong amid the COVID-19 pandemic, so it seemed like no better time for Jamie Wenzel and Kim Rose to debut their new business.

Bigfork Fire Board purchases land to house new station

The Bigfork Rural Fire District Board recently purchased an 8.5-acre parcel of land from Carol and Ronald Pierce to serve as the future home of a new fire station.

Community invited to Clean Your ‘Fork event

Each year, on the last Saturday of April, 100 volunteers gather for breakfast before heading out as a community to do litter pickup along 10 miles of highway around Bigfork. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this event was postponed. However, with summer quickly approaching, the community is invited to come together and clean up Bigfork before visitors arrive.

Happy trails: Jewel Basin is a hiker’s paradise

The 15,000 acres of the Jewel Basin contain some of the most prized hiking and alpine fishing terrain in the Flathead Valley.

COVID-19 grants and how they apply to your business

The most fundamental function of the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce is supporting our business community.

Deep Dive into Flathead Lake Bio Station

Safety — that’s never really been a concept I’ve ever had to consider much. I come from a certain background, after all, the sort of socioeconomic make-up that’s afforded me an unquestionably privileged path through life.

Flathead County has two active COVID-19 cases

As of Monday morning, June 15, Flathead County had two active cases of COVID-19 after going two months without any confirmed positives, according to data from the county’s health department.

Planning board approves subdivision with pickleball court

The Flathead City-County Planning Board recommended approval for a 14-lot commercial subdivision on Montana 83, one of which will include a pickleball and event center, during their June 10 meeting.

Homicide suspect shot and killed at Woods Bay

A man who fired shots at local law enforcement officers in the Woods Bay area was killed the afternoon of Tuesday, June 9, following a high-speed chase in connection with the homicide of a 62-year-old woman at a residence west of Kalispell.

Casino robber gets five years in women’s prison

At her June 11 appearance in Flathead County District Court, Starks was sentenced to five years at the Montana Women’s Prison in Billings and ordered to pay $5,097.76 in restitution to the casino.

Montana Dragon Boat Festival canceled

The Montana Dragon Boat Festival won’t be converging on Bigfork this year due to COVID-19.

Campaigning carriage offers rides in Bigfork

Gene Bushnell stopped in Bigfork last Friday to offer rides on his handcrafted carriage while campaigning for President Donald Trump’s reelection. The stagecoach features an image of Trump’s face on the side along with the words, “Ride for the brand.”

Unlike many summer events, Bigfork Rodeo is a go

Providing a safe and fun environment will be the foremost priority for the Bigfork Summer Pro Rodeo next month as the event is scheduled to take place July 4-6.

Bigfork couple gets grizzly visitor

Dave Strawser got quite the surprise last Sunday while he was sipping his morning coffee at his Harbor Village home. Strawser rolled up the electric blinds around 6 a.m. that morning and spied what his wife describes as “a strange, black lump.” But then the dark mass moved — it was a bear, standing on its hindlegs, trying to reach a bird feeder hanging from a tree in the Strawser’s front yard. He ran to wake his wife, Jo.

Reeling in the years

Video expert keeps the past alive

For 15 years, Eric Bruer has been using his one-of-a-kind technological setup to transfer old videos onto modern media to preserve the images of these bygone people and places.

Bigfork’s Cusker fifth in Mack Days fishing tourney

No one has boated the $10,000 lake trout yet, but anglers are back in force on Flathead Lake in the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe’s Mack Days tournament.

Plans for alternate parade draw community concern, limited support

After the Bigfork Fourth of July Parade was canceled by the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce over concerns about maintaining state COVID-19 safety directives, one local man announced that he is taking over the reigns instead.

Demonstrators take a knee of silence

On Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Holt Drive and Montana 35, a group of approximately 20 people took a silent knee for 10 minutes in honor of “those whose voices are not heard."

Center awarded $166K grant for parking lot project

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has awarded a $166,000 grant to the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts to build a much-needed parking lot in downtown Bigfork, the organization announced Monday, June 8. The lot is currently under construction and once complete, will provide 74 spaces.

Bigfork High School Class of 2020

Bigfork High School graduation was held last Saturday, June 6.

Incumbent Noland to face off against Allen in HD10 race

Noland will face off against Democratic nominee Jennifer Allen in the Nov. 3 general election.

Computer access now available at local ImagineIf Libraries

Following guidance from the Flathead City/County Health Department, ImagineIF Libraries opened their doors last month offering new open hours. Enhanced safety measures are in place to protect the welfare of staff and customers including social distancing signage and floor markings, quarantining books and other materials, and frequently sanitizing high touch surfaces.

Homicide suspect shot and killed at Woods Bay

A man who allegedly fired shots at local law enforcement officers in the Woods Bay area was killed Tuesday afternoon following a high-speed chase in connection with the alleged homicide of a woman at a residence west of Kalispell, according to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino.

Douglass E. Dye

Douglass E. Dye, of Kalispell, passed away at home on Sunday, May 31, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Abell leads county commissioner race

Brad Abell was leading a nail-biting contest for the Republican nomination for Flathead County Commissioner as of 11 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Final election results from Flathead County

Results from the June 2 primary election in Flathead County, as of 2:24 a.m.

Wind storm pummels Ferndale region

A strong thunderstorm with damaging winds gusting up to 69 mph swept through the Flathead Valley Sunday morning, causing widespread power outages to more than half of Flathead Electric Cooperative customers at one point.

Fourth of July parade called off

Chamber cites community safety, social distancing concerns as reasons for canceling event

New organization looks out for teen mental health

Leanne Troesh is setting out to address that need throughout Northwest Montana.

Bigfork student creates new patrol car design

With the help of Bigfork High School senior Hattie Emslie, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department is unveiling a new look for its patrol vehicles.

Dinner and a show

Community members provide meals for quarantined playhouse members

Shannon Barrett organized a meal drive to provide dinners for the company members every other night during their quarantine.

Sights set on pro sports

Bigfork’s Brandon Hopkins would like nothing more than to become a professional athlete someday.

Flathead County primary election results

NONPARTISAN

Preliminary results from the June 2 primary election in Flathead County, as of 11 p.m.