Wednesday, August 31
Since 1939, Park has recorded 101 bear bite incidents
Hungry Horse News
CC teams run in time trials
The Columbia Falls High School cross country teams participated in the Kalispell time trials this weekend, an unscored practice meet.
Train derailment at Snowlip last week
More than 300 tons of corn spilled in wreck
CASA volunteers
Speak up for abused and neglected children in court by becoming a CASA volunteer. For an application, or to find out more information, call CASA for Kids, 755-7208. Applications are needed by Sept. 20 to qualify you for our fall training.
Spikers solid in debut
Hungry Horse News
Couple details Glacier Park bear mauling
An exclusive interview
James Allen Swigart
James Allen Swigart, 89, died at 12:30 am on Aug. 25, at the Hearth at Windermere in Fishers, Ind.
Glacier at a Gallop coming soon
Barring any major problems, the Hungry Horse News' first book should be available sometime next week. The exact arrival date for Glacier at Gallop depends largely on when the truck can get it here.
A football fan in the worst way
Obsession is a strange thing.
Wildcats gear up for opener
Hungry Horse News
Thursday, August 25
Being friendly
On the cover of a recent issue of Modern Maturity it listed and article on Page 28 titled "User Friendly Tools for Home and Garden."
Ray Ramstad
Ray L. Ramstad, 61, died peacefully Aug. 17, 2005, in his home in Mayville, N.D. He was under the loving care of Hospice of the Red River Valley, whom the family wished to gratefully thank for their excellent loving care.
County fair time
County fairs always bring back memories for me and this year's Kalispell fair was no different.
In poor taste
Your article from George Ostrom (8/4/05) was not only un-newsworthy but also offensive.
Roy Arnold
Roy N. Arnold, 78, passed away Aug. 14, 2005, at the Washington State Veterans Home in Spokane.
Truth and justice
I am writing in response to the recent interview with city judge candidate Valarie Eve reported in the Whitefish Free Press.
Bigfork Eagle editorial
Mass-ive undertaking
sports04
Steve Gold and Chelsea Ray were the men's and women's club champions at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course. Gold had a combined score of 142, winning by three shots. Ray won her first championship in a one-hole shootout after tying at 160 with Maresa Jenson. At 15, Ray is the youngest champion in the club's history. Tyler Holtet took the boys junior championship with 148. Carroll Lilly and Dave Morberg tied for the men's senior with 146, and Ellen O'Hara won the women's senior with 165.
Big tournament week
This past Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the Whitefish Lake Golf Course hosted the Northwest Sectional Qualifier for the Club Professionals in our region. The group consists of some excellent players capable of competing on the PGA Tour.
No fishing allowed
I have been coming to Montana for several years and love the state so much that last year I brought close to 100 family and friends with me to celebrate my birthday at Flathead Lake Lodge.
Fighting the juggernaut
The serenity of Friday morning, Aug. 19, was shattered for those of us living in proximity to the Kootenai Lodge with the beginning advance of the Milhous Group juggernaut in its evisceration of not only our neighborhood but a national, state and county treasure.
Wednesday, August 24
Linoln L. "Linc" France
Lincoln L. "Linc" France, 84, passed away Sunday, Aug. 21 at the North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.
Backcountry burglar
So after supper and a nap Saturday I grabbed my fly rod and pack from my Belly River camp and hoofed it about a mile or so back up to the trail to a place where I thought fishing would be good.
Glacier will build transit center near Apgar to ease traffic
Hungry Horse News
France, Darling, community leaders
Hungry Horse News
The worst waitress in the history of time
"So what do you guys want?" this overly tanned and sporadically tattooed waitress asked bluntly.
Team speed to be key for football team
Hungry Horse News
Park Poet
Hungry Horse News
Chris Peterson photo
Doug Follett can be seen, and heard in many Park locations, including on tours of the DeSmet, which offers visitors a great boating and cultural experience on Lake McDonald.
State champs look to repeat
Hungry Horse News
Ice cream social
Celebrate summer with an old-fashioned Ice Cream Social and hymn sing, to take place in the Historic Whitefish First Presbyterian Church, Monday evening, Aug. 29th at 7 p.m. Ice cream with toppings will be served in the Fellowship Hall following. For more information, call 862-2802 or go to: www.fpcwhitefish.org.
Volleyball tips off fall sports
Hungry Horse News
Thursday, August 18
Watering hole up in flames
Another landmark in the "last best place" bit the dust when the Blue Moon Saloon in Divide burned to the ground July 22.
Sports01
Chandler Melton / Whitefish Pilot
Irving L. "Irv" Roth
Irving L. "Irv" Roth, age 79, passed away on Friday, Aug. 12, 2005 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Sex offender nabbed in Whitefish
Last week, the Whitefish Police Department arrested Michele Evonne Malady, age 41, of Great Falls on a $75,000 warrant issued by Cascade County for sexual intercourse without consent.
Joseph Lewellen
Joseph Francis Lewellen, 81, of Fort Belknap, passed away Aug. 8, 2005, at Colonial Manor in Whitefish, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Whitefish Lake Lodge support
Regarding The Lodge at Whitefish Lake project, thank you to all the people who have called and expressed their support for our project on Whitefish Lake.
Ruby Loy
Ruby E. Loy passed away Aug. 11, 2005, of congestive heart failure at the age of 86.
A letter from the editor
My dog saved me
'The Park' through others' eyes
Letters from readers, listeners, and hiking acquaintances are one of the treasured bonuses of my lifestyle. The wondrous part of the world we live in becomes even more precious when we see how others are enriched by even a brief visit. Let me share a few examples:
John Floyd
John Grady Floyd entered the Kingdom of Heaven on Aug. 11, 2005, after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Catholic church to be dedicated this weekend
The first Catholic Church named for the late Pope John Paul II will be formally dedicated on Sunday, Aug. 21. The Most Reverend George Leo Thomas, Bishop of Helena, will preside over the Mass of Dedication at 10:30 a.m. Immediately following the Mass, parishioners will celebrate with a parish picnic. At 2 p.m., there will be the formal blessing and dedication of the Walker Digital Organ and Yamaha Piano followed by a joint recital by guest artists Mark C. Jones and Jeffri Bantz.
Waiting in line
Whitefish drivers probably won't see the traffic situation at Baker Ave. and Second St. East improve any time soon.
Whitefish Lake Golf Club awards new champions
New Club Champions
Schools learn to be tobacco-free
In just a few days, Montana children will head back to school. On Oct. 1, Montana's new Clean Indoor Air Act goes into effect, providing students and teachers with a healthier environment in which to learn and work.
Sports03
Tanya McCully, of Whitefish, got a hole-in-one on the 100-yard third hole at Par 3 on 93 0n Aug. 13. It was witnessed by Jim McCully. This may be the last hole-in-one at Par 3 on 93. Golfers have through Aug. 21 to try to be the last person to get an ace there.
The letter from Dick Skees (Whitefish Pilot Aug. 11) which claims that Flathead County Commissioner Gary Hall is a RINO (Republican in name only) was so weird it must be answered.
From the viewpoint of a Republican activist in Flathead County since 1956 until my retirement from active politics in 2004, I can state with certainty that Gary Hall is a real Republican.
Schools, children and Montana's Clean Indoor Air Act
It's about health; it's coming soon and now is the time to begin. In just a few days, Montana children will head back to school. Within the next few weeks, on Oct. 1, Montana's new Clean Indoor Air Act goes into effect, providing students and teachers with a healthier environment in which to learn and work.Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke takes an enormous toll on the health of Montanans, especially the children, our most innocent and vulnerable citizens. Nearly 90 percent of smokers take up this deadly habit at or before the age of 18.With more than 22.9 percent of Montana high school students regularly smoking cigarettes and with more than 52,000 being regularly exposed to secondhand smoke, why further jeopardize their health by waiting until Oct. 1 to take action?Secondhand smoke contains more than 60 known or probable carcinogens and more than 4,000 chemicals, including: formaldehyde, arsenic, cyanide and carbon monoxide.While most people focus on the increased risk of heart disease, lung cancer and other cancers from smoking, we also believe that the harm to children from their own smoking or other tobacco use has health consequences that can impact them quite rapidly.Those consequences include illnesses such as periodontal disease, chronic coughing, emphysema, bronchitis, mild airway obstruction and reduced lung function.Tough and enforceable tobacco-free policies, such as the Clean Indoor Air Act, can reduce these tobacco related illnesses and the staggering cost of treating them.Montana's new Clean Indoor Air Act provides a tobacco-free environment in all school buildings, at all school functions, and, in fact anywhere on school property, including in the grandstands. In our elementary and high schools, the Act will prohibit all forms of tobacco, including spit tobacco.That means playgrounds, parking lots, athletic fields, all rooms, and school buses will be tobacco-free starting this October.The law even extends to colleges and universities, where smoking or chewing indoors will no longer be allowed. Cigarettes, cigars and spit tobacco will no longer have a place in or around any Montana school.Tobacco-free policies often provide extra encouragement to current tobacco users to help them in their quest to quit their deadly habit. We encourage all Montana tobacco users to try to quit - for their sake and the sake of their loved ones.For assistance in kicking the habit, we encourage them to call 1-866-485-QUIT.As Montana takes these first steps to join many other states—and entire countries—in becoming smoke-free, we encourage every resident and each legislator to work with our schools to kick off the new year tobacco-free, and not wait until Oct. 1 to start protecting our children.School bells are ready to ring for another new year and right now is the perfect time to encourage everyone to do their part in keeping tobacco away from our children and out of schools. Take the lead; do it today.Over the next few weeks, we will address how this new law also applies to other businesses that serve the public.Again, we encourage everyone to start now and keep tobacco smoke outside, tobacco off of school property and away from our children as Montana moves to make exposure to secondhand smoke a of the Big Sky state's storied past.A copy of the law (HB 643) can be found at the Montana Legislature Web site,
Wednesday, August 17
Chris Peterson photos
Wildlife rehabilitator Lynn Vaught releases a bald eagle that was injured along the Flathead River in Columbia Falls about a month ago back into the wild Sunday. The eagle wouldn't hop out of the dog kennel, so she took the top off. The bird sustained a wound and had a maggot-infested infection in its wing before being nursed back to health.
CFAC's history an interesting journey
The Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. has an interesting and fascinating past. Spurred in part by the creation of the Hungry Horse Dam, CFAC was an idea whose time had come.
Columbia Falls sports begin in earnest
Practices for the Columbia Falls High School sports teams will be more meaningful this week as they prepare for their opening games.
Fugitive still on the loose
Hungry Horse News
Ups and downs on the Highline
My family is visiting me this week.
Guidelines on research, reprints
Over the past few weeks I've had quite a few calls asking for me or the staff of this newspaper to do in-depth research for someone. While I'm fairly flattered that they called or sent out an e-mail and even thought of us to begin with, the bottomline is we simply don't have time to do research for folks.
Once wounded, now free
Hungry Horse News
Douglas Bruce Tibke
Douglas Bruce Tibke, 84, died Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.
In Glacier, life is lonely at the top, and that suits them just fine
Hungry Horse News
Tuesday, August 16
South Fork reopens
Hungry Horse News
Saturday, August 13
South Fork reopens
Hungry Horse News
Thursday, August 11
River city
When August's heat proves too much, most people head for the water. But glaring sun and steaming beaches don't offer much respite.
Norman G. Borgen
Norman G. Borgen, 86, passed away at Immanual Lutheran Home, and was welcomed into the hands of the Lord on Tuesday, August 2.
Chose forgiveness
Aug. 12 marks the 12th anniversary of a heinous crime that took place in your beautiful town of Bigfork and forever left me and my family with pain and sorrow.
Tasers too extreme for police use
Should the police use Tasers? A new weapon is now used by the Butte police to bring people to jail. Since the recent acquisition of the Tasers, the police have used them on two occasions. The second incident ended in death for a 42-year-old Butte man. Tasers are lethal weapons and should not be used.
Griz trees Glacier fisherman
Hungry Horse News
2005 fall hunting preview
Mild winter means stable big game populations
New tissue issue
The opening paragraph from a news story on the AP wire for July 22 really got my attention. This is verbatim. I am not making this up.
Howard Terry
Howard Peter Terry, 89, beloved husband, father and friend, passed peacefully from this world on July 28, 2005, in his Kalispell home.
It could be worse
News of the Flathead Lake monster making recent appearances should be treated with respect and kindness.
Officials apply Stage II fire restrictions in northwest Montana
Wild fire season has arrived.
Columbia Falls
releases fall sports
Howard Sellers
Howard L. Sellers, age 60, of Anniston, Ala., died Aug. 3, 2005.
Edward Frank Strachota
Edward Frank Strachota, age 78, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005 at his home in Kalispell.
Questions Bush
Today, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005, a distraught and trembling mother whose son was killed in Iraq stood before cameras outside Pres. Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch, with hundreds of others protesting the war, and asked our 'brush clearing Bush' to tell her just why we are in Iraq.
With my arms full of junk, I waddled up the staircase of my new apartment building this weekend, beads of sweat dripping down my face.
I turned the corner on my floor and the door next to mine was wide open. An older man and woman were having a heated discussion about how fast kids drive these days.
Lucas Floren
Lucas James Floren, 21, of Whitefish and formerly of Havre, died in a motorcycle accident between Kalispell and Whitefish on July 30, 2005.
Old mining laws
One of the most polluted rivers in the United States is our Clark Fork in Northwestern Montana. It is filled with layers of toxic mine waste from more than 100 years of indiscriminate dumping from the Butte and Anaconda mines.
Spoon Lake Moose meets sad ending
Hungry Horse News
Fire wreaks some havoc south of Eureka Sunday night
Hungry Horse News
Maternity home wish
During my April visit to Bigfork, I was pleased to find so many people who had a heart for the girls and babies of the Florence Crittenton Home. As school starts we hope you might open your hearts again to Montana's girls in need.
Bum fashion
So I was sitting there in my truck in the parking lot of a store the other day in just a tiny bit of a panic. Panic because I had just told Boy Wonder we could go to McDonalds and get French fries.
Fires close Bob Marshall trails
Hungry Horse News
Highway money
Montanans should thank their lucky stars — and their congressmen — for the $2 billion the state stands to get in the new six-year federal highway bill.
Jim King
I recently noticed the signs annoucing the U.S. Highway 93 bypass around Kalispell. Now I see that plan is being modified. For years, Whitefish has been talking about a bypass.
50th party
The family and friends of Carrol and Beverly Sorensen would like you to help celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Please join them for a reception in their honor on Sunday Aug. 21 at the North Valley Senior Center in Columbia Falls from 2 to 4 p.m.
Golf team practice
The Whitefish High School golf team begins practice at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 15. All interested students grades 9-12 are welcome to attend and participate on the golf team for 2005. Every student that wants to participate may do so. We have never cut anyone from the team.
Bigfork Eagle editorial
It's good to believe
Thursday, August 4
Rumors and conspiracies
Here at the newspaper office, we hear a lot of rumors and conspiracy theories. Sometimes, if the timing is right, we get all jacked up on a news tip before we finally get sidetracked to what we're really supposed to be doing — covering day-to-day events.
Why wilderness
Recently I was in attendance as the Kootenai National Forest unveiled its proposed Forest Plan Starting Option. When someone in the audience asked the question, "What good is wilderness?" I just rolled my eyes and shrugged it off. But after the meeting, the question stayed with me, and I've been thinking about an answer ever since.
Our town is lucky to have such a wonderful group of talented singers and actors who are gracing our stage this summer with My Fair Lady.
Kudos to them all — Betsi, Dan, Luke and all the others, and the two pianists.
August brings tournaments
Club Championship Aug. 13-14
Shrimping for answers in the lake
Anglers were ecstatic in the 1960s while fishing in the west arm of Kootenay Lake in British Columbia. Kokanee salmon had never been so plentiful or so plump. Who would have believed that a half-inch invertebrate, the opossum shrimp (Mysis relicta), planted in the early 1950s, would allow the kokanee population to gorge themselves as if partaking in an "all you can eat" buffet line?
We in Whitefish are very fortunate for numerous things. One thing that constantly amazes me is the ability of the community to work together to accomplish projects that enhance our quality of life.
From the O'Shaughnessy Center to the Ice Den to The Wave and on and on, Whitefish is a small town with great amenities made possible by big-hearted people.
Wednesday, August 3
Fire restrictions currently in effect
Effective midnight Wednesday, Aug. 3, Stage 1 fire restrictions will go into effect in Northwest Montana. Stage 1 fire restrictions limit smoking to buildings, enclosed vehicles, and developed campgrounds, and limits all campfires to developed or improved recreation sites or developed campgrounds on the lands under the jurisdiction of the wildland fire suppression agencies in Northwest Montana including: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Flathead National Forest, Kootenai National Forest, Lake County, Sanders County, Lincoln County, Flathead County, Region 1 of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), and US Fish & Wildlife Service.
There were some familiar names at the top of the leaderboard for the Boogie to the Bank race during Heritage Days Saturday.
There was also a racer from the past, who edged one of the top racers of the future.
Cape Blanco Lighthouse
We ducked our heads into the gale-force north wind to reach the entrance of Cape Blanco Lighthouse, which sits high above the Pacific Ocean on 47.7 acres.
I'd say that right now, my teeth have never, ever been cleaner.
I'm serious.
Thanks for making Relay for Life a success
A big Tip o' the Hat goes out to the generous donors who made the first Bigfork Relay for Life a success. Foremost, thank you to the team members and those who gave money to support those individuals. Because of you, the event raised nearly $70,000. The following list are the individuals and businesses instrumental in the event:
Case could determine fate of helicopter logging
Hungry Horse News
Family hopes lifelong battle versus daughter's seizures is over
Hungry Horse News
Out of wedlock
Two weeks ago on July 21, serious hiking and climbing enthusiasts from all over North America gathered at St. Mary to honor the memory of our fallen hero, Dr. Gordon Edwards. During testimony about his varied and exciting life, there was a short mention made of his association with the famed writer Ogden Nash and a poem from long ago.
Henry W. (Bill) Miller
Henry W. (Bill) Miller died at the age of 74 at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center after an extended illness.
Swim team finishes season fifth at state
The Columbia Falls Swim Team had two individual state champions, one relay championship and finished fifth overall at the 2005 State swim meet held in Chinook.
Joyful, joyful we adore thee
My mother and stepfather, Jim, are here on vacation and that can only mean one thing: The joy of golf.That's right, I said it: The joy of golf.
C. Falls man charged in child porn case
Hungry Horse News
Grizzlies have great sniffers
Hungry Horse News
Three-on-three tourney popular once more
The Columbia Falls Heritage Days Three-on-Three baseketball tournament, presented annually by the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce, was a success once more.
