The best of 2006 part I

Jan. 5

BLUAC controversy

Last week's Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee meeting had all the elements of a great Shakespearean play—intrigue, antagonists, strong plot development and most of all, drama. Surprising when there was only one item on the agenda.

The stage was set directly after chairman Scott Hollinger called the meeting to order. Fellow committee member Phil Hanson called a Point of Order and asked for the discharge of Hollinger and Tim Calaway due to each having five absences in 2005.

Hollinger responded by stating that the absences were excused.

"How can you do justice to the people if you aren't here—excused or not?" BLUAC member John Bourquin asked. "You are not serving the public. I'd be embarrassed if I were you sitting over there."

"You shouldn't be chairing the meeting. Five meetings out of 12—you're not doing your job," Hanson added.

In the newly amended bylaws it states, "Any committee member who misses three consecutive meetings, or a total of five meetings in a calendar year, shall be dismissed and replaced. Vacancies occurring on the committee shall be filed within 30 days. Appointments will be made by the BLUAC, and appointees will serve until the next election."

Jan. 12

Dog shooting

On New Year's Eve Phyllis Russell was resting at home after a hard day's work when the screaming howls of a wounded animal made her run out to investigate. To her horror she discovered the sounds coming from her own dog, Thor, who crawled home with an arrow stuck in his abdomen. John Pilling, a resident living a few houses from her on Alpine Drive in the Echo Lake area, shot the dog with a bow and arrow for crossing his yard.

"I've never seen anything so cruel in my life. That dog screamed and screamed—it was awful," Russell said. "He had an arrow bigger than a dime sticking out of his right side. This guy has threatened other neighbors saying he would shoot any animal who walked through his yard, but I never thought he would do something like this. I then called the police because I wasn't going to let this go, not only did he shoot my dog with a bow and arrow, but a person with a weapon like that is a threat to the neighborhood."

Thor, a 2-year old mix breed, suffered major trauma to one of the kidneys, ripped intestines and the arrow was logged in his back. The dog was immediately taken to the North Shore Veterinary Clinic where he underwent emergency surgery to repair the damage and is now expected to survive the ordeal with careful monitoring by its owner.

Russell was cited with a dog-at-large charge and Pilling was cited with cruelty to animals.

Jan. 19

Members dismissed

In a vote of 2 to 1, Flathead County Commissioners decided to dismiss Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee members Scott Hollinger and Tim Calaway for absences.

During a one-hour hearing Tuesday at 11 a.m., commissioners Joe Brenneman and Gary Hall voted to remove Hollinger and Calaway, while Gary Watne opposed the dismissal. The hearing was a result of a letter to the commissioners from BLUAC members John Bourquin and Phil Hanson. In the letter it stated, "We request the county commissioners send Scott Hollinger and Tim Calaway a letter stating they are dismissed from the BLUAC effective at 4 PM on 12/29/05 for failure to comply with the Resignation or Termination paragraph of the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee Policies and Procedures Amended 12/19/2000 and Amended 12/8/2005. The resignation or termination paragraph states and we quote 'Any committee member who misses three consecutive meetings, or a total of five meetings in a calendar year shall be dismissed and replaced.'"

"I don't consider it a victory, it just had to be done," Hanson said in a post-hearing interview.

Jan. 26

Montessori Academy

Middle school can be the most difficult time period in an adolescent's life. The transition from elementary to high school can be difficult as social pressures mount and hormone-laced emotions run high. A new school—the first of its kind in Montana—aims to not only address the academic needs of students, but also their physical, social and emotional needs as well.

The Flathead Valley Montessori Academy will open its doors in Somers this fall, and those doors have some historical significance. Not only will this be the first Montessori middle school in the state, but the academy's main building will be the former Catholic church in Bigfork. St. Catherine's Church will be prepared for the move in February, and transported to 330 N. Somers Road in March. Flathead Valley Montessori Academy founders Jeff and Stephanie Pernell recently purchased the former church after seeing an advertisement in the Mountain Trader. The couple said they are very excited to have the school ready for its pilot program.

"Our mission is to deliver an exceptional educational experience by providing an optimal environment with Montessori academics while honoring adolescence as a period of greater transformation and extraordinary growth," states the academy's introductory brochure.

According to the Pernell's the Montessori philosophy of education deals with the whole child—mind, body and spirit—by addressing each student's unique needs and goals.

"Instead of having a curriculum that is taught to an entire classroom, this is more individualized," Stephanie said.

"The current system doesn't recognize the transition that happens during the middle school years," Jeff added.

Feb. 2

New bowling alley

The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee gave their approval to a proposed bowling alley near the intersection of Highway 82 and 35.

A conditional use permit submitted by Louwania and Dennis Pickavance was reviewed by the committee last Thursday. The structure will be located approximately 1,000 feet from the intersection on Highway 82, adjacent to Putting on the Ritz in the Ridgeview commercial subdivision. The center will replace the existing North Shore Lanes on Grand Avenue.

In the county planner's report it noted that the center will be serviced by Bigfork Fire and Ambulance as well as Bigfork Water and Sewer. A parking lot with 100 spaces will be part of the facility, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

In her presentation to the BLUAC, Lou Pickavance noted, "The purpose of this move is for expansion. We cannot expand where we are now."

She added that the new bowling center will feature 20 lanes, whereas the current center only has 12.

"We can't facilitate the community as good as we should," Pickavance said.

State speech

Five of the six members of the Bigfork High School Speech Team qualified for and competed in the state tournament held in Columbia Falls this past weekend, Jan. 27-28. Amy Kuhn walked away from the competition with first place in Impromtu Speaking.

"This is a remarkable accomplishment for Amy. She has worked towards this for the last four years," said the team's coach Bradley Wirth.

Kuhn's category of speech requires her to prepare a 3-5 minute speech on a randomly picked topic.

"You have to have a well-crafted sense of how a speech goes and know a little bit of everything," Wirth said.

Twenty-four speakers qualified for state from district competitions, which they also had to qualify for, placing Kuhn at the top of hundreds of speakers. Jamie Morgenstern also placed in the Impromtu Speaking category, finishing third, while Kelsey Smith finished seventh in Expository Speaking and Abby Rundle placed fifth in Serious Solo Acting. Corinna Torgerson was a semi-finalist in Humorous Oral Interpretation of Literature.

Feb. 16

Murder shocks family

Daniel Thompson was in grade school when he first got to know his cousin Larry Roedel. Known as Buzz by family members, Roedel moved in with the Thompson family while going through a divorce. Daniel's sister Dawn was six years his senior, and by the time she was 17, she was pregnant with her first child. Roedel was the father, and he was nearly twice Dawn's age.

"I came home from school one day and mom and dad were just mad as hell," Daniel said. "They had thrown him out of the house and Dawn was gone too."

Years later, Roedel would stand accused of Dawn Thompson's murder, and now its Daniel's turn to be mad as hell. To exacerbate an all ready tumultuous deed, an associate of Roedel's was charged last week for using the deceased's credit card in the access of $5,000.

Dawn Thompson was shot with a semi-automatic revolver and died at her Ferndale home on Aug 29. Her brother and sister-in-law were at home in Kalispell when emergency medical crews called their home late that night. Daniel and JoAnne Thompson were told that an incident had occurred, no one was hurt, and they needed to drive down to pick up the five children at the house. When they arrived, they were told to wait at the Ferndale Market, right next to the Shady Lane home of Thompson and Roedel. The couple waited about 45 minutes before investigators made contact. When they got to the house, the Thompsons learned the worst.

"An officer met us and said Dawn didn't make it," JoAnne said.

Daniel's reaction was "complete shock—I couldn't believe it," he said.

The children, ranging in ages from 18 to 5, were separated—the two youngest were in the house with Detective Jeanne Landis, and the three older kids were sitting in a police car. Three of the children were home at the time of the shooting.

"The kids knew—the three oldest didn't really say anything the whole ride home, and the two youngest didn't really understand," JoAnne said.

She added that the kids were not really surprised by the tragedy. Roedel was known for his jealousy and fury. Daniel described him as "very domineering, paranoid and jealous." And in the house, Daniel noted, Dawn was belittled and bullied.

"There was a rank structure in the house, and she was at the bottom," he said.

Unfortunately, Dawn didn't reach out to her family. The public facade she and Roedel presented did not match the domestic reality.

"We never knew half the stuff that was going on in that house," Daniel said. "They were just living a lie."

Dawn did, however, start to confide in friends that she was thinking of leaving Roedel. She had just received a raise at her job with the Postal Service, and could entertain thoughts of independence.

"She had told him that she was outta there, and I think that's what did it," Daniel said.

But, in truth, the motive behind Dawn's murder may never be known. What is known is that five kids have been caught up in a tragedy—even before any shots were fired. Daniel and JoAnne became the children's guardians after Roedel was arrested. With two children of their own, the Thompson house is at maximum capacity. Even so, Dawn's children "are adjusting really well" in their new environment. They have started to open up and relay some of the ill-treatment and neglect suffered under Roedel's heavy hand, the Thompsons said.

Feb. 23

"Fake" robbery

Tall Pine bartender John Beaubien is thankful that not all criminals are master-minds. An attempted robbery at 1 a.m. Tuesday in the Bigfork establishment was thwarted when the would-be assailant made the mistake of putting down his gun.

"A man in a black ski mask came around the corner, pointed a gun at me and said, 'This is a hold-up, give me all your money,'" Beaubien said.

Nobody else was in the bar. Beaubien went to the business' till while the robber faced him on the other side of the bar. That's when the brigand made his criminally stupid error.

"As I'm getting the money out of the till, he put his gun on the bar and I grabbed it from him," Beaubien said.

The robber proceeded to pull off his ski mask as Beaubien dialed the 911. The man, John Wilson of Bigfork, protested the call to the police.

"He said, 'I'm just trying to teach you guys a lesson about what could happen,'" Beaubien relayed. "Now he's the one who is going to learn the lesson."

Wilson's car was backed into a handicapped parking space in front of the Tall Pine, and was left running. He was arrested within minutes by Flathead County Sheriff's officers.

"Oh man, this is classic. He sat the gun down to pick up the money," Flathead County Sheriff's Detective Bruce Parish said.

Although he didn't get away with any money, Wilson has been charged with robbery.

March 9

Roadless rules

The Flathead County Roadless Rule Taskforce submitted its management recommendations of the county's roadless national forest lands to the county board of commissioners on March 1. The forest management recommendations were submitted following a three-month collaboration by 12 commissioner-appointed taskforce members.

The taskforce majority recommendations called for "maximum flexibility for alternative management practices" that can be determined on a site-by-site basis.

The taskforce's "conservation minority" favored maintaining current roadless designations for Flathead County national forest lands.

The taskforce is part of a statewide effort to solicit public input and provide county-by-county management recommendations of national forest roadless areas. The recommendation directive came from Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who will submit Montana's forest management recommendations to the Bush administration by December.

The taskforce majority report was supported by 7 of 12 taskforce members. Opposing majority and minority opinions ranged from timber and wildlife management to recreational use.

Both sides expressed frustration about the taskforce's inability to remain focused. The primary directive set forth by Gov. Schweitzer charged the taskforce with determining whether construction of new roads was necessary in existing Flathead National Forest roadless areas. The taskforce must explain how and by whom new roads would be funded, as well.

The majority opinion of the taskforce stated, "We (the taskforce majority) emphasize the need for the petition to address all long term management needs, not just immediate road needs."

Minority member Vic Workman, a local realtor and member of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, said he was "disenfranchised" by the majority's attitude of straying from the task at hand.

Workman called the majority's recommendations "short-sighted" and said there was early evidence of a majority opinion that favored removing roadless designation from Flathead County national forest lands.

Workman hinted that the multiple-use faction did not want continuation of roadless designation to serve as a "stepping stone" for blanket protections of remaining forest lands, which some fear may affect future recreation and economic opportunities.

March 16

School funding brings lawsuit

An ongoing lawsuit against the state of Montana charging that the state has not met its constitutional obligation of adequately funding public schools will continue. The two-year old lawsuit remains active despite a proclamation by Gov. Brian Schweitzer that the state had resolved the funding debate.

Schweitzer made the declaration at the annual Montana Quality Education Coalition (MQEC) membership meeting on Jan. 30.

More than 80 public school districts representing the MQEC across the state have taken issue with the governor's funding proposal, suggesting it takes a too familiar approach of inadequate, single-year funding for many programs.

Superintendent of Bigfork Public Schools, Russ Kinzer, said the MQEC membership felt "lectured" and disagreed with the governor's proclamation.

"I figured there would be some discussion regarding whether there was need to go back to court, but it quickly became 'when'?" Kinzer said, referring to the MQEC reaction to the governor's speech.

Kinzer said the MQEC will return to court in April to request a status report of the state's progress in addressing a constitutional and court-ordered mandate to adequately fund public education. MQEC will present evidence that it feels shows the state has failed to satisfy the court order. Further, the MQEC will file a motion for a Show-Cause hearing to occur after the 2007 state legislative session has concluded. This hearing will again ask the court to determine whether the state has come into compliance.

Kinzer said that MQEC input into a means of providing adequate funding, specifically through its Montana's Promise proposal, has been largely ignored by the governor and much of the Legislature.

"I think it's unfortunate," Kinzer said, referring to the need for continued court action. "The public and students certainly aren't served well by that difference of opinion and contention."

March 23

Ferndale drug bust

An investigation by the Northwest Drug Task Force culminated in the arrest of a Ferndale man last week.

Robert Butterworth, age 52, was arrested March 1 on charges of manufacture of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of paraphernalia.

According to Lake County Undersheriff Mike Sargeant, a Special Response Team armed with a warrant entered Butterworth's home at 126 South Ferndale Dr. at around 8:30 a.m. He was booked and released without bond later that day.

"The team was notified that there could be firearms involved and there was potential for violence, but the arrest was made without incident and he was processed and released," Sargeant said.

March 30

Flathead Lake's clean bill of health

Flathead Lake water is some of the cleanest in the world according to Dr. Jack Stanford, director of the University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station at Yellow Bay.

Stanford addressed a crowd of Flathead Valley citizens Sunday in the latest John White Series talk offered by the Northwest Montana Historical Society at the Museum at Central School in Kalispell.

Stanford's lecture "Flathead Lake: Purity on the Edge" provided a glimpse of the past, present and future health of Flathead Lake. A summary of nearly 30 years of biological station research presented a marvelous yet sobering understanding of the most prominent challenges and threats to the lake, as well as the multitude of natural dynamics that support the lake's high water quality.

"There isn't another lake of its size anywhere in the world that has the quality of water that this lake does," Stanford said.

Stanford preceded that statement by saying Flathead Lake has the cleanest water of the 300 largest lakes in the world in which people live in the catchment area. A catchment area is essentially a large basin that gathers water. Stanford defined Flathead Lake's catchment area as the floodplain "lands between the lakes," or all land between Glacier National Park and the Thompson Lakes, Whitefish Lake and Swan Lake.

Stanford explained that the lake's clean water is a result of the shear size and water filtering capabilities of the upstream catchment area. He explained that most of that water that flows through the catchment comes from Glacier Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex, which serve as undisturbed areas. Stanford called Flathead Lake a "jewel at the endpoint of its large catch basin."

Flathead Lake has an average depth of 150 feet and a maximum depth of 300 feet. Its catchment is so large, if the lake were drained, it would take only three and a half years to naturally refill from snowmelt runoff and river flow. Lake Tahoe, in comparison, would take 700 years to refill.

Stanford introduced a list of "vital signs" he said determines the overall health of Flathead Lake's water quality.

Lake vitals include fish and aquatic species living in the lake, as well as food web changes that have occurred over time, pollution in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus loading, the health of upstream floodplains and land-use patterns.

Stanford explained the lake has undergone a major change in food web ecology since the late 1800s in terms of types of fish species in the lake, but the water quality has changed very little over time.

April 13

On the night of Aug. 27, 2005, Larry Roedel shot his common-law wife Dawn Thompson and killed her. The question during his trial last week was did Roedel do it knowingly and purposefully. The jury determined he did.

After just an hour and a half of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict Thursday afternoon. Roedel, who now faces up to 100 years in prison for the murder and another possible 10 for use of a gun in the crime, maintained he shot his wife in self defense and that it was an accident.

The four-day trial focused a great deal on forensic evidence to determine the nature of the shooting. The incident occurred in the couple's Ferndale home Aug. 27 at around 11 p.m. During the 911 call placed by Roedel three minutes after the shooting and played by defense attorney Jack Quatman during closing arguments, Roedel told the dispatcher, "God damn it, I think I shot my wife." The couple's 15-year-old daughter Emily is later heard on the tape attempting to give directions to the Shady Lane house. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Thompson's body at the foot of a staircase leading from the garage into the home.

April 20

BLUAC elections

An audience of more than 50 community members listened to campaign platforms from four citizens vying for three open seats on the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee at a public forum. What they heard was essentially two distinct opinions on the appropriate future of development in Bigfork.

Three candidates—Shelley Gonzales, Paul Guerrant and Mary Jo Naive—appear to have joined forces in their campaign efforts, handing out notecard-size flyers at the forum with individual profiles and the title "Bigfork Citizens for Sensible Growth." Gonzales, Guerrant and Scott Hollinger are vying for two three-year BLUAC terms. Naive is the only candidate seeking to fill a one-year term.

Candidates were given three minutes to introduce themselves and express their interests in serving on the BLUAC. The forum consisted of five questions answered within a three-minute time limit. Three minutes were also provided for closing remarks.

The three-person faction claims 79 years of combined experience in the banking, gas and electrical utility, and small business ownership fields. Hollinger has more than 26 years in the real estate field.

Preserving Bigfork's small-town friendliness, business vitality, rural character and open spaces, as well as the surrounding clean air and water and abundant wildlife headlined Gonzales', Guerrant's and Naive's vision of tomorrow's Bigfork and BLUAC's responsibilities to community members as they relate to managing growth and development. The three candidates spoke of promoting economic growth, supporting planned residential growth for all sectors of the community and promoting commercial development in suitable areas. According to the three candidates, those activities would best be implemented by adhering to the Bigfork Area Land Use Plan (BFALUP) and established zoning parameters. Each supports developer impact fees to lessen the amount to which Bigfork citizens assume costs of new development and necessary supporting infrastructure. Views on personal property rights are "synonymous" with neighborhood rights. Maintaining and paying taxes on a piece of property affords a property owner the right to manage his or her property in any manner desired provided that does not devaluate a neighbor's property or infringe on a neighbor's property rights.

April 27

Search for pilot

It is like the Titanic of Flathead Lake. Like the famed sunken liner, a crew will search watery depths to locate and video a plane that crashed into Flathead Lake 45 years ago.

On March 21, 1960 at about 7 p.m., a U.S. Navy fighter jet—a F9F Cougar—crashed into Flathead Lake. After doing a second fly over Yellow Bay and while setting up for a third pass, the pilot of the aircraft developed catastrophic engine failure over Wild Horse Island resulting in the crash. The pilot, Marine Corps Captain reservist John F. Eaheart, was in his second week annual training stationed at Alameda Naval Air Station in California. Eaheart was a full time Western Airlines Pilot based out of Missoula. His fiancee, who lived in Yellow Bay, was a Western Airlines stewardess based out of Kalispell.

After a week-long search, there was no recovery of the pilot or the plane.

May 11

Pilot found

For 46 years the body of Marine Corps Captain reservist John F. Eaheart has rested at the bottom of Flathead Lake, far from the light of day and the progression of time. But it took just a short matter of time for searchers to discover Eaheart's remains after looking for less than two weeks.

On March 21, 1960 at about 7 p.m., a U.S. Navy fighter jet—a F9F Cougar—crashed into Flathead Lake. After doing a second flyover Yellow Bay and while setting up for a third pass, the pilot of the aircraft developed catastrophic engine failure over Wild Horse Island resulting in the crash. Eaheart was just 32 years old at the time of his death.

On Friday at about 4 p.m., searchers John Gisselbrecht, and Gene and Sandy Ralston from Idaho made an important discovery. Using a submersible video camera, the team was looking along the lake floor at about 276 feet below the surface when a black spot caught Gisselbrecht's eye. After blowing off some silt, the black spot turned out to be a military boot.

"It was an absolute shock," Gisselbrecht said. "It was literally a needle in a haystack. The plane I expected, but it is beyond all belief that we saw that."

May 25

At the age of 80, Les Averill wrote a short but meaningful note to his grandchildren. "May you rise up to meet any challenge. Live to your fullest potential, fly high. Be reverent, honest, trustworthy. Be remembered for being loyal, helpful, courteous and kind to all you meet. Remain cheerful and fun to be with." To the patriarch of Flathead Lake Lodge, these words he bestowed with first-hand knowledge.

Lester Willey Averill passed away May 15. To those who knew him best, Les was a man of fierce integrity and initiative. His sons watched and admired as their father crafted a legacy in the Flathead Valley, carefully carving a piece of local history for them to inherit. Les had five sons—Dan, Darv, Doug, Dal and Brad Averill—and three step-sons—Jim, Kent and Marc Clark.

"Dad was a unique father to each boy, and each son had a different relationship with dad," Dan explained.

As the first born, Dan viewed his father as a mentor, and later, his best friend.

"Dad was such a unique person, and the thing I remember about him was his philosophy—to be absolutely as good as you can be at all times and in all respects," Dan relayed.

Dan added that his father valued diligence and was extremely motivated all his life.

"He believed in hard work," Dan said. "He started work when he was 8 years old and didn't take a day off until he was 75."

Les acquired the land that Flathead Lake Lodge now sits upon in 1945. He worked religiously to make his boyhood dream of a dude ranch and hunting lodge a reality. He wanted to share his experience of Montana with others while providing old-fashioned, western hospitality.

"He was absolutely the consummate host—he really wanted to take care of people," Dan explained.

Doug and his family now take care of the lodge and its guests. Doug said it is the formula of simple, family-oriented recreation that keeps guests returning throughout generations.

"It brings a whole rejuvenation of the family in just a week's time," Doug noted.

Doug added that his father never waivered on his initial dream for the lodge.

"He kept the philosophy that this is the prettiest place in the world and people are going to want to be here," he said.

June 8

Devlin arrested

The exact moment the life of an 18-year old Whitefish woman was changed May 27 is still not clear to Lake County police and investigators—the exact time that life may have been saved was 2:46 a.m.

Early Saturday, May 27, a Lake County resident living near mile marker 23 had just parked her car in the driveway and was walking toward her home when a woman's cries for help could be heard coming from a vehicle traveling south on Montana Highway 35. The resident phoned Lake County police at 2:46 a.m. A van driven by Charles Jay Devlin of Kalispell, 57, was stopped by police after pulling into Yellow Bay State Park at 3:06 a.m.

According to Lake County Undersheriff Mike Sargeant, a woman in the rear of the van began to scream for help and pound on the inside walls once she was aware Devlin was being questioned by a sheriff's deputy. Moments later, the naked woman fled from the rear of the van to deputy patrol cars at the scene. She said she did not know the man driving the vehicle or how she ended up in the back of his van. The woman's name has not been released, and Sargeant confirmed that alcohol played a part in the confusion exhibited by both individuals at the scene.

June 29

Bethany's centennial

Deanna Conley was not yet born when her great aunt and a group of fellow Christian women began meeting in the early 1900s. With help from a visiting pastor, Rev. A.E. Midthun, they formed the local Ladies Aid. That small gathering eventually yielded an organized church, and 100 years later that church is still going strong.

The accepted date of Bethany Lutheran Church's founding is March 26, 1906. Consequently, this year marks the centennial for the Bigfork congregation, and activities are ongoing to commemorate the celebration. A pie social was held this past weekend as part of the festivities. A hootenanny is scheduled for July 16 from 4-6 p.m. at the church, and a church picnic will be held Aug. 13 at noon. The celebration will culminate in a finale event Sept. 17 starting at 4 p.m. Church members will present the history and several past ministers have been invited to attend the service.

The Bethany Lutheran Church has a long history steeped in culture and tradition. According to the narrative history of the church, the roots of the church date back to 1901 when a group of local women, concerned over the lack of Christian activity in the pioneer country, started to hold meetings. Among those women was Kristine Haugsness, Deanna Conley's great aunt. Haugsness had immigrated from Norway with her husband and homesteaded on Brosten Lane. Decades later, Conley is active in the church her aunt helped to form.