Thursday, January 26
Ralph Moore
Ralph Wilson Moore, 86, of Whitefish, passed away peacefully on Jan. 16, 2006, at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, in Mooresville, N.C.
Respect and sports
As I sat in the stands at the gymnasium during a recent wrestling match, I became disappointed and embarrassed by the fans.
Katharine Cloud
Katharine (Kathy) Mary Cloud, 78, passed away Jan. 21, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center surrounded by family and friends.
Housing program plugging along
There's a new city council on the block. With councilor Tom Muri's resignation and three newly elected councilors, the makeup of the six-person body will be mostly new members this year.
Sports Briefs
Mitch Gilman, 9, of Whitefish, will compete in the first-ever Sports Illustrated For Kids 2006 Next Snow Search All-Stars event on Jan. 27 and 28. The event will bring together the elite members of the 2004 and 2005 Next Snow teams and the winners of this year's Super Qualifiers for two days of competition at Colorado's Keystone Resort. A one-hour show featuring the Sports Illustrated For Kids Next Snow Search "All-Stars" will air on NBC Sports on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 12-1 p.m.
Water right owners to pay new tax
Most of the people in Montana recently received a bill from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for both surface water and groundwater used under filed water-rights. Irrigation and domestic water uses are included.
Recycling problems
Every effort by everyone residing or working in Whitefish and the North Valley should be made supporting and encouraging Cory Cullen in his efforts to save us from ourselves.
Maurice Kirkpatrick
Maurice Michael "Mickey" Kirkpatrick, 82, of Great Falls, a retired utility contractor and former U.S. Navy Seabee, died of natural causes Jan. 16, 2006, at a local hospital in Great Falls.
Strong legal rights essential in water adjudication
Have you ever turned on your faucet and no water came out? Along with many folks in rural Montana, I had that experience in 2000 when my well went dry. The water shortage at my house was due to drought and nearby development in the aquifer. This experience taught me that water is, indeed, one of our most valued resources in the Treasure State.
System unfair to smaller water users
The golden rule in politics is, "Those that have the gold make the rules." A case in point is the new water-rights fee system being implemented across the state. The fee system will raise about $3 million a year, the vast majority coming from small water-rights holders. The largest water-rights holders in the state pay a small fraction of the cost.
School recognition
January Is National School Board Month, but do you know the background on how and why this became such an important month for recognizing our school boards across the United States? Read on.
Defining a hero
"Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this life," was a favorite saying of the late Frank Morrison. It was the way he lived his life.
Billy Reis
Billy Wallace Reis, 54, of Clark, Mo., was called home to be with his heavenly Father and his Dad on Jan. 16, 2006, at his home.
Companies working hard to recycle refuse
I am writing in response to Eric Pero's article on Jan. 5 titled "Recycler discouraged by waste." There seems to be some misleading information in this article.
Coincidence?
If there is an annual award for opportunist of the year, Whitefish city manager Gary Marks and the Whitefish City Council have just become nominees, thanks to their scheme to move Flathead County's 911 dispatch center to Whitefish.
Ada Freese
Ada W. Hamil Freese died Jan. 12, 2006, in Portland, Ore.
Wednesday, January 25
Happy trails
I would like to thank the members of the Bigfork Community Nordic Center for all the effort that has been put into the cross country ski trails. Even with the limited snow the trails are in great shape. The new groomer sets a diagonal stride lane along with a platform for skate skiing. This year they are also grooming Bug Creek. I urge the community to enjoy the trails and to make a donation to help maintain the trail system. Donations may be sent to BFCNC, 9236 Hwy 35, Bigfork, MT 59911
A dab of dough
A week or so before Christmas, snow drifted down onto the 10-inch white blanket that covered the trees, rooftops, and everything within my sight that had been green a few weeks prior to Old Man Winter's reminder that he would be with us for a spell.
BLUAC's future
This letter is in response to the article in the Jan. 19 issue of the Bigfork Eagle titled "Commissioners dismiss Hollinger, Calaway from BLUAC." Mr. Calaway was quoted as saying, "It's people from out of state and retirees trying to get control of the BLUAC to stop growth in Bigfork. They are trying to railroad locals out of the committee." First, I would like to say that yes, I am retired. Yes, I am from out of state, but no, I am not against growth. I am, however, in favor of planned growth. I am not trying to control BLUAC or attempting to "railroad" locals out of the committee. I find it absolutely astounding that Mr. Calaway made these statements in view of the fact that he plans to reapply and run for an elected position on BLUAC. Mr. Calaway, have you looked at the demographics of Bigfork lately?
Nix on the 'pre-nups'
Wild, conservative, genius Bill O'Riley this week was on his talk show giving hailcolumbia to the concept of marriage between homosexuals and during the phone call discussions he told an avowed bachelor that marriage might work for him if he wrote up some good "prenuptial conditions." That reminded me of some things I have previously written on that subject. Following is an example:
Hear a joyful noise
Bigfork students are singing and it's a joy to hear them.
Have you stuck with your New Year's resolution?
A) Yes, I am staying strong.
Friday, January 20
How to tip a cow
One newspaper's bumper sticker of the week said, "Excuse me for driving so close in front of you."
Owen Robert Dukleth
Owen Robert Dukleth, age 85, passed away on Friday, Jan. 13, 2006 at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell. He was born on Oct. 26, 1920 at Devon, Mont., to P. Martin and Bertha (Wollan) Dukleth.
Catherine (Kay) Livesay Hedman
Catherine (Kay) Livesay Hedman, 85, passed away Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at the Lake View Care Center in Bigfork.
The cost of progress: Montana's next endangered species
I grew up in rural Iowa. For those who aren't aware, rural Iowa means farm country.
Letter from the editor
In honor of a King
What do you think of the current growth proposals along the Highway 82 corridor?
a) It is appropriate for the area.
Keith Allen Shennum
Keith Allen Shennum, age 50, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006 at his residence near Columbia Falls. He was born on Jan. 3, 1956 in Summit, N.J., the son of Robert H. and Doris L. (Postlewait) Shennum.
Thursday, January 19
Sports Shorts
Whitefish CARE's organized event for Teen Night on Friday, Jan. 20, from 10-12 p.m. at The Wave, has been changed from originally publicized walleyball and volleyball to basketball. Call 862-2444 for more information.
Jordan White / Flathead County Sheriff's Office
Saturday's deadly avalanche began on the east side of Red Meadow Mountain and then made a sharp 90-degree turn into the lake.
A wonderful life
We recently lost a great man who stood for good things in Frank Morrison Jr.— colorful, commanding, caring and committed to the people and causes he believed in.
'No' to gravel pit in West Glacier
The Flathead County Commissioners are scheduled to meet Jan. 24 to consider the Spoklie gravel mine permit in West Glacier. We urge the commissioners to deny the application for the following reasons:
Irrigation problems
I have received numerous phone calls in the past month wondering on the status of the Whitefish High School gym floor.
Alvin Stearns
Alvin Arthur Stearns, Jr., 86, passed away of natural causes Jan. 13, 2006, at the Brendan House in Kalispell.
Predacious pike designed to kill
Last spring, my father-in-law thought that he had me stumped. My wife and I had just arrived at their place in Bigfork as he was filleting out the second northern pike of the day's catch.
Frank Morrison
Frank Brenner Morrison Jr. died Jan. 8, 2006, in Renton, Wash. Ever the consummate attorney, he was en route home from taking a deposition in Canada when he collapsed at the Seattle airport. Complications from emergency surgery claimed his life. He will be remembered for his love of family, the state of Montana, the law and for his generous heart.
Bette Bohlinger
Bette Bohlinger died Jan. 9, 2006, at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena. She was 70.
Darlene Moore
Darlene Jane Moore, 65, passed away Jan. 11, 2006, of natural causes at Brendan House in Kalispell.
Owen Dukleth
Owen Robert Dukleth, 85, passed away Jan. 13, 2006, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.
Wednesday, January 18
Skiing shenanigans
To set the record straight, I've always been a skier. Just not a very good one.
Mat Cats struggle at Rocky Mountain Invitational, finish 20th
It was a rough weekend for the Columbia Falls wrestling team.
TU meets
The Flathead Chapter of Trout Unlimited meets Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bohemian Grange on Highway 93 south of Whitefish, The public is invited!
Thursday, January 12
Walter Arthur Little
Walter Arthur Little, age 69, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006 at his residence in Bigfork. He was born on July 21, 1936 at Valparaiso, Ind., the son of Theodore Haige and Viola Grace (Carter) Little.
Bigfork Eagle editorial
Manifest destiny
Making Christmas magical
We all live in a wonderful community called Whitefish, and the Rotary Club of Whitefish sincerely appreciates the opportunity to serve within that community
Plots and pussycats
He said, "Oh what tangled webs we weave, when first we practice to deceive."
Bigfork becomes 'Firewise'
Because of its efforts to reduce the vulnerability of homes and landscapes to wildfire, the Bigfork Fire District has earned Firewise Communities/USA recognition from the National Firewise Communities Program.
The tree that stayed
The beautiful Douglas fir tree tipped the ceiling. It's branches curved downward with the weight of popcorn garlands, ropes of tinsel, icicles, and a variety of ornaments—some handmade by our four children, David, Jan, Jil and Jim—and some were holdovers from previous years. A cloudy film of angel hair glistened around each colored light (they didn't flash on and off in the 1950s).
ATP success
All of the folks attending the Alpine Theatre Project's fund-raising performance at the O'Shaughnessy on Dec. 21 were treated to a first class production.
Thank you, firefighters
I am writing to thank the Bigfork Fire Department! The Bigfork Eagle had a picture of our fire on the front page of the newspaper last week. Our guest cabin burned to the ground and the main house was catching on fire. These wonderful men instantly put foam on the main house upon arrival. The guest cabin and the chicken house were a total loss. I was mostly saddened that all my chickens burned to death. All our tractors and equipment burned plus our darling 1913 guest cabin. The guest cabin was only 20 feet from the main house so we were extremely blessed.
Sign of the times
A week ago, a letter to the editor expressed distaste over some of the signs in the Ferndale area concerning a protest against the Milhous Group's proposal to pump sewage from the historical Kootenai property condo development to somewhere else away from their proposed houses. In essence, the sign implores the Milhous Group to "poop in their own back yard," rather than to ship the sewage to another location which places the development's waste in the vicinity of other people's homes situated some distance away. The language was alleged to be unseemly and unflattering to our community.
Cecilia "Ceal" T. Jennings
Cecilia "Ceal" Theresa Jennings, 85, loving mother, grandmother, and friend went to her eternal life with God on Dec. 29, 2005.
May and Moes chosen during Merry Maker
This year's Merry Maker event at the Great Northern Bar in downtown Whitefish was as raucous and outrageous as ever, with past prime ministers teaming up to roast the city's government and leading citizens.
Margarita Butts
Margarita Butts, 84, died at a local nursing home on Wednesday, Dec.14, 2005.
Opposition to tax
Early last year I circulated a signature gathering form because I was concerned the state or county governments might try to tax the use of our private water wells. I was not surprised when I gathered hundreds of signatures in just a few weeks. The intent was to use these signatures in order to have a bill introduced in the 2007 legislature, which would prohibit the state or county from charging us to use our own wells. Unfortunately, my suspicions were confirmed this past December when I received a notice of a fee (tax) charge of $100 paid over the next five years levied against our private well. The total amount collected would be about $33.5 million dollars. The authority to do this was the result of HB22, which I had never heard of, but was lobbied for by personnel of the Department of Natural Resources Conservation (DNRC), the Montana Association of Counties, Conservation Districts and other non-government agencies. Allegedly, the intent of the bill was to use the revenues to challenge some perceived future litigation which might be brought from States located downstream from us. Apparently, another reason for the bill was to verify those of us who have water rights for our property.
Wife of Lt. Gov. Bohlinger dies
Bette Bohlinger, wife of Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger, died Jan. 9 at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena after a battle with acute leukemia.
Helen Johnson
Helen Marie Johnson, 85, passed away Jan. 10, 2006, at the Colonial Manor in Whitefish.
Joel Gimbel
Joel Alto Gimbel, 64, formally of Columbia Falls, passed away in Rock Springs, Wyo., on Dec. 29, 2005.
Halliburton CEO donates $500,000 to hospital fund
The North Valley Hospital's Capital Campaign Committee recently announced it received a very significant gift — a $500,000 cash contribution from the Lesar family to help build the new Center of Healing.
Keith Wilson
Keith Marion Wilson, 51, Dec. 31, 2005, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center of natural causes.
Wednesday, January 11
Bird count shows plenty of eagles in Glacier
Hungry Horse News
Friday, January 6
Guest opinion
Protect your water rights
Should Scott Hollinger and Tim Calaway remain members of the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee?
A) Yes
No coup
As a Republican I was deeply dismayed by Republican Senator Bob Keenan's comment at the BLUAC meeting on Dec. 29th. In reference to Tim Calaway and Scott Hollinger being removed from the board for missing 5 of 12 meetings (42 percent), Mr. Keenan stated that there was "a coup in progress."
Feeding from the trough
John Stokes, owner of Kalispell's KGEZ Radio and Flathead Valley's resident bully, has received lots of bad press over the years. He called a Holocaust survivor a cheap whore. He suggested that local businesses have a sale on white sheets in honor of Martin Luther King Day. He burned swastikas at his station to intimidate local conservationists, whom he calls "Green Nazis." He encouraged listeners to call in bomb threats to the Montana Capitol. He allowed local militia activists to use the public airwaves to promote anti-government ideologies. Overall, he created an atmosphere where threats and intimidation sought to replace community dialogue and the democratic process.
Research Director for the Montana Human Rights Network
Not in good taste
Forest Service offers avalanche awareness workshop, field trips
In January the U.S. Forest Service will be offering an avalanche awareness workshop for backcountry users in Northwestern Montana.
Woods Bay sewer committee to meet
The Greater Woods Bay Sewer Committee along with the Woods Bay and Sheaver's Creek Water and Sewer Districts will hold a public meeting on Friday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m., in the basement of Bethany Lutheran Church, 8559 MT Hwy 35, in Bigfork.
Crying about 'spying'
If the National Security Agency of the United States of America would like to do some snooping into my private or public military, social, or political activities related to our country's security, they are welcome to it. Maybe a few Americans have something to hide. Most of us, including George Ostrom do not. Some antis are rationalizing their position by saying their constitutional rights are being threatened. My personal lifetime experiences say, "Nonsense! Sometimes personal rights have to give way to our nation's safety." I know a little more about being spied upon than the average person because…I have been there. It is no secret. I've written columns about it here several times.
Thursday, January 5
Deborah Bergren
Deborah Lynn "Debbie" Bergren, 53, died Dec. 28, 2005, at North Valley Hospital from complications of emphysema.
Construction moratorium
In his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell called it "newspeak."
Creating Christmas
Thanks to so many volunteers who came on Wednesday nights this fall to help refurbish the city's Christmas decorations, and to the many who came for the "hanging" of those decorations the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving.
Helen Hedman
Helen Emily Hedman went to be with her Lord on Jan. 1, 2006, at Riverside Assisted Living in Whitefish.
Recycling woes
It was September 2005 when I reached my third year in business, and since that day I have been doing a lot of reflection. When I first created New World Recycling, I had big dreams of being a part of a real movement in this valley towards progressive thinking.
Has Image
Duaine Einan
Increasing property taxes
Rep. Verdell Jackson makes it sound as if people are losing homes due to high property taxes in droves and bunches (see Dec. 29 Pilot). Let's forget for a moment who has been in charge of the state's checkbook for all these years, when cuts to the state percentage of school funding made increases in local property taxes a must. Instead, let's focus on those people losing homes.
School special session efficient
Our teachers and students in our schools are among the most talented in the nation. We are fortunate to have our kids educated in such a great state as Montana.
Moratorium is simply a case of postponing the tough decisions
Don Spivey has written two letters to the city of Whitefish encouraging a moratorium on review subdivisions or planned-unit developments of six lots or more.
Wednesday, January 4
Growth policy meetings here
As Flathead County continues to formulate its growth policy - a document that outlines where and how the county will grow in the next 20 years - it is time for folks from the Columbia Falls area to give their two cents.
Frosh teams lose to Dogs, wrassling against Libby rescheduled
The freshmen started out the week in sports, with the boys getting drubbed by Whitefish, 73-43.
