Friday, January 26
Benedict moves up to A-Team
By FAITH MOLDAN Bigfork Eagle
Thursday, January 25
Pooled talent equals magic
On behalf of the Alpine Theatre Project, I would like to thank the multitudes of people who came out this weekend to enjoy our collaboration with the Glacier Symphony and Chorale in presenting "The Sound of Music."
It's not about the money
I was recently forwarded the article on Big Mountain stockholders and it really touched a soft spot with me.
Responders expose students to dangers of driving
By LAURA BEHENNA Bigfork Eagle
Wednesday, January 24
Drunken driver in pickup truck hits Subaru
The truck driver survived with severe injuries;
Valkyries topple two more in conference
By FAITH MOLDAN
The bolo thing
By G. George Ostrom
Raymond Charles Deily, 75,
a long-time resident of Flathead County and now of Rollins, Montana, passed away peacefully at his Flathead Lake home Saturday, Jan.13, 2007, after an extended illness. Ray was born and raised in Austin, MN, the son of Frank and Flora (Hill) Deily and the youngest of seven children, all of whom are deceased.
Shop class donates refurbished car
By LAURA BEHENNA
Benedict moves up to A-Team
By FAITH MOLDAN
Use surplus for CASA
Tucked away in that huge state budget proposal is a request that would make over $370,000 dollars available to help fund the operations of our states’ 15 local CASA organizations serving nearly a thousand endangered kids who have been victims of abuse and/or neglect.
Vikes edged out by Loggers
By FAITH MOLDAN
Thursday, January 18
Kirsten Blackburn looks for the pass.
Girls win big over Ronan 63-48
Bring Jessica's Law to Montana
Do you want to see Jessica’s Law a reality in our state? Now is the time to act. If you don’t know what Jessica’s Law is, basically it states that if a person is convicted of a sex crime to a child 12 and under, the convicted felon goes to jail for 25 years. This law keeps this felon off the streets for 25 years and prevents them from being able to commit another crime against another child. On Thursday Jan. 25, Mark Lundsford, the father of Jessica, will be in Helena to speak to the legislature telling his very compelling story of how Jessica was abducted from her home by a neighbor, an un-registered sex offender, repeatedly molested, and then after several days buried alive in his backyard. We have cases right here in the Flathead Valley of adults who perpetrate vile sex acts on children. No community is safe. There is no standard sentencing in our state on how much time these convicted felons will serve in jail. It is up to the discretion of the judge in the case. And it’s highly possibible that once these felons are out of jail and on the streets of Montana, another un-suspecting child could be molested. Jessica’s Law takes this criminal off the streets for 25 years, lessoning the chance that another child will be molested.
New committee addresses planning
By MIKE RICHESON
Armed burglar on the loose
A 62-year-old Bigfork woman’s home on Bridger Drive received an unwelcome visitor early Thursday morning.
Don't forfeit Potoczny
Concerning the use of Potoczny Park in Bigfork, the following letter was sent to the Flathead County Parks and Recreation Board. After listening to the various discussions regarding the uses for the park in the last few weeks, my position has not changed and I would like to share my original thoughts with the community at this time:
Vikings still searching for first win.
Vikings still searching for first win, lose two in Northwest A
Vals beat the Lady Bulldogs
The Vals beat the Lady Bulldogs 57-50 in the Northwest A conference game.
Holman places at National
Holman places at National Cutting Horse Association World Championship
Merci beaucoup
Thanks to all the supporters, sponsors and generous donors of our "Lovely French Occasion" fund-raiser. We enjoyed serving and playing our strings for you all.
Overseas business means less time for mayor
By RICHARD HANNERS
The Cline Mining Corporation plans to remove an entire ridge above Foisey Creek.
Experts say contaminants could reach Flathead lake within 48 hours.
52 racers turn out for Glacier Guide race
In spite of the extreme cold, 52 cross-country ski racers turned out for the annual Glacier Glide XC Race on Jan. 13 at the Glacier Nordic Ski Center. Asterisks denote overall race winner:
Kodiak catastrophe
“Ostrom, why didn’t you remember such a wild and crazy story?”
Slow down and explain
I live in Whitefish. I recently attended the Flathead County Board of Commissioners' review of the draft growth policy night before last in Kalispell.
Bulldogs win two on the road
By CHRIS TUCKER
Local author pens 'Out of the Mist'
Jerry Murphy’s first book chronicles the success of the FVCC running team in the early 70s.
Hospital threatens to sue over street plan
By RICHARD HANNERS
Local couple sets philanthropy record
By CONSTANCE SEE
Unforgetable memories
Several weeks ago, we traveled from Rio Grande City in South Texas to Whitefish. For most of us, it was the first time we had the opportunity to leave the Mexican border where we live. All of us are grateful to have had the opportunity to experience such a beautiful part of the country and want to thank everyone who helped.
Turning down the lights
By LAURA BEHENNA
Thank you to all the Elves.
Decorating Bigfork in celebration of Christmas exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism and the special people of our community. It is their effort that ensures the success of various projects each year. Over the years Decorating Day has grown and become a fun, festive, and wonderful social interaction for all ages. Thank you to all who participated.
Wednesday, January 17
Hader, Kolodejchuck take third at Classic
Hungry Horse News
Quilt meeting
The Columbia Falls Teakettle Quilt Guild has been challenged by the Whitefish Quilt Guild to make 10 quilts for the Flathead Attention House. They will be meeting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Community Center, 235 Nucleus Avenue.
Wednesday, January 10
Stay positive
As the New Year begins and another Montana legislative session gets under way, I would like to encourage positive citizen participation. Each of our elected representatives have accepted a huge responsibility, and will be working long hours to try and craft legislation which will serve Montana well. In order to be sure that they are truly representing the concerns of the people who sent them to Helena, they must continually hear from those voters, as well as other citizens who live and work in the districts being represented.
Gamblers
Are you having a gambling problem? Gamblers Anonymous meets, Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 California Street, Kalispell. Call Sherry at 314-4655 or Judy at 755-3770 for more information.
493 school children can't be wrong
On Friday, Jan. 19, the second preview of the Middle School Auditorium and Performing Arts Center will be held from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
John Anthony "Jack" Stark
John Anthony "Jack" Stark, age 89, a Lakeside resident, died of natural causes Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006 at Brendan House in Kalispell, Mont. He was born Sept. 16, 1917 in Wheaton, Ill. to Eugene and Rose Stark.
Coffee politics and Wal-Mart
As former Whitefish residents (one Whitefish native) and online readers of the Pilot, we are writing to congratulate the people in Whitefish who give all they can. These folks believe that taking care of the community's children is incredibly important. Simply put, the kids come first. Or did.
Foreign students need our help
Recently I was hired on for seasonal help on Big Mountain to fill the many long days of my winter break. My first day on the job, I was assigned to the new Day Lodge,
Local XC skiers place in nationals
Erik Anderson and Ian Mallams, two junior cross-country ski racers on the Glacier Nordic Ski Team, returned home with respectable results after attending the Senior Nationals Cross-country Championships in Houghton, Mich., this past week.
Mark Trebas
Mark Trebas, 24, of Columbia Falls, passed away Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006 in St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana. He was born July 1, 1982 in Billings, Montana to William and Vicky Trebas.
Larry Hefty
On Thursday morning, Jan. 4, 2007 Larry Hefty went home to be with the Lord after a year-long battle with cancer and kidney failure. He died peacefully at home in the presence of family and friends, content that he had done much of what he set out to do in life, leaving behind no regrets. Larry will always be remembered as a vibrant, fun loving man, with a mischievous sense of humor. A dedicated father and friend, he was known for being a man of his word and a man of integrity, vision and selflessness.
Warren N. "Buck" Holman
Warren N. "Buck" Holman, age 83, passed away Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, Mont. from natural causes. He was born on May 16, 1924 in Independence, Iowa to Floyd and Verba (White) Holman.
Robert "BOB" L. Kirk
Robert "BOB" L. Kirk, 76, passed away Friday, Jan. 5th at Kalispell Regional Hospital with all his children at his side. Bob was born in Somers, Mont. on Dec. 27, 1930 to Arthur & Edna (Ritzman) Kirk.
Build the library
If anything is going to be built where Potoczny Field now stands, a new community library still makes the most sense.
Columbia Falls school may have to go AA
Hungry Horse News
Planning with hydrology
I was fortunate to be born and raised in the Flathead. As a newly married couple, my wife and I moved to Portland, Ore., in 1975. At the time, there was little development in the hills to the west of Portland.
Pasted on the potty
Deliberately glue somebody to the toilet seat? Who'd do a thing like that? I can think of a few people I've met over the years who might have deserved such a fate, but how can you be sure you're going to stick the right person? We've got a case going now down in Denver where some guy named Bob Dougherty is suing Home Depot for playing a prank which he says resulted in his being glued to a toilet seat in one of their restrooms. If anyone other than Dougherty actually planned that incident, what kind of glue could they use?
BSC subcommittee participants:
I sincerely thank you for taking time from your busy schedules to share your thoughts and ideas regarding a community service facility for Bigfork. I was pleased by the turnout at the meeting. I hope everyone felt as though they had a fair opportunity to provide input, and that they will continue to be involved as plans progress. Again, thank you for your participation. Edd Blackler
Commissioner says thanks
I have wanted to say thank you to the County Planning Board for their tireless work on the Flathead County Growth Policy but honestly, it is hard to find words that are adequate. Here is a group of dedicated intelligent volunteers that have met for countless hours since November 3, 2004 to provide the county with an updated and current Growth Policy. It all started in 2002 with a meeting at a town hall meeting in the North Fork to update the 1987 Master Plan. Since then over 130 events have occurred during the timeline to get us to this point. The commissioners now have it for final review and adoption. Stay tuned as the commissioners are having a commissioner workshop scheduled for January 9 with the opportunity to hear from you on the work. Thank you Planning Board, this county and the future of it will have your handprints on it for many years to come. There will always be criticism of it because there is no way it will be perfect for every person but again I want to thank you each one for your extreme dedication and hard work on this most important work. This document is required for regular review and in my mind, as a living document, it will do nothing but get better as time goes on and with more community involvement and input.
Thursday, January 4
Sports in second half of 2006 as entertaining as first
Bigfork ended 2006 in style, whether in a pond, pool, on a soccer field or track just to name a few. The
Dorothy Newman
Dorothy Dean Rinker Johnson Newman, 87, a former Whitefish resident, passed away of natural causes on Dec. 23, 2006, at a nursing home in Sidney.
Martel awarded $18 million contract
Frenchtown School District #40 plans a Junior High addition to the High School, with 17 new classrooms and space for 300 additional students plus a new gymnasium. There will also be an addition to the High School with 16 new classrooms and space for 200 additional students. There will be renovation of the existing Junior High/Elementary campus which will add five classrooms and upgrades K-6. There will be increased space in the art, music, and library areas. A new Vocational Education facility is also planned.
Ashley Renae Reis
Ashley Renae Reis, age 1 day, of Kalispell, passed away on the morning of Tuesday, December 19, 2006 surrounded by her family and loving staff of the Birthing Center at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.
Kudos to city planning director
I want to show my appreciation by thanking you for all you do to conserve and preserve natural resources in the Whitefish area. I only wish the rest of Flathead County and all of Montana could benefit from your progressive leadership.
Immigration is cause of growth
Last week's opinion piece "Don't marginalize immigrants" by Jim Ramlow completely misses the big picture.
Snowmobiler hits tree, dies
Hungry Horse News
Community
July 13
Unfair to high school players
I was having a conversation with the parent of a basketball player last week when she told me something I thought was a little unjust.
Anna G, Heikens
Anna G, Heikens, age 96, passed away on Friday, December 29, 2006 at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, Montana. She was born on June 27, 1910 at Glasgow, Montana the daughter of William and Anna (Altmeyer) Bretzke.
Community Choir
The Columbia Falls Community Choir will begin practices Jan. 7 from 2-4 p.m. Sundays at the Columbia Falls Junior High. Sign-in and music pickup is from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at the first practice. There are 12 practices this year, with the final rehearsal March 30. The concert is March 31. For more information, call 892-5174.
Frank Dean Bosworth
Frank Dean Bosworth, age 79, of Swan Lake passed away Sunday, December 17, 2006 at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.
The fence and immigrant deaths
To Jim Ramlow, congratulations. You just wrote one of the best letters on immigration I have read in any paper.
Unruly ski dogs need control
Recently at the lower Autumn Creek trailhead, I saw a party of skiers exiting Glacier Park with not one, not two, but an entire pack of four unruly dogs.
Headlines that lie
Many headline writers on big daily newspaper apparently do not read the stories. And, the bigger the newspaper, the more apt it is to have headlines not matching the story's content.
Splash dash
People flocked to the Raven on Monday for the annual Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day. This was the plunge's ninth year, and the event has become a tradition for many families. Air temperature hovered close to 27 degrees while the water was in the mid to high 30s.
Boys hoops on road to Libby, face Dogs here Friday
Columbia Falls sports get back in gear this week after Christmas break.
Sara Stedman
Sara Stedman, 95, died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.
Bigfork man dies in rollover
Early on Tuesday, a Bigfork man died at Kalispell Regional Medical Center from injuries he sustained in a rollover crash at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday near Bigfork. The victim was William Kimball, 78, Lake County Coroner Mike Sargent said. Kimball was northbound on Highway 35 when he drifted off the road and overcorrected. The sport utility vehicle he was driving then rolled, and Kimball was ejected and pinned under the vehicle. Life Flight was called to the scene and transported Kimball to KRMC. Kimball was not wearing a seat belt.
