Wildfires top 2007 stories

Wildfires topped the news for northern Flathead County in 2007, and by the end of the fire season about a dozen fires has burned timber in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The Chippy Creek fire was the largest in the state and burned nearly 100,000 acres. The Ahorn and Fool Creek fires burned a swath through a combined 110,000 acres of forest land. The Skyland Fire, south of Marias Pass, spent some time rated as the top priority in the nation after it went from a few hundred acres to more than 16,000 acres is about a week.

The fires near Glacier National Park restricted travel through the summer destination somewhat, and Stage II fire restrictions were still in effect in mid-September.

Due to the magnitude of the state-wide wildfires, the Montana State Legislature held a special session in early September to address state support of the cost of fighting the fires. The Legislature spent $82 million on wildfires — $42 million of that for the 2007 season. About $40 million was earmarked for the 2008 fire season.

Among the other top stories in the Columbia Falls area, including Hungry Horse, Coram, Martin City, West Glacier and Glacier Park: Proposed coal bed methane mining in the Canadian Flathead took center stage, and resistance to the proposal continued through the end of the year… Damage to the Sun Road in Glacier from the previous fall's flooding was estimated to cost $7 million to repair… School District 6 voters passed a $241,395 levy — a fair chunk of the money intended for all-day kindergarten… Glacier Park's new shuttle system opened with great participation… The City of Columbia Falls purchased 28 acres of land along the Flathead River for park development. .. The 75th anniversary of the creation of an International Peace Park between Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada was celebrated… The Martin City Post Office closed after the contract with the postmaster was not renewed… Work on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, damaged by flooding in November 2006, was going full bore in late September… A Hungry Horse man allegedly shot and killed his wife with a 9-mm handgun in their home; he pled not guilty to deliberate homicide.

A look at the top stories of 2007: January

? A federal judge ruled that a North Fork inholder had no easement rights to access his property by vehicle in Glacier National Park in the winter months. John McFarland had been battling the Park since 1999 claiming he had the right to access his property inside Big Prairie year round.

? A proposed coal mine in the Canadian Flathead took center stage. At a special meeting both Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Sen. Max Baucus vowed to take the problem to the federal level. Cline Mining Co. proposed building a coal mine in the Foisey Creek, which is a tributary of the North Fork of the Flathead River. Concerns were raised over the environmental impact the mine might have. A meeting held in British Columbia also had Canadians speaking out against the proposal.

? The annual Christmas bird count in Glacier came up with a species-first for the Park: A northern hawk owl.

February

? Three-year-old Loic Rogers was found drowned in a septic tank feet from where he was last seen at an Evergreen home. About 300 volunteers spent several days searching for the boy.

? Columbia Falls High School's speech/debate team took its second straight state title and its ninth title in school history. The team also won every meet that season,

? Glacier's Lake McDonald froze over for the first time since February of 1997.

? Work in Glacier continued through the winter. Crews worked on the Park's new transit center at Apgar. Work also went on to repair roads damaged by November flooding.

March

? Damage to the Sun Road in Glacier from the previous fall's flooding was estimated to cost $7 million to repair. Trail damage was estimated between $500,000 and $1 million.

? A fire destroyed a kiln at RBM Lumber in Columbia Falls, but firefighters were credited with keeping the blaze from spreading farther. Damage was estimated at $150,000.

? Alex Becker was on the road to recovery after being hit by a car on Highway 2. The accident and several others in the area promoted officials to call for the speed limit to be lowered.

April

? A rally against global warming in Glacier drew more that 100 people. Folks walked from West Glacier to Lake McDonald for a group photo.

? Jake Sweeney, a senior at Columbia Falls High School, shot an albino black bear.

? Flathead County Commissioners OK'd a controversial gravel pit near the entrance of Glacier Park. Commissioners approved a lawsuit settlement to allow Robert Spoklie to continue operating his gravel pit. Opponents of the pit, however, vowed to take the fight back to court.

May

? School District 6 voters passed a $241,395 levy by a 634-543 vote margin. A fair chunk of the money was intended for all-day kindergarten. The remainder was to fund existing programs.

? The newly-formed First Best Place Task Force held its first official meeting in Columbia Falls. The group of residents set several goals to ensure the city continues as the "first best place."

June

? The prospect of coal bed methane mining in the Canadian Flathead once again raised its head. Officials from British Petroleum sent Gov. Brian Schweitzer a letter saying it was "undertaking an evaluation of the potential development of coal bed natural gas resources in the Crowsnest coal field," in southeastern British Columbia.

? A North Fork woman who shot her husband to death received a 10-year suspended sentence in Flathead County District Court. Rebecca Braunig-Haag shot and killed her husband in November 2005.

? Rhonda Stephens had been hiking in Glacier Park with Dan Block when the two got separated. Stephens ended up spending the night in the park with only the clothes on her back. She was rescued the next day after Block hiked out for help.

? Gov. Brian Schweitzer made a stop in Columbia Falls to help with a Habitat for Humanity home building project.

July

? Glacier Park's new shuttle system opened with great participation. An estimated 1,000 people used the shuttle on its first day. The new system took passengers from Apgar and St. Mary to Logan Pass. The system began part of the Park's efforts to mitigate traffic while the road is under construction. The Going-to-the-Sun Road itself also opened for the season.

? Exciting things were happening in the outdoors. Seven-year-old Logan Smith summited Mount Reynolds. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor made a visit to the Flathead and spent some time fly fishing.

August

? The Skyland Fire spent some time rated as the top priority in the nation after it went from a few hundred acres to more than 16,000 acres is about a week. The fire was just south of Marias Pass.

? Columbia Falls added 28 acres along the Flathead River to its parks. The City Council voted 5-2 to purchase the land after hearing over an hour of testimony from a standing-room-only crowd.

September

? Bighorn sheep were spotted in the Bad Rock Canyon area. Experts were unsure where the sheep might have come from. On possible location was Glacier Park, but that is about 70 miles away.

? Events were held in Glacier National Park at the U.S.-Canadian border to honor the 75th anniversary of the creation of an International Peace Park between Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada.

October

? The Martin City Post Office closes in a mix of sadness and anger. Folks in Martin City are forced to get their mail in Hungry Horse after the contract with the postmaster was not renewed.

? A last-minute save from the U.S. Forest Service would keep a grizzly bear study in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem alive. Flathead National Forest and other area forests secured $377,000 to help the study continue.

? Columbia Falls High School's football team beat Whitefish to secure the Wildcats' first home playoff game since 1975.

November

? Work on the Going-to-the-Sun Road was going full bore. Work was being done to replace culverts and shore up rock walls. Crew were added by snow levels staying above 6,000 feet.

? A 23-year-old employee of the Great Bear Adventure Park was mauled by a brown bear. Brock Hopkins was recovering after the attack.

? Anne Thomas celebrated her 100th birthday. Thomas has been a long-time resident and community leader.

? Glacier Park Superintendent Mick Holm announced his retirement after 5 1/2 years on the job.

December

? A Great Falls native won the contest to create a Glacier Park logo for the parks centennial celebration in 2010. Cory Schearer was inspired by childhood visits to the Park in creating his design.

? A Hungry Horse man allegedly shot and killed his wife with a 9-mm handgun in their home. Charles Glenn Smith, Jr. was charged with deliberate homicide in the death. When he appeared in court he pleaded not guilty to a charge of deliberate homicide.

? Scott Jeffords, 23, of Columbia Falls died when the SUV he was driving crashed near the north bank of the Flathead River.