Stories for March 2011

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Thursday, March 31

March 31, 2011 8:26 a.m.

Telluride mountainfilm

http://vimeo.com/11687642

March 31, 2011 8:26 a.m.

Telluride mountainfilm trailer

Wednesday, March 30

March 30, 2011 10:52 a.m.

Richard Kirchhoffer

March 30, 2011 10:38 a.m.

Finalists selected in super search

March 30, 2011 10:35 a.m.

Suspended sentence for sexual assault

March 30, 2011 10:34 a.m.

High-speed pursuit ends with Taser

March 30, 2011 10:33 a.m.

Neighborhood to see major street work

March 30, 2011 10:30 a.m.

K-12 staff reductions loom

March 30, 2011 9:43 a.m.

Parks committee seeks new member

The Lakeside/Somers Parks Advisory Committee is seeking applicants for an open position.

Tuesday, March 29

March 29, 2011 3:22 p.m.

Who do you like in the Final Four?

Friday, March 25

March 25, 2011 1:38 p.m.

Middle school student council keeping busy

Student council. When you hear these words, we don’t want you to think of a bunch of school nerds gathered around a desk talking. No! We’re more than that. We want you to think of a group of hard working, idea bringing, highly dedicated teens who dedicate their time making their school and community a better place. “But what exactly are they doing?” you ask. This little article is the chance to get the word out and to let you know about our Whitefish Student Council.

Thursday, March 24

Wednesday, March 23

March 23, 2011 1 a.m.

Obituary: Dorothy D. Tode

Tuesday, March 22

March 22, 2011 3:24 p.m.

Wilbert Winter

March 22, 2011 3:22 p.m.

Ski racers medal at Bridger Bowl

March 22, 2011 3:13 p.m.

Whitefish population tops 6,000

Sunday, March 20

March 20, 2011 8:27 a.m.

Man tries to change plea in marijuana murder case

Thought he was getting 110 months, not 110 years

A 22-year-old man accused of killing a Kalispell man and stealing his money and medical marijuana plants tried to undo his plea deal last week.

March 20, 2011 8:25 a.m.

House votes to restore Vets Home funding

With bipartisan support, the Montana House voted March 11 to restore about $2.2 million in funding cuts to the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

Friday, March 18

March 18, 2011 2:59 p.m.

Co-op will raise rates for members

This week’s article about the Flathead Electric Cooperative incorrectly stated that the board of trustees had chosen not to raise rates for Co-op members even after a significant wholesale power rate increase was imposed on the Co-op.

Thursday, March 17

Wednesday, March 16

12th Hawaiian Classic largest ever
March 16, 2011 9:52 a.m.

12th Hawaiian Classic largest ever

The core supporters of the Nate Chute Hawaiian Classic were still there, but it was a new crop of snowboarders who pushed this year’s event into new territory.

March 16, 2011 9:51 a.m.

The bully dilemma

Last week in Washington, D.C., there was a national conference on the "bullying problem" which some say has become epidemic, especially among teenagers. It now goes far beyond the age-old school ground stuff because the Internet provides a hiding place for bullies who are also cowards because they can hurt others without revealing their true identity. This conference was triggered by a 16-year-old boy who committed suicide after being cruelly belittled on Facebook. President Barack Obama and the First Lady spoke to the conference leaders at the White House, where the president reported he had his share of bullying, what with his "big ears and funny name."

March 16, 2011 9:50 a.m.

Northern Lights secures liquor license

I am sure that by now most North Forkers have heard the good news. The Northern Lights Café and Saloon have been granted a full liquor license. It has been a long struggle. The previous owner of the Northern Lights lost the license and the new operators, Reiswigs and O'Haras, had to start over at square one.

March 16, 2011 9:48 a.m.

Calendar

Senior party

March 16, 2011 9:45 a.m.

All State/ Conference players named

The following Columbia Falls wrestlers were recently named all conference or all state:

Fairbank resigns as girls hoops coach
March 16, 2011 9:41 a.m.

Fairbank resigns as girls hoops coach

Columbia Falls girls basketball coach Dan Fairbank has tendered his resignation.

March 16, 2011 9:38 a.m.

Parkin Costain

http://www.vimeo.com/18797191

Snowmobile grooming fund hits budget snag
March 16, 2011 9:35 a.m.

Snowmobile grooming fund hits budget snag

Snowmobilers could have a much rougher ride on favorite trails because of a possible funding crunch.

March 16, 2011 9:23 a.m.

Kramer to ski in Junior Olympics

Living through the aftershocks
March 16, 2011 9:13 a.m.

Living through the aftershocks

CFHS grad in Tokyo experiences earthquake's aftermath

Costain boys medal at Schweitzer
March 16, 2011 9:11 a.m.

Costain boys medal at Schweitzer

March 16, 2011 9:04 a.m.

Orva Steffarud

March 16, 2011 9:02 a.m.

Friends of Spencer demands rec plan

The case of the century
March 16, 2011 9 a.m.

The case of the century

March 16, 2011 8:53 a.m.

Teachers' pay-freeze offer approved

March 16, 2011 8:42 a.m.

Mayor breaks tie vote on ballots

Cowabunga hits Bigfork stage
March 16, 2011 1 a.m.

Cowabunga hits Bigfork stage

Tuesday, March 15

March 15, 2011 2:22 p.m.

Flathead legislators work on jobs bills

Flathead area legislators received a letter from Kevin Jump, owner of John Jump Trucking, of Kalispell, asking what this session is doing to create good-paying jobs for Montanans.

March 15, 2011 1:29 p.m.

Robbery, kidnapping suspect arrested at train depot

A 33-year-old Kalispell man suspected of robbing a pharmacy in Evergreen and kidnapping an employee on Saturday, March 12, was arrested at the Whitefish train depot Sunday night.

March 15, 2011 7:13 a.m.

Recent derailment adds to Amtrak woes

A BNSF Railway train derailment on March 9 about four miles west of Essex added one more incident to a list of delays for freight and passenger trains over the past month.

Friday, March 11

March 11, 2011 3:32 p.m.

Whooping cough persists up and down U.S. 93

Health departments in Flathead, Lake, Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe and Missoula counties issued an alert March 8 that pertusiss, commonly called whooping cough, is continuing to spread along the U.S. 93 corridor.

March 11, 2011 3:27 p.m.

Close call with mussel in Dayton harbor

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports that an exotic quagga mussel adult was found on a sailboat hull during a March 5 inspection conducted at the Dayton yacht harbor on Flathead Lake.

March 11, 2011 9:48 a.m.

Skees defends his work in Helena

Editor’s note: The following is a response by Rep. Derek Skees to an opinion piece by Matthew Bussard published in the March 9 Whitefish Pilot.

March 11, 2011 9:25 a.m.

Board to take second look at vacation rentals

A plan to increase the number of short-term rental units in Whitefish by allowing the creation of zoning overlays in some residential neighborhoods will come back to the Whitefish City-County Planning Board on Thursday, March 17. The meeting will be held in the city council chambers at 6 p.m.

Vikings advance to semifinals
March 11, 2011 9 a.m.

Vikings advance to semifinals

The Bigfork Vikings earned a 60-52 victory in their first-round matchup against Huntley Project on Thursday night at the State Class B Boys Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.

Thursday, March 10

March 10, 2011 3:30 p.m.

Taxpayer group plans litigation over appraisals

Supported bill that would protect lakeshore property owners

While several bills aimed at reforming Montana’s property-reappraisal system remain active in the Legislature, a local taxpayer group says it intends to pursue litigation because the bills don’t go far enough.

Wednesday, March 9

March 9, 2011 10:55 a.m.

Mallams 2nd Rendezvous Nordic race

Stadium fundraising kicks off
March 9, 2011 10:54 a.m.

Stadium fundraising kicks off

March 9, 2011 10:52 a.m.

Theater Company kudos

March 9, 2011 10:47 a.m.

Mully Night

Muldown Elementary School will hold its annual Mully Night Carnival on Thursday, March 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with dinner, games and activities. Proceeds from the sale of tickets for food and activities will support field trips and assemblies.

March 9, 2011 10:41 a.m.

Three school board spots open

The Montana identity
March 9, 2011 10:36 a.m.

The Montana identity

Depot Park planning is underway
March 9, 2011 9:47 a.m.

Depot Park planning is underway

New Big Mountain lodge planned
March 9, 2011 9:44 a.m.

New Big Mountain lodge planned

Thursday, March 3

Wednesday, March 2

March 2, 2011 3:17 p.m.

Census results will drive legislative redistricting

Commission in charge tends to be Democratic controlled

It’s been 10 years since the last U.S. census results were made available, but it will be three more years before Montana residents will learn how the state’s legislative districts could be redrawn.

March 2, 2011 3:15 p.m.

Robert Anderson

Robert Anderson

March 2, 2011 1:44 p.m.

Locals dominate Broken Binding

March 2, 2011 1:43 p.m.

Schmid-Sommer wins Telemark races

Lady Bulldogs finish strong
March 2, 2011 1:41 p.m.

Lady Bulldogs finish strong

Don K brings Dodge dealership
March 2, 2011 1:22 p.m.

Don K brings Dodge dealership

Against Pirates, a thriller
March 2, 2011 1:13 p.m.

Against Pirates, a thriller

Whew! That was close.

Kats claw past Loggers
March 2, 2011 1:11 p.m.

Kats claw past Loggers

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team won their third straight Northwest A Divisional Title in convincing fashion last week. The Kats dropped Whitefish 37-26 Friday and held off Libby 46-37 in the title game at Ronan High School.

March 2, 2011 1:10 p.m.

Don't close Vets Home

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our community for their continued support of our American heroes who live at the Montana Veterans Home. The numerous articles about possibly privatizing or greatly reducing the budget at MVH are very distressing to many of us in the community.

Rodney Lysander Hamilton
March 2, 2011 1:10 p.m.

Rodney Lysander Hamilton

Rodney Lysander Hamilton, 62, passed away at his home in Holdenville, Okla., on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

March 2, 2011 1:09 p.m.

On the N. Fork, it's a dog's life

At the New Year’s Eve party at Sondreson Hall, Larry Wilson asked me to write this week’s column.

March 2, 2011 1:08 p.m.

Magical musical memories

A long ago sage observed, “Music hath charm to soothe the savage beast.” That philosopher did not mean someone being charged by a grizzly bear should sit down and play a flute. What he had in mind was the universal benefits humans get from music. There have also been observations through the years on non-human effects such as cows giving more milk it there were soft melodies piped in at milking time. (We are not talking here about rap and heavy metal.) I recall one summer my sons and I worked on isolated land in the North Fork while living in a trailer. In the evening when our radio was playing, a couple of times we noticed deer in nearby trees, standing quietly facing the trailer … listening to music? A fascinating thought.

Casey's Bar under new ownership
March 2, 2011 1:07 p.m.

Casey's Bar under new ownership

March 2, 2011 1:06 p.m.

Wacky wildlife bills progress through legislature

Hunters just might be able to use a spear next season if a law that makes them legal holds up. The Senate passed a bill by a 27-21 vote in January that would make a spear a legal weapon.

Dave Perry, a cop at heart
March 2, 2011 1:03 p.m.

Dave Perry, a cop at heart

When Dave Perry was a teenager he didn’t think much of high school.

Drinking, bathing come with a price
March 2, 2011 1 p.m.

Drinking, bathing come with a price

For many residents of Flathead Valley, their water source isn’t something they think about every day. They turn on the tap and the water comes out and that’s good enough.

March 2, 2011 8:38 a.m.

What are the Republicans doing?

There is lots of information out about the first 45 days of Montana’s 62nd legislative session, much of it presented in guest opinions that deserve a response.

March 2, 2011 8:36 a.m.

The right to demonstrate

Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and a myriad of other Middle Eastern countries populations are in the streets demanding change. Hooray our government says. The President, Secretary of State, and press officers stating we are on the side of the demonstrators, and the dictators whom we were on the side of, if it was to our benefit, last week, should mellow out and quit beating, shooting and arresting people.

Tuesday, March 1

March 1, 2011 12:01 p.m.

Divisional finals 2011 small.mov