Ellington

Betty Miller

Betty L. Claridge Miller, 82, passed away at Immanuel Lutheran Home on Nov. 23, 2011, after a 14-year battle with Alzheimer's.

Bulldog wrestlers hit the mat this Friday

Flower shop gets a fresh start

Whitefish man battles rare blood disease

County begins zoning process for doughnut

Lester Bauska

Lester Osborn Bauska, 92, passed away Nov. 11, 2011, at the Heritage Place in Kalispell.

Terrance Grilley

Terrance Frank Grilley, 74, of Kalispell, passed away Nov. 20, 2011, in Lewistown.

Irene Corbett

Irene Agnes Corbett, 102, passed away Nov. 24, 2011, at Brendan House, in Kalispell.

Minnie Krause

Minnie Ethel Krause, 90, passed away Nov. 5, 2011, at the Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Thomas Harmon

Thomas Calvin Harmon, 97, passed away in Kalispell on Nov. 5, 2011.

Patricia Johnson

Patricia M. Johnson, 88, passed away Nov. 19, 2011, at Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center.

The North Fork gives thanks

As usual, the Thanksgiving dinner at Sondreson Hall was a big community success. While most of the U.S. has made Thanksgiving a family holiday, here on the North Fork it is a community event. Just like the original Pilgrims, we choose to live in an place where the weather can be harsh and there is a real need for neighbors to help each other at times. With town 50 miles away and many services limited or nonexistent, a good neighbor is a fine thing.

Collaborative conservation

Recently, considerable discussion has centered on whether broad stakeholder interests, uniting together to work collaboratively on natural resource project recommendations to restore functioning ecosystems and enhance ecological processes, is an appropriate and effective way of managing our Forest Service lands.

Supreme court justice, jammer driver dies at 98

John Harrison, the longest-serving Montana Supreme Court justice and a Depression-era jammer bus driver in Glacier National Park, died Nov. 11 at 98 years old.

Hunter accidentally kills griz

A hunter accidentally shot and killed a grizzly bear that he misidentified as a black bear in the Bear Creek drainage south of Libby on Nov. 13.

The buck stops ninety-eight steps from the pickup

Hunting stories rarely appear in this space, but after three decades, I'm going to make an exception.

Yellowstone griz back on ESA list

Grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem will remain on the endangered species list, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Nov. 22.

Girls team is young, athletic

Of the 28 girls in the Columbia Falls basketball program, 17 are freshmen. Can you say youth?

Boys basketball team reloads for another season

The goal is pretty simple for the Columbia Falls boys basketball team - make it back to the state tournament.

All conference spikers, gridders announced

Shaun Rowe, a senior Columbia Falls volleyball player, was recently named first-team all-conference.

Group warns against Park Service cuts

Glacier National Park could see a very lean budget in 2013, the National Park Conservation Association warned last week. The parks advocacy group has more than 300,000 members.

North Fork man charged with child sex abuse

A 53-year-old man from the Polebridge area pleaded not guilty in Flathead County District Court on Nov. 23 to three counts of felony sexual abuse of children.

Hungry Horse fire board chairman sentenced

The former chairman of the Hungry Horse Fire District board of trustees was sentenced to probation last week for theft and official misconduct.

Snow drought could limit ski resort opening

The ski slopes on Big Mountain are white with snow, but is it enough to ski? That's the question officials at Whitefish Mountain Resort will grapple with until the final hours before opening day, set for this Saturday, Dec. 3.

Pearl Harbor display commemorates 70 years

Seven words. Seventy years. One ugly, tragic day in United States history.

Yesterdays

60 Years Ago

School news

Valedictorian

Fundraising for Discovery Square boiler

First Best Place is asking the community to help raise funds for a new boiler at Glacier Discovery Square and hope the Night of Lights weekend will be a good time for locals to make a contribution.

Night of Lights

This year's Columbia Falls Night of Lights will take place on Friday, Dec. 2.

Community news

Tree board needs member

Fire department's assistant chief retires after 20 years of service

Bigfork dancers to perform in 'Nutcracker'

Sled dogs get ready to pull

Funding available for path completion

Anonymous donor helps school district with transportation need

Grace Carlson

Grace Maria Carlson, 90, died Oct. 29, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Home, in Kalispell.

Eldon Peterson

Eldon Gordon Peterson, 76, a well-known Whitefish knifemaker and resident, passed away Oct. 19, 2011, in Mesa, Ariz., after suffering a massive stroke followed by congestive heart failure. 

Patsy Sanford

Patsy L. Sanford, 74, died Oct. 12, 2011, at her residence in Columbia Falls.

Donald Doerschlag

Donald James Doerschlag, 89, of Kalispell, died Oct. 18, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Home, in Kalispell.

Russell Walter Sr.

Russell James Walter Sr., 71, died of natural causes on Oct. 24, 2011, in Kalispell.

Larry Love

Larry Jon Love, 71, passed away Oct. 24, 2011, at his home in Kalispell.

Column feedbacks

Strange things happen to people who write newspaper columns. Thank goodness, most are good. Here are examples:

Klothes Kloset donations top $21,000 for the year

Dedicated volunteers at the Klothes Kloset were able to contribute $11,000 to organizations during World Community Day, plus another $10,141 during the past year.

Winter strikes the North Fork

No one on the North Fork needs to be told that fall has fell and it is now winter. In the last week we have had a total snowfall of over 16 inches. There has been settling but a blanket of snow now covers everything, the golden needles have been blown off of the larch and wood is no longer being put in woodsheds but is being carried into the house.

Roosevelt's lesson: If you have to hit, hit hard

Nolan Hotel, Mingusville, (later Wibaux) Montana, autumn, 1884. Young, bespectacled Theodore Roosevelt was tired and hungry. He had been searching for stray horses since dawn. As he entered the inn TR described what happened.

The good grizzly

The creek wasn't that wide. I only had to jump from the one big rock over to the little sandbar and then I could hop on about three other smaller rocks and I'd be right over the creek.

Speech team does well at Flathead

Columbia Falls was the top speech team in Class A at the Flathead tournament Nov. 18-19.

Charles Leonard Reeves

Chuck went to be with his savoir on Nov. 16, 2011.

Ida Johnson

Ida E. Penney (Fisher) Johnson, 95, passed away Nov. 13, 2011, at Livingston Memorial Hospital, in Livingston.

Ava Emily (Harder) Toavs

Ava Emily (Harder) Toavs age 75, of Sun City, Ariz. and Columbia Falls, passed away on Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 at her home in Sun City.

MatCats should do well this year

The Columbia Falls wrestling team will look to build on last year's success. The team returns nearly all of the 16 wrestlers that qualified for the state tournament last season.

FWP seeks comments on wolf hunting extension

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission is seeking comments on whether to extend the wolf hunting season and to allow hunters to participate in wolf depredation removals.

Doing the right thing

So, what would you do? About 10 years ago, I was bushwhacking through some tall grass on the way to one of my favorite fishing spots on the Missouri River, near Craig.

Winter weather closes Park roads

Wintry weather has closed many Glacier National Park roads for the until spring.

As bridge gets a facelift, a look at its history

The weather outside the plastic sheet is in the single digits, but inside it's comparatively toasty as Rockwell Wenzel of Tamietti Construction of Great Falls works on the concrete of the Going-to-the-Sun Road's Avalanche Creek Bridge.

Fire destroys Middle Road home

A Middle Road family lost nearly all their possessions after their house caught fire Nov. 15.

MDT posts comments on U.S. 2 upgrade

No support for traditional four-lane roadway in canyon

B.C. passes permanent protections for Flathead

Wayne Herman remembers the date well: Jan. 16, 1975. Herman was the newly-elected chairman of the Flathead Coalition, a broad-based group of business, government and environmental groups dedicated to fighting a proposed coal mine in the Canadian Flathead, just north of the U.S. border.

Tattoo artist carves niche in C-Falls

Jesse Worthey likes flowers.

Feds go after medical marijuana businesses

A dozen criminal search warrants regarding drug trafficking in Montana were executed Nov. 16, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Patricia M. Johnson

Platke signs with Utah State

Level I avy class to be offered

WHS students place at region DECA conference

Ski resort readies for opening day

Our special Thanksgivings

City library adds books; lawsuit still lingering

Amtrak funding drastically cut

Downtown parking lot reclaimed by BNSF

County plans for interim doughnut zoning

Drug trafficking investigated

A dozen criminal search warrants regarding drug trafficking in Montana were executed Wednesday, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Warrants were issued in Whitefish, Kalispell, Missoula and Somers as part of the culmination of a yearlong multi-agency investigation.

West Shore Food Bank receives land donation

Bigfork to be the site of lots of activities

New teacher juggles academics and athletics

Incumbents retain seats in election

Bigfork Ski Team makes sport more accessible

Four Valkyries honored for volleyball

Police look for help with string of Woods Bay burglaries

Bigfork School District replaces activity bus

Survey shows doughnut landowners favor county control

Most landowners in Whitefish’s two-mile planning doughnut would rather have Flathead County Commissioners control their planning. Results from a survey sent out this fall by county commissioners show that 1,234 votes were in favor of county control and 471 favored city control.

Two Ryders named athletes of the month

Strellnauer named to All-State team

New law helps resort activities

Local businesses sound off at Chamber breakfast

Questions remain after repeal vote

Muhlfeld hopes to keep council centered

T is for Trieweiler

Legendary golf coach steps down

Glacier Park's climate a paradox

Brown will run for state senate

Permit approved for new B&B

C-Falls boxer learns the ropes in first pro fight

Elijiah Weller stepped into the boxing ring for his first professional fight last week for a simple reason - he needed some Christmas money. The Columbia Falls 20-year-old said he could use the $300 winner's purse.

Speech team takes top spot for Class A-C in Great Falls

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team ran into some tough competition at the Great Falls Uptown Optimist Speech and Debate Tournament on Nov. 11-12.

Klothes Kloset keeps busy

Time again to commend Church Women United and Klothes Kloset volunteers for another successful year. There were 21 individuals and families receiving 35 bags of clothing and household goods, while one young boy was happy to receive a cane.

A history of American wolves, Part II

The cattlemen weren't sitting idly by waiting for the legislature. Many of them started or stepped up their own efforts of poisoning carcasses, hiring professionals and, of course, every cowboy on the range had orders to kill any coyote, wolf or bear on sight.

Verona Barger

Verona Irene Barger, 92, of Columbia Falls, died after a long illness on Nov. 4, 2011. Verona was born Oct. 13, 1919, in Knob Noster, Mo., to Jessie and Ollie (Carpenter) Hyatt.

Tom Peck

The "Round Mound of Sound" is silent. Tom Peck (Gramps) passed away peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 10, 2011, in Mesa, Ariz., at the age of 78.

Vickie Jackson

Vickie Lynn Jackson, 55, passed away Oct. 24, 2011, at her Kalispell residence.

Second griz killed by a hunter near Pass

Another sow grizzly was shot and killed by a hunter near Marias Pass. The Nov. 9 incident marks the second time a charging sow grizzly was shot by a hunter in the area this hunting season.

Jigging for lake whitefish

Depending with whom you talk, this year's lake whitefish run in the Flathead River is either up or down. In other words, some people are catching fish and some aren't.

Outdoor news

Boating class

Highway bill doesn't mention Sun Road

Montana Sen. Max Baucus announced last week he would co-sponsor a new federal highway funding bill. But the plan is a stark contrast to the bill Baucus supported in 2005 - it has no earmarks.

Three new bat species in Park

Glacier National Park has three previously unrecorded species of bats flying its night skies, biologists learned earlier this year.

Early town site history, from boom to bust

Several dozen pages of documents found by Karla Herman in the safe at Cal Crouch's jewelry store on Nucleus Avenue shed some light on the creation of Columbia Falls at the turn of the 19th century.

Busick home, fundraisers planned

At one point, doctors were sure Daniel Busick was going to die. The Columbia Falls man had no brain activity after a fall that split his skull open. But today, Busick is at home, walking, talking and visiting with friends. It's a truly happy Thanksgiving.

Brown will run for Montana senate next year

Dee Brown, a well-known Republican conservative, has thrown her hat in the ring for the Montana Senate District 2 race next year. The incumbent senator, Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish, is running for lieutenant governor. The senate district includes Columbia Falls and Whitefish.

Job hunt on the coast pays off for young couple

C-Falls grads find happiness in Seattle

A harrowing tale, a winning speech

Debater inspired by Tien Windauer's escape from ‘Nam

Community news

Historical calendars

Deer, elk harvest continues at slow pace

A total of 11,842 hunters checked 379 white-tailed deer (294 of these were bucks), 52 mule deer and 64 elk at the Fish, Wildlife and Parks' six Northwest Montana check stations through Nov. 13 for a 4.2 percent rate of hunters with game.

Bull trout numbers average except in the Swan

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists recently completed counts of bull trout redds (nests) in the eight standard stream index sections for the Flathead Lake population.

Ava Toavs

Ava Emily (Harder) Toavs, 75, of Sun City, Ariz., and Columbia Falls, passed away Nov. 14, 2011, at her home in Sun City.

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Night of Lights

This year's Columbia Falls Night of Lights will take place on Friday, Dec. 2. Karl Skindingsrude and his Special K Music company will MC this year's event. A live nativity scene will be enacted near Glacier Discovery Square.

Feds continue to take tough stance on medical marijuana

Poll indicates support for stricter regulations

Congressional candidate has ties to C-Falls

Whitefish businesswoman Diane Smith announced last week she has entered the race for Montana's open congressional seat in the U.S. House as a Democrat. 

Fishing for pike and thinking of coots

Fishfull faithful may remember a recent story in which the Music Man's Professor Harold Hill extolled the values of perch fishing. I, too, read that story and took my own advice.

Thomas Harmon

Thomas Calvin Harmon, 97, passed away in Kalispell on Nov. 5, 2011.

Grace Carlson

Grace Maria Carlson, 90, died Oct. 29, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Home, in Kalispell.

Minnie Krause

Minnie Ethel Krause, 90, passed away Nov. 5, 2011, at the Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Patsy Sanford

Patsy L. Sanford, 74, died Oct. 12, 2011, at her residence in Columbia Falls.

Eldon Peterson

Eldon Gordon Peterson, 76, a well-known Whitefish knifemaker and resident, passed away Oct. 19, 2011, in Mesa, Ariz., after suffering a massive stroke followed by congestive heart failure. 

Larry Love

Larry Jon Love, 71, passed away Oct. 24, 2011, at his home in Kalispell.

Donald Doerschlag

Donald James Doerschlag, 89, of Kalispell, died Oct. 18, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Home, in Kalispell.

Russell Walter Sr.

Russell James Walter Sr., 71, died of natural causes on Oct. 24, 2011, in Kalispell.

Local woman wrestles with meth habit

Two-year suspended sentence revoked

Smith's holiday tree will help food bank

Smith's Food & Drug will display a "Bringing Hope to the Table" holiday tree through Dec. 31 so customers can assist the needy during the holiday season.

Town Pump raising money for food banks

With a "10 million in 10 years" theme, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation is seeking to raise more than $2 million for food banks across Montana this year and break the $10 million mark. The campaign has raised more than $8.5 million in nine years, including $1.4 million in matching grants from the foundation.

Fatal texting wreck story to be aired tonight

NBC's "Dateline" delayed their show about the 2009 car crash that killed Columbia Falls resident Erin Thompson and her son Caden Odell last week in order to air a special on the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor.

Elves prepare for holidays

Winter’s wandering down to the valley has the Bigfork Elves busying for the big celebration.

Second Street to reopen this weekend

Construction work on the Second Street Improvement Project could be wrapped up as early as Saturday, Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns reports.

Community news

Church Bazaar

Doughnut agreement repealed

Lakeside plan a step closer to implementation

A lawsuit challenging the Lakeside neighborhood planning process won’t go to trial in December as previously expected, based on a judge’s rulings in the case.

Somers Middle School garden nourishing bodies and minds

Nestled and dormant within the mind’s mulch sat a seed, a potential needing only the correct conditions to sprout. Within this seed were not the conventional items of leaves, stems and roots. Rather it was an idea soon to be cultivated by its creator.

Frostys nearly ready for this year's display

It may be hard for some people to believe that the holiday season is just around the corner, but that concept is an easy one to grasp for the nearly 20 members of the Lakeside and Somers community who have been working on the annual Frostys project.

Mental health care cuts will hurt Montana

A coalition consisting of Montana law enforcement, mental health providers and advocates are pleading with Montana Rep. Dennis Rehberg to reconsider proposed cuts that would strike at the heart of Montana’s mental health and substance abuse infrastructure.

Energy Share works to facilitate help

Nov. 1 marked the start of Energy Share of Montana’s public relations campaign.

Defensive coach puts in hours, miles for Vikings

Being a part of a team takes dedication, and not just on the part of the players, which is evident when one looks at the commitment given by Vikings defensive coordinator Ed Buttrey.

Five Vikings make All-state football list

The Vikings football team, which earned its third-straight District 7B title this season, raked in individual honors this season as well.

Valkyries win two, lose two at divisionals

The past few years the Valkyries volleyball team has struggled to string together wins during the postseason, but that was not the case this year and Bigfork finished fourth at the Western B divisional tournament in Eureka last weekend.

Vikings knocked out of playoffs in blowout

For those that were there it was an unimaginable scenario, and for those that were not it was somewhat incomprehensible, but regardless the reality of the situation is that the Vikings lost out of the 2011 playoffs with a 42-0 loss at the hands of Malta on Saturday.

Caring for those who sacrifice

November is a month for appreciation to the service men and women of today and the remembrance of those veterans alive or resting.

Groups rally to protect the fate of Jesus statue

After eons of being seen as a savior to countless people, it is now Jesus who is in need of saving.

Assembly to salute veterans

In a show of respect and in honoring military service-people and their families, the students of Bigfork Middle School will be hosting the annual Veterans Assembly at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 in the Bigfork High School Gym.

Habitat to dedicate duplex on Friday

Habitat For Humanity of Flathead Valley will dedicate the first of eight duplexes they're building on Truck Route in Columbia Falls this Friday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m.

Incumbents retain seats in sewer board election

Robert Hand and Michael Houtonen will continue to serve on the Bigfork County Water and Sewer District board of directors.

New option for financing high school with TIF well-received

On wolf hunts, personal postal service and bentonite

Still no snow to aid hunters, but near neighbors have managed to harvest another white-tailed buck and two bull elk. Another neighbor managed to get one of the five cow elk tags available by drawing. He is still looking.

Warner William Jensen

Dogs 2nd at divisional, head to state

Library will open earlier

$300,000 in grants awarded

Young or not, speech team continues to shine

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team made its mark in Kalispell last week with 12 students in finals in speech events and 11 debaters in the top eight in the debate events.

Kats take third at divisional tourney

The Columbia Falls volleyball team won more games in the Northwest A divisional tournament than they did all season.

McKenzie Kiser named all-state for third straight year

Five members of the Columbia Falls girls soccer team were recently named to the 2011 Northwest Class A All Conference list - Madison Sandefer, Julia Burgi, Cortney White, Elyse Gordon and Kira Kamrud.

A look at Wildcat football season by the numbers

With another Columbia Falls football season in the books, here's a look at some final stats:

Blue Moon Rodeo champs

Season-point champions from the Blue Moon Summer Series Rodeo were honored with awards last month at the Blue Moon Nite Club in Columbia Falls. They are, from the left, Ernie McCaffree, team roping heeler (29 points); Tim Guest, team roping header (36.5); Hunter Ziglar, novice bull riding (9); Haley O'Hern, junior barrel racing (32); Lincoln May Jr., junior breakaway roping (21); Dan Lien, bareback riding (24); Kari Moran Patton, open barrel racing (36); Clayton Ahlgren, open bull riding (15); Roddy Gadeberg, all-around men (33 overall, 19 heeler); and Cassie Jumper, all-around ladies (40 overall, 22 team roping header, 14 open breakaway). Not shown are Leroy Eash, saddle bronc (22.5); Tim Bagnell, tie-down roping (16); Lexi Bagnell, open breakaway roping (15); and Jake Andrews, steer wrestling (7). Other competitors in the series were Danny Stafford, heeler (23); Jason Chaisson, heeler (21); Gus McDonald, novice bulls (5); Rachel Lien, junior barrels (26); McKenzie McDonald, junior barrels (22); Calli Ououpalik, junior breakaway roping (11); Andrew Whitman, bareback (10); Jo Lien, open barrels (18); Rachel Thomson, open barrels (13); Travis Dumont, open bulls (10); Jarret Jacobi, open bulls (10); Sandy DeJong, open bulls (7); Levi Guenzler, tie-down roping (12) and steer wrestling (6); and Mariah Wilcox, open breakaway (14).

Help needed for trail and bridge

Dear community, your help is needed. The Kreck Riverwalk Trail is in jeopardy.

Villages sprang up for dam builders

Lack of housing in North Dakota and Eastern Montana with the oil and pipeline boom reminded me of Hungry Horse Dam days. For example, General-Shea-Morrison had total employment of 1,900 employees at Hungry Horse dam site in 1949. Columbia Falls, a town with reputation of "no one born for 50 years" became a community of newcomers. And no houses.

Hasley Bundrock

Hasley Bundrock, 90, died Oct. 16, 2011, in Yuma, Ariz.

A history of American wolves, Part I

When wolves first made a comeback into Glacier National Park from a pack coming down from Canada, I did a lot of research on their past history in the U.S. Few people have much past knowledge on what has now become the "new" game animal, so let me share some surprising facts:

Robert Burke

Robert Gene Burke, 84, of Columbia Falls, died Oct. 28, 2011, at Brendan House, in Kalispell.

Chris Emerson

Chris Leaman Emerson, 64, died Oct. 25, 2011, at his home in Columbia Falls.

Cynthia Buck

Cynthia Ray Buck, 47, passed away Oct. 30, 2011, in Kalispell.

Hazel Davis

Hazel A. (Streitt) Davis, 83, of Kalispell, passed away Nov. 4, 2011, in Kalispell.

Invasive weed patch bigger than expected

The Flathead County Weed Department reports that the Eurasian watermilfoil infestation recently discovered in Beaver Lake is worse than expected.

Mary Babcock

Mary Louise (DesRosier) Babcock, 78, of Columbia Falls, passed away of natural causes Nov. 2, 2011, at North Valley Hospital. 

Deer and elk harvest in Northwest Montana remains slow

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports that at the six Northwest Montana check stations through Nov. 6, a total of 8,696 hunters checked 273 white-tailed deer - including 208 bucks - 29 mule deer and 50 elk for a 4.0 percent rate of hunters with game.

Problem griz is persistent

Resident blames problems on people dumping carcasses

Glacier Park's climate a paradox

Precipitation in Glacier National Park over the past few decades is up about 14 percent, but the Park is actually drier in many respects, with streams hitting low flows earlier than usual and wildfires occurring more frequently.

Whitefish woman elected state tourism council chair

Whitefish business owner Rhonda Fitzgerald was recently elected as chairperson of the Montana Tourism Advisory Council. She will serve a one-year term in the role as she looks to continue the state's successful marketing and branding campaign.

Yesterdays

60 Years Ago

Land swap proposed for Jesus statue

A proposed land swap between the federal government and Whitefish Mountain Resort could eliminate legal challenges and allow the statue of Jesus on the side of Big Mountain to remain where it is.

A SEAL before the glam and glitter

Vet recalls a ‘thrilling life'

Karper, Plevel and Fisher are winners

Two incumbents and one challenger won the Columbia Falls municipal election in a relatively close five-way race for three seats.

Land swap proposed to save Jesus statue

A private-public land swap may be the ticket to keeping a statue of Jesus Christ on Big Mountain. It’s at least a good back-up plan, Rep. Denny Rehberg says.

School and military news

FVCC honor society

Community news

Turkey bingo

Outdoor news

Banff Film Festival

Veterans Day assembly on Nov. 10

The National Honor Society of Columbia Falls High School will host the annual Veterans Day assembly in the high school gymnasium on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 10:30 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend. Seating will begin at 10 a.m.

Rehberg heads to Whitefish for Jesus statue

Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg will attend a public rally in Whitefish on Nov. 10 in support of the statue of Jesus Christ on Big Mountain. Rehberg will be at the VFW Post 276 on Baker Avenue at 1 p.m.

Rehberg to attend rally for Jesus statue

Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg will attend a public rally in Whitefish on Nov. 10 in support of the World War II statue of Jesus on Big Mountain. Rehberg will be at the VFW Post 276 on Baker Avenue at 1 p.m.

Whitefish businesswoman enters race for U.S. House seat

Whitefish businesswoman Diane Smith announced Thursday she has entered the race for Montana’s open congressional seat in the U.S. House.

Bigfork vs Florence first-round playoff game

Early census data gives demographic snapshot

Results from the 2010 census are slowly becoming available online. The data below comes from a demographic profile table that last week was only available for Montana census areas listed alphabetically from A through S, and it did not include economic information. Information on Whitefish was not available for comparison.

Lorraine Olson

Bulldogs earn state soccer title

Lady Dogs No. 2 seed heading into tourney

'Dogs eliminated in first round

Auditorium loan paid off

Resort Tax up in August

Homemade food swap Nov. 9

Hope remains for injured mountain biker

Calming circle riles comments

La Niña is back for winter

Beaver Lake users urged to clean boats

New, stricter laws helping curb DUIs

Support for Jesus statue continues

Warden looking for tips on elk and bear cases

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks warden Perry Brown is looking for any information on two recent game violations.

Speech team takes first at Corvallis

They may be young, but they still made a mark. The Columbia Falls speech and debate team opened their season by taking first place in team sweepstakes at the Corvallis meet Oct. 29.

Kiser signs with college

Columbia Falls soccer standout McKenzie Kiser will play for the New Mexico Highlands University Skyhawks starting next fall.

Local soccer all stars play Saturday

A new soccer showcase featuring the best prep players in the Flathead Valley is slated for Nov. 4 at Memorial Park in Whitefish. Organizer O'Brien Byrd is calling it an all-star game for the local soccer community.

Kats lose to Broncs in 5

The Columbia Falls volleyball team had another tough go of it last week, losing to Frenchtown in five games in a tight match, 19-25, 25-17, 21-25, 25-18, 13-15, to end the regular season.

Twins kick-off meeting Nov. 9

The Glacier Twins will begin their 2012 baseball season with a parent and player meeting at the Pin and Cue, in Whitefish, on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. All interested players and parents are urged to attend, as well as any others interested in helping with the program.

Taking a tour through Nucleus Avenue's past

Comments concerning memories of two stop lights on Nucleus Avenue have been enjoyable. Appreciated thanks and discussions while remembering where businesses were located during several decades.

Iraq: Theft, lies and political skullduggery

President Obama has ordered our troops home from Iraq by year's end, but it was President Bush who first announced this withdrawal date of Dec. 31, 2011. President Obama is enforcing that timetable despite the opposition from some.

Talking bucks, poachers and larch

Nearly everyone has already reported a slow start to the general hunting season, and that has been the case among North Fork residents, too.

Border bill

The Democratic spin machine has latched on to H.R. 1505 with a hunger that rivals a grizzly bear smelling a recently killed elk. In their desire to protect the Obama-agenda protecting Sen. Jon Tester, they have resorted to lies, obfuscations and disingenuous claims that H.R. 1505 will give to the Homeland Security Agency dictatorial powers. Nothing could be further from the truth. However, let us look as some simple facts.

Thanks for all the food

Thank you Columbia Falls. Because of your generous support, more than 2,700 pounds of food was collected and delivered to the Columbia Falls Food Bank during the annual Realtor food drive.

'Occupy Whitefish'

I've been happy to read that local officials are rethinking a previous decision to remove the Jesus statue in memory of World War II veterans from the top of Big Mountain. There will be a forthcoming comment period where we can all participate.

Dorothy West

Dorothy Mae (Sume) West, 63, passed away Oct. 27, 2011, in Kalispell.

Cyndee Berg

Cyndee Susan Berg, 53, of Billings, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Oct. 12, 2011. She was at home with her family by her side.

William Bertino

Lt. Col. William Louis "Popo" Bertino, U.S. Air Force retired, 73, of Columbia Falls, passed away peacefully at Hospice of Arizona. Surrounded by his family, he died in his wife's arms on Oct. 23, 2011.

Hunters on par with past year

Hunting success in Region 1 is on par with last year, Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks reported. A total of 5,783 hunters checked 207 white-tailed deer - 155 or 75 percent of these were bucks - along with 22 mule deer and 37 elk for a 4.6 percent rate of hunters with game.

Aquatic invasive plant found here

With the recent discovery of Eurasian watermilfoil at Beaver Lake, north of Whitefish, the Flathead Aquatic Invasive Species Workgroup is asking recreationists for help in containing this an aquatic invasive weed.

Stimulus money funded 100 miles of road work

The Westside Hungry Horse Reservoir Road, No. 895, reopened to vehicle traffic on Oct. 28. Visitors are advised to remain alert for trucks and other equipment and road shoulders that are still soft.

FWP relocates 8 griz in two weeks

Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear-conflict biologists captured and relocated eight grizzly bears from the northeast portion of the Flathead Valley over the past two weeks.

Scientist hopes to forecast killer avalanches

In the winter of 2009, a massive avalanche started near the crest of the Garden Wall in Glacier National Park and ran 4,000 vertical feet down the slope, crossing the Going-to-the-Sun Road twice settling just below the access road to Packer's Roost.

Local cavers to talk about their work in Park

The Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center at Glacier National Park will host a free brown-bag lecture at the Community Building in the Park Headquarters area on Tuesday, Nov. 8, from noon to 1 p.m. The Bigfork High School Cave Club will talk about their five years of cave research in the park.  

Jobless rate here drops to single digits

It's been a year since the unemployment rate in Flathead County has dropped below double digits.

Mill levy considered for dispatch center

The Flathead County 911 board is considering two options to fund the county's new dispatch center, which has been operating for about 16 months.

Planning board to look at RV zoning on city land

The Columbia Falls City-County Planning Board will hear a request from the city to change the zoning on a subdivision it owns north of town.

School and military news

Jacob Lutz, of Columbia Falls, has been awarded a $2,000 William F. Stufft Memorial Scholarship from the University of Montana School of Business Administration. Lutz is a senior majoring in accounting and marketing. He is a 2007 graduate of Columbia Falls High School.

Community news

Chamber meets

Fatal crash to be featured on TV show

On Friday, Nov. 4, NBC News Dateline's Keith Morrison will report on the fatal two-car crash on U.S. 93 that killed Erin Thompson and Caden Odell on March 19, 2009.

Volleyball is therapy for Wildkat with cancer

It was in June when Taylor Peterson, then a sophomore at Columbia Falls High School, noticed a growth above one of her teeth.

Juggling school, sports and service work

Cortney White is a model for volunteerism

Vikings come back from deficit to win first-round playoff game

The postseason is a time when good teams are separated from great teams, and on Saturday afternoon in a first-round game at home against Florence, the 2011 Vikings showed that they have what it takes to be a great team.

Two Valkyries earn soccer honors

The 2011 All-conference soccer lists were released this week for Northwest A, and two members of the Valkyries soccer team earned nods — seniors McKinze Shults and Sara Keenan.

Averill matriarch leaves lasting legacy

The Flathead Lake Lodge has been a fixture on the east shore landscape for more than 60 years, and its longevity is due in no small part to the behind-the-scenes presence of a very special lady.

School board considers new technology policy

The importance of technology in the classroom has grown substantially in the last five years, which is why Bigfork superintendent Cynthia Clary believes it is time to revise the district’s policy regarding the use of personal electronic devices on school grounds.

Local lawyer publishes crime book

It takes good facts to make good fiction.

Kelly brings passion for math, life to Bigfork

James Kelly is the first to admit that he’s kind of a dork.

Valkyries finish third at districts

The Valkyries went into Saturday’s District 7B Volleyball Tournament in Eureka as the No. 3 seed, and that’s exactly how they came out of it.