Ellington

Outdoor news

Wilderness talks

Quick study teaches himself to make tactical knives

Steven Kelly is in a cult... a cult of knive lovers that is.

Extremely cold weather expected by Sunday

The National Weather Service in Missoula is forecasting a bitterly cold weather system with arctic origins that will begin to impact Northwest Montana on Sunday, Feb. 2. This system could very well be colder than the one in December.

Suspended sentence for shop burglar

A former Columbia Falls man has been sentenced to five years with the Montana Department of Corrections, all suspended, after he pleaded guilty to a single charge of felony burglary.

C-Falls woman sentenced for meth possession

A 39-year-old Columbia Falls woman was given a two-year deferred sentence after she was caught with marijuana and methamphetamine in her vehicle during a meth lab bust in Columbia Heights last spring.

Obama speaks about long-term unemployment

The following remarks about long-term unemployment were made by President Barack Obama at the East Room of the White House on Jan. 31, 2014.

President's speech a red flag for Montana energy jobs

President Obama got one thing right in his State of the Union address: What our country needs most is to create new, high-wage jobs. We know something about that in Montana, with tremendous job growth in our energy sector the last few years. And with our country’s massive, untapped coal, oil, and gas reserves, paired with vigorous growth in demand for energy worldwide, it doesn’t take an academician to figure out the best opportunity to create new jobs.

Stream access ruling a victory for the people

The recent ruling by the Montana Supreme Court upholding our state’s stream access law and the ability of everyone to get to streams from county roads is a victory of all Montanans and all who enjoy our public waters. It also illustrates the stark difference of views about who should get to enjoy public land and water.

Dale Clothier

Dale Kenneth Clothier, 59, passed away Jan. 19, 2014, in Apache Junction, Ariz.

Rhonda Yacenda

Rhonda Adriene (Burdick) Yacenda, 61, of Columbia Falls, passed away at Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Jan. 14, 2014.

Man charged in shooting spree takes plea agreement

A Somers man who was arrested following a shooting spree outside his home last February accepted a plea agreement on Thursday.

Students say International Baccalaureate classes a major draw to attending school in Kalispell

There are several reasons why residents of the Bigfork High School District attend school in Kalispell.

School board considers hiring former superintendent Russ Kinzer

The Bigfork school board is looking to former superintendent Russ Kinzer to replace outgoing superintendent Cynthia Clary.

Ryan Zinke campaigns in Bigfork, says Hillary Clinton is the "anti-Christ"

Ryan Zinke helped kick start his campaign for Congress in Bigfork Monday.

State parks post record visitation last year

Montana State Parks announced Jan. 29 that annual visitation numbers for 2013 are the highest on record, with more than 2,112,000 visits to Montana’s 54 state parks.

Obama talks about the minimum wage and retirement

The following remarks about the minimum wage were made by President Barack Obama at the Costco store in Lanham, Md., on Jan. 29, 2014.

Snow and cold will continue in Northwest Montana

The National Weather Service in Missoula issued an update for the winter weather that has come to Northwest Montana.

MatCats say thanks to all supporters

The following letter was sent by the MatCats coaches and team:

MatCats pound Bulldogs, end regular season this week

Shorthanded Kats bounce Bravettes, Broncs

Cats split the bill, get key conference win

Wildcats win speech divisional title

'Facts' cleared up about backflow prevention

Freedom Bank donates to Habitat project

NTSB recommends tougher standards for trains

Hungry Horse News announces new publisher

Dan Drewry has joined the Hungry Horse News as publisher.

Obama's State of the Union Address

President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union Address to Congress on Jan. 28, 2014.

Daines responds to State of the Union Address

Republican Rep. Steve Daines release the following statement in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address:

Zinke responds to State of the Union Address

Ryan Zinke, of Whitefish, a former state senator and a Republican candidate for the U.S. House, issued this response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address:

Libertarians respond to State of the Union Address

Thanks to unprecedented levels of government interference and government coercion, Americans’ rights are violated like never before. We are harmed by taxes, regulations, prohibitions and shocking privacy intrusions.

DeWit breaks 1,000 point mark

Columbia Falls High School alumnus Kelsey DeWit recently broke the 1,000 point scoring barrier for the Montana Tech women’s basketball team.

Sports news

Baseball concession

Man pleads not guilty to C-Falls pot grow

FVCC dean's list

Voisin qualifies for Olympics

Community news

Canyon trail meeting

Freezing rain and snow in the forecast his week

The National Weather Service in Missoula is forecasting a significant change to the winter weather scenario for the Northern Rockies from Tuesday evening, Jan. 28, through midday Friday, Jan. 31.

June Munski-Feenan

On Jan. 21, 2014, Whitefish lost one of its lights as June Munski-Feenan slipped peacefully from this world to the next surrounded by her family.

Robert Packwood

Robert “Bob” Lincoln Packwood, 76, died of natural causes Jan. 26, 2014, at North Valley Hospital.

Winter survival in Montana

We turn up the heat, put on a sweater, plug in the car. They leave town, go to sleep or tough it out. They are wildlife, specifically Montana’s wildlife that have to deal with the rigors of our winter.

ALERT sent to two serious wrecks in the Canyon

A rollover on Spotted Bear Road in Martin City soon followed by a horrific head-on crash on the U.S. 2 bridge over the South Fork of the Flathead River overwhelmed first responders in the Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 25.

William Rocksund

William S. Rocksund, 85, passed away at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls on Jan. 14, 2014.

Melvin Greene

Melvin “Smokey” Greene, Colonel, U.S.A.F. (Ret.), 95, diedJan. 20, 2014, at his home in Austin, Texas, in the company of his family.

Holmquist, won't support CSKT water compact

First let me be clear that this is one Flathead County commissioner’s opinion.

A response to election administration report

A bipartisan election commission led by the chief campaign lawyers for President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney has made recommendations for making elections run more smoothly across the country.  

Train trips to paradise: The railroad transformed Montana

Railroads usually connect regions, states, cities and towns. But they also connect time, eras and centuries. In Montana, there is a direct railroad connection between the transportation revolution of the 19th century and the homestead era of the 20th. This is that story.

Food bank advocate dies at 86

June Munski-Feenan, 86, the petite and persistent redhead who shepherded North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish since its humble beginnings, died Jan. 21 of cancer.

PamelaTellesch

Pamela “Pam” (Maris) Tellesch, 67, passed away Jan. 1, 2014, in Libby, due to respiratory failure.

Choosing to commute: why some parents choose Kalispell schools

There are several reasons why residents of the Bigfork High School District attend school in Kalispell.

The dirty little secret on sage grouse

The humble sage grouse has earned a new moniker in Montana and other western states: the spotted owl of the prairie. That description started as a joke, but for the tens of thousands of Montanans who earn their living in agriculture or energy development, it’s no longer a laughing matter. That’s because there’s a very real threat this bird could be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The result would dramatically impact Montana’s economy.

Glacier Park featured in new 'welcome' signs

Tourists driving into Montana will be greeted by new “Welcome to Montana” highway signs that will be installed starting this spring.

BNSF donates to restore 'rescued' Park murals

The Hockaday Museum of Art will receive a $10,000 donation from the BNSF Railway Foundation to help pay for the restoration of 15 “rescued” Glacier National Park murals.

School grant

The staff at Ruder Elementary School would like to thank Town Pump for the $500 grant from ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program to support the school’s math and science programs. The grants are made possible by funding from the ExxonMobil Corporation.

Somers group home scrutinized for proximity to wildlife area

A group home scheduled to be built near Somers has stalled, after public opposition to the home’s proximity to a wildlife preserve.

Rising Mountains assisted living opens Jan. 26

Bill Dale and Char Dale sat in a quiet, unoccupied corner of the Rising Mountains assisted living center in Bigfork last week, chatting enthusiastically while the final throes of construction pushed on around them.

Small art sought for Bigfork Museum show

The Bigfork Museum of Art and History is accepting little pieces of art for an upcoming exhibit.

Shots fired in Ferndale altercation

Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a Ferndale man on Christmas Day for allegedly assaulting his estranged wife.

Bigfork man convicted of child abuse charges

A Bigfork man has been convicted of felony sexual abuse of children.

Bigfork library gets new name under county rebranding

The old library just isn’t what it used to be.

Man gets suspended sentence for role in Ferndale attack

The first of three men charged after a Fourth of July beating has been sentenced.

On wolves and dogs

I have been shocked and saddened to read about people being killed by dogs. But this happens year and year, and too often. If a dog kills a person, we put the dog down — sometimes.

Roberts wins Jug Beck championship at 126 pounds

Kats drop a close one to the Pack, wallop 'Dogs

Cats find their groove, thump Bulldogs

C-Falls will be Xanterra's 'base of operations'

GNESA looks to ramp back up in 2014

Ryans, Dorlarques named Wildcat super fans

The surveillance state lives

President Obama has some nerve. He opened his speech on National Security Agency spying by likening his surveillance regime to Paul Revere and the Sons of Liberty. How insulting. They were helping people resist government tyranny, and the British spied on them to put down the coming rebellion.

Nicosia triple jumps past college athletes at meet

Stream access decision sets new, negative precedent for Montana landowners

The Montana Supreme Court recent ruling on an important stream access case represents an alarming expansion of access law at the detriment of property rights. But despite headlines announcing a win for stream access, the court all but ignored the 1,000 pound gorilla in the case — whether Montana’s stream access law is Constitutional. Ultimately, if the appellants are successful in appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, the case may yet prove to restore the property rights that were taken from Montana landowners 30 years ago.

Community news

Free meals

Teapublican mantra

It’s simple. For the Teapublican, there are two paths to job growth:

Freedom Bank donates to Habitat project here

Freedom Bank’s founder, Don Bennett, will present a $10,000 check to Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley in support of their 16-home Columbia Falls Affordable housing project.

Winter job market here best in six years

Wildfire hazard mitigation protects forest values

Wildfire mitigation projects are designed and implemented with the intent to reduce the potential intensity and burn severity of a wildfire. Note that the term “fireproof” is not used. The objective of wildfire mitigation in the forest is not to “fireproof” the forest.

C-Falls man charged with embezzling at KFC

Need the facts on Obamacare, not Bible stories

On Sunday, Dec. 22, I read the op-ed written by Mr. James Ahrens, a Montana health-care professional. He wrote “facts only” from experience, knowledge and complete honesty. It was the most informative and honest article written by a Montana citizen on the Affordable Care Act that I have read to date.

ImagineIF review

I am normally suspicious and had hoped “ImagineIF” as name for a library was just another whim of the county library director and library board to spend taxpayers’ funds.

Rescue group

On behalf of the Kawaa’pomaakaa Society, the animal rescue group in Browning, I’d like to thank Rev. Bradley Wirth and his congregation at the All Saints Episcopal Church in Whitefish for their most generous donation.

Court upholds public access to waterways

In a Jan. 16 ruling, the Montana Supreme Court upheld Montana’s 1985 Stream Access Law, which a landowner in Madison County claimed was an “unconstitutional taking of his vested property rights.”

Why do the Indians want control of so much water?

After I testified at the water compact meeting last Monday, Jan. 13, in Helena, I realized I was talking about a different subject than most of the others participating in this event. The others were talking about the compact with an underlying assumption that it had to be put into place in some form or another. However, I was questioning why the compact was even being considered.

Baucus' tax reform legacy shaping up poorly for Montana

Sen. Max Baucus has one major piece of unfinished business he’s scrambling to complete before he officially leaves office. Last year, he took on the mammoth task of completely overhauling our nation’s tax structure — an undertaking that is sorely needed to help our economy and create jobs. Moreover, comprehensive tax reform is the senator’s last best chance to repair his legacy after being sullied by his role in crafting Obamacare.

Donald Thiesen

Donald F. Thiesen, 90, passed away quietly at his home in Kalispell on Jan. 11, 2014, surrounded by family.

Canyon men still face consequences of brutal attack

10 years cycling through the corrections system

President Obama speaks about college education

The following remarks were made by President Barack Obama at the College Opportunity Summit, on the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 16, 2014.

Imagine If: The rebranding of Bigfork library

By DAVID REESE

Vietnam veterans group chartered in the Flathead

Seven years after a Vietnam Veterans of America chapter was last chartered in Montana, a Northwest Montana chapter is up and running.

Guided snowshoe walks offered across Montana

The Montana Wilderness Association will host 55 guided snowshoe walks across some of the Montana’s quiet beauty and treasured wild places beginning in January.

Big Mtn, Winter Carnival promoter Norm Kurtz dies

Longtime Whitefish civic leader Norm Kurtz, a hardworking promoter of the Big Mountain ski resort and the Whitefish community for decades, a founder of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, died Jan. 10, 2014, in Missoula. He was 86.

Norman Kurtz

Norman F. Kurtz died Jan. 10, 2014.

A stark choice in the new year

At this moment, four out of every 19 unemployed workers in the U.S. have been looking for a job for more than six months, the highest level of long-term joblessness since the Great Depression.

Tester's work saved St. Regis timber mill

Montana’s timber industry has fallen on tough times recently. But our state’s mill workers know that Sen. Jon Tester will always fight for them. In fact, Sen. Tester’s hard work is a big reason why the Tricon Mill remains in business today.

C-Falls grapplers beat Frenchtown, Libby in duals

Speakers take second at Bozeman

Kats extend winning streak to 7

Cats lose to Vikings, beat Pirates, face Bulldogs

Avalanche forecasting a labor of love

North Fork Road not in RAC budget

Plea reached for Hungry Horse man on meth charge

Community news

Historical Society

Tombrink's blood runs International Red

U.S. Supreme Court won't hear gun case; petitioned on campaign regs

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request to review a ruling on Montana’s Firearms Freedom Act on Jan. 13.

Frances Anderson

Frances Anderson, 87, died Jan. 11, 2014, surrounded by family and friends.

Daines gains commitment on Secure Rural Schools funding

Rep. Steve Daines has secured a commitment from the Forest Service that funds allocated to Montana counties through the Secure Rural Schools program will not be subjected to sequester cuts in 2014.

Kalispell man claims million dollar lottery prize

A Kalispell man was the owner of the million-dollar lottery ticket recently sold at Mike’s Conoco in Columbia Falls.

400,000 gallons of Bakken crude lost in train wreck

According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board, as much as 400,000 gallons of crude oil was lost when a BNSF Railway train wrecked near Casselton, N.D. on Dec. 30.

Winds gust to 119 mph on Logan Pass

Strong winds on Monday, Jan. 13, toppled a Montana Rail Link freight train about 13 miles west of Helena and blew over trees and downed power lines east of the Continental Divide.

Backflow hearing draws frustrated water users

Plea deal reached in child abuse case

Film crew visits C-Falls and backcountry slopes

County library system re-brands itself

The Flathead County Library System announced last week that it has re-branded itself ImagineIF Libraries.

Official numbers show increased Park visitation

C-Falls man pleads not guilty to weapon charge

Oil field wastewater spill on the Blackfeet Reservation

About 12.600 gallons of wastewater from oil and gas production spilled last week on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation about 10 miles southwest of Cut Bank.

Medicaid expansion not supported by Bible

There was a letter to the editor in the Daily Inter Lake on Dec. 17 titled, “It was extremists who blocked state’s Medicaid expansion.” In it were some very misguided bold statements.

Blaine Byington

Blaine Byington, 86, of Columbia Falls, died Jan. 6, 2014.

Candidate filing starts, districts reconfigured

Columbia Falls and Whitefish no longer share state senator

Powerful winds in the weekend forecast

In 2006, wind gusts at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park reached a whopping 133 mph. The Park and high country areas across Montana and Idaho could see similar conditions starting tonight, Friday, Jan. 10, and continuing into Saturday, the National Weather Service in Missoula is forecasting.

A new food, farm and jobs bill to fight hunger here at home

The following statement on the Farm Bill was made by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Jan. 10, 2014.

Collaborative program awards money for land trust

Travelers for Open Land, a collaborative program that allows Montana visitors and residents to make voluntary contributions to conserve open land, last week awarded $33,000 to fund five Montana private land conservation projects.

Congress's bad reputation is well deserved

The recent political rage to criticize the U.S. Congress for lack of accomplishment and unwillingness to compromise is deserved. In both the House and Senate, the negative actions of more than a few members have brought public derision upon all of them and the institution as well.

Barry Lee Rowsey obituary

Barry Lee Rowsey

Trails day offers fun for the family throughout Flathead Valley

Winter Trails Day is Saturday with several free outdoor activities. 

Christmas lights a sign we are not alone

Andrew Wendle

Warrant issued for man who vandalized cameras

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Bigfork man for allegedly damaging security cameras in downtown Bigfork in summer 2012.

Florence Marie Paulson obituary

Florence Marie Paulson

Cowabunga audtions coming up in Bigfork

Auditions for the 12th annual Cowabunga Variety show are Jan. 28-29 at the Bigfork Center for Performing Arts.  

Auditions for children's production

The Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre invites students in grades 2 through 6 to audition, Tuesday, Jan. 7, for the cast of “The Wild, Wild, Wildest West,”  - a Western style ‘meler-drama’ full of heroes, villains and damsels in distress.

Woman sentenced for forgery, meth lab charge dropped

A plea deal has been reached in the case of a 42-year-old woman arrested for forgery, burglary and operating a meth lab while passing through the Flathead on her way from California to North Dakota.

Lacrosse taking off in Montana, not too late to register

What do NHL great Wayne Gretsky, NFL legend Jim Brown and New England Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick have in common? They all played lacrosse, a sport that’s exploding in popularity in Montana.

Sports news

Baseball sign-ups

Sustainable growth in the forestry economy

With the global financial crisis of 2007 (hopefully) behind us, it is time to look at the future and what opportunities lay ahead for the forest products industry.

Early snowfall helped Montana snowpack

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bozeman reported Jan. 9 that early season snowfall helped boost Montana snowpack to near normal.

Another crude oil train derails and bursts into flames

Another train carrying crude oil has derailed and burst into flames. This time it was in a rural area near the community of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick, about 20 miles north of the Canada border with Maine.

Fracking: America's new 'F' word

Since the release of the films “Gasland” and “Promised Land,” the 60-year-old petroleum extraction process of hydraulic fracturing, better known as “fracking,” has been lighting up the media like the flaming faucets used to scare energy consumers.

A big year for tourist industry

Triplett is runner-up at Cowtown Classic

MatCats shine in duals, go 9-0

Wildkats tame Lady Lions

Wildcats thump Eureka

Lawsuit filed in C-Falls skier's death

Median mortgage here: $1,395

C-Falls man avoids DUI No. 4 sentence for 2nd time

Preparing for Bakken oil trains

50 years later: War on Poverty not over

The following statement was made by President Barack Obama on the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty.

U.S. foreign policy is a shambles

With al-Qaeda affiliates wreaking havoc in Iraq, Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham seem to lament that no U.S. troops are on the scene to get in on the action.

Kalispell general contractor announces bid for PSC

A 45-year-old Kalispell general contractor who attended school in Columbia Falls is back in the political limelight.

Wealthy casino owner takes on Internet gambling

Internet gambling is illegal in Montana, but a 2011 legal opinion by the U.S. Department of Justice and the approval of Internet gambling by state governments in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey could be a harbinger of things to come.

Forest health and hunting

I would like to thank Congressman Steve Daines for his work on H.R. 1526, the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, which passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support.

New Year's resolution

Farm bill is no place for poison pills

Congress must approve a farm bill. Our nation’s farmers and millions of food-stamp recipients, as well as American consumers, are depending on the leadership of Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, to make that happen.

Cindi Turbyfill

Cindi Parkos Bratlien Turbyfill, 53, died Jan. 1, 2014.

Community news

Chamber meets

Youth ski racing lined up for this month

The Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation will host two weekends of youth ski racing this month at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Outdoor news

Slide show

Hunters at meeting want FWP to do more about wolves

Big Mountain sees record visitation over the holidays

Striking a balance on sage grouse

How best to protect Montana’s sage grouse population has been a top priority for agriculture and industry groups alike. Finding a solution that sufficiently protects these birds, while not posing an undue burden on those trying to make a living is no easy task.

Commissioner vote on CSKT water compact was wrong

Two of Flathead County’s three county commissioners have signed on to the proposed water compact with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT). This is the identical compact that was rejected by the 2013 Montana State Legislature.

Protect greater sage grouse without killing Montana's economy

Gov. Steve Bullock has taken on a tough task — developing a greater sage grouse habitat policy that won’t harm Montana’s economy. His plan must be in place before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decides in 2015 if the bird should be listed as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. All parties agree that an ESA listing would be a disaster for Montana.

Eric Snowden: Traitor or whistle-blower?

Traitor or whistle-blower, that is the question. Numerous people have taken sides on how former National Security Agency contract worker Eric Snowden should be treated.

County commissioners vote to support CSKT water compact

Tribes are talking about going to court

Million dollar lottery ticket sold in C-Falls

The winning ticket to the $1 million prize in the Montana Millionaire 2013 lottery was sold at Mike's Conoco, in Columbia Falls.

Daniel Rhodes

Daniel Curtis Rhodes, 25, of Coram, died at his sister’s home in Kila on Dec. 19, 2013.

Scammers targeting Co-op customers

Flathead Electric Cooperative reports it has received reports that some Co-op members have been received fraudulent phone calls from people posing as Co-op employees.

Winter Trails Day celebrated in the Flathead

The Flathead Community of Resource Educators (CORE), a network of individuals and organizations working together to increase awareness and understanding about the natural, historical and cultural resources of the Flathead Region, will celebrate Winter Trails Day on Saturday, Jan. 11, with several free outdoor activities.

USDA wasting money on biomass model

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is wasting $10 million trying to apply a crop-based biomass utilization model to our rugged and remote National Forests. While Cool Planet Energy Systems’ turning of farm waste into gasoline and biochar may have merit, it does not apply well to dead trees on remote public lands.

North Dakota oil train fire forces evacuation

A derailed BNSF Railway oil train that caught fire just outside the town of Casselton, N.D., on Dec. 30 forced the evacuation of the small town 25 miles west of Fargo, N.D.

Crash fatalities up, Northwest posts high figure

Data collected by the Montana Highway Patrol indicate that roadway deaths in Montana increased by about 10 percent in 2013 over 2012.