Ellington

Bigfork joins Montana Special Olympics

Special Olympics athletes from across the state have converged on Whitefish for the annual Montana Winter Special Olympics.

OPI accepting applications for summer meal program

Hungry Horse News

Bigfork to host Brewfest

The town of Bigfork is getting ready for the seventh annual Bigfork Brewfest on Saturday, March 5, and has a fun-filled weekend planned for the whole family.

Wallpaper 101

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Beat Wardrobe Blahs with a Closet Makeover

(Family Features) It’s that time of year when everything in your closet just seems drab. But instead of investing in a new wardrobe, try dressing up your closet. By getting organized and sprucing up a little, you’ll get a fresh perspective and maybe even find some lost treasures.

Top Trends for Upgrading Your Outdoor Space

(Family Features) No matter the season or the region, outdoor living is hot. As spring approaches, here are six of the top trends that will influence the look, feel and function of outdoor spaces in 2016.

Easy Fish Marinades for Lent

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Columbia Falls girls take second at Western A divisional hoops tourney

The Columbia Falls girls are headed to the state A tournament in Belgrade in a couple of weeks. They’re just not going to the tournament the way they hoped to — as a No. 1 seed. The Wildkats lost to undefeated Butte Central Saturday night at the Butte Civic Center, 51-41.

Gardening workshop is March 12 in Ferndale

Bigfork/Ferndale Community Garden is holding a workshop with guest speaker Bill Clanton on Saturday, March 12 at 10 a.m. 

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Bigfork qualifies for state tournament, Ronan wins Western B divisional

Bigfork wins three in row after stunning first-round loss

Jami Grende’s voice trailed off while pouring over the final statistics, the Bigfork coach ruminating on her team’s foul trouble, shooting woes and a heart-breaking loss earlier in the week.

Cats falter at Western A tourney

The tournament started out with hope and promise, but then two lopsided losses put an end to the Columbia Falls boys basketball season at the Western A divisional tournament in Butte.

WESTERN B DIVISIONAL: Bigfork boys clinch state tournament berth

Bigfork clinched a spot in the state tournament with a resounding 66-39 victory over Libby in the semifinals of the Western B divisional basketball tournament on Friday at Flathead High School.

Bigfork dock repairs up for discussion

The aging dock at Bigfork Bay needs repairing but it’s uncertain who would be responsible to secure permits needed for the job or cover the bill.

Thousands of lake trout netted from Logging Lake in first year

Glacier National Park’s Logging Lake is brimming with non-native lake trout, biologists have found. In 2015, biologists from the U.S. Geological survey netted 2,158 lake trout from the remote North Fork water.

Take 10 Minutes To Stop Leaks

(NAPSI)—Want to stop wasting water—and money—at home? Become a leak detective! According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American household has leaks that waste more than 10,000 gallons of water every year, or the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry.

Ag Industry Is Fertile Ground For High-Skilled Positions

(NAPSI)—High school students interested in pursuing a career in agriculture will likely find job opportunities are ripe for the picking in the coming years.

Ring In Spring-Celebrate With The Year's Best Bubble Toys And Games

(NAPSI)—For centuries, children have been blowing bubbles over pots and pans of soapy water. Cheap fun. Around 1940, smart and savvy cleaning supplies company Chemtoy decided to bottle bubble solution, thus creating a revolution in the toy business. At number 15 on Time magazine’s “ALL TIME-100 Greatest Toys” list, bubble solution is the top-selling toy in the world year after year, with bubble solution sales estimated at over $200 million per year. Who knew a simple mixture of soap and water could be so lucrative?

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Late layup lifts Loyola past Bigfork in Western B tournament

It went just like the coach planned.

Flathead National Forest closes two forest roads near Martin City

Two U.S. Forest Service roads that are about one mile south of Martin City are now closed to public traffic due to logging.

Bigfork choir tapes television segment

To be in a TV studio with cameras panning around you during a vocal performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” was a unique experience for seven Bigfork High School choir members.

Looking for a used car? County ranks high in survey

Flathead County is the third most affordable county in the state to buy a used vehicle, according to an

Natural wildfires largely seen as beneficial in wilderness

Fire may be destructive, but it also has its benefits, noted Seth Carbonari, district fire management officer for the Spotted Bear Ranger District during a recent talk at Flathead Valley Community College.

Ranger to talk on railroad, Glacier Park

Bill Schustrom, Glacier National Park ranger-naturalist, will give a PowerPoint presentation titled “The Great Northern Railroad and Glacier National Park: A Unique Relationship” at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, at the Bigfork Community Center, 639 Commerce St., across from Bigfork Elementary School.

Anti-Cancer Compound Could Give Cancer Patients New Hope

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Girls pleasantly surprised by nationals berth

Lies about lions

Speakin’ of things that are hard to believe, following is a column on mountain lions written 24 years ago on June 18, 1992:

Two wolves fulfill hunting quota

It has been a busy week for North Forkers, especially Wednesday. At 10 a.m. The Winter Interlocal started and lasted until nearly 1:30 p.m. Immediately following The Fire Mitigation Committee held a lunch meeting graciously hosted by Esther Chrisman at her Kalispell home with a terrific lunch provided by Esther and daughter Kari. They let me have a slice of both apple and huckleberry pie with ice cream. That alone made the long day of meetings worthwhile. That meeting lasted until 3:45 p.m. and several of us then rushed to the Flathead Forest Service Supervisors Office for a meeting on North Fork recreation that lasted until after 6 p.m. A long day, and from my perspective, filled with positive information and well-thought-out discussion.

Shadow program opens eyes to new careers

Peyton Kehr recently learned that she doesn’t like surgery and enjoys a friendly work environment.

Retirement Readiness Improves as Americans Save More

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Brackets set for divisional hoops tourney

The Columbia Falls basketball teams will enter the Western A divisional tournament in Butte this week from opposite ends of the spectrum. The girls go in as the team to beat with a 17-1 record and a 6-0 conference mark.

Theodore A. Langton

Glenn L. Johnston

Samantha Varner named student of the month

Bigfork High School has selected Samantha Varner as their Student of the Month for February. 

Request for snail mail

I’m writing to request a favor from your readers. In a college course I’m taking to become a teacher, my professor has assigned us a project to learn about a town in the U.S. She’s requiring that we do this without the use of technology; rather, she wants us to learn from the lived experiences of the people who know the town. 

Council writes formal letter supporting CFAC Superfund

Doe hunting OK'd for Region 1 next year for first week

Fishing derby canceled, raffle drawing at Hungry Horse VFW

Filmmakers fined $5,950 for bull trout violations

The owners of a Missoula-based film company were recently  issued 38 state and 11 federal citations for violating bull trout regulations and filming illegally in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

TEDD OK'd by state, paving way for SmartLam expansion

The City of Columbia Falls is one step closer to being able to foster development of an industrial park north of Railroad Street. City Manager Susan Nicosia told the council last Tuesday night that the state Department of Revenue had approved the city’s targeted economic development district for the industrial park.

Plum Creek no more: Weyerhaeuser merger finalized

The purple was replaced with green last week as the $8 billion-plus merger between Weyerhaeuser and Plum Creek was finalized.

April Fools' Fake Out: How to Sneak Healthy Twists Into Kids' Favorites

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Rapist has no grounds for appeal, attorney says

A public defender has argued to the Montana Supreme Court that a Polson man has no reason to appeal his conviction for sexually assaulting an ex-girlfriend.

Footwear Organization 101

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Inspecting Home Inspectors

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Start Good Manners Early

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5 Habits for a Lifetime of Good Eye Health

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BASKETBALL: Bigfork boys, girls claim District 7B tournament championships

POLSON — Bigfork’s boys and girls were crowned District 7B basketball champions on Saturday in tournament play.

Film company fined for wilderness offenses

The owners of a Missoula-based film company were issued 38 state and 11 federal citations for violating bull trout regulations and filming illegally in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Reindl bakes hundred-plus cookies for vets; Columbia Falls junior high kids help

Most people bake dozens of cookies around Christmas. For Janet Reindl, the big bake comes at Valentine’s Day, when she cranks out more than 12 dozen heart-shaped sugar cookies for the veterans at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Valkyries survive Trojan siege, advance to District 7B championship game

BIGFORK — It was just 13 days ago that Bigfork held Troy to 17 points in a ruthless 39-point thrashing on the Trojans’ home court.

Tourists who bought Montana products spent more than tourists who didn't

How To Pay Less Next Tax Time (Legally)

(NAPSI)—Getting a big check may not always be a good thing. For example, if you receive a large tax refund from the IRS, it means you paid out too much in income tax the year before and, essentially, lent your money to the government interest free.

DEATH NOTICE: Jean A. Morris, 87

Jean A. Morris, 87, passed away on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at the Wel-Life in Kalispell, Montana.

Gathering stories on homesteaders

At least once a year, usually in the winter, I like to write a column about the homesteaders. Some are gleaned from stories told to me in the ‘50s by the homesteaders themselves, some are from letters sent by homesteaders’ families after they passed away, a few are from U.S. Forest Service and Glacier Park archives.

About a 'real' death penalty

It is an educated guess the state of Montana is about through using the death penalty as a tool in crime control. I retain mixed thoughts on the subject but will not go into them today. We still have Ronald Smith on death row and that one case has cost fortunes in tax dollars and many years time. A germane column ran here in January 1992. You will find it very interesting:

Columbia Falls boys win state A-B swim title

Led by two first-place finishes from Colton Babcock, the Columbia Falls boys swim team won its first state A-B title in Great Falls last weekend.

MatCats take fourth at state

The Columbia Falls wrestling team took fourth in the state A wrestling tournament in Billings last week. The MatCats racked up 113 points, just 1.5 points behind third-place Hardin.

Columbia Falls girls finish regular season at 17-1 for third year in a row

The roll continues. The Columbia Falls girls basketball team edged Corvallis on the road last Thursday, 53-45 and hammered Whitefish 79-35 away Saturday. The Wildkats finished the regular season with a 17-1 mark and a 6-0 record in conference play as they head into the postseason. This is the third year in a row the team has gone 17-1 in the regular season.

Columbia Falls boys basketball can't catch a break, lose two more

The good news is the Columbia Falls boys basketball team is playing its best defense of the season and getting some nice performances out of its younger players. But the boys continue to struggle offensively and as a result, lost their last two games of the regular season.

Browning likely headed to Northwest A

All signals point toward Browning High School joining the Northwest A athletic division as the league’s fifth team.

Gianforte stumps for governor in valley, calls for reg reform

Greg Gianforte wants his family around the dinner table when it comes time to eat. But with the current business climate in Montana, the Republican gubernatorial candidate claims more and more young people are leaving the state because they can’t find good-paying jobs here.

Zinke tours CFAC, says he'd like to see state oversee actual cleanup

Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke toured the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant demolition on Tuesday, once again making his case to keep it off the Superfund list.

Athletic TIPS Program Addresses the Problem of Youth Sports Injuries

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Winning Workouts for Better Health

(Family Features) If you’ve recently begun a new workout regimen, you may find yourself wondering if you’re doing the right activities to really make a difference. Unfortunately, because everyone’s body, health and nutrition needs are very personal, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to that question.

Get a Fresh Look with Easy Furniture Updates

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Create a Room Fit for a Queen with Crown Molding

(Family Features) If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to dress up a room in your home, crown molding is a simple way to add elegance and class with minimal investment.

4 Tips for an Ultimate Award Show Party

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Clever Storage Ideas for Small Spaces

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Naturally Clean for Spring

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Harmony of Rock plays Valentine's show

On Valentine’s weekend, the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts Foundation presents “Harmony of Rock — A Tribute to Three Dog Night and the Early 1970s.” The special tribute concert will be Friday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m.

Plum Creek manufacturing, access, unaffected by merger; but some cedar palace jobs could move

As Plum Creek merges with Weyerhaueser in the coming weeks, staff at the company’s Columbia Falls “cedar palace” offices could face an uncertain future, but workers at the manufacturing facilities will retain their positions and the plants will continue to operate, the company announced.

Park maintenance backlog still growing

The ABCs of ACA -- Advice for Business Owners in 2016

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Eye on you: Most Columbia Falls police using body cams now

If you meet a Columbia Falls police officer in uniform, chances are your conversation and actions are being recorded by a body camera.

A Delicious and Warm Pear Salad for Winter

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A Better Valentine's Day Gift for Couples?

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Major Maryland Piano Store to Close Its Doors

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Hope for Sufferers of Myofascial Pain?

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'Tootsie' shown in Bigfork Feb. 14

CASA for Kids is hosting a fun, romantic evening filled with chocolate, champagne and the classic comedy, “Tootsie.” Join CASA and special guest, Oscar Award-winning producer Jerry Molen, as he retells some of the highlights of creating this film and working with the all-star cast.

Audubon leads Great Backyard Bird Count Sunday

Join Flathead Audubon on Sunday for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count.

Some bad ice insurance

The biggest ice fishing question this season hasn’t been, “Where are the fish biting?”  Rather, “Is the ice safe.”

North Fork Road an emotional issue

If the future of the North Fork Road wasn’t such an important issue, the emotional arguments on both sides of the issue would provide a lot of laughs. Some of the arguments on both sides range from silly to downright comedic.

What happened to hell?

Current media, local and national, is filled with reports about our society’s problems dealing with criminal activity. Iris and I were discussing this and I wondered if some of the problem is the lack of religious influence. I was not talking about any particular religion because most of them have integral teachings about right and wrong, something akin to the “Golden Rule.”

North shore land purchase finalized

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks added to the North Shore Wildlife Management Area last week after officials purchased a 77-acre parcel bordering Flathead Lake.

LaRue Rogers

C-Falls students learn to code using robotic games

With award, Nicosia to study cancer

Columbia Falls High School junior Anna Nicosia is studying one of the most complex topics she has ever studied before, cancer. She is going to Houston this spring to do a research project with a University of Texas cancer scientist.

Best in the West: Columbia Falls wrestling wins divisional crown

The Columbia Falls boys wrestling team put 11 wrestlers in the top four spots at the Western A divisional tournament Saturday in Whitefish as they won their fourth straight title, beating Polson 275.5-225.

Columbia Falls girls basketball team continues to roll

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team continues to roll through their competition, but Bigfork gave them a pretty good test last week. The Wildkats beat the Class B Valkyries 54-42 Thursday on the road, despite shooting 1-for-17 from beyond the arc. The Kats then dominated Polson Saturday, away 77-32. 

Columbia Falls basketball: Boys lose a pair

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team had a rough week, as they dropped a pair of games to two of the best teams in the state. On Thursday the boys lost to Class B Bigfork, 87-75 and on Saturday they got walloped by Polson, 79-35 on the road.

City to further study fish pond; other parks will also see a boost

The Columbia Falls city council has agreed to go ahead with a study to see if a fish pond can be dug at River’s Edge Park. The first step in the process is to determine the soil type in the park, determine the water table depth and do some preliminary planning.

Columbia Falls home sales highest ever in 2015

Home sales in the City of Columbia Falls were robust in 2015, according to a report released recently by Jim Kelley, of Kelley Appraisals.

Hunting meeting includes archery-only areas in Flathead

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet in Helena on Thursday, Feb. 11 to consider and adopt hunting regulations for the 2016-2017 seasons.  The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. and will feature a live video feed to all seven FWP Regions.  Hunters are encouraged to attend the Kalispell video conference at the FWP headquarters on North Meridian Road.

Martin City man charged with stealing two dozen guns, ammo

Revealing Masques

(NAPSI)—It may be that the best thing for your face is to hide it—behind a beauty masque, that is—because once it’s revealed, your skin can be more lovely and radiant.

SuperHERoes To Rule The Playroom And Beyond

(NAPSI)—If you’ve paid attention to the recent release of “Star Wars,” you’ve probably heard something about the backlash that toymaker Hasbro received from the omission of Rey in the first wave of action figures on shelf in time for the holidays. So disappointed were consumers, in fact, that #WheresRey was born. Even director J.J. Abrams piped in, calling it “preposterous.”

New Advances In Implantable Heart Devices Allow Patients To Get Lifesaving MRI Scans

(NAPSI)—Shirley Goodman, a 60-year-old mother and grandmother from Jacksonville, Florida, recently experienced a “warning stroke” called a transient ischemic attack that was diagnosed through a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. She has also suffered from heart problems for years. To address her heart condition, her doctor recommended an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to continuously monitor her heart rate and deliver an electrical shock to correct a life-threatening heart rhythm, if needed. Given her history, there was a high likelihood that she would need another MRI in the future.

El Regalo Ideal Para Cualquier Etapa De Tu Relación

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Germann leaving Glacier Park

Crowdfunding's Latest Effort: Preventing Youth Sports Injuries

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A most memorable kiss in remembrance at Cabin Fever Days

Seeing a Chiropractor First Can Save You Money

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Flu Season Has Arrived: Helpful Tips to Prevent the Spread of Germs

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Honor Achievements with Flowers on Women's Day

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Friendly Advice to Fight Cold and Flu

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Personal Loans 101

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Serve Your Flock Safe Eggs

(Family Features) Purchasing a dozen eggs offers nearly unlimited preparation possibilities. Enjoying any egg dish, however, starts with these four tips for purchasing safe eggs:

Wine Culture Goes Casual

(Family Features) Whether it’s relaxing at home, dining out at a restaurant or celebrating with friends and family, Americans are enjoying wine at a wider variety of occasions than ever before. In fact, 85 percent of frequent wine drinkers now believe that wine is equally appropriate for casual and formal settings alike.

On the Campaign Trail in N.H.: Dispatch 9 (Trump and Sanders)

FEB. 7 — Early last summer, when Mr. Trump was still an entertaining oddity and Senator Sanders was the crazy guy who didn’t own a comb; the conversation in the dining room centered around “Who would you pick?” followed by snickers and giggles.

WRESTLING: Four Bigfork grapplers headed to state tournament

FLORENCE —Four Vikings notched top four finishes at Saturday's Western B/C divisional tournament, qualifying each for the upcoming state tournament.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Bigfork defense paves way for blowout win at Troy

TROY — Bigfork jumped out to a 12-0 lead and never looked back in thumping Troy, 56-17, in a District 7B matchup.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Bigfork clinches 7B title, blasts shorthanded Troy

TROY — Bigfork exploded for 31 points in the opening quarter to romp past Troy, 89-40, in a District 7B game.

Drug bust at Del Bonita crossing nets 32 pounds of meth

The The Canada Border Services Agency announced a striking drug bust on the U.S.-Canada border at Del Bonita border crossing north of Cut Bank.

GlobalGiving and Athletic Tips Partner to Help Keep Young Athletes Safe

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Avalanche victim couldn't deploy airpack in time in fatal slide

A snowmobiler killed in an avalanche north of Whitefish was unable to deploy his protective airbag pack after he triggered a slide that sent him into a barrel roll down the steep slope.

2016 Resolutions: Time for an Update?

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Montana Wounded Warriors clarification

Well, the cat is out of the bag. 

Columbia Falls eighth-grader collecting socks for Abbie Shelter

Bigfork speech coach honored

BOYS BASKETBALL: Potkonjak, Vikings shoot past Wildcats

COLUMBIA FALLS — Bigfork senior Joseph Potkonjak made a school record eight second-half 3-pointers to lead the Vikings to an 87-75 nonconference victory at Columbia Falls on Thursday.

WRESTLING: Bigfork looks to get divisional grapplers to state

Eureka won its first Western B/C divisional wrestling title last year for the first time in more than 20 years.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Bigfork comes up short against Columbia Falls

BIGFORK — Class A Columbia Falls outscored Class B Bigfork in every quarter but the second to collect a 54-42 nonconference victory over the Valkyries.

Montana Wounded Warriors are not part of Wounded Warrior Project

Taylor brothers named students of the month

Bigfork High School faculty and staff have selected Logan and Luke Taylor as their new students of the month.  Their parents are Jeremy and Stormy Taylor. Mrs. Taylor teaches History at BHS.

Forest Service proposes 1,300-acre salvage sale

Share Your Love This Valentine's Day

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FOOTBALL: Bigfork's Austin Pacheco headed to Montana Tech

Bigfork's Austin Pacheco leads a pack of a dozen local college football commitments revealed on Wednesday.

Pete Darling, noted Columbia Falls community leader, dies at age 87

Community leader and friend to many, Pete Darling died at his home Tuesday. He was 87.

Marvin “Pete” Darling

Marvin “Pete” Darling, 87, passed away at his home in Columbia Falls on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016.

Recalling my friend Stan

A tall handsome young man was in several of my college classes at The University of Montana in 1949 and he had a room in Jumbo Hall near mine. I liked him but also worried about him. Stan was fresh off an isolated ranch on the Crow Agency near Lodge Grass. He was just out of high school, a bit shy and didn’t know hardly anyone at the U.

A little North Fork Road history

Over the last century the most controversial topic on The North Fork has been the road. First fight was to get a road built from Columbia Falls to the Canadian border. The biggest battle, from 1910 until the 1950s was almost exclusively a battle to improve the road.

North Fork paving on the radar, again

Montana state Sen. Dee Brown held a meeting last week at the Columbia Falls city hall to discuss the upcoming replacement of the South Fork Flathead River Bridge in 2017 and its impact on the North Fork Road as a detour.

Charlotte Morris

Babcock wins a pair in Great Falls meet

Columbia Falls wrestlers go 3-1 at Whitefish, look forward to divisionals

Council says CFAC Superfund listing is OK by them

Eleventh Heaven: Columbia Falls speech, debate wins 11th straight state A title

From Bratty to Bearable, Global Nanny Jo Frost Tackles Family Issues

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Fire ratings improve in Bigfork, Creston, Ferndale

People in Bigfork, Creston, and Ferndale may see their fire insurance costs decrease after work by three community fire departments resulted in improved fire ratings.

Bigfork woman joins FVCC board

The Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees on Monday appointed Kelly Dowling Stimpson of Bigfork to fill a vacant trustee position.

La temporada de los impuestos es cuando roban la identidad; Obtenga su informe de crédito

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Bigfork third in Class B speech

With one individual champion and six other place-winners, Bigfork High School placed third in team speech and debate sweepstakes in the Class B state meet on Saturday in Ennis.

Wilderness talks on tap

Hungry Horse News

Bigfork man donates kidney to wife

Tyson Niewoehner simply smiles when asked how he and his wife, Shelley, will celebrate Valentine’s Day this year.