Ellington

100 for Thanksgiving dinner

Thanksgiving was another huge success on The North Fork. Two of us counted the number of folks attending, and we both counted exactly 100. Not a record, but certainly a full house. Main hosts were again Mr. and Mrs. Steve Berg who buy the turkeys and ham, decorate the Hall, set up the tables and recruit a dozen or more helpers.

Tales of turkey times

Local game managers say there are greatly increased populations of wild turkeys here in 2016. Wasn’t always that way. Wrote about those Thanksgiving birds in 2009:

Smalley's curse of the B-Tag

Fishful Thinker: Hi, my name is Jerry.

Thanks for great season

Thanks for great season

Brown, Bradley weigh in on politics then and now

We began our service in the Montana legislature forty-six years ago when political differences were as real and sharp as they are today, but when the practice of politics wasn’t as political.

Grapplers should be solid again this year

The Columbia Falls wrestling team has a solid core of returning grapplers that placed at the state tournament last year. They’re anchored by seniors Mason Fetters, Winfield West, Storm Kemppainen and Hunter Peterson. Fetters took second at state in the 145-pound category.

All-state, all-conference football announced

All-state and all-conference selections in football have been announced. The following are all-state selections from Columbia Falls:

Bridwell, Reiten had record-setting season

Columbia Falls senior quarterback Dakota Bridwell and receiver Braxton Reiten put up some impressive numbers and sets several records this football season. Here’s a look at some of the numbers:

Girls reload for another run at a state title

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team was oh-so-close to a state A championship in basketball last season. This year the goal is the same — get back to the dance and make its mark in history.

Libby, Ronan to rejoin Northwest A

The Montana High School Association executive board approved changes to enrollment ranges for the state’s sports classifications, as proposed earlier this year, expanding the Northwestern A conference and allowing a handful of Class B teams to play eight-player football next season.

Boys team putting last year in rear view mirror

The Columbia Falls basketball team has left the bad taste of last season behind them and has hopes for a state tournament berth this year.

Boys swim team looks to defend state title

The Columbia Falls swim team will see a coaching change this year. Assistant Amy Caudill is now the head coach, while former head coach Mike Nelson is the team’s assistant coach.

Resort says it's too early to call opener

With still a week remaining until the winter season opening of Whitefish Mountain Resort, skiers and snow boarders have their eyes on the weather forecast.

The Jammers

They use music once in a great while. Sometimes they even have the words to the songs they play. And if they decide to do a chord change in the middle of a song, well, so be it.

Grant will fund research in Flathead Valley rivers, streams

The University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station has been awarded a $2 million grant to study diversity among insects, crustaceans and other arthropods in river floodplains and how they might be affected by climate change, including work in the Flathead River.

Montana Petroleum Association stands behind Solonex case

The Montana Petroleum Association is standing behind one of its members in a long-simmering feud over energy exploration in the Badger-Two Medicine region.

Tester announces retraining for Weyerhaeuser workers

Weyerhaeuser workers who were laid off when two mills and the administrative offices were closed in Columbia Falls should see greater federal assistance in getting retrained for new jobs, Montana Sen. Jon Tester announced Monday.

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70 years ago

A host of holiday school concerts on tap

Columbia Falls schools will be putting on Christmas concerts all during the month of December.

City will go ahead with downtown plan

The Columbia Falls City Council Monday voted to spend $25,000 toward a downtown plan, using tax increment funds to partially finance the measure.

In Canyon, groups come together to give free dinners

Thanksgiving came early to the Canyon, with the monthly Canyon Community dinner serving up turkey with all the trimmings last Thursday.

Wreck in front of Bad Rock fire station

Emergency personnel didn’t have to travel far for a wreck on Wednesday afternoon about 2 p.m.

Coram girl featured in Nutcracker Ballet

Anna Schmidt of Coram has been dancing most of her young life.

Election views

It was a wonderful relief to get the “Donald versus Hillary” election over with on the eighth of this month. One more week of those ridiculous ads that insulted all thinking citizens could have led to a great increase in serious drinking or worse.

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Antoinette Stanton Jungster

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Matthew G. Riley “Ricky”

C-Falls native's son wins kart world championship

The son of former Columbia Falls graduate Aaron Laroque recently took home the title of World Champion in karting. Laroque’s son Diego won the Rotax Micromax World Championship in Sarno, Italy on Oct. 22.

Lake whitefish on the move

Lake whitefish are now on their annual spawning trek up the Flathead River.

Grilley, Johnson selected for Hall of Fame

Columbia Falls athletes Sydney Grilley and Ellie Johnson will be inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame this winter.

With many out, speech and debate still wins in Polson

They had a thin squad heading into Polson. They still came home with a win. The Columbia Falls speech and debate team won the ABC sweeps at the Polson Invitational Saturday, with 119 points. Whitefish was second with 72 and Polson was third with 56.

Back in Black

My eyes wander sometimes. OK , they wander all the time. I can’t help it. I’m always looking for the next picture.

Mussel threat doesn't bode well for private boats in Glacier

As a mussel crisis unfolds in a central Montana reservoir, Glacier National Park could potentially keep its waters closed to certain types of boating for a very long time.

Friends, family and co-workers gather to dedicate Brad Treat Street

More than 100 family, friends and co-workers turned out Friday to pay tribute and celebrate a new street in Hungry Horse named after Brad Treat.

Park visitation up in October overall

Visitation statistics for the month of October in Glacier National Park show some surges and some recessions compared to last year.

Brown says she wants to make election process better

State Sen. Dee Brown, R-Coram, said one of her goals this session is to make the election process better in Montana. The incumbent from Senate District 2 ran unopposed this election.

Night of Lights is next week

The 31st annual Night of Lights, sponsored by Columbia Falls Rotary, will be on Friday, Dec. 2.

Legals November 23, 2016

No. 1606 PUBLIC NOTICE Americans with Disabilities Act Columbia Falls School District Six complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Public Law 101-336 (ADA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of a disability. The ADA, as applied to school districts, requires that no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of a disability, be denied the benefits of school district services, programs, or activities. Accordingly, School District Six will not refuse to allow a person with a disability to participate in a School District service, program, or activity simply because the person has a disability. School District Six will not provide services or benefits to individuals with disabilities through programs that are separate or different, unless the separate programs are necessary to ensure that the benefits and services are equally effective. School District Six will not subject individuals with disabilities to discrimination in employment under any service, program, or activity conducted by the School District. School District Six will take appropriate steps to ensure that communications with applicants, participants, and members of the public with disabilities are as effective as communications with others. School District Six will make reasonable accommodations in policies, practices, or procedures when necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability, unless a fundamental alteration in a School District program would result. The Columbia Falls School District Six will operate its program so that, when viewed in their entirety, they are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. For further information: In accordance with Section 35.106 of the ADA's Title Two Regulations, all applicants, participants, beneficiaries, and other interested person are advised that further information may be obtained from the Columbia Falls School District by contacting Terri Burghardt, Special Services office at 892-6562, and from the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 915 Second Avenue Room 3310, Seattle, WA 98174-1099 (206) 607-1600 (Voice) or (206) 607-1647 (TDD). November 23, 2016 MNAXLP

New daycare now a licensed center on U.S. Highway 2

Nature Daycare on U.S. Highway 2 in Columbia Falls last month came through a seven-month process to become licensed by the state as a daycare center. This licensing came on the heels of their move into a new location in July.

Elk hunter mauled by sow grizzly near Choteau

An 55-year-old elk hunter from Montana was mauled by a female grizzly on the Rocky Mountain Front Sunday morning after he surprised the bear and her two cubs.

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70 years ago

Cats fall short against Dillon in championship

It was a tough ending to a great season for the Columbia Falls football team.

Ruis decides to sell Frank Lloyd Wright building after controversy

Following a backlash from those wanting to preserve the historic Frank Lloyd Wright Building, a developer has dropped plans to demolish the building in downtown Whitefish and now says he will put it up for sale.

Riverwood street, sewer and water project on tap

After an eight-year delay, a plan to bring city sewer and water to Riverwood Estates will start soon. About 25 residents of the subdivision met with city leaders and engineers from Robert, Peccia and Associates recently to hash out details of the estimated $1.16 million project.

C-Falls man faces burglary charge

By MEGAN STRICKLAND

In 1970, a championship game brought community together

The fog was so thick that when the football was coming, Dave Hoerner only knew it was near when he heard it whistle through the mist and it hit the ground.

A lesson from artist Maynard Reese

More than once while hunting in the past two foggy weeks, I got “lost.”

Hunting the Wilson way

It finally stopped raining! With the sunny days and crisp nights my urge to go hunting has returned. Of course the crisp nights have frozen the ground which means it is almost impossible to walk quietly in the woods. That plays well with my natural tendency to be lazy.

To sleep, perchance to dream

So my knee’s been clicking for the past month. It was one of those things that I figured if I just ignored it, it would go away — my version of modern-day medicine.

A wild and crazy plan

There were at least a dozen DUI arrests over the last week in the Flathead, but our jail is too full to take ‘em, however, three had eight or more such arrests so room was found. Controlling drunk drivers continues to be a costly problem to deal with across the nation. Ten years ago I did a unique column on one state’s crazy plan and it’s worth revisiting:

Energy company announces it's relinquishing Badger-Two Medicine leases

An Oklahoma-based energy company Wednesday announced it was voluntarily relinquishing 22,900 acres of oil and gas leases in the Badger-Two Medicine region, south of Glacier National Park.

C-Falls developer eyes Whitefish project, concern ensues

Plans are underway to demolish the historic Frank Lloyd Wright Building in downtown Whitefish and replace it with a three-story mixed-use commercial facility, but a push to save the iconic building is gathering steam.

Wildkats dominate tournament for second state A volleyball title

The Columbia Falls girls volleyball team didn’t just win the state A championship Saturday in Bozeman. They dominated the tournament.

Cats clobber Belgrade to punch ticket to championship

Senior quarterback Dakota Bridwell threw five touchdown passes and Ben Windauer had two interceptions as Columbia Falls steamrolled Belgrade to make it to the state A championship game, 38-7.

Perry said he's thankful for the support

Zac Perry had a little more breathing room this time around. In the last race for House District 3, he won by just 47 votes over incumbent Republican Jerry O’Neil. This time, he beat Republican challenger Taylor Rose, by 278 votes, a close race to be sure, but still a little better margin than the last time.

Speech team wins ABC sweeps in Missoula

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team earned 45 tournament points to take the first place sweeps in the ABC category, easily besting rivals Corvallis and Loyola Sacred Heart at the AA tourney in Missoula over the weekend.

Cats hope 13 is a lucky number for speech team

With more than 50 students in the program, the Columbia Falls speech and debate team is hoping to nab its 13th state A title this season.

Grants will allow schools to buy a 3-D science lab

The School District 6 Board of Trustees on Monday evening accepted two grants, totaling $50,000, to be directed towards science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields in the form of a zSpace STEM Lab. The lab is a 3-D virtual reality system designed for student-centered learning.

'The guys thought we should do what they did,' veteran recalls

Virginia Becker was born in Ironwood, Michigan, but Montana has always been home. Her parents moved her and the rest of the family to Libby when she was two years old.

Egregious poaching case comes to a close

The final person involved in a major poaching case was sentenced in Flathead County Justice Court Nov. 1, ending the investigation and prosecution of nine young men who illegally shot 15 deer and an elk.

Glacier Park, Blackfeet put boating ban in place

Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Tribe announced in the past week that they would close all of their waters to boating, including both motorized and non-motorized craft.

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PROOF gives tour to Iraq veteran injured by IED

Columbia Falls gun manufacturer PROOF Research Friday welcomed retired Army Staff Sgt. Philip Saladin for a tour of the factory facility, a chance to design his own gun and an afternoon at the company’s shooting range. The rifle Saladin received was purchased by Hope for the Warriors.

CFAC cleanup: Who pays?

While the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co, is financing the initial investigation into the cleanup of the defunct aluminum plant, who pays for the actual cleanup could be an entirely different matter, a liaison panel learned last week.

Kenneth R. “Kenny” Guenther

Kenneth R. “Kenny” Guenther

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Margaret A. Weydemeyer

Alley, Causby join Glacier team

Glacier National Park recently brought two new additions to their Leadership Team.

Spikers win Western A crown

The Columbia Falls volleyball team lost just one set en route to a Western A divisional championship over Whitefish Saturday at home, 25-22, 25-19, 21-25, 25-14.

Cats drop Sidney, face Belgrade in semifinals

The Columbia Falls football team overcame a 12-point deficit to drop Sidney 35-20 Saturday in the quarterfinals of the state A playoffs on the road.

Jerry Smalley's fall fishing report

So many fish, so little time…

Crop walk thanks

I would like to express my thanks to all who participated in and supported the eighth annual CROP Hunger Walk on Oct. 9th. The walk raised over $1,300 to fund the Canyon Community Dinners. Thank you especially to Glacier Bank, Hungry Horse News and the Daily Inter Lake for informing the public of the event. Many groups came together to make the walk a success including Glacier Bank, Lions Club, Rotary, Super One, Alpine Family Medicine, Columbia Falls Eye Care, Coffee Traders, Boy Scouts, PEO, Women’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, North Valley Hospital, United Methodist of Columbia Falls, All Saints Episcopal, and Our Saviors Lutheran Church.

The North Fork news

Still no snow, but the rain finally stopped and we had one day of sunshine. Even so, my yard is still mushy and toadstools have erupted everywhere. I am not as fond of winter and deep snow as I once was, but I am really so sick of rain that snow will be a welcome change.

Recalling Elmer's poems

Resting beside a Glacier Park trail one summer, someone in our hiking group remarked, “The guy who picked the route for this trail must have been drunk.” He was referring to the manner in which it wandered in and out of ravines, up where it could have stayed level and down where it soon had to climb back up. Someone else remarked, “Maybe we should see if the Park would like us to re-engineer this route so that it makes more sense.”

Jailing his neighbor didn't make sense

This is my two cents for the day.

Questions Law Center view

This is in regard to your front page story on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, titled “Southern Poverty Law Center calls out Taylor Rose.”

Should monitor dust, he says

Earlier this year environmental activists won a victory when a federal judge ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to move forward with a review of whether wolverines should be listed as a threatened species.

Conservancy doubles Park giving

The Glacier Park Conservancy will give 100 percent more to Glacier National Park projects than it did last year, it announced last week.

Peters named new Columbia Falls police chief

A longtime Whitefish police officer has been tapped to lead the Columbia Falls Police Department. The Columbia Falls City Council Monday voted to approve the hiring of Clint Peters as the city’s new police chief.

Perry holds off challenger Rose

In a night where Republicans ruled elections and Donald Trump won the presidency, incumbent Democrat House District 3 representative Zac Perry held on to beat GOP challenger Taylor Rose, 2,464 - 2,186. The district covers Columbia Falls and the Canyon.

Gianforte swings through Columbia Falls, says he opposes sales tax, public lands sell-off

Making a swing through 42 communities before election day, Greg Gianforte stopped in Columbia Falls Friday morning. The Republican challenger for governor said he opposes a sales tax.

Four initiatives on an already full ballot

While the presidential and governor’s race are grabbing most of the headlines this election, there are also four constitutional initiatives on the ballot. Here’s a look at them:

City working on Red Bridge approach to make it safer

The city side of the old Red Bridge should be more pedestrian-friendly soon. Contractor J.D. Thinning has been working on the approach to the bridge for the past few weeks, improving access to the Kreck Trail along the Flathead River at the bridge.

Kats drop Polson in regular season finale

Columbia Falls swept Polson in straight sets to end the regular season with a perfect Class A record. The Kats dropped the Lady Pirates in straight sets Saturday at home, 25-18, 25-19, 25-14.

Tiny Talks of pig bladders and rabbit therapy

Pigs bladders and the great outdoors. Rabbit therapy for veterans. Those are just some of the interesting topics that will be discussed in this year’s “Tiny Talk” series at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish this Saturday.

After rains, mushrooms abound in Columbia Falls man's yard

October saw plenty of rain. And with moisture comes mushrooms. At least that’s the case for Paul Watson of Columbia Falls. Watson has noticed four or five different varieties in his front yard alone.

Trail Creek salvage project approved

The Forest Service announced last week it had approved a plan to salvage timber from the 2015 Trail Creek Fire, just east of Spotted Bear and south of the Great Bear Wilderness.

FWP seeks information on wasted moose

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks is looking for information on a moose poaching incident that occurred over the weekend on Crane Mountain. Someone killed a moose and took the two hind quarters and the head, abandoning the rest. Anyone with information should contact FWP Warden Chuck Bartos at 253-2934; or 1-800-TIP-MONT. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.

Man who shot through tent in Glacier was sentenced

A Helena man has admitted to dangerously firing a gun in a crowded campground at Glacier National Park on July 9.

Weather hampers canyon Creek Road repairs

Because of recent heavy rains and snowfall, permanent repairs on the Canyon Creek Road, Forest Road No. 316 on the Glacier View Ranger District, will not be completed this fall.

Zinke stumps at the Blue Moon as election draws near

Congressman Ryan Zinke made a swing through Columbia Falls last week, stopping at the Blue Moon as he makes one last push across the state before election day.

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Floyd Edwin Ott, 91, of Columbia Falls, passed away on Oct. 15, 2016, at North Valley Hospital. He had resided at the Montana Veterans Home.

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Gladys Ruth Spear

All state, conference soccer

Columbia Falls has several all-state and all-conference selections in soccer.

State record falls as Cats thump Blue Devils, 55-14

The Columbia Falls football team advanced in the state A playoffs last week, breaking or tying a couple of state records along the way as they thumped Corvallis, 55-14 at home Friday.

About column philosophy

Maybe it is needed and maybe it is not, but I want to explain some facts of life regarding this column. Perhaps a bit of it is rationalization due to arthritis, but in the main it is a truth that I owe to the many wonderful and faithful fans this weekly exercise has brought. Fact- I am using more and more reprints and rewrites from the thousands of them done over the past 50-plus years.

Patterson for president

Fly fishers, all across the country, are ecstatic to learn Hank Patterson has proclaimed his candidacy for “President of the United States of the Americas 2017.”

Byrd supports Zac Perry

For those of you that know me know that I care deeply about our community of Columbia Falls and the Canyon.

Tester likes Laslovich

I’ve seen a lot of good leaders come and go over the past two decades in both the Montana Legislature and in the U.S. Senate. Jesse Laslovich has always been at the top. Jesse hasn’t stopped working his tail off for our state since we served in the Montana Senate together, and he’ll serve our state responsibly as our next state auditor.

The moral gut check is on us

Amid the panned rhetoric and mutual character assassinations sifted forth by candidates and media this forgettable election cycle, a priceless nugget of truth will be uncovered: The American morality gauge. What vein will we follow to find our fortune?

Questions Gianforte

Here’s why Greg Gianforte concerns me. His campaign has solely touted his business experience and his goal to create more good paying jobs. He doesn’t have specifics regarding his job creation plan. A bigger issue to me is the impact of his religious conservatism on his potential work as governor. He, his wife, and his Gianforte Family Foundation have provided financial support to conservative groups such as Focus on the Family and The Heritage Foundation. Gianforte serves on the board of the private religious school Petra Academy. The Gianfortes have supported the creationist, young-earth Dinosaur and Fossil Museum in Glendive. He has voiced opposition to rights for LGBT residents of Montana.

States case against Bullock

Gov. Bullock is running ads stating he is for fair taxes. The irony is incredulous. In 2013 and again in 2015 the Legislature passed tax simplification bills that were well crafted and widely supported. Gov. Bullock vetoed all efforts.

Hungry Horse Dam saw more than a foot of rain in October

The Hungry Horse Dam saw more than a foot of rain in October, shattering the previous monthly total of 7.34 inches set back in 1995, the National Weather Service said Tuesday. In fact, it was the wettest month ever recorded at the dam, wetter than the historic flood of 1964.

S. Fork bridge work should start next spring

Work on a new bridge across the South Fork of the Flathead should begin late next spring, Ed Toavs, district administrator of the Montana Department of Transportation said last week.

Davall Building comes down; dated back to 1890s

A piece of Columbia Falls history was torn down last week. Owner Mick Ruis had the old Davall Building taken down after it couldn’t be salvaged.