Ellington

Hungry Horse Haunted house scaring up donations for food bank

A haunted house in Hungry Horse is scaring up food for a good cause. The spooky brain child of Rob and Patty Dunning, the haunted house is asking for food bank donations for admission rather than an entry fee.

Feds look to rewrite plan for Hungry Horse Dam operation, others

The federal agencies that operate the major dams in the Columbia River Basin are looking for public input on how best to manage the system in the future. They’re holding a round of public scoping meetings across the West, including a meeting Nov. 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell.

Junior high garden comes full circle with soup lunch

Columbia Falls Junior High students gathered to eat soup made from ingredients from the school’s garden and inspired by a French folk tale, “Stone Soup.”

After 51 years in business, Melbys saying good-bye

Melby’s Home Interiors will soon be no more. Steve and Debbie Melby have announced their retirement and will close the shop on Nucleus Avenue.

Calbag gives update on CFAC demolition

The demolition of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant is going smoothly, project manager Cliff Boyd told the Columbia Falls City Council last week.

Bradley Wayne Rauthe

Bradley Wayne Rauthe

Sentinel stops spikers' streak at 12

The streak is over.

Peacock second in state cross-country

Kimberly Peacock nabbed second place in the state A cross-country championship meet at Rebecca Farm Saturday. The freshman clocked an 18:30.96, just 13 seconds behind winner Pipi Eitel of Belgrade. The two were neck-and-neck the first two miles before Eitel pulled away for the win.

Cats roll over Broncs, face Corvallis in playoffs

The Columbia Falls football team ended its season on a high note, downing Frenchtown 61-0 in a blowout. The Wildcats scored 21 points in the first five minutes en route to the win.

Cats lose battle to Belgrade in soccer semis

When the final whistle sounded, a tired Logan Stephens walked down the field and shook hands with the Belgrade goalie. The two had battled it out for 90 minutes Saturday at home, colliding violently on more than one occasion through the pitch.

Lyin' about Flyin'

Just found my old pilot’s log, and noticed my last flight is not entered. There is a reason. It’s not a very good reason, but the only one.

Family tells story of bear mauling; area reopens to public

With his ears ringing, thoughts blurring and blood dripping from where a grizzly bear had slashed open his scalp, a Whitefish man on Oct. 16 harnessed the mental tenacity to draw a canister of bear spray from his pocket and save his life.

Glacier notes fall construction limits St. Mary access

If you want to access the St. Mary area of Glacier National Park, you’ll have to do it by foot or bicycle this fall. The Park is reminding visitors that the Going-to-the-Sun Road is now closed to motor vehicles just beyond the east entrance gate, as work continues on constructing a new east entrance station to the Park.

Wolf shot in Judith Gap traveled 700 miles from Washington state

A wolf shot near Judith Gap in central Montana spent the previous three months traveling about 700 miles, starting in western Washington, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks officials said Monday.

Trump wins!

Columbia Falls junior high students held a mock election last week.

Southern Poverty Law Center calls out Taylor Rose

Republican House District 3 candidate Taylor Rose’s past affiliations with controversial and allegedly nationalist or white-supremacist organizations have raised alarms by watchdog groups as election day draws near.

She speaks in favor of signs

Cities, counties and homeowner associations attempt placing limits on political signs by restricting timelines or banning them altogether. The courts have already addressed the unconstitutionality of timelines while the Montana Legislature took up the issue of Homeowner Association by-laws a few years ago.

No hurry to hunt

I didn’t go hunting last weekend.

Character, Focus, Honor and Strength

Character is compassion:

Rain, rain, go away

I am writing this on Friday and the general hunting season starts one-half hour before sunrise tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how many hunters are out beating the bushes. I will not be among them. As I approach 80, I am not the enthusiastic hunter I once was, but I do usually go out on the first day. Not this year.

She likes Perry

Montana is known as one of the better-run states in the nation. One reason that’s true is because — unlike our federal Congress and the governments of many other states—our state legislature has not yet been taken over by ideological extremists who refuse to work together on behalf of the people. In just his first term as House District 3 representative, Zac Perry was able to forge relationships that resulted in the bipartisan passage of three bills he sponsored.

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70 years ago

Students explore the realm of 'banned books'

Columbia Falls High school last week wrapped up “Banned Book Week,” a national event hosted by the American Library Association that encourages students to read banned or challenged books.

MudMan Burgers no ordinary burger joint

MudMan Burgers in Columbia Falls recently had its soft opening, and to say it was a success is an understatement.

Juneau says Zinke-Trump controversy helping her

Denise Juneau said Republican Ryan Zinke’s continued support of Donald Trump is helping her in the race for Congress.

Students look to give back to city, they tell Juneau during visit

Students from the Columbia Falls Graduation Matters group are looking to team up with the City of Columbia Falls to design way signs in the city. The teens made the announcement last week during a visit with Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau.

City interviews police chief candidates

The search for a new Columbia Falls police chief could be wrapped up in the next couple of weeks. On Monday, a city committee which included Mayor Don Barnhart, City Manager Susan Nicosia, Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset, and city police commission member Larry Wilson interviewed three finalists.

Remote cameras turn up no sign of grizzly

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigators found that there were no images of bears on the wildlife cameras installed near a recent bear attack site northeast of Whitefish.

Kats drop Stillwater, heading to Missoula

The Columbia Falls girls volleyball team dispatched Stillwater Christian School at home Saturday, 25-8, 25-20, 25-14 to remain undefeated on the season.

Wanner takes title, Peacock second at Western A classic

Sage Wanner’s been winning cross-country races from start to finish all season long. The senior Wildcat did it again Saturday en route to a Western A Classic title in Fairmont Hot Springs near Butte in 16:24.

Kats lose in first round of playoffs to Billings Central

The Columbia Falls girls soccer team had a rough playoff opener on the road against Billings Central, losing 7-1 to the Lady Rams on Saturday.

Cats win playoff opener over Laurel, 3-0

For the first time in nine years, the Columbia Falls boys soccer team notched a win in the state A soccer playoffs, blanking Laurel, 3-0 at home.

Cats fall short to Pirates in shootout

With a 10-6 Wildcat lead at the half, it looked like the Columbia Falls-Polson football game was going to be a grinder.

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Bernard Jules Wenger

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Bradley Wayne Rauthe

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Vivian D. Hanel

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Melanie Rae Sage Dalimata

Whitetail numbers looking good for hunting opener

Hunters should have a good shot at bagging a deer when the general hunting season opens Saturday.

Where is Kate Smith?

First wife Iris and I have a Friday ritual of playing a one hour DVD before supper while sipping a moderate snifter of brandy. The DVDs are of wonderful bygone TV musical programs. Last week we happened to have one that featured Dean Martin doing songs with the singer who made “God Bless America” a near national anthem, Kate Smith. that got me to wondering about what ever happened to Kate’s funeral arrangements. You’ll understand my wondering by reading a column from spring of 1987:

Finberg signs with Great Falls

Columbia Falls senior setter Cydney Finberg has signed with the University of Great Falls on a scholarship to play volleyball next year. Finberg said she chose Great Falls after a couple of visits to the Catholic university, signing before the volleyball season started.

Howe sweet moose love is

We were about to head up the Howe Lake Trail a few weeks back when we ran into an older couple coming out.

Many of Glacier Park's roads reopen

While the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass is closed for the season, many of Glacier National Park’s secondary roads have reopened after a snowstorm last week.

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Crowd comes out to Celebrate the Gateway to Glacier Trail

Canyon Community Church pastor Ken Ainsworth said it well in a song:

Brown supports Rose, Billi

Is it any wonder why more good people don’t run for public office? As my last campaign winds to an end I reflect on the threatening calls, distorted voting records, libelous postcards and sometimes even mean fellow legislators of the past. Why do we often remember these when there are terrific people who support candidates, donate money to campaigns and become part of the solution to make Montana better?

Postseason perch

Fishful Faithful know that the Major League playoffs signal the beginning of great fall perching.

Supports I-177

Montana voters will soon have the rare privilege to reduce suffering on public lands and help end trappings shameful legacy of virtual torture across the Montana commons. I-177 is a citizen drafted initiative that will limit recreational trapping on public land. Please read the initiative for yourself. Contrary to claims, it protects private property rights. And any rancher who leases public lands for grazing can still trap predators if more modern, less lethal methods are ineffective.

He likes Hillary

I am an independent voter and I am voting for Hillary Clinton for president. Why?

Man bitten by grizzly in Haskill Basin, fends it off with bear spray

A man was attacked by a grizzly while hiking in Haskill Basin on Sunday.

Republican Holmquist draws on experience

Republican incumbent candidate for Flathead County Commissioner Pam Holmquist is ready for a second 6-year term in office.

Democrat Lowery emphasizes social services

Democratic candidate for county commissioner Eileen Lowery hopes to give a voice to the people if elected.

Coram man sentenced for selling machine gun, breaking other gun laws

A Coram man was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court to 48 months in federal prison and three years supervised release for dealing in firearms without a license and making and transferring a machine gun.

City's chances at EDA grant look good

Things are looking good for Columbia Falls to secure an Economic Development Administration grant, city manager Susan Nicosia said Tuesday.

Home Depot gives a big hand at Veterans Home garden

Drizzly conditions did not halt volunteers working to improve the gardens at the Montana Veterans Home last Thursday and Friday.

Family disputes officer's 'home delivery' of child

The grandmother of a child that was born at home said Thursday she delivered her grandson, not a police officer that arrived after she did.

Babe Ruth hopes to start some grandstand work this fall

The effort to build new grandstands at the Sapa Johnsrud baseball fields is nearing a happy ending. The old grandstands burned down in a fire on June 27 that is thought to have started by kids playing with fireworks in a garbage can under the bleachers.

Family tree study finds one male griz had 101 descendants

Using genetic analysis U.S. Geological Survey Scientist Tabitha Graves and Nate Mikle recently completed a first look at the “family tree” of grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.

Fly fishing 101

Tait Rocksund, Columbia Falls High School graduate now teaching at Whitefish High School, recently asked me to talk to his student fly fishing club.

Toast and storms

I had to text my mother last week. Normally, I just call her on the phone and we talk like normal humans.

Fun at the Le Grizz

Safe to say that fire season is over. It is now so wet that the Forest Service could not get their prescribed fires to burn even with gallons of diesel fuel.

Some thank you's

The best thing that ever happened to me was getting married to Iris Ann Wilhelm fifty-eight and-a-half years ago. The second best thing was getting an education at the University of Montana. The third best were friends who helped me achieve those things which give me great pride and joy.

Blake likes Holmquist

As County Commissioner, Pam Holmquist has fought for Whitefish donut residents’ rights. She has defended our property rights and been a staunch advocate for small business and opportunity here. Unlike her Democrat opponent, Pam opposes resettling of refugees here.

Lange likes Perry

Zac Perry has been an outstanding representative for House District 3 and those of us he represents deserve to have his continued dedication, passion, intelligence, work ethic and integrity working for us in the state legislature.

Stenger signs with UM Western

Morgan Stenger has signed with the University of Montana Western College in Dillon to play volleyball next year.

Peacock ties school record in cross country

Freshman Kimberly Peacock tied the school record in cross-country at the Whitefish Invitational Thursday. Peacock, who won the race easily, ran the course in 18:19.78, which tied Samantha Mundel’s 2014 mark to the tenth of a second, said coach Jim Peacock.

Spikers maintain unbeaten streak, but Bulldogs put up a fight

The Columbia Falls volleyball is still perfect on the season, but it wasn’t always easy.

Kats face Central in first round of soccer playoffs

The Columbia Falls girls soccer team capped off the regular season with a pair of wins last week. The Wildkats dropped Libby 3-0 and Bigfork 2-0 on the road.

Cats drop Libby; host Laurel in the playoffs

Jon Sigurdsson had a hat trick plus one and the boys held on to close their regular season with a 5-3 win over Libby away last week.

Cats dominate Bulldogs in 42-0 drubbing

The Columbia Falls football team dominated both sides of the ball as they hammered Whitefish 42-0 away Friday night.

SD6 applauds Byrd's efforts

At the School District 6 board meeting on Monday, O’Brien Byrd was recognized for his efforts in bringing lights to Flip Darling field.

Blackfeet look to release buffalo in Badger Two Medicine region

The Blackfeet Tribe last week announced its intention to release 89 buffalo onto the Badger-Two Medicine region of the Lewis and Clark National Forest.

Martha Sloan, noted Glacier Park secretary, dies at 91

Martha Sloan, a longtime Glacier National Park secretary, died Thursday (Oct. 6). She was 91.

Glacier Park griz that wandered to Trap Road meat plant caught

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks captured an adult female grizzly bear and her female cub over the weekend of Oct. 1-2 west of Highway 206 on Trap Road.

Glacier shatters all-time visitation record; delays Sun Road plan

Glacier National Park saw 468,802 visitors in September, up 33.4 percent over last year. For the year, the Park has seen 2.7 million visitors, which shatters last year’s record by 356,000 visitors, with three months left to go in the year.

Storm dumps snow, snarls traffic, downs power lines

The first winter storm of the season dumped snow from the mountains to the valley floor Sunday night and Monday morning, snarling traffic, downing power lines and generally making a mess.

Parks advocacy group gives Zinke, Daines, an F

A national parks advocacy group has given failing grades to Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke and Steve Daines for their votes over the past year on Park Service related issues.

Perry looks to attract business

Zac Perry

Rose wants feds out of land decisions

Taylor Rose

Glacier trout study comes with alarms, pleasant surprises

U.S. Geological Survey scientists Vin D’Angelo and Clint Muhlfeld were wading up Valentine Creek in Glacier National Park when they came upon a pool close to where two forks of the stream came together. Valentine Creek is no picnic to get to — it’s not close to any road and is notoriously brushy, draining the east side of Jefferson Pass.

Legals October 5, 2016

No. 2341 Notice is hereby given that regular* registration for the Federal General Election(s) to be held on November 8, 2016 will close at 5:00 p.m., on October 11, 2016. *NOTE: If you miss this regular registration deadline, you may still register for the election by showing up at the county election office: 40 11th St W #230, Kalispell Montana up to and including on Election Day. Between noon and the close of business on the day before Election Day, you can complete and submit a voter registration card, but you will need to return to the local election office on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot. All active and inactive**electors of Flathead County are entitled to vote at said election. Inactive electors may reactivate by appearing at the polling place in order to vote, by requesting an absentee ballot in any election, or by notifying the County Election Administrator in writing of the elector's current address in the county. Persons who wish to register and who are not presently registered may do so by requesting a form for registration by mail, by downloading a form from the County's website or by appearing at the county election office. If you have moved, please update your registration information by filling out a new voter registration card and submitting it to the county election office. The website address is http://flathead.mt.gov/election DATED this 9th day of September, 2016. Flathead County Election Administrator Debbie Pierson Election Administrator September 21, 28, and October 5, 2016 MNAXLP

Citizens want CFAC info in layman's terms

At a public meeting to further discuss the Superfund designation of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. site was held on Sept. 29, with the public expressing the need for information in “layman’s” terms.

Lt. Gov candidate makes her case

I serve as a commissioner in a county where nearly 50 percent of the land is federally owned. There are some Montana counties, such as Mineral and Sanders Counties, where the federal government owns more than 80 percent of the lands.

Shepard doesn't support anti-trapping initiative

November 8 is a very crucial voting date. Not only do we choose a new president, governor, and local government folks, BUT...we also have a very emotional vote regarding trapping on our state lands. Personally I have not trapped since my early youth in the late ‘50s, when I was an accomplished muskrat trapper.

Boat inspection trouble

Fishful Faithful may remember my Aug. 31 trip to Waterton when I’d hoped to return to St. Mary to get my personal pontoon inspected so I could fish Duck Lake.

Why I'm bionic

It was good for a column about 16 months ago when I had a very scary operation where several inches of my upper right arm bone were sawed off and replaced by a metal rod with a knob on the end and sewn into a new shoulder socket. It was the end of many years of pain and it really worked. Not a drop of pain since. It would take a book to give details of broken bones in my life career, but following is a rundown up to 1984:

Homecoming week, in pictures

Cats beat Beavers to stay unbeaten

Down 21-7 late in the second quarter to the No. 1 ranked Dillon Beavers, it was looking like yet another glum homecoming for the Columbia Falls football team.

Spikers extend unbeaten streak to nine games

The Columbia Falls volleyball team is still a force to be reckoned with, even with several starters out. Playing without Kiara Burlage, Kaitlyn Casazza and KJ Schweikert, the Wildkats still kept their unbeaten streak intact as they downed Hamilton 25-22, 25-14, 20-25, 25-20 and Corvallis 25-10, 25-21, 25-12 at home Saturday.

Lybbert 34th at state golf

Logan Lybbert led the Columbia Falls golf team at the state tournament in Hamilton last week. Lybbert carded a 91 and 84 for a two-day total of 175, good enough for a tie for 34th.

X-Country teams take third at Thompson Falls

Both the boys and girls cross country teams took third at the Thompson Falls Invitational last week. The girls were led by Kimberly Peacock, who won the race in 19:27, edging Polson’s Beatrix Frissell by 21 seconds.

Girls tie Polson, lose to Bulldogs in soccer

The Columbia Falls girls soccer team had a tough time in a 2-1 loss to Whitefish last week, but played much better in a tie 1-1 on the road against Polson.

Cats win first soccer conference title in 11 years

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team dropped Whitefish 2-0 and Polson 2-1 last week to secure the Northern A conference title last week.

Finberg denies charges in alleged Ponzi scheme

During an initial court appearance in Flathead County District court on Thursday, Catherine Ann “Cathy” Finberg of Columbia Falls denied the six charges brought against her by prosecutors in an alleged Ponzi scheme.

Council decides to not fund clerk request

The Columbia Falls City Council Monday night decided to stick to its original 2017 budget, in effect denying a request by Columbia Falls City Court Judge Susan “Tina” Gordon for an additional part-time clerk.

Feds look to list rare Glacier Park stonefly

Glacier National Park has several threatened and endangered species roaming its hills and dales — Canada lynx. Grizzly bears. Bull trout.

Fond remembrance of Columbia Falls' 'Mr. Baseball'

He was Columbia Falls’ Mr. Baseball.