Ellington

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70 years ago

City, cyclists look to expand trails, recreation here

Both the private and public sector are working on creating greater recreational opportunities for Columbia Falls in the future. On the public side, the Columbia Falls City Council Tuesday night gave city manager Susan Nicosia the OK to apply for the Trust for Public Land’s Community Land and Water Intermountain West Pilot Program.

Lovering holds off on call for anti-hate measure

A Columbia Falls city councilwoman is holding off on a call for a city resolution against hate and bigotry. It turns out, the city’s mission statement already covers it.

Griz mortality remained steady, but what's sustainable?

Recorded grizzly bear mortality in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem in 2016 was the same the year before, with 22 total bears killed, primarily by human means.

After short hiatus Glacier Park, Park Service back on Twitter

Social media enthusiasts may have noticed that Glacier National Park didn’t post anything to Twitter over the Jan. 21-22 weekend. It wasn’t because the Park had nothing to say — an order from the Service put a hold on tweets Park Service-wide.

City considering fee for sidewalk snow removal on U.S. 2

The city of Columbia Falls will explore the possibility of a fee for businesses and other landowners along U.S, Highway 2 for snow removal. The fee, if implemented, would be similar to light and street assessment fees.

A case for the Affordable Care Act

When the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, its goal was to improve access to quality health care for all Americans. However, the law has provided the greatest benefit to states with large rural populations like Montana. The reason is that the Affordable Care Act targets the exact factors that lead to poor health outcomes in rural communities: lack of insurance coverage, lack of physicians, lack of access to care, quality of care, and geographic barriers.

Unfair justice

If it could happen to Jim Corbett, it could happen to anybody. As one of the most skillful hunters the world has ever known, he once shot and killed three tigers he thought were the same one. My uncle Fred was not as skilled as Corbett, who wrote “The Man Eaters of Kumaon,” but Fred was a long time sports-hunter. In the 1950s he accidentally shot three big mule deer bucks, also thinking they were the same one. In my own 66 years big game hunting I once shot a large whitetail buck and the same 30.06 bullet killed a doe hidden in the brush behind him.

Fred Whiteside, government hero

“Fred Whiteside is one of Montana’s authentic unsung heroes.”

Annual park pass goes up $5, senior pass to rise $70

The 2017 Glacier National Park annual entrance pass will see a $5 price increase from $45 last year to $50 this year.

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Frank Leon Levandowski, 72, a generous, hardworking man who never met a stranger, died Jan. 13 2017, surrounded by his family.

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Dorothy Burns was a loving wife, devoted mother and a caring grandmother. She was born in Shelby on Nov. 10, 1939 to Raymond and Beatrice McVay. In 1957 Dorothy graduated from Flathead High School. Shortly after high school Dorothy married Francis D. Burns on Nov. 15, 1960. Dorothy loved her garden, to make crafts, and as the years passed watching and playing with her grandkids.

Spartans edge Kats to end winning streak

The streak is over.

Cats go 0-3 on the week, come oh-so-close to beating Broncs

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team had another tough week. On Thursday, they lost to AA Glacier 65-32 at home, then Friday they lost to AA Sentinel 64-32 on the road. Back home on Saturday, the Cats lost a conference game to Frenchtown in the closing minutes, 40-36.

MatCats wrestle well in Belgrade duals; tromp Bulldogs in dual

The Columbia Falls wrestling team made it to the quarterfinals of the Belgrade Class A duals meet Friday and Saturday.

Babcock wins two races in Missoula

Columbia Falls senior Colton Babcock continued his winning ways in the water, nabbing first place in the 200 freestyle (1:44.48) and 100 butterfly (52.54) at the Missoula Invitational swim meet Saturday.

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Babe Ruth registration

Glacier Babe Ruth registration is now.. Sign up now till March 1. Glacier Babe Ruth is for players 13-15 from Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork. Go to www.glacierbaberuth.com and click on registrations, print it out and fill it out and post date it by March 1.

Seniors say the speech, debate team is a family

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team is more than just a bunch of students working on their oratory skills, it’s a family, the team says. And what a family it is. The team is the favorite heading into the state A championships in Laurel this week, as the Wildcats eye their 12th straight state A title.

C-Falls graduation rate shoots up

Columbia Falls High School’s graduation shot up almost 10 percent over the past year, from an October completion rate of 79.3 percent in 2015 to 88.44 percent in 2016.

Legals January 25, 2017

No. 1609 Public Notice Special Education Records Destruction 01/19/2017 The Columbia Falls Schools will soon destroy special education records of former students born in years 1989 & 1990. Former students may contact the Columbia Falls School District Six Special Services office within sixty days of this notice if they wish to review the files or receive the information contained in them. The data to be destroyed shall include information collected for identification, location, evaluation, and other items directly related to special education services which the student had received. Parents of students still in school but not in special education for at least five years may also request that their children's records be destroyed. Parents of these students also have the right to inspect the special education records and obtain the information contained in those records before they are destroyed. Persons having questions about this process or those persons wishing to request records may contact: Terri Burghardt, Director of Special Services 406-892-6562 January 25, 2017 MNAXLP

Trump institutes hiring freeze, could impact Forest, Park Service this summer

President Trump Monday instituted a hiring freeze on federal workers, a move that could impact Glacier National Park and the Forest Service, just as both agencies prepare to hire for the summer seasons.

Photo gallery: Kats v. Glacier

Elk meetings later this month

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is getting an early start on elk hunting regulations and season setting this month. A series of public meetings are being held to garner public input. The meeting in Kalispell is Jan. 31, 7-9 p.m. at the Flathead Valley Community College in the Arts and Technology Building, Room 131.

Wednesday conversations: Ivan O'Neil

When Ivan O’Neil was in his mid-teens he lied about his age to work for the Forest Service. He was 15 years old in 1944, but there was a war on and so they hired him to be a fire lookout on Pioneer Ridge in the South Fork of the Flathead. He spent the summer up there, spotting fires and even putting a few out.

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Leota “Dutch” Porteus

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Virginia Lois Mohr

Winter lecture series begins Thursday at Conrad

The Glacier Institute presents their three-part 2017 winter lecture series at the Conrad Mansion in Kalispell this Thursday. Doors open at 6 p.m. for coffee and wine, desserts, and conversation. The presentations begin at 6:30 p.m. and will end by 8 p.m. A $15 admission per person is charged to support both organizations. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Payment is required at the time of reservation. To RSVP, please call Conrad Mansion at 406-755-2166.

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Climate change film on tap

A film on climate change is screening at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish on Monday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. “Before the Flood”, presented by National Geographic, features Leonardo DiCaprio.

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12 football academic all-state

The following football players were named academic all-state for the first quarter: Dakota Bridwell, Trevor Hoerner, Austin Green, Ben Windauer, Parker Greene, Michael Hoerner, Logan Bechtel, Trey Gates, Drew Morgan, Jared Reynolds, Kade Johnstone, Hayden Falkner.

Swimmers do well at Cat-Dog meet

The Columbia Falls boys took second and the girls took fourth at the Cat-Dog Swim meet in Whitefish Saturday at the Wave.

Cats get second win of the year as they drop rival Bulldogs

It’s always nice to get a win. It’s even better against the Bulldogs.

Grapplers drop Polson

Columbia Falls wrestlers beat Polson in a dual last Thursday, but had a tougher time at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula Friday and Saturday.

Cats speech, debate, on a roll heading into divisional tourney

With five speakers taking first place finishes and a host more placing in the top echelon at Ronan last weekend, the Columbia Falls speech and debate team is rounding into form as it hosts the Western A Divisional tournament this weekend.

Wildkats pound Bulldogs, now 9-0

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team hammered Whitefish on the road last week, 66-22. The Wildkats were led by Peyton Kehr with 17, followed by Cydney Finberg and Kiara Burlage who had 14 apiece.

Leading Interior is a great honor and responsibility

As a son of a plumber and a kid who grew up in a small timber and railroad town next to Glacier National Park in Montana, I am humbled to be the President-elect’s designee for Secretary of the Interior. I am also humbled because of the great responsibility the position holds to be the steward of majestic public lands, the champion of our great Indian nations, and the manager and voice of our diverse wildlife.

About a friend

I have never questioned it, I just took it for granted as a natural part of my life. Do not know exactly why or how it happened, but 75 years ago when I came down from the Hog Heaven Hills to attend Flathead High I met a boy being raised by his grandmother, Freda. He got me into a Boy Scout troop, and my life friendship began with Ivan O’Neil.

Fishing through the decades

When I was a boy there were two kinds of fishermen on the North Fork. Fly fishermen were probably mostly interested in cutthroat trout that were primarily caught for immediate consumption. Few meals can beat fresh trout fried in bacon grease over a campfire and accompanied by sliced potatoes in the same cast iron frying pan.

Beautiful cold and bacon grease

For the past week or so the weather forecast has said something like this: Bitterly cold, lows 8 to 20 below zero.

Joern has traveled the world in search of exotic fish on a fly

Tim Joern fly fishes in places around the world most of us only dream about.

Mussel pricetag could be $10 million

The Montana Mussel Response team set out a proposed budget to state lawmakers Monday for invasive mussel control in Montana, with a price tag of about $10.2 million for the next two years.

People in Columbia Falls fought, argued more in 2016

People didn’t get along so well in Columbia Falls in 2016. Columbia Falls Police Chief Clint Peters noted that the city saw almost a twofold increase in disturbance complaints from 2015 to 2016. The city had 48 disturbance complaints in 2015. Last year it had 91.

Welcome back

Last July, Merrick Fairchild was a happy 8-year-old, but then her gums puffed up and hurt. They felt like they were infected. So her mother, Renn, took Merrick to the dentist.

Firefighter remembered as 'everyone's best friend'

A devoted family man who loved life and always had a smile on his face. An accomplished ski and mountaineering athlete. And everyone’s best friend.

Photo gallery: Hoops versus Whitefish

USFWS will review whether the fisher should be listed under the ESA

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday the initiation of a status review for the distinct population segment of Northern Rocky Mountain fisher, to determine whether this population meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

In Badger Two-Medicine, last remaining leases canceled

The final two oil and gas leases on the Badger-Two Medicine region of the Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forest were canceled on Wednesday, the Department of Interior announced.

The truth about lying

In the past here we have discussed the possibility that misrepresenting the truth when it doesn’t hurt anyone is not sin deserving hell fire and brimstone. Serious research done by social scientists who study “lying” report they make distinctions between white lies, fibs, blatant lies and harmful prevarications ... even have a category for thoughtful untruths which were justified because they keep from hurting someone’s feelings; however they have left out what we tall-tale spinners prefer to call “high quality B.S.”

North Fork parties

Admittedly I am not big on modern technology. At my North Fork cabin I have had satellite TV for many years. In town I have a Trac-phone, which is only a phone — no texting, no camera, no bells and whistles. Few people have the number and I only carry it when I travel. I do have a home computer. I use it mostly for email and playing solitaire — saves me hours of card shuffling.

From Russia, with love

There was big news from Russia last week and it was a tweet but it’s not the tweet you think I’m thinking of.

Don't let fly tying get you up in knots

My unofficial estimate shows that, over the years, I’ve taught fly-tying to nearly a thousand Flathead Valley residents.

Public defender measures in the works

Montana’s Constitution requires state government to provide public legal defense to individuals who cannot afford their own legal counsel when they are charged with crimes involving imprisonment, facing involuntary commitment because of a mental disorder placing them or another at risk, or facing loss of parental rights.

Conger, Norick and Foster lead speech and debaters

Annabel Conger and Colin Norick nabbed first in policy debate and Chloe Foster was first in memorized public address as the Columbia Falls speech and debate team won the Class A sweeps at the Corvallis/Hamilton Invitational Tournament over the weekend.

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Elda “Ferne” (Downes) Hill

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Sharon A. Logan

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Herman ‘Hal’ Loff

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Jeannette S. Tawney

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Dr. LeRoy James Byrd

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70 years ago

MatCats take third at Ronan duals

The Columbia Falls wrestling team took third at the Western Montana duals in Ronan last Friday and Saturday.

Babcock wins a pair at Kalispell

Colton Babcock continued his winning ways for the Columbia Falls swim team in Kalispell Saturday. Babcock was first in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 22.07 and first in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 4:49.85.

Girls extend winning streak to 8, face Bulldogs this week

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team extended their winning streak to eight games last week as they dropped Libby 64-35 and Polson 68-19 on the road.

Polson, Libby drop Wildcats

The struggle continues for the boys basketball team this season as they lost a pair of games on the road. On Friday, Libby dropped them 51-43 and on Saturday Polson beat them 74-62.

Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forest begin plan process

The Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest has taken the first steps in revising its forest plan, releasing its proposed action earlier this month.

Cold snap was cold, but no record-breaker

A cold snap in the Flathead Valley last week saw temperatures plummet, but didn’t break any records. Polebridge got downright frigid, dropping to 18 below Jan. 2, 25 below Jan. 3, 29 below Jan. 4 and 28 below Jan. 5.

Heavy snow possible Sunday into Monday

A snowstorm carrying tropical moisture from the Pacific is expected to hit the region late Sunday into Monday. There is the potential that it could be a wintry mix to start, but areas like Hungry Horse north to Glacier National Park should see all snow, said Bob Nester, a senior forecaster with the National Weather Service.

Avalanche victim was well-known Whitefish firefighter, outdoor athlete

For the Hungry Horse News

In plea deal, Finberg agrees to 10 year prison sentence for Ponzi, embezzlement scheme

A Columbia Falls woman accused of embezzlement and bilking people in a Ponzi scheme has reached a plea deal with state prosecutors that includes a 10-year prison sentence.

Community mourns firefighter killed in Glacier Park avalanche

A skier was killed in an avalanche on Mount Stanton in Glacier National Park Thursday afternoon. He was later identified as Benjamin Parsons, 36, of Kalispell.

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A Hungry Horse couple was sentenced last month after a federal raid on their home found more than a pound of methamphetamine, multiple weapons and even a 37 mm grenade launcher with explosive grenades.

Quiet Waters rules goes over like a lead balloon with motor boaters

A possible new rule that would severely curb boating and outlaw Jet Skis and personal watercraft on portions of the Flathead and Whitefish rivers got a big thumbs down at a public hearing Tuesday at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks headquarters in Kalispell.

Jerry's adventures on the Blackfeet's famed Duck Lake

Our plans to ice fish Duck Lake last Friday were thwarted when weather forecasters predicted snow and 36-mph winds.

Columbia Falls students doing well

As we begin a new calendar year and are almost to the midway point of the school year, it is a great time to reflect and re-establish our goals. At Columbia Falls High School we are striving to create a culture where challenges are embraced and struggle is a part of growth, a place where academic excellence and achievement are the norm.

Remembering Dave Barry

Had a wonderful New Year’s Eve dinner last Saturday with friends, then home to bed by 9 p.m. This is perfect for people over 85.

GOP outlines its goals

Welcome to a new year and a new legislative session. With our eyes toward Montana’s future, we are hopeful that the next 90 days will bring badly needed changes. We must put our state back on a path toward economic stability that creates greater opportunities for all Montanans.

Pipeline deserves scrutiny

After extensive on-site protests the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently decided against issuing the final permit to allow completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline across the Missouri River at Lake Oahe at the northern tip of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota. Did these protesters have a valid concern about contamination of their water supply and lands?

What I've learned, 2016

Esquire magazine has a feature called “What I’ve learned.”

2016: A busy and tumultuous year in review

While 2016 will likely go down as one of the meanest presidential elections in history, locally, the news was a bit more tame. On the downside, there was the historic merger between Plum Creek and Weyerhaeuser, which resulted in the closure of the Cedar Palace and two mills in Columbia Falls. On the upside, the Columbia Falls is slowly, but surely going through a rejuvenation, as it capitalizes on crowds visiting Glacier National Park with a new hotel in Cedar Creek Lodge and a host of new businesses. Here’s a look at the year, month-by-month.

West Glacier KOA named best in nation

A longtime campground in West Glacier has been named the best in the nation by its peers.

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By KATHERYN HOUGHTON

Legals January 4, 2017

No. 1608 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Proposal for replacing the current phone system with a VOIP Phone System will be received by the Superintendent of Schools, 501 6th. Ave. West, Columbia Falls, Montana until 3:00 PM [MST] March 17, 2017, publicly opened and read aloud on the same day and time in the Conference Room, and taken under advisement. A recommendation to accept or reject the proposals will be made to the Board of Trustees at the next regular Board meeting scheduled for April 10, 2017. All proposals must be plainly marked "VOIP Phone System, School District No. 6 ". The Board of Trustees of School District No. 6 reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive formalities, and to accept the proposal deemed most advantageous to the School District. The major components of the VOIP Phone System (Voice over Internet Protocol), as identified by Columbia Falls School District 6 are detailed below. Vendors responding should be prepared to provide a solution to the specified areas, and if after review and questions add any additional components deemed necessary to successfully complete the project. There are approximately 300 phones currently installed through the District. The proposal should include costs for replacing the handsets currently in use (most are simple handsets, with approximately 10 higher-function sets) or utilizing them in the new system. The proposal shall NOT include network drops, cabling, POE, and switching infrastructure as this is the responsibility of the District. Local and long distance phone service shall NOT be included. The proposal shall be sent to the official contact listed below, to be received no later than March 17, 2017 Columbia Falls School District 6 Attn: Superintendent Steve Bradshaw 501 6th Avenue West Columbia Falls, Montana 59912 The schedule of the selection process is as follows: 12/15/2016-Release of the RFP 1/30/2017-Request to schedule an on-site walk-through of existing system and network infrastructure. 3/17/2017-Proposal submission due 4/12/2017-Notification of Selection Results 6/1/2017-Contract Start (if appropriate) Any questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by e-mail to Columbia Falls School District 6 at RFP@cfmtschools.net. All questions will be answered promptly. Responses to inquiries that substantially or materially change the RFP will be made available to all prospective vendors that have submitted a formal Letter of Intent. Montana Code Annotated. Title 18, Chapter 1 provides that contracts for construction, repair, maintenance, or providing services to or for the State government or its subdivisions will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. However, the preference given to resident bidders of this state must be equal to the preference given in the other state or country and must further pay the prevailing wage rates to workers performing labor on the contract if the contract exceeds $25,000.00. Prevailing wage rates are determined by the Commissioner of Labor as provided in 18-2-401 and 18-2-402 Montana Code Annotated. The contractor is required to keep wage records to substantiate that prevailing wages have in fact been paid. Contractors are also reminded that one percent (1%) of each payment due will be withheld for the required Montana Contractors Tax. (Section 37-71-204, 15-50-205 and 15-50-206 of Montana Code Annotated) Dated this 15th day of December, 2016 Dustin Zuffelato, Clerk/Business Manager December 21, and January 4, 2016 MNAXLP

Former UM president Dennison dies at age 81

Former University of Montana President George Dennison died Tuesday morning from complications of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, according to the university.

Jordan saying good-bye to museum

A few years back the Museum at Central School rented two of its rooms out for a Christmas party. One room had a bunch of loggers. The other room had a bunch of environmentalists.