Friday, June 30
Ceremony honors Guardipee, marks better relations with Glacier
In a sign of growing goodwill between Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Tribe, a ceremony was held Friday morning at Logan Pass to honor the memory of Francis Guardipee, the first Blackfeet ranger in the Park.
Thursday, June 29
Group makes case for wilderness, timber in Kootenai Forest
The Montana Wilderness Association hopes to add 180,000 acres of wilderness in the Scotchman Mountains and Cabinet Mountains in the future.
Wednesday, June 28
Sun Road opens up over Logan Pass
The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is now completely open. The road was expected to have a “soft opening” last night, but a snowslide delayed that until crews could clear it off the road early this morning.
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Crater Lake in the Jewel Basin is normally not a difficult hike. You head up from the Camp Misery Trailhead near Bigfork and hike along Alpine Trail No. 7 for about five miles and you’re there.
Son Shannon
The column below originally appeared in late June, 2012. It is reprinted here in honor of the columnist’s son, who passed away this week.
Tenkara
I grew up next to a creek that was largely a modified dump. It was not unusual to find a bicycle in it, or bottles, or cans, or styrofoam cups, or a carcass of some animal or another.
Smalley takes on Shark Tank with 'DoggieRamp' invention to get funds for bonefish trips
Fishful: Hello, Sharks!
Nork Fork newcomers
Every once in a while, someone tells me the North Fork is special because all of the wildlife that ever lived here is still present. Every once in a while, I have to point out that they are mistaken.
Glacier, Forest studying rivers usage
The Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park are embarking on a joint plan this summer to track river use on the North and Middle Forks of the Flathead, with the eventual goal of crafting management plans for the Wild and Scenic rivers.
New book great read on botanists of Montana
From the Native Americans to Morton Elrod, a new book, “Montana’s Pioneer Botanists,” takes a biographical look at 27 botanists and their impact on the field in Montana.
Council, mayoral races in fall
Newcomer John Rallis will square off against incumbent Mayor Don Barnhart this fall in the Columbia Falls city election.
When bison roamed Glacier National Park
Archaeologist Brent Rowley has seen more than his share of bison bones.
City OK's soccer lights
The Columbia Falls board of adjustment voted unanimously last week to approve a variance that would enable Columbia Falls High School to put in two 60-foot light poles on the east side of the school soccer field.
Hoerner raises concerns about school budget
Budget updates were at the forefront in last week’s school board meeting. With state funding set to drop and major construction projects slated for this year and next, some board members were concerned about the balance and the impacts on taxpayers. In particular, junior high roof improvements will be an expensive undertaking next summer.
Conservancy giving tops $2 million
From stars to wolves to trail work and education, the Glacier National Park Conservancy will fund more than $2 million in projects this summer.
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Former Columbia Falls grad’s fitness lifestyle pays off
Shane Rice is proof that doing what you love will get you noticed.
Hungry Horse woman's body found in river
A Hungry Horse woman’s body was found in the Flathead River last week and her death is still under investigation.
Legals June 28, 2017
No 1617 PUBLIC NOTICE In accordance with Sec. 106 of the Programmatic Agreement, T-Mobile West, LLC proposes to install a new antenna structure at LAT: 48°22'23.9 Long: 114°12'10.4, Columbia Falls, MT 59912. Please direct comments to Gavin L. at 818-898-4866 regarding site MT01094A. 6/28, 7/5/17 CNS-3024488# June 28, July 5, 2017 MNAXLP
Monday, June 26
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70 years ago
Friday, June 23
City council: Kreck Trail no more; Ruis looks to build apartments in downtown
The Kreck Trail along the Flathead River in Columbia Falls could soon be no more. The Columbia Falls city council Monday night directed city attorney Justin Breck to begin negotiations with the Cahill family to reach a settlement that would vacate the easement for the trail.
Thursday, June 22
Glacier Park's Sun Road won't likely open over Logan Pass this week
The Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass in Glacier National Park likely won’t open this week, noted Park spokeswoman Lauren Alley.
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HELENA — Protections that have been in place for more than 40 years for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone National Park area will be lifted this summer after U.S. government officials ruled Thursday that the population is no longer threatened.
Body found in Flathead River near Columbia Falls
Authorities recovered the body of an adult female Tuesday night from the bank of the Flathead River near Columbia Falls.
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Former Wildkat cheerleader now in NYC practicing medicine
Dr. Brooke Kalanick tries to embody small-town Montana values when she treats patients in New York City.
Wednesday, June 21
Elizabeth
There’s a reason why Elizabeth Lake in Glacier National Park is consistently one of the top five visited backcountry campgrounds in the Park — it’s gorgeous.
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Muriel Nadine Jensen
Station 8 shop has staying power, entering its 10th year
Like all small business owners, Colette Gross wears many hats.
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Ann Christine Christoferson
For outdoorsman Wells, rod repair is a snap
You’re planning to head to Spotted Bear or Lake Koocanusa or Fort Peck in a couple weeks and have decided, quite uncharacteristically, to check your fishing gear early.
Appraisal notices sent out
The Montana Department of Revenue is mailing classification and appraisal notices to all owners of residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural properties. The department’s determination of a property’s market and taxable values for the current appraisal cycle is shown on the notice.
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The Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park has a great new look this summer, with millions in new renovations that include the restoration of a spectacular spiral staircase that was torn out more than 60 years ago.
Summer traffic in full swing
It must be summer. There have been precious few sunny days and tons of mosquitoes, but human activity is certainly summer-like.
Memories of Metcalf
The Daily Inter Lake editor published a feature article on the late Sen. Lee Metcalf in the June 11 issue.
Church celebrating 75th year
The Columbia Falls United Methodist Church is celebrating the 125th anniversary of being in ministry to the community. As a part of this celebration, organizers are attempting to contact former members and friends, including all who have ever attended the church. The intent is to bring together those who will remember the past at the church, while celebrating the present, and looking ahead to the future.
Glacier Twins win all week, get 10-in-a-row streak
The Glacier Twins A were unbeatable last Wednesday, defeating the Kootenai Rangers 25-0 in the first game, with Matt Morrison and Tyler Murphy both nabbing singles in a nine-run second inning. Murphy drove in three runs total in the game.
Hungry Horse News garners writing, photo awards
The Hungry Horse News won two photo awards and editor Chris Peterson won the Mark Henckel Outdoor writing award in the annual Montana Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper contest.
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Claudia Smith Dakin
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Ilene Howard
Zinke conservationism is suspect in Trump era
President Dwight Eisenhower once said, “Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.”
After 14 years, rocks returned to Glacier, priority mail
There’s no denying that a piece of Glacier National Park lives on in every visitor, but some people — illegally — literally take a piece of the Park with them when they leave.
She had fun with fungi in Glacier National Park
At the Apgar Education Center on an overcast Friday morning in early June, a dry-erase board on the porch advertised “Mushroom BioBlitz” in hand-drawn bubble letters decorated with cartoon toadstools.
Bring the family to Ed Gallo Tournament in Whitefish
The 28th Annual Ed Gallo Memorial Wood Bat Baseball Tournament will run Thursday through Sunday. This tournament, hosted by the Glacier Twins and American Legion Roosevelt Post 108 of Whitefish, began in 1990. It is dedicated to Ed Gallo, a longtime supporter of the Glacier Twins Baseball program.
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Community market
Monday, June 19
Perry, Columbia Falls settle unlawful discharge suit for $30,000
The city of Columbia Falls and former Police Chief Dave Perry have settled out of court in Perry’s wrongful termination lawsuit.
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One of the most popular trails in Glacier National Park is closed temporarily because of grizzly bears frequenting the area.
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70 years ago
Saturday, June 17
Group that clears trails, do other service, face budget ax
A program that funds trail crews in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Glacier National Park faces the budget ax under President Trump’s proposed budget.
Friday, June 16
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HELENA — Tom Morgan, a past owner of the R.L. Winston Rod Company whose quest to build flawless fly fishing rods continued long after he was paralyzed by multiple sclerosis, has died. He was 76.
Thursday, June 15
From 'The Bachelorette' to Cambodia, C-Falls grad has a world view
Jedidiah Ballard has come a long way since his days of stealing firewood and hiding from the Forest Service.
Wednesday, June 14
French woman stranded in Columbia Falls reunited with lost documents she left in a car while hitchhiking
All’s well that ends well.
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The hike to Red Eagle Lake in Glacier National Park is a pleasant one. It’s flat by Glacier Park standards, with minimal elevation gain and loss and it goes into one of the prettiest valleys of the Park. The Red Eagle Fire of 2006 roasted the valley, killing almost all the conifer trees.
20 years later, man to return to scene of rafting wreck
On Sunday, June 15, 1997, a Father’s Day whitewater raft trip took a turn for the nightmarish.
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The next step in the years-long effort to develop a revised management plan for the Flathead National Forest, originally expected this month, won’t be rolled out until late August at the earliest.
Park bathrooms part of city council goals
Columbia Falls has some pretty nice parks, city council all agreed recently. Now they need some bathrooms.
Lobbying group claims Zinke leaning toward privatizing Park camps
A Whitefish-based lobbying group is claiming that Sec. of Interior Ryan Zinke wants to privatize campgrounds in national parks.
Eighth grade awards
The Columbia Falls Junior High eighth grade awards were held June 7. After nomination and voting by the CFJH teachers, the following students won awards in each category.
Smalley gets crowded at Echo Lake, skunked at Lake Francis
Doggone it, I did it again! Every year we get high river runoffs, conventional fishing wisdom says, “fish lakes.” Many local anglers have been scoring good catches of kokanee salmon, but a person can only eat or smoke so many salmon.
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Sally Marie (Holland) Rosse
The most perfect quote
Kinda got snowed under this week with hiring a new yard helper to take care of jobs like trimming apple trees, mowing the large lawn, felling dead poplars, fixing the wooden fences, and other things I can’t get Iris to do since she got into her 80s.
Glacier Twins win big at Helena tourney
The Glacier Twins A team swept the competition at the Cloninger Classic in Helena, nabbing wins every day.
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Carl Willis McLauchlin
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Basketball camps
Put a card in your camera for great photos
A couple of weeks ago I was slinking my way into a meadow because I had caught the “hump” of a deer through the trees.
Glacier Guides celebrates its 35th summer
Over the years people have had numerous close calls in Glacier National Park. But Randy Gayner’s experience might just take the cake. Gayner just missed being washed away by a “tidal wave.”
Tuesday, June 13
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The City of Columbia Falls and former Police Chief Dave Perry have settled out of court in Perry’s wrongful termination lawsuit.
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On June 9, a student at Glacier Gateway Elementary was diagnosed with mumps. Mumps is a virus that is spread much like influenza or the common cold. From now until June 22, anyone exposed may begin showing signs or symptoms, and can be contagious up to seven days before showing symptoms and for a few days afterward.
Monday, June 12
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The great gray owl glided across the meadow on silent wings and landed on a snag right in front of me. The largest owl in Glacier National Park, great grays stand nearly three feet tall and are a rare sight. According to Cornell University’s “All About Birds,” great grays dwarf most owls in size, but not weight — they’re mostly feathers.
Friday, June 9
Glacier National Park plows at the Big Drift - Logan Pass parking lot cleared
Glacier Park plow crews were clearing out the Logan Pass parking lot and making the first cuts into the Big Drift Friday on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
For Columbia Falls man, a return to Africa sparks a call to action
With beads of sweat shimmering on his dark skin under the African sun, Usifu Bangura’s lean 6-foot-3 frame towered over his mother. As he approached her, Bangura hastily pulled a wrinkled, 14-year-old photo of the two of them out of his pocket. Since they didn’t share a language, he tried to identify himself with the blurry remnant of his life in the village, but the expression on her face and outstretched arms revealed she already knew who he was.
A fish pond, other park improvements on the horizon
Columbia Falls could see more improvements to its parks in the coming months, including a fishing pond at River’s Edge Park.
A banner year for beargrass in Glacier
If the low elevations are any indication, it looks like it will be a banner year for beargrass in Glacier National Park and surrounding mountain ranges this summer.
Thursday, June 8
Market coins mean carrots and peas and healthy living
To encourage kids to eat healthy, what’s better than a visit from a giant pea pod and a human-sized carrot?
Wednesday, June 7
CFAC responds to Berube op-ed
We were disappointed to see Mr. Nino Berube’s recent comments published in your newspaper on May 24. We believe he is misguided in his assessment and using outdated data and assumptions to make erroneous conclusions. Please go to our web site at www.CFACProject.com for a point-by-point response to Mr. Berube’s letter.
Timber roundtable discussion touches on familiar themes
A couple of years ago, Montana Sen. Steve Daines held a roundtable discussion at F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber on timber issues. Last week, Daines held another discussion at the same venue on the same topic. This time, he brought a little more political firepower in fellow Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.
How to smoke salmon
According to kokanee salmon fishing experts I’ve talked to, there’s still a few more weeks of excellent jigging action this spring.
Softball all-state, all-conference
Columbia Falls senior softball players Peyton Kehr, KJ Schweikert, and Sydney Hovde were recently named first team all-conference and all-state. Trista Cowan, Hannah Freeman and Taylar Putnam were second team all-conference.
Brown: Gianforte maturity is suspect
Greg Gianforte eventually apologized to the reporter he manhandled on election night. For some the apology was late and inadequate. For others Gianforte shouldn’t have apologized to the “liberal” reporter at all. Such is the divided nature of these times.
About human activities
Perhaps a new world record was set last weekend in Polson. The folks down there seem to love odd athletic competition. This spring’s big event was a rock-skipping championship and I eagerly await results this week.
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Roy C. Countryman Jr.
Mosquitoes, dust, and floaters
I think most of us were tired of both rain and snow - I know I was. Then we had a day or two of nice weather and then more rain. Now we are back to nice weather and, surprise, surprise, temperatures in the 80s.
#FindYourWay for 50th
Federal agencies and their nonprofit partners have announced the launch of #FindYourWay to celebrate the upcoming anniversaries of the National Trails System and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which will turn 50 in 2018.
Cancer rates in Columbia Falls near state, national averages
Eat your veggies, manage stress, and start exercising to beat the odds: statistics show that cancer affects half of all men and a third of all women.
Couple renews wedding vows after 65 years
In the spring of 1952, a young man named Pat Lee visited Columbia Falls to be the best man in his friend Bob Walton’s wedding. There, Lee met the woman who would be his wife.
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When detention monitors say there’s hardly anyone in detention anymore, the school must be doing something right.
Tuesday, June 6
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70 years ago
Monday, June 5
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Patricia Mae Anderson Mullen
Saturday, June 3
Columbia Falls scout right on target with Eagle badge
Columbia Falls High School sophomore Trey Spalding recently finished an Eagle Scout project that was just so “metal.”
Friday, June 2
Information sought on grizzly dumped in river
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are seeking information on the shooting death of a boar grizzly bear found by recreationists in the Stillwater River downstream of the Farm to Market Road Bridge, west of Whitefish.
Weekend update: Glacier National Park plows closing in on Logan Pass
Glacier Park plow crews are closing in on Logan Pass on the west side. Crews were at the Rimrocks area on Friday, which is about a half-mile from the pass. From there, they still have to plow through Oberlin Bend to get to Logan Pass.
Beloved foster grandparent program could see federal ax
At North Valley Head Start, Carol Ott – Grandma Carol, as she’s familiarly known – spreads care and love daily among students and teachers. She fulfills a support role, there to boost children’s spirits if they’re having a hard day or just need a hug.
Thursday, June 1
For Lauria, the bullseye is always the target
Columbia Falls High School senior Miranda Lauria doesn’t miss the mark.
