Ellington

Grizzly bear on the move: Whitefish, Waterton, Glacier, Fortine and now, Spotted Bear

A 3-year-old male grizzly bear that had been spotted feeding in yards and pastures near Fortine has been captured and released in the Spotted Bear River drainage.

Federal judge rules Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, erred in approving mine under Cabinet Mountain Wilderness

In two decisions issued at the end of May, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service violated the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the National Forest Management Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act when they approved a massive mining operation beneath the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness.

South Fork bridge project starts June 12

Sletten Construction was the low bidder on the U.S. Highway 2 South Fork of the Flathead bridge replacement and is scheduled to start work on the project June 12.

Kokanee fishing saves spring for Smalley

There are no guarantees when it comes to fishing in Montana in spring.

A shocking scare

Last Saturday’s daily paper had a feature story which reminded me of one of the scariest moments I can remember while raising kids. There are always scary times in that part of a person’s life; some situations do not involve serious sickness or injury, but still make your hair stand on end.

Life on the Kintla Ranch

In mid-April, during spring break, I made a final trip to Arizona to visit my 99-year-old mother. She was terminally ill and passed away on May 8 after a great run. She lived in her own home, played bingo regularly, and was still driving until she fell ill on January 10.

Democrats will do anything to get votes

The Democrats make mandates in the cloak of night like Obamacare, now they even make statues of heroes disappear in the middle of the night.

Wanner, Bridwell win track titles

The boys track team took fourth at the state A meet in Laurel Friday and Saturday.

Schmit wins a match at state tourney

Columbia Falls tennis player Molly Schmit won a match at the state A tournament in Kalispell last week.

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Williams runs well for CSU-Pueblo

Running at the NCAA Division II national championships in Bradenton, Florida, Colorado State-Pueblo junior Derrick Williams (Columbia Falls ’12) had two All-American finishes for the ThunderWolves.

Kats go 2-2 in state softball tourney

The Columbia Falls softball team went 2-2 at the state tournament in Sidney last week.

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The Kalispell Lakers A had a 4-3 victory over the Glacier Twins B on Saturday at Griffin Field, with a three-run fourth inning to cinch the win.

Better imaging helps scientists map glaciers

New technology can give scientists a closer look at glaciers – but there aren’t many left.

Straight out of high school, Lentz has a leg up on a career

Senior Crockett Lentz is going to miss Columbia Falls High School.

Trump budget trims nearly $1 mil from Glacier

President Trump’s proposed 2018 budget could mean a nearly $1 million cut to Glacier National Park’s operational budget. The proposed budget would trim about 7 percent from Glacier’s budget, or about $956,000.

Libby firewood cutter scratched by mountain lion

A Libby man was scratched by a mountain lion while cutting firewood last Friday.

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Columbia Falls lost one of their beloved residents on May 26, 2017. Born in Harrison Township, Michigan on March 20, 1959, David Lee Cochrane passed peacefully at home surrounded by his devoted family and close friends. Dave fought a courageous battle with mantle cell lymphoma for 13 years.

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70 years ago

Many Glacier Park services open for Memorial Day weekend

Many services and facilities in Glacier National Park will be open for Memorial Day weekend.

Forest campgrounds open for the season

All Flathead National Forest campgrounds should be open this weekend, unless there’s a problem with the weather.

FWP commissioners vote against Quiet Waters petition

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission Friday voted unanimously against the Quiet Waters petition, which would have banned motorized use on a host of waters across the state, including a portion of the Flathead River.

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BOZEMAN (AP) — Republican multimillionaire Greg Gianforte won Montana’s only U.S. House seat on Thursday despite being charged a day earlier with assault after witnesses said he grabbed a reporter by the neck and threw him to the ground.

Nucleus Revival continues; Ruis buys Bandit

Columbia Falls developer Mick Ruis has bought the Bandit Bar and plans on turning it into a sports bar and steakhouse.

Wildkats head to state as No. 2 seed

The Columbia Falls girls softball team will head into the state A tournament in Sidney as the No. 2 seed from the Northwest after they split their conference bill last week.

Glacier Twins win a pair

The Glacier Twins bagged two victories in Bozeman last weekend.

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Schmit lone qualifier

Senior Molly Schmit was the lone state qualifier in tennis after divisional play last week. Schmit took second in the Western A divisional last week, losing in the championship round in No. 1 singles to Cassie Carlyle of Polson, 6-2, 6-0.

Track does well at Western divisionals

The Columbia Falls track teams will head into state competition on a high note after solid showings at the divisional meet in Corvallis last week.

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Community market

Road upkeep and bear safety

Last weekend the North Fork River was running bank-full and muddy, but there was no flood damage. This week the river has dropped a foot or more and is no longer muddy. It isn’t clear either, but leafy green indicates it is within its normal channel.

My lynx jinx

Darn! So much is in the roll of the dice. Talking here about getting that “one-in-a-thousand” photo of wildlife.

Smalley keeps fishing records, sort of...

Let’s see. When did we fly fish the Spotted Bear River last summer? I think we were about a week late.

Engineer: CFAC cleanup needs more scrutiny

There’s a real problem with Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. CFAC-Glencore have used the “Columbia Falls Liaison Panel” to present only the company’s side of the story. The Hungry Horse News did a good job covering the last community meeting in April, and published the presented data accurately. Unfortunately, it’s only CFAC propaganda.

Park's bear monitoring and capturing begins

Visitors are urged to be alert and bear aware in Glacier National Park as bear monitoring gets underway with bait stations and traps. Trapping efforts will continue through October at various locations throughout the park.

Plows push on

Glacier Park plow crews are nudging closer to Logan Pass. As of presstime, they were beyond Big Bend and at the Arches, about 29.7 miles up the road.

Cyclist killed in head on wreck at West Glacier

Peter Kshyk, 62, was killed Sunday in a vehicle and motorcycle collision on U.S. 2 near West Glacier.

Boat or not, all anglers need to get $2 pass on top of license

Even anglers who don’t own a boat will have to buck up another $2 to legally fish in Montana.

In post tariff world, lumber prices higher, steady

With a tariff on Canadian lumber in place for the past month, domestic prices for lumber have risen. The price jump actually came late in the winter, in anticipation of the tariff, lumber experts have noted. Since then, prices have leveled off a bit.

In Perry case, more allegations arise

More allegations of misconduct have surfaced in the case of ousted Columbia Falls police chief Dave Perry.

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A pair of Columbia Falls High School graduates were selected as two of 161 Presidential Scholars from across the nation — one of the highest honors bestowed on a high school graduate.

Chiropractor opens office here

Alex Lundbohm opened a new chiropractic practice in Columbia Falls on May 1, drawn to this small town with big opportunities.

Glacier Park welcomes a cast of artists this summer, fall

Artists Matthew Dickerson, Laura Burlis, Meg Leonard, Pamela Haunschild, and Linda Beach have been selected for the 2017 Artist-in-Residence program at Glacier National Park.

After knife incident, Columbia Falls man nabbed in manhunt

Police conducted a manhunt for a man who allegedly used a knife on a family member Monday night.

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70 years ago

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Patti and Don Dorlarque are familiar faces among the community of Columbia Falls. They’ve lived in the Flathead Valley since the 1970s, and both volunteer extensively.

Commissioners green-light West Glacier RV park

On a 3-0 vote, Flathead County Commissioners voted Friday to approve the West Glacier RV Park and Cabins project in West Glacier.

Every few months, this chef gives back

Chef Brad Nieves of the Nite Owl serves up more than just homestyle fare. Once each quarter, he offers a mixed plate of kitchen skills and wisdom to eighth-graders at Columbia Falls Junior High.

She heads up the volunteers that help Glacier Park

A small, hardworking core of volunteers works hard to spruce up Glacier Park, and they’re led by a special woman. Cheryl Klein is the president of Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates and she says being active is essential to health and happiness.

C-Falls yearbook staff recognized for work

Yearbook photos have always immortalized students and staff, but now a yearbook itself will be immortalized.

City looks to curb parking, storing, rigs on the grass

The city is looking to send a message to residents: Don’t park on the grass.

Trailer fire reason for smoke plume over Columbia Heights

Fire consumed a junk trailer Thursday morning at the Oh’s Body Shop wrecking yard in Columbia Heights off Jensen Road. Bad Rock Fire Chief Kirk Katzenmeyer said a brush fire caught the trailer on fire.

Timber Creek resident worked murders in LA

Pat Marshall, 72, is an ex-homicide detective who worked in Los Angeles for over 21 years. His beat included the Watts neighborhood, where violence had erupted between police and African Americans during the Watts riots in 1965, a mere four years before Marshall started working.

FWP kills griz that killed eight sheep

On May 11, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and federal Wildlife Services captured a 209-pound 3-year-old male grizzly bear in the Eureka area after the bear killed eight domestic sheep.

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Jones wins javelin

Boating? Don't forget your stickers

About a month ago I towed my 12-foot fishing boat to the FWP Region One headquarters on Meridian in Kalispell for an AIS inspection.

Track peaking as divisionals this week

The Columbia Falls track team is rounding into form as the postseason begins this week.

When wolves were $2.50

Last week a $10,000 reward was offered for helping catch the person or persons who shot one of the three white wolves in Yellowstone Park. A press release said she was a “well-known female wolf.”

Nonie's schoolhouse history

After the two columns about the old Ford School, I received several phone calls and emails from readers who liked them. The last one was the best.

Getting lost in the Great Bear

I have to admit, I was very, very surprised last week when rescuers found Madeline Connelly alive in the Great Bear Wilderness after she’d been wandering around in the woods for nearly a week.

Trout Unlimited to honor Glacier Park fisheries biologist

Flathead Valley Trout Unlimited will formally honor Glacier National Park’s Chris Downs on May 20 at the chapter’s annual banquet in Whitefish. Downs, a fisheries management biologist, will be honored with a commemorative plaque and letter.

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Kathleen Ann (Ott) LaChapelle

Bookmobile gets support; more lights for soccer fields

The School District 6 board meeting on May 8 dealt with athletics requests and other projects.

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The Hockaday Museum of Art offers summer art classes for children ages 6 to 14. Kids can try their hands at sculpture, drawing, painting and printmaking. Classes incorporate lessons in culture, art history and science. The Hockaday’s weekly preschool art class continues year-round.

Wilderness walks on tap

Throughout the summer, the Montana Wilderness Association will offer free day hikes and overnight trips in the state’s magnificent backcountry. The intention of the Wilderness Walks program is to build grassroots support for wilderness and public lands by uniting the community around Montana’s special places.

Kats drop Polson, 5-1

Columbia Falls went 2-1 at the LaVerne Combo tourney over the weekend in Butte.

Tennis squads compete in divisionals this week

The Columbia Falls tennis teams split the bill against Stevensville last week. The boys won 6-1 and the girls lost 4-3 to end the regular season.

State grant puts bleacher project over the top

By MATT BALDWIN

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Cecil Ida (Cameron) Whitehead

Academy wants to restore the Old Main

A non-profit group that already runs a garden at the Montana Veterans Home now hopes to restore the oldest building on the campus.

Perry's tax break bill signed into law

Gov. Steve Bullock signed into law a tax break bill that could help businesses set up shop or expand here.

Memorial Day schedule announced

United Veterans of the Flathead Valley will present military honors at various locations and cemeteries around the valley on Memorial Day, May 29. The schedule of public events is:

County postpones RV Park vote

Flathead County Commissioners Wednesday morning postponed a vote on an RV Park proposed by Glacier Park Inc. off River Bend drive in West Glacier until Friday.

Legals May 17, 2017

No. 1615 PUBLIC NOTICE FOR SALE OF STORAGE UNIT CONTENTS. On May 18th, 2017 beginning at or about 4PM, Glacier Center of Coram, pursuant to MCA 70-6-420, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Country Auction in Columbia Falls, the contents of the following abandoned storage units to satisfy back rents and late fees: Unit 1 Lenna Lombard: Misc. household contents. Unit 6 Mike Owens: Misc. household contents. Unit 12 Mysterie Callihan: Misc. household contents. Unit 22 Brian Hattem: Misc. household contents. May 10, 17, 2017 MNAXLP

Another round of snow expected Tuesday into Wednesday

The Flathead Valley will see heavy rain and another round of snow in the higher terrain Tuesday night into Wednesday. Places like Marias Pass will see about 8 inches of snow, while higher terrain in Glacier National Park could see upwards of a foot of snow.

Hungry Horse 'pipe bomb' turned out to be empty

A bomb squad from Missoula was called in for what appeared to be a pipe bomb in Hungry Horse Monday evening.

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70 years ago

Eagle Scout builds communications room for Bad Rock Fire Dept.

Dawson Chute went big for his Eagle Scout project. He built a whole communications room for the Bad Rock fire deparment to house their radio equipment.

Sun Road opens to Avalanche Creek

Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road is now open to Avalanche Creek to motor vehicles. Hiker-biker access beyond that is at Logan Pit, but unrestricted when plow crews aren’t working on weekends and later in the day on weekdays.

Heli-Tour operator in West Glacier retires, could mean quieter skies

A longtime helicopter tour operator over Glacier National Park has retired. Minuteman Aviation owner Jerry Mamuzich announced his retirement on the Glacier Heli Tours website.

Now that's a Treehouse

A West Glacier man played a part in a treehouse project that will soon be featured on the DIY network show, “The Treehouse Guys.”

Hiker lost in Great Bear Wilderness near Glacier Park found alive after nearly a week in the woods

A hiker who was missing in the Great Bear Wilderness for more near a week has been found alive.

Junior high students enter a virtual reality world in the lab

At Columbia Falls Junior High last week, eighth-graders were examining butterflies, evaluating the design of houses, and observing the structure of the human heart.

Wick elected vice president of National Association of Elementary School Principals

The principal of Columbia Falls Junior High School has been elected Vice President of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Park outlines boat inspection process

Glacier National Park will begin allowing non-motorized, non-trailered boats and other watercraft on its waters beginning May 15 on Lake McDonald and North Fork Waters.

Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce welcomes new director

Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has appointed Laura Gadwa as the new executive director. She replaces Stacey Schnebel, a longtime Canyon businesswoman.

Council will hold hearing on community needs

Columbia Falls City Council will hold a public hearing to gauge community needs at its meeting May 17.

Hope

We went over to Two Medicine on Sunday with the hope that the weather would be a little bit better than it was here. It was raining here. Over in Two Med, it was raining too, but about 10 degrees colder.

Less politics, more action

The most significant infrastructure bill in over a quarter of a century was passed by the just-adjourned 2017 legislative session. It was the 6-cent increase in motor fuel taxes which will make it possible for Montana to continue to match federal dollars for highway maintenance and construction at a ratio of seven federal dollars to one Montana dollar.

Good fishing on the Thompson River

We’ve all heard the three keys to business success are location, location, location.

About famous sayings and Ed Zern

One of my favorite pastimes is making up “famous sayings.” I do it all the time. However, some members of my family, people I work with, and even Over the Hill Gang coffee mates say making up famous sayings isn’t possible unless you are famous.

Glacier Park hiker-biker shuttle opens this weekend

Beginning May 13, the hiker-biker shuttle will be available every weekend on the west side of Glacier National Park. The shuttle will operate every 30 minutes beginning at 9 a.m., and will start from the Apgar Visitor Center and make stops at Lake McDonald Lodge and Avalanche Creek. The last shuttle departs Avalanche Creek at 5:15 p.m.

Woman, man been missing nearly a week in separate incidents

A search for a young woman believed missing in the Great Bear Wilderness for several days continued as the Hungry Horse News went to press.

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Howard Duane Hamilton

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Don F. Dunwell, 82, of Helena passed away Saturday, April 29, 2017. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1502 Shirley Road. A luncheon reception will follow the Mass in the fellowship hall of the church. Burial with military honors will follow the reception at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. Memorials in Don’s name may be made to the Montana Historical Society, PO Box 201201, Helena, MT 59626, to any Veterans’ charity, or to an organization of your choosing.

Trio lead boys at Archie Roe track meet

The Columbia Falls boys had three champions at the Archie Roe track meet Saturday in Kalispell.

Tennis squads struggle against Whitefish, bounce back at Broncs

With a few days of sunny weather, the Columbia Falls tennis squads finally got some action on the courts.

Girls crush Bulldogs in home opener doubleheader

Columbia Falls walloped Whitefish in a doubleheader at home last Thursday, beating the Bulldogs 16-1 in the opener and 20-0 in the nightcap.

Legals May 10, 2017

No. 1615 PUBLIC NOTICE FOR SALE OF STORAGE UNIT CONTENTS. On May 18th, 2017 beginning at or about 4PM, Glacier Center of Coram, pursuant to MCA 70-6-420, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Country Auction in Columbia Falls, the contents of the following abandoned storage units to satisfy back rents and late fees: Unit 1 Lenna Lombard: Misc. household contents. Unit 6 Mike Owens: Misc. household contents. Unit 12 Mysterie Callihan: Misc. household contents. Unit 22 Brian Hattem: Misc. household contents. May 10, 17, 2017 MNAXLP

FWP Commission delays Quiet Waters initiative a week

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will take action on the Quiet Waters rule proposal in a meeting rescheduled for May 26 at 8:30 a.m. The commission initially scheduled the meeting for May 17-18.

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70 years ago

Scout builds church porch

Columbia Falls High School senior Sam Paul got his Eagle Scout rank last month.

Bike path deal struck between CFAC, trail group

Another significant chunk of the Gateway to Glacier Trail network is in the works. The nonprofit trail group recently struck an agreement with Glencore, the parent company of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co., for a license agreement to run the trail through the company’s property along the east side of the Flathead River.

Cramped for space and full of students, Deer Park eyes expansion

Deer Park principal Dan Block doesn’t have to walk far to get a file. The bathroom just outside his office is stacked with them. There’s no room to store them elsewhere, so they sit in a bathtub that hasn’t been used in years.

Convicted C. Falls rapist sentenced

A convicted rapist from Columbia Falls on May 3 was sentenced to 30 years in Montana State Prison with 15 years suspended.

Overall snowpack now 135 percent of average, more rain on the way

Rain and snow every day last week has boosted the snowpack to 135 percent of average in a time when the snowpack should be eroding.

Chisholm, Hill and Riley win SD6 board election

Dean Chisholm, Keri Hill, and Barb Riley won the School District 6 board election Tuesday.

Glacier eyes 'one car in, one car out' rules to ease crowding

If the crowds of last summer continue, Glacier National Park is considering implementing a “one car in, one car out,” plan for some of its dead-end roads, Superintendent Jeff Mow said last week during a talk in Kalispell.

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At the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem meeting last week, agencies gathered to provide updates on their fall projects of the predominantly bear-ish kind.

Waterton-Glacier receives dark sky designation

Look up in the skies on a dark, clear night in Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and you’ll likely see more stars than you ever have in your entire life.

Snow berming unpopular

Businesses and city leaders don’t much like the idea of berming snow in the middle of U.S. Highway 2 in the winter. The Columbia Falls City Council Monday night held a public hearing on the matter and no one spoke in favor of the measure.

Gas tax hike is coming; locals voted against it

Montana’s 65th Legislative session is came to a close last week and your gas and diesel taxes are going up.

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Bobbie Kay Ostby was born Aug. 23, 1944 to Freda and Robert Ostby in Kalispell. Bobbie died April 30, 2017 at her home in Martin City.

Tennis competes at Bitterroot Invitational

The Columbia Falls tennis squads competed at the Bitterroot Invitational over the weekend. Columbia Falls’ No. 1 singles Molly Schmit had a tough go of it, losing to Allie Brown of Troy 3-6 3-6 and Mariah McClure of Dillon 3-6 1-6.

Tennis raising funds to build new courts

The Columbia Falls tennis program has started a GoFundMe campaign to build new tennis courts at the high school. The program currently uses the city-owned courts at Columbus Park, but the surface, which is plastic, isn’t ideal, noted boys’ tennis coach Michele Colliander.

Wildkats clobber Hamilton 17-4 in softball

The Columbia Falls softball team hit the tar out of the ball, downing Hamilton 17-4 at the Frenchtown Invitational Saturday.

Track teams take a pair of seconds at A.R.M. meet

It was a decidedly soggy meet, but the Columbia Falls track squad is rounding into form.

The Governor's Blurb

Exactly 20 years ago, my life was dominated by work with publishers to get my first book printed and on the market. Naturally, I did a column about it and that is what is printed below...

Smalley gets sticker shock in Idaho, catches a 7-inch crappie

Last week I drove to Sandpoint, Idaho to attend the 44th annual conference of the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association.

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Two topics are always on our minds during spring breakup: bear sightings and the possibility of a flood.

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There’s a small, nameless creek in Glacier we’ve been exploring lately. The first attempts were in winter. One day we turned around because of darkness, the other day we turned around because the snow had grown rotten and we were side-sloping and post-holing with snowshoes on up to our hips.

Lundgren Parratt bleeds blue, too

Thank you to Scott Gaiser the very, very fine principal at Columbia Falls High School. Scott wrote an fantastic letter to the editor of our Hungry Horse News. Recently the high school had the highest graduation rate/completion rate ever. Hurray and hearty congratulations!!

Blackfeet protest grizzly hunting at bear manager meeting

Members of the Blackfeet Tribe protested delisting grizzly bears during a meeting of key bear managers last week.

Pianist Aaberg to play new Lutheran piano

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church has a brand new Mason & Hamlin grand piano. They’ve been saving for it for almost a year, and raised the money mostly from straight donations.

School board debates calendar, opts for Aug. 31 start

Calendars and curricula were at the forefront in last week’s School District 6 board meeting.

Farmers market moves

The Columbia Falls City Council recently approved a fee reduction for Columbia Falls Farmers’ Market to use Marantette Park as a new venue in 2017. Without a fee reduction, the market would have to pay $4,602.50 for the season. With the fee reduction, they will pay $675 for fees and a deposit.

More than 1,000 attend Fisher memorial service in Kalispell

More than 1,000 people attended the service last Friday for Paxton Fisher, the Columbia Falls High School senior who recently died from complications due to cancer.

Legals May 3, 2017

No. 1614 AUDIT PUBLICATION STATEMENT An audit of the affairs of the Columbia Falls School District, Columbia Falls, Montana, has been conducted by Ross R. Stalcup, Certified Public Accountant, P.C.. The audit covered the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016. Section 2-7-521, MCA, requires that this publication concerning the audit report include a statement that the audit report is on file in its entirety and open to public inspection at the Columbia Falls School District Administration Office, 501 6th Avenue West, and that the Columbia Falls School District will send a copy of the audit report to any interested person upon request. Sincerely, Dustin Zuffelato Business Manager/Clerk May 3, 2017 MNAXLP

FWP commission will take up 'Quiet Waters' initiative May 11, 12

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will take action on the Quiet Waters rule proposal in a special meeting May 12.

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Hungry Horse veteran is volunteer, traveler, author

Jack Crandall has visited exotic places like Germany, Korea, Greece, Ireland, Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand. But after all these experiences, the one place he most wants to see is North Dakota.

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70 years ago