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From left, Ed Walden, Cliff Sedivy and Bob Mengon with four mountain lions they took on Teakettle Mountain in February, 1953.
70 years ago
Nov. 5, 1948
The first concrete for the Hungry Horse Dam was poured, albeit for the diversion tunnel for the South Fork of the Flathead. Christmas tree harvest in the Flathead Valley was expected to approach 1 million trees. Leo Opalka, formerly of Columbia Falls but now a rancher in Niarada, bought a prized white-faced bull for $1,000.
60 years ago
Nov. 7, 1958
Columbia Falls voters approved a $165,000 bond issue for its water supply with $100,000 for a 16-inch water main from Cedar Springs and a $40,000 water main to supply the new high school as part of the project. A foot or more of snow in the backcountry was expected to help hunters. A black bear caused problems in Glacier Park headquarters when he tore off boards from the Robert Hafferman house and decided to hibernate underneath it. Rangers knocked on the boards and made a racket and the bear finally came out and went to a quieter place to spend the winter.
50 years ago
Nov. 8, 1968
DePratu Ford had the low bid for a new Columbia Falls police car at $864 for a Ford custom sedan. Bananas were 13 cents a pound and cabbage was just 9 cents per pound and you could get three loaves of bread for 89 cents and a pie was 59 cents, all at the B&B.
40 years ago
Nov. 9, 1978
The U.S. Attorney General filed suit against the Atlantic Richfield Co. to reduce fluoride emissions from the aluminum plant in Columbia Falls. The suit claimed, among other things, that the emissions were killing trees in both the Flathead National Forest and in Glacier National Park. It also claimed that wildlife were suffering from fluorosis, which caused brittle skeletons and tooth disintegration.
30 years ago
Nov. 9, 1988
The top-ranked Columbia Falls girls basketball team was heading into the divisional tourney with a 12-2 record. The Kats were led by 5-foot-8 Tanya Tesar, who averaged 15 points per game. The Kats, however, ended the regular season on a sour note with a 44-39 loss to Hamilton. The girls would later beat the Broncs for the divisional crown and would take third at state.
20 years ago
Nov. 5, 1998
The city’s $857,00 pool bond passed 577-458, with about 64 percent of Columbia Falls voters turning out for the election. The bond should be paid off this year. Coach Larry Schmautz was inducted into the Columbia Falls coaches Hall of Fame. The city also annexed the Montana Veterans Home, which included all of the buildings, but not the fields and gardens.
10 years ago
Nov. 6, 2008
The Columbia Falls football team beat Corvallis 27-26 in the first round of the state A playoffs. It was their first playoff victory in 38 years.