Friday, April 26
Columbia Falls high school student killed after car strikes home
A bright, young, freshman at Columbia Falls High School was tragically killed in Evergreen April 26 after an alleged drunk driver plowed his pickup truck into her Evergreen home, killing her as she slept in her bed about 2:10 a.m.
Legislature bumps up bed tax to pay for museum as session comes to an end
By ERIC DIETRICH
Spring snowstorm expected in Glacier Park region
A snowstorm is expected to hit the Glacier National Park region this weekend, with 4 to 8 inches of snow from Essex to Marias Pass and a brisk 40 mph northerly wind.
Wednesday, April 24
Scientists can map hucks using satellite imagery
By CHRIS PETERSON
Park plows near Haystack Creek, free shuttle starts on Mother's Day
Glacier National Park plow crews continue progress toward Logan Pass, with crews on the west side in the Haystack Creek area on the west side, about five miles from Logan Pass.
Super doesn't favor marshal program
Columbia Falls School District 6 and schools around the state may soon have a new option for dealing with threats as House Bill 567 is slated to go to the governor’s desk for final approval.
Wildcat netters busy against Glacier, Flathead and Whitefish
The Columbia Falls tennis teams had another busy week, taking on Glacier and Flathead high schools at FVCC Tuesday before taking on Whitefish Saturday.
Softball team picks up wins over Libby, Polson
The Wildkats softball team was on a roll last week, picking up wins over Libby and Polson to move into a tie for first place in the Northwest A standings before being rained out against Browning Friday.
Switchblades legal again
Switchblades are illegal no more in Montana. Inspired by Broadway musicals featuring gangs of delinquent teens knife fighting to show tunes, many states passed switchblade bans in the 1950s, including a federal switchblade ban in 1958.
Cats win Iceberg meet, Kats a close second
Both Columbia Falls track teams had strong showings last week as the boys finished second at the Sapphire Twilight meet in Corvallis Thursday before winning their home Iceberg Invitational Saturday. The girls were second in Corvallis and missed winning the Iceberg meet by half a point.
Thanks to the Bergs
By the time this column appears in the paper, North Forkers will have received the spring newsletter from the North Fork Landowners Association. At first glance it includes a summer social calendar pretty similar to past years. There is a full schedule of dances, church game nights, floats, hikes, bike rides, historical tours, informational/educational events as well as the big dinner nights. Almost unnoticed is one major change.
Montana taking AIS seriously
Montanans know how precious water is. It’s essential for fish and wildlife, boating and angling, irrigating, drinking and creating much of our electricity. When something threatens our water — such as aquatic invasive species — we are on high alert.
Cranking for walleye
“Are you a walleye fisherman?” I was asked by the guy sitting in front of me.
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Pancake breakfast
Sew and tell: Wheeler featured quilter at Teakettle show
After 10 years in the Teakettle Quit Guild, Sherry Wheeler says her sewing buddies have become more than just her friends, they are more like family.
Kehr named 2nd team All-Montana basketball
Columbia Falls High School senior Ryley Kehr was named to the USA Today All-Montana second team for girls basketball last week.
Health Fair at high school on Thursday
Columbia Falls High School and local health providers will be looking to spark more interest in personal well-being and preventing illness Thursday as the school hosts the Blue Waves and Sun Rays Community Health Fair.
Kids get quality time with Rooty the Root Bear
The kids at Northwest Montana Head Start program in Columbia Falls got a special treat last week, with free root beer floats at A&W in Columbia Falls as part of the “Week of the Young Child” celebration.
Deborah J. Bancroft
Deborah J. Bancroft
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Carla Kim Crowley Shaffer
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Patrick Michael Marshall
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Jane Bolles
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Alfred E. Maeder
Salmon and peanuts
This week G. George Ostrom picked out a column from August, 1969.
River's Edge Park should see improvements in coming months
River’s Edge Park in Columbia Falls should see improvements in the coming months. The city has plans to eventually put in a flush toilet bathroom at the popular park, but that won’t likely come until fall.
Montana Medicaid expansion bill squeaks through Legislature
A bill that would extend the Medicaid expansion program passed the state legislature last week, though support for it was split by local lawmakers.
CFAC, ARCO continue to dispute who should clean up plant site
A federal judge ruled earlier this month ruled the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co.’s lawsuit against the Atlantic Richfield Co. should move forward.
William Buck Chapman
William “Buck” Chapman
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April 15
Legals April 24, 2019
No. 1655 PUBLIC NOTICE FOR SALE OF STORAGE UNIT CONTENTS. On April 26th, 2019 beginning at or about 2PM, Glacier Center of Coram, pursuant to MCA 70-6-420, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder the contents of the following abandoned storage units to satisfy back rents and late fees: Unit 8 Glacier ATM Services Unit 19 Harry Bolinger Unit 21 Dennis Beard Unit 32 Dianna LeVay Unit 36 Robert LaRoque April 17, 24, 2019 MNAXLP
Tuesday, April 23
Police lockdown Columbia Falls High School after parent threatens suicide
The Columbia Falls High School went on a lockdown after a parent was swearing at high school staff over the phone Tuesday morning.
Friday, April 19
Feds charge woman with murder for hire
A Kalispell woman has been charged with murder for hire, though most of the case against her has been sealed from public view.
He's autistic. Has two kids. And is a world champion
If someone had told Sylvester Vermillion 10 years ago that he would someday be a world champion powerlifter, he probably would have laughed at them. The 45-year-old autistic father of two, who also suffers from severe depression, anxiety and PTSD, made his dreams come true last month when he earned two gold and a pair of silver medals at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Wednesday, April 17
Glacier Park plows are now beyond the Loop
Glacier National Park plow crews have made good progress on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. As of presstime, they had plowed the highway to Alder Trail, which is two miles beyond the Loop on the west side.
Sheriff meeting is May 3 in C-Falls
As a way of involving the community in the department, Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino will take his agenda to the public by holding town-hall meetings to discuss changes to the department since he took office.
Tennis squads split with Stevi
The Columbia Falls High School tennis teams were in action on the road Saturday as the boys picked up a 5-2 victory while the girls fell by the same score.
With bear season, make sure your after the right bear
Montana’s spring black bear hunting season opened April 15 and it’s important for hunters to refresh themselves on tips for identifying the difference between black bears and grizzly bears, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials note.
C-Falls track teams dominate at Libby meet
Both the Columbia Falls boys and girls track teams made short work of their competition in Libby over the weekend, easily outpacing their competition to earn first-place team titles.
School board green lights Boys and Girls Club
The Columbia Falls School District 6 board voted to move forward with pair of projects near Ruder Elementary Monday, electing to give preliminary approval to put aside land there for a new Boys and Girls Club facility as well as soccer and sports fields.
Another lawsuit to challenge Forest plan
Two environmental groups have filed suit against the Forest Service and other federal agencies claiming the new Flathead National Forest plan doesn’t do enough to protect grizzly bears and bull trout.
A road trip to Florida includes another cool national park
Took a two-week road trip to Florida, which is to say I loaded up a very old truck camper onto my 22-year-old truck and hoped for the best. I know engines don’t have souls, but the Cummins 12-valve seemed to actually enjoy the experience, humming along at 1,800 rpms, which amounted to 65 mph. Not exactly a land speed record, for sure, but it got us there, and, more importantly, got us back, without so much as burning a quarter-quart of oil.
School District 6 board race: Bruce Crockett
Bruce Crockett is a relative newcomer to the Flathead Valley, having lived in Columbia Falls for the past two and a half years. Crockett, 35, is the lead pastor of the new Gateway Church in Columbia Falls, which holds its services at the Teakettle community Building on Sundays.
School District 6 board race: David Shaffer
David Shaffer was a math teacher at the junior high for 18 years and taught math and physics at the senior high for 12 years before retiring in 2000. He also taught math at FVCC for several years at night and in the summer months. He also taught physics in California and math in Washington. His 10 children, now grown, who graduated from Columbia Falls and after he retired from here he went on to teach in California and Washington. He was drafted for the Vietnam War when he graduated from college, but got a hardship exemption because he already had three children. He also coached junior high boys and girls basketball when he was in Columbia Falls.
School District 6 board race: Heather Mumby
Heather Mumby is from the Flathead Valley and graduated tom Flathead High School. She moved to Columbia Falls 11 years ago and has served as the district clerk for Cayuse Prairie School for the past 12 years. She has a son who attends Glacier Gateway and she also volunteers on the district’s long-term planning committee.
Wyoming man named new junior high principal
Columbia Falls Junior High students will have a new principal in the fall as School District 6 has hired Doug Hazen to fill the position while current principal Dave Wick serves as president of the National Association of Elementary Principals during the 2019-20 school year.
School District 6 board race: Larry Wilson
Incumbent Larry Wilson has served on the school board for 33 years and has been with the Columbia Falls School District for nearly 50. Wilson spent 14 years teaching social studies at the Columbia Falls Junior High School and several as a high school American history teacher and wrestling coach. Wilson, who will be 82 next month, have lived in Columbia Falls since 1960 and graduated from Flathead High School in Kalispell. Wilson also served on the school’s discipline committee.
North Fork residents should be kept in the loop
A Forest Service announcement that they were going to remove the additions to the rear (north) end of the Ford Schoolhouse has created some comment and concern among North Fork folks.
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70 years ago
Hegel leads senior cards
Shirley Hegel was the top Pinochle player at the North Valley Senior Citizens Center on April 8th with 5,770. Sami Baier was second with 5,740. Joe Voermans was third with 5,700. Marie Trodick and Marvel Lucasl melded 300 Pinochle. Shirley Taber and Joe Voermans melded a round robin. D.J. Lopez won the door prize.
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Jerry Clifford Maxwell
Proposed legislation would fund land and water conservation
Legislation has been introduced in Congress to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Subdividing Glacier Park
A column G. George Ostrom picked out from September, 1970.
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Trustee needed
Fishing pre-runoff takes patience
The race is on!
Beaver Lake efforts a rare aquatic invasive species success story
Efforts to eradicate an aquatic invasive species from Beaver Lake continue to be successful in a way that is rare.
Legals April 17, 2019
No. 1655 PUBLIC NOTICE FOR SALE OF STORAGE UNIT CONTENTS. On April 26th, 2019 beginning at or about 2PM, Glacier Center of Coram, pursuant to MCA 70-6-420, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder the contents of the following abandoned storage units to satisfy back rents and late fees: Unit 8 Glacier ATM Services Unit 19 Harry Bolinger Unit 21 Dennis Beard Unit 32 Dianna LeVay Unit 36 Robert LaRoque April 17, 24, 2019 MNAXLP
The Blotter
April 7
Thursday, April 11
Glacier names Yellowstone chief ranger as new deputy super
The chief ranger at Yellowstone National Park has been named Glacier National Park’s next deputy superintendent.
Wednesday, April 10
Legals April 10, 2019
No. 1653 NOTICE OF SCHOOL ELECTION Notice is hereby given by the undersigned Clerk of Columbia Falls School District No. Six, Flathead County, State of Montana that the Annual School Election will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at the following polling place: Glacier Gateway Elementary. 440 4th Avenue West, Columbia Falls. Polls will be open between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Electors will consider the following issue at the election: Two (2) trustees to be elected for three (3) year terms in School District Six Elementary District A qualified registered elector of Columbia Falls School District, who will be absent from the county or physically incapacitated and unable to go to the polls on the day of the election, may request an "Application for Absentee Voter's Ballot" from the Business Office of the Columbia Falls Schools located at: 501 Sixth Avenue West (West Annex behind the Old Junior High) P. O. Box 1259 Columbia Falls, MT 59912 Phone: 892-6550 The close of regular voter registration is April 8, 2019. If you miss this regular registration deadline (30 days prior to the election), you may still register for the election by showing up at the county election office to complete and submit a voter registration card up to and including on election day. The county election office is located at: 40 11th Street West #230 Kalispell, MT 59901 406-758-5535 Dated on April 1, 2019, District Clerk: Dustin Zuffelato Signature:/s/ Dustin Zuffelato April 10, 2019 MNAXLP _________________________
A trip to Disneyland
A column G. George Ostrom picked out from June, 1968.
Back Country Horsemen to host Challenge Cabin event
The Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead will play host to other Back Country Horsemen chapters from around Montana and one from Canada in August as they put on the first-ever “Challenge at Challenge Cabin.”
Wildcat tennis squads open season with three matches
The Columbia Falls tennis season got underway last week as the Wildcats opened the season in Ronan Tuesday before hosting Whitefish Thursday and Dillon Friday.
Forum introduces junior high principal candidates
Columbia Falls residents got their first look last week at the three finalists vying to be the interim principal at the Junior High School as current principal Dave Wick will be away next year serving as the president of the National Association of Elementary Principals.
Clewein looking to compete in Australia's Down Under Games
Columbia Falls senior track and field athlete Kaedan Clewein will be getting the chance to showcase his skills on the other side of the earth in July as he travels to Australia to compete in the Down Under Games.
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70 years ago
Outlaw Diner opens its doors on Nucleus
With a menu so good it should be a crime, the Outlaw Diner has opened its doors on Nucleus Avenue in downtown Columbia Falls.
Track teams open season in Frenchtown
Three Columbia Falls track athletes qualified for state at the opening meet of the season over the weekend as the girls finished seventh and boys were ninth at the Frenchtown Invitational.
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William Harry Yunck
Conger headed to Central America with Interact Club
Columbia Falls High School junior Laney Conger will be getting a unique look at a foreign culture next week as she travels to Guatemala with a group of students from the Big Fork and Bigsky (Polson) school Interact Clubs.
Wednesday, April 3
Stop vilifying bison
In the last two years the Inter-agency Bison Management plan (IBMP) has killed almost 1,200 bison in 2018, and 1,300 in 2017. That is about a quarter of the entire Yellowstone herd each year.
Church leaders respond to terrorist attacks
Fear, grief, loss, pain, and anger converge in our hearts at the murder of 50 innocent prayerful people, and the injury of 50 more, who were gathered in two sacred Muslim houses of prayer in Christchurch, New Zealand. The loss of life comes with the devastating loss of human dignity at the hands of an avowed White Nationalist, a White Supremacist and racist, hate-filled individual. The mass shootings in the Christchurch Mosques, Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina are just a few of the domestic terrorist acts we are witnessing in our world today. They are driven by a movement defined by bigotry and terror, anti-Semitism, and anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant platforms. When hate-filled people are moved to bring guns and ammunition to a house of worship, what can stop them?
Be careful not to compromise dark skies
Later this spring crews will get to work on the North Lake McDonald Road to extend power and phone lines to Kelly’s Camp. The camp, as most of you are aware, was razed by the Howe Ridge Fire last summer.
A chauvinistic column
A column G. George Ostrom picked out from March, 1973.
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Suzanne Hazel Hoskins Sullivan
Glacier looks to move native fish in Camas drainage
Glacier National Park has formally released an environmental assessment on a project designed to expand a native fish population in the Park.
Frozen out at Freezout
There’s a problem with Freezout Lake south of Choteau this year — most of the ponds in the complex are frozen. The state wildlife management area is popular with bird enthusiasts in March and early April because of the tens of thousands of snow geese and other waterfowl that stop at the complex en route to breeding grounds in Alaska and Canada.
Scientists can map hucks using satellite imagery
A trio of researchers have found that oft-loved huckleberry bush can be mapped using high-resolution satellite imagery. One of the most common species of huckleberries, Vaccinium membranaceum leaves turn a bright red in the fall, U.S. Geological Survey scientist Tabitha Graves noted.
FWP newsletter great source for fishing information
If you don’t check www.fwp.mt.gov regularly, you are missing out on valuable information that will help you catch more fish.
Some residents still have frozen water service lines, despite onset of spring
Despite several weeks of warmer weather, a handful of homes in Columbia Falls still have frozen service lines to their homes, public works director Tyler Bradshaw told city council Monday night.
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70 years ago
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March 26
Goats, rain, snow and fire: stories from the Sperry rebuild
Nick DeLude spent the better part of a day digging a 6-foot deep hole that would eventually be a new footer for the Sperry Chalet. Anyone whose ever tried to dig a hole in the rock that is Glacier National Park knows how hard that can be. Sprinkle in some oppressive July heat and biting flies and you have the makings of a special kind of hell, one with a view.
Survey to help guide C-Falls growth policy update
As Columbia Falls updates its growth policy, a process that is done about every six years, city leaders are surveying residents in order to give the planning board and city council guidance as the process progresses. The updated growth policy is expected in the fall. The planning board is currently working on updates, chapter by chapter, but the city council will have the final say in the adoption of the policy.
Don K Subaru dealership donates $12,000 to Columbia Falls backpack assistance program
The Columbia Falls backpack assistance program got a much-appreciated boost from Don K Subaru in Whitefish Monday morning as the car dealership donated more than $12,000 to the Farm Hands Nourish the Flathead organization to help fund the effort.
