Ellington

Woman charged in horse starvation case

A California woman has been taken into custody stemming from a case where she allegedly starved 17 horses in Columbia Falls and the surrounding Flathead Valley.

David Yeats

David William Yeats was born in Whitefish on Aug. 17, 1949, to Albert and Helen (Garland) Yeats. He passed away Dec. 22, 2021, after a yearlong battle with a glioblastoma brain tumor.

All you ever wanted to know about recreational pot

CAN I POSSESS OR CONSUME MARIJUANA IN NATIONAL PARKS?

MatCats do well in home mixer against Pirates, Broncs

olumbia Falls wrestling hosted a mixer with Hamilton and Polson last week. The following are the results of Columbia Falls grapplers who won their matches (Columbia Falls wrestler first):

Four inducted into Columbia Falls Hall of Fame

Four Columbia Falls High School athletes were inducted into the Wildcat Hall of Fame last week.

Stone joins Flathead Electric Co-op

Courtney Stone is the new public affairs specialist for Flathead Electric Co-op. Stone was the longtime spokeswoman and marketer for Glacier Guides and Montana Raft Co.

Reject extremism

In the mid-1980s while analyzing leadership change in Latin America I was made aware that many office holders receive death threats. Something that I’d never heard of in the U.S. The last several years have shown me how naïve I was. With Trump, we elected a person whose authoritarian style has caused many local, state and national office holders to receive death threats and of course the Jan. 6 Insurrection was an attempt to remove VP Pence and steal the election.

Benches, gone to the dogs?

So the other day I had to drop a rig off at the shop and the shop is up in Columbia Heights. (Lauria Racing and Repair, a shop I highly recommend). At any rate, I didn’t have a ride home so I walked back to the house, which isn’t that far, about two miles.

Jay Vernon McClanahan

Jay Vernon McClanahan, 58, was born to Floyd and Rita McClanahan on Feb. 22, 1963, in Lewistown. He passed away Dec. 18, 2021 at his home in Moscow, Idaho after a lengthy battle with multiple health conditions.

Both Columbia Falls hoops squads get past Pirates

The Columbia Falls basketball teams nabbed a pair of wins last week. The girls beat Polson at home 58-41, pulling away in the second half after a tough first half of shooting.

2021: A year in review

The housing market continued at its torrid pace, with the median price in Columbia Falls about $450,000 by November, according to Realtor.com.

It took awhile, but Old Man Winter finally arrives in Flathead

The first blast of winter finally arrived in the Flathead Valley Sunday, with about 6 inches of snow in Columbia Falls.

Yesterdays: It was a snowy December in 1951

December was the snowiest ever since they started keeping records 52 years ago. The airport recorded 44 inches of snow and the total for the season to date was 109.3 inches of snow.

Grizzly bear sets up home turf south of I-90; may have a mate

Slowly, but surely, grizzly bears continue to expand their range in Montana. Perhaps the most interesting find has been a male grizzly bear that moved south of Interstate 90 in the past year or so and now has a home range near Deer Lodge, outside of Butte.

The Blotter: Kids throwing snowballs at house

A man called to say when his ex picked up one of his kids, she may have taken one of his guns, too. Drunk woman found passed out in vehicle.

Thoughts on a variance

Since homestead days North Fork winters have been the time for discussing and arguing the big issues of the day and sometimes minor issues too. I remember Ella Wurtz and Lena Holcomb having a long feud over a package of dried peaches. The argument basically was that top-quality peaches were borrowed for a cobbler but repayment was with poor quality fruit. Who knows? I think they both enjoyed ongoing battles.

Death notices for the week of Dec. 29, 2021

Jeanette Joyce Strobbe, 89, passed away on Dec. 19, 2021 at The Bee Hive Homes in Columbia Falls.  Jeanette is survived by her daughters Jeanette “Jeanie” Fee and Debbie Hoerner. No services are planned at this time. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for the family.

Legals for December, 29 2021

On the mend

For the first time since I was 10 years old, it has been months since I have been on the North Fork. I have been gathering material for future columns on tickets to enter Glacier Park, variances requested to the land use plan and several other interesting items for future columns as well as a story or two from the homestead days. Right now the biggest thing in my life has been Covid.

Fogged in en route to Huckleberry Lookout

As increased snowfall in Glacier National Park makes backcountry travel less accessible, last week I made one last attempt to reach a fire lookout that I hoped would give excellent views of the surrounding mountains.

Yesterdays: Steve Howe busted for cocaine, shortly after telling kids to stay off drugs

Former New York Yankees pitcher Steve Howe, who lived in the valley, apparently told a group of Christian kids to stay away from drugs. The next day he was brought up on federal charges of cocaine possession. Howe died in a truck crash in California in 2006.

Boys basketball goes 2-1 on the week

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team went 2-1 on the week. On Tuesday the Wildcats squeaked past Eureka on the road, 68-65, but Thursday, they lost to conference foe Browning in another squeaker, 71-70.

Windauer second at CMR Holiday Classic

The Columbia Falls wrestling team competed in the CMR Holiday Classic in Great Falls over the weekend.

Girls drop Eureka, but lose to rivals Browning, Bigfork

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team dropped Eureka at home Tuesday 58-37, but lost to Browning on the road, 50-49 in their first conference game of the season.

More on guns

Recently a local newspaper included a story entitled “No Permit, No Problem,” about Montana joining the growing number of states allowing ‘constitutional carry’ of guns. Some proponents of the permitless carry bill argue that people needing protection quickly do not have time to take an eight-hour class or wait through the permitting process.

Push to delist grizzly bears keeps growing

We oppose delisting in any form, but especially through legislation by people with ill intent. The folks pushing for delisting largely want grizzly bears delisted so they can kill them with less red tape. That’s hardly local stewardship of a really unique wildlife species.

John Pemberton

John Pemberton, 84, of Columbia Falls, was born in Cass Lake, Minnesota on Aug. 15, 1937 and died in Kalispell on Dec. 12, 2021.

Griz caught in coyote trap baited with a dead fox

Region 2 bear specialist Jamie Jonkel spoke briefly about the fatality this summer of a bicyclist who was camping in Ovando and was killed by a grizzly bear that came into town.

Boosted by grants, River Alliance plans greater presence in 2022

The Flathead Rivers Alliance plans to have much greater outreach to river users on the three forks of the Flathead this coming summer.

Perfect Cuts plans expansion

Perfect Cuts is beefing up its operation in Columbia Falls. Julie and Joel Greene, who became owners of the meat shop in November 2020, are working on expanding into a new space behind the current building.

Responsible gun owners need to be heard

I own a closet full of guns.

City will seek further input on downtown

Columbia Falls is holding off on closing a portion of Fifth Street for a small city square. That option was discussed last month after developer Mick Ruis suggested it to the city.

FWP takes ownership of Bad Rock Wildlife Management Area

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks closed a deal Tuesday afternoon to purchase 772 acres of prime wildlife habitat along the Flathead River just east of Columbia Falls from the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. and its parent company, Glencore.

Speech wins in Polson

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team took first at the  Polson Piratepalooza Speech and Debate class A tournament over the weekend.

As Covid cases drop, Omicron discovered

Department of Public Health and Human Services officials Monday said they have detected the Omicron variant through testing of positive Covid-19 samples from two Montana residents in their 30s with travel history to South Africa.

Despite warm start to December, Flathead snowpack is just about average

After a very warm start to December, the region’s snowpack has bounced back a bit and now stands at 100% of average for the Flathead River Basin as of last week.

Bird slog

We did the Christmas bird count in Glacier Park on Sunday. The boy and I have been doing one of the longer routes — to Avalanche Creek and back — for a few years now.

Patrick Edward Wakefield Heffernan

We as a family thank you for your kind words, amazing stories, and shoulders to lean on.

Marion Andrew

Marion Andrew joined her Lord on Dec. 16, 2021, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Legals for December, 22 2021

Kymber Rhea Johnson

Kymber Rhea Johnson was born on February 17, 2010 in Whitefish, Montana to her parents James and Ashley Johnson.

Columbia Falls child loses valiant battle with cancer

Kymber Johnson, an 11-year-old from Columbia Falls who waged a valiant battle with cancer, died Dec. 6.

All told, 52 known grizzlies deaths noted in northern Montana

The region saw 42 known grizzly bears deaths in the Northern Continental Divide ecosystem, with an additional 10 deaths outside of what’s known as the demographic monitoring area, Cecily Costello, research wildlife biologist with Montana, Fish Wildlife and Parks reported recently.

Yesterdays: The federal government gave the green light for the Anaconda Mining Co. to build an aluminum production plant in the Flathead Valley.

The federal government gave the green light for the Anaconda Mining Co. to build an aluminum production plant in the Flathead Valley. The Truman Administration found that the Justice Department’s concerns about ACM having a monopoly were unwarranted. Actual building of the plant centered on negotiations between the Harvey Machine Co. and ACM, though it was expected construction would start soon.

Speech and debate does well

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team took first in its division at the Bozeman AA tourney Dec.4 and seventh overall.

Barnhart named to city-county health board

The Columbia Falls city council last week appointed Mayor Don Barnhart to the Flathead City-County health board. The county recently changed the board’s bylaws to allow the three cities in the county to appoint a person to the board.

Boys 1-1 at Tip-Off tourney; squeak by Eureka on Tuesday

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team split the bill at the Northwest-Southwest Tip-Off tourney in Frenchtown over the weekend.

Glacier names acting superintendent

Glacier National Park will have an acting superintendent starting in January. Kate Hammond, Deputy Regional Director and Chief of Staff for the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service will take the helm of the Park until a permanent superintendent is found.

Girls go 2-0 at Tip-Off tourney

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team had a good showing at the Northwest-Southwest Tip-Off tourney in Frenchtown over the weekend.

Swimmers compete at Kalispell Invitational

The Columbia Falls boys and girls swim teams both took third at the Kalispell Invitational on Saturday.

MatCats go 3-2 at Mining City Duals

Boys wrestling saw great performances from Justin Windauer (5-0), Rowdy Crump (4-1), Jaxon Sterling (3-2), Logan Riley (3-2) and Winslow Peter (3-2) at the Mining City Duals in Butte last weekend. The MatCats went 3-2 in duals.

Dumpster diver

I figured a mouse or a rat.

Longtime grizzly bear manager retires from FWP

Longtime Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear manager Tim Manley will retire at the end of the year.

The Blotter: Bullied kid leaves school early

Report of attempted burglary on Tamarack Ln. A vehicle seen swerving off road on Hilltop Rd into brush.

School District 6 OKs buy-sell agreement for old junior high

The Columbia Falls School District 6 Board Monday night approved a buy-sell agreement with Ruis Holdings to sell the old junior high school.

Byrd, Peacock named coaches of the year

Columbia Falls coaches received accolades from their peers this week. Cross country coach Jim Peacock was named the class A girls coach of the year for leading the Wildcats to their first ever state championship.

Thousands will benefit from Toys for Tots campaign

A mountain of Barbies. A pile of Legos. Bags and boxes of toys upon toys. And a small army of volunteers to unload it all.

Ace Hardware coming to Columbia Falls

A new Ace Hardware store is coming to Columbia Falls, just west of the current Hanson’s Hardware. Crews broke ground a few weeks ago on the 18,000 square foot building, which will include other retail space.

Daines on inflation

Montana families across the state are feeling the pain in their pocketbooks from inflation and higher prices on everything from gas to groceries to heating their homes. What’s causing this? President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ wasteful spending problems, and their multitrillion dollar reckless tax and spending spree bill will only make matters worse.

Three dees

I recently returned from a trip to my hometown of Weiser, Idaho, the land of Friday night football games (go Wolverines!), homecoming queens, eternal yard sales and sugar beets and onions. My parents still live in the same house I grew up in and I hadn’t been back to visit in three years. I was welcomed into a womb of familiarity and comfort I didn’t know I was missing.

Glacier National Park will require tickets for Polebridge Entrance, Sun Road corridor in summer 2022

Glacier National Park formally announced Monday it will require a ticketed entry to gain entrance to the Going-to-the-Sun Road this summer and has added a ticketed entry for the Polebridge entrance to the park as well.

Wreaths ceremony coming up

The annual Wreaths Across America celebration at the Montana Veterans’ Home cemetery on Talbott Road is Saturday, Dec. 18 starting at 10 a.m.

Tester joins GOP in opposing vaccine mandate for businesses

Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester crossed party lines Wednesday to support a resolution that blocks a federal rule requiring vaccines or weekly testing for workers at private businesses with 100 or more employees.

City has police commish, board opening

The city of Columbia Falls has two, three-year board openings — one on the city police commission and another on the city board of adjustment.

GOP to Tester: We don't want the money

As we approach Christmas, we have one request to Montana’s federal delegation: please do everything in your power to stop the reckless taxing and spending proposal currently working its way through Congress.

Out-compete China with tech Freedom

China has a plan. It wants to be the dominant technology country by 2035. If you look, it’s clear to see how they’re executing on that plan. They’re massively investing in hardware and software development to catch up to, and eventually overtake, the United States. If they’re successful, we’ll experience serious ramifications for our economy and national security.

Steve Kvigne

Steven Karl Kvigne went to be with his Lord on Nov. 27, 2021. Steve passed away peacefully in his sleep from natural causes due to heart disease.

Boys take first at Polson Invite

The Columbia Falls swim teams did well at the Polson Invitational Saturday. The boys took first and the girls took fourth.

Sophomores and seniors lead boys basketball team

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team will be young again this year, but has plenty of talent. The team last season went 0-2 at the final Western A tournament in Butte, with an overall record of 7-11 as they played a lot of freshmen.

Wrestling team starts out season with win in Polson

The Columbia Falls wrestling team started out on a high note, as the Wildcats won the Owen Invitational in Polson over the weekend. Coach Jessie Schaeffer has high expectations for the season, and keeps discipline strong in the wrestling room.

The Blotter: Woman claims they're cutting grandson's limbs off

Report from a woman complaining that her neighbors were torturing her grandson and sawing his limbs off, law enforcement did not find anything.

Yesterdays: Truman to make decision on aluminum plant

Sec. of Interior James Watt supported snowmobiling in national parks, but Glacier Park officials said that they would not reopen the park to the machines. Glacier closed the park, with public support, in 1976 to snowmobiles.

Community events

Santa Claus will be at the Boys and Girls Club across the road from Glacier Gateway Elementary from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 11.

Why do I care?

I’d just said something about wanting wild mountains and deserts even when I can’t be there, simply because we need wild places, when a man snipped, “You sound like one of those hippies! It’s all gonna be gone someday, anyway. Why do you care?”

Judith (Judy) Linnea Booth

Judith (Judy) Linnea Booth, 82 passed away on Nov. 21, 2021 at her home in Columbia Falls. Judy was born on June 23, 1939 in Bremerton, WA.

Death notices for Dec. 8, 2021

Wade Thomas Emmert, 21, passed away on Nov. 19, 2021 in Kalispell.

A Tale as old as Cavemen

I caught fire a couple of times in the past week or so. It’s an odd feeling to look at your arm and say, “oh my, I’m on fire.”

Night of Lights Awards announced

The following awards were given out to floats at the Night of Lights Parade.

Gianforte Administration petitions U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist grizzly bears in the NCDE

Gov. Greg Gianforte Monday said the state would petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the grizzly bear in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.

Night of Lights, in pictures

The Columbia Falls 2021 Night of Lights Parade

Glacier National Park will require Sun Road ticketed entry in 2022

Glacier National Park will require tickets to enter the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor in the 2022 summer season, park spokeswoman Gina Kerzman confirmed Friday.

Record warmth recorded yesterday; fire near Denton 14,000 acres

The region broke another record high temperature for Dec.1.

John D. “Del” McNamara

John D. “Del” McNamara, passed away on Nov. 13, 2021, at the age of 81 in Kalispell. He was born in Cut Bank on Aug. 23, 1940, to Jack and Frances McNamara.

Logan Health pauses vaccine requirement

Logan Health has suspended its plan to require employees receive the Covid-19 vaccine following a court’s ruling that temporarily pauses a federal vaccine order for health-care workers.

Walter Melvin Roberts III

Walter is survived by his brother Anthony, extended family, and many close friends who were like family.

Mount Baldy: This modest peak near Hot Springs offers expansive views

In a change of pace from the “local local” peaks of Glacier National Park, I recently teamed up with friends Ryan Gewargis and Jess DenBoer to tackle the snowy summit on Mount Baldy at the southern end of the Cabinet Mountain Range.

Kelly Watson

Kelly passed away peacefully on Nov. 22, 2021, at his home in Columbia Falls.  He was surrounded by his family and his best friend on his final day.

Blotter: Car stolen with dog inside, both recovered

A vehicle was stolen on 9th St with the owner’s pit bull inside, the vehicle was later recovered with the dog intact.

In Glacier National Park, house listed for $1.5 million under contract in 3 days

A manufactured home recently listed for $1.5 million in Apgar Village in Glacier National Park was under contract in a matter of days, another illustration of just how hot the real estate market is.

Columbia Falls man charged after allegedly threatening baby

A Columbia Falls man with a lengthy criminal history is charged with threatening an 8-month-old baby during a recent incident.

Parties ask court to rule on apartment suit

Both the city of Columbia Falls and the people suing it have given the court a legal nudge to make a ruling in a case that has gone on for about nine months now.

Community events: Goat Yoga on tap

Santa Claus will be at the Boys and Girls Club across the road from Glacier Gateway Elementary from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 11. Anyone can come and visit with Santa at this free event. There will be refreshments and activities for children.

Teachers speak out

To the Editor and the Columbia Falls Community: We are teachers at Columbia Falls High School; we love our students and we have a deep respect for the community members who continue to support our education efforts.

All-state, all-conference athletes named

Columbia Falls football and volleyball players were recently named all-state and all-conference selections.

Glacier Park Highs and Lows

It was both a miserable and beautiful week in Glacier Park.

After down Covid year, swim team has good numbers

The Columbia Falls swim team is looking to have a solid season, with several returning swimmers and a host of new talent taking up the sport as well.

Record warmth, but will it last?

Fire burning east of Browning

Study warns of possible impacts of Sun Road reservation system, but more data needed

A new study by the Institute of Tourism and Research from the University of Montana tries to look at the projected economic impact of crowd control at Glacier National Park, but ultimately notes it will probably take more data to get a firm grasp on the issue.