Ellington

Locals make FVCC dean’s list for fall semester

The following students from Columbia Falls and Hungry Horse have been named to the fall dean’s list a Flathead Valley Community College.

New salon brings fancy nails to Columbia Falls

Clients at Posh Nails and Spa in Columbia Falls emerge with their nails almost unrecognizable from when they first stepped in the door, much the same way the business itself has transformed its little corner of Nucleus Avenue.

MatCats wrestle exhibition in Conrad

Wildcat wrestling traveled to Conrad Friday to compete in an exhibition-style mixer with class B and C schools.

Templin, Schrader lead swim team at home meet

The Wildcats stacked up well at the Cat-Dog Invitational Swim Meet at The Wave Aquatic and Fitness Center in Whitefish on Saturday, which included competition against class AA teams.

Boys drop Ronan and Eureka, but have a tough time against Broncs

Columbia Falls boys basketball began last week with two exhilarating wins, first against Ronan and then Eureka, before wrapping up the week with a difficult loss against Hamilton.

Wildkats remain perfect at midway point through season

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team is perfect midway through the season, after downing some formidable rivals last week.

Marlyce Ann Gehrke

Marlyce Ann Gehrke, 84, passed away Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 at Brendan House in Kalispell.

Arthur G. “Jerry” Jackson

Arthur G. “Jerry” Jackson, 88, walked the path to Our Lord on Jan. 20th, 2021 after many battles with cancer.

Glacier at forefront of whitebark pine conservation efforts

For the last 24 years, Glacier National Park has been quietly working to conserve whitebark pine over its 1 million acres of wildlands.

Opinion: Fish Story

So last Wednesday was cold and gray like most days in January, but I still carved out an hour or so before dark like I do most days to go for a hike.

City public works director resigns, moving back to Alaska

Columbia Falls will begin the search for a new public works director as Tyler Bradshaw has tendered his resignation.

Resident challenging apartment rebuild

The neighbor of a former apartment building that burned down in two fires last summer is appealing a Columbia Falls Board of Adjustment decision that would allow the landowner to rebuild the same number of apartments on the lot.

Freedom Bank looking for community’s Hometown Heroes

Freedom Bank is partnering with the Hungry Horse News to recognize some of our “hometown heroes.”

Bulldogs edge Cats by two points at divisional tourney

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team took second at the Western A divisional tournament over the weekend, falling to rival Whitefish by just two points, 156-154.

High hopes: Speech and debate team looking to win 16th straight state A title

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team will look to secure a 16th straight class A title this year.

The Blotter: Grandma Sets Off Son's House Alarm

A woman attempting to enter her grown son’s house while he was away set off the alarm; it would have to be reset once his plane landed.

Opposes trapping bill on private lands

For private landowners in Montana please consider these facts in opposition to HB-138 which would allow trapping on private land without written permission of the landowner.

Biden the heartbreaker

I am brokenhearted that Joe Biden, a self-professed and media promoted devout Catholic, is making war on Catholics and Catholic doctrine through the power of the presidency.

At traffic stop, man apparently shoots himself

A man died Monday evening of apparent self-inflicted gunshot injuries following a traffic stop by the Montana Highway Patrol in the area of Montana 35 and Turtle Mountain Road near Creston.

Dale Richard Kasselder

Dale passed away January 9, 2021 in Gulfport, Mississippi.

City will pave Sixth Avenue this summer

The city of Columbia Falls will look to repave Sixth Avenue West this summer.

Interlocal on Zoom

As usual at this time of year, North Forkers begin talking about the Winter Interlocal Meeting.

New dashboard shows vaccinations, by county, in state

Montana has created a new dashboard on its Covid-19 website that shows how many people have been vaccinated in any given county in the state.

Yesterdays: Mayor had enough of citizens and their complaints

Columbia Falls Mayor Ernie Massman said he would not be running for re-election. Massman was getting battered by the public — some people wondered why the streets hadn’t been plowed, others said plowing them now would just turn them to ice. Massman had enough of the voting public.

Wilderness speaker series kicks off next month, runs into spring

This year’s Wilderness Speaker Series will be done virtually due to coronavirus concerns.

In Glacier Park, snowfields help mountain goats breathe easy

Coronavirus notwithstanding, a study of Glacier National Park’s mountain goats continued last summer.

Windstorm hits the Canyon hard, numerous trees down

Folks are still cleaning up after a powerful windstorm swept across the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana Wednesday.

As substitute shortage turns dire, retired colonel steps to the plate

When Columbia Falls schools closed late last March and transitioned to remote learning for the remainder of the school year, Kelly Smith, father of two energetic teenage sons, gained real-time clarity on the value of an in-person education.

Stoltze conserves another 1,000 acres of prime land

In a deal with the Trust for Public Lands and the Flathead Land Trust, F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber recently put more than 1,000 acres of land near Olney into a conservation easement.

More students returning to in-person classes in C-Falls

More and more students are returning to Columbia Falls schools, opting out of remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the evening

For a lot of people, I’d say most people, the American dipper goes largely unnoticed.

Planning news

It is unusual for business meetings to be held on the North Fork in the winter.

Conformity complex

When I was in high school there were fads.

Not so neighborly?

Permits are required for all dock installation/replacement/repair, however the system is complaint based only.

The Blotter: Hell's Angels Affiliate Makes Threats

Someone was threatened by a person with ties to Hell’s Angels who warned, “you know who my connections are.”

Glacier National Park Speaker series coming up

The annual Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates Winter Speaker Series brings three interesting and informative presenters during this challenging period in the park.

Speech and debate wraps up regular season with second at Corvallis

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team wrapped up the regular season with a second-place finish at the Corvallis virtual tournament.

Jerome Henry Weber

Jerome Henry Weber, 82, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021.

T. F. Ted Smith

T. F. Ted Smith, 82 passed away Jan. 14, 2021 at Hidden Meadows in Columbia Falls.

Daniel Cole McMasters

Daniel Cole McMasters, 88, passed away in Great Falls on Jan. 11, 2021.

Columbia Falls and Whitefish Co-op Swim Team to host Invitational

The Wildcat swim team will compete next at home while hosting the Cat-Dog Invitational at The Wave Aquatic and Fitness Center in Whitefish at 12 p.m. on Saturday.

Kats claw their way to victories over Bulldogs, Indians

They stayed perfect on the year, but it wasn’t easy.

Boys drop Bulldogs in OT, but fall to Browning

Wildcat boys basketball brought home an exciting victory against crosstown rival Whitefish Thursday evening before dropping a loss to Browning at home on Saturday.

Grapplers did well in a host of duals last week

Wildcat wrestling rounded out a winning week after securing victories in two double-duals against Polson, Libby/Troy and Ronan, Stevensville/Butte Central.

Vaccines for older folks start a slow rollout

The Flathead City-County Health Department was set to begin vaccinating Tier 1b candidates this week, but as of presstime the department hadn’t indicated how many doses of vaccine it would have available.

Planning board sends work camp regs on to commissioners

With little fanfare, the Flathead County Planning Board Wednesday night voted in favor of sending new regulations on to the county commissioners that would allow work camps in the Middle Canyon area to house seasonal employees.

Columbia Falls spends about $10,683 per student

Columbia Falls will spend about $10,683 per pupil at the elementary level this year, while the high school will spend about $10,974, according to an annual statistical report of schools.

Vaccinations for those 70-plus supposed to start this week, but how many? Who knows

The Flathead City-County Health Department was set to begin vaccinating Tier 1b candidates this week, but the department hasn’t indicated how many doses of vaccine it would have available.

Cats come back to drop Bulldogs in OT on the road

Wildcat boys basketball went into overtime to defeat Whitefish 60-58 in a roller-coaster of a game Thursday evening.

Speech takes third at Custer County meet

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team took third in the virtual Custer County meet Jan. 8. The team was without its top two speakers who won’t be back until the divisional tourney, said coach Blake Ladenburg.

Grapplers split the bill at home double dual to open the season

Wildcat wrestling opened the season with a hardy win against Hamilton and a close loss to Frenchtown during the first double-dual meet of the season at home last week.

Maverick Bench passes away

The Kila boy whose battle against aplastic anemia had rallied tens of thousands to his cause succumbed to the illness early Monday morning in a Denver hospital.

After decades, railroad, feds look to strike deal on grizzlies

After years of stalemate, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it had struck a proposed agreement with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway for conserving grizzly bears in and near the track corridor.

On the street, opinions run the gamut on capitol mob

Local folks had a wide variety of opinions on the mob that stormed the nation’s capitol last week, protesting the election after hearing a speech from President Donald Trump moments before.

Boys and Girls club welcomes new director, looks to expand

The Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country hopes to restart its program in Evergreen and purchase a piece of property to build a new center in Columbia Falls in this year.

Mitchell says tweets were Photoshopped, did not send them

House District 3 Legislator Braxton Mitchell said he did not send offensive tweets back in 2017 that used a slur to describe women and another to describe gay people.

The Blotter: Sister Tries Tasing Sister

A woman’s sister tried tasing her, after threatening her with a firearm in the past.

Man charged in alleged Glacier Park rape

A Big Sky man faces federal charges of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual abuse for allegedly raping a woman near Lake McDonald last July.

Suzanne Louise Cestnik Nelson

Suzanne Louise Cestnik Nelson, 66, passed away peacefully at her home in Columbia Falls Dec. 28, with her family by her side.

Rebecca “Becky” Ann Price

Rebecca “Becky” Ann Price, 73, of Coram, passed away on Jan. 3, 2021, after an eight-month battle with aggressive ovarian cancer.

Audrey Marilyn Michaelson Sedivy Worrell

Audrey Marilyn Michaelson Sedivy Worrell entered this world July 3, 1933 in Helena.  She left us Dec. 29, 2020 at the age of 87.

Thoughts on the mob

There is no doubt that Jan. 6 will be a day of infamy in American history.

Normalcy

Every year I am asked whether or not this is a “normal” year.

Mitchell on first week

The first week of the legislative session was incredibly action-packed and it will only get busier from here. I was assigned to the Education, Taxation, and Fish, Wildlife and Parks committees.

Yesterdays: Mountain Lion Becomes Dinner

A mountain lion would be table fare for the Lions Club at Summer, Wash. The lion was shot by Ray Belston and Charles Alread after they tracked it down with hounds eating a deer near Desert Mountain.

Nichols looks to attend West Point after high school

Since his freshman year, Winslow Nichols has dreamed of joining the United States Military Academy corps of cadets at their training grounds on the historic, once militarily strategic, Hudson River plateau known as West Point.

Flathead River snowpack is about average so far this winter

The Flathead River Basin snowpack is about average for this time of year, though December precipitation was below normal.

Swimmers do well in opener

The Columbia Falls Swim Team had a strong showing at the Kalispell Invitational swim meet at the Summit Medical Fitness Center on Saturday.

Boys drop Loggers, but lose to Pirates at home

Wildcat boys basketball took home another win, 61-52, against the Libby Loggers on Friday before taking their first loss of the season against Polson, 81-49, Saturday evening.

Standout Schweikert to play volleyball for Carroll College

Senior Hannah Schweikert has signed with Carroll College in Helena to play volleyball next fall.

Windstorm knocks out power, blocks Sun Road. Avalanche danger is high

A windstorm Wednesday morning sent trees crashing down across the region and Glacier National Park had temporarily closed the Going-to-the-Sun Road down to the foot of Lake McDonald.

Columbia Falls man dies in fatal accident in Canyon

A Columbia Falls man is dead after a two-vehicle accident in the Bad Rock Canyon Sunday night.

Daines backs off contesting election after mob storms capitol

Montana political leaders are condemning pro-Trump protesters who have stormed the U.S. Capitol building, forcing Congress to delay its joint session Wednesday to certify the Electoral College’s vote confirming Joe Biden as the winner of November’s presidential election.

For Sowerwine, her sights are set on the skies

Julia Sowerwine wants to study chemical engineering and attend the Air Force Academy in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Brown reflects on tenure

December was a bittersweet month for me as an outgoing legislator.

Mitchell looks forward to session

Monday was my first day representing House District 3 in the 2021 legislative session.

Lake Five sewage issues deserve greater discussion

I am retiring to Lake Five and have been undertaking the arduous process to update my septic and well systems.

Opinion: 35 years of columns

Another year in the books. As usual all forms of the media are reviewing the top stories of 2020. Not me.

Kats thump Blue Devils on the road, but it took awhile

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team overcame a rough start to thump Corvallis on the road, 48-23, to open the 2021 basketball season.

Vaccine arrives at Veterans’ Home

Last week Walgreens delivered vaccinations to the Montana Veterans’ Home, which has been under lockdown since last spring when the coronavirus outbreak first began. All told, 80 residents and 98 staff were vaccinated.

Glacier announces fee free days for 2021

Glacier National Park will waive its entrance fee on six days in 2021.

City will still strongly encourage masks even if mandate is lifted

While Gov. Greg Gianforte has indicated he would lift the statewide mask order, the city of Columbia Falls will still advocate mask use in its buildings.

A fond farewell to Roxy Larsen, manager of Senior Center

Roxy Larsen still has the original contract she signed to become the manager at the North Valley Senior Center back in 1999.

Work camps considered for West Glacier, surrounding area of Middle Canyon

The Middle Canyon Land Use Advisory Committee has devised new zoning regulations that would allow “work camps” in the West Glacier region to house summer employees.

Boys start season on high note with win over Blue Devils

Columbia Falls boys basketball started their season off on a high note after securing a 59-50 win against Corvallis Saturday evening.

Three young women to be inducted into Hall of Fame

Three standout athletes — all of them young women — have been named to the 2020 Columbia Falls Athletic Hall of Fame.

Forest now taking applications for RAC projects

The Flathead National Forest on behalf of the Flathead County Resource Advisory Committee, is now accepting new project proposals.

Flathead Forest saw a lot of activity in 2020

The Flathead National Forest had a busy 2020, and expects a busy 2021 as several timber, trail, and other projects are expected to continue or start anew.

Ambulance looks to upgrade equipment

Three Rivers EMS in Columbia Falls is searching for funding to replace aging Zoll E-Series ambulance cardiac monitors.

Audrey Marilyn Michaelson Sedivy Worrell

Audrey Marilyn Michaelson Sedivy Worrell, 87, passed away on Dec. 29, 2020.

The Blotter: Lock Cut to Steal Snowblower

Someone cut a lock to steal a snowblower.

Yesterdays: Elk hunt in Glacier Park

Glacier Park would have its annual elk harvest in St. Mary, with the meat going to the Blackfeet Tribe.

Legals for January, 6 2021

Favorite 'wild' photos from 2020

Favorite 'wild' photos from 2020