Ellington

Stoltze, others, to close lands to public use

A host of private landowners across Northwest Montana have announced they are closing their lands to all public use starting Monday, Aug. 2 due to extreme fire danger.

Favorable winds and chance of rain by Sunday could help Hay Creek Fire

Favorable winds and a chance of rain could help the Hay Creek Fire in the coming days.

On the lines of the Hay Creek fire

Crews were working on containment lines on the Hay Creek Fire Wednesday, cutting fuel breaks, soaking down duff with hose lines and setting small burnouts in pockets of unburned fuel on the fire’s south flanks.

Heritage Days in pictures

Heritage Days in pictures

Carol Buzzell

Carol Buzzell, 82, passed away on Friday July 23, 2021.

Twins win district tourney, head to state

The Glacier Twins came away with their second straight West A District title on Sunday when they defeated the Mission Valley Mariners 9-4 in Missoula.

Silent auction for Hanson family

There will be a silent auction for the Hanson family of Columbia Falls at Angie’s Greenhouse on Highway 2 July 31 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

LaTray recognized by governor for service to Bad Rock community

Bad Rock Fire Department emergency medical technician and firefighter Brandy LaTray was recently recognized by Gov. Greg Gianforte with a ServeMontana award.

Free meals

Columbia Falls Community Kitchen is serving free, delicious meals on July 30 and 31 at 6 p.m. in the basement of St. Richard's Catholic Church.

Benefit for Kathy Price

There will be a barbecue and benefit for Kathy Price of Columbia Falls at 6 p.m. Aug. 7 at the North Valley Eagles. Price is battling cancer.

More business expansion planned for Nucleus

Downtown Columbia Falls will see more changes in the coming months, as two businesses plan more expansion.

Old Talbott School dug up, sculpture someday?

Remains of the school were recently dug up when crews from Swank Construction were digging the foundation for the new Glacier Gateway Elementary School.

Yesterdays: Larry Snyder of Columbia Falls won $5,000 in Montana Lottery Wildcard.

40 years ago July 30, 1981 Three people drowned in two separate incidents in upper McDonald Creek.

Gerald “Dean” Thompson, 70

Gerald “Dean” Thompson passed away on July 19, 2021 following a battle with cancer.

Bradly Anthony Nieves

Far too often life takes a turn that is hard to deal with.  Sometimes these turns in life are temporary and take us places we never expected to go.  Other times it’s a turn that is permanent and affects everything we know for the rest of our lives!

He served six years in Army Reserves, but he’s not a considered a veteran by the government

Columbia Falls Mayor Don Barnhart served in the Army Reserves in the 390th Engineering Company from November 1971 to November 1977.

Frozen Moose project up the North Fork expected to go ahead

The Flathead National Forest plans on going ahead with the Frozen Moose project, Hungry Horse/Glacier View district ranger Rob Davies told the crowd at the North Fork Interlocal recently.

Familiar faces take tops spots at Boogie to the Bank

There were some familiar names at the top of the leaderboard for the Glacier Bank Heritage Days Boogie to the Bank 5k and 10k races.

Free school supplies

The Columbia Falls Lions Club will again be hosting a free school supplies event from 5 to 7 p.m. at Marantette Park Aug. 17.

John Timothy “Tim” Reid

John Timothy “Tim” Reid, 62, passed away at his home in Kalispell on Friday, July 16, 2021.

Deputies looking for alleged shooter that fled on a moped

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Department is looking for tips in a shooting incident Friday night where the alleged perpetrators were driving mopeds.

Evacuation warning expanded for Hay Creek Fire

The pre-evacuation notice for the Hay Creek Fire has been expanded, the county office of Emergency Services said Saturday. It now includes:

Hay Creek Fire near Polebridge now more than 1,000 acres

The Hay Creek Fire near Polebridge is now more than 1,000 acres. Crews were considering doing burnouts in front of the blaze on Friday, but windy conditions did not allow it, fire managers said.

Another fire in Whitefish Range

Firefighters were pouncing on a 35-acre blaze south of Werner Peak and north of Big Mountain Friday night, the Forest Service reported.

Community meeting on Hay Creek Fire is Saturday

A community meeting on the Hay Creek Fire up the North Fork is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Sondreson Hall on Saturday. An information line on the fire has been set up at (406) 219-1013 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. as management of the fire transitions to a Type III team. Fire camp is at Moran Meadows.

Good Medicine? Rediscovery of old doctor’s bag from Jack’s Pharmacy turns up some interesting ‘cures’ of yesteryears

A bottle of opium and ipecac. A vial of heroin. A jar of cocaine. They’re not the sort of things most folks have within a short walk of their house. But most folks aren’t Jack Therrien.

Endowment auction has some great items

This year’s Wildcat Athletic Endowment Auction is at Marantette Park Friday night. The barbecue starts at 5:30 p.m., live auction starts at 6:30 p.m. and the beer garden runs until 11 p.m.

Evacuation warning issued for residents in path of Hay Creek Fire

The Flathead County Office of Emergency Services Thursday night issued an evacuation warning for residents in the North Fork that are in line of the Hay Creek Fire.

Hay Creek Fire near Polebridge shows growth

Stoked by a warm, dry, wind, the Hay Creek Fire up the North Fork was showing growth Thursday afternoon, though an official estimate of the fire’s size wasn’t immediately available.

Stoltze announces land restrictions due to fire danger

The F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. has announced further restrictions on its lands immediately due to the increased wildfire danger.

50 acre fire reported just northwest of Polebridge

The Flathead National Forest reported a 50 acre wildfire about 3 to 5 miles and slightly northwest of Polebridge Wednesday night.

Another key place conserved on Stillwater River

Ryan Hunter is a husband and a parent, both of which give him great joy. But when his work as a land protection specialist with the Flathead Land Trust results in a new piece of protected land, it also gives him a feeling of exhilaration that isn’t easily matched.

Planning board OK’s apartments, with conditions

The Columbia Falls City-County planning board last week approved a 36-unit apartment complex off Meadow Lake Boulevard after about two hours of discussion on the project. The development will now go before the city council Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.

Hundreds of Sun Road tickets still available for Labor Day weekend

Tickets to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road this year may be a coveted get, but Glacier Park officials noted last week there are still hundreds available for over the Labor Day weekend.

Swimmers take title at Choteau meet

The Columbia Falls swim team placed first over the weekend at the Choteau Invitational, coming off a strong second from the previous weekend at Fort Benton. The meet also brought out four high point awards, going to Annika Peterson, Catherine Opalka, Alanis Peterson, and Nolan Rosenthal.

Nicosia receives accolades for academics, athletics

Montana State’s University’s Carla Nicosia was honored last week for her achievements in competition and in the classroom. She was selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America to the 2020-21 Academic All-District Men’s and Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country Team, which recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances.

Council approves steps to curb speeders on Martha Road

The Columbia Falls City Council Monday night approved several measures it hopes will reduce the speeding cars on Martha Road.

Twins close out stellar regular season, head to districts

The Glacier Twins closed out their regular season play last week by sweeping the Missoula Mavs A and splitting games with the Bitterroot Bucs A.

In the North Fork, a tale of two roads: As traffic surges, untreated lower road is battered

The North Fork Road from the Camas Road to Polebridge is a pretty smooth drive provided you dodge the occasional pothole. The North Fork Road from Glacier Rim to Camas is a lesson in dust and washboard, a place where if you’re heavy on the gas, it’s easy to get going sideways.

Plans to fix a short, wretched road to Polebridge entrance ‘on life support’

A plan to fix Glacier View Drive is “on life support” Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty told the crowd at the North Fork Interlocal last week.

Democrats to hold party next month

Join the Flathead Democrats on Sunday, Aug. 22, for fun, food and live music. The venue is on a spectacular bluff overlooking the Flathead River, near Columbia Falls.

Huckleberry Festival seeks bakers, young and old

The 40th annual Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival is looking for bakers of all ages to enter the festival’s huckleberry baking contest.  The contest features an adult category along with a separate category for children age 12 and under.  The valley’s original Huckleberry Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 14 at the Swan Lake Day Park near mile marker 72 on Montana Highway 83.

Advice to new residents

To the multitudes now moving to and visiting Montana, please resist the temptation to recreate, the chaos and unsavory aspects and expectations you left behind.

Opinion: The lighter side of loon surveys

So I’ve been volunteering to do loon surveys for the Park Service for I dunno, quite awhile now, which means that I started just about the same time they started asking for volunteers to sit next to a lake and get eaten by mosquitoes and deer flies for an hour.

Free Canyon community dinners back on track

Canyon Community dinners are starting on Thursday, July 29 at the Canyon Elementary School in Hungry Horse.

Columbia Falls man killed in motorcycle accident

A Columbia Falls man was killed in a motorcycle accident July 16.

Effort looks to preserve whitebark pine on Big Mountain

Tiny whitebark pine trees just a few inches tall peaked out from behind old stumps and logs all along a mountainside just outside of Whitefish Mountain Resort’s boundary near Hellroaring Basin.

DNA confirms Ovando killer griz

DNA results received last week confirmed the bear killed by wildlife officials recently was the same bear who fatally attacked Leah Davis Lokan, 65, of Chico, California, in Ovando early on the morning of July 6, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials said.

Legals for July, 21 2021

Heritage Days this week in Columbia Falls

After a year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, Heritage Days is back this year and better than ever July 21-25. This year’s theme is “The Way We Were.”

Please no campfires outside of developed sites as stage 1 fire restrictions go into effect

Stage I fire restrictions will begin Saturday across Flathead County, the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's Kalispell, Stillwater and Swan units.

U.S. Highway 2 closed beyond West Glacier due to homicide investigation

U.S. 2 is closed between West and East Glacier this morning after a lengthy police chase left one person dead early Thursday morning.

Nasukoin: Buggy and hot, but beautiful

Probably 20 years ago I went to Chain Lakes with friends Richard Garlough and Corwyn Wyman. It was late in the year and snowy. I remember the lake being just about frozen over. We talked about climbing nearby Nasukoin Mountain that day, but the days are short in November and we’d already messed around enough, so we never did climb it.

School board takes first steps to sell old junior high, Ruis interested

The Columbia Falls School District 6 Board Monday night approved declaring the old junior high and its adjacent gyms as surplus property, meaning the district would look to sell the buildings eventually.

Tester stumps for infrastructure bill in Kalispell visit

Columbia Falls City Councilman Mike Shepard told of how federal funding would help the city potentially upgrade its sewage treatment plant and improve some of its streets. Joje Bars founder and CEO Jess Cerra of Whitefish spoke of how vitally important reliable broadband and internet access are to her business.

Yesterdays: Logan Pass doesn't open until July 13

Logan Pass had its latest opening since 1933 when Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed. It opened July 13 — Glacier officials blamed a snowy winter and spring for the late opening. Former first Lady Laura Bush was set to visit Glacier.

In Ovando, a grizzly kills woman

A grizzly bear that pulled a California woman from her tent and killed her last week was fatally shot early Friday by wildlife officials, who used night vision goggles to stake out a chicken coop that the bear raided near the town where the woman was attacked.

Laura Becke Seelye

Laura Lue Klein was born in Iowa City, Iowa on Nov. 9, 1956 to Shirley Klein. Shirley passed when Laura was 6 and she was quickly welcomed into the open arms of her then aunt and uncle whom she always considered her parents.

Stakeholders sought for Krause Basin

The Flathead National Forest and Swan Lake Ranger District is requesting public participants for the Krause Basin collaboration effort. Krause Basin collaboration participants will develop and provide recommendations to the Forest Service regarding a recreation management strategy within the Krause Basin/Peter’s Ridge area. Interested participants should be committed to building consensus and demonstrate the ability for collaborative decision making.

Speeders on Martha Road raise the ire of residents

A Martha Road resident is worried that a child is going to get hurt or killed if the city can’t curb speeders there.

Tester says he sides with city on CFAC cleanup

Montana Sen. Jon Tester said last week he had the Columbia Falls City Council’s back on concerns it has about the cleanup of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. site.

The Blotter: Dog bites person, owner cited

German shepherd bit a person and the owner was cited.

Man faces charges in July 4 fireworks incident

Another deputy joined in the chase and tackled the man. A brief struggle followed before Walker was handcuffed. Other deputies arrived and identified Walker as the man who threw the firework at the patrol vehicle earlier in the day.

Project chronicles oral histories of fire lookouts

When Beth Hodder was asked in 2016 to help preserve the living history of those who staffed the fire lookouts in Northwest Montana, she had no idea of the great journey that was ahead of her.

Twins take second at Sapa-Johnsrud tournament

Sunday night the Glacier Twins faced the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen in the championship game of the Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Tournament in Whitefish — a team that had beat them soundly, 9-3, in the opening round just a few days prior.

Kayaker dies in Flathead River accident

A Kalispell man died Sunday afternoon after he fell out of the kayak he was paddling on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.

Thomas Lee Morales

Thomas Lee Morales, 74, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, peacefully passed away on July 2, 2021. Tom was born on Aug. 25, 1946 in Whitefish, Montana; the son of Ygnacio and Lucille (Rothe) Morales.

Steven Dwyane Howe

Steven Dwyane Howe, 61, returned home to his Father in Heaven on July 9th, 2021.

Glacier Institute offering guided Sun Road tours out of Columbia Falls

The Glacier Institute has implemented a new shuttle and guided hike service this summer which provides a way for folks to experience the Going-to-the-Sun Road without the hassle of getting a ticket or driving the road.

Legals for July, 14 2021

Flathead County now leads the state in coronavirus cases

After seeing an increase in cases in the past several weeks, Flathead County now leads the state in COVID-19 cases with 117 active infections.

Crews fighting small fire on Desert Mountain

Crews were fighting a 3/4-acre fire on Desert Mountain Monday. The lightning-caused blaze had nine firefighters on it, Flathead National Forest spokeswoman Beth Parga said.

Law enforcement looking for Columbia Falls man who allegedly stole pickup

Flathead County law enforcement are asking the public’s help in locating a Columbia Falls man who allegedly stole a pickup truck and went on a crime spree over the weekend.

Ovando grizzly shot, killed

A grizzly bear that pulled a California woman from her tent and killed her earlier this week was fatally shot early Friday by wildlife officials, who used night vision goggles to stake out a chicken coop that the bear raided near the town where the woman was attacked.

Big subdivision approved

With little fanfare, the Columbia Falls city council approved one of the largest subdivisions in years.

Developer tweaks plan for 36-unit apartment complex off Meadow Lake Boulevard

A developer has tweaked plans for a proposed apartment complex off Meadow Lake Boulevard and it will go before the Columbia Falls City-County planning board July 13.

Twins thump Kalispell A squad, but have tougher time in Helena

he Glacier Twins downed the Kalispell Lakers A in a doubleheader last Wednesday before heading to Helena on Friday to play in the Keith Sell AA Tournament over the Fourth of July weekend. The Twins improved their record throughout the week to 38-11 for the season.

Yes, the restaurant is now open at Heaven’s Peak Lodge

After a 12-year hiatus, the Heaven’s Peak Montana Kitchen is open again. Oscar Medrano, the son of lodge owner Trudi Karger, has taken over the kitchen, serving up a simple menu of barbecue pork ribs, beef brisket and chicken.

Author updates classic book of old time tales and characters

Kalispell historian and author John Fraley has issued a revised and updated edition of his classic book “Wild River Pioneers, Adventures in the Middle Fork of the Flathead, Great Bear Wilderness and Glacier National Park.”

Joanne and Clayton McLaughlin

Family and friends are welcome. No social gathering will follow.

The worst birthday

A classic G. George Ostrom column from July 2009...

Attorney appeals Bad Rock ruling to Montana Supreme Court

A rural Columbia Falls attorney has filed a notice of appeal to the Montana Supreme Court in a case where she claims she owns the land where the Bad Rock Fire Department’s South Hall sits.

Even with ticketed entry, Glacier visitation surged

Opening day of the Going-to-the-Sun Road was a busy one in Glacier National Park, officials said last week. Preliminary data indicates that there was a 41% increase in the number of vehicles on Going-to-the-Sun Road over opening day in 2019.

With help from nonprofits, Glacier Park’s headquarters goes solar

Glacier National Park’s headquarters has gone solar.

Remembering Duke

Another action-packed, mostly fun-filled weekend on the North Fork. It all started on Friday with a big memorial for Duke Hoiland. Although this was not technically a fun event, it was a solemn tribute to a man who was a vital part of the North Fork for nearly 40 years.

FWP seeks comment on 27,000 acre easement

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on a proposal to purchase a conservation easement that would protect approximately 27,289 acres of highly productive timberland, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities to the east and south of Libby in northwest Montana.

Heat sets records, but wasn't the hottest June ever

Last week’s extreme heat broke records for June, according to the National Weather Service.

New directive allows superintendents to reconsider e-bikes

The National Park Service is directing superintendents to further consider their electric bicycle regulations, but how much impact it will have on Glacier National Park remains to be seen.

Yesterdays: Umbrella comes in handy during griz encounter

Dave Reynolds used an umbrella he had while hiking the Loop Trail to ward off a grizzly bear.

Western red cedars are dying, here’s how you can help the research effort

A Washington State University scientist is asking both volunteers and professionals for help in Montana documenting western red cedar dieback.

Rosendale defends vote against Juneteenth

In theory there is nothing wrong with a celebration of emancipation.  The freeing of the slaves was one of the great steps forward for this country, an end to the darkest chapter in American history.  But we don’t live in theory.  Our politics happens in practice, and in practice the vote that elevated “Juneteenth National Independence Day” to the status of a federal holiday is a disaster for those who hold that our country is good, our Constitution a great charter of liberty, and that the nation is to be commended for its progress on racial matters, not damned for its previous sins.

Legals for July, 7 2021

EPA expects proposed action on CFAC cleanup this fall

The Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. Superfund timeline will enter a new phase in the coming months, project manager Ken Champagne of the Environmental Protection Agency said last week.