Ellington

Sheriff releases name of woman, officers, involved in standoff shooting

Authorities on Thursday released the names of the suspect and officers involved in an exchange of gunfire during an armed standoff near Columbia Falls on Wednesday.

Standoff ends after gunfire exchange with woman on Dawn Drive

The standoff ended shortly after 5 p.m. after law enforcement officials tried to negotiate with the armed woman who was holed up in a camper on Dawn Drive, just east of Halfmoon Road.

Blame Bill

Well, I got my second and final coronavirus vaccine shot the other day. I was bragging to my wife how good I felt and then just before bed I decided I’d have a couple of cocktails, you know, because I felt so good and the neighbors had just moved out, too.

Yesterdays: Great Northern losing money on lodges in Glacier Park

A black bear that had been radio collared in Glacier National Park as part of research on aversive conditioning rubbed the collar off on a telephone pole, which put a crimp in the study.

Uncle Jeff

Maybe a real historian like Arne Boveng or Lois Walker could do more research and find out who, if anyone, escaped the clutches of the vigilantes.

A fence or an ambulance

The Highline Trail to Granite Park was opened June 19th this year and this is the first time in quite awhile the “Over the Hill Gang” didn’t dig it out.

Glacier Guides offering a bike shuttle service into Glacier Park

A West Glacier company is offering a shuttle service for folks looking to bike the Going-to-the-Sun Road this spring.

Car show June 12

The Knights of Columbus will have its annual swap meet and car show from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 12 at St. Richard’s Catholic Church in Columbia Falls

Flathead Superintendent April’s Freedom Bank ‘Hometown Hero’

Hill named Flathead Youth Homes as his nonprofit to receive a $500 donation under the Hero program.

Kats heading to Butte for state tourney

The Wildkat softball team is headed to the 2021 State Class A Softball Tournament in Butte this week after securing the No. 3 seed for the Northwest A conference.

Twins go 4-0 on the week, at home Thursday

The Glacier Twins American Legion baseball squad went 4-0 on the week. They hammered hapless Libby 21-4 May 19. George Robbins had five RBIs in the win.

Boys take second at Western A Divisional tennis; girls fourth

Columbia Falls boys tennis finished second overall at the three-day Western A divisional tennis tournament in Polson that ended on Saturday.

Track sending 36 to state

The results were serendipitous for head coach Jamie Heinz who, on paper, had expected half that amount to qualify.

Storm brings badly needed rains to region

Sunday and Monday’s soggy weather in the Flathead Valley couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for a region facing dismally dry conditions for much of the spring. A weather station at Glacier Park International Airport recorded 1.48 inches of rain as of Tuesday morning and it was still raining.

For Judge, finding answers no trivial pursuit

The winning question at this year’s individual Montana Academic State Championship, in Jeopardy-style format, was along the lines of, ”This foodstuff is common in Hawaii, due to the state’s large military presence creating a military surplus of this foodstuff.”

Reminder: Glacier Park's Sun Road ticketed entry starts Friday

Webster noted the Park tried to close the gate last year at Lake McDonald when the Park became overcrowded, but the Apgar area quickly overfilled and traffic backed up for miles outside the Park.

City will seek grant for bike and pedestrian path

Columbia Falls will apply for a federal grant to put a bike/pedestrian path from Fourth Avenue West east to the city limits up Railroad Street. The project has an estimated price of about $1.15 million. Putting a bike path or a sidewalk on Railroad Street has been on city leaders’ radar for decades.

Counselor who started garden saying good-bye to junior high

Today, the garden hosts a thriving experimental orchard, a native plant section and several raised beds to grow vegetables.

Park plows pioneer to Big Drift; Many Glacier Road opening delayed

Despite a stormy week in the high country, Glacier National Park plow crews pioneered to Logan Pass and the Big Drift last week.

Teen struck and killed by car

A teenager was killed Thursday night after being struck by a car while walking down Tamarack Lane north of Columbia Falls.

Man sentenced to prison for driving through grocery store to buy smokes

A Columbia Falls man is headed to the Montana State Prison after his drug-fueled drive through a grocery store last fall terrorized shoppers inside and caused tens of thousands dollars worth of damage.

Wilderness abuse

After 20 seasons guiding wilderness treks and river journeys in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, I have witnessed significant changes in wilderness visitors. As a teenager I hiked from Ovando to Essex, scrambled in the Mission Mountains, and skied from Benchmark to Holland Lake. Years later, adventures through the Bob were family highlights. I have a 45-year perspective on backcountry and the people who venture there. It was common to share the journey with deeply appreciative guests humbled by the 30-mile trek and the river float.

Fairness is not a partisan issue

Fairness is the goal of the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act currently being considered in the United States Congress. The bill has bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Mitchell on session

When the 67th legislature convened in January, there were a lot of expectations from legislators in both parties – as well as Montanans. Much of this surrounded what could happen with a Republican governor for the first time in 16 years. In the end, I believe we all have a lot of successes to celebrate.

Omar “Bruce” Reynolds

Omar “Bruce” Reynolds passed away Nov. 18, 2020 from complications of Covid-19. He was born on Aug. 24, 1936 in Columbia Falls at his parents’ home just east of the Old Red Bridge, delivered by his Grandma Nunn.

KRH nurses say they could soon strike

Nurses with Kalispell Regional Medical Center, The HealthCenter, Brendan House and Kalispell Regional health clinics voted 372 to 199 in July 2019 to unionize.

Critical of session

Decades ago, while listening to Flathead Radio “Star” George Ostrom, I heard him say, “Well, the Montana Legislature is in session, and for the next 90 days no man’s life or property are safe.” The 2021 Republicans in the Legislature, in total control for the first time in 16 years, and with a Republican Governor to boot, seemed intent on proving George right on a daily basis. Let’s take a look at their descent into lunacy:

North Fork Welcome brochure

Every landowner was sent the Landowner Association spring newsletter, even non-members. The purpose, of course, is to encourage membership. Dues for active members (landowners) are $15 per year. Associate (non-landowners) dues are $10 per year. Several events at the Sondreson Hall are open to everyone at no charge and everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Glacier Twins baseball goes 2-3 on the week

The Glacier Twins had some tough luck at Butte over the weekend, going 1-3 on the road trip.

Finberg-Roberts named second team All-American in volleyball

Cydney Finberg-Roberts of Columbia Falls was named a Second Team All-American, while teammates Sacha Legros and Sadie Lott were both named Honorable Mention All-Americans.

School District endorses TIF district for medical complex

The School District 6 Board last week endorsed a measure that would include the Cedar Palace Medical Center and 23 acres surrounding it into the city’s tax increment finance district. The move was made after a presentation by city manager Susan Nicosia who said the TIF monies would be used to help further development on the property, as more medical-centric businesses look to expand at the location.

Club meets and greets with ‘Heroes’

The Columbia Falls Boys and Girls Club gave certificates of appreciation to both the Columbia Falls Police and Fire Departments last week as part of “Heroes Week,” a creation of the local club aiming to “recognize our community’s heroes,” according to the club’s area director Pamela Koller.

Yes, it’s a tight labor market, but affordable housing is playing big role in shortage

But some employers say it’s not just a worker shortage, it’s a housing problem as well.

Charles John Herman

Charles John Herman, 75 of Columbia Falls, passed away May 10, 2021 at his home.

Ralph Albert Ammondson

Ralph Albert Ammondson, 94, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2021 from natural causes. Ralph was born in Decorah, Iowa on Oct. 27, 1926.

Softball blanks Browning

Columbia Falls softball came off a brief but victorious week after competing in one home game that resulted in a 20-0 win against Browning last Tuesday.

Tennis tunes up for divisionals

Wildcat tennis teams’ last week of regular season play was packed with competition after the previous week’s cancellations were pushed back and rescheduled.

Track squads fine tune performances, hosts divisionals this week

Columbia Falls track and field began the week on firm footing when both the girls and boys teams overshadowed Polson by more than 40 points each at the brilliantly sunny home-dual meet against the Pirates on Thursday.

Hellroaring CrossFit has a new home off Highway 2

Barb Turney has been doing CrossFit workouts since 2011. “I think a lot of us are addicted to the workouts,” she said. “… You get really sore … but it’s a good thing.” Turney is one of about 100 members of Hellroaring CrossFit to follow the Columbia Falls business to its new location off Highway 2 on Canyon View Lane.

The Blotter: A neighbor was swinging a hammer around and yelling obscenities

Fearing the situation could become violent, parents wanted an officer present as they evicted their daughter. Kids were caught starting a fire on someone’s property.

He printed Pulitzer Prize winning editions of the Hungry Horse News

Ralph Ammondson, a former Hungry Horse News printer and later in life, a well-known traveling masseur, has died.

County seeks federal grant to pave more of Blankenship Road

The Flathead County commissioners have approved a last-minute application for a federal grant that would enable the county to pave and improve back roads between Coram and West Glacier.

Nucleus Avenue work should start next week

The Montana Department of Transportation is beginning work on Nucleus Avenue and the North Fork Road in Columbia Falls the week of May 24, weather permitting.

Columbia Falls alumnus killed in UTV rollover

The accident happened near Fourth Avenue West North near Columbia Falls shortly before 10 p.m.

Study: Popular trails in Glacier see use rise as much as 80 percent

Compared to data collected in 2012, visitation to Avalanche Lake increased about 80%, from 864 visitors a day in 2012 to 1,572 in 2019 — the last year Glacier Park was fully open.

Cyclists trapped by Avalanche on Sun Road near Triple Arches

Three bicyclists from Bigfork were trapped by an avalanche on the Going-to-the-Sun Road Thursday night, Glacier National Park officials reported.

Sun Road open to Avalanche; Park plows closing in on Logan Pass

Glacier National Park has opened the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Avalanche Creek for motor vehicles and park plow are knocking on the proverbial door of Logan Pass.

Planning board OK's Twin Peaks zone change

The Columbia Falls city-county planning board again recommended for approval a request for a zone change on a 10 acre plot of land east of Columbia Falls Tuesday.

Smith's Food and Drug will offer walk-in Covid-19 vaccinations

Smith’s Food & Drug announced Wednesday the company is offering walk-in Covid-19 vaccinations at most of its 141 locations across Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico and Southern Nevada.

Steele ignoring Act

Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele’s decision to allow continued motorized camping at the gravel bar downstream from Blankenship bridge contradicts his agency’s management directives as stated in their website regarding Wild and Scenic rivers “to ensure that ...water quality and the outstanding remarkable values of these rivers are protected from overuse, instream developments and other impacts that do not enhance these values.”

Kats drop Ronan for conference victory

Wildkat softball ended the week with a redemptive 12-3 victory over conference rival Ronan at home on Thursday. The win was a welcome comeback from an early-season loss against the Maidens in which the Kats dropped a seven-run lead to lose by one run.

Skills for the Future: Columbia Falls graduates first class in Welding Technology

Columbia Falls High School is set to celebrate its inaugural class of graduates from the school’s Welding Technology CTS program this spring.

The Blotter: A woman was being stalked in a grocery store.

A three-legged dog was on the loose.

Yesterdays: Mysterious critter eating dogs, goats, near Columbia Mountain

Plum Creek Logging Co. was the high bidder for 15.8 million board feet of timber on Hungry Horse Creek as part of the Hungry Horse Dam project. Top bid was $24.70 per thousand board feet of white pine. Today mature white pine is almost non-existent. The tree species have largely been decimated by blister rust.

City reminds landowners of river, flooplain regulations

Columbia Falls city leaders continue to raise concerns about city residents cutting trees and clearing brush on properties along the Flathead River.

Want to get a commercial pilot’s license? This might be for you

In a sport that requires a hefty amount of capital to break into, five young pilots, led by Patrick Liddell of Columbia Falls, have found a way to pursue their passion without breaking the bank.

Cynthia “Cindy” Membrino

Cynthia “Cindy” Membrino, 63 of Kalispell

Library back to normal

The Columbia Falls Public library recently lifted its mask mandate and will allow patrons to stay longer than a half hour, librarian Tony Edmundson told the Columbia Falls city council last week.

Bird field trips

Flathead Audubon is offering a couple of field trips this month. A bird expert from Audubon and a land conservation specialist from Flathead Land Trust will co-lead this field trip on Saturday, May 15.

Tennis squads struggle against Whitefish; rained out

Columbia Falls tennis had a short week last week after a home triangular against Libby and Ronan on Saturday was canceled due to rain.

Conditions wretched at Columbia Falls Invite

Columbia Falls track and field had solid overall finishes at the Columbia Falls Invitational on Saturday with the boys team taking second and the girls taking third at the six-team competition.

Legals for May, 12 2021

Forest Service will continue to allow free camping at Blankenship this summer

The Flathead National Forest said Monday it will continue to allow dispersed camping at Forest Service owned gravel bar along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River this summer at Blankenship, despite a neighbor petition with more than 200 signatures opposing it.

Thoughts on transgender bill

Regarding HB 112, the debate over limiting transgender kids in sports needs to become a conversation of how do we include kids who are unique, instead of how can we ban kids we don’t understand.

Thoughts on Blankenship

Finally, the Blankenship fiasco is getting the attention it deserves, as what went on last year, is an obvious contradiction to the meaning and intent of The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. While many have expressed an opinion already, I felt it necessary to address some of the comments attributed to the Forest Services’ “recreational leader,” Mr. Crandall, to wit, “did bring in portable toilets and enforced a 3-night stay limit.”

On Oatie

It is really spring when local talk turns to bears and the road. For sure the bears are up and awake. There have been numerous reports of folks seeing a nonthreatening grizzly bear. Probably the same bear being seen by multiple people in several different locations.

Opinion: Thanks to Frank and other tales

The thing about nasty spring weather like we had recently is that you end up seeing birds that you might not normally see in Glacier National Park.

Slash piles aren’t pleasing, but thinning project going as designed

Logging from the Crystal Cedar project north of Columbia Falls has raised the ire of at least one resident, who claimed the large slash piles ruined his favorite huckleberry patches, but the Forest Service said the project overall was being implemented as designed.

Landowners look to split lot east of Columbia Falls

The owners of a plot of land east of Columbia Falls will now ask the city to allow them to change the zoning from suburban agricultural 10 acres to suburban agricultural five acres. The zone change would allow two homes to be built there rather than one.

Glacier National Park will require ticket to ride shuttle this summer

The ticket-to-ride also serves as a Going-to-the-Sun Road entry reservation ticket for the day of reservation.

Park plows about two miles from Logan Pass

Glacier Park plows are beyond Triple Arches, encountering about 15 feet of snow on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Bison Range opens this weekend, fees boosted to $10 per car

Less than six months after former President Donald Trump signed Bison Range Restoration legislation, there are big changes at the 19,000-acre facility in Northwest Montana as it opens this weekend.

Go Fund Me page set up for family of sisters killed in car accident

A gofundme page has been set up for the family of two Columbia Falls young women who were killed in a multi-vehicle accident outside Great Falls Monday.

Kats sweep at Frenchtown

The Columbia Falls softball team went undefeated at the Frenchtown Invitational Friday and Saturday.

Judge rules in favor of Bad Rock Fire Department in case where attorney claimed she owned land beneath the south hall

Flathead County District Court Judge Robert Allison Monday issued a summary judgment in favor of the Bad Rock Fire Department in a unique court case where a Columbia Falls attorney claimed she owned the land under the department’s south hall on Middle Road.

Duane Burl Hagadone

Duane Burl Hagadone was born in Coeur d’Alene in 1932 to Burl and Beverly Hagadone.

Giving Back: Columbia Falls grad creates unique scholarship fund

On a sunny afternoon in June of 2008, newly graduated Moyu Harada strode out of Columbia Falls High School with a freshly-minted diploma and a clear vision of leaving Montana to study international business at the University of Washington.

Glacier announces more Sun Road tickets now available

Glacier National Park has released more tickets for the Going-to-the-Sun Road for early July.

School board OK’s contract for Ruder Elementary heating, cooling

The Columbia Falls School District 6 board last week approved a $1.284 million contract to replace the heating and cooling system in the old Ruder Elementary School.

New group looks to help rivers, improve relations

A group of locals with a stake in the future of the three forks of the Flathead River system have formed a new nonprofit called the Flathead River Alliance.

Twins do well on road trip

The Glacier Twins baseball team went 3-1 over the weekend and drubbed Libby last Wednesday.

FWP nabs graffiti artist

A Flathead County woman with a recent history of alleged criminal activity was recently caught by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game wardens for spray painting graffiti and artwork on pit toilets and rocks at several fishing access sites.

Track teams rounding into form, Hoerner wins jav at ARM

Columbia Falls track and field stayed close to home with both of their meets taking place in Whitefish last week.

Bulldogs got the best of Wildcats in tennis last week

Columbia Falls tennis endured a rough day against Whitefish last week when the Bulldogs claimed a blowout victory over the Wildcats at both the Whitefish and Columbia Falls courts on Tuesday.

Farm Hands Nourish the Flathead will administer Garden

Farm Hands Nourish the Flathead recently reached an agreement with School District 6 to use and maintain the Wildcat Garden at the junior high.

The Blotter: Someone’s truck, left running with the doors unlocked, was stolen, leading to an extensive car chase that ended after road spikes were deployed.

Someone’s truck, left running with the doors unlocked, was stolen, leading to an extensive car chase that ended after road spikes were deployed.

Search scaled back for missing Blackfeet toddler

The search for a missing Blackfeet 3-year-old girl has been scaled back. Arden Pepion was reported missing April 22 in the area surrounding Joe Show east of Highway 89 southeast of Browning.

Jean Robert Kriz

Jean Robert Kriz was born in Wagner, South Dakota on March 2nd, 1936 to Emil and Adella Kriz.

Forestry Expo is self-guided this year

The Family Forestry Expo is an annual event that offers hands-on exposure to the role forests play in our everyday lives. The Family Forestry Expo returns in 2021 after the large event was canceled last spring due to the pandemic. This year in place of the traditional all-day, in-person event, organizers have planned a self-guided experience for the weekends of May 7-8 and May 15-16.

SD6 election results

Challenger Wayne Jacobsmeyer was the top vote getter in the School District 6 election with 1,286 votes.

Franklin Eugene Sizemore

Franklin Eugene Sizemore, 76, of Columbia Falls passed away on April 21, 2021 due to complications from congestive heart failure. Frank was born to Bud and Naomi (Dubia) Sizemore on Nov. 15, 1944 in Wallace, Idaho and was the oldest of five children.

Church says thanks

I am writing to let your readers know that the members of Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety have granted another community request. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church is a recipient of a grant to place an Automated External Defibrillator in our church. They were also gracious enough to grant us an extension of another 6 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic slowing any progress, etc.

Thoughts on CFAC

During their April 19, 2021, meeting the Columbia Falls City Council received a 24-page slide presentation from Glencore’s environmental consultant Roux and their subsidiary Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. explaining their rationale for choosing a remediation solution for the uncontrolled groundwater pollution at the former CFAC aluminum smelter site.

Weighs in on school board election

Please take five minutes to cast your vote for our local school board and properly mail in your ballot. A big thanks is owed to the Hungry Horse News for their recent article that profiled and interviewed each of the candidates.

North Fork planning

At the last meeting of the North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee (LUAC) it was no surprise that they unanimously accepted the text amendment proposed by the very positive findings of the Flathead County Planning Office. The text amendment passed the LUAC and will now be forwarded to the County Planning Board. They will review it, take public comments and then send it on to the county commissioners who will adopt it or reject it after again reviewing it and allowing public comments.

Dismayed about Sun Road plan

As a long-time landowner in the North Fork, I am dismayed by Glacier National Park’s recent announcement to require ticketed entry at the Camas Entry into the Park.

Familiar North Forkers new owners at Home Ranch Bottoms

After passing through a string of different landholders throughout its 40 year history, the ownership of Home Ranch Bottoms, a rustic restaurant located 30 miles up the North Fork Road, has once again changed hands.