Ellington

Grit gets Cats to championship

One down, one to go.

Gassed

So the boy and I were out cutting firewood the other day and I was sawing along and looked up and this guy was standing there wearing a T-shirt and I thought it was odd that the Forest Service would check a permit with a plain clothes officer.

Denham Columbia Falls police department’s first lieutenant

Denham, 53, grew up in Bigfork and went to Dickinson State on a football scholarship, but he ended up with a family, left college and joined the U.S. Army. His family has a history of police and military service, so he signed up to be a military policeman.

Champs! Sempf takes title as girls cross country takes first ever state A championship

Senior Hannah Sempf led the Columbia Falls cross country team to a state A championship in Missoula Saturday.

M. Glenn Kolodejchuk

M. Glenn Kolodejchuk was escorted by angels on a rainbow straight to heaven on Oct. 18, 2021.

Death notices, Oct. 27

Hazel M. Bowerman Hazel M. Bowerman, 101, of Columbia Falls, passed away Oct. 15, 2021 at her residence.  Viewing will be held 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 at Columbia Mortuary.

Microplastics found in Glacier National Park's Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park is one of the most pristine lakes in the world. If one is in a boat and looks down into its waters, you can see the bottom, even 40-50 feet down.

Mary Ellen Kriz

Mary Ellen Kriz was born in Geddes, South Dakota on March 15th, 1936 to Albert and Mary Phillips (Bennett). The middle of three kids, Mary grew up in Geddes, South Dakota where she graduated from high school.

Barbara Ann Lawrence

Barbara Ann Lawrence passed away on Oct. 19th, 2021. Barbara was born in Paris, Texas on Sept. 19, 1932, the only child of Karl and Lucile Knecht.

Kenneth E. Sorley

Kenneth E. Sorley, 74, of Hungry Horse, Montana.

Yesterdays: Glacier Park was considering tent camps for backcountry hikers

A search was on for James Wishart, a 21-year-old hunter who had gone missing in the Doris Creek drainage near the Hungry Horse Reservoir.

History: Trout wrangling with old time packer Joe Murphy

Joe Murphy began packing across the Bob in the early days, when the land in the upper South Fork of the Flathead was a collection of unofficial primitive areas, and the Wilderness Act was nearly a half-century into the future.

Man charged with rape at assisted living center

A Flathead Valley man faces a charge of sexual intercourse without consent for allegedly raping a woman at a Columbia Falls assisted living facility.

Alone at Glacier National Park's Granite Park: Combination bike, hike, has its rewards

While the summer weather takes a hiatus, leaving colorful trees in its wake, and with the Going-to-the-Sun Road closing for the season, I decided it would be a good time to take my bike out for a final journey through Glacier.

City tweaks parking regs; no camping on streets

The city of Columbia Falls is again tweaking its parking ordinances, after police have run into problems with some of the current codes.

Spikers drop two in past week

The Columbia Falls volleyball team had a rough go of it last week, losing to Libby in three sets at home last Tuesday 25-23, 25-14 and 25-14. Against Ronan on the road Thursday they lost 25-21, 25-19 and 25-17.

Broncs drop Cats, but we still host football playoff game

Columbia Falls Wildcats were thumped by undefeated Hamilton, 55-20, for their final game of the regular season on the road. Wildcat Cody Schweikert was 8 for 21 passing and threw for 138 yards.

Weighs in on transportation plan

I only recently was made aware of this planning process and draft plan. And so unfortunately I only have an hour or so to review some highlights and offer some observations.

Powell, what could have been

My one brief experience with presidential politics occurred in 1995. My candidate was Colin Powell. The great historian, Stephen Ambrose, had emerged as a leader in the movement to win the 1996 Republican presidential nomination for Powell, and I was able to make contact with him in Helena where he shared a part-time home with his daughter and son-in-law.

Grizzlies drawn to Columbia Falls by compost, FWP says

A composting facility just outside the Columbia Falls city limits has attracted at least nine grizzly bears, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Dillon Tabish confirmed last week.

Legals for October, 27 2021

Missing man found up the North Fork

A man who went missing Sunday afternoon up the North Fork was found Monday afternoon after a search for him.

Search underway for man missing up the North Fork

A search is underway for a man up the North Fork in the Hay Creek area.

At final football game, an act of kindness, sportsmanship

For their last game of the season, the junior high Columbia Falls football team made an interesting play last Tuesday.

Columbia Falls mayoral race: Chris Sellmann

Chris Sellmann is one of two men challenging incumbent Mayor Don Barnhart as a write-in candidate. Sellman, 50, said he would do away with the city manager form of government in favor of a full-time mayor position. He said he also opposed the city’s new 3% resort tax, saying it was taxation without representation because it impacts people from outside the city limits.

Columbia Falls mayoral race: Don Barnhart

Incumbent Mayor Don Barnhart has been a public servant for decades. He’s been mayor for the past 12 years, spent 33 years as a Columbia Falls volunteer fireman and 11 years as chief. Prior to his tenure as mayor, he was on the city council for seven years — being appointed initially to fill in for a member who left the council.

Canada border expected to open, with caveats

The Department of Homeland Security last week announced it would open the border with Canada to fully vaccinated people on nonessential travel at ferry and land crossings starting early next month.

The Blotter: Shots at bear go through house

Report of woman selling meth out a car with a child in the vehicle. A car crashed into tree and the driver fled on 3rd Avenue East.

Boys soccer drops Lone Peak

One down, two to go. The Columbia Falls boys soccer team dropped Lone Peak 3-0 on the road in to open the state A playoffs Saturday.

Sempf wins Western A Classic

Senior Hannah Sempf ran a personal best as she was the girls champion at the Western A Classic cross country race in Dillon Saturday.

In Somers, a new state park

Somers now officially has Montana’s newest state park on the northwest shore of Flathead Lake. The size of the park is between 55 and 106 acres, depending on the amount of water in the lake.

Yesterdays: Roaring wind blows part of roof off Many Glacier Hotel

Wholesale power prices had plummeted and as a result, the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant was considering restarting production. The Moose Fire that tore through the North Fork was now cool enough so that roads in the fire area could reopen.

Mental health isn’t a political issue in schools

eing a kid is tough. Being a kid in school in the middle of a pandemic is tougher.

Time to sell the house

I’ve decided to put my house up for sale. Not because of the red hot housing market, but because I need a set of Leica lenses.

City OK’s new marijuana zoning regulations

The Columbia Falls City Council Monday night approved changes to its zoning regulations that will hem in where pot shops can locate in the city limits.

Girls lose to Laurel in playoffs

They shut down Laurel’s best player in Mya Maack. But the lady Wildcats had a tough time with the rest of the team as they lost to the Locomotives in the first round of the playoffs Saturday, 3-1 on the road.

Columbia Falls mayoral race: John Rallis

John Rallis is giving it another shot in the Columbia Falls mayoral race. This time as a write-in. Rallis, 82, ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Mayor Don Barnhart back in 2017. His platform has familiar themes from his last campaign.

Cats pound Bulldogs on the road

The Columbia Falls Wildcats toppled the undefeated Whitefish Bulldogs 35-19 in a heated and highly anticipated rivalry matchup Friday. This puts the Wildcats in a good playoff spot, being 4-1 in the league and ahead of the Dogs.

Judge rules ARCO responsible for 35% of CFAC cleanup

A federal judge has ruled the the Atlantic Richfield Co. is at least partially responsible for the cleanup of the former Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. site just north of Columbia Falls.

Legals for October, 20 2021

Portion of Scapegoat Wilderness goes to Stage 1 Fire Restrictions as humans keep causing fires

Following two new human-caused fire starts, the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, and the entirety of the Scapegoat Wilderness on the Lincoln Ranger District, have returned to Stage 1 fire restrictions Sunday.

Lions Club gives city new Christmas lights

Christmas may be weeks away, but members of the Columbia Falls Lions Club were busy redecorating and relighting about half of the city’s Christmas lights last week.

Gateway project needs steel soon

School District 6 is finding it's not immune to supply chain problems that are plaguing manufacturing across the U.S. Vertical structural steel for the new Glacier Gateway Elementary School was supposed to arrive in August.

Soccer playoffs set; boys traveling to Big Sky, girls to Laurel

The class A soccer playoffs are set after the east held play-in games Wednesday night. The Columbia Falls boys team will head to Big Sky for a rematch against Lone Peak, a team they tied earlier in the season.

Old Person, Longtime Blackfeet Chief, dies at 92

Longtime Blackfeet Chief and Chairman Earl Old Person has died at age 92, the tribe announced Wednesday evening.

Logan Pass closes for the season

Glacier National Park announced Wednesday that access to Logan Pass would close for the season due to persistent snow and ice on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Cross country looks to make mark in Dillon

The Columbia Falls varsity cross country teams wrapped up the regular season with nice showings in Helena.

Phloris Yvonne Kartheiser, 87

On Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 at 9 a.m., Phloris Yvonne Kartheiser, loving wife, mother, stepmother, and grandmother, gently passed away from this world and went on to her heavenly home. At age 87, Yvonne was at home and at peace in her lovely bedroom when she passed, where she was surrounded by her children and her devoted husband of the last 50 years.

Girls tune up for playoffs

A couple of wins to wrap up the regular season. The Columbia Falls girls did just that, dropping Libby 7-0 on the road Saturday and Polson, 8-1 last Thursday at home.

Boys drop Libby, Polson

Kai Golan has the new school record for goals in a season and Dale Blickhan has the new mark for assists as the Columbia Falls boys soccer team finished the regular season last week by blanking Polson 7-0 and Libby 5-0.

Cats drop Browning 81-0 in bounceback win

Hungry Horse NewsThe Columbia Falls football team dominated Browning at home Friday, 81-0.

Death notices

This week's death notices

Yesterdays: 'Blood for Korea Day' and other tales

Bear biologist Charles Jonkel had a harrowing encounter with a grizzly bear that had a trap stuck on its foot.

Spikers drop Stillwater, Browning

Columbia Falls beat Browning in volleyball on the road Thursday, 25-15, 25-20, 25-21.

As death toll increases, state releases report on efficacy of vaccines

A Department of Health and Human Services study has further shown the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine in keeping people from getting severely ill and/or dying.

Snow closes Logan Pass; Camas Road, Many Glacier Road construction should wrap up in November

Snow and icy conditions closed access to Logan Pass on Sunday in Glacier National Park. The Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed at Avalanche Creek on the west side and Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side.

Wreck results in a mass grave at Nyack

An estimated 25 minutes after the Great Northern freighter ran away and rolled out of the Essex station, it had traveled the 16 miles of track to Nyack and caught the passenger train.

City looks to hem in pot shops

The city of Columbia Falls plans on restricting where marijuana shops can set up their businesses in the city.

Legals for October, 13 2021

Seventy miles for two peaks and a fish

In a party of two, my partner Trevor Reid and I began our thru-hike on the North Fork Circle Loop in Glacier National Park at Apikuni Falls.

Zoom meetings on hunting regulation changes coming up

After releasing a series of proposed changes to 2022 hunting regulations, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials have organized virtual open houses to field comments from the public.

A runaway train barrels toward Nyack

Editor’s note: The following story was taken from John Fraley’s book, “Rangers, Trappers and Trailblazers”

Columbia Falls golfers compete at state meet

The Columbia Falls golf team wrapped up its season last week with some individual performances at the state meet in Polson.

Seventy miles for two peaks and a fish

In a party of two, my partner Trevor Reid and I began our thru-hike on the North Fork Circle Loop in Glacier National Park at Apikuni Falls.

Girls suffer heartbreaker against Whitefish in closing minutes

It was one of those oh-so-close games. The Columbia Falls girls soccer team came back to tie Whitefish in the closing minutes the road game Saturday, only to see the Bulldogs make a header on a corner kick in stoppage time to win, 3-2.

Gridders roughed up by Pirates

The Columbia Falls football team suffered its first loss of the season in a drubbing by Polson Friday on the road, 37-0.

Sempf, Erickson, break 20-minute mark

Hannah Sempf and Siri Erickson both broke the 20-minute mark at the Whitefish Invitational last week, as the girls took second to AA Flathead.

Yesterdays: Land dispute between Hollywood director and landowner goes to court

Heaven’s Gate film director Michael Cimino was in a legal battle with North Fork landowner Murland Searight.

A closer look at the city’s sewage system and upgrades

Not many folks think about their local sewer system, but for Grady Jenkins, taking care of the city’s wastewater is a full-time job for himself and his crew.

Bulldogs drop Wildcats in boys soccer, 5-1

They played a great first 26 minutes. But Whitefish had them after that, as the Columbia Falls boys soccer team lost to the Bulldogs away Saturday, 5-1.

Spikers split the bill last week

Columbia Falls volleyball split last week, losing to Polson in straight sets at home Tuesday, 25-11, 25-12, 25-16.

Great summer in the Bob

With summer winding down I have had the opportunity to take a look back at the whirlwind summer we have had. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is entering our 25th year and has some great things on the horizon.  As excited as I am to introduce new communities to this vast landscape, it equally warms me up to see the continued support we receive from Montana locals.

Disgusted by commission

After what was witnessed on Aug. 20th at the Wildlife Commission meeting, I have to say it was nothing less than an assault on our wildlife. I had higher expectations for the commission.

One Match

The match lit, I set a small piece of paper on fire, then some birch bark, twigs and had a nice fire going in a few minutes.

Neighborhood group sues DEQ over septic system permit for subdivision

A Columbia Falls neighborhood group has filed suit against Montana Department of Environmental Quality in its permitting process for the Benches subdivision just east of the city off Highway 2.

The Blotter: Selling heroin on Nucleus?

A man was replacing his gas tank of his truck while on the street; someone didn’t think this was safe.

Peterson named assistant fire chief

The Columbia Falls Fire Department has a new volunteer assistant chief.

Engineer gives perspective on city transportation plan

Engineer Wade Kline of added some clarity last week to the draft of the city of Columbia Falls Transportation plan during an open house.

Columbia Falls area horses starved, now they need a helping hand

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office recently seized 17 horses in various stages of starvation and other health issues from a residence in the Columbia Falls area, and is now asking for help from the community in providing food and blankets for the horses.

Legals for October, 6 2021

Whitefish man one of several suing after train derailment

A Whitefish passenger on an Amtrak train that derailed near Joplin is one of several survivors that have filed suit against Amtrak and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway in the accident.