Ellington

Fire north of Polebridge heavily damages home

A home up Moose Creek about 10 miles north of Polebridge was heavily damaged, but not destroyed by a fire Thursday night.

Growth, a moose-eating grizzly and a new school — 2022 in review

Here’s a look at some of the top Hungry Horse News stories from 2022.

Haney celebrates 30 years of photography

Whitefish photographer Chuck Haney’s career has morphed over the years as the industry changed with new technology and digital cameras became available to more people.

MacKenzie named deputy forest supervisor for Flathead Forest

The Flathead National Forest has announced the selection of Tami MacKenzie as Deputy Forest Supervisor.

Planning Board OK’s Dollar General conditional use permit

The Columbia Falls City-County planning board recently unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a new Dollar General Store.

Yesterdays: How Nucleus Avenue became Nucleus Avenue, and other tales

In 1890-91 Columbia Falls founder Frank Langford decided to name Columbia Falls “Main Street” Nucleus Avenue, to be different from other towns. The issue of changing the name back to something more mundane like “Main Street” was the subject of debate with city council.

Rotary thanks

For 12 years, Brunch with Santa was one of the most anticipated Christmas events and the biggest fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Columbia Falls. Then came Covid and the event was canceled for two years.

A Christmas Party and some cold weather

What a Christmas season! We have a ton of fresh snow which had everyone out shoveling, plowing and snowblowing. Add to that a bitter cold snap with temperatures dropping to 40 below and you have a real northern winter.

Man nabbed in chase has a long criminal history

A man who was stopped in a high speed chase earlier this month on Highway 2 in West Glacier has a long criminal history in Flathead and Lincoln counties.

Mitchell aide’s comments on Native Americans raises eyebrows

“If the reservations want to say they are independent countries … but they want a lot of handouts, why are we counting their ballots?” said Drew Zinecker, who will this session serve as a staffer for Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, during a meeting of the Lewis and Clark County Republican Central Committee.

Blackfeet lottery for bison hunt

Those interested in entering a lottery for a guided trophy bison hunt on the Blackfeet Reservation will have two opportunities to enter the drawing.

First Day hikes planned at state parks

On Jan. 1, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will host First Day Hikes at Flathead Lake State Park (Wayfarers, West Shore, and Lone Pine units), Travelers’ Rest State Park, Missouri Headwaters State Park, First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, Spring Meadow Lake State Park, Pictograph Cave State Park and Makoshika State Park.

Glacier Park visitation at 2.9 million for the year

The surge started in 2016, when the National Park Service celebrated its 100th anniversary and it began a nationwide “Find Your Park” campaign.

Impressive numbers from cold snap

Snowstorms, bitter cold, clear skies and freezing rain.

Baseball and Bunnies in the forest

144 Birch Road was my address for a very long time. From the day I took my first breath to now as I write this. Twelve and a half years, although it feels like 112.

Edwin Gilk, 95

Ed Gilk, 95, died from natural causes on Dec. 23, 2022.

Development threatens elk

Last Saturday I had a problem – a big problem – not just anyone’s problem! There were 115 head of elk in the fields southwest of my house. Some of these majestic animals were as close as 30 yards from my house and even closer to my sister’s house. They were spread out across our road that comes in from Highway 206. If we went outside to shovel snow we would disturb them.

Glacier Gateway tours for parents, students, Jan. 3

Glacier Gateway Elementary will hold an open house for students and staff only from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

More on elk

“The developers claim River Highlands will have no impact on wildlife because it leaves a buffer in place along the river.” This quote was taken from the Hungry Horse News article dated 12.22.2022.

Legals for December, 28 2022

Company proposes tram up Columbia Mountain

Pursuit Glacier Park Collection is considering a tram that would run from Hungry Horse to about 1,000 feet below the summit of Columbia Mountain, vice president and general manager Gary Rodgers said.

Wildcats are on a roll

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team had a solid week on the home hardwood. They beat conference foe Browning 66-51 in a grind that saw 51 fouls total Friday. On Saturday, they thumped Class B Florence 79-40.

Here we go again

In August of this year the City of Columbia Falls put forward a subdivision that was so unrealistic that the planning board unanimously denied and would not forward it to the city council for approval.

Tragedy in North Fork

Our small, remote community is not used to tragedy. Even so, this last week a real tragedy hit us when we did not expect it.

Lyle Ruterbories, longtime Kintla Lake ranger, dies just shy of 103

Ruterbories and his wife, Marge, were mainstays at Glacier National Park’s Kintla Lake for years.

Byrd coach of the year

Columbia Falls boys soccer coach O’Brien Byrd was named the class A boys soccer coach of the year by the Montana High School Coaches Association.

Yesterdays: AAC makes it official — it will build a plant in Columbia Falls

The Anaconda Aluminum Co. formally announced it would start building a $45 million aluminum smelter near Teakettle Mountain in 1953.

Speech and debate wins in Stevi

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team took another first place finish at Stevensville last week. The Wildcats racked up 142 points in the win.

Kats go 1-2 on the road

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team went 1-2 in a tough week on the road.

Swimmers compete in Great Falls

The Columbia Falls swim team competed in Great Falls last weekend. The boys took fifth out of 11 teams and the girls took seventh out of 12 teams, including AA, A, and B squads.

Windauer takes title in Great Falls

The Columbia Falls boys wrestling team took 14th at the CMR Holiday Classic in Great Falls over the weekend. The girls were 57th.

Free meals available over holidays

The free Canyon dinners will have a Christmas party held at the Hungry Horse School on Thursday, Dec. 29.

Teachers, staff move into new Glacier Gateway building

While the classrooms come with brand new furniture, she’s bringing her old yellow chair with wheels. It’s very useful for getting around the classroom.

River Highlands developer back, now wants more than 300 units

Like the previous project, this one is also sure to draw public scrutiny, as most of the surrounding zoning is low density rural farmland and/or single family homes.

Karen Hannah Fox

She is preceded in death by her husband Terry Fox, her grandmother Clara “Tubby” Howard and her father Clayton “Sonny” Satterthwait.

Legals for December, 21 2022

Brutal cold Thursday, then chance of rain by Saturday

The region is expected to see an arctic blast of arctic air Thursday morning that could be the coldest we’ve seen in 40 years, or perhaps, ever.

Man arrested without incident after high speed chase

A man wanted on a felony warrant out of Lincoln County led Montana Highway Patrol troopers on a long distance high speed chase Friday afternoon, but gave up peacefully in the end.

Izaak Walton Inn sold

The iconic Izaak Walton Inn has changed hands, with owner Brian Kelly selling it to Loge Camps, a hotel brand marketed toward outdoors adventure clientele, after 16 years at its helm.

Glacier National Park will require reservations at all major entrances this summer

Glacier National Park will require reservations at all of its major entrances during the summer of 2023, the park officially announced Friday.

City-County planning board OK's Tamarack Meadows subdivision

The Columbia Falls City-County planning board Tuesday night approved a 103-lot subdivision on 47 acres called Tamarack Meadows at the north end of Meadow Lake Resort. It’s the last portion of the master plan that was approved decades ago, but neighbors were none too happy about it.

Kats go 2-0 at Tip-Off tourney; tough stretch ahead

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team started the season on a high note, dropping Corvallis 61-24 and Livingston, 50-37 in the annul Northwest-Southwest Tip-Off tourney in Frenchtown over the weekend.

PHOTOS: Shop with a Cop

The annual event takes less fortunate youngsters in Columbia Falls and their families on a Christmas shopping trip so they can have a nice holiday.

Speech does well in Kalispell

The Columbia Falls Wildcats Speech and Debate team competed last weekend in the Kalispell Western Regional AA tournament at Glacier High School with 18 schools, placing first in the ABC Sweeps and fourth overall.

All-state, conference football

All-state and all-conference football selections were recently announced.

Grapplers at Mining City duals

The Columbia Falls wrestling team competed in the Mining City Duals over the weekend.

Swimmers do well at first meet of the season

The Columbia Falls swim team had a great showing at its opening meet in Kalispell Saturday.

Wildcats split the bill at Tip-Off tourney

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team went .500 at the Northwest-Southwest Tip-Off tourney in Frenchtown over the weekend.

Toys for Tots sees a great response again this year

About 100 volunteers came out Sunday to the Kalispell National Guard Armory to unload thousands of toys for the annual Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.

At Ruder, Christmas store a hit

The Ruder PTO brightened up the holidays for students at the school last week, hosting a Christmas store so kids could grab gifts for their parents and have a visit with Santa.

Doug Barnes, 78

My friends Doug and Whiskey

Flu, Covid cases on the rise

Influenza cases in Montana hit a sharp rise at the start of December, with nearly 1,000 new cases and more than 50 new hospitalizations reported statewide last week.

Thoughts of traffic, development

Growth and development are inevitable in the Flathead. It is only a matter of deciding how, where and when such growth should occur for the long-term health and sustainability of our residents.

City will go ahead and hire firefighters, sans federal grant

Federal grant or not, the City of Columbia Falls will go ahead and hire three full-time firefighters later this month.

The Blotter: Ice fishing after curfew

A driver complained to police when stuck in traffic that a neighboring car’s music was too loud. A female was seen snooping through employee’s cars in the Smiths parking lot.

Supports pot law

I’m not a pro-marijuana guy. I voted against Montana’s adult-use cannabis initiative (I-190) in the 2020 election. However, since Montanans approved the initiative and recreational marijuana has taken effect in our state, I’ve been committed to following the will of the voters and making sure our new system works safely and effectively.

In the minority

I know I have not written a column for several weeks. Usually, when I don’t write it is because not much has happened on the North Fork. That is not the case this time. If anything there has been more happening than usual in the Fall.

In Oberling case, does art survive the artist?

“Good art can come from bad people,” Cordova said.

Loretta Fauske, 89

oretta Irene Fauske died December 8, 2022, in Columbia Falls, Montana.

Yesterdays: Forest Service considers protections for Jewel Basin

Murry Giles had a contract with Plum Creek to sell its sawdust to locals. A truckload of sawdust (presumably a dump truck) cost $1.50. A pickup truck load cost 25 cents.

November coldest since 1985

November was the fourth coldest month on record for the Flathead Valley.

Man dies in house fire north of Polebridge

Columbia Falls and Blankenship firefighters responded to a fatal house fire up the North Fork Saturday morning.

Hungry Horse man dies in car accident

Ronald Long, 67, later died at Logan Health the same day as a result of injuries from the crash.

Oberling could get suspended sentence in plea deal

Prosecutors will recommend a renowned local artist receive a suspended five-year sentence with the state Department of Corrections for wiring his then-partner’s shower to shock her over the summer.

PHOTOS: Night of Lights 2022

Scenes from the annual Night of Lights Parade down Nucleus Avenue in Columbia Falls on Friday, Dec. 2.

Columbia Falls Ace Hardware store designed to be customer friendly

The Dowdell family owns stores in Butte, Anaconda, Livingston and Evergreen.

Speech wins again

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team continues to do well. It’s been in four tourneys so far this season and has won the Class A bracket all four times.

A farewell to ImagineIf Library

As I wrap up my time with ImagineIF Libraries, I wanted to reach out to you in the Flathead and library communities that have helped make my time with this library something special.

Holland Lake Lodge plan a disaster

The rollout of a proposal by one of North America’s biggest ski developers to triple the size of Holland Lake Lodge and bring industrial tourism and commercial recreation to the rural, wildlife-rich Swan Valley in western Montana was a complete and utter disaster.

Jonesing for bread

I made myself a loaf of bread the other day.

Wolf season will go on under 2022 regs

Montana’s 2022 wolf regulations passed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in August will go back in effect immediately after a court ruling in a lawsuit against Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks denied the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction and lifted a temporary restraining order.

Teachers moving into Glacier Gateway School later this month

When classes start next year, Glacier Gateway students will be in a shiny new school.

Commissioners: West Glacier should incorporate

Mary T. McClelland, one of the authors of the plan, said in a subsequent interview that the community looked at incorporation, but it doesn’t meet the criteria under state law.

The Blotter: Man thought someone was trying to stab him

Police were called to assist with an elderly man with dementia on Riverwood Drive who thought someone was trying to stab him. Three young males were taken into custody for shoplifting on 9th Street.

Mann signs with Nicholls State

Columbia Falls softball slugger Sydney Mann made it official recently, signing a letter of intent to play softball for the Nicholls State University Colonels next year.

Yesterdays: Ski hill at Hungry Horse

Hungry Horse had a ski hill and a tow rope at the time. Volunteers were working to get it ready.

School concerts coming up

A host of school holiday concerts are coming up.

MatCats win Owen Invitational

The Columbia Falls boys wrestling team took first at the Owens Invitational in Polson to open the season over the weekend.

Community events on tap

The Columbia Falls American Legion Freedom Post will host a free dinner for high school students interested in entering its annual oratorical contest. The contest includes a chance to win a college scholarship. Parents are encouraged to attend as well.

Death Notices for Dec. 7, 2022

A memorial service for William Leonard Moyer of Columbia Falls is planned for 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the

Don Zen Allred

Don Zen Allred, 88, returned to his Heavenly home Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 while at home in Gold Star Park, Quartzsite, Arizona, where he and his wife, Louise, have resided since 1997.

Gary A. Luce April 2, 1946 – Nov. 25. 2022

Gary grew up in Columbia Falls and passed away surrounded by loved ones, wife, Elaine Luce, son Robert Luce. He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Maxine Luce; and Lori Luce. Gary had three brothers, Don and Jerry Luce, Bill Huffman and sister Barbra Smith and seven grandchildren.