Thursday, March 31
Woman sentenced in Columbia Falls teen's death
Lifting a blue urn containing Brooke Hanson’s remains up to eye level, Jessie Hanson stared at her daughter’s killer from the witness stand in Flathead County District Court on Thursday.
Wednesday, March 30
Yesterdays: Canada coal mine draws opposition
Mel Ruder wrote an editorial saying the age to buy liquor should be 18 and stay there. “We favor setting the age for buying a glass of beer at 18 and then enforcing it,” he said. Ladies silk blouses were $1.69 at Davall’s Mercantile.
The Blotter: Double parked car with barking dog inside
Reported theft of alcohol and assaulting a peace officer at a store on 1st Street by a suspect caught on a video camera with a rap sheet including Federal charges of criminal endangerment and traffic violations.
Forest Service will allow camping at Blankenship at least one more year
For at least one more summer season, the Flathead National Forest will allow overnight camping on a plot of land it owns along the Flathead River at Blankenship.
Developer looks to turn half of project into short-term rentals
A developer looking to put apartments in Columbia Falls is now seeking an amendment to a conditional use permit to allow half the apartments as short-term rentals.
City will hold workshop on downtown parking
Not so long ago, anyone could find a parking place on Nucleus Avenue in Columbia Falls. A few years ago, one block was nothing but a storage space for a businessman who dealt in faux and real antiques.
Bird outing at Creston fish hatchery on tap
Join Flathead Audubon field trip leader Darcy Thomas on Wednesday, April 20, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. to hike the trails and view the Creston Hatchery pond from a birding blind for a variety of habitats that are attractive to several species.
City planning board OK’s unique RV Park, now it goes to council for review
A new and unique RV Park could soon be coming to Columbia Falls along the Highway 2 strip.
Track squad has solid numbers heading into season next week
The Columbia Falls track team will have strength in numbers this year, with about 112 athletes expected to compete, said coach Jamie Heinz.
Highway 206 open house coming up
The Montana Department of Transportation will hold an open house from 4 – 6:30 p.m. April 7 at the Deer Park School on Middle Road to talk with residents about the upcoming Highway 206 project.
Girls open season with a pair of wins in Polson
The Columbia Falls softball team went 2-0 in Polson to open the season, dropping Class B Plains 21-4 and Butte Central 10-0.
Deadly and difficult truths
The two of us became acquainted when we organized Montana’s first “Earth Day” on the MSU campus in Bozeman in 1970. One year later we both showed up in the Montana legislature, representing different communities and different political parties, at age 23.
Party planning
Pretty much the same on the North Fork this week as last. Warming weather with mostly sunshine. Potholes breeding faster than rabbits, water running down the road and lots of mud. No doubt that will continue for several weeks as the snow melts. The river isn’t very muddy, but that will come soon.
Court ruling all but shuts down resort on west end of Lake Five
Flathead County District Court Judge Amy Eddy issued an order Monday that both voids a major land use permit for a resort on Lake Five and orders the property owner to restore the land “to its previous unaltered condition,” which includes removing several buildings on the property.
A Blizzard of Birds: Snow geese return by thousands to Freezout Lake
The annual snow geese migration at Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area has arrived this year, but with a slower start than normal.
Johnson reflects on Con-Con
Fifty years ago, at age 23, I covered the Montana Constitutional Convention for the Associated Press. It was a dream assignment.
Thursday, March 24
Donna Jo Ryan
Donna Jo Ryan, 85, passed away peacefully on March 22, 2022, at her home in Columbia Falls. Donna was born Aug. 3, 1936 in Spokane, Washington, to Theo and Alice McNall.
Pursuit buys Glacier Raft Co.
Pursuit Glacier Park Collection announced Thursday that it has purchased the Glacier Raft Co. in West Glacier.
Wednesday, March 23
Waders, boats and other fishing gear must be inspected before fishing Blackfeet Waters, Tribe notes
The Blackfeet Tribe has announced that people who are fishing reservation waters must have their equipment inspected for aquatic invasive species. Those who fail to do so face a $500 fine.
All-State, All-Conference hoops announced
Columbia Falls’ Maddie Robison shared the Northwest A conference most valuable player award with Browning’s Mecca Bull Child as all-state and all-conference honors were announced last week.
No ordinary VRBO: Columbia Falls couple offers landmark houseboat as vacation rental
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a family to run a houseboat.
Yesterdays: Men plan to take outboard boat to Hawaii
Glacier National Park had plans to do extensive work on the Inside North Fork Road and there were eventually plans to cross the North Fork again and run the road over Akimina Pass, back to Waterton.
Columbia Falls softball opens play this weekend
The Columbia Falls softball team is young, but talented this season, coach Dave Kehr said.
The Blotter:Report of a fridge left outside in a yard on 8th Street
Party called to report theft of drill and other tools from a broken down vehicle
Columbia Falls could see high school baseball in 2023
High school baseball could soon be coming to Columbia Falls.
Community events
The Columbia Falls community will be serving delicious free meals on March 30 and 31 at 5 p.m. in the basement of St. Richard’s Catholic Church. We are nondenominational and everyone is welcome.
Agnes “Butchie” Butchkosky Ryan, 1922-2022
Agnes Butchkosky was raised in Jeddo, Pennsylvania, daughter of a hard rock miner who’d emigrated from Austria as a teenager.
Young Republicans talk housing crisis
We are five of the youngest lawmakers in the Montana Legislature. At 20, 21, 24, 29, and 31 years old, we are in various stages of renting and home ownership, and all of us are concerned about the housing crisis facing Montana. In every one of our communities—Billings, Belgrade, Columbia Falls, and even Malta—housing is rapidly becoming more expensive and harder to find.
Daines seeks meeting with Park Service boss on crowds, morale
Montana Sen. Steve Daines is seeking a briefing from Park Service Director Charles Sams III on increases in visitation to national parks.
Columbia Falls man allegedly shot victim in the back
A Columbia Falls man allegedly shot another man in the back during a confrontation at the victim’s Kalispell home last weekend, new court documents reveal.
Montana oil expert weighs in on issues
As the Ukraine invasion enters its fourth week our gas and diesel prices now eclipse the old record set in 2008. Mindless partisan haranguing on causation and solution play out with hackneyed ‘Trump did it better’ and ‘Biden has the vision’. Our energy conundrum is best addressed by an educated populace; not political platitudes.
Least favorite time of year
The last full week of March and it finally feels like spring is close.
Odds and ends
A couple of interesting odds and ends I’ve heard in the past few months.
City will pursue Boys and Girls club grant
The Columbia Falls City Council Monday night passed a resolution directing city manager Susan Nicosia to apply for the Community Development Block Grant for the new Glacier Country Boys and Girls Club HUB project.
John Charles (Jack) Carabin
John Charles (Jack) Carabin passed away on March the 12th, 2022 at Logan Hospital in Kalispell of mesothelioma lung cancer. Memorial services were held at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls on March 18th, Pastor Craig Scavo presiding.
Trisha Lynn James
Trisha Lynn James, 53, of Columbia Falls passed away March 16, 2022 at the home of natural causes. She was born on Jan. 6, 1969, in Othello, Washington to the late Gary Dale Roberts and Patricia Evelyn Roberts (Personett).
Daines says Putin ‘botched’ war in Ukraine
Montana Sen. Steve Daines said he supported providing MiG-29 jets to Ukraine to fight its war against Russia, a move that was squashed by the Biden Administration.
Report: Timber harvest up
Timber sales on the Flathead National Forest were higher than usual in the past couple of years according to a recently released 2021 biennial monitoring report for the Forest.
For this quilter, it’s all about brilliant colors
“I wanted to make a quilt for for my daughter when she was born,” Bean said in an interview last week. “It took off from there.”
Wetona B. Blades
Wetona B. Blades affectionally known as Tona, was called to heaven March 3, 2022.
Wanda Bell Thomas
Loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on March 7th, 2022 at Joy Thayer’s home in Bixby, Oklahoma.
Wednesday, March 16
Zinke says humanitarian aid should be air dropped to Ukraine
In a brief interview while shaking hands with folks, he said the U.S. needs to get back to energy independence and could shut down the southern border in three months to stop illegal immigration if need be.
A lively primary season lies ahead as deadline for filing passes
The House District 3 legislative race drew another candidate as the deadline to file came and went Monday. There are three candidates vying for House District 3 — Republican incumbent Braxton Mitchell, Democratic challenger Andrea Getts and Republican Lorena Wood.
Oh great, we’re a nuclear sponge
You know, since we’re on the precipice of World War III I figured I’d better make a plan in case things go south and I have to evacuate to another part of the country or the world.
Thoughts on student survey
this survey a proper use of academic time?
More Montanans don’t want more tourism; say state is overcrowded
Maybe there’s only so much room in Big Sky Country after all. For the first time ever, the majority of respondents to a survey on tourism say the state is becoming overcrowded because of more tourists and people moving here.
Myrna Mae Bouchey
Spring Valley resident Myrna Mae Bouchey passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday morning Feb. 19, 2022 with her sons, and her daughter-in-law, at her side. She was 85 years old.
Kats fall short at state tourney
The Columbia Falls girls basketball team went 0-2 at the state A tournament in Missoula, though the second game came down to the wire.
The Blotter: Crack smoking at apartment?
Police responded to an apartment after a witness called claiming to smell crack and sightings of other drug paraphernalia.
Tax records show Californians, Washingtonians, top list of migrants
California, Washington and Colorado are the top states of origin for people who moved to Montana in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to tax filing data presented to a legislative interim committee this week.
Yesterdays: Heritage Days hits a rough patch
Heritage Days was on the ropes. The annual town celebration might not happen in 1982, organizers said, because it was $3,000 in debt after a Valentine’s Day dance lost money as did a concert.
City OK’s planned unit development for employee housing
The Columbia Falls City Council last week approved a planned unit development that would allow Darin and Carla Fisher, the owners of Backslope Brewing to add some employee housing to a building they own next door. The couple recently bought the former State Farm Insurance building.
Beth, Martha Roads top city list for work this year
Beth and Martha Road are the top two streets in Columbia Falls that should see work this summer. Beth Road, on the west side of town, will be a complete reconstruction, public works director Chris Hanley told city council last week.
Snow thoughts
It is normal for Spring to arrive in Columbia Falls before it does on the North Fork. The difference this year is that there is still snow on the ground in Columbia Falls and it is still full winter on the North Fork. Neighbor Lynn Ogle reported this week that there is still a solid blanket of snow at Trail Creek. Moreover, it rained at Trail Creek, followed by a hard freeze that put an icy crust on top of the snow.
City throws support behind new Boys and Girls Club
The City of Columbia Falls is getting behind a plan to build a new Boys and Girls Club facility in the here.
Artist making eyes beautiful — one lash at a time
For Ruby Connor, it’s not just about the eyes, it’s about the people.
Glacier National Park plows get to work this week
On the east side, crews were set to start on the Chief Mountain Road Monday and the Grist Road on the west side as well, park spokeswoman Gina Kerzman said last week.
Friday, March 11
City, nonprofit working on housing issue, but it will take time
“Who is going to run the place?” she said at a hearing in front of Columbia Falls City council recently.
Thursday, March 10
The insane patrol continues
Last week Big Prairie District Ranger Henry Thol and fellow ranger Jim Diehl were looking for poachers in what is now the Bob Marshall Wilderness. This weren’t going well. In fact, the men were on the verge of freezing to death in a blizzard...
Gateway School will see delayed opening
Students and staff at Glacier Gateway Elementary School will have to wait a few more months to move into the new building that’s under construction.
Wednesday, March 9
Column nostalgia
It is not easy for me to realize that in just a few short weeks it will be the 37th anniversary of me writing this column. The first one was April 1st of 1985, I was approaching 50 years of age and felt old.
Garry Lookout a quick winter excursion
Garry Lookout is an old fire lookout just off Highway 2 about 15 miles east of West Glacier and just after Rescue Creek along the border of the Great Bear Wilderness.
FWP removes lions from Wild Horse Island
This winter, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks killed three adult mountain lions from Wild Horse Island State Park in collaboration with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Yesterdays: When fighter jets flew low over Glacier National Park, on purpose
Montana sportsmen heard about a plan to take native trout from Big Salmon Lake in what is now the Bob Marshall Wilderness, raise broods from stock in a hatchery and then stock them into the new Hungry Horse Lake behind the Hungry Horse Dam.
As complaints rise, Columbia Falls will take another look at noise ordinance
The Columbia Falls city council in the coming weeks will take another look at a city noise ordinance.
Covid-19 cases drop dramatically; but flu kills two
The number of Covid-19 cases across the state and the Flathead Valley has taken a sharp turn downward, but the Flathead City-County Health Department last week was warning people about the normal influenza, where two people have died in recent weeks.
The Blotter:Junior High bullying
A person called to report their hand was run over by a fleeing car after they fell when trying to take pictures of the suspects trying to escape; no ambulance was called. Police could not confirm the report.
Whitefish man who defrauded Goguen gets six years in federal prison
A Whitefish man who admitted to defrauding wealthy Whitefish businessman Michael Goguen out of millions of dollars was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday.
Lyle Mitchell State Farm has a new home in uptown
Lyle Mitchell State Farm Agency has a new home off Nucleus Avenue at 31 8th Street West.
Zinke weighs in on Ukraine
I have no doubt that we are all watching the the events unfold in Ukraine with heartbreak and horror. And yet, we are seeing the inspirational courage of the Ukrainian people as they take up arms and fight for their families, liberty and their land.
Just the Fax
I got a VERY IMPORTANT fax the other day. That’s right, a fax.
Hello, Dolly! In Pictures
Hello, Dolly!
What's the 'Best of' Columbia Falls? You decide...
What’s the best swimming hole? Who’s the best bartender? Best social media to follow?
Gene (Eugene) Loras Larsen
Gene Larsen passed peacefully on Jan. 14, 2022.
A career spent flying the mountain skies
Few people know the skies of Northwest Montana like pilot Dave Hoerner.
Biologists will be on the lookout for nonnative snappers, bullfrogs
State invasive species specialists will take a second official look-see this summer for nonnative snapping turtles and other herptiles in the Flathead.
Monday, March 7
Chain reaction wreck on Highway 40
Air bags and seat belts probably mitigated a chain reaction accident at the intersection of Highway 40 and Sandy Hill Lane about 11:30 a.m.. Monday morning.
Sunday, March 6
Impressive rain last week; frigid weather this week
Last week’s rain brought some impressive totals to the Flathead Valley and now we can expect downright cold weather this week.
Wednesday, March 2
Students do well at county science fair
Glacier Gateway Elementary and Ruder Elementary students recently did well at the Flathead County science fair, winning several awards. They included:
Kats take fourth at divisional tourney
They got a berth to the state tournament, but it wasn’t the way they would have liked to.
Community events on tap
The North Valley Senior Center is looking for volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels. The meals are delivered to housebound seniors. Call the North Valley Senior Center at 892-4087 to apply. Application, background check, drivers license and insurance required.
Hunting, fishing licenses now can be stored on phone
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently announced a new mobile app that will allow Montanans to access their hunting and fishing licenses with their phone, reducing the need to secure and carry around paperwork while they fish and hunt.
City making progress on railroad quiet zone
Columbia Falls is looking to take some key steps in the coming weeks to making the city a little quieter.
UM filmmakers look at the ‘Unabomber’
MISSOULA – The remote wilderness near Lincoln where Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unabomber, lived still has signs of his presence.
March 2 death notices
Terry L. Wattson, 76, passed away on Feb. 19, 2022 at this home. He is survived by his children. No services are planned at this time. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for the family.
Thomas “Tom” Wesley Freeman
Thomas “Tom” Wesley Freeman, 75, passed away on Sunday Feb. 20, 2022 surrounded by loved ones at Logan Health Kalispell from multiple health complications.
EPA says CFAC cleanup will assure safe water supply for C-Falls
“We will ensure the alternative will protect the city’s drinking water,” Bartlett said.
City should have more paid firemen by midsummer
By midsummer, the Columbia Falls fire department could have a total force of four paid firemen.
Reservations for Glacier's National Park's North Fork go quickly; Sun Road a bit slower
Glacier National Park’s vehicle reservations for the North Fork and the Going-to-the-Sun Road became available on Wednesday morning.
The Blotter:A property manager tried to have their adult daughter removed for trespassing since she refused to pay rent.
A young German Shepherd was seen wandering near 3rd Avenue, was taken to FCAS, no owner info found in microchip.
The insane patrols of Henry Thol
Old-time U.S. Forest Service Ranger Henry Thol often stunned his supervisors and others with the big miles he covered in the backcountry. One of the best examples of this was an emergency patrol undertaken by Henry and another ranger in the winter of 1927.
Endowment purchases shot clock for Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls High School will be prepared for the 35-second shot clock next basketball season, thanks to the Wildcat Athletic Endowment Association.
RV park looks to add more sites
Columbia Falls could see more RV spaces.
