Ellington

Uphill skiers must mind new lift

The winter season gets closer every day with more snow last week and colder temperatures in the single digits, making for excellent outdoor recreation opportunities.

PHOTOS: November Wild

Scenic and wildlife shots taken in and around Glacier National Park at the onset of winter.

School board politics needs to go

The Columbia Falls School Board member, Barb Riley, went to the state wide meeting of the Montana School Board Association. When she gave her report I thought she was going to say what their goals were to improve our student’s education and to communicate with parents to reach education goals, etc.

Backcountry eyes and ears

Last week’s meeting on reservations for Two Medicine and Many Glacier Valleys sure sounded like Glacier has its mind made up — the Thursday meeting at any rate.

Joan Corrine Galland Bruce Lundy

Joan Corrine Galland Bruce Lundy, 91, died peacefully on Nov. 6, 2022 in Kalispell.

Living with grizzlies as neighbors

When I was working with a Kenyan outdoor instructor in Wyoming’s Wind River Range a couple of decades ago, he surprised me one day by saying, “Hiking here feels like a walk in the park.”

Jolene “JoAnn” Archibald

Jolene “JoAnn” Archibald, 92, died Nov. 23, 2022, following a brief illness. She was a resident at the Montana Veteran’s Home in Columbia Falls.

City backs proposed county septage facility in lower valley

The City of Columbia Falls is backing a new county septage and biosolids facility.

The Blotter: Stolen car pursuit on Hilltop

Police engaged in a motorized pursuit of a stolen vehicle, which started on Hilltop Road and resulted in spikes deployed on Highway 2.

Locals in industry take media training

Flathead Valley residents Shauna Dunn, Shelby George, Brian Hogue, and Cameron Wohlschlegel just returned from three days in Billings as part of REAL Montana (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership). For REAL Montana Class V, this was the second seminar in their two-year educational program.

Caudill back at the helm of swim team

The Columbia Falls swim team has a familiar face as its head coach this season. Amy Caudill has returned to coach the squad.

Girls basketball team is young, talented

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team is young, but they’ve put in the gym time.

Columbia Falls Police Association Shop with a Cop coming up; donations sought

Every holiday season the Columbia Falls Police Association hosts shop with a cop, where the department takes less fortunate children selected by the elementary schools on a shopping trip at Target in Kalispell. The store also gives the program a discount.

Boys hoops should be fun to watch

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team has only has one senior on its roster. But they don’t lack for experience or talent.

City scales back resort tax penalties

The City of Columbia Falls is still looking at a new law that would implement penalties to businesses that are chronically late paying resort taxes, but it won’t look to implement criminal penalties for non-payment like some municipalities do.

Glacier visitation up in September, but down overall compared to last year

Glacier National Park’s September visitation was up 2.1% over last year, with Many Glacier seeing a 65% increase over 2021.

Grapplers open season this week, look sharp

The Columbia Falls wrestling team should be solid again this year.

Yesterdays: Family butchers its own Thanksgiving meal

The Ericksons and Thomases were butchering their own turkeys for thanksgiving. The newspaper ran a photo spread on the process. The families said the birds tasted great.

Oberling pleads guilty in electrocution case

Locally renowned landscape painter Nicholas Oberling pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment Monday, testifying that he ran a live wire into his significant other’s shower last summer in the hopes of ending their relationship.

Buy a painting, help Owen Sowerine Natural Area

The Flathead Land Trust is currently auctioning off paintings to support a critical conservation easement to preserve the Owen Sowerine Natural Area along the Flathead River.

Neighbors appeal Swiss Apartment variance to Supreme Court

“Granting the variance serves the public interest in providing affordable housing for young families and members of the workforce living in Columbia Falls,” Allison opined.

Opinion: Swan watching takes a turn

So Sunday morning I was out swan watching. What, you’ve never swan watched before? It’s when you stand on a frozen rock with frozen shoes in freezing weather while a small flock of trumpeter swans take a nap on the edge of the Middle Fork.

The Blotter: Collision results in flipped vehicle on River Road

A truck t-boned and flipped a parked vehicle on River Road early in the morning, medical units responded to two injuries.

Yesterdays: Howard G. Satterthwaite was named general manager of the new Anaconda Aluminum Co. plant in Columbia Falls

The type II polio vaccine was coming to Columbia Falls. The cost was 50 cents. Big winds swept across the region and the state. Helena saw a gust of 74 mph and Livingston saw one of 115 mph.

Book Review: Trout Town a fun romp

When Montana author Dave Ames gave me a review copy of his latest book, “Trout Town” I expected a tome of essays on trout, and fishing, a la John Gierach.

Windauer named second team all-conference

Columbia Falls graduate and Montana Tech Junior Ben Windauer was named a second team all-frontier conference defensive football selection.

Public land – a true blessing

t every Thanksgiving dinner, my family asks everyone around the table to say what they’re grateful for. It puts new guests on the spot, so sometimes they just thank the hosts — an easy out that makes it harder for anyone else struggling for a good answer. I’ve been in that position, but this year I know what I’m grateful for.

Lots of work ahead

This past election cycle has really woken me up to the condition of our country and the work that lays ahead. Also this morning I posted on FB “VOTE YOUR FAITH, VOTE YOUR CONVICTIONS VOTE YOUR BIBLE” so FB restricted my account for 30 days. Only in America right?

Dollar General plans store in Columbia Falls

A Dollar General Store could be coming to Columbia Falls.

Rotary Brunch with Santa returns this year

Kids 12 and younger are free to enter. Adult tickets for the meal are $10. All proceeds from the event go back into the community by means of the charitable work of the Rotary Club.

Boy Scouts sought for troop

Local Boy Scout Troop 1941

Amanda Eileen Prichard Cannon

Born Dec. 25, 1972 in Kalispell to Darrell and Sandy (Zabel) Prichard. She went to school in Columbia Falls.

Subdivision planned near Meadow Lake Resort

Schellinger Construction has plans for a 103-lot subdivision near Meadow Lake Resort.

Highway 206 construction done for the winter; paving next year

The Montana Department of Transportation and Riverside Contracting have paused construction on Secondary Highway 206 near Columbia Falls for the winter season.

Jamison recognized for conservation work

His only child was born in a cabin up the North Fork of the Flathead. One of his first assignments as a young journalist was howling for wolves with renowned wolf biologist Diane Boyd up the North Fork.

Annual Night of Lights Parade is Dec. 2

The annual Columbia Falls Night of Lights celebration is Dec. 2 down Nucleus Avenue. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and folks should line up floats at the end of Nucleus Avenue at 5 p.m. with judging at 5:15 p.m.

Columbia Falls man sentenced for drug charge in Lincoln County

A Columbia Falls man facing drug charges in Lincoln County after a traffic stop in June near Fortine pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Monday, Nov. 7.

Hungry Horse Dam upgrades in the works; 70-year-old crane coming down

he removal of the crane is part of a bigger project over the next several years that will see major upgrades to the dam that are expected to cost about $200 million, according to previous estimates.

Essex worried that phone ‘solution’ won’t work

Essex residents are wondering why the rule has not already been enforced, as the members of the community have gone weeks without service at times.

Plot thickens in Holland Lake Lodge expansion debate

“Without a liquor license, the Lodge — a destination resort that touts fine dining as one of its attractions — can’t legally sell alcohol, which would likely be a death blow,” the memo said.

Community events: Free meals, Thrift store

Columbia Falls Community Kitchen will be serving free, hot meals on Nov. 29 and 30 at 6 p.m. in the basement of St. Richard’s Catholic Church.

Legals for November, 23 2022

Glacier says it hasn't made a final decision on Two Medicine, Many Glacier reservations

Glacier National Park said Friday it has not made a final decision on whether to implement a reservation system for the Two Medicine and Many Glacier valleys.

Glacier Park will require reservations for Two Medicine, Many Glacier valleys next summer

Glacier National Park will require reservations for Many Glacier and the Two Medicine valleys in the summer of 2023. That’s in addition to the reservation requirements for the Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork entrances.

Bighorn Adventures

The rut is officially on and wildlife in Glacier are still out and about as winter temperatures begin to set in.

PHOTOS: Veteran's Day Assemby

Moments from the Veteran's Day Assembly at Columbia Falls High School on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.

KENNETH HENRY BELL (1936 – 2022)

Kenneth Henry Bell was born on the 21st of September 1936 in the middle of the Great Depression to a young beautiful mother, Frances (Sievers) Bell, who was part German/Dutch and Cree and his Irish Canadian father, Lawrence Bell, in Kalispell. He liked to be called Kenny.  Kenny passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on the 8th of November 2022 in Kalispell, Montana.

Thoughts on Trump

To date, Trump is the first President to lose two popular elections

Opinion: Cool School

“C’mon, sit on it,” I said the to the fellas.

West Glacier Vision Plan goes in front of commissioners next week

A few years in the making, the West Glacier Vision Plan will go before Flathead County Commissioners on Nov. 22 for final approval.

Boys, girls, soccer all-state, conference, announced

Columbia Falls Wildcats Bryce Dunham, Kai Golan, Nico Lang, Andrew Miner, Walton Nichols, and Finley Sundberg were recently named first team all-conference and all-state in boys soccer.

Yesterdays: Dump approved north of Columbia Falls

A new landfill north of the city was approved. It would be on 15 acres owned by the Anaconda Aluminum Co. The company would be able to use the site as well, but it wasn’t expected to, since it had plenty of other places to dump its waste.

Death Notices for Nov. 16, 2022

Thomas W. Kelso, 72, of Columbia Falls, passed away Nov. 10, 2022 at Hidden Meadows Memory Care.

Neighbors concerned about county septage facility

Residents who live near Wiley Slough in Lower Valley say they enjoy a rural lifestyle complete with a variety of wildlife moving through their properties but fear that would be lost if a county proposal for a new septage treatment facility in the area goes ahead.

City looks to put teeth into resort tax collections

The City of Columbia Falls will look to put some teeth into its resort tax after several businesses apparently did not pay the tax, almost a year later.

Court resets wolf quotas, for now

On Tuesday a state District Court in Lewis and Clark County issued a temporary restraining order impacting some of Montana’s wolf hunting and trapping regulations. The changes go into effect immediately, Montana Fish Wildlife Parks announced Tuesday.

Coram woman opens Christmas store, and it’s busy, busy

Cassie Baldelli (Stoneman) could have taken it easy. After all, she and her family ran Glacier Raft Co. for years as well as a guest ranch in Coram.

Another arctic blast Thursday into Friday

Another arctic blast is expected to sweep across the region Thursday into Friday.

Final election results: Republicans rule the roost

Republicans maintained firm control in the Montana midterm elections.

Yesterdays: Worry about future of aluminum plant

They were floating about 80,000 board feet of logs down the Hungry Horse Reservoir that were logged from Graves and Wheeler Creeks by L.P. Tonner, a Martin City lumberman. Crews were also finishing work for the season on the new West Side Reservoir Road.

Workforce housing ideas

It is encouraging that Whitefish and now Kalispell are beginning to seriously consider the challenge of maintaining a quality local workforce by exploring innovative workforce and affordable housing strategies. I would encourage them to examine possible lessons from other ski towns and tourist communities. One might be Park City, Utah which we recently visited.

Delayed decisions

I am really disappointed in our Flathead County Commissioners – again. They scheduled a hearing to decide whether to approve or reject the amendments to the North Fork Plan as proposed by the North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee. In a meeting between representatives of the LUAC with the Commision Chairman the Committee reps were informed of the rules for the hearing.

The last tomato

It’s sitting in the window, all red and plump and ready to be sliced and put on a pile of ham and turkey with a little mayo and some nice sandwich bread.

Cats fall just short against Golden Eagles

The Wildcats battled back in the third when quarterback Cody Schweikert rumbled in for a 8-yard touchdown run at the 7:43 mark of the third.

Speech and debate making its mark

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team started the 2022-23 season on a strong note, winning the sweepstakes in Class A at the Kalispell AA kickoff on Saturday.

The wisdom of sisters

Kim Gange doesn’t have to travel far to visit her sister, Kristy. She’s right down the hall.

Study: Goats rule the roost at mineral licks

When it comes to mountain goats and bighorn sheep competing over the same mineral lick, the goats, with their sharp horns and grumpy disposition win the battle.

Community events: Plenty of craft and bake sales coming up

North Valley Eagles is hosting Crafters Fair Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be a variety of crafters. Lunch available for purchase.

The blotter: Several vacuums were reported stolen from a car wash on 9th Street.

A man using an oxygen tank due to a condition called the police because a tree landed on his house and was blocking the entrance way.

Bitter cold expected to stick around into next week

The cold and snow that came last week promises to stay with us through the weekend, with highs in the upper 20s and low 30s and lows dipping into the single digits Friday night and the teens the rest of time.

Appeal filed in Badger-Two Med case. Could Marias Pass be industrialized?

The 1990 EIS, however, claims the project would, in essence, have no longterm impacts on the coveted elk herd there, as well grizzly bears, native fish and other species.

Crunch time for Gateway project

Crews and subcontractors from Swank Construction were hard at it last week on the new Glacier Gateway Elementary School. Major portions of the school are completed, but there are still plenty of facets of work to be completed as contractors try to get the school largely completed for students and staff to move into by January.

Nucleus to see another major improvement

Nucleus Avenue will see more development, and investment, in the coming weeks.

Death notices for Nov. 9, 2022

A celebration of life for former Glacier National Park superintendent Chas Cartwright is 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Heaven’s Peak Room of the Cedar Creek Lodge in Columbia Falls on Nov. 12.

Election results so far...

Statewide election results as of Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 5:35 a.m. Precincts fully reported 442 of 663 (66%)

Carlton “Carl” George Sobczak

Carlton “Carl” George Sobczak, 71, of Columbia Falls, passed away Nov. 2, 2022. He was born June 15, 1951 in Buffalo, New York to the late Edmund Sobczak and Olga Sobczak (Korona).

Crawford makes bail in Martin City case

The man accused of shooting two people in Martin City over the summer — leaving one dead — was released from county jail Oct. 31 after posting a $750,000 bond.

Woman allegedly was living in home she didn't own

A woman arrested for breaking into a Columbia Falls home late last month adamantly maintained she was the owner even while getting booked into the Flathead County Detention Center, prosecutors say.

Hungry Horse man gets suspended sentence in child-beating case

A Hungry Horse man who has spent more than a year in the county jail after allegedly beating his children received a suspended five-year sentence on Thursday.

Bitterly cold by early next week

More snow. Some rain. Then mid-winter like cold and even more snow.

Thoughts on PSC

I’m running for Public Service Commissioner, District 5 and have shared my opinion about dysfunction at the PSC on more than one occasion. This time, however, I write to share my concerns about recent actions taken by my opponent in this race. My concerns stem from two emails sent by Ann Bukacek in August and September to Montana politicians including the Governor, legislators, and legislative candidates.

Support for Repke

The choice is clear. Regardless of your flavor, Republican, Democrat, or independent, there is one candidate in District 5 qualified to perform the duties and obligations of the Public Service Commission intelligently, diligently, and judiciously, and thereby represent the best interests of all Montanans, and that candidate is John Repke.

Getts gets housing

Montana’s housing crisis will be a major focus of the next legislative session. The “solutions” recently proposed by the Governor’s task force involve (1) promoting denser, taller construction and unlimited ADUs (often used as VRBOs), and (2) taking away the rights of cities and towns to decide whether or not they want those things.

Thoughts on LR 131

During a legislative session, there are over a thousand bills, amendments and motions a single legislator will vote on over a course of four months.

Child a sign from Grandma

On April 30th, The Flathead Valley lost a valued and special member of our community.

Kenyon supports Getts

I’ve been following the candidates in the House District 3 State House race with care recently. While reviewing my representative’s record, his support of legislation on behalf of our community went missing.

Fall Hike to Harrison Lake

Harrison Lake is an isolated drainage on the southern border of Glacier.

Cats blank Miles City, 48-0, in playoff opener

On a windy, but dry morning for the Wildcats, it was the opening round of the playoffs against the Miles City Cowboys, a rematch to last year’s narrow defeat 21-20 on the same field.

The Blotter: Terrier in tennis courts

A neighborhood rooster was causing noise issues on 8th Street, police informed the owner that they needed to remove it from the location.

Yesterdays: Christmas card views in '72

Heavy snow came to the region, with “Christmas card views.” Glacier Park was going to study the impacts of snowmobiles in Glacier. The park would eventually ban them.

Wick, school board, receive top honors

The Columbia Falls School District 6 board of trustees and superintendent Dave Wick were recently recognized by their peers.

From a barn in Creston to a major employer in the Flathead, Nomad celebrates 20 years

Columbia Falls firm Nomad GCS saw its 20th anniversary this year.

Robert Earl Goodman, 82

Robert Earl Goodman, arrived in his heavenly home on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. He was 82. Bob was the oldest of three sons born to Rev. Earl and Louise Goodman.

PSC candidate Repke has ties to Columbia Falls

Public Service candidate John Repke has ties to Columbia Falls. He was the former Chief Financial Officer of SmartLam, the specialty wood manufacturer.

Legals for November, 2 2022