Ellington

As hearing held on Glacier Park house, a lawsuit waits in the wings

he owners of a house in Glacier National Park made their case as to why it should be allowed to remain on the banks of McDonald Creek during a hearing last week in front of the Flathead Conservation Board and hearing officer Laurie Zeller.

Boys soccer wins a pair on the road, beat Rangers, again

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team defeated Livingston on Saturday in a 5-3 victory, with nine new starters in the lineup.

Cross country does well in Libby

The Columbia Falls cross country teams had a good showing at the Libby Invitational to open the season Friday.

Spikers fourth in North at tip-off tourney

The Columbia Falls volleyball team ended up fourth in the North at the Northwest-Southwest Tip-Off tournament last weekend. It was an up and down tourney for the girls, said coach Jolandie Brooks.

Football thumps Frenchtown on the road with big third quarter

After a bit of a slow start, the Columbia Falls football team tore off 28 points in the third quarter to win its season opener Friday on the road against Frenchtown, 42-14.

Stage 2 still in effect

Residents are reminded that Stage 2 fire restrictions are still in effect across most of the Flathead Valley.

Man gets prison for threatening Tester

A Kalispell man who admitted to threatening to kill Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in calls to his office was sentenced last week to 2-1/2 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Music at Home Ranch Bottoms

Home Ranch Bottoms will host music this weekend up the North Fork.

Girls win a pair on the road

The Columbia Falls girls soccer team won their first two games, 5-1 against Livingston on Saturday and 10-0 versus East Helena on Friday on the road.

Researchers say Ridge Fire provides experimental opportunities

For awhile there, researchers who oversee the Coram Experimental Forest were worried they wouldn’t have a forest left if the Ridge Fire kept growing.

Former C-Falls woman nabbed making fake notes, bad checks

A former Columbia Falls woman who admitted to defrauding Montana victims by creating and cashing fraudulent checks was sentenced last week to two years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said last week in a release.

Rainfall totals high, fires on hold

Rainfall totals in the area were impressive from Aug. 21 through Aug. 23.

Council debates resort tax estimate as city budget unveiled

As expected, Columbia Falls city property taxpayers will see a significant reduction in their taxes this year, as they city will levy half as many mills as it did last year, due to a windfall from the city’s resort tax.

Yesterdays: Goats using people as "human shields"

Researchers were tracking the behavior of mountain goats and people at Logan Pass. The goats appeared to be using people as “human shields” against predators.

Yodeler Gustafson at Sunday Market

World famous yodeler, singer and performer Wylie Gustafson will be back in Columbia Falls at the Sunday Farmer’s Market from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 3.

The Blotter: Man kicked out of home by kids

On Second Avenue, a man broke down the door to his home after his child and other occupants dumped all his property on the lawn and locked him out.

Tracing North Fork columnists

In light of Larry Wilson’s well-deserved retirement from writing his weekly column about the North Fork, after nearly 40 years of faithful reporting, I decided it would be interesting (and fun) to document the history of North Fork columns in the local newspapers and to credit the people who contributed them.

Opinion: Thoughts on CFAC

Thursday, Aug. 31 is the deadline for people to weigh in on the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. proposed cleanup plan.

Glacier, the economic engine

A recent study shows that Glacier National Park is more than just scenery and beautiful hikes. It’s an economic engine.

Legals for August, 30 2023

Bear dead, man accidentally shot in grizzly encounter

A grizzly bear is dead and a man has a gunshot wound to the shoulder after two men encountered a sow with a cub at close range in the Whitefish Range Aug. 26.

Storm brought almost 4 inches of rain to West Glacier; dropped nearly an inch on Hungry Horse in an hour

Rainfall totals in the area were impressive from Aug. 21 through Aug. 23. According to the National Weather Service, West Glacier saw 3.84 inches of rain, Hungry Horse, just below the Hungry Horse Dam, saw 3 inches of rain and the Glacier Park International Airport recorded 1.44 inches of rain.

Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in effect

Residents are reminded that Stage 2 fire restrictions are still in effect across most of the Flathead Valley.

Boys soccer looks to take another state title

After winning their first state championship in 17 years last season, Columbia Falls High School boys soccer will play with only two returning starters on their varsity team this fall.

Locals do well at the Northwest Montana Fair

Northwest Montana Fair results

Girls soccer looks to take its game to the next level

Columbia Falls girls soccer coach Thomas Clark expects his team to find themselves in the state semifinals again this season, if not more.

Schweikert verbally commits to play for UM

Columbia Falls senior quarterback Cody Schweikert has verbally committed to play football for the University of Montana Grizzlies.

Lake Five meeting this week

A group of citizens tasked with discussing recreational boating on Lake Five near West Glacier is meeting for the first time on Aug. 24.

County looks to tighten regs on short-term rentals

Flathead County has taken steps to revise short term rental zoning regulations, most notably capping the number of rentals in certain zoning districts.

Remnants of Hurricane Hilary squash wildfires

Recent rains have helped quell area fires and the pre-evacuation notice from the Spotted Bear Road to West Glacier east of Highway 2 has been rescinded.

Hearing could decide fate of house in Glacier

The Flathead Conservation District will hold a hearing Aug. 25 on a home it claims was built illegally on the bank of McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park.

Opinion: An ode to Jammer Joe

Old McDonald had a farm and so did Joe Kendall.

Some Republicans back Rosendale

U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale is the kind of proven conservative Montana needs in the race for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Jon Tester. As a group of committed conservative leaders and citizen legislators representing Montana, we are committed to our principles and the individuals who elected us.

No 8th graders in high school sports, at least for now

The Columbia Falls School Board voted 7-1 last week against immediately implementing a new policy that could allow eighth graders to play high school sports.

Yesterdays: Mountain lion creeps up on phone booth

Glacier National park rangers were hunting up to four mountain lions that had been prowling around the Apgar picnic area.

The Blotter: Kids hucking rocks at rivergoers

A group of juveniles was reported throwing rocks at people floating the river.

Glacier will go ahead with Gunsight Lake project, adds whitefish

Glacier National Park will go ahead with an effort to remove non-native fish from Gunsight Lake, replacing them with native westslope cutthroat trout, mountain whitefish and bull trout.

Commissioners to take up Location Ventures subdivision

The Flathead County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 31 on a zone change request on just over 12 acres of land along U.S. Highway 2 owned by Location Ventures.

Columbia Falls golf should be solid this season

The Columbia Falls golf team looks to make its mark this season, with 22 athletes total on the squad.

Spikers look to build on last year’s success

The Columbia Falls volleyball team will look to improve this season.

Cross country keeps it fun, keeps it loose, keeps winning

The Columbia Falls cross country teams should be solid again this season.

Football team has high hopes for season

The Columbia Falls football team should be one of the top squads in Class A again this year, with a host of talent at skilled positions, including senior quarterback Cody Schweikert who recently made a verbal commitment to play for the University of Montana Grizzlies.

Legals for August, 23 2023

Glacier seeks input on reservation system, visitor experience

Glacier National Park is asking for public input on the reservation system and other aspects of public access in a series of upcoming both virtual and in- person meetings that are coming up.

Red flag warning issued for next 36 hours; Doris Point puts up a plume

The next 36 hours promise to test fire lines as the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning from this afternoon through noon Saturday.

Yesterdays: Burn-out operation at Apgar

Glacier National Park superintendent Mick Holm made the risky decision on July 28 to start a burnout operation on Apgar Mountain.

Blotter: Extra patrols requested on Second Avenue

Extra patrols were requested on Second Avenue after a man reported his neighbor chased two men out of his yard at gunpoint a month ago, and saw flashlights going on and off while he was smoking that night.

Opinion: Brushville

For the past few years now, I’ve been hitting obscure trails in Glacier National Park in an effort to hike every trail in the park.

Columbia Falls has more than 600 vacation rentals

The number of vacation rentals available in the Columbia Falls area has risen sharply in the past few years, according to figures provided by AirDNA, a firm that tracks the vacation rental industry.

City landowners will see significant property tax rebate

Columbia Falls city taxpayers will see a hefty tax break in their property taxes when they get their bills this fall.

The Park is open

I volunteer in Glacier National Park by answering the phone in Glacier National Park headquarters and working in the “corral” two days a week alongside more than 30 other volunteers and summer park employees.

Support Glacier Institute effort to buy property

On July 12, 2022, the citizens of Columbia Falls and the Flathead Valley showed up. You overflowed City Hall and formed a line down the sidewalk.

Bull Bash

Photos from the Blue Moon Bull Bash in Columbia Falls on Friday, Aug. 11

Plea deal reached in Parker Hill gun incident

Accused of drawing a gun during a noise dispute with a neighbor last year, a Columbia Falls man earned a suspended jail sentence in Flathead County District Court in June.

Veterans reunion

On Sept. 2, the Cusicks will be hosting the 5th reunion for shipmates that served on the USS Coral Sea during the evacuation of Vietnam as well as supporting the recovery of the SS MAYAGUEZ.

Firefighters in full-on attack of Ridge Fire

Firefighters are in the midst of a ground and aerial assault of the Ridge Fire south of Martin City. On Monday sortie after sortie of “super scooper” aircraft, an assortment of helicopters and retardant tankers attacked the blaze.

Rains help with firefighting efforts

Rains fell on the Ridge Fire near Martin City yesterday and firefighters are planning to directly attack the blaze today where possible, fire information officer Ivan Huld said.

Bad Rock firefighters douse Columbia Heights trailer fire, save dog

Bad Rock firefighters pounced on a trailer fire Tuesday night, saving the life of a dog that was found in the burning structure.

Glacier National Park proposes increases in frontcountry campground fees

Glacier is proposing to increase many frontcountry camping fees beginning in 2024. In some cases, the fees would double what they are now.

Pre-evacution order issued East of Highway 2 from Spotted Bear Road to West Glacier

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Department Wednesday issued a pre-evacuation notice for residences east of Highway 2 and north of the Spotted Bear Road to West Glacier due to the Ridge Fire.

At a Bigfork bakery they asked him to move his rig off their sprinklers. So he bear sprayed their kitchen

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the man who used bear spray to assault a family working at the Lake Baked bakery in downtown Bigfork early Sunday morning.

North Fork Road work comes with delays, closures

Folks trying to get into Glacier National Park’s Polebridge entrance can expect delays of up to a half hour, as crews are working on reconstructing Glacier Drive.

Historic clock donated to Columbia Falls Museum

A piece of Columbia Falls history is now home at the Columbia Falls History Museum.

City settles Cahill lawsuit, will put up fence

The Columbia Falls City Council approved a settlement with Mark and Inge Cahill over Kreck Riverside Park Monday night.

Night moves

A waxing gibbous peeked above the treeline as nightfall darkened Glacier National Park on Saturday, July 29. Along Quarter Circle Bridge Road, mercury vapor lights stood like green torches as visitors from across the country, and nocturnal insects attracted to the glow, gathered around.

Bone dry: Regional precipitation more than 5 inches below normal

The US. Department of Agricultural on Monday announced that Flathead and Lincoln counties had been designated as primary natural disaster areas due to drought.

Twenty years ago, wildfires raged across the region

The summer of 2003 was a lot like 2023 in Northwest Montana. A dry spring followed by a drier June and July.

Northwest Montana Fair kicks off next week in Kalispell

The 2023 Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo is scheduled for Aug. 16-20 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell and will feature a performance by country star Russell Dickerson, three nights of PRCA Rodeo action and a Big Air Bash.

No felony charges in DUI fatal at Blue Moon

The motorist accused of striking and killing a 21-year-old from Columbia Falls while drunk in March faces a trio of misdemeanor charges related to the fatal collision.

The Blotter: Neighbors engage in water fight

Police responded to a property line dispute on Second Avenue where one neighbor hit the fence and attempted to spray their counterpart with the hose.

Fires close Hungry Horse Reservoir

The Ridge Fire above Emery Bay on the Hungry Horse Reservoir grew substantially in the past week and is expected to get even bigger in the next few days.

Two people survive plunge off the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park

Two people survived a plunge of the Going-to-the-Sun Road Thursday afternoon.

Hamilton announces engagement

Roo Marie Hamilton, daughter of Kelly King (née Hedstrom) of Columbia Falls, and Joshua Ryan Gratz, son of Mary (née Conrad) and Richard Gratz, of Springfield, Virginia, are pleased to announce their engagement.

Goat yoga classes coming up

Farming For the Future Academy and Yoga Hive Montana will be collaborating for two Goat Yoga Classes

Heritage Days in Photos

Heritage Days celebrations in Columbia Falls.

RV starts North Fork wildfire; under control now

A RV caught fire along the North Fork Road Wednesday and started a wildfire of about 3.6 acres near Big Creek.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions will go into effect Saturday

Flathead and Sanders counties will move to stage 2 fire restrictions beginning Saturday, Aug. 5.

Tin Soldier complex of fires closes access to Spotted Bear, Meadow Creek Gorge from reservoir

The lower ends of the East Side Reservoir Road and the West Side Reservoir road are closed due to the Tin Soldier complex of fires burning outside of Sotted Bear.

Ridge Fire near Martin City, Hungry Horse, more than 600 acres. Area closure around fire, including East Side Reservoir Road

The Ridge Fire on the east side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir is now about 633 acres.

Wetting rain expected Friday through Sunday, offering some relief from smoke, wildfires

The region should see some relief from the heat and fire weather in the coming days, the National Weather Service is saying.

Stoltze to close all its lands to public use Monday

F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. plans to close its land to public access on Monday, Aug. 7 due to elevated fire danger.

Comedian Rich Hall will perform at Home Ranch Bottoms

A nationally-known comedian will perform at Home Ranch Bottoms up the North Fork Aug. 11 in a performance called “Comedy in the Woods.”

Multiple fires burning near the Hungry Horse Reservoir

Multiple fires were burning near the Hungry Horse Reservoir as of presstime.

Fire near Whitefish Lake contained

A heavy aerial and ground attack kept a wildfire near homes on the north end of Whitefish Lake in check over the weekend.

Glacier Twins take third at state tournament

Maddox Muller was sterling in relief and the tying run was on third in the seventh inning Sunday, but the Glacier Twins lost 3-2 to the Laurel Dodgers at the State A Legion baseball tournament.

Swim team takes second at state meet

The Columbia Falls swim team took second at Conrad over the weekend, its best finish in 10 years.

Glacier Bank Boogie to the bank draws a crowd

Logan Hall of Colorado Springs won the 5K and Michael Laforest of Missoula won the 10K Boogie the Bank fun run Saturday during Heritage Days.

The Blotter: "Kool-Aid Challenge" damages fence

Police received a call from Ninth Street reporting that juveniles had damaged the property owner’s vinyl fence panels overnight.

Lawrence recalls career, concert in his honor is coming up

From 1959 to 1984 Don Lawrence was the band director at Columbia Falls High School. He left a legacy not only at the school, but with his musical arrangements across the region.

Tester opposes defunding reservation system in Glacier National Park

Montana Sen. Jon Tester said last week that he didn’t think “defunding” Glacier National Park’s reservation system was a good idea.

Love says leave fish be for awhile

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks should help the trout in the Flathead during this drought, but hoot-owl restrictions are only a temporary fix.

Hertz responds to Democrats

Montana Democrats are out in full force trying to convince Montanans that they want to reduce your taxes.

Campfires banned

Northwest Montana, which includes Flathead, Lincoln and Sanders counties is now in Stage 1 fire restrictions.

In the Canyon, they’re cooking memorable (free) meals

It’s a Thursday afternoon at the Canyon Elementary School and Louann Mohn, Flo Williams and several other women are cutting up 60 pounds of roasted potatoes for potato salad.

Yesterdays: Goats crash Hollywood movie

The mountain goats were investigating the set of a Hollywood movie being shot in Glacier National Park which starred Vincent Price.