Ellington

Glacier Park reports three small fires

Crews were working to extinguish a few small fires in Glacier National Park today. Spokeswoman Gina Icenoggle said the fires are all less than a tenth of an acre.

County signs buy-sell on land for septage facility; neighbors promise lawsuit

Flathead County is reconsidering a previously rejected Lower Valley property as the potential location for a regional septage treatment facility.

Area going into Stage 1 Fire restrictions Saturday

Northwest Montana, which includes Flathead, Lincoln and Sanders counties, will go into stage 1 fire restrictions starting Saturday at 12:01 a.m.

Two grizzlies put down in last week, one in Glacier Park

Two grizzlies bears were killed last week because they continued to get in trouble with humans and human foods.

Department of Revenue talks revaluation

By now, most Montana property owners have opened their 2023 Property Classification and Appraisal Notices, and many have been surprised by the Montana Department of Revenue’s estimate of their property’s market value.

Opinion: Scratching the Belly

So over the weekend we wandered around the Belly River of Glacier National Park.

Yesterdays: 20 years ago Wedge Canyon Fire rages up the North Fork

Hollywood film stars Victor Mature and Piper Laurie were in Glacier National Park to film “Glacier Story” which would later be released as “Dangerous Mission!”

Fire season underway

Evacuation orders are in place for some residences in the Seeley-Swan Valley due to a wildfire burning about 12 miles northwest of Seeley Lake.

County seeks disaster declaration for Flathead Lake

Flathead County commissioners asked Gov. Greg Gianforte on Monday to issue a disaster declaration for Flathead and Lake counties owing to the economic fallout from Flathead Lake’s diminished water level.

Glacier National Park Conservancy receives grant for Wheeler Cabin

The Glacier National Park Conservancy has received a Montana Historic Preservation Grant for preservation of the Wheeler Cabin in Glacier National Park.

City OK’s Boys and Girls Club project, RAISE project

The Columbia Falls city council last week approved two key infrastructure projects in the city.

Groups object to Gunsight Lake fish project

Several local environmental groups have raised objections to a Glacier National Park plan to establish native bull and westslope cutthroat trout in Gunsight Lake.

C-Falls man sentenced for shotgun incident

A Columbia Falls man with multiple felony convictions was sentenced July 20 to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a loaded shotgun.

North Fork human remains identified

Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said the human remains found up the North Fork near Teepee Lake have been positively identified as Jared Lee McManus, 47 of Kalispell.

The Blotter: Child on bike hit by car

A fence was damaged on Veteran Drive, possible vandalism.

Turner’s ‘jog’ down reservoir complete

He did it.

Chisholm recognized nationally for debate prowess

Columbia Falls graduate Eddie Chisholm was recently recognized by the The National Speech & Debate Association’s Honor Society for reaching the level of Premier Distinction.

Dickey Lake, a brushy, but rewarding hike in the end

The hike to Dickey Lake in the Great Bear Wilderness just west of Essex is a short but somewhat challenging hike through thick woods to a rewarding destination, a crystal blue tarn with very few hikers and stunning views.

Hunters can apply for leftover elk permits

Hunters interested in signing up for elk permits left over from the permit drawing can do so between today, July 21, and Aug. 4.

Twins win district tourney, head to state

The Glacier Twins took the long route to a district title, and it could have been longer.

Zinke looks to defund Glacier's reservation system

Montana Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke has added an amendment to a federal Interior bill to defund Glacier National Park’s reservation system.

Concert will celebrate trip to Europe in 1970

Some 53 years ago, 87 Columbia Falls High School band members and 22 chaperones departed for Europe to put on several concerts for largely adoring crowds.

Kloset sale in August

The Klothes Kloset Thrift Store will have its back to school sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 1.

Shed destroyed in fire

Columbia Falls firefighters responded to a shed fire on Dunwoody Lane Friday night about 11 p.m.

Anglers asked to take it easy on Flathead River fish — voluntarily fish mornings only

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is asking anglers to take it easy on the Flathead River system's fish, so it hopefully doesn’t have to implement “hoot owl” restrictions on the three forks and mainstem of the Flathead River through Columbia Falls.

Feds won’t draw down Reservoir to fill Flathead Lake

Zinke claims fish being considered more than humans in debate

A regional water management team on Friday opted not to alleviate Flathead Lake’s low water level by increasing flows out of Hungry Horse Reservoir.

Lions Club announces two cool concerts

The Columbia Falls Lions Club will host two concerts this summer at Marantette Park.

Gavel passed to new Rotary Club leader

Leadership of the Rotary Club of Columbia Falls was handed off to President Cliff Seiler from former president and new Vice President Roger Hopkins at a recent meeting.

Glacier seeks volunteers to count nighttime pollinators

The Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center (CCRLC) and Glacier National Park invite volunteers to the first Nocturnal Pollinator BioBlitz and a celebration of National Moth Week.

Many Glacier Campground will likely be closed in 2025

Glacier National Park is proposing to close the Swiftcurrent developed area in Many Glacier from the fall of 2024 until the spring of 2026 in order to upgrade the parking area, rehabilitate the roadway and replace the water system.

Twins head into district tourney on a high note

The Glacier Twins A American Legion baseball squad went 5-1 on the week.

The fastest girls in the Flathead win regional relay

A relay team of some of the fastest female athletes from the Flathead Valley has qualified for the USATF Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Climbing Triple Divide

The hike to Triple Divide Mountain in Glacier National Park is an eight mile slug up a long and gradual trail to Triple Divide Pass.

Free meals at church

Columbia Falls Community Kitchen will be serving delicious, free meals in the basement of St. Richard’s Catholic Church on July 30 and 31 at 6 p.m.

Fatal on Highway 2

A Kalispell man was killed in a one-vehicle rollover in Columbia Heights Sunday night.

Yesterdays: 1963 Flathead sets record of timber harvest

The first structural steel for the new Anaconda Aluminum Co. plant had arrived.

The Blotter: TikTok trend breaks fences

Report of guns or fireworks going off inside a home on 11th Avenue.

Heritage Days is next week, here’s lineup of events

The annual Columbia Falls Heritage Days is next week, with a host of fun events.

More thoughts on reval

Las Vegas card sharks, Mississippi Riverboat gamblers, and Churchill Downs handicappers are pleased that Governor Gianforte and Montana’s Republican legislators pulled a fast one on Montana homeowners in the 2023 session.

Following the ‘leader’

A spectacular picture recently appeared on social media of a young lady in Arizona.

Ninth Circuit rules against environmental groups, in part

The legal battle over roads and road building on Flathead National Forest promises to continue

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last month upheld the Flathead National Forest’s 2018 Forest plan as it pertains to grizzly bears and bull trout.

For the first time years, Glacier will allow boats on east side, with inspection

In partnership with the Blackfeet Tribe, Glacier National Park announced that Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) inspection stations will open on July 20 to provide boating opportunities on Two Medicine and St. Mary Lakes in Glacier National Park for the first time since 2019.

Residents don’t express much confidence in CFAC cleanup plan

Members of the public didn’t express much hope for what they see as a suitable cleanup for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. site last week.

‘It’s in our DNA,’ Baptists help city spruce up parks

The Shay Locomotive at the end of Nucleus Avenue has a shiny new coat of black paint, thanks to the efforts of the Gateway Baptist Church in Columbia Falls.

Planning Board rejects Kapoor zone change

The Flathead County Planning Board last week rejected a zone change request by Florida company Location Ventures on 12.4 acres east of Columbia Falls along Highway 2.

Human remains found up North Fork

Human remains were found in the wilds north of Polebridge near Tepee Lake on July 12, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department said in a release.

GOP grew government, raised taxes

Less government and lower taxes!!  You hear that political slogan from Republican candidates early and often while they are campaigning.

A night not to forget

What a beautiful day I said and it was: Clear and cold and not a breath of wind … Jan. 27, 1968.

The Blotter: Milk jug hits oncoming car

Two cats were left in an abandoned house on Meadow Lake Boulevard.

Yesterdays: 1963 two grizzlies sent to Ohio zoo

Rain in West Glacier was about an inch more than normal.

Montana eyes reducing wolf quota significantly

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks are proposing to reduce the hunting quota for wolves statewide from 450 to 289, according to the department and an interview with a spokesperson.

City green lights skateboard park at Fenholt

The Columbia Fall City Council last week unanimously gave its blessing for a new skateboard park at Fenholt Park.

EPA extends CFAC comment deadline

The Environmental Protection Agency has extended the public comment period for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund site proposed cleanup plan an additional month.

After 58 years in the family, Finberg sells Columbia Bar to Ruis

It’s the end of the an era in Columbia Falls as local developer Mick Ruis has formally purchased the Columbia Bar on Nucleus Avenue from longtime owner Cary Finberg.

Accidents claim four lives in a week

It was a deadly week on area roadways.

Badrock baseball has great season

The Badrock Baseball 14U team pulled the hat trick recently at Kalispell’s Firecracker Baseball 15U Tournament.

Glacier Twins have topsy-turvy week

The Glacier Twins had the home advantage all weekend long as they hosted the Ed Gallo Memorial Wood Bat tournament in Whitefish.

Lubec trailhead closed

The Lubec trailhead, parking area, and nearby dispersed recreation sites on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District will close for public safety from now to July 24.

Women meet

Columbia Falls Women’s Connection will host a luncheon on Wednesday, July 19 at 11:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church located at 827 9th St West in Columbia Falls.

Bob Volunteers sought

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is actively seeking volunteers for a slate of trail maintenance projects in the latter part of the field season.

Feeding grayling flies and other tales

I suppose if someone were standing on the bank above me they probably would have thought, “Hmmm, has that guy lost his mind?”

Swim team wins home meet by a wide margin

The Columbia Falls summer swim team won its home meet over the weekend in dominant fashion.

Zinke tours Glacier, talks alternatives to reservation system

Following up on his previous criticisms of Glacier National Park’s reservation system, Congressman Ryan Zinke on Friday during a visit to the park pushed for an improved shuttle service while saying he is working with Glacier officials to find ways to mitigate challenges like access for locals.

The Klan in Montana

History may not repeat itself, but it rhymes. Patterns and cycles seem to repeat over time.

As park looks to improve Swiftcurrent area, Many Glacier campground will likely close for 2025 season

But popular trails will stay open as park upgrades water, parking

Glacier National Park is proposing to close the Swiftcurrent developed area in Many Glacier from the fall of 2024 until the spring of 2026 in order to upgrade the parking area, rehabilitate the roadway and replace the water system.

Glacier Park offering bat field trip next week

Glacier National Park and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks invite the public to a late-evening “Going Batty” field trip on Thursday, July 13 in West Glacier from 8 p.m to about 11:30 p.m.

Zinke asks for more water for Flathead Lake

Flathead Lake’s low water level this summer has drawn the attention of Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke, who called the situation an “oncoming crisis.”

Income tax rebates coming soon

Montana income taxpayers may notice extra money in their bank accounts or a rebate check in the mail next month.

Betty Lou Skare, 94

Mrs. Betty Skare of Columbia Falls, passed away June 24th 2023 at Logan Care Center in Whitefish.

Conservation license required

Changes made by the state Legislature means that effective July 1, Montanans who access state lands will be required to have a conservation license.

The history of the Huckleberry Bear Claw: Book takes a deep dive into history of the Polebridge Mercantile

A Polebridge Mercantile history trivia quiz: 1) Which owner was married twice during his tenure as the owner of the store?

Red Bench Reborn

Thirty Five years ago on Sept. 6, 1988, the Red Bench wildfire raced across the North Fork.

Yesterdays: 1973 New campground in Apgar

The plan was to have the new Apgar Campground in Glacier National Park ready for campers in the next 10 days.

June Smith 98

DARBY – June M. (Duncan) Smith 98, of Darby passed away Monday, June 26, 2023 with her family at her bedside at the Remington Assisted Living home, in Hamilton.

CFAC promises to be a dump forever

So I’ve sat through hours of meetings on the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. cleanup and read through hundreds of pages of documents and I’ve come to the following conclusion: It will always be a dump of some sort or another.

Shelters stretched beyond capacity

Operating a shelter is difficult.

Glacier endorses bison release

Glacier National Park supports the release of bison into the Chief Mountain Wilderness area of the Blackfeet Reservation.

At CFAC hearing, former engineer says report on cleanup disappeared

While the state and the company have endorsed a proposed cleanup plan for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. Superfund site, the public didn’t think much of it at a public hearing last week with the Environmental Protection Agency, and a former engineer says a report that was crafted after he gave company and EPA officials a tour has gone missing.

Whitefish OK’s Ruis apartment complex

Columbia Falls developer Mick Ruis is building 146 rental apartments, including some deed-restricted as affordable in Whitefish.

No arrest yet in Martin City hit and run fatal

There has been no arrest made in a hit and run that killed a woman June 18 in Martin City.

Legals for July, 5 2023

2 killed, 3 injured in suspected DUI wreck near Columbia Falls

Two people were killed and three others were injured in a suspected DUI wreck Monday evening on U.S. 2 south of Columbia Falls.