Ellington

Mike Wayne Cotton, 74

Mike Wayne Cotton, age 74, passed away on Nov. 19, 2023 at Logan Health Medical Center.

Man in custody after allegedly shooting gun in Hungry Horse

A Hungry Horse man is in police custody after he allegedly was firing a gun in Hungry Horse early Wednesday morning.

Wolverine proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tuesday announced it was proposing listing the wolverine as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the contiguous United States, a move that has been years in the making.

Erna “Dena” D. Wittmaack, 82

Erna “Dena” D. Wittmaack died Nov. 19, 2023 in Columbia Falls.

Mark Lowitz, 75

Mark Charles Lowitz died Nov. 20, 2023 in Kalispell at Logan Health Center.

James “Jim” F. Colleary, 60

James “Jim” F. Colleary died Nov. 13, 2023 in Kalispell.

Norma June Hornbacher, 82

On Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, Norma June Hornbacher passed away after a brief illness.

Storm Waterbury, 85

Storm Waterbury, 85, passed away Nov. 16, 2023.

Free meal in the Canyon Thursday

It’s time for the Canyon Community Dinner at the Hungry Horse School again.

Man faces felony charges for ramming cars near Martin City

A Kalispell man accused of ramming law enforcement vehicles while evading authorities near Martin City in October is facing multiple charges in Flathead County District Court.

Grapplers start the season this weekend in Polson

The Columbia Falls boys wrestling team is off to a slow but steady start after a slight delay to their first practice to accommodate wrestlers also playing in the state football championship.

All-State, All Conf. named

The Columbia Falls sports teams did well in recent all-state and all-conference selections.

Opinion: St. Mary Surprises

So with a long weekend we decided to go to St. Mary in Glacier National Park and see what we could see.

Fill the lake law gets a mixed review

Shortly after Rep. Ryan Zinke introduced legislation aimed at keeping Flathead Lake at full pool during the height of summer, operators of the SKQ Dam called the congressman’s proposal unworkable.

Yesterdays: Elk herds a growing problem

Elk were a problem in Glacier National Park. An annual elk census showed about 3,140 elk, up about 850 from a 1951 census.

More details on plane crash

The plane that crashed into the Hungry Horse Reservoir Nov. 18 was an experimental aircraft Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino confirmed.

The Blotter: Krook$ paint graffiti

Graffiti reading “Krook$,” “We$tside Killa$ and Drilla$,” and “Winner$” was reported at various intersections across town.

Man gets 18 months in jail for DUI death

The motorist accused of drunkenly striking and killing a 21-year-old man near Columbia Falls in March has been sentenced to 18 months in the Flathead County Detention Center.

Harada presentation, film, showing at FVCC

Renowned wildlife photographer and filmmaker Sumio Harada will have a program entitled “Hidden Life in Glacier” at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 the the Flathead Valley Community College’s Arts and Technology Building.

Climate change a factor in trimming of wolf season

U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy Nov. 21 issued a preliminary junction that significantly shortens Montana’s wolf trapping season by several weeks.

North Fork Thanksgivings a century-plus tradition

I know that many people—me included—will be missing Larry Wilson’s traditional write-up describing the North Fork Thanksgiving celebration at Sondreson Hall.

City will lose ‘doughnut’ planning under new state law

The City of Columbia Falls will soon lose its “doughnut.” The doughnut is an extraterritorial planning jurisdiction that allows the city to have say in developments outside the city limits.

Piebald deer a rare sight in the Flathead

Hungry Horse News photographer Avery Howe recently photographed a nearly-all white whitetail deer, known as a piebald deer.

Moultray signs to play college softball in Indiana

Columbia Falls standout pitcher and hitter Maddie Moultray officially signed with St-Mary-of-the-Woods College last week.

Legals for November, 22 2023

Thankful to be Home

North Forker was stuck in Israel during war with Hamas

North Forker Bonnie Hankey has something to be thankful for this holiday season — escaping the escalating war in Israel.

Yesterdays: 3 million grayling stocked in Hungry Horse Reservoir

Montana Fish and Game along with local sportsmen groups stocked 3 million grayling into the newly-formed Hungry Horse Reservoir.

From tracking mosquitoes to trees with disease, GIS works

From tracking disease in Ponderosa pines to managing mosquitoes, Geographic Information Systems are doing more and more to help utilities, government and scientists in the Flathead Valley.

The Quest: Renowned photographer Dr. Richard Buswell releases seventh book

Ask Dr. Richard Buswell how many photos he’s taken and printed over the span of his 51-year career and he can tell you exactly: 534.

Night of Lights, Brunch with Santa coming up

Holiday festivities kick off in Columbia Falls the first weekend in December with the Night of Lights parade Friday, Dec. 1 and the Rotary Club’s Brunch with Santa Saturday, Dec. 2.

Election department says ballot fix coming for Columbia Falls voter

The Flathead County election department said last week that a ballot issue with a single home in the northeast part of Columbia Falls should be fixed soon.

Low lake levels avoidable, they claim

Flathead Lake is one of the most beautiful places on earth; however, this summer’s low lake levels severely impacted residents, irrigators, fishermen, recreationists, marinas, land and dock owners, and many other businesses directly or indirectly.

Thoughts on CFAC

Regarding the EPA’s probable ‘solution’ to the contamination of the CFAC site, I share the angst expressed in Chris Peterson’s “Through the lens” columns July 5th and Aug. 30th. I’d hoped that spectacular property, cleansed for re-development, would become a reborn asset to the city and valley. The nearly decade-long cleanup process has been a hopeful journey of local participation, discovery, and accountability.

Tranel on rate hike

As the first snow is falling, and freezing temperatures hit, we are getting pummeled with another huge energy rate increase, thanks to the five Republicans on the Montana Public Service Commission.

As snow and ice melts, Glacier Park seeing new lakes

As global warming continues to shrink glaciers and ice fields in Glacier National Park, another feature is growing on the landscape — small lakes from the melting ice and snow.

No bail for man who allegedly shot at girlfriend’s house

Judge Amy Eddy denied Thursday a request by the man accused of shooting at his ex-girlfriend’s Columbia Falls home with an AR-15-style rifle last month for release from custody on his own recognizance.

Bonnie Ratterman, 72

Bonnie Mateka Ratterman died in St. George, Utah on Oct. 28, 2023. She was born on Nov. 21, 1950 to Elwyn (Mutt) and Mary (Ann) Mateka, joining an older brother, Gary, at the family home in Columbia Falls.

Hans Christian Rensel, 54

Hans Christian Rensel was born the second son of Richard and Sharon Rensel on Dec. 3, 1968. Raised in West Glacier, he attended West Glacier Elementary where his Dad was a teacher before transitioning to Columbia Falls for junior high and high school.

Storm Waterbury

Storm Waterbury, 85, passed away Nov. 16, 2023. She was born on Nov. 3rd, 1938 in Morenci, Michigan to Edwin and Ann (Belding) Sharr.

Death notices for Nov. 22, 2023

Dave died Nov. 16, 2023 in Kalispell at his home under Logan Hospice care. Dave is survived by his wife Lorraine “Dixie” and daughter Terri Ogle. No ceremony is scheduled.

Two survive plane crash in Hungry Horse Reservoir

Two people survived a plane crash in the Hungry Horse Reservoir Saturday.

Wildcats lose heartbreaker to Dillon in OT

Coaches, players and fans often use the cliche “hard fought battle,” but this game was all of that and more.

Speech and debate does well in Bozeman

The Wildcat Speech and Debate team competed at the AA Invitational Tournament in Bozeman over the weekend.

Deadline to comment on hunting regs approaching

Tuesday, Nov. 21, marks the deadline to comment online regarding hunting regulation proposals for the 2024-2025 hunting seasons in Montana.

Newcomer Price takes council seat

Challenger Kathryn Price edged incumbent Darin Fisher in the Columbia Falls city council election last week.

Medusa’s Stones is no ordinary rock shop

Christina Moser wasn’t really planning on opening a rock shop when she visited the empty 729 Nucleus Avenue storefront.

Opinion: Cutting weight?

There was a bright red spot of blood in the track and I wondered how the fox had gotten the injury.

State looks to tackle mental health issues

No Montana community is untouched by the mental health crisis.

Get back to the basics

As a Republican candidate for Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, I have a simple, but clear vision for our schools: I want to bring education back to basics.

Yesterdays: Court ruling allow widows to stay at Vets Home

The final stages of the Hungry Horse Dam project were being finished up. The dam cost $102 million to construct.

Plea deal reached in C-Falls scuffle

A man accused of climbing into another motorist’s vehicle parked at a Columbia Falls gas station over the summer earned a pair of suspended sentences in Flathead County District Court last month.

At halfway point, hunter success lower

Montana’s general hunting season is hitting the midway point and the overall harvest is expected to increase with the onset of the deer breeding season, according to state wildlife officials.

The Blotter: Vans Ave burglary reported

Burglary was reported on Vans Avenue, which allegedly included the homeowner’s dog’s ashes.

Apgar Lookout Retreat now open in Glacier

After a little over a year’s construction, Apgar Lookout Retreat is open to guests.

$101,000 change order rankles city council

The Columbia Falls City Council approved a series of change orders to contracts last week, but they weren’t too happy about it.

CFHS honors veterans

Photos from Columbia Falls High School's Veterans Day Assembly on Thursday, Nov. 9.

Cats drop Corvallis

Face Dillon in title game on the road Saturday

On a windy Saturday in Corvallis, the Columbia Falls football team dropped the Blue Devils 19-7 to advance to state A championship against Dillon.

Art show on Nucleus

Persimmon Gallery will host a Junior High and High School Miniatures Art show with a reception held on Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 5-8 p.m.

Nutcracker ballet coming up soon

It’s that special time of year again, for Sugar Plums to not only dance in our heads, but on our stage, and the Northwest Ballet Company will be doing exactly that.

Legals for November, 15 2023

Hearing officer upholds Flathead Conservation District's authority in Glacier Park inholder case. District, in turn, orders house removed by April 1

Flathead Conservation District Hearing Officer Laurie Zeller Monday found that the Flathead Conservation District has jurisdiction over a house the board claims was built illegally on the banks of McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park.

Veteran recalls life in the unfriendly skies of Vietnam

“I didn’t do anything special,” Paul Derrow said when asked about his service in Vietnam. After some contemplation, he conceded, “I guess flying was special.”

Glacier eases back on reservation requirements in 2024; Sun Road access from St. Mary will be available without reservation

Glacier National Park announced Thursday that it has made changes to the reservation system for the Going-to-the-Sun Road and other road access to the park for the summer of 2024, including dropping the Sun Road reservation requirement if accessed via St. Mary on the park’s east side.

Unofficial city election results

Here's the unofficial Columbia Falls city election results. Top three gain seats.

Yesterdays: Widows get the boot from Veterans Home

A change in policy forced 11 widows living at the Montana Veterans Home to leave. They would be transferred to other homes in the state, depending on their mental and physical condition.

Cecil John Rowe, 64

Cecil John Rowe lost his battle with cancer on Oct. 29, 2023 in Springfield, Oregon.

Travis J. Kohlbeck, 53

Travis J. Kohlbeck died Nov. 1, 2023 in Columbia Falls.

Tony Hoyopatubbi, 71

Tony Howard Hoyopatubbi died Nov. 2, 2023 in Columbia Falls.

Lori Marino, 68

Lori “Sue” Susan Marino died Oct. 29, 2023 in Kalispell.

Kenneth Edward Stenger, 85

Kenneth Edward Stenger died Oct. 30, 2023 in Whitefish.

Avalanche speaker series coming up this week

Winter recreationists will gather in Whitefish on Nov. 11 for an afternoon of presentations from experts in avalanches and mountain experience at the annual Northern Rockies Snow and Avalanche Workshop.

Green looks forward to coaching baseball team

A familiar face in Columbia Falls sports was recently named the new Columbia Falls High School baseball coach.

Cats Corvallis bound after beating undefeated Central

The Columbia Falls football team won a battle against undefeated Billings Central on the road Saturday, 21-16.

Wildcats do well at Kalispell Kickoff tourney; third overall

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team took third overall and first among A schools at the Kalispell Kickoff tourney at Glacier High School over the weekend.

Speech and debate making its mark early

Volunteer judges needed as Wildcats hosting state tourney in January

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team looks to nab another state A title this season and already they’ve been showing their mettle at early meets.

Logging project proposed near Bob Marshall Wilderness

A proposed timber project on about 5,400 acres in the Swan Valley is under review by the Flathead National Forest.

Facts on 95 mill levy

Recently opinion pieces and information sent to legislators regarding the counties decision to levy 77.9 mills instead of the state directed 95 mills has been circulating in both statewide newspapers, and internal legislative correspondence.

Opinion: Lucky duck

A bald eagle snatched dinner right in front of us. By the time I got the camera out of the chest bag the eagle was half flying, half swimming with the duck through the shallows until it could get to a dead tree on a sandbar.

The Blotter: Bomb threat

A bomb threat was called in at Smith’s on Nucleus Avenue after a manager received a phone call from a male demanding to be paid $1,000. The building was cleared.

Police investigating bomb threats, but no bomb found

Kalispell Police Department responded to a report of a bomb threat at a grocery store in the east north area of town at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Roy man killed in Halfmoon wreck

A Roy, Montana man was killed in a one-vehicle accident near Braig and Halfmoon Roads Nov. 1.

Zinke cuts to Glacier resos pass House, but visitation up anyway

Glacier National Park visitation was up over last year through September, but if a Republican-controlled Congress has its way, funding for the iconic park could be down in 2024.

Owl talk coming up, so is Ladies Night...

Nature photographers, Veterans Day ceremony, make your own slippers, Ladies' Night, Support the Bob, women meet, bird talks

About 1,000 non-native rainbow trout removed from Gunsight Lake

The effort to restore native trout in Glacier National Park’s high country lakes continued this fall after biologists removed roughly 1,000 non-native rainbow trout from Gunsight Lake, just below the Continental Divide on the east side of the park.

For Glacier’s iconic goats, snow proves solace from bugs

Research by scientists Forest P. Hayes and Joel Berger found that goats aren’t heading for the snow to cool off — they’re heading for the snow for relief from bugs.

Legals for November, 8 2023

Drawings coming up for bison hunt on Blackfeet Reservation

Hunters can now enter for a guided guaranteed bison hunt on the Blackfeet Nation.

Judge keeps bond at $100,000 in hit and run death in Martin City

Christopher Gilham’s voice broke as he remembered watching Kenneth James Floyd’s pickup truck run over his wife, Kimberly Gilham, on June 18 and drive off into the night.

In Brief: Art show at Persimmon; Bridge players sought

Persimmon Gallery will host a Junior High and High School Miniatures Art show with a reception held on Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 5-8 p.m.

The Blotter: Stolen rifle

The theft of a rifle was reported from a vehicle on Martha Road.

Yesterdays: 50 years ago, Cats in semifinals

Columbia Falls was to face Cut Bank in the state A semifinal football playoffs.

James “Jim” Harvey, 80

James “Jim” Harvey, 80, of Columbia Falls, passed away Oct. 27, 2023 at his home.

Debra Lee Younggren, 69

Debra Lee Younggren, died Oct. 19, 2023 in Kalispell.

Beverly June Damon, 81

Beverly June Damon died Oct. 24, 2023 in Columbia Falls peacefully at her home.

Man allegedly shot ex-girlfriend’s house

A 22-year-old arrested after allegedly drunkenly firing an AR-15-style weapon into his ex-girlfriend’s Columbia Falls home earlier this month is facing a felony charge in Flathead County District Court.

Gates don’t seem to stop public from driving closed Forest Roads, study in suit claims

A study done earlier this year by the Swan View Coalition claims that the Forest Service is overstating the effectiveness of of road closure devices on the Flathead National Forest.

Iran, Middle East Mastermind

I have a boyhood memory of the blockbuster award-winning movie Exodus, staring a young Paul Newman as the leader of Jewish refugees and Palestinian Jews in their epic struggle to establish the nation of Israel.

Hall’s choices

It’s hard to believe with all that goes on this time of year, getting gardens buttoned up, winterizing our homes and cars and digging out our winter coats that there is an important local election coming up next week, Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The grizzly facts

Response to opinion piece by Montana State Senator Jason Ellsworth and Montana State Senator Bruce Gillespie in the Oct. 11 Hungry Horse newspaper titled, “State should manage grizzlies.”

Anastasia M. Follett, 95

Anastasia M. Follett, 95, passed away Oct. 25, 2023 at her home in Whitefish with family by her side.

Delilah Moran, 68

Delilah Moran, 68, of Erskine, Minnesota, lost her battle to long term cancer on Sunday Oct. 22, 2023 in her home.

Stuart ‘Stu’ Sorensen

Stu passed away in his sleep on Oct. 25 at his home in Columbia Falls.

Spikers punch ticket to divisional tourney, face Broncs

The Columbia Falls volleyball team made it to the divisional tourney in Polson this week after winning two play-in games.

Girls fall short in championship to Bulldogs, 3-1

After a hard-fought game and a great season, the Columbia Falls girls soccer team settled for second place in the Montana A championship against Whitefish on Smith Fields on Saturday, Oct. 28.

Wildcats hammer Bulldogs 42-0 in playoffs

The Columbia Falls football team hammered Whitefish 42-0 in the first round of the state A playoffs Friday night at home.

Rosey the Robot making life easier for wait staff at Nite Owl, Back Room

Waitresses at the Nite Owl and Back Room Restaurants in Columbia Falls now have a helping hand in Rosey the Robot.

Trunk or Treat

Photos by Chris Peterson

Legals for November, 1 2023