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The holiday season in Columbia Falls, in pictures

The Holiday season in Columbia Falls, in pictures.

Yesterdays: Air Force planned bomber training flights over Glacier National Park

It was estimated that the water held behind the Hungry Horse Dam at the time was worth about $2 million, based on the price of electricity back then.

Susan Marie Saurey, 71

Susan (Sue) Marie Saurey, 71, passed away on December 8, 2024, at her home in Columbia Falls after a brief but difficult battle with cancer.

Local Rotarians, others, aim to help Guatemalans

A group of Montanans is helping bring feminine hygiene education to Guatemala next month, a “Pad Party.” They’re looking for more participants and donated materials.

Good Neighbor Authority gets work done in the woods

The Forest Service is highlighting the benefits of the Good Neighbor Authority and has even produced a short film on one recent project.

A host of athletes inducted into Hall of Fame

Several Columbia Falls 2024 graduates have been inducted into the high school Hall of Fame.

Boys split at Frenchtown tourney as well

They had a tough time against Missoula Loyola Sacred Heart, but bounced back against Butte Central. That’s how last weekend went for the Columbia Falls boys basketball team at the Western A tip-off tournament on Friday and Saturday in Frenchtown.

Grapplers have busy week

Columbia Falls got all AA schools at the Jim Street Mining City Duals and collected two victories in Butte on Dec.13-14.

Opinion: Some tips on searching Hungry Horse News archives

One of the biggest requests we get here at the Hungry Horse News is an archive search. The call typically goes like this: “Back in the 1980s my such and such was in the newspaper. Can I get a copy of it?”

School District 6 privatizes snow removal at high school

Columbia Falls School District 6 has privatized some of its snow removal services for the remainder of the school year.

Planning commision OK’s townhomes

After a couple of hours of discussion, the Columbia Falls City Planning Commission voted in favor of annexing a 2-plus acre parcel into the city and approved sending plans for a small subdivision on the parcel to Columbia Falls City Council with a positive recommendation.

More details emerge in Hungry Horse shooting incident

More details have been released in the case of a man who allegedly shot at customers at a store in Hungry Horse on Dec. 8.

Death notices for Dec. 18, 2024

Tionne James Cross died Dec. 9, 2024 in Hungry Horse. Services are being planned for a later date. Darlington Cremation and Burial Service is caring for Tionne and his family at this time

Girls split at Tip Off tourney in Frenchtown

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team split at the Northwest-Southwest A Tip Off Tournament Friday and Saturday.

Students building new Glacier National Park housing; program heading into sixth year of success

A partnership between Glacier National Park and Columbia Falls High School students continues to pay dividends for both the Park Service and the students as it heads into its sixth year.

Pursuit will soon be a standalone corporation

By the end of December, Pursuit, the company that owns several lodges both inside and outside Glacier National Park will be its own company.

Legals for December, 18 2024

He shot a trophy buck. When he came back to retrieve it, thieves had stolen it

The joy an older Troy man experienced after bagging a 5x5 white-tailed buck Nov. 20 in the Lower Yaak was quickly dashed after it was stolen, along with some of his hunting gear.

Early morning power outage planned for Hungry Horse, Coram area

In the early morning hours of Thursday, Dec. 12, Flathead Electric Cooperative will take a planned power outage to repair the distribution electric system in the Hungry Horse-Coram area. The outage will begin at approximately 1 a.m. and is expected to last about two hours. Power restoration is expected to occur by 3 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Glacier Park sets new October visitation record

Like September, Glacier National Park had its busiest October ever, with 165,018 visitors for the month.

Toys for Tots deadline soon, sorting volunteers needed

The annual Marine Corps Toys for Tots program which donates thousands of toys to less fortunate children in Flathead and Lincoln counties will have its annual sorting and unloading day at the Kalispell Armed Forces Reserve Center starting about 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.

Yesterdays: Contractors storing gravel from McDonald Creek to widen Sun Road

Contractors had 19,500 cubic yards of gravel crushed and ready from McDonald Creek to use on a widening project of the Going-to-the-Sun Road at Logan Pass. Contractors had started the work in October, but snows had since closed the pass and the gravel was stockpiled so the work could be completed in the spring.

Woman who tried to fight deputies gets suspended sentenced

A woman who allegedly fought with cops after her arrest in connection with a string of incidents in various stages of undress last year has received a pair of suspended sentences in Flathead County District Court.

Opinion: Made in Montana

So I was flipping through the L.L. Bean catalog the other day and then I picked up the Orvis catalog and something struck me: No, it wasn’t that companies still mail catalogs to old guys like me, it was that virtually every product they sold was imported.

Wreaths ceremony is Saturday

The annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Montana Veteran’s Home is Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.

The Blotter: Woman dies behind church, no foul play suspected

A woman died behind a shed near a local church after she wandered away from an assisted living center. No foul play is suspected, but an autopsy is being conducted. A woman at a business was being harassed by an ex. Report of a truck trying to run another driver off the road. House fire on Fourth Street.

Residents urge folks to get involved in ‘doughnut’ future

A group of like-minded residents are urging folks who live in the former Columbia Falls “doughnut” to get involved in meetings that could decide future zoning designations for the areas.

Lonnie Dwayne Nelson, 72

Lonnie Dwayne Nelson, 72, passed away peacefully at his home in Columbia Falls Nov. 25th, 2024. He was born Jun. 24th, 1952 in Auburn, Washington to Dwayne and Shirley Nelson. He married his high school sweetheart, Suzanne Cestnik in 1972, and their three children, Lacy, Skylar and Michael were all born in Whitefish and raised in Columbia Falls.

Ardis Maren Rasmussen Anderson, 84

Ardis Maren Rasmussen Anderson passed away Friday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m. of mesothelioma cancer in Whitefish Hospital surrounded by loved ones and her beloved dog, Pita.

Avalanche Center now issuing daily reports

The Flathead Avalanche Center has started its daily forecasts of avalanche conditions seven days a week. Forecasts with avalanche danger ratings and snowpack observations can be found usually by 7 a.m. on the Flathead Avalanche Center website: http://www.flatheadavalanche.org/

Speech and debate wins Hamilton Invitational

The Wildcat speech and debate team took first in Hamilton on Saturday.

Columbia Falls endorses workforce housing program, but will county commissioners?

The Columbia Falls City Council endorsed a $4.5 million Workforce Housing program in Flathead County during its meeting last week, but county commissioners might not follow suit.

Rotary effort to help Guatemala women underway, local donations of materials sought

A group of Montana and Colorado women are going to Guatemala for a voluntourism trip to help women there. Dr. Linda Carlson of Colorado and Serena Keller of Bigfork Rotary lead the group.

Boys hoops team should be right in the mix again this season

The Columbia Falls basketball team has a lot of ingredients for hoops success this season: athleticism, quickness and shooting strength.

City approves zone change for old Boys and Girls Club building

The Columbia Falls City Council last week approved a zone change request for the Boys and Girls Club, which has plans to sell its former Columbia Falls property on Fourth Avenue West to a physical therapy business.

City debates sidewalk plowing

It's a debate that's gone on for decades. Now the city is considering just plowing sidewalks on its own.

Girls grapplers looking to make their mark

Last year, Columbia Falls’ girls wrestling team had its first official year as its own program away from the boys team, wrestling with 10 girls.

Legals for December, 11 2024

Man behind bars after shooting incident in Hungry Horse

A man currently faces a potential charge of attempted deliberate homicide after a shooting incident in Hungry Horse Sunday night.

The 2024 Columbia Falls Night of Lights Parade, in pictures

The 2024 Columbia Falls Night of Lights Parade, in pictures. Special thanks to the Columbia Falls Lions Club

National Weather Service says freezing rain a distinct possibility Saturday

The Flathead Valley could see freezing rain starting late Friday into Saturday, the National Weather Service is warning.

A host of holiday concerts are on tap next week and week after

A host of holiday concerts are on tap this month from area schools.

Weyerhaeuser donates 80 turkeys to food bank

The Columbia Falls Food Bank got a Thanksgiving boost last week after Weyerhaeuser employees donated 80 turkeys.

Family displaced by house fire

A woman and her three children were displaced from their Columbia Falls home after a fire Tuesday night (Dec. 3).

Boys grapplers take third at Owen Invitational

The wrestling season kicked off with Polson hosting the Owen Invitational on Dec. 7, with Columbia Falls placing third as a team.

Byrd a Winslow Nichols Award winner

Columbia Falls High School senior Julia Byrd was recognized as a Winslow Nichols Leadership Award winner for her exceptional work ethic, strong character, leadership skills and collaborative spirit.

Groups say rafting, outfitting permits deserve more analysis

The Forest Service received more than 30 comments on its plan to renew special use permits for commercial rafting and fishing outfitting on the Middle and North Forks of the Flathead River.

Libby native Ryggs Johnston wins Australian Open

Libby’s Ryggs Johnston stormed on to the international golf scene this weekend as he won his second DP World Tour start, capturing the Australian Open in impressive fashion.

Death notices for Dec. 4, 2024

Sara Elizabeth Hunnicut died Nov. 27, 2024 in Kalispell. Services are pending at this time. Columbia Mortuary is caring for the family.

Girls have high hopes this hoops season

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team is looking for good things from a squad of veteran players.

Swim team has a blend of youth and experience

The Columbia Falls swim team is hoping for good things this season, with 15 swimmers hitting the waters this season. While numbers are down a bit, the swimmers are a dedicated bunch and working hard, coach Amy Caudill said.

Bigfork school teaches blacksmith trade

The New Agrarian School in Bigfork, a nonprofit, teaches the ancient craft of blacksmithing to a new generation of hobbyists, professionals, and instructors.

Community events you may have missed

The Northwest Montana photographers will be meeting at the Fellowship Church in Columbia Falls, for our regular meeting, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. We will be learning, about holiday photography with low light. Members photos will be on post processing before and after.

Appreciate grant

Land to Hand is thrilled to announce we’ve been awarded a Round Up for Safety Grant from Flathead Electric Cooperative. This generous grant will allow us to finally complete the handicapped-accessible ramp and parking lot at our building adjacent to the Columbia Falls Junior High and the Wildcat Garden.

Opinion: The baluster in the background

So last week I watched a couple of holiday films, Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and then, “Psycho.” Two films I’ve managed to miss. They are on Netflix right now in case you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit.

Questions makeup of commission

The Columbia Falls City Council recently approved three members to a commission designed to examine whether the city should change its form of government or keep it the way it is.

Yesterdays: Bald eagle flies 400 miles to Glacier Park

A special hunting season along the Middle Fork of the Flathead from West Glacier to the Continental Divide was announced.

General hunting season better than last year

Montana’s general deer and elk hunting season concluded Sunday (Dec. 1) and the overall harvest results at game check stations in northwest Montana showed increased success compared to last year.