Ellington

Ruth McCafferty, 61

Our Beloved mother Ruth M. McCafferty passed away Easter Sunday. March 31, 2024. Ruth was a prestigious mortgage lender, had a brilliant mind and was a gregarious social butterfly. She was always an advocate for the underdog with a profound and contagious sense of humor. She spent all of her leisure time with her children and grandchildren. Ruth was the most devout mother and friend to many.

Glacier National Park plows at Big Drift, construction paving done on lower end of Sun Road, though shoulder work continues

Day and night. That might best describe conditions at Glacier National Park’s Logan Pass.

Columbia Falls Senior Profile: Helland sets her sights on music and the skies

It all started with a tuba back in sixth grade. Lotus Helland was enamored by her music teacher’s ability to play the sousaphone — she decided a tuba would be good enough for her.

Snowpack holding up in higher terrain, data shows

High-elevation snowpack in the Swan Range has remained near or above historical averages for most of May thanks to a series of cold storms that dumped snow and rain across the region.

Back-to-back champs!

The Columbia Falls softball team battled its way back through the bracket to win its second state A championship in a row Saturday night in Billings.

Columbia Falls senior profile: For Soyland, the mountains are calling

The summer between his sophomore and junior year at Columbia Falls High School, Anders Soyland figures he climbed about 40 peaks in Glacier National Park.

A rare bookshop enters its twilight phase

Located off Lake Blaine Road, Parkland Books has been a treasure trove for bibliophiles seeking national park books and publications or rare and out-of-print books.

FWP plans trail improvements in Bad Rock WMA

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks last month issued a plan to construct new trails, improve existing trails, and install boundary fencing at Bad Rock Canyon Wildlife Management Area near Columbia Falls.

New book looks at the history of Glacier’s red buses

The role of two Montanans in saving the red buses of Glacier National Park is recounted in a new book, “Glacier’s Reds—The quest to save the park’s historic buses” by historian Ray Djuff of Calgary, Canada.

Junior High student projects look to do some good

Aiden Crosswhite brought speakers to the Columbia Falls Junior High to talk about misconceptions about Native Americans.

Death Notices for May 29, 2024

Sherman Dean Marquardt died May 18, 2024 in Kalispell. Sherman is survived by his loving wife, Wendy, son William Dean Marquardt and daughter Suzanne Renee Marquardt. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Richard Gordon Green, 77

On Thursday, May 23, 2024, Richard Gordon Green, loving partner, father, and grandfather, passed away at age 77 after a tremendous year and half battle with cancer.

Lois Ann Frye Smith, 100

“Life is not fair, get over it!” Lois Ann Frye Smith said goodbye to her earthly existence, after passing the century mark on Feb. 7, and crossed over to the other side on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

Rodney Lennick, 65

Rodney Lennick, 65, passed away on Monday, May 20th, 2024 at his home in Columbia Falls, Montana. Rodney was born on June 2nd, 1958, to Art and Shirley Lennick, where he joined his siblings, Gar, Merv and Audrey. He grew up in Columbia Falls and graduated from High School there. After High School he started working at the aluminum plant, where he worked until he retired in 2008 due to health reasons.

Simpson breaks 2 records, boys take 2nd

Malaki Simpson broke two state records and the boys track team was less than two points away from a state A title in as they took second to Corvallis. The Blue Devils had 68.8 points, the Wildcats 67. The girls team took seventh.

Tennis competes at state tourney

Columbia Falls tennis competed at the state A tournament in Kalispell last week. Lexi Oberholtzer went 1-2 in girls singles. She beat Ava Wilcox of Corvallis 7-5, 6-3, but lost to Kinzie Brimmer of Miles City, 6-2, 6-2.

Judith ‘Judy’ Schroeder, 80

Judith “Judy” Schroeder, age 80 of Columbia Falls, passed away in her home surrounded by friends and family that loved her. Judy was born on June 27, 1943 in Malta to the late Franklin and Evelyn Lundstrom.

River Alliance offering free safety event

The Flathead Rivers Alliance announces a free May 29 Spring River Safety Workshop for the public to kick-off the 2024 float season — bringing in leading experts from North Valley Search & Rescue and Glacier Raft Company to get you ready for the water.

Dealing with Chinese aggression

The importance of the United States maintaining its technological superiority over China cannot be overstated. Not only for economic and national security implications, but for the preservation of the values and principles that have shaped the modern world. China is hungry to replace the U.S. as the leading superpower, and not just to establish economic dominance— they also want toestablish their version of suppressive authoritarianism as the norm across the globe.

Thoughts on redistricting

With Primary Election Day rapidly approaching, we will soon start to see the impacts of the legislative districts map drawn by Democrats.

Medicaid expansion worked

In 2015 Democrats and Republicans in the Montana legislature put aside their partisan and ideological differences, and taking advantage of the federal Affordable Care Act, expanded Medicaid coverage to more than 90,000 low income Montanans, almost 10 percent of the state’s entire population.

In split vote, council moves forward with Railroad Street housing

The Columbia Falls City Council last week formally voted to move forward with a housing project at the baseball field on Railroad Street.

Conservancy tops $23.5 million in giving back to Glacier National Park

The Glacier National Park Conservancy has dedicated about $3.5 million toward supporting a host of projects, research and educational programs in Glacier National Park this season. The giving puts the nonprofit over $20 million in giving to the park since its inception in 2013, when the Glacier National Park Fund merged with the Glacier Natural History Association to form the Glacier National Park Conservancy. The Conservancy reached the $20 million mark in 2023, pushed to nearly $23.5 million at the start of 2024 and hopes to raise about $4 million this year, making it $27.5 million by the end of the year.

Glacier National Park plow crews at Logan Pass

Glacier National Park plows will be working in and around Logan Pass this week — the final push to clearing the road.

Calvin ‘Cal’ D. Grisé Jr., 88

Calvin “Cal” D. Grisé Jr., 88, of Columbia Falls, Montana, passed away May 20, 2024.

Tennis sending five to state tournament this week

The Columbia Falls tennis team is sending five players to the state tournament in Kalispell this week, the most ever for coach Michele Colliander.

Wildcats battle back to take third at state tourney

After a tough start, the Columbia Falls baseball team battled back to take third at the state baseball tourney in Missoula last week.

Death notices for May 22, 2024

Harvey H. Fredericksen died May 12, 2024 in Columbia Falls. A celebration of life is to be held at a future date. To send online condolences, please visit www.columbiamortuary.com.

Kats win Western A title

The Columbia Falls girls softball team dropped Polson 9-5 Saturday night to win the Western A divisional crown in Polson.

East side report

Went east of the divide about a week ago, so I feel like I should give some sort of report, even though the trip was largely uneventful. It was a Sunday and we didn’t even get going until 2:30 p.m., but the Looking Glass Highway was open so we went across to check out Will Hammerquist’s new store at Kiowa Junction.

Columbia Falls singers, musicians do well at festival

Superior ensembles: Percussion ensemble; Columbians; Jazz Combo; flute quartet (Daylen Brunson, Kjasa Mohr, Eleanor Smiley and Merrell Cooley); clarinet trio (Claire Bates, Eric Miner and Tiptin Tourville); Greyson Pfiefle and Terrance Toavs, trumpet duet.

JoEllen Stimac Estenson, 84

JoEllen Stimac Estenson passed peacefully on May 2nd following a very brief and hard-fought battle with a third bout of cancer, which accentuated her otherworldly levels of grit, determination, and positivity. Her incredible attitude had helped her prevail against cancer twice in the past and we all expected a three peat (just like her beloved Phil Jackson’s Chicago Bulls did a few times), but the good Lord graciously had other plans.

Easement good for region

As Republican legislators representing Northwest Montana and the western edge of our state, we write to express our full support for the Montana Great Outdoors Project. The draft environmental assessment for Phase 1 of the conservation easement clearly illustrates not only that this proposal is the right move for conservation and the environment, but it’s also essential to protect good jobs and the Montana way of life, as well as preserve the very character of Northwest Montana.

At Kiowa Junction, a new mercantile has opened

On Mother’s Day Kiowa Junction, the historic intersection of the Looking Glass Highway and Highway 89 on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was something it hasn’t been in a very long time: It was busy.

Memorial Day, other events on tap

Columbia Falls Freedom Post 72 is holding its annual Veterans Day Walk to Honor our fallen heroes. They will walk from the Nite Owl parking lot to the Flathead River, to honor the buried at sea, and then back to our Memorial wall at Marantette Park.

Waterton Lakes National Park bans fishing in rivers and streams; no outside nonmotorized craft, either

Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada will not allow any fishing in moving waters this season. In addition, all non-motorized watercraft from outside park boundaries will not be permitted to enter waterbodies within the park, it announced in a release last week.

Track makes its mark at Western A

The Columbia Falls boys took third and the girls took fifth at the Western A track meet over a cold and blustery Friday and Saturday.

Yesterdays: It’s a good pattern for a safe runoff ... a few weeks later, the Flood of '64

“It’s a good pattern for a safe runoff,” the story said. A few weeks later, the Flathead River would reach historic flood levels.

They’re RINOs

Don’t be fooled by the PAC of liberals calling themselves Conservatives4MT sending out post cards attacking our well known conservative Republicans. This PAC is nothing more than a liberal pack of RINOs. A little research on this PAC shows they raised around $180,000. Dark money PACs including Guarantee PAC out of Washington D.C. and the MHA PAC State Fund out of Helena, donated the majority of the money to this PAC. MHA stands for Montana Hospital Association. The PAC also received $25,000 from well known Flathead County RINO Bruce Tutvedt.

Likes Sheehy, Smith

Voting is our opportunity to keep our freedom and make sure our government is fiscally responsible. Our county and state balance their budgets, but the federal government is running on borrowed money. It would have been great if Sen. Jon Tester would have led an effort to stop the crazy spending rather than adding to it. Tim Sheehey is my choice.

Should city review government structure?

On the June primary ballot, Columbia Falls voters are being asked to decide if they want a government review to examine the structure of city government.

The Blotter: Person living on roof?

A call came in and a child could be heard yelling, “I don’t want to go to jail.” No one went to jail and the kid went out to the car to calm down. Police were investigating a check scam that used the school district as its address. A guy threatened he would shoot police if he was arrested again. He was armed — carrying a 9 mm pistol in his back pocket.

At end of June, city will lose its ‘doughnut’

The doughnut will soon be no more. The Columbia Falls City Council recently learned that by the end of June, the city will no longer have extraterritorial planning jurisdiction in the county, commonly referred to as the “doughnut.”

Legals for May, 22 2024

Glacier National Park plows at Oberlin Bend

Glacier National Park Plow crews are now at Oberlin Bend, after spending a couple of days clearing snow this week on lower sections of the highway so they could get back to heavy equipment that was trapped by avalanches at Rim Rocks.

Community Market in bigger, better location; starts Thursday

The Columbia Falls Community Market kicks off this Thursday (May 16) at its new larger and more specious location adjacent to St. Richard Catholic Church.

Kats on a tear as postseason begins

The Columbia Falls softball team ended the regular season at 17-3 as they won five in a row last week. The team is super hot heading into the Western A Divisional playoffs this week in Polson.

Quilts for a Cause

A host of Columbia Falls-made quilts and other amenities will help folks in less fortunate and often war-torn countries in the coming weeks. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church made 260 quilts, 98 baby care kits, 330 personal care kits and 266 school kits for what is part of the annual Lutheran World Relief Drive.

More thoughts on CFAC

In a recent acronym-filled letter published by the Hungry Horse News, I wrote about the ongoing effort of the Coalition for a Clean CFAC to address 50 years of pollution at the retired Columbia Falls Aluminum Company plant. In that letter I quoted a report that misstated the role of the City of Columbia Falls.

Planning Commission OK’s public participation plan

Following a public hearing Thursday night, the Columbia Falls Planning Commission approved a public participation plan for future planning projects in the city.

Yesterdays: Lodge at St. Mary nearly completed

Columbia Falls two new wells were producing 1,600 gallons of water a minute without a drawdown. Carpenters working on the Anaconda Aluminum Co. plant were considering a six-day work week in lieu of a pay raise. The workers were in their sixth week of a strike. Hugh Black’s Lodge in St. Mary just outside of Glacier National Park was almost completed.

Former salon now The Hub

A local businesswoman has opened a new gathering place for rent. The Hub at First Avenue East in Columbia Falls is a great place to have a birthday party, a small wedding or other event.

16 years later, couple informed their Columbia Heights home is on a toxic site. EPA considering making it a formal Superfund site

When the Sterling family bought their home in Columbia Heights in 2008 they figured they had a little bit of paradise.

Death Notices for May 15, 2024

Alan Brice Alstad died May 5, 2024 in Kalispell. A celebration of Al’s life is being planned for a later date. Darlington Cremation and Burial Service is caring for his family.

Cats take conference title, face Broncs to open state

In just the second year of its program, the Columbia Falls baseball team won the Northwest A crown last week with a 9-1 conference record and a 15-2 regular season record overall.

St. John lends personal touch to health care

Family nurse practitioner Angela St. John has a personal touch for sure. While you may get stuck in a phone tree just trying to make a medical appointment at many places, St. John’s patients can reach her on her cell phone and she’s more than happy to return calls.

MDT says it’s looking at intersections; Railroad Street sidewalk likely delayed, again

The Montana Department of Transportation is examining about a dozen intersections across the Flathead Valley for safety concerns, including the intersection at the Blue Moon on Highway 2 and at the Truck Route in Columbia Falls, which have been concerns of city leaders for years.

Women’s lunch features nursery

Columbia Falls Women’s Connection will host a luncheon on Wednesday, May 22 at 11:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church located at 827 9th St West in Columbia Falls. Guest speakers, Columbia Nursery will share tips on plant care and Doreen Day a local retired nurse will share her inspirational story.

Legals for May, 15 2024

Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road will open to Avalanche Creek Saturday

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Going-to-the-Sun Road will open to Avalanche Creek to motor vehicles this weekend, Glacier National Park spokeswoman Gina Icenoggle confirmed.

Steve Medley Bennett, 73

Steven Medley Bennett, an almost life-long resident of Columbia Falls, died April 19th. Steve was born April 4th, 1951, to Martha and Dr. Willard F. Bennett.

Track hosts divisional tournament Friday and Saturday

The Columbia Falls boys took second and the girls took fifth at the Polson ABC track meet Saturday in the final regular season meet this year.

Voters OK high school and school roof levies, but vote down elementary request

Columbia Falls School District 6 voters approved a high school building reserve levy 2,031-1,576 to fund a new roof on the classroom wing of the high school. They also approved a high school operational levy 1,872-1,743.

Police nab Club vandals

The Columbia Falls Police Department arrested and charged four juveniles with a rash of vandalism in Columbia Falls, including damaging and destroying property at the Ruis Wrestling Academy and the Boys and Girls Club.

Shirley A. Twohig, 85

Shirley A. Twohig died April 19, 2024 in Columbia Falls.

Truie Brakovec , 86

Truie Brakovec from Columbia Falls passed away April 22.

Robert “Bob” Rude, 92

Robert “Bob” M. Rude passed away on Nov. 29, 2023 at 92 years of age in the home of Diane and Duane Toavs in Taylor, Texas. Bob was born on Aug. 31, 1931 in Bemidji, Minnesota the eldest son of Millard and Ida (Eichstaedt) Rude.

Track does well at Archie Roe, triangular

The Columbia Falls track and field teams got a lot of work in last week as the regular season winds down. Last Tuesday they hosted a triangular with Whitefish and Bigfork at home and then Saturday traveled to the Archie Roe meet in Kalispell.

Softball goes on a tear as end of regular season approaches

The Columbia Falls softball team went 4-0 on the week, including a big 12-2 conference win over Polson at home last Tuesday. The Wildkats also dropped Stevensville Friday at home, 9-3 and Browning in a doubleheader on the road 18-0 and 16-0 respectively.

Sapa-Johnsrud tourney coming up

The Sapa-Johnsrud tournament marks the end of the regular season for high school baseball in Northwest Montana, but it’s far more than that.

Learn the ways of the woods at Family Forestry Expo

The Family Forestry Expo is ongoing this week, with a host of students learning about the woods through the innovative program.

Lions, Weyerhaeuser support reading programs

The Columbia Falls Lions Club has partnered with the Weyerhaeuser Foundation to support Columbia Falls school programs.

Logan Health surgeon has roots in Columbia Falls

Former breast cancer patient Carol Church had almost given up hope on getting reconstructive surgery following her second battle with the disease. But it was by lucky coincidence that Logan Health had just hired Dr. Thomas Wright to specialize in plastic and reconstructive surgery, bringing top-of-the-line care to the area where he grew up.

Quist, Powers will square off in primary

Two Democrats will square off in the June primary to represent House District 3.

The Blotter: Kids climb amphitheater

A group of teenagers was counseled about unsafe behavior after reportedly climbing the amphitheater roof.

Day will share story at meeting

Columbia Falls Women’s Connection will host a luncheon on Wednesday, May 22 at 11:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church located at 827 9th St West in Columbia Falls.

Yesterdays: Couples sought to man fire lookouts

Glacier National Park was looking for two couples to run the backcountry chalets at Sperry and Granite Park. One couple would be at each chalet and the story said, “The ladies should be able to cook.”

Quilters say thanks

Talent abounds in our local Teakettle Quilt Guild, and our annual quilt show was surely a magnificent display.

Claims survey affirms policy decisions

A recent University of Montana survey confirms what legislators have been hearing from our constituents: Montanans are seriously concerned about several issues that they say are negatively impacting quality of life.

Supports Gateway bill

As a County Commissioner, I work with residents and businesses navigating the relationship Gateway Communities have with our national parks and our federal lands.

Let’s show some unity

I am writing to express deep concern and disappointment following the recent vandalism at the community building currently being remodeled to serve as a Boys and Girls Club and a new daycare center in Columbia Falls.

Feds say River Plan is back on track with new leadership

The Comprehensive River Management Plan still has a pulse.

Legals for May, 8 2024

Weather stymies Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road plowing efforts

Bad weather stymied Glacier National Park plowing efforts over the past week. Crews made it to the first pullout at Rim Rocks, but blowing and drifting snow stopped the plowing effort for a couple of days on both sides of the divide.

Trout Unlimited banquet coming up

The public is invited to Flathead Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited’s annual banquet to support native trout and their habitat in Northwest Montana.

Vandals cause thousands in damage to club, academy

Vandals struck the Boys and Girls Club and the Ruis Wrestling Academy over the weekend, doing thousands of dollars in damage.

EPA says it would be tough to remove all of the waste at CFAC

The Environmental Protection Agency made its strongest case yet for a “waste in place” solution for the cleanup of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. Superfund site during a public meeting last week.

Yeats family places acreage east of river under easement

A key parcel of farmland just east of the Flathead River has been placed under a conservation easement with the Flathead Land Trust.

Tennis squads rounding into form; Pickard has good week

The Columbia Falls tennis teams competed against Polson, Ronan and Bigfork last week.

Track does well at ARM, Top 10

Malaki Simpson had more strong outings in track last week. The senior sprinter won the 100 meters at the Whitefish ARM meet Saturday with a time of 11.05.

Hoerner has hot bat in Frenchtown tournament

The Columbia Falls softball team dropped Havre 11-3 and Libby 16-4 at the Frenchtown tourney last week.

Cats wallop Bigfork, Browning

The Columbia Falls baseball team hammered its competition last week. In a doubleheader on Thursday the Wildcats beat Bigfork 14-1 and 16-3 respectively.

Apgar Lookout: This early season jaunt a great way to get in shape, with views

The Apgar Mountain Lookout Trail is one of those trails to hike first thing in the season because it’s easy to get to and it’s a good conditioning trail, which is to say it exposes you to elevation gain in a hurry over its 3.5 miles.

Quality of life taking a hit, 62% of Montanans say

Drought, urban sprawl, low snowpack — those are all some of the things that are seen as “serious to very serious” problems by Montanans, according to a new bipartisan poll of voters in the state.

Coalition working with EPA on an independent advisor for CFAC cleanup

Mayre Flowers of the Coalition for a Clean CFAC said it was encouraging to have a dialogue with the company, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality during two open houses and meetings last week.

Tourism meeting coming up in Columbia Falls

Western Montana’s Glacier Country, the official tourism marketing, management and stewardship organization for Western Montana, will be hosting a town hall meeting at Cedar Creek Lodge on Wednesday, May 8, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Likes Powers

Montana needs state legislators who represent all of us. Debo Powers is that candidate.

Likes Glimm, Sprunger and Regier

Please support and vote for Republicans Courtenay Sprunger (Montana House), Matt Regier (Montana Senate) and Carl Glimm (Montana Senate) in the upcoming primary election.

Coalition appreciates community support

hank you to the 250 plus Columbia Falls and Flathead Valley residents who showed up to learn about and express your concerns about the proposed plan for the cleanup of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund site.

Levy makes sense

It’s easy to understand why people want to find a reason to vote no on the upcoming school levies. Everyone’s taxes are up, and everything is more expensive. So it can be tempting to believe it when people blame the rusted high school roof and the need for operations levies on “wasteful spending.”

Please vote Yes

As both a parent and educator in my 25th year, I urge our community to vote “yes” on the upcoming school levies. These levies are vital for maintaining education quality and ensuring our students’ success.

Student asks folks to support levies

As a sophomore at the high school, I have no vote, but you do.

Art show May 1

Persimmon Gallery on Nucleus Avenue is holding a reception and art show of student art from Columbia Falls High School and Junior High artists on May 1 from 5-7 p.m. They’re taking canned food donations for the Columbia Falls Food Bank that night, too.

The Blotter: Woman using cemetery outhouse for storage

A woman was trespassed from the cemetery after the groundskeeper found her to be storing miscellaneous tools, suitcases, clothing and rocks in an old outhouse on the northwest corner of the property.

Legals for May, 1 2024