Ellington

Boys fall just short against Billings Central

Columbia Falls’ season ended on Saturday, Oct. 26, as Billings Central used a 54th minute goal to defeat the Wildcats 1-0 in the State A Semifinals.

Dealing with disappointment when visiting national parks

There is still something rewarding to be found in travel experiences that don’t live up to our initial expectations.

Death notices for October 30, 2024

John E. “Jack” Taylor died Oct. 14, 2024 in Columbia Falls. No local services are held. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for the family. To send online condolences visit columbiamortuary.com.

Central edges girls as well in soccer semi

Columbia Falls controlled significant portions of the match, but Billings Central scored two second-half goals to win 3-2 in the State A Semifinals on Saturday, Oct. 26 in Billings.

Seniors thump Ronan, Blue Devils up next

Columbia Falls running back Brodie Tkachyk made the most of senior night, rushing for 102 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries as the Wildcat football team trounced Ronan 45-8 at home Friday.

Spikers split last week, take copper bracket at Blocktober

Columbia Falls volleyball split last week in Northwest A Conference play, defeating Ronan 25-20, 25-12, 23-25, 25-23 on Tuesday, October 22, and then falling to Bigfork 25-22, 22-25, 17-25, 27-25, 17-15.

Steven T. Smith, 76

Steven T Smith, 76, died peacefully at home on Oct. 17, 2024, attended by his wife, Martha, of 54 years. He graduated from Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with a degree in Technical Theater.

Election 2024: Powers, Mitchell square off in House District 3

Democrat Debo Powers, a retired teacher, is hoping to return to the Legislature in a race for a newly redrawn House District 3 that has her squaring off against Republican Cathy Mitchell.

Girls cross country nab second at state

The Columbia Falls girls cross country team didn’t have the fastest runners on the course Saturday at the University of Montana golf course, but they did run great together and took home a second place state A trophy for their efforts in one of the most competitive fields in years.

Market warns of fake check scam that looks pretty real, it arrived via Priority Mail

A local nonprofit is warning other nonprofits about a check scam.

Fern on targeting

During my days on the Whitefish School Board, I was honored to be the sole representative to all Montana trustees serving as a board member to the Montana High Schools Association. I served seven years, a long time for such a position. The MHSA is at the forefront of fair play, for both girls and boys’ sports and activities.

Mother, daughter have passion for scrapbooking

Walk the halls of a local school and you could very well see custom-made homecoming posters lining the halls.

Speech team looks to win its 25th title in 2025

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team kicks off its season this weekend with a meet in Kalispell.

EPA is ‘trashing’ good ideas on CFAC cleanup plan

EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) trash can is full of discarded cleanup strategies marked as “Too Costly,” “Too Risky,” “Good, But Not Top Rated,” “Why Do More, When Less is, OK?”

Hunters have good opener

The general big game hunting season is underway and after the first weekend, the number of hunters who bagged a deer or elk is up over last year.

Martin City man faces child porn charges

A Martin City man accused of producing and distributing child pornography pleaded not guilty in federal court in Missoula last week.

Weyerhaeuser staff pleasantly surprised by governor’s award

Gov. Greg Gianforte came to the Weyerhaeuser MDF plant last week to read a forest products week proclamation at the plant.

Paugh and Mitchell square off in new House District 5

Editor’s note: Republican Braxton Mitchell and newcomer Democrat Steve Paugh will square off in the new House District 5, which covers the canyon communities, and the western rural Columbia Falls area.

More deer tags available after CWD found in Flathead buck

The number of antlerless white-tailed deer hunting licenses will be increased in the Flathead Valley’s Hunting District 170 following the detection of chronic wasting disease in a whitetail buck near the county landfill recently.

Fatal wreck on US 2

A 68-year-old Columbia Falls man was killed in a three-vehicle wreck near the intersection of U.S. 2 and Brunner Road southwest of Columbia Falls on Oct. 22.

Longtime ranger reflects on a storied career

Dave Shea will be remembered as a shining example of what it means to be a ranger in Glacier National Park.

For many seniors, Meals on Wheels a lifeblood; but volunteers needed

Karene Manus loads the food into her truck and is off. She has deliveries to make on this sunny Friday. Today she will visit nine housebound older folks who rely on her for their weekend meals.

Legals for October, 30 2024

Cats force eight Viking turnovers in rout

The Columbia Falls football team secured a third-place finish in the West with a 43-14 drubbing of Bigfork last Friday at home.

Cross country teams look sharp heading into state

The Columbia Falls girls cross country team took second in the Western A divisional meet in Libby Friday. The Wildkats were edged by Hamilton by a mere three points.

Girls hammer Loyola, will face Central as well

Kicking off their Class A State Playoff campaign, there wasn’t much stress for Columbia Falls in a 10-0 victory over the South’s No. 3 seed, Missoula Loyola on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Boys blank Polson, face Billings Central next

For 70 minutes, the North’s No. 1 seed, Columbia Falls, was in the grasp of a 0-0 battle with the South’s No. 3 seed Polson.

Plane that crashed into Hungry Horse Reservoir ran out of gas

A plane that crash-landed into the Hungry Horse Reservoir last November ran out of fuel, a National Transportation Board investigation published Oct. 10, 2024 found.

Yesterdays: Charges dropped against Texan who shot griz in Glacier Park

Charges against Brian D. Murphy, 57, were dropped for shooting a grizzly bear in Glacier National Park. Murphy was charged by a grizzly while hiking the Mount Brown Trail. He first sprayed the bear with pepper spray, but when it kept running at him he shot and killed it with one round.

Death notices for Oct. 23, 2024

Mitch died Oct. 15, 2024 in Columbia Falls. A celebration of life is being planned. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for Mitch’s family.

MaryAnn Allan, 88

MaryAnn Allan died Oct. 12, 2024 at home surrounded by family. She was born Aug. 19, 1936 in Strasburg, North Dakota to the late Mathias Bossert and Rosina Bossert (Fiest).

Looking back to ‘64

Since I just celebrated my 60th Class Reunion with the CFHS Class of 1964, I’ve been thinking a lot about the current state of our country compared to where we were in 1964. At that time we were reading in our English literature, American history and government books about the founding of our country and the principles upon which it was built.

Looking back to ‘64

Since I just celebrated my 60th Class Reunion with the CFHS Class of 1964, I’ve been thinking a lot about the current state of our country compared to where we were in 1964. At that time we were reading in our English literature, American history and government books about the founding of our country and the principles upon which it was built.

Community events: Ladies night next month

Columbia Falls Ladies night is coming up next month.

Glacier National Park super said he thought routing traffic through Apgar would be a ‘disaster.' He was wrong

A mild fall and eased reservation requirements saw September visitation in Glacier National Park eclipse 602,000 visitors for the month, the busiest September ever.

BNSF says spill cleaned up

BNSF Railway says it has removed all the railcars that derailed from its tracks on the border of Glacier National Park and the soybeans that spilled have been cleaned up.

BNSF says spill cleaned up

BNSF Railway says it has removed all the railcars that derailed from its tracks on the border of Glacier National Park and the soybeans that spilled have been cleaned up.

October and November, the golden age of larch

Late October and early November mark the golden age of Northwest Montana’s landscape, when the western and alpine larch turn yellow and drop their needles for the winter.

Dessert Challenge winners announced

The Dessert Challenge, sponsored by the Columbia Falls Historical Society, was held Sept. 17 in the Chapel at the Montana Veterans Home.

CSKT asks EPA to stay CFAC record of decision

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes recently sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency asking for more time to examine the cleanup of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. site.

Legals for October, 23 2024

Bill for school flooding will be over $1 million

The cost of high school flooding this summer will exceed $1 million in insurance claims, District Clerk Dustin Zuffelato reported to the School District 6 Board Monday night.

Update: Alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road reopens, but only from east side

Folks Jonesing to see Logan Pass one last time will still have an opportunity. The Going-to-the-Sun Road from Jackson Glacier Overlook up to the pass reopened Friday morning.

Glass sentenced for stabbing death of Lukas Davis

The mother of a 22-year-old man stabbed to death in Columbia Falls in 2022 said Thursday that the system set up to protect the community from criminals failed her son.

Clairice Christine Coverdell, 85

Clairice Christine Coverdell, beloved wife, mother, and granny was surrounded by family as she was called peacefully home to join the love of her life on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.

Cross country competes in Helena

The Columbia Falls cross country teams competed at the Helena 7 on 7 meet last week. The meet is different than other races, as it consists of seven races.

Barbara F. Weaver, 90

Barbara F. Weaver passed away on Oct. 2nd, 2024, at the age of 90 with family by her side. She was born in Reserve, Montana, to George and Joyce Bliss, joining her big sister, and best friend, Joyce. She grew up on her parents’ dairy farm just south of Kalispell. Barb sang alto in school and church, and learned to play the piano, which she did for several different groups. After graduating as a valedictorian from Flathead County High School, she went on to Eastern College, in Billings, studying business.

Harvestfest this weekend

Join the Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Saturday, Oct. 19 for its second annual Harvestfest in Hungry Horse at Canyon Elementary School.

Wildcats thump Loggers, 49-0

The Columbia Falls football team walloped Libby 49-0 on the road last week, marking their third shutout of an opponent in a row.

Spikers beat Libby, lose to Polson

The Columbia Falls volleyball team split last week.

For Shrives, top task is finding his replacement

In addition to running the city on a daily basis, Columbia Falls interim city manager Mark Shrives has one main goal in his temporary tenure here: Find a new city manager.

Veteran Washington officer new Columbia Falls police chief

A veteran law enforcement officer from Yakima, Washington is the new Columbia Falls Police Chief. Chad Stephens was recently appointed to the post by the Columbia Falls City Council.

Yesterdays: New Highway 2 completed through Columbia Falls

Gov. Ted Schwinden and Columbia Falls Mayor Colleen Allison swung a ceremonial ax through a birch log to mark the opening of the new U.S. Highway 2 through Columbia Falls. It’s the same layout the road has today. The log was a nod to the town’s timber heritage.

Columbia Falls woman stole thousands from Falkor, a Kalispell gun manufacturer

A Columbia Falls woman recently admitted to embezzling approximately $159,000 from her employer, a Kalispell firearms manufacturing company. Teri Anne Bell, 58, was sentenced last week to five months in federal prison followed by six months of home confinement and three years of supervised release, fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $174,572 restitution, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said in a release.

Bennett, Jordan will square off in House District 4

The following House District 4 candidates responded to a recent questionnaire. The district covers the city of Columbia Falls and Whitefish.

Family reflects on missing daughter as search continues

Nina Rea has been on a never-ending mission to find her daughter, Emily Rea, since she went missing in the Hungry Horse Reservoir this summer.

Mountain bike team sees steady growth

On a brilliant Wednesday evening earlier this month, about 35 riders and a host of coaches bombed down the trails at Cedar Flats just north of Columbia Falls.

Tate wins LeGrizz ultramarathon up North Fork

Evie Tate of Missoula won the LeGrizz ultramarathon Saturday up the North Fork. She finished in 6 hours, 33 minutes, 3 seconds. Paul Paschal of Whitefish was second in 6:37.5. Tate’s mark was a new course record.

Death notices for Oct. 16, 2024

Darin Wayne Harp died Oct. 3, 2024 in Kalispell. Services will be held privately at the convenience of the family. To send online condolences, please visit columbiamortuary.com.

Daines talks energy

Few decisions made in Washington impact Montanans more than those made about our nation’s natural resources. Unfortunately, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ pursuit of radical environmentalism and a liberal climate change agenda is shutting down our state’s energy and mining and threatening our Montana way of life.

Columbia Falls firefighters respond to shed fire

Columbia Falls firefighters responded to a shed fire on the North Fork Road Monday morning.

Train derails on border of Glacier National Park, spilling thousands of bushels of grain

Several BNSF Railway train cars carrying what appeared to be corn derailed on the border of Glacier National Park about two miles east of the Goat Lick Saturday.

Forest Service asks for public input on outfitter permit renewals for raft companies; extends comment period

The Flathead National Forest is looking to renew five commercial outfitter permits for the North and Middle Forks of the Flathead River outside of wilderness boundaries.

George Edwin Tourtelott

George Edwin Tourtelotte died Sept. 26, 2024 in Kalispell. A graveside service was held Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. Columbia Mortuary is caring for the family.

Kenneth C Prichard

Kenneth C Prichard was born Sept. 10, 1929 in Fairview, the oldest of eight children born to Nellie and Dale Prichard. When he was a young man, he and a couple buddies moved across the state and settled in the Flathead Valley.

Man killed in head-on crash on Highway 2 in front of WBC

A man was killed after colliding with a Border Patrol vehicle head-on on Highway 2 in front of Western Building Center Tuesday evening in Columbia Falls.

Golfers compete at state tourney

Winslow Peters was the top golfer last week at the state A tournament in Polson.

Spikers lose to Bulldogs, beat Browning

The Columbia Falls volleyball team lost in four to Whitefish, 25-14, 14-25, 17-25 and 22-25 last Tuesday.

Celebrity chef Alton Brown coming to Wachholz Center; tickets on sale now

Wachholz College Center is excited to announce that television personality, author and famed food expert Alton Brown will bring his final national theater tour, “Alton Brown Live: Last Bite,” to the Wachholz College Center in Kalispell on March 25, 2025. This special performance is part of Brown’s 60 city farewell tour which promises an unforgettable evening of fun and entertainment.

Election 2024: Senate District 2, Dave Fern

We have lived in Whitefish since 1988. I am currently a small business owner and I have been self-employed for 25 years. My wife and I have been married for 42 years and our three children matriculated through the Whitefish School System and various universities. My business and serving in the legislature are weak excuses for hobbies, but they’ve been time consuming. Perhaps reading along with long dog walks in public and private timber lands will have to do.

Election 2024: Senate District 2, Doug Adams

Personal background: I majored in Landscape Design at Auburn University. I’ve lived in Montana for 24 years. I own a landscape company, Scapes Inc. I live with my wife in Haskill Basin. I have three grown sons, the youngest of which is a sophomore in college. I like to ski and whitewater raft. I enjoy gardening. My wife and I sing with the Glacier Symphony and Chorale. I serve on the Flathead County Libraries Board of Trustees. Please see the bio page on my campaign website, adamsforsd2.com, for additional community involvement

Opinion: Freezing at Fifty

So when you have bypass heart surgery they typically take a long length of vein from your leg to do one of the bypasses. I had a double bypass in February so the surgeon grabbed a length of vein that ran from basically my groin to my knee and used it to patch up my failing heart.

Christian women meeting coming up

Columbia Falls Women’s Connection will host a luncheon on Wednesday, October 16 at 11:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church located at 827 9th St West in Columbia Falls.

Yesterdays: Mountain goat on Bad Rock porch

Mrs. Jim Eckleberry was surprised when she came home and found a mountain goat on her porch. The family lived in the Bad Rock farming community and while goats were known to be on nearby Columbia Mountain, having one wander down into the valley was unusual to say the least.

BobFest coming up soon

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation invites the Flathead Valley to attend their annual year-end celebration and fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 25th at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. The event will feature live music, dinner, drinks, games and activities, plus silent and live auctions to raise funds for the foundation’s stewardship work and education programs across the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

Zinke on Tranel, his record

It’s the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office, grocery prices have climbed 21.5 percent, rent has increased by 22.5 percent, and electric bills have skyrocketed by 30.7 percent. Those are national averages, and in Montana, we’re feeling it a lot more. Electing Kamala Harris and other radical left Democrats to fix the economy they tanked sounds a lot like doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome.

The Blotter:The burglar was a relative

Someone was trying to get into a red truck with the alarms going off on Ninth Street. Turned out it was the owners.

Habitat for Humanity has home available, more in the works

Habitat for Humanity has a small home available in Columbia Falls that surprisingly, hasn’t drawn much interest, director MaryBeth Morand said during a tour of the property last week.

Some Columbia Falls voters will have to drive to Whitefish to vote

Some Columbia Falls residents voting in this year’s election will have to drive to the Armory in Whitefish to vote if they haven’t signed up for an absentee ballot.

Margaret “Peg” Wagner

Margaret “Peg” Wagner, age 67 of Hungry Horse, passed away Sept. 29th, 2024, with her family by her side. She was born Nov. 29th, 1956 in Ronan to Harold and Patricia Stipe.

Girls soccer: Cats down Bulldogs at home to take conference crown

The Columbia Falls girls' soccer team wrapped up the regular season and took the North A conference title by beating Whitefish at home Tuesday, 1-0.

Man killed in shop explosion on Kokanee Bend

One man is dead and another injured after a shop exploded and burned on Kokanee Bend in Columbia Falls Tuesday night.

Boys soccer: Wildcats take conference crown with tie against Bulldogs

The win streak is over, but the Columbia Falls Boys soccer team still won the North A boys soccer conference title by virtue of a tie against Whitefish Tuesday night at home to cap off the regular season.

Legals for October, 9 2024

Montana releases final grizzly management plan; includes hunting

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently released its final environmental impact statement for managing grizzly bears should they be delisted by the federal government from the Endangered Species Act.

Everett sets new school scoring record

With a 10-0 regular season record, it’s hard not to have confidence in the Columbia Falls soccer team.

Cats thump Pirates on the road in statement win

The Columbia Falls football team likely turned some heads across the state as they blanked Polson on the road 42-0, for their second shutout in as many weeks.

A Master Landscaper: At 95, Chris Moritz’s eye for bringing beauty to spaces is impeccable

Japanese anemone. Rudbeckia, Forsythia. Hydrangea. Iris. Coral Bells and day lilies. And geraniums, a blanket of them.

Recovery centers reopen after ‘revamping’ curriculum

The Recovery Centers of Montana’s men’s facility is once again fully licensed after correcting issues found by state health officials last year.

Glacier Park visitation continued to be robust in August, up almost 15% over last year

Visitation to Glacier National Park in August was up almost 15% over last year, according to figures recently released by Park Service.

Diane Boyd, forty years of living with wolves

Biologist Diane K. Boyd has had a front-row seat to 40 years of wolf recovery in the West, but her new memoir reveals that entanglements with humans in Montana were often tougher than dealing with the four-legged predators.

Family thankful for rescue efforts

Ken Card wants to give a big thank you to Two Bear Air, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and the Triple G Resort at Stanton Creek for help in rescuing his son.

Old school sees new life thanks to Ruis donation

An old school in Columbia Falls is seeing new life, as a local nonprofit is working with developer Mick Ruis to refurbish what many refer to as the old junior high into a vibrant center for youth and the community.

Ode to the Glacier Park Lodge

“She sleeps! My lady sleeps!” refers to a sleeping lover in the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem, Serenade. I speak not of this person, but to the Grand Lady of East Glacier Park, Glacier Park Lodge, which by the time this is read will be preparing for a long and well-deserved winter nap.

Supports Repke

The Montana state auditor is an elected official whose job is to regulate the insurance and securities industries as well as protect consumers from fraud. Montanans need a dedicated individual with integrity to serve as auditor in a climate of escalating insurance rates and an era of rampant consumer fraud. That individual is John Repke.

Harriers compete at Mountain West Classic in Missoula

The Columbia Falls cross country teams competed at the Mountain West Classic in Missoula Saturday, one of the biggest races in the state.

Girls thump T-Falls, but lose to Bigfork

The North Conference is still up for grabs, and Columbia Falls will continue to battle for it even after a 3-2 loss to Bigfork on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Yesterdays: Coal Ridge lookout gets a makeover

The Canadians were doing exploration for coal up Cabin Creek in the North Fork of the Flathead. A spread on the exploration showed where a working mine and silted up a stream on private land. The battle over the mines would last for nearly 50 years.

Filling the gaps: Nonprofit pays off school's bad lunch debt

A Flathead Valley nonprofit earlier this month gave the Columbia Falls School District 6 a boost, paying the remaining balance of a $55,000 student lunch debt.

The Blotter: She wasn't trying to run over shirtless man

Person was bit by a stray cat.

Opposes Sheehy

Tim Sheehy was recruited and groomed by Mitch McConnell and the cadre of billionaires whose sole goal is the preservation and enhancement of their wealth. They expect him to be an obedient vote in the Senate – not too different from Putin’s Duma in Moscow. He has identified no experience with civilian governance and is a relative newcomer in Montana. Contrast this with Jon Tester’s 30-plus years of public governance experience on local school boards, Montana state legislature, U.S. congressional service and being born and raised in Montana.

Golfers do well at divisionals

Winslow Peters was eighth and Will Pickard ninth at the Western A Divisional golf tournament at Meadow Lake last week.

Spikers notch a pair of wins against Bigfork, Ronan

Columbia Falls volleyball won two matches last week and climbed to No. 11 in the Montana Class A MaxPreps rankings.

Death notices for Oct. 2, 2024

Todd died Sept. 22, 2024 in West Glacier unexpectedly at home. A memorial service is being planned in Great Falls. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for Todd’s family.

Legals for October, 2 2024