Saturday, June 28, 2025
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Glacier National Park’s Logan Pass could see up to 10 inches of snow over the weekend
June 18, 2025 8:30 a.m.

Glacier National Park’s Logan Pass could see up to 10 inches of snow over the weekend

Two to four inches of rain expected for the region

A major storm is expected to hit Northwest Montana and Glacier National Park starting Friday and running into Sunday, with up to 10 inches of snow predicted for Logan Pass and the higher terrain of the park.

Park Service dodges DOGE questions
June 18, 2025 7:10 a.m.

Park Service dodges DOGE questions

The Park Service won’t release specific numbers on resignations, reductions in force and retirements in Glacier National Park since the Department of Government Efficiency cuts went into effect earlier this year.

City available to answer questions on road projects
June 18, 2025 6:55 a.m.

City available to answer questions on road projects

City Manager Eric Hanks said his door is open for anyone with questions about some big streets projects that are coming up in the next few months in Columbia Falls.

June 18, 2025 6:40 a.m.

Teachers implore Columbia Falls board to raise salaries

Several teachers implored the school board to boost teacher salaries during the School District 6 board meeting last week.

Insurance claims for high school flooding top $4.7 million
June 18, 2025 6:40 a.m.

Insurance claims for high school flooding top $4.7 million

Total insurance claims for the roof flooding and damage to the Columbia Falls High School wing have reached about $4.7 million to date, School District 6 clerk and business manager Dustin Zuffelato said last week.

On Glacier Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road, motorists on one side, cyclists on the other
June 15, 2025 6 a.m.

On Glacier Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road, motorists on one side, cyclists on the other

For the first time ever, Glacier National Park saw bicyclists streaming up one side of the Continental Divide and motorists up the other Saturday, June 14 on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Impending duty hikes on Canada lumber should help mills here
June 4, 2025 8:30 a.m.

Impending duty hikes on Canada lumber should help mills here

Duties placed on Canadian lumber entering the U.S. could eventually help markets here a local mill manager is saying, but they are still a few months out.

Couple will drive rig to Alaska, then send it off a cliff
June 4, 2025 8:25 a.m.

Couple will drive rig to Alaska, then send it off a cliff

Anthony and Amy Dorazio expect to have one of the most unique Fourth of July experiences in the United States.

City OK’s Habitat for Humanity homes at park
May 28, 2025 8:25 a.m.

City OK’s Habitat for Humanity homes at park

The Columbia Falls City Council last week approved the conversion of a city baseball park at Railroad Street to an affordable housing project.

Disc golf approved for River’s Edge Park
May 28, 2025 8:15 a.m.

Disc golf approved for River’s Edge Park

The Columbia Falls City Council approved a 9-hole disc golf course at River’s Edge Park last week.

First Interstate celebrates grand opening in Columbia Falls
May 28, 2025 7:40 a.m.

First Interstate celebrates grand opening in Columbia Falls

First Interstate Bank now has a branch in Columbia Falls and there’s some familiar faces at the bank.

Comeback Kats hosting state softball tourney
May 21, 2025 8:35 a.m.

Comeback Kats hosting state softball tourney

Columbia Falls softball coach Rick Lawrence was admittedly a little worried when the season first started. The Wildkats were in a 1-5 slump and for the first time ever, Columbia Falls was hosting the state A softball tournament.

Glacier Distilling donates 12-year-old whiskey to Glacier Institute auction
May 21, 2025 7:20 a.m.

Glacier Distilling donates 12-year-old whiskey to Glacier Institute auction

Glacier Distilling recently bottled a 12-year-old wheated single malt whiskey and the first bottle from the barrel will be auctioned off to support the Glacier Institute at its Lumberjack Ball in June.

Review: A fishing story woven into the reality of internment camps
May 21, 2025 7:15 a.m.

Review: A fishing story woven into the reality of internment camps

Laugh out loud funny. Gut wrenching serious. And a potent message for our times.

Protesters raise concerns about Medicaid cuts
May 21, 2025 7:10 a.m.

Protesters raise concerns about Medicaid cuts

About 80 people Monday protested potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid at the corner of Nucleus Avenue and Highway 2 in front of the Hungry Horse News.

Market hopes to purchase property as permanent home
May 14, 2025 8:50 a.m.

Market hopes to purchase property as permanent home

The Columbia Falls Community Market will kick off its 10th season this Thursday starting at 5 p.m. at the grounds adjacent to St. Richard Catholic Church on Highway 2.

May 14, 2025 8:30 a.m.

Commission OK’s Habitat for Humanity project on Railroad Street

The Columbia Falls Planning Commission last week approved the conversion of a city baseball park at Railroad Street to an affordable housing project, sending it to the city council with a positive recommendation.

District talks bond ranges for high school
May 14, 2025 7:55 a.m.

District talks bond ranges for high school

While a budget for the project has yet to be set, School District 6 officials gave the public some numbers to consider for a remodel of the Columbia Falls High School during a meeting last week.

May 14, 2025 7:05 a.m.

Residents urge fair treatment for immigrant community

A group of young people last week implored the Columbia Falls City Council to show compassion and dignity toward the immigrant community after a Venezuelan man was recently detained in Whitefish by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Nineteen years ago, Downing earned nickname "Cocaine Fairy"
May 9, 2025 11:30 a.m.

Nineteen years ago, Downing earned nickname "Cocaine Fairy"

In August 2006 Downing, then 27, earned the nickname “Cocaine Fairy” after he was busted by the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force near Bigfork. When officers arrived, Downing fled out the back door as police went in the front. Downing tore open a half-pound bag of cocaine as he ran, creating a big cloud of cocaine as he ran off into the woods, thus the “fairy” moniker.

Lee’s vision: West Glacier man does striking portrait project of valley homeless people
May 7, 2025 8:55 a.m.

Lee’s vision: West Glacier man does striking portrait project of valley homeless people

Lee Jester has always had an eye for photography. When he was a senior in high school, he took all the photos for the yearbook.

Improving security large part of proposed high school remodel
April 30, 2025 8:25 a.m.

Improving security large part of proposed high school remodel

A public forum last week took the first look at a remodel of the Columbia Falls High School. The focus of the discussion centered around safety and security at the school.

With federal cuts, groups look to fill gaps
April 30, 2025 8:20 a.m.

With federal cuts, groups look to fill gaps

Local trails and conservation organizations say they hope to fill in some of the gaps created by federal cuts to the National Forest crews this summer.

Commission considering city self-governance
April 29, 2025 9:30 a.m.

Commission considering city self-governance

The Columbia Falls government review commission plans to hear from an expert next month on whether the city should consider having self-governing powers.

Glacier Park plows run into 25-foot wall of snow at Big Bend from previous avalanche
April 25, 2025 8:15 a.m.

Glacier Park plows run into 25-foot wall of snow at Big Bend from previous avalanche

Glacier National Park snowplow crews continued to work in the Big Bend area of the Going-to-the-Sun Road over the past week.

Lazy Day Trailer Park residents evicted
April 23, 2025 8:35 a.m.

Lazy Day Trailer Park residents evicted

About 24 families living at the Lazy Day Mobile Home Trailer Park were served eviction notices on April 14.

Deer Park looks to replace ‘67 Quonset hut
April 23, 2025 7:30 a.m.

Deer Park looks to replace ‘67 Quonset hut

Deer Park School is hoping to replace an aging and unsafe Quonset hut and its old teacherage/office with a new 5,000 square-foot building. There’s a long list of problems with the 57-year-old Quonset hut. Years ago it used to be an inadequate gym. Now it houses the school’s music and art classrooms and the building isn’t in any better shape, just older.

Deer Park looks to replace ‘67 Quonset hut
April 23, 2025 7:30 a.m.

Deer Park looks to replace ‘67 Quonset hut

Deer Park School is hoping to replace an aging and unsafe Quonset hut and its old teacherage/office with a new 5,000 square-foot building. There’s a long list of problems with the 57-year-old Quonset hut. Years ago it used to be an inadequate gym. Now it houses the school’s music and art classrooms and the building isn’t in any better shape, just older.

April 18, 2025 12:05 p.m.

Seized Weyerhaeuser MDF oil pump causes fire

Columbia Falls firefighters responded to a fire in the hot oil room of the Weyerhaeuser MDF plant early Thursday morning.

Glacier National Park plows to Big Bend
April 18, 2025 8 a.m.

Glacier National Park plows to Big Bend

Glacier National Park plow crews are about three miles from Logan Pass on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Consultant: City still has opportunity to address housing needs
April 16, 2025 8:30 a.m.

Consultant: City still has opportunity to address housing needs

Columbia Falls is at a key point in its housing situation, consultant Wendy Sullivan told the city planning commission last week.

Columbia Falls skate park opens to great reviews
April 16, 2025 8:25 a.m.

Columbia Falls skate park opens to great reviews

Otto Anderson had a bike helmet and a skateboard he picked up for 8 bucks at the thrift store. Still, he was loving the new skate park in Columbia Falls, which opened earlier this month.

Glacier withdraws plan to put bull trout in Gunsight Lake
April 16, 2025 7:45 a.m.

Glacier withdraws plan to put bull trout in Gunsight Lake

Glacier National Park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have withdrawn a plan to stock native bull trout into Gunsight Lake, an iconic high mountain lake in the park on the east side of the Continental Divide.

County OK’s high water gate at Blankenship
April 16, 2025 7 a.m.

County OK’s high water gate at Blankenship

The Flathead County Commissioners Thursday approved an encroachment permit for the Forest Service to put a gate up on a county right-of-way on the southwest side of the Blankenship Bridge near the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.

Hikers and bikers can go as far as the Loop on Glacier Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road
April 11, 2025 8:55 a.m.

Hikers and bikers can go as far as the Loop on Glacier Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road

The good news is hikers and bikers on the west side of Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road can now go as far as the Loop.

Steed named FWP Region 1 supervisor
April 9, 2025 7:55 a.m.

Steed named FWP Region 1 supervisor

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has a new Region 1 supervisor in Amber Steed, a longtime biologist with the agency.

Public invited to meetings on proposed high school remodel
April 9, 2025 7:55 a.m.

Public invited to meetings on proposed high school remodel

The Columbia Falls School District 6 board is inviting the public to a series of meetings this month and next to look at the particulars of a remodeling of the high school.

Fern bill would offer $200 million in tax relief
April 9, 2025 7:50 a.m.

Fern bill would offer $200 million in tax relief

State Sen. Dave Fern said Friday he expects the state Legislature to get some sort of property tax relief bill passed by the end of the session. He also said a bill he sponsored that gives middle class taxpayers a significant income tax break has passed the Senate and is on to the House.

Featured quilter has been sewing all her life
April 9, 2025 7:45 a.m.

Featured quilter has been sewing all her life

Therese Stempin has never been very far away from a sewing machine. Her mother bought her a Necchi machine when she was in the third grade.

April 6, 2025 7:25 a.m.

Opinion: Eggcellent

So the wife got these eggs that were supposed to be fertilized, chicken eggs that is. A friend has hens and roosters and apparently lives in a place where both are copacetic with the neighbors, or at least in a place where the neighbors can’t do anything about it, which is to say they live near Eureka, whose motto, I think, is “anything goes.”

Glacier National Park plows to Crystal Point, Sun Road open to hikers and bikers as far as Avalanche Creek
April 4, 2025 8:30 a.m.

Glacier National Park plows to Crystal Point, Sun Road open to hikers and bikers as far as Avalanche Creek

Glacier National Park plow crews have made it to Crystal Point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, but the road this weekend will be closed at Avalanche Creek to hikers and bikers due to avalanche danger.

April 2, 2025 8:45 a.m.

Sidney man reaches plea agreement in Alaska griz killing

A Sidney, Montana man pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiracy in the case of an illegal grizzly bear killing in Alaska.

Eagles in distress or just in love? We’ll never know
April 2, 2025 8:30 a.m.

Eagles in distress or just in love? We’ll never know

When Anne Scott-Markle heard a bald eagle flapping in a big ponderosa pine near her rural Columbia Falls home last Thursday, she thought something may have been amiss.

CRMP Comments: Many folks want more river protections, not less
April 2, 2025 8:25 a.m.

CRMP Comments: Many folks want more river protections, not less

The proposed action for the Comprehensive River Management plan for the three forks of the Flathead River drew 1,241 comments. Some common themes have emerged, as many people urged the Forest Service and Park Service to consider the health of the rivers, fish and wildlife more, not less, particularly in wilderness areas like the South Fork of the Flathead in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Middle Fork in the Great Bear Wilderness.

New owner of iconic Two Medicine Grill in East Glacier Park a familiar face
April 2, 2025 8:10 a.m.

New owner of iconic Two Medicine Grill in East Glacier Park a familiar face

Five months into owning a restaurant and Matt Lyson is going to do just fine. Lyson bought the Two Medicine Grill in East Glacier Park last fall from longtime owner Mark Howser.

Baseball has a lot of young talent
March 26, 2025 8:55 a.m.

Baseball has a lot of young talent

Despite losing eight seniors, the Columbia Falls baseball team still has a solid core of athletes this year, looking to make their mark on the conference and with any luck, the postseason.

Notes from Ranger Doug
March 26, 2025 8:30 a.m.

Notes from Ranger Doug

I’ve had the pleasure over the years of getting correspondence from longtime Glacier National Park ranger/naturalist Doug Follett. He would either mail or drop by poems and notes to the office.

Mixed results from city survey; as a third of respondents don't live in city limits
March 26, 2025 8:25 a.m.

Mixed results from city survey; as a third of respondents don't live in city limits

Columbia Falls has some work to do in some areas, but is adequate in others, according to a recent survey.

A barking fox and other tales from Freezout Lake
March 26, 2025 8:05 a.m.

A barking fox and other tales from Freezout Lake

Sounds. That’s the thing you leave the Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area within your head if you’ve spent the night there.

Recent storms boost snowpack to 99% of median
March 26, 2025 7:10 a.m.

Recent storms boost snowpack to 99% of median

A late winter storm has boosted the Flathead River Basin snowpack to normal. As of Monday, the snowpack was 99% of the median, though some sites remain well below normal and others higher than normal.