Monday, January 31
Broadband: U.S. government pushes for total access
The Super Bowl: Showcase event familiar to historic franchises
Hungry Horse Reservoir Snowmobile Patrol
What's for lunch?: A look inside the fast food wrapper
Fights prompt calls to sheriff
The
Chad Hepler
Book relives drug treatment in Marion
Just five days before his 18th birthday, Chad Hepler had a rude awakening from the comfort of his bed in his parent’s house in Georgia.
Kalispell plowing schedule outlined
A primary system of unmarked snow routes has been established for snow removal on the collector and arterial system within the city of Kalispell.
Robert 'Bob' Charles Rice, 73
Robert “Bob” Charles Rice, 73, passed away suddenly on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011, at his home in Somers.
Couple pleads not guilty to cat cruelty
The couple arrested and charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty after more than 100 cats were found inside two trailers near Marion in December pleaded innocent in Flathead County District Court Thursday.
Daybook
Sunday, January 30
Glacier speech team tops in state, Flathead No. 2
Kalispell high school students brought home first- and second-place trophies Saturday in the Class AA Speech and Debate Tournament.
Dell Wilbur McManus, 79
Dell Wilbur McManus passed away Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, at his home in Kalispell after a short battle with leukemia.
Divas of the derby: Local roller girls skate into the spotlight
By day, they’re stay-at-home mothers, paralegals, retailers, therapists and otherwise regular employees at normal businesses.
Wolfpack, Bravettes fall, again
HELENA - Glacier's big comeback came up just short as Helena Capital survived with strong shooting at the free-throw line on Saturday, defeating the Wolfpack 58-49 in Western AA conference girls basketball.
Streit wins 50 free at Bohn-Morer swim
HELENA - Glacier's Logan Streit won the 50-yard freestyle (23.59) and finished second in the 100 freestyle at the Bohn-Morer Invitational swim meet on Saturday at the Carroll College pool.
Cautious optimism, at best
Characteristically, Gov. Brian Schweitzer had an upbeat, optimistic view of Montana’s economic outlook in his state-of-the-state address last week, challenging Republican lawmakers on their more pessimistic view for state revenues over the next two years.
Libby faces problems with 65-year old dam
Flower Creek structure deteriorating quickly
A true pillar of the community
High School Basketball: Wildcats blow out Big Sky
COLUMBIA FALLS - Nick Emerson turned in a game-high 19 points and Parker Johnson added 12 as the top-ranked team in Class A improved to 4-0 against Class AA teams this season, rolling past Missoula Big Sky 74-49 on Saturday night.
Bigfork students wrap up in fifth place
Bigfork High School wrapped up its speech, debate and drama season with a fifth-place finish at the Class B-C State Speech, Debate and Drama Tournament Saturday.
Couch-destroying boyfriend reported
Columbia Falls wins sixth title
Columbia Falls High School brought home its sixth straight state title Saturday night from the Class A State Speech and Debate Tournament.
'Tiger mother' spurs parenting debate
If you’ve tapped into the national news at all lately, you’ve no doubt heard about the controversy that’s swelled up over Amy Chua’s book, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” in which she explains with a huge dose of Western political incorrectness, why Chinese mothers and their children are superior.
Nonprofit hospitals pay taxes if bill passes
State Rep. Keith Regier, a Kalispell Republican who represents House District 5, has sponsored House Bill 305, a law that would eliminate property tax exemptions for most nonprofit hospitals, including Kalispell Regional Medical Center and North Valley Hospital.
Dealing in Dell: Montana Tech Solutions relocates to Flathead
When Todd and Christine Kolstad visited Kalispell on their honeymoon 14 years ago, they had their photo taken at the “Welcome to Kalispell” sign and decided some day they’d live here.
A future for trash
Glacier shines in win over Capital
Almost 20 minutes after the fact, Bryan Chery still had his dark blue Glacier Wolfpack jersey on as he walked out of the locker room smiling into a crowd of exalted fans and family.
A future for trash: County evaluates landfill options
How much garbage will Flathead County produce 100 years from now? And where will we put it all?
Flathead, Glacier wrestlers drop Helena, Capital
HELENA - A point for a body slam and an escape with 10 seconds left sealed the deal as Flathead's Connor Thomas defeated defending state champion Tucker Erickson Saturday in triple overtime.
Braves roll past Bengals
FHS dedicates weekend wins to super booster Dell McManus
An emotional weekend for Flathead High School ended on a positive note.
In praise of a forgotten hero
The premise of John F. Kennedy’s book “Profiles in Courage” was that true political courage is found when politicians take a principled stand that turns their assumed friends into sworn enemies.
Saturday, January 29
Whitefish Skijoring running course
Whitefish Skijoring off jump
Whitefish Skijoring mid-air
Whitefish Skijoring hold on
Whitefish Skijoring lost rope
Whitefish Skijoring balance
Whitefish Skijoring
Whitefish Skijoring landing
Whitefish Skijoring Air
Flathead Helena High Basketball Layup
Whitefish Skijoring Wipeout
Flathead Helena High Basketball
Raymond Marshall Niehuus, 60
Raymond Marshall Niehuus died Jan. 24, 2011, in Houston.
Glacier sweats out win over Helena
Balanced scoring helps Wolfpack claim first league victory, 59-49
Dell McManus would have loved this one.
MatCats whip Bulldogs
WHITEFISH - It wasn't perfect. But it was darn close.
Special event showcases student talent
Quin Stevens gets nervous when she thinks about Thursday night.
Braves edge Bruins at buzzer
VanArendonk’s basket gives FHS a 50-48 victory
Mike VanArendonk was Flathead's Johnny-on-the-spot Friday night at the Flathead gym.
Prelude to death: Teen's texts outline tragic tale
Text messages at the center of a trial to determine whether a 17-year-old Evergreen girl is guilty of two counts of deliberate homicide were read aloud in Flathead County District Court Friday.
Sheriff's deputy gets DUI fine
Flathead County Sheriff’s Deputy Bruce Parish was sentenced Friday for a driving under the influence charge, and Kalispell Municipal Judge Heidi Ulbricht rejected the claims of a man who said Parish ran over his hand while backing up his truck on the night of Aug. 28.
An Evening of Fine Arts
C-Falls boys stay perfect, crush Thompson Falls
THOMPSON FALLS - Top-ranked Class A Columbia Falls took a 53-17 lead at the half and never looked back in pounding Class B Thompson Falls 78-29 on Friday in boys basketball play.
Family members argue about animal health
The
Accused murderer expected to change plea
The Creston man accused of killing his father and brother before holding six people hostage for several hours in January 2010 is expected to change his innocent plea Thursday in Flathead County District Court.
Justine Winter Trial
Anna Eleanor Nolin, 94
Anna Eleanor Nolin, 94, passed away on Jan. 27, 2011, in Kalispell.
Friday, January 28
Glacier vs. Helena basketball
Flathead County Landfill Options
Justine Winter Trail Day Five Randy Winter
Outlaw Inn Renovations Continue
Death penalty: Over time, lethal injection replaced electrocution as top method
Bob Dwyer
Todd Kolstad
Rollery Derby Match Atcion
Roller Derby Face
Roller Derby Skate Check
Roller Derby Warm Up
Roller Derby Contact
Roller Derby Stretch
Roller Derby Team
Roller Derby
Dell McManus: One of the good guys
I've met a lot of people in my life as I spent 20 years traveling around the world and meeting new people each week I was on the road, but this community has just lost one of my top-five all-time "good guys" when Dell McManus passed away on Tuesday.
Unplowed roads threat to man's life
A resident on Haskill Drive in Whitefish was counseled by a
Galbraith's double-double paces Bulldogs
Whitefish senior hits 21 points, grabs 14 rebounds in 55-42 win over Ronan
WHITEFISH - Skiing used to be Drew Galbraith's top priority.
Sidney L. 'Sid' Groff, 91
Dr. Sidney L. “Sid” Groff, of Butte, died Jan. 17, 2011, in Butte after an extended illness.
Wolfpack whips Libby, Hellgate
A good showing.
Flathead, Glacier poised to excel at state meet
For the last several years, the Class AA Speech and Debate Tournament has been a three-way battle for the title. Local coaches say that tradition will hold up again today and tomorrow in Great Falls, as Glacier, Flathead and Bozeman high schools fight for first place.
Thomas James 'Jim' Tannehill, 86
Thomas James “Jim” Tannehill, 86, passed away on Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.
Whitefish girls pick up 1st win
RONAN - Whitefish outscored Ronan 13-8 in the fourth quarter to pull out a 36-31 Northwestern A girls basketball victory on Thursday.
Winter trial delves into details of fatal crash
A crash reconstruction expert said Thursday that a 17-year-old Evergreen girl was traveling over 80 miles per hour in the wrong lane on March 19, 2009, when she collided with an oncoming vehicle that had slowed to 31 mph.
Woman speaks up on history of abuse
It took nearly a year and the spectacle of another domestic homicide case for Sarah Peters to speak out about her own experience, and her views on how more can be done to prevent similar crimes and raise awareness about domestic violence.
Braves bury Big Sky, 72-12
Nine pins, two decisions and 12 easy points off forfeits resulted in a lopsided dual victory for Flathead's wrestlers on Senior Night at the FHS gym.
Bigfork orators face major competition from Loyola
Bringing home a state title — or even making the semifinal round — won’t be easy for Bigfork High School’s speakers and performers at this weekend’s state tournament.
Thursday, January 27
Glacier vs. Libby Wrestling
Moore Hearing live on page video
Sarah Peters Demonstration
How do you rate President Obama's State of the Union address?
Elmer Roy Ellingson, 89
Elmer Roy Ellingson, 89, of Kalispell, died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2011, at his residence.
West Glacier Lodge passes one county hurdle
The Flathead County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a major land-use permit for Glacier Guides Lodge near West Glacier, paving the way for the lodge to wrap up a licensing issue in time for the summer tourist season.
Fluorescent bulbs not toxic, electric co-op says
Concerns about mercury in compact fluorescent lightbulbs being sent by Flathead Electric Cooperative to its members are misplaced, a cooperative spokesman said Tuesday.
Flathead's Thomas, Eureka's Vaughn top all-class wrestling poll
Connor Thomas of Flathead and Taylor Vaughn of Eureka are ranked No. 1 at heavyweight and 171 pounds, respectively, in the All-Class High School Wrestling poll, released this week.
Emily Jean Kress
Emily Jean Kress, daughter of Lee Luce and Angela Kress, was born Jan. 5 at at North Valley Hospital.
Take my truck, but not my gun
Good words; now for action
President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address before Congress this week was at times uplifting, paying optimistic heed to American innovation, free enterprise and entrepreneurship, but it came up short in significant ways.
Gage David Crawford
Gage David Crawford, son of Del and Crystal Crawford of Kalispell, was born Jan. 5 at North Valley Hospital.
Mary (O'Connor) Orr, 96
Mary (O'Connor) Orr, 96, “went to be with her Lord” on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home.
Kalispell schools pose $6 million levy
Hazards far-reaching at several schools
Kalispell Public Schools will ask voters to approve nearly $6 million over the next five years to repair and maintain its school buildings.
Columbia Falls orators hope to make it six in row
This could be the year Columbia Falls brings home its sixth-straight state title in speech and debate.
Polson moves up in Class A wrestling poll
The Polson Pirates moved up one slot to No. 5 in this week's Montana Class A wrestling poll.
Courthouse renovation bids open
Martel Construction was the low bidder among five firms vying for a major renovation of the main Flathead County Courthouse.
Ex-boyfriend testifies in crash-murder trial
On the night of March 19, 2009, the relationship between Justine Winter and her then-boyfriend Ryan Langford had apparently reached its end.
FVCC student housing nears completion
Flathead Valley Community College has nearly completed renovation of an apartment building on the hospital campus for student housing.
Anna R. (Cash) Drew, 86
Anna R. (Cash) Drew passed away on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011, at Brendan House.
Wednesday, January 26
Staying power: Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's ruler since 1981
State of the Union: President Obama's 2011 speech
Hockey at Woodland Pond
An Evening of Fine Arts
Justine Winter Trial Day Three
Presidents' first term: Induring the indicators
Teen's text messages used in murder-by-vehicle trial
The Montana Highway Patrol trooper who investigated a 2009 crash that killed a Columbia Falls woman and her teenage son said Tuesday it was a 17-year-old Evergreen girl’s vehicle that crossed the centerline at a speed of 85 miles per hour and caused the collision.
Ker, Lorang, Sorensen push Vikes past Dogs
ST. IGNATIUS - Bigfork had three players in double-figure scoring, and for the first time this season finished with more assists (18) than turnovers (13) in basketball game by beating St. Ignatius 63-33 on Tuesday in a District 7B boys contest.
Thelma (Burch) (Shay) Ness, 71
Thelma Ness died at the home of her oldest daughter, Monica LeSoine, after a short battle with cancer, on Jan. 24, 2011, with her loving family around her.
Mel Runnells, 80
Mel Runnells of Polson died Jan. 21, 2011.
Clayton Carl Goodsell, 3 weeks old
Our precious “Baby Clay” was born into his parents’ arms and his families’ hearts on Dec. 31, 2010. The instant love everyone had for him was shown through laughter and tears as we all fought for who would get to hold him next.
Libby splits mat duals with C-Falls, Whitefish
LIBBY - Marcus Ross' first-period pin at 189 helped Columbia Falls break a 34-all tie and the Wildcats went on to collect a 43-34 Northwestern A dual wrestling win over Libby on Tuesday.
Pertussis, norovirus spreading
Flathead City-County Health Department continues to battle pertussis (whooping cough) and norovirus has appeared in a local nursing home.
Thomas James 'Jim' Tannehill, 86
Thomas James “Jim” Tannehill, 86, passed away on Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.
Jobless rate jumps above 12 percent
Flathead County’s unemployment rate increased again in December, reaching 12.1 percent, compared to 11.8 percent in November 2010.
Col. Falls library relocation raises questions
Council plans fact-finding work session
The Columbia Falls City Council has scheduled a special work session on Monday to discuss the proposed relocation of the Columbia Falls branch library from City Hall to Glacier Discovery Square.
Kalispell council rekindles fifth Monday meetings with fellow councils
The Kalispell City Council wants to reconnect with area government officials.
Ross E. McAlpin, 81
Ross E. McAlpin of Bigfork “went home to be with our Heavenly Father” on Jan. 20, 2011, with his loving wife and family at his side, following a long and painful battle with cancer.
City removes trees from Courthouse area
Kalispell city employees spent time Sunday and Monday removing 18 dead trees near the Flathead County Courthouse.
Amish woman missing from St. Ignatius
Lake County Sheriff Jay Doyle said a search is under way for Naomi Ruth Engbretson, a member of the Amish community in the Mission Valley area. It began on Monday morning when she was first reported missing.
Samantha Wing Schaff, 27
Samantha Wing Schaff, 27, of Columbia Falls, and formerly of Polson, passed away on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011, as a result of an automobile accident.
Tuesday, January 25
Terror attack: Deadly blast at Moscow airport
Day Two of the Justine Winter Trial
Trees Cut Down Near Courthouse
Lakeside council looks at town-center plan
The Lakeside Community Council tonight will consider creating a committee that would put together a Town Center Development Plan.
Meadow Lynne Fox
Meadow Lynne Fox, daughter of Josh Fox and Rebecca Allers of Kalispell, was born Jan. 6 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Woman 'freaks out' on ex-boyfriend
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office got a report Sunday from a man who said his ex-girlfriend “freaked out,” kicked him out of a vehicle on Hard Rock Road in the Somers area, and then started swinging a baseball bat at him.
Maggie Marie Bush
Maggie Marie Bush, daughter of Anthony Bush and Stephanie Brown of Kalispell, was born Jan. 7 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Kevin King, 43
It is with great sorrow that we announce that Kevin King passed away on Jan. 12, 2011, from a sudden illness.
Daybook
Tuesday
Kaitlyn Carrie Williams
Kaitlyn Carrie Williams, daughter of Matt and Brandy Williams of Lakeside, was born Jan. 4 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Kenneth Wesley Miller, 86
Kenneth Wesley Miller, 86, passed away Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell from complications of pneumonia.
Bryton Connor Pereslete
Bryton Connor Pereslete, son of Caleb and Anna Pereslete of Kalispell, was born Jan. 7 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Polson woman dies in crash
A Polson woman died in a Monday morning collision with a semitrailer about three miles south of Lakeside.
Taylor Lloyd Dempsey
Taylor Lloyd Dempsey, son of Jon Snyder and Emily Dempsey of Columbia Falls, was born Jan. 4 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Louise Barbara Craft Gaffney, 88
Louise Barbara Craft Gaffney, 88, passed away peacefully at the Brendan House on Jan. 17, 2011.
Michael Wesley Miller, 53
On Jan. 15, 2011, Michael Wesley Miller passed away, leaving behind his family and friends who loved him very much.
Avalyn Marie Grady
Avalyn Marie Grady, daughter of Anthony Grady and Shelby White of Kalispell, was born Jan. 3 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Jury selection completed in Winters' murder trial
A jury was seated Monday in the homicide trial of Justine Winters, after potential jurors were questioned on “publicity and prior knowledge” of a 2009 car crash that killed a pregnant mother and her teenage son.
Monday, January 24
Dancing Earth peforms for Whitefish Middle School
Maritime piracy: Lawlessness at sea
Justine Winter Jury Selection
Remembering the Challenger crew
Casino's towel dispenser stolen
Solveig Alyssa Ensign, 32
Solveig Alyssa Ensign trusted Jesus as her savior.
John A. Mihalic, 90
Chief Master Sgt. John Anthony Mihalic, USAF (retired), 90, died of natural causes Jan. 19, 2011, at his residence in Missoula. Chief Mihalic was a 25-year veteran of the armed forces.
Contest prize a sparkling million-dollar ring
Cameron and Shariyah Morris officially are the World’s Most Romantic Couple — and they have a shiny rock the size of a walnut to prove it.
Writer crafts Facebook novel
Leif Peterson didn’t set out to write a page-turner.
Unsecured trash loads mean warning, fines
Flathead City-County Board of Health members and Sheriff Chuck Curry agreed Thursday that some people need more than public service announcements to stop littering and start securing their loads of trash.
Most romantic couple
Bigfork wins drama; 3rd in speech meet
Bigfork High School’s speech, debate and drama competitors held their own at the Northern Class B-C Divisional Tournament Saturday.
Daybook
C. Falls shines at divisional meet
Columbia Falls High School is undefeated heading into the state tournament after a decisive victory at the Northwest Class A Divisional Speech, Debate and Drama Tournament in Libby Saturday.
Sunday, January 23
Michael Wesley Miller, 53
On Jan. 15, 2011, Michael Wesley Miller passed away, leaving behind his family and friends who loved him very much.
Shaping lives: Potter's Field turns marriage mission into international children's ministry
A local ministry centered around healing marriages has evolved into taking care of children in four countries.
Jury selection starts in murder trial
It’s been almost two years since a Columbia Falls mother was killed, along with her 13-year-old son, in a March 19, 2009, car crash that led to the arrest and prosecution of an Evergreen girl.
Marvin William Black, 86
Marvin William Black of Kalispell died Jan. 15, 2011, at 11:50 p.m. According to his wishes, he passed peacefully in the presence of his closest friends, in the last home that he built.
Rock, not bullet, caused car damage
Jason Frank Lapp, 87
We are sorry to say that Jason Frank Lapp passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. He was home and comfortable and happy, and I think he is glad to be gone, but sad to leave. We will miss our father, our grandfather and our good friend.
Family ski fun
Glacier wrestlers 3rd, Flathead 7th at AA Duals
BUTTE - Saturday's Class AA Duals weren't exactly what either Glacier or Flathead had in mind.
Hard work ahead for board
It’s commendable that the Kalispell School Board is reaching out to parents for help in developing effective, workable policies on chemical use and bullying, but in the end, it will come down to some serious decision-making among board members.
Whitefish Lodge comes up diamonds
The owners of the Lodge at Whitefish Lake are celebrating the property’s AAA designation as a four-diamond facility.
Ericksons crowned carnival king, queen
Whitefish completed its royal court for the Winter Carnival on Saturday night with the crowning of King Ullr LII and Queen of the Snows — Bart and Carole Erickson.
Pirates pull away from Bulldogs
The Daily Inter Lake
Marion ballots due Tuesday
Ballots for Marion School’s $2.2 million bond election must be returned to the school Tuesday.
Streit, Thorderson, Mason, Lane post top swims for Glacier, Flathead
MISSOULA - There were no firsts, just a couple of seconds for Glacier's Logan Streit (50 and 100 freestyle) and thirds for Flathead's Lars Thorderson (200 freestyle) and Ben Mason (100 butterfly) at the Missoula Invitational Swim Meet on Saturday.
What's so scary about Sarah?
Some people don’t like Sarah Palin.
Saturday, January 22
America's Enduring Strength: By Sarah Palin
Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on Saturday, and my heart broke for the innocent victims. No words can fill the hole left by the death of an innocent, but we do mourn for the victims’ families as we express our sympathy.
Columbia Falls vs. Loyola
Jewish Arbor Day
Stephen Paul Edquist, 52
Stephen Paul Edquist passed away on Jan. 13, 2011.
Snoozing man apparently not a problem
The
Friday stroll
Wolfpack pins Big Sky
MISSOULA - Glacier wrestlers Zach Barber and Jackson Barber were on the mat for a grand total of 1:38 on Friday night at Missoula Big Sky.
FVCC seeks mentors for college students
Flathead Valley Community College is seeking businesses and organizations interested in mentoring student interns this spring.
Pirates win mat duals with Cats, Dogs
COLUMBIA FALLS - The Polson Pirates picked up five pins en route to a 46-24 Northwestern A wrestling victory over Columbia Falls on Friday.
Bigfork cagers sweep Eureka
BIGFORK - Christian Ker led a balanced attack with 23 points and 12 rebounds as Bigfork rolled past Eureka 81-40 on Friday in District 7B boys basketball play.
Danger of avalanches lowered
Northwest Montana’s avalanche danger has been downgraded to “considerable” on steep and open slopes and “moderate” in other areas between 5,500 and 7,000 feet elevation.
Karen Buchanan, 49
Karen Buchanan, 49, of Kalispell, passed away Jan. 20, 2011, due to multiple sclerosis.
Bravettes beat Dogs; back on track
Andrews paces Flathead in scoring with 10 points
It's a win and the Flathead Bravettes will take it without apology.
Fine arts by students to be showcased
Artists and performers from Flathead and Glacier high schools will display their talents in a fundraiser for Kalispell Public Schools and Flathead Valley Community College.
Whitefish moms unite on the Web
When a friend told Niki MacLean she wanted to start a social network for parents, MacLean wondered why a mom-specific site was necessary.
Kidnap suspect pleads innocent
The man charged with kidnapping and criminal endangerment after a six-hour standoff at a Kalispell motel on New Year’s Eve pleaded innocent to those charges Thursday in Flathead County District Court.
Charge reduced in 2009 robbery case
A man shot four times during a botched drug deal west of Kalispell in 2009 pleaded guilty to a reduced slate of charges in Flathead County District Court Thursday.
Late free throws help Flathead stop Whitefish
Mike VanArendonk cashed in with some big free throws down the stretch and pulled down some key rebounds as Flathead (5-4 overall) defeated Whitefish 62-55 in nonconference boys basketball play on Friday at FHS.
Man faces prison time for meth
A 33-year-old Hungry Horse man pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine during a federal court session in Missoula on Wednesday.
Glacier ends 5-game losing skid
Still struggling to find that offensive touch, the Glacier Wolfpack managed just enough to end a dire losing streak.
Friday, January 21
Glacier Libby Basketball Scoop
Flathead Whitefish Basketball
Glacier Libby Basketball
Whitefish Moms for Moms
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake
Bad decisions, horrible consequences
Potter's Field Ministries
Obama at two years: Does he deserve re-election
Search made for aggressive thief
Bigfork hosts divisional speech meet on Saturday
Organizing and running a divisional speech, debate and drama meet might sound like a daunting task, but Bigfork head coach Charlie Appleby says the job isn’t overwhelming.
Glacier No. 2 in mat poll
It's been a pretty good week in Kalispell wrestling.
Glacier's final visitor count: 2.2 million
It’s official: Glacier National Park set a visitation record in 2010 with 2,226,757 people entering the park in its Centennial year.
Homicide suspect involved in jail fracas
Accused double murderer Tyler Miller is facing tighter restrictions in the Flathead County Detention Center after attacking a fellow inmate he believed was a friend of one of his alleged victims, Sheriff Chuck Curry confirmed Thursday.
Keith David 'Diz' Graham, 79
This is farewell to our kind and gentle giant, our “Honest Abe,” a man of few words but many examples of what a good man should be. That was Keith David “Diz” Graham.
Flathead hammers Hellgate
Quick, but painful.
Unbeaten Columbia Falls heads to divisional speech competition
Local speech and debate competitors will vie this weekend for a trip to the state tournament.
Flathead Missoula Hellgate Wrestling
Arlene M. (Tracy) Walker, 73
On Jan. 18, 2011, Arlene M. (Tracy) Walker of Whitefish passed away at her home after a brief fight with cancer. Robert Walker, her husband of 37 years, was at her side, along with her sons.
Ruth Esther Kiser, 90
Ruth Esther Kiser, 90, peacefully passed away on Jan. 18, 2011.
Wildcats clamp down, stop Wolfpack
COLUMBIA FALLS - Cary Finberg's message at halftime was simple - no more 3-pointers.
Thursday, January 20
Columbia Falls Glacier High Basketball
Barkus sentencing paperwork
Barkus Sentencing
Mob arrests: Latest takedown one of biggest Mafia busts
Woodland Park Winter Upkeep
Barkus sentencing vertical
Redneck Chic Closing
Barkus accepts tougher sentence
Former senator on supervised probation with $29,000 fine
Former state Sen. Greg Barkus of Kalispell on Thursday was dealt a four-year deferred sentence and ordered to pay $29,000 in fines and restitution for criminal endangerment stemming from a 2009 boat crash on Flathead Lake.
A measure of dignity at the end
There is no question that the Legislature needs to follow through on a Supreme Court ruling that effectively allowed physician-assisted suicides in Montana, because that ruling provided no guidance or oversight whatsoever.
Fire board OKs response fee
Spilled mail load included local utility bills
Mail that spilled from a tractor-trailer on Sunday involved a tray of approximately 475 bills from Flathead Electric Cooperative.
Parents meet to plan graduation party
Parents interested in helping plan this year’s graduation party for seniors at Flathead and Glacier high schools are invited to a meeting tonight.
Harold Glenn Oglesbee, 85
Harold Glenn Oglesbee passed away at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Jan. 17, 2011.
Crews keep busy patching potholes
It’s pothole season in the Flathead Valley, driven by this winter’s freeze/thaw cycles.
Morning melodies
Whitefish schools prepare for budget crunch
Shortfall could be nearly $900,000
There’s no question the Whitefish School District’s budget will be grim next year. How grim depends on the state Legislature and on voters.
Glacier aims to pack gym for Friday games
Glacier High School wants to fill its gym with Wolfpack fans when its basketball teams take on the Libby Loggers Friday.
Vaughn 'Bill' William Vincent, 76
Vaughn “Bill” William Vincent was born May 22, 1934, to Bill and Hazel Vincent of Thompson Falls. He passed away Jan. 15, 2011, in Libby, surrounded by family and friends.
Crisis Line gets subdivision OK
The final plat for a subdivision related to the Violence Free Crisis Line Inc. was approved Tuesday.
Helen Stein, 84
Helen Stein, 84, passed away on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.
'The price is right' - please don't change it
First numbers from airport study released
An engineering firm on Tuesday night released the first results from its study of Kalispell City Airport.
Wednesday, January 19
Leif Peterson at Home
Patricia Johnson at Mountain Valley Foods
Steve Jobs: A look at the visionary innovator
AP Technology Headlines
AP Technology Top Headline
Vatican letter: Bishops were warned not to report abuse
Marijuana 'caregivers' haul nature's bounty
The
Libby streets flood after ice jams creek
Medical chief promotes integrated health care
Northwest Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Craig Eddy paraphrased Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin” for his theme promoting a cooperative approach to survive the flood of changes from health-care legislation.
Don Caron, 86
Don Caron passed away at his home in Ferndale on Jan. 14, 2011.
New life for an old radio station
KGEZ is back on the air
The building has a new look and the broadcast has a new sound, but KGEZ, the oldest radio station in Northwest Montana, is back in business.
Kenney's big night lifts Polson
Polson's Riley Kenney put on quite the show at the free-throw line, sinking 14 of 17 attempts en route to a 30-point performance in the Pirates' 61-50 nonconference girls basketball victory Tuesday over Flathead at Flathead High School.
Student testifies on dropout legislation
Cody Hill was disappointed when Senate Bill 44 died in committee Monday afternoon.
Gladys Mae (Baldwin) Danielson, 84
Gladys Mae (Baldwin) Danielson, 84, passed away after an extended illness Jan. 14, 2011, at Brendan House in Kalispell.
Helen Leota (Burk) Steinke, 91
Helen Leota (Burk) Steinke, 91, “went home to be with Jesus” on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, at her residence in Kalispell.
Evergreen car dealership closing
After 13 years in Evergreen, Kari Dodge is closing its doors.
Kalispell Chamber angles for air show during 2013
The economic downturn in the Flathead led to a decision last June by officials at the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce not hold an air show here this summer.
Tuesday, January 18
Flathead Polson Basketball Block
Flathead Polson Basketball Falling Ball
Flathead Polson Basketball
Australian Open: The stars come out at Melbourne
KGEZ Back on the Air
Chinese leader visits Washington: A look at relations
Thieves take $600 from trap club
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office got a report Sunday regarding a break-in at the trap club on Somers Stage Road, with about $600 being stolen.
Kalispell schools seek input on policies
Kalispell Public Schools wants to hear from parents on two student policies.
Young artists' work displayed at Bigfork show
Pieces from budding young Bigfork artists will be on display today at the Bigfork Museum of Art and History.
Lenore 'Nonie' Simons, 100
Longtime Whitefish resident Lenore “Nonie” Simons died peacefully at home on Jan. 15, 2011, just a few months after turning 100 years old.
Daybook
Tuesday
Retired general from Lakeside honored as master pilot
Retired Air Force Brigadier General Tip Clark of Lakeside was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award at a recent meeting of the local Experimental Aircraft Association and Montana Pilots Association at the Kalispell City Airport.
SWAT visit ends peacefully
To passers-by, it probably looked like a SWAT team standoff, but it wasn’t.
Tanner Hall: The once and future king
A Kalispell legend on the road to a new beginning
Almost a week before Christmas, 27-year-old Tanner Hall is driving south to Mexico.
Larry W. McCauley, 75
Larry W. McCauley died at his home in Kalispell on Dec. 29, 2010, after a long series of sicknesses that was finally determined to be lymphatic cancer.
Monday, January 17
Tanner Hall at Retallack
Tanner 2
Tanner Hall 1
Detroit Auto Show: A look at the recovering industry
Golden Globes 2011
No School Fun Camp at the Summit
Unrest in Tunisia: President flees amid protests
contact iframe
A shift in the stars: Zodiac calendar changes
Florence Fly Sproul Wood Hedin, 79
Florence Hedin passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, at Brendan House after a brief illness.
Whitefish considers new cemetery
With no room left at its 93-year-old cemetery, the city of Whitefish is taking the first step to create new burial grounds for the resort town.
C. Falls continues winning season in Ronan
Columbia Falls High School continued its undefeated speech and debate season by dominating the Ronan Invitational on Saturday.
Stabbing victim still in serious condition
A 31-year-old stabbing victim remained in serious condition Sunday afternoon.
Daybook
Thrift store owner's mission is helping young families
Recycled ‘blessings’
A decade or so ago Kristine Wimsett was a single mom raising two daughters in the Seattle area.
Anastasia Mae 'Anne' Bachini, 88
Anne Bachini, 88, peacefully passed away from natural causes on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, at the Northern Montana Care Center.
Alleged baby shoe thief cited
Robert 'Gordon' Riley, 77
Robert “Gordon” Riley, age 77, passed away Tuesday, January 11, 2011.
Glacier wins Butte speech meet
A speech and debate tournament in Butte over the weekend turned into a fierce battle between the state’s top three teams.
Liberty waver: 'You get in a groove and go with it'
Temperatures well below freezing are no match for Jake Zakavec, who for the last week has regularly donned a Statue of Liberty costume to promote his employer, Liberty Tax Service.
Sunday, January 16
Epic reunion: Sicilian brothers connect on Facebook after 52 years
It’s easy to imagine Calogero “Todd” Iannelli’s life as an epic movie, one that spans generations and cultures, from the ancient castle city of Caccamo, Sicily, to the urban jungle of Chicago and finally to the mountains of Montana.
Kalispell plow drivers tackle busy snow season on 114 miles of city streets
It takes 2 1/2 days to get Kalispell streets clear after a major snowstorm.
Man charged in stabbing
A 20-year-old Hungry Horse man was arrested Saturday morning after being charged with attempted deliberate homicide.
'Crazy' Finns and their spirit of competition
Let me just say there’s nothing like a good old ethnic feud to get people revved up.
Unwelcome 'renter' gets the boot
Buls, Hutchens, Kober high rollers
Trio roll 300 games at Pin & Cue
Jamie Kober, Nick Buls and Coby Hutchens have been oh so close several times, but never on the mark like they have been this season.
Hannah Joy Rodgers, 4 months
Hannah Joy Rodgers, 4 months old, of Newark, Del., “went from her parents arms into the arms of Jesus” on Thursday, Jan, 13, 2011.
Balanced Braves beat Big Sky
Gillespie, Sherwood, VanArendonk, Pistorese score in double figures
Four Flathead players combined for 72 points and the Braves snapped a two-game skid with a 75-60 Western AA win over Missoula Big Sky in boys basketball on Saturday afternoon.
Mitchell, Thomas win Rocky mat titles
MISSOULA - Fifth and ninth, respectively, with one champion apiece.
Gordon Conrad Cusick, 71
Gordon Conrad Cusick, 71, passed away Jan. 6, 2011, at Kindred Hospital in Las Vegas.
Open house planned on Kalispell airport
Ån open house on the master plan study for Kalispell City Airport will be held Tuesday night.
Heating help harder to come by this winter
A cold winter, bad economy and a funding shortfall in low income energy assistance make a triple whammy for Flathead Electric Cooperative customers.
Love of baking leads to Bad Dog venture
When the construction industry in the Flathead Valley hit the skids a couple of years ago, Bigfork contractor and electrician Dan Foster found himself struggling to find work and pay the bills.
Human rights group hears about tea party
Two dozen people showed up Friday night to hear an anti-tea party speech at Flathead Valley Community College by Devin Burghart of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights in Seattle.
Douglas F. Wise, 93
Douglas F. Wise, 93, passed away on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, at Health Center Northwest in Kalispell.
It's time to re-examine tenure
Most of us, if we’re lucky, can remember teachers who were in a league of their own in the way they inspired and mentored their students to achieve academic excellence. They made us want to learn; they made our children want to learn.
Crown of the Continent Choir a multi-faith group of music lovers
Nancy Rose isn’t a member of any faith congregation, but once a month she finds herself singing in a house of worship.
George L. Hilling, 61
George L. Hilling, of Bigfork passed on Jan. 7, 2011, while on the job in Carlin, Nev., working for Gold Canyon Mining.
High School Hoops: C-Falls sweeps Whitefish
WHITEFISH - Top-ranked Columbia Falls used sharp shooting from the free-throw line to take down rival Whitefish on Saturday.
White-hot free speech is nothing new
A popular myth that has arisen in recent years — and been intensified by the rhetoric over the recent shooting in Tucson — is that somehow politics is more polarized or more heated these days than it was in times past.
Saturday, January 15
Flathead vs. Missoula Big Sky
Glacier, Flathead in hunt at Rocky
Kalispell schools combine to place seven in semis at RMC
MISSOULA - Fifth and sixth places, respectively.
Wildcats roll over Chiefs
Columbia Falls uses fast start to easily beat Ronan, 74-41
COLUMBIA FALLS - Nick Emerson and Kaleb Johnson combined for 33 points and the top-ranked Columbia Falls Wildcats improved to 7-0 with a big win over Ronan on Friday night.
Lois Irene (Livengood) Emmert, 82
Lois Irene (Livengood) Emmert, 82, died Dec. 27, 2010, at a convalescent center in Helena, due to complications of cancer.
Mushy stuff: Sled dogs
Young pilots revel in freedom of flight
The first time Daniel Jentz went up alone in a Cessna 172, he was overwhelmed by a sense of freedom.
High School hoops: Charlebois scores 22 points, ties school record for treys
BIGFORK - Caitlin Charlebois scored a season-high 22 points and matched a school game record with five treys as Bigfork (8-1) dropped Whitefish 59-21 on Friday in nonconference girls basketball play.
Avalanche risk high again
Slide danger high
Avalanche danger across Northwest Montana is getting increasingly dicey, with the Glacier Country Avalanche Center rating the hazard as “high” between 5,000 and 6,000 feet.
John Nelson, 74 and Jacqueline 'Jackie' Nelson, 72
Their love story began on July 7, 1957, when Johnny Nelson married his high school sweetheart, Jackie Boyce, in Missoula. They were married for 53 years when they passed away together on Jan. 12, 2011, in a fire that destroyed their family home.
Donald Curtis Hagen, 78
Donald Curtis Hagen, 78, passed away Jan. 12, 2011, in Kennewick Wash., at Callaway Gardens.
Kalispell's West makes bid for Miss America
Over the last few days, Kacie West has strutted her stuff in a swimsuit, discussed how to prevent underage drinking and belted out a song from “Funny Girl.”
Whooping cough still spreading in Flathead Valley
The Flathead City-County Health Department announced Friday that pertussis (whooping cough) remains a problem in the Flathead Valley with three recently reported cases in grade-school children.
Loud, drunk man ends up at hospital
The
New coalition forms to push for business
Making good on a campaign promise, new Flathead County Commissioner Pam Holmquist on Friday announced the creation of a local coalition that will watchdog the state Legislature and work to improve the county’s business climate.
Wolfpack wrestlers ranked third in AA poll
The Glacier Wolfpack is ranked third in this week's Class AA wrestling poll.
Friday, January 14
Columbia Falls vs. Ronan boys basketball
Snow Plows clearing Kalispell
Boyd 'Pete' Leland Wolfe, 74
Boyd “Pete” Leland Wolfe, “entered into the rest of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” on Jan. 10, 2011, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Best Buy employee knows value of donor blood
Blood drive planned today
Justin Jensen, the organizer of a blood drive today at Best Buy in Kalispell, knows that blood donations make the difference between life and death.
Man pleads innocent to child-porn charges
A 42-year-old Columbia Falls man has pleaded innocent to felony charges of receipt and possession of child pornography.
Ski for fun, but keep it safe
The deep blanket of snow surrounding trees at local ski areas often masks what could be an unexpected danger: the wells around the trunks of the trees.
Double murder suspect in court
Tyler Miller pleads innocent to homicide charges
The man accused of gunning down a mother and daughter west of Kalispell on Christmas Day pleaded innocent to two counts of deliberate homicide Thursday in Flathead County District Court.
Slow start sinks Wolfpack
One thing is certain.
Flathead girls fall to Sentinel
Missoula Sentinel jumped on Flathead early, leading 30-8 at the half en route to a 51-34 Western AA girls basketball victory on Thursday at Flathead High School.
Bruce Lee Jungnitsch, 53
Bruce Lee Jungnitsch worked hard and played harder. He left this world on Jan. 8, 2011, at the age of 53, snowmobiling with his best friends and enjoying life to the fullest.
'Doughnut' referendum proposal approved
Supporters have 90 days to get signatures
A proposed referendum aimed at throwing out a revised interlocal agreement for the Whitefish “doughnut area” has been cleared for takeoff by Whitefish City Attorney Mary VanBuskirk.
Woman fears dentures were stolen
Lorene Lucille Johnson, 84
Lorene Lucille Johnson, 84, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. She was born on Oct. 8, 1926, in Wilton, N.D., to Joseph and Anna (Backman) Brostrom.
School board gives approval for high-tech video scoreboards
A consulting group may seek advertisers for a high-tech video scoreboard at Legends Stadium, the Kalispell school board decided Tuesday night.
Accused casino robbers plead not guilty in court
Three young residents of Flathead County pleaded innocent to charges connected to a November casino theft in Flathead County District Court Thursday.
Thursday, January 13
Glacier vs. Missoula Big Sky
Liberty Tax Mascot
Long Lost Italians Photo
Long Lost Italians Mother
Long Lost Italians Baby Photo
Long Lost Italians
Lighthouse Christian Home Dog Sledding at Loon Lake
Tyler Michael Miller in Court
Tyler Michael Miller Arraignment Picket
Australia floods: The country's most costly disaster
Crown of the Continent Choir
Blood Drive at Best Buy
Bad Dog Bakery
Speaker rallies packed house: 'We know there's a fight coming'
A standing-room-only crowd came to hear former Constitution Party presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin speak Tuesday night.
Robert L. Coyne, 74
Robert L. Coyne, 74, passed away Jan. 10, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Man accidentally shoots neighbor
A man was detained and later released after accidentally shooting a sleeping neighbor early Wednesday morning at an apartment complex east of Kalispell.
House fire turns tragic
Two people were found dead inside a west Kalispell home that was gutted by fire early Wednesday morning.
Fire inspection shows potential hazards at FHS
Schools to ask voters to OK $5.9 million building reserve levy
A recent fire inspection walk-through at Flathead High School revealed 36 “areas of concern” — potential safety hazards at the school.
Kalispell school board won't rejoin state coalition
Kalispell Public Schools won’t be part of the Montana Quality Education Coalition’s new direction — at least in 2011.
Porch's golf game headed south
The golf hook was set early for Ryan Porch.
Rush to judgment in Tucson
As everyone knows by now, a lone gunman on Saturday earned his place in the annals of infamy by killing six innocent people and wounding many more, including an Arizona congresswoman.
Casting for Recovery fishing for volunteers
Landis Vance, a breast cancer survivor, usually steers clear of support groups since she has her own network.
Violet 'Vi' Grace Andrews, 94
Vi Andrews passed away quietly Tuesday, Jan, 11, 2011, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.
Man threatens to violate wife's privacy
The
Gloria Belle Wolf, 68
Gloria Belle Wolf, 68, passed away Jan. 11, 2011, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.
Wednesday, January 12
Kristine Wimsett
Glacier High's Ryan Porch
Ryan Porch
Chuck Baldwin Outlaw Inn
Debt crisis: portugal denies need for rescue
Liberty Street flames
Liberty Street fire
Two found dead after house fire
Two people were found dead inside a west Kalispell home that was destroyed by fire early Wednesday morning.
Scott Allen Meyer, 29
The day Scott Allen Meyer passed away, on Jan. 8, on Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort, he was smiling and right where he wanted to be, surrounded by friends and snowboarding his favorite section of the mountain.
Pair deliver Afghan perspective
The applause and whoops Tuesday morning when Shaima Khinjani announced she and her husband, Faeez Akram, were expecting a baby were as enthusiastic as they might have been for a close friend.
Get help navigating college financial aid process
High school seniors and juniors looking for help in paying for college have two upcoming opportunities to learn more about financial aid.
Sentinel surprises Flathead
It's been a long time.
Special camp helps youths deal with grief
“Wonderful” things happen when grieving children are given space to work through their sorrow.
State high court rejects effort to remove judge in teen's case
The Montana Supreme Court has entered the fray of a Flathead County District Court case in which a 17-year-old Evergreen girl is charged with two counts of deliberate homicide.
Flathead boys, girls lose in Missoula
MISSOULA - Flathead fell behind early, trailing 30-19 at the half and never recovered as it lost to Missoula Big Sky 52-38 on Tuesday in a Western AA girls basketball contest.
Evergreen fund effort raises $894
A recent fundraiser hosted by the Evergreen PTO netted nearly $900.
Jim Creelman, 74
Jim Creelman’s life ended at home in hospice care on Sunday night, Jan. 9, 2011, surrounded with peace and love in the embrace of his wife, daughter and son.
Documentary film exposes human trafficking
“Call+Response,” a documentary film that goes undercover to expose the global slave trade, will be shown at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, at Whitefish Middle School Auditorium.
Arlene Frances Barry-Fry, 82
Arlene Frances Barry-Fry passed away on her 82nd birthday on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, at her residence of 56 years, in Kalispell.
Earle William Schafer, 88
Earle William Schafer died days short of his 89th birthday on Dec. 6, 2010, in The Dalles, Ore.
Man died of natural causes
The 68-year-old man who died after being found unresponsive Saturday at Whitefish Mountain Resort has been identified.
Colleen Ruth Olson Pepe, 78
Colleen Ruth Olson Pepe, 78, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, at North Valley Hospital.
Daybook
Today
Polson wrestlers jump to sixth in poll
The Polson Pirates, fresh off their second place finish at the Western Montana Duals in Ronan, moved up in the Class A wrestling poll this past week from No. 8 to No. 6.
Robert James Ford, 84
Robert James Ford passed away on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Lucille Naomi Carnesi, 76
Lucille Carnesi, 76, “went to be with her Lord and Savior” on Jan. 5, 2011. She slipped away peacefully with her daughter at her side at Brendan House in Kalispell.
Tuesday, January 11
Flathead Missoula Sentinel Wrestling
Asian Cup 2011, Qatar
A.J. King profile
New tablets offer consumers an abundance of options
Afghani Speakers
North Korea's successor: Saturday marks heir apparent's birthday
Casting for Recovery
Arizona shooting: America mourns victims
Hit list: Republicans target spending, Obama priorities
Plans stirring again at Spring Prairie Center
A developer is taking steps once again to complete the Spring Prairie Center shopping complex on Kalispell’s north side.
Dale L. Prangley, 77
Dale L. Prangley, 77 years young, loving husband, father, brother and grandfather, passed away Jan. 6, 2011, in Kalispell.
Daybook
Tuesday
Canadian mushers top Flathead Sled Dog Days
More than 300 sled dogs, 13 women and 19 men competed in the fourth annual Flathead Sled Dog Days over the weekend.
'Doughnut' initiative proposal rejected
The Flathead County Attorney’s Office has rejected a citizens initiative effort to create a community council for Whitefish’s two-mile planning “doughnut” area, saying it doesn’t meet legal criteria for an initiative.
Wings assisted relapsed Hodgkin's patient
Randall Johnson, 28, has a healthy glow and quick smile that belies his brutal battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer originating from white blood cells.
Senior Institute registration opens
Flathead Valley Community College’s Senior Institute for 2011 features a mix of new classes and perennial favorites to brighten up Fridays for people 62 and over.
'Everything is gone' for family whose home burned
A young family of four lost all their belongings when a Saturday morning fire destroyed their house in Martin City.
Irene Carter Olson, 82
Irene passed away peacefully Dec. 6, 2010, with family at her bedside. She was 82 years old.
Beverly Joan Negri, 78
Beverly Joan Negri, 78, of Somers, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, at lmmanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.
Bernice Donna Jestrab, 92
Bernice Donna Jestrab passed away peacefully on Jan. 9, 2011, in Kalispell, at the age of 92.
Tree-well survival: Don't ski alone
Deaths involving tree wells are rare but certainly not unprecedented at Whitefish Mountain Resort, where there have been two such deaths this winter and a total of six in the past 33 years.
Mary Jo Grayson, 72
Mary Jo Grayson of Eureka died at home on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011.
Totaled car lands in carport
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office got a report Sunday from a Falcon Lane resident in the Columbia Falls area who said that he returned home to find a totaled vehicle covered by a tarp in his carport. He had no idea who it belonged to, but called back later to report that it belonged to a friend who left it there.
Monday, January 10
Ivory Coast: Disputed election raises fear of another civil war
Wings - Randall Johnson
Ohio killings: Matthew Hoffman pleads guilty, gets life without parole
Styles for AP Montana block
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Congresswoman shot: Suspect faces 5 charges in shooting spree
C. Falls librarian earns national teaching certification
A Columbia Falls teacher recently earned a national advanced teaching credential.
2 die in separate incidents at Whitefish resort
A tree well claimed a 29-year-old victim in a snowboarding accident Saturday evening, and a 68-year-old man died on the slopes Saturday afternoon.
Daybook
Avalanche victim named
A 53-year-old man who died in an avalanche Saturday has been identified.
C. Falls dominates home meet
Columbia Falls’ speech and debate team dominated its home tournament Saturday.
Neighbor complains of 'trashed' yard
Glacier wins crosstown match-up
Glacier High School came out on top after a showcase meet with Flathead High Friday evening.
Wolf tracker is both detective and data cruncher
Wanted: Social arbiter and diplomat in one of the most emotionally charged arenas of wildlife management. Must be a detective and data cruncher with an uncanny ability to trap live gray wolves.
Horse-racing organizer gets national attention
At a gallop
There were a few times last summer when Janis Schoepf could almost hear the theme song from “Rocky” playing.
Sunday, January 9
West Glacier mulls commercial expansion
A meeting will be held Tuesday in West Glacier to get community input about expanding or altering the commercial area in West Glacier.
Murry's effort lifts Wolfpack swimmers
Aaron Murry's performance provided quite a lift for Glacier.
Glacier second, Flathead fourth at Pacific Northwest Classic wrestling tournament
SPOKANE, Wash. - Three champions, two runners-up, three third-place finishers - the Kalispell schools did well at this weekend's Pacific Northwest Classic wrestling tournament in Spokane.
Robert L. Johnson, 80
Robert L. Johnson, 80, of Columbia Falls, formerly of Bemidji, Minn., peacefully passed away Jan. 5, 2011, at the Health Care Center Northwest Hospice in Kalispell.
Sled Dog Days Dog
2012 is just around corner
It’s still nearly two years to the next presidential election, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t time to start pondering the horse race. In fact, it was in January of 2007 when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both announced their candidacies.
Man killed in avalanche near Hungry Horse
One man died after being trapped in an avalanche Saturday afternoon during a snowmobile outing near Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Epic excursion: Two Polson graduates at sea for seven months and 8,000 miles
It was an adventure that was years in the making, one that would lead two Polson High School graduates and their friends on an 8,000-mile sailing voyage from Hawaii to New Zealand over seven months.
Two Afghanis give talks in Kalispell on Tuesday night
Shaima Khinjani secretly ran a school for women and girls in her family’s basement during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Bette Ann Felsman Larson, 78
Bette Ann Felsman Larson, 78, passed away on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at her residence in Kalispell.
Clarence S. 'Pinky' Jones, 86
Clarence S. “Pinky” Jones, 86, passed away in his sleep on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, at his residence in Kalispell, after a five-month struggle with cancer.
Plans stirring again at Spring Prairie Center
A developer is taking steps once again to complete the Spring Prairie Center shopping complex on Kalispell’s north side.
Southern cooking reigns supreme at The Shak
With old barn tin covering the interior walls, a jet-black meat smoker parked at the front of the building, an enormous meat smoker just out the back door, old tin cans perched on weathered wood shelves, an abundance of duct tape and hand-painted signs hanging at odd angles, the decor of a new Whitefish restaurant might strike some diners as unusual.
Sled Dog Days
Sled Dog Days Harness Adjustment
Sled Dog Days Fans
Raymond Carl Schletz, 92
Raymond Carl Schletz, 92, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Bigfork, on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011.
Purse hidden in toilet tank
The
'Liberty ... is not safe': A continuing struggle
H.L. Mencken, a famous writer of the first half of the 20th century, is often credited with having said: “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”
Saturday, January 8
Kalispell High School's Swim Meet
Swim Meet Surface
Swim Meet Relay
Swim Meet Cap
Swim Meet breaststroke
Swim Meet below water
Swim Meet Backwards
Swim Meet Backstroke
Swim Meet Breath
Swim Meet Splash
New pastor, Bethany Lutheran both making transitions
A born-and-bred Lutheran is the new pastor at Bigfork’s Bethany Lutheran Church, which like the pastor is making a transition to a new church affiliation.
School violence: omaha student shoots principal, assistant, kills self
Adela Stanger, 91
Adela Stanger, 91, was born on July 22, 1919, in Great Falls, to Sam and Angela Stanger, and passed away at Immanuel Lutheran Home on Jan. 5, 2011.
Gym a hot spot for tumbling tots
Val Trina opened Flying Fish Kids’ Gym to give some of the Flathead’s youngest residents a place to play.
Flathead, Glacier wrestlers roll on
SPOKANE, Wash. - Rolling along nicely.
Prep Basketball: Polson drops Ronan, C-Falls stays perfect
POLSON - Louis Mohr scored a season-high 28 points as Polson defeated Ronan 74-61 on Friday in Northwestern A boys basketball play.
Tiptoe takeoff
Stray bullet bursts water pipe
Eureka bank rebuilding planned
The Eureka branch of Glacier Bank will be rebuilt at the same location where fire destroyed its original building in October.
Sherwood, Braves sink Rustlers
The loud celebration echoed out the Braves' locker room and up the stairs into Flathead High.
Flathead Lake study gains U.S. recognition
Recent research at The University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station has provided important data about how introductions or invasions of nonnative organisms can lead to major changes in the structure of aquatic ecosystems.
Friday, January 7
Elizabeth Edwards: Leaves her estranged husband out of her will
Flathead vs. CMR Basketball
The Korean conflict: North calls for unconditional talks
Kent Laudon Profile
Patricia Johnson of Mountain Valley Foods
A Camp to Remember Benefit
Flying Fish Kids' Gym
Gulf Oil Spill: Commission says problems were systemic
The evolution of the cell phone: Some key developments
Kirstyn Elaine Nelson
Kirstyn Elaine Nelson, daughter of Jim and Kitty Nelson of Marion, was born Dec. 24 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Cat care attracts army of volunteers
More assistance needed to look after 112 felines
Nearly 60 volunteers have emerged to aid more than 100 cats seized from a Marion couple in December, and officials say more help is needed.
Mason Douglas Billiet
Mason Douglas Billiet, son of Ryan and Erika Billiet of Kalispell, was born Dec. 20 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Grouse Mountain sold
Glacier Park Inc. purchased Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish on Wednesday, according to a press release from the company.
Sweet victory for Wolfpack wrestlers
It was four years in the making and it felt so sweet for the Glacier Wolfpack.
Emerson leads C-Falls over Eureka
COLUMBIA FALLS - Nick Emerson scored a season high 24 points to pace Columbia Falls to a 77-27 nonconference boys basketball victory over Eureka on Thursday.
Vincent Gene Pace Moody
Vincent Gene Pace Moody, son of Nick and Amy Moody of Kalispell, was born Dec. 23 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Assault suspect enters Alford plea
Man accused of kissing woman, then assault
A 19-year-old Evergreen man accused of sneaking into a house, kissing an 85-year-old woman and later assaulting her changed his plea in Flathead County District Court Thursday.
Henry Daniel Boysen
Henry Daniel Boysen, son of Aaron and Christina Boysen of Kalispell, was born Dec. 25 at North Valley Hospital.
Flathead, Glacier ranked 2-3 in mat poll
Flathead checks in at the No. 2 spot with Glacier No. 3 in the first Class AA Coaches Poll for wrestling in 2011.
Logan Benjimen Darsow
Logan Benjimen Darsow, son of Deven Darsow Amanda Cyr of Kalispell, was born Dec. 20 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Irma Ruppel
William Peyton Blue
William Peyton Blue, son of William Blue and Katherine Fink of Kalispell, was born Dec. 24 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Kami Anidae Wallace
Kami Anidae Wallace, daughter of Kane and Brittnai Wallace of Libby, was born Dec. 21 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Giuliano Salvatore Massimo Galluzzo
Giuliano Salvatore Massimo Galluzzo, son of Massimo Galluzzo and Dawn Noble of Kalispell, was born Dec. 22 at North Valley Hospital.
Legal questions raised about 'doughnut' initiative
A Kalispell attorney representing various individuals and groups concerned about governance of Whitefish’s two-mile planning “doughnut” is challenging a citizens initiative effort proposed to create an elected community council of doughnut residents.
Trace Dale Uskoski
Trace Dale Uskoski, son of Jerrid and Jackie Uskoski of Kalispell, was born Nov. 23 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
A big loss for the Flathead
Rebecca Broussard’s recent death was a huge loss for the world of equestrian eventing and for the Flathead Valley as well.
Presley Kathleen Craig
Presley Kathleen Craig, daughter of Brenden and Karyn Craig of Kalispell, was born Dec. 25 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Connor Henry Jordan
Connor Henry Jordan, son of Jon and Lindsey Jordan of Kalispell, was born Dec. 25 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Nigerian scam claims another victim
The
Irma Ruppel celebrates century of sweetness
Irma Ruppel, a resident of Prestige Assisted Living at Kalispell, celebrated her 100th birthday Monday with family and friends and a personal concert from Lena Shelt, her granddaughter-in-law and a concert violinist.
Man charged with spitting on policeman
A 27-year-old Kalispell man arrested for allegedly kicking in the door of a neighbor’s apartment and demanding the residents turn their television’s volume down has now been charged with spitting on a responding police officer.
Bartholomew James Tobiason II
Bartholomew James Tobiason II, son of Bartholomew Tobiason and Fresa Ramirez, was born Dec. 20 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Thursday, January 6
Crosstown Wrestling
Crosstown Wrestling Celebration
Crosstown Wrestling Grip
Crosstown Wrestling Wrap Up
Crosstown Wrestling Grimace
Crosstown Wrestling Tangled
Crosstown Wrestling Lean
Crosstown Wrestling Heads
Crosstown Wrestling Air
Crosstown Wrestling legs up
Cat Care - Volunteer
Cat Care - Cats
Cat Care
The Shak
Grouse Mountain Lodge
Cross Country Skiing in Whitefish
MLB Hall of Fame: Class of 2011
Cutting a moose loose
Renner Hall
Renner Hall, son of Tyler and Stephanie Hall, was born Dec. 15 at North Valley Hospital.
Columbia Falls city manager wants fewer hours, lower pay
Columbia Falls City Manager Bill Shaw is asking for a more flexible work schedule and with it a reduction in pay.
Skating day
Snowshoe outings planned on Saturday
The Flathead Community of Resource Educators is celebrating Winter Trails Day on Saturday, Jan. 8, with several free outdoor activities.
Moose runs afoul of volleyball net
Freeing the young bull moose tangled up in a volleyball net wasn’t an easy job for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks personnel to tackle.
Trio of Kalispell soldiers back from Afghanistan
Three Kalispell members of the Montana Army National Guard’s Detachment 3 of the 230th Vertical Engineer Company returned home Dec. 30 from Afghanistan.
Kindal Murry Mallery
Kindal Murry Mallery, son of Remington and Angie Mallery of Kalispell, was born Dec. 14 at North Valley Hospital.
Fawkes Cambridge Flaherty
Fawkes Cambridge Flaherty, son of Devan and Jennifer Flaherty, was born Dec. 13 at North Valley Hospital.
Emma Rose Reynolds
Emma Rose Reynolds, daughter of Levi and Kathryn Reynolds of Kalispell, was born Dec. 13 at North Valley Hospital.
Have pot, will travel (but without pot)
The
New fish pond will open this spring
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has completed the acquisition of a property north of Kalispell that will be the site of a family fishing pond.
At least 32 teams expected for weekend Sled Dog Days
The fourth annual Flathead Sled Dog Days kicks off this weekend near Olney with at least 32 sled dog teams in the running.
Eli Robert Erickson
Eli Robert Erickson, son of Trevor Erickson and Courtney Torgerson of Eureka, was born Dec. 17 at North Valley Hospital.
Easton Allen Deal
Easton Allen Deal, son of Jay and Ericka Deal of Kalispell, was born Dec. 14 at North Valley Hospital.
Public shows little interest in stop sign plan
Citizens of Columbia Falls seem to show little interest in the matter of installing a stop sign on Nucleus Avenue.
Marjorie Mae Mills, 86
Marjorie Mae Mills, 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, at Expressions Assisted Living Facility near Columbia Falls.
Neriah Rose Bertelsen
Neriah Rose Bertelsen, daughter of Jake and Kelly Bertelsen of Whitefish, was born Dec. 22 at North Valley Hospital.
Braves, Wolfpack ready to rumble
Time: 7 p.m.
Dominic James Hammond
Dominic James Hammond, son of Gabriel Hammond and Maranda Rogers of Columbia Falls, was born Aug. 19 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Avery Hope Retz
Avery Hope Retz, daughter of Erik and Jennifer Retz of Whitefish, was born Dec. 20 at North Valley Hospital.
Berlyn Lola Latozke
Berlyn Lola Latozke, daughter of Ryan and Kelsey Laatozke of Eureka, was born Dec. 20 at at North Valley Hospital.
Pay debts, but don't keep spending
It is called the “debt ceiling.” But based on experience, there is no ceiling to the debt that Congress is willing to approve for the United States of America.
Couple with 120 cats facing cruelty charges
A Marion couple are expected to be charged with animal cruelty in Flathead County District Court after 120 cats were removed from squalid conditions in December.
Wednesday, January 5
Obama's new team: Changes among top staff
Janis Schoepf Portrait
Balance of power: Pakistan's ruling coalition loses majority
Flathead Sled Dog Days
Dopamine: Influencing the brain's decisions
Prep basketball: Efficient Spartans roll Pack
Riley King scores 17 as Sentinel leads from start to finish
Calm, quick and efficient - the Spartans came and went.
Man faces abduction charge
The 36-year-old man arrested after a six-hour standoff at a Kalispell hotel on Friday has been charged with kidnapping and criminal endangerment in Flathead County District Court.
DUI Court gets one more year of funding
Kalispell will have at least one more year of a DUI Court program after the City Council approved grant funding on Monday.
Hunter wins national contest
Kila woman gets New Zealand hunt and title of ‘Extreme Huntress’
KIla-area resident Angie Haas-Tennison has claimed the title of “Extreme Huntress” in a national contest.
Natural gas drilling: Polluted wastewater, partially treated, pours into Pa.
Libby, Polson in wrestling's Top 10
Several local wrestlers have been recognized by Class A coaches for their efforts thus far in the wrestling season.
Willard M. Morin, 80
Willard M. Morin, 80, “went to grow dahlias with the Lord” on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, in Lewistown.
New sheriff reorganizes command staff
Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry has been in office less than a week, but he says he’s already working to make good on all those campaign promises.
Water concerns stall county decision on lodge
Citing overriding concerns about potential groundwater contamination, the Flathead County commissioners on Tuesday tabled a decision on a major land-use permit for Glacier Guides Lodge near West Glacier.
Tuesday, January 4
Arlen Specter: Longtime Pa. senator leaves office after 30 years
Glacier Missoula Sentinel Basketball Vertical
Glacier Missoula Sentinel Basketball
Cruel and unusual punishment: International outcry over Iranian stoning sentence
Angie Haas "Extreme Huntress"
NEW YEAR'S 2011
County offices begin relocation shuffle
Flathead County departments currently operating in the main Courthouse will be relocated starting next week for the duration of the renovation project.
Commissioners reorganize for new year
Flathead County Commissioner Jim Dupont will serve as chairman of the commission for the coming year. His step up to chairman on Monday was part of the routine reorganization that’s done when a new commissioner comes on board.
John F. Smith, 76
John F. Smith, 76, of Kalispell, peacefully passed away on Jan. 1, 2011, at the Forest Park Health Center in Carlisle, Pa.
McGregor Lake homes burglarized
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office got reports Sunday about burglaries to residences on McGregor Lake, where there are a significant number of summer homes. In one case, a cabin was broken into but it was unclear if anything was taken. In another case, a home was broken into and electronics were stolen.
Larry C. Bump, 67
Larry C. Bump “went home” on Dec. 29, 2010. He passed away from complications of asbestosis, which he had been fighting for the past 10 years.
Marion voters face school expansion decision
Ballots will be mailed Thursday for Marion School’s $2.2 million bond election.
First baby at Kalispell Regional a girl
Joy from heaven marked the new year for parents Jeremy and Tiffany Crowley.
Young skier dies after being found in tree well
A 16-year-old German student died Sunday morning, three days after he was found unconscious in a tree well while he was skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Schartzenegger Retrospective
North Valley Hospital welcomes first baby
At 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, Brynn Linaye Lindberg became the first baby born at North Valley Hospital for 2011.
Courthouse renovation starts next month
Flathead County is moving ahead with a $2.44 million renovation of the 108-year-old main Courthouse.
Linda Wright, 59
Linda Wright, 59, “went home to be with her Lord and Savior,” from her home in Kalispell, on Saturday evening, Jan. 1, 2011.
Daybook
Tuesday
Monday, January 3
Sykes deconstruction
Marion School Bond
A mandate for reason in next Legislature?
Like the warm afterglow of holiday cheer, the results of the fall elections have begun to fade from memory, displaced by the anticipation of the upcoming legislative session in Helena.
Kalispell's First Baby 2011
Flathead grad a counter-terrorism leader
Flathead High School graduate Laura Khor was entering her freshman year at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., when the events of Sept. 11, 2001, rattled the nation and solidified her career path.
Kila School expands one room at a time
Kila School got a little bigger this fall, thanks to the addition of a new classroom.
Kalispell police arrest rowdy couple
Jaimi Lynn Hurlbert, 35
Jaimi Lynn Hurlbert, 35, passed away Dec. 25, 2010, in Kalispell.
Daybook
Marjorie Yearout, 84
Marjorie Yearout passed away at 84 years old, residing at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, on Dec. 26, 2010, at 11:30 p.m. due to natural causes.
County to look at North Fork setbacks
The issue of banning temporary structures in the North Fork Zoning District’s 150-foot setback from public roads and bodies of water is the focus of a Jan. 14 public hearing before the Flathead County commissioners.
Alyssa Larraine Burkett, 15
Alyssa Larraine Burkett, 15, passed away Dec. 25, 2010, in Kalispell.
Sunday, January 2
Visitor bureau geared to boost Kalispell tourism
A new marketing effort to promote Kalispell, increase the number of visitors who stay in the city’s hotels and motels and help boost the local economy is about to hit full stride.
County to determine fate of W. Glacier lodge
The Flathead County commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday to consider a major land-use permit involving a lodge near West Glacier.
Education issues face session scrutiny
Public schools could face an impressive variety of issues in the 2011 Legislative session, from tweaking education funding to raising the legal dropout age to ending teacher tenure.
Martha 'Maxine' Nelson, 76
Martha “Maxine” Nelson, 76, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010, at her residence in Kalispell.
A productive session ahead?
So far, the rhetoric is matching up between Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer and many Republican lawmakers, particularly those from the Flathead Valley.
Woman finally stops for police, gets arrested
Ted Ehrenberg, 62
Ted Ehrenberg peacefully passed away at his home after a year-long battle with metastatic melanoma on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010.
Military moxie: band of brothers and their mother all serving their country
Tamera “Tammy” Wobshall never imagined she could return to military service at 44 and serve at the same time as her four sons: Trent, Travis, Tyler and Trevor.
Swedes and Norwegians: Friends or foes?
My co-worker and I were extolling the deliciousness of pickled herring the other day (because who doesn’t do that during the course of a work day?) when it came to my attention that her ancestral heritage is mostly Swedish.
Community, charity and good cheer
A year ago, when Kalispell Mayor Tammi Fisher took office, she said she wanted to be judged as mayor on three points — transparency, accountability and accessibility.
Saturday, January 1
Standoff ends after 6 hours
A six-hour standoff with a man claiming to have a firearm, while barricaded inside a Kalispell motel room with a 17-year-old male, ended with an arrest Friday evening after a SWAT team stormed the room at 4:50 p.m.
Kalispell surgery center gets accreditation accredited
Orthopedic Surgery Center, founded in 2006 by Flathead Orthopedics, has been accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.
Patrick Michael Duffy, 57
Patrick Michael Duffy, 57, “entered a place of peace” on Dec. 27, 2010.
Fundraising fun
Cash-filled envelope turned in to police
A good citizen turned in an envelope filled with money to the
Speech teams go head-to-head Friday
The top high school speakers in Kalispell will square off in friendly competition next week.
Injured teen remains in critical condition
The 16-year-old foreign exchange student from Germany, found with only a faint pulse near the summit of the Whitefish Mountain Ski resort Wednesday, was still listed in critical condition at Kalispell Regional Medical Center Friday night.
Cold snap closes 2010
After weathering an erratic winter storm on Wednesday that dumped lots of snow in some places but just traces in other spots, the Flathead Valley closed out the year with brutally cold weather.
