Thursday, November 27
Margaret Gesek
Margaret Gesek, 72, died Nov. 21, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. The cause of death was a stroke. Her son and daughter were at her side at the time of her passing.
David Erickson / Whitefish Pilot
The Whitefish Bulldog wrestling team began their first full week of practice on Monday. Head coach Ryan Hoffman said he has about 18 grapplers this year, compared to about 12 last year. "We will be finally able to fill a roster this year, and put kids in the lower weights," he said. The first match is Dec. 5 at home against Ronan.
Churches, community buoy food bank
By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle
Charles Patton
Former Columbia Falls resident Charles M. Patton, 86, died Nov. 17, 2008, at the Heritage Manor nursing home in Bloomington, Ill.
Whitefish builder gets probation for money laundering
A Whitefish building contractor will not do prison time for illegally using credit cards to address his company's financial problems.
About 'Jack' and 'Fuzzy'
The web of circumstances for an incredulous and unlikely event began forming when my friends and I were in high school. Will reminisce as best I can.
School construction months ahead of schedule
By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle
Roy Duff
Roy M. Duff, 88, proud World War II veteran, longtime business owner, former mayor of Whitefish, and dedicated servant to the community he loved, passed away in Whitefish on Nov. 14, 2008.
Annual Cat-Griz game a flashback for two locals
Two local football semi-celebrities are both heavily invested in the annual "Brawl of the Wild" clash between the University of Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats, but they're on different sides of the fence.
Don't deny the power of smell
Smell is one of the most powerful triggers of memory. The smell of something can cause a wide of range of emotions and reactions.
Nolan named NW A Defensive Player of Year
Columbia Falls senior Mackey Nolan has been honored as one of the three Northwestern A Conference Defensive Players of the Year for the 2008 football season. He shares that honor with Brock Picard and Tim Rausch, both of Polson.
Speakers place third at Kalispell tourney
Judges needed for Whitefish Invitational on Dec. 6
Richard Graeber
Richard Wayne Graeber, 52, passed away on Nov. 18, 2008, after a battle with cancer.
Albert Kerestes
Albert Andrew Kerestes, 84, of Whitefish passed away Nov. 19, 2008, following an automobile accident.
Taxes should be fair to everyone
To the editor,
Tense moments in frigid river drama
By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News
Bridge is one more link in Fish Trails system:
Whitefish has a new bridge crossing the Whitefish River. Neal Structural Repair, of Plains, used two heavy-duty cranes to set the Rocksund-to-Monegan bike trail footbridge in place on Saturday. The steel bridge with wood decking was fabricated by RTI, of Plains. Eichner Builders, of Bigfork, was the general contractor. To see the bridge, turn left off JP Road onto Shiloh Avenue and then right on Lena Joy Drive. The bridge is closed to the public until spring. Sandry Construction, of Kalispell, is the general contractor for the bike trail on the east side of the river, which will be completed by next spring, providing a route to Monegan Road.
Assistant basketball coaches appointed, tryouts held
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
An evening of events
By Alex Strickland
Philip Blumenthal
Philip Louis Blumenthal, M.D., 90, left this earth on Nov. 10, 2008, in San Jose, Calif.
Chicken zoning sent on by planning board
Concerns voiced over enforcement problems, humaneness, skunks and egg-laying stats
More Plum Creek layoffs
By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News
It's time to get to work
First, I would like to thank you for your confidence and your vote in this last election. I am both humbled and honored to have the opportunity to represent Montana Senate District 2 in the upcoming legislature as your state senator. True to my word, I intend to seek common ground on the issues and approach the legislative process with an open mind and a kind heart.
Council wants to pursue two lakeshore cases
Cases are in the 'doughnut' and under county jurisdiction
CFBB gives $1,000 to nordic club
The Community Foundation for Better Bigfork announced on Monday their grant award of $1,000 to the North Shore Nordic Club, the local volunteer ski group that maintains cross-country ski trails at Blacktail Mountain near Lakeside and Foothills Road near Bigfork. This is the fourth year CFBB has awarded the ski club a grant in support of its general operations.
Skiing with horsepower
Whitefish celebrates 50 years of skijoring
Bigfork group sends care packages to Iraq, Afghanistan
By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle
Football players honored at annual team banquet
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
Community comes through for Columbia Falls Food Bank
By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
Glacier Avalanche go 1-1 with Havre Ice Hawks
By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot
Tunnel vision: BHS geology class visits abandoned railroad tunnel
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
Glacier Nordic Club readying for winter
The Glacier Nordic Ski Club's Chet Hope Ski League is gearing up for winter with an open house at Camas Day School, 534 Pine Avenue, across from the high school, on Dec. 2 from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, November 20
Native son starts law firm fresh out of school
By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle
Adult hockey league in full swing at Ice Den
By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot
Wildkat spikers ousted from Divisional Tourney
By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
New WBC plant going full bore
By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News
City to invest in 30-year-old hydro plant
Generator at reservoir site could be a revenue source for the city
Tough questions for gun groups
By Pat Williams
If you can, give generously this season
I have had the good fortune of witnessing astounding generosity at the holiday season since I was a small child. Growing up near Memphis, Tenn., my father — and by extension, my family — was heavily involved with a yearly program called "Angel Tree."
Trial date set in Ferndale shooting death
By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle
Commissioners should wait on Subdivision Regulations
To the editor,
BHS athletes honored for good sportsmanship
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
Ski club says thanks
The Big Mountain Ski Club would like to thank everyone who made this year's annual ski sale & swap on November 8th such a great success.
Downtown parking lot funding OK'd
Council goes with surface lot at Second and Spokane
Board accepts change to Class B
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
A numbers game
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
Vikes, Vals take many year-end honors
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
Better things for you
I have been full of joy, ever since that historic event on November 4, 2008. Our first black president, and a charismatic liberal too. Throughout his long campaign, he has promised better things for the middle class, in terms of tax cuts, health care, the economy, the environment and climate. I pray to God he is able to follow through. But even so, he'll be charming us all the way to whatever fate awaits us. And that's OK by me. I'd rather be charmed and hopeful, than live with this fear pushed upon us by the outgoing administration.
Grizzly bears fared well this year
By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News
Author unearths mystery while penning book
By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News
Four promoted to first-degree black belt
By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot
Students, coaches react
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
Obama must prove he's a unifier
For most of history in most of the world, power has only changed hands as the result of violence. In the modern era, still only in a minority of the world, democracy has changed that. Democracy makes real change possible by a peaceful process of elections.
Jacobson gives notice to council
Dec. 1 meeting will be her last, concerns about communication
Lady spikers will miss state tournament
By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot
Vals fall short on rough road to state tourney
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
A new meaning of justice
Now that the election is over and much of the silliness of the American political process has ended, it is time to reflect upon what all that time, money and effort is going to mean, if anything. Many of us seem to be under the impression that "change" is going to sweep the land, and we will see a transformation of the political, economic and social landscape.
New chief steps in amidst big changes
By RICHARD HANNERS / Whitefish Pilot
Bob Marshall fundraiser a success
The staff and board of directors of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation would like to thank the many volunteers, local businesses, and artists for making our second annual fundraising event a great success.
BLUAC meetings switched for holidays
Bigfork Eagle
Shannon's Friends
There is fresh venison in the locker this week because our oldest son again bagged a fat 4-point whitetail buck in the North Fork. He's only failed once in many years and a few of those trophies were braggin' size. This isn't a real BIG DEAL until you know the background.
Exchange student reflects on historic election
By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot
City housing director outlines ambitious program for next year
Grants combined with land trust part of affordable housing budget
Cheerleaders head to London for New Year's
This past summer, Whitefish High School cheerleaders Kayli Johnson and Shannon Hawkinson tried out for and were selected by the Universal Cheerleading Association to represent Montana as members of UCA's All-Star team.
Frosh top Whitefish in finale
By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
Get permission to use names
I was shocked to discover my name on the full-page list of Mike Jopek supporters (in an ad in the Oct. 30 Pilot).
Patricia Langton
Patricia Carol Langton, 64, passed away in her home on Nov. 9, 2008. She died of natural causes, but her family and friends believe her to have died of a broken heart after losing her husband and soul mate, Jerry, to cancer just two years ago.
JV spikers improve skills
By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
Thursday, November 13
Max Ulver Jr.
Max E. Ulver Jr., 69, of Whitefish, passed away peacefully on Oct. 30, 2008, at Colonial Manor after a short, but very courageous battle with cancer.
Joyce Bergstrom
Joyce E. Bergstrom passed away peacefully on Nov. 10, 2008, at the Colonial Manor in Whitefish after a courageous battle with cancer.
Millie Loveall
Former Columbia Falls resident Millie Piper Loveall, 94, died Nov. 5, 2008 ,in Spokane, Wash. She was born on June 29, 1914, in Edgar to Elmer and Blanche Coffman.
Republicans dominate Flathead Valley races
Bigfork Eagle
Smith downhill race needs support
After more than 50 years as North America's longest continuously-contested downhill ski race, the Doug & Rollie Smith Downhill Race is in jeopardy of falling by the wayside.
Food Bank director gets the Fish Award
June Munski-Feenan honored for starting and running the best food bank in the state
Bigfork High mulling switch to Class B
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
Breaking out the election numbers
With the exception of Zinke and Dupont, Whitefish backs Democratic candidates
Gratitude for Foundation grant
We are grateful to the Whitefish Community Foun-dation for the generous donation earmarked to help us pay for a badly needed new autoclave to sterilize our surgical instruments.
Some facts about gun control
During my nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, I had a 100 percent voting record with the National Rifle Association. Not once did I vote for gun control; not for the Brady Bill, nor ammunition registration, not for the assault weapons ban, nor any of the other futile attempts to fight crime by simply putting people's name on a list.
Thank you voters
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the voters of House District 6 for re-electing me to a second term.
Big thanks to election dept.
I want to give a big public thanks to the Flathead County Election Department. After being sequestered for 12 hours as a volunteer ballot-counting monitor with this incredibly hardworking and diligent group of people, I was nothing but amazed.
Wave recognized for fitness innovation
By CHRISTINE HENSLEIGH / For the Pilot
Bigfork hunter has close encounter of the cougar kind
By Jacob Doran / Bigfork Eagle
Margaret Hill
Margaret "Peggy" Hill, 73, passed away Oct. 31, 2008, in Whitefish, due to cancer.
Wildkats sweep rival Whitefish
By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
Glacier, others, weigh in against heli-skiing
By RICHARD HANNERS / For the Hungry Horse News
Vals spikers lock up second place in Northwest A
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
Pickup driver had been drinking
By RICHARD HANNERS / Whitefish Pilot
Spikers headed to divisional tourney
By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot
Blanche Erickson
Blanche Erickson, 97, died on Oct. 26, 2008, at the Village Health Care Center in Missoula.
Sun Road project burns through funds
By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News
Heli-skiing proposal draws comments
By RICHARD HANNERS / Whitefish Pilot
A surprise and a honor
Thanks to the Whitefish Community Foundation grant awards program Thursday at the O'Shaughnessy Center.
Swan River School kicks off basketball season
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
The Vets' return
By G. George Ostrom
Sun Road money is disappearing fast
By CHRIS PETERSON / For the Pilot
Source says driver of truck in triple fatal was drunk
RICK HANNERS / Northwest Montana News Network
Paving plan doesn't fit
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Glacier Park Inc. building a new dormitory near Lake McDonald Lodge to house its workers.
Despite valliant effort, Cats' season ends
By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
Agnes R. Lee, 93
Agnes R. Lee, age 93, passed away on Monday, November 3, 2008 at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, Montana. She was born on November 3, 1915 at Sidney, Montana the daughter of George and Gustava (Wolstad) Risdal.
Thursday, November 6
Letters to the Editor
Thanks from Iraq
Republicans claim 27-23 control in Montana Senate; county's 911 center bond passes
Whether it was Obama-mania or concern over the war in Iraq, the Wall Street meltdown and energy issues, a record number of Montanans cast early ballots in last week's election.
Parents need to act to protect youths
This letter is to inform adult parents and guardians of their responsibility and accountability in regard to laws regarding underage drinking. Recent priorities have been established nationally, including the Surgeon General's call to action against youth alcohol-access and use.
Republicans still rule the roost in Flathead
By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News
Photo courtesy of Jill Courtney
The Glacier Avalanche Hockey team won two home games against Helena this weekend by scores of 3-2 and 7-3. Above, winger Nathan Rottier races down the ice after stealing the puck from Helena. The next home games are Saturday, Nov. 22, at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23, at 9 a.m. against the Havre High School team. Admission to all games is free.
Maxine Lautaret
Maxine A. Lautaret, 89, of Kalispell, "went to be with the Lord" on Oct. 31, 2008.
Postseason gridiron victory a long time coming
By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
Albert "Dick" Hawes
Albert Richard "Dick" Hawes, 80, passed away from complications of Parkinson's disease at Brendan House in Kalispell on Oct. 18, 2008.
Franklin C. Crain, 91
Franklin C. Crain, 91, passed away Saturday, October 25, 2008 at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.
Holiday season already upon us
Sometimes it seems the weeks at a newspaper go by as a long succession of holidays interrupted by short bursts of regular days.
Bigfork Elves called to duty
GENERAL ORDER #1
Condo to townhouse switch approved
By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle
Cats nip Corvallis 27-26; face Billings Central
By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
Obama, Dupont, Zinke win
By RICHARD HANNERS
Bulldogs go out fighting against Dillon
By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot
Coram man shoots griz in self defense
By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News
Whitefish girls fall to Billings in title game
By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot
Mural appeal is denied by board
By RICHARD HANNERS / Whitefish Pilot
Bigfork to accept switch to Class B
Bigfork Eagle
Margie Dierman
Longtime resident and former Lincoln County High School teacher Margie Dierman, 86, passed away Nov. 2, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Hospital after a brief illness. Margie was residing at Mountain View Manor at the time of her death.
Stately Tamaracks thrive in the Flathead
By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle
Long lines greet area voters for "biggest" election
Bigfork Eagle
Enrollment continues to fall at BHS
By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle
Venture Crew summits Montana's highest peak
Venture Crew, a youth-led organization dedicated to high adventure, leadership training and community service, will hold an open house at the Whitefish High School foyer on Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Evelyn Jane Wright
Evelyn Jane Wright, 84, a longtime native of Great Falls, died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at the Montana Veterans" Home in Columbia Falls with her family at her side.
Lobby Expansion at the Bigfork CPA.
By JACOB DORAN / Bigfork Eagle
Whitefish has a new city manager
By RICHARD HANNERS / Whitefish Pilot
Kats fall to Libby, BF
By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
Important Flathead History
We all tend to forget really important stuff from twenty-three years ago, so this week we're going to refresh our recollection.
Students win alternative transportation challenge
By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot
Timothy Kramer
Dr. Timothy Michael Kramer, 39, died Oct. 31, 2008.
State timber sale plans moving ahead
Public concerned about impacts to viewsheds, water quality in Whitefish Lake and folf course
Smith wins guns in Lions raffle
Anthony Smith of Columbia Falls was one of the happiest hunters in the area to see the 2008 hunting season begin. He won the 29th annual rifle raffle sponsored by Kalispell Lions Club.
