Ellington

Boys win divisionals, girls place second

The Whitefish boys held on at the Northwestern A divisional track meet on Saturday and set themselves up for a good shot at defending their state title.

The war on terrorism is not over

As we remember our veterans on this Memorial Day weekend, I stand troubled at our Commander-in-Chief’s position regarding Guantanamo Bay, aka GITMO. As much as I respect our president, I fundamentally disagree with his assessment that moving the detainees to U.S. territory is in our nation’s best interest.

WEB UDPATE: BHS graduates Class of 2009

Bigfork Eagle

C-Falls native took down Glasgow sniper

It was supposed to be a night out with the girls. It was Alexandra Steven Burke's day off. She's a Bureau of Land Management ranger. Oversees about 1 million acres near Glasgow. Milk River country. Burke, 36, grew up in Columbia Falls. Graduated in 1991.

Support middle school art programs

The fact that Whitefish school officials are contemplating a possible cut of art programs in the Whitefish Middle School is mind-boggling. Art programs are a necessity for further learning and growth and if these necessary programs are cut, an unfortunate lasting negative consequence will be inflicted upon our society’s young people.

Summer learning key for students

Dave Wick / For the Hungry Horse News

Flathead jobless rate drops to 10.5% in April

Bigfork Eagle

Glacier Park Scenes II

C-Falls boys second at Divisionals

Winning three events and going 1-2 in the 100-meter dash, Columbia Falls earned a solid second place in the boys division of the Northwestern A Divisional Track and Field Meet held Friday and Saturday in Polson.

'Kats face Park at state SB

Columbia Falls is on a mission on the softball diamond during the 2009 Class A State Tournament today (Thursday) through Saturday in Polson. And the Wildkats (8-2 conference, 18-4 overall) will go as far as five seniors and their supporting cast will take them.

Dickie Howell

Dickie Lee Howell, 68, passed on peacefully in the company of his family on May 19, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center due to advanced heart disease.

Weekend crash kills 2

Bigfork Eagle

Appreciate travel plan

To the editor,

Neighbors protest commercial growth on Baker Avenue

Whitefish Pilot

Response: People should fear their government

I disagree with Pat Williams in his May 7 op-ed in the Whitefish Pilot and believe today, more than ever we need to fear our government. Williams stated, “From the early 1930s and Franklin D. Roosevelt through every president, people believed that aggressive government made a positive difference in their lives.”

Richard Fliehler

Richard "Hog Dick" Fliehler, 56, passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2009, near Bigfork as the result of a motor vehicle accident. He was born on March 5, 1953, in Arlington, Iowa, to Donald and Dorothy (Astor) Fliehler.

Park avalanche was Class 5 monster

An avalanche that crossed the Sun Road twice and ran beyond the Packer's Roost Road was the largest of its kind, Glacier Park avalanche experts said last week.

Lady Bulldogs close season with three losses

Whitefish lose on road in Libby

Harris wins state after tough final match

Whitefish's Matt Harris ended his prep tennis career in style at the Class A state tennis championship held at Flathead Valley Community College on May 21-22. The boys team placed third, after Billings Central and Havre.

BHS graduation week

Whitewater Festival

Thursday

The Columbia Falls Lions Club meets at 6:30 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays each month at the Back Room, in the same building as the Nite Owl Restaurant. Contact a Lions Club member for information about joining the organization.

Board struggles with lakeshore regs update

Whitefish Pilot

Rehberg urges restraint at Lake Co. talk

The Lake County Republican Women's Club hosted a special meeting earlier this month at Camp Marshall, near Big Arm, during which Congressman Denny Rehberg served as the keynote speaker.

Sophomore Knoll making waves in short career

To say that it is an accomplishment for a high school athlete to be on the All-Conference list for both volleyball and basketball and go to the state track meet for the second year in a row in multiple events would be an understatement; especially if the student was just a sophomore.

State tourist numbers and expenditures, down for 2008

Whitefish Pilot

Jack retiring again

Jack Therrien is retiring again.

Letters to the Editor

Where our money went

Scholarships roll in for BHS seniors

Money may be tight, but that hasn't stopped Bigfork High School's senior class from raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship awards as the 75 students prepare to graduate next week.

Letter from the editor

Good luck, BHS Class of 2009

Mitchell Kopczyk

Mitchell Allen Kopczyk, 50, passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2009, near Bigfork as the result of a motor vehicle accident. He was born on Nov. 4, 1958, in Elyria, Ohio, to John and Carmela (DiMichele) Kopczyk.

Cat Dog Smoker

Owners split on Bad Rock Drive paving plan

Landowners who might be forced to pay for paving Bad Rock Drive acknowledge the road is dusty, but don't think they should shoulder the costs of paving the road.

Who Should We Hate?

The Trailwatcher / G. George Ostrom

City budget balancing economic impacts

Whitefish Pilot

Babe Ruth team wins 8th in a row

Bigfork's Babe Ruth Baseball team extended their winning streak to eight last week, having not lost since their season opener on May 1 to Montana Build.

Getts, Ronish runners-up at state tennis tournament

The script for the boys doubles division of the Class A State Tennis Tournament could not have been written any better. Yes, Columbia Falls seniors Grant Getts and Jake Ronish finished second rather than first, but it was getting to the championship match that meant the most.

Tenure and seniority do matter

The impassioned statements about one Whitefish High School teacher peppering the news lately are precisely why tenure and seniority matter. If a teaching job were based solely on vocal popularity, the quality of learning in the classroom would surely be compromised. In this instance, however, I feel proud of the Whitefish School District for continuing to hire the best teachers that can be found.

Thursday

John Fraley will present an audio-visual program on his newest book, Wild River Pioneers, during a Brown Bag lunchtime seminar in the West Glacier Community Building in Glacier National Park on Thursday, May 28, from noon to 1 p.m. Fraley is a local historical writer and the information and education program manager for Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Region 1 office in Kalispell. ìWild River Pioneersî tells about the exciting pioneer history of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River drainage within Glacier Park and the Great Bear Wilderness. Fraleyís presentation will focus on George Snyder, with some glimpses of Josephine Doodyís life.

Glacier Park, mid-spring

Rehberg: 'Small town America' will save us

Though he had to rush off after a talk with the Lake County Republican Women at Camp Marshall, near Big Arm, two weeks ago for his daughter's birthday, Congressman Denny Rehberg provided a private follow-up interview with the West Shore News last week.

Taking a look at what bills made it into law

As the 61st Legislative Session has come to a close, I first want to thank each and every one of you for providing me the honor to serve you once again in Helena. I also want to send out a very special thanks to Rep. Janna Taylor of Rollins for doing such a wonderful job of keeping the West Shore Community informed of the weekly activities going on in Helena.

Black bear illegally killed near Columbia Falls

Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking information about the illegal killing of a black bear that was discovered May 1 on Cedar Flats Road, north of Columbia Falls. The black bear carcass had been gutted, skinned and abandoned.

Slide damage to Sun Road not as bad as first thought

Damage from a huge avalanche that swept across the Sun Road isn't as bad as first expected and shouldn't hinder opening the highway, Park officials said last week.

Legislature's reappraisal bill not acceptable

We have all read articles from legislators extolling the merits of House Bill 658, where the format and content of the bill is practically identical to the reappraisal mitigation bill of 2003 (Senate Bill 461).

Margaret Ann Bronder

Margaret “Maggie” Ann Bronder, 55, passed away May 9, 2009, at home with family, after a courageous 18-year battle with cancer.

WEB UDPATE: Two killed in Ferndale crash

Bigfork Eagle

Boys win tennis divisionals

Whitefish senior Matt Harris captured his fourth divisional tennis title on Saturday at the Western A with a 6-0, 6-3 verdict over Bigfork's Scott Taylor on the courts at Flathead Valley Community College.

Wildkats have second seed at state softball

With a split with Polson and Libby last week, Columbia Falls will have the No. 2 seed from the Western A Conference in next week's Class A State Softball Tournament in Polson.

Dick Howell

Dick L. Howell, 68, Columbia Falls, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He was born Sept. 19, 1940 in Whitefish.

Richard Timlick

Richard "Papa Dick" Timlick, 65, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 10, 2009, at Health Center Northwest in Kalispell, with his loving family by his side. He had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor on Feb. 22, 2009. He was born on May 14, 1943 in Rolla, N., the son of James Robert and Ella Louise (Wicks' Timlick.

Flathead Lake slowly filling up for summer

It's been a wet spring in the Flathead Valley, but with warm weather just starting to set in up in the high country, Flathead Lake is beginning to feel big effects from runoff.

Clare Elizabeth Aganek

Clare Elizabeth Aganek, daughter of Mary and Paul Aganek, of Whitefish, was born May 7, 2009, at North Valley Hospital.

Let's not fund a road to nowhere

CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News

Lake committee chairman pans minority report

Whitefish Pilot

Thursday

All students who plan to participate in any extracurricular activity at Whitefish High School in 2009-2010 must have a parent attend a mandatory informational meeting on one of the two following dates ó Thursday, May 21, and Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Whitefish High School Gym. A parent must attend one of these meetings before a student will be allowed to practice or participate.

Letters to the Editor

Don't let the dogs slip

Wayne Gary Treat

Wayne Gary Treat, 64, "headed on his final hike along Highway 2 to heaven" on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, in Columbia Falls. Wayne was born in Radisson, Wis., on May 21, 1944, to Howard and Marion (Jordan) Treat.

Ferndale church starting community garden

It may not seem like a square foot of soil is enough space to grow anything, but by next spring, area residents will be able to get the most out of a tiny bit of dirt by subscribing to "Square Foot Gardening" behind St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Ferndale.

Plowing the Sun Road

Council approves River's Edge Park master plan

Plans for River's Edge Park along the Flathead River will remain fluid for now.

Odd News Reviews

There continue to be strange things in the news each week, at least strange to me. Some items seem worth discussing further.

Work to start on emergency services center, bond financing continuing

Whitefish Pilot

Loretta Howe

Loretta Jean Howe, 73, joined her heavenly father on Friday May 15, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center with her beloved family by her side.

Twins win Canadian Days

The Glacier Twins are Canadian Days champions. The Twins bounced back from a four-run deficit in the fifth inning to defeat the Kalispell Lakers 9-6 in the championship game on Sunday.

'Cats primed for Divisionals run

If the cards fall into place and the Wildcats compete to their capabilities, Columbia Falls can hoist the Northwest A Divisional boys championship trophy Saturday in Polson.

Avalanche won't stop Sun Road opening

Whitefish Pilot

Memorial Day ceremonies

Once again, it is time to celebrate our nation’s fallen defenders of freedom. On Memorial Day, May 25, the citizens of Whitefish will assemble to parade and pay tribute to the brave men and women who defended our great nation and have now passed.

Hydro plant could be money-maker

Whitefish Pilot

John Morley 'Zeke' Edgerton, 80

John Morley 'Zeke' Edgerton, age 80, passed away suddenly on Friday, May 15, 2009 at his residence in Bigfork, Montana. He was born on September 3, 1928 at the American Swedish Hospital in Rockford, Illinois; at two years old he became the son of Harold and Beatrice Edgerton.

Park will add osprey cam to its Web site

Soon, online visitors to Glacier National Park's Web site will be able to watch a pair of osprey raise chicks.

BHS track heads to divisionals on high note

With just one week left before the Northwest A Divisional Track Meet, the Bigfork team showed they were ready, placing 14 times at Saturday's ABC meet in Polson. The Bigfork girls placed sixth and the boys were seventh among the 10 schools that participated.

Credit should be given to Gary

Gary W. Thacker came to Columbia Falls as a teenager and became a longtime businessman.

Bigfork Food Bank moves into new home

To say the Bigfork Food Bank is in a new, expanded location would be to sell the striking difference short. The local pantry's new digs in the Nelson Electric building at Streeter's Corner are literally five times larger than the previous location.

Fond farewell

To the community of Whitefish: As of May 15, 2009, I officially resigned as head boys basketball coach for the Whitefish School District.

Letter from the editor 

A river runs into it

Getts, Ronish qualify for state

Columbia Falls seniors Grant Getts and Jake Ronish captured the doubles championship at the Western A Divisional Tournament in Kalispell last weekend and will return to the Flathead Valley Community College courts for the state tournament Thursday and Friday.

Big Creek Adventure

WEB UPDATE: Fugitive caught in Bigfork

Northwest Montana News Network

Coco and Roche take firsts at Polson meet

The Whitefish boys took third and the girls took fourth place at the Polson ABC track meet on Saturday.

Wants motor access to Badger

To the editor,

Paddlers getting set for Whitewater this weekend

With the 33rd Annual Whitewater Festival just two days away, preparations for the annual kayaking — and unofficial start to summer in Bigfork — are well under way by paddlers and organizers alike.

Thursday

All students who plan to participate in any extracurricular activity at Whitefish High School in 2009-2010 must have a parent attend a mandatory informational meeting on one of the two following dates ó Thursday, May 21, and Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Whitefish High School Gym. A parent must attend one of these meetings before a student will be allowed to practice or participate.

West Shore Library shares 'grand opening'

The West Shore Library may have been around for 13 years, but that didn't stop the library board of directors from holding an official "grand opening" to celebrate the recent changes that have taken place, like the new bookstore and 800 additional square feet added back in January.

Somers track team excels in Polson, Kalispell meets

The Somers track team thrilled fans who made the trip to Polson last week to watch them net their best overall scores to date.

Letters to the editor"In Search of the Truth"

In search of the truth and to set the record straight the recent diatribe that degenerated into a personal attack on me by Bruce Barrett of Lakeside cannot go unanswered (WSN 4/1509). Reasonable people can and do have differing opinions on certain issues and can debate an issue without resorting to invective and untrue aspersions of character.

Lakeside Community Club celebrates 100 years

This month's meeting of the Lakeside Community Club was far from a typical club meeting. In fact, the gathering looked less like a meeting and more like a big birthday party, complete with balloons, cake, more than 70 guests and about 100 candles.

County installs new Ben Williams Park equipment

You may have wondered if it would ever happen. If so, you're not alone.

Wildkats hand Belgrade first loss, 6-5

Columbia Falls softball players probably didn't know Belgrade, the third-place finisher at state last year, was unbeaten going into their non-conference game Friday to open the LaVerne Combo Invitational in Butte. But coach Dave Kehr did.

City takes back the doughnut for now

Whitefish Pilot

Downtown packed for Spring Art Walk

Credit the gloomy economy or the rainy spring weather, but downtown Bigfork was full of people on Saturday out enjoying the sunshine at the Spring Art Walk.

Bryant Sandefer

Bryant Sandefer, 73, passed away Friday, May 8, 2009, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center after a long illness.

School board approves budget layoffs

Whitefish Pilot

It's a good time for a new track

JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Letter from the editor 

'Life after people' easy to imagine in Montana

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Need to address reason animals are in town

To the editor,

Coco, Tkachyk win big at Archie Roe track meet

Whitefish Pilot

It's generational theft

I am writing to voice my concerns about the massive spending that is going on in Washington, D.C.

Spring flowers, Glacier Park

cartoon

Bulldog boys still on a roll in tennis action

Whitefish Pilot

Thursday

The Columbia Falls Lions Club meets at 6:30 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays each month at the Back Room, in the same building as the Nite Owl Restaurant. Contact a Lions Club member for information about joining the organization.

'Sharing' means everyone gets to play

I'm writing in response to a letter by Edd Blackler (5/7/09), a local public land user impacting the environment of our Flathead National Forest lands both on foot and hoof, who wrote to complain about having to share his trails with others. After reading Edd's "thoughts' on 'sharing", I find myself wondering if Edd's Kindergarten teacher marked the box on his report card – "Does Not Play Well with Others." Like most kindergartners, Edd just doesn't like to share "his" sandbox Let's examine some of Edd's sandboxes, he has quite a few that he won't ever have to share.

Vikes win, Vals split heading into divisional tournament 

The Bigfork High School boys tennis team is going into the divisional tournament with a little boost of confidence after defeating both Polson and Ronan last week. Divisionals start today, May 14, in Kalispell.

Whitefish High School Talent Show 2009.

David Erickson / Whitefish Pilot

Layoffs don't make sense

I am writing to you concerning one of the biggest problems at Whitefish High School. Mr. Holloway is one of the greatest teachers at the high school, and the school has decided to discontinue his job.

Four city positions up for election this year

Woodruff says she won’t run again for council

Haines Drug closes doors after 98 years

Whitefish Pilot

Wildcat netters edge Libby in tune-up for Divisionals

Every tennis coach wants his players to be on top of their game heading into the postseason, and Columbia Falls boys coach Gary Yee believes that is the case.

James (Jim) Allen Bell, 70

James (Jim) Allen Bell was called to heaven on May 6, 2009. He enjoyed his final days peacefully at his summer home in Bigfork, Montana, overlooking the Flathead Lake surrounded by his wife, daughter, son and their spouses along with his most treasured five grandchildren who affectionately referred to him as Poppa.

Bigfork keeps up with bigger competition

Bigfork High School may not be one of the largest schools in Northwest Montana, but several athletes on the track team proved that they can still hold their own at last Saturday's Archie Roe Invitational track meet in Kalispell, which drew about 1,000 athletes from 18 schools, including five AA schools.

Property tax reappraisal bill is fair

Property-tax reappraisal and the appropriate mitigation strategy was a major issue for the 2009 Legislature. Residential property values increased 55 percent from the last statewide reappraisal in 2003, and 73 percent in Flathead County. Mitigating this increase in property values in a way that met the mandates of the Montana Constitution and is fair across the state is a very complex issue.

A ballet for Mother's Day

When Keiko Sagami was a toddler she loved to move around and make noise, so much so that her mother, Kelly, enrolled her in dance classes at the age of three. At the time Kelly had no idea that she was setting up her daughter, who is currently a freshman at Bigfork High School, for over a decade of dancing, or that it eventually would turn into a Mother's Day surprise for her.

Business owners get behind 'contribution'

With a wide sampling of business owners in attendance, the support for instituting a voluntary 1 percent "contribution" program for Bigfork was near unanimous on Thursday night.

Wildcat thinclads seventh at Archie Roe Invite

Columbia Falls finished in seventh place in the boys division of the 35th annual Archie Roe Invitational track and field meet on a warm, sunny Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell. Glacier eased to the team title with 108 points in the 19-school meet. Missoula Big Sky was second with 79, followed by Flathead with 64, Whitefish and Missoula Sentinel 42 and Plains 29.

Minority report rips proposed lakeshore regs

Whitefish Pilot

Letters to the Editor

Bows and arrows

N. Fork plight in U.N. spotlight

Sen. Max Baucus last week said he would push to have the North Fork of the Flathead designated as a World Heritage Site in Danger, a dubious distinction as Glacier National Park turns 100 next year.

Averill stays on school board

The Bigfork School District 38 board looks just like it did last month, with Maureen Averill and Denny Sabo still on it.

BHS students get back bond survey results

Back in April, a group of Bigfork High School seniors sent out 450 carefully crafted surveys to voters in the BHS school district asking why they said "yes' or "no" to the $11.1 million bond that failed twice during the previous school year.

Lady Dogs down Copperheads

Whitefish Pilot

Andrew Johnson

Andrew “Andy” Gustaf Johnson, 91, of Whitefish, passed away peacefully May 4, 2009.

Diane Delaney

Diane K. Delaney, 56, passed away April 25, 2009, at St. Pat's Hospital in Missoula of natural causes.

Senior tennis player keeps it interesting

Bigfork High School's senior class has its share of talented kids, but few are as varied in their talents, or as modest about them, as Sean Barrett.

Elizabeth (Biz) Purdom

Elizabeth Anne (Biz) Purdom passed away Sunday, April 26, 2009, at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Born Elizabeth Anne McDonald on Nov. 2, 1946, in Minot, N.D., she grew up in Great Falls. She graduated from Great Falls High School in 1965 and then attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where she met her future husband, Wayne G. Purdom.

Adventures in Liar Land

The Trailwatcher  / G. George Ostrom

Sun Road could see work on both sides

The Going-to-the-Sun Road could very well see repairs on both sides of the Divide by next year. That seems to be the most palatable proposal as the road will see $27.6 million in stimulus funding starting this summer, but that funding also comes with strict timelines.

Time does fly by

Amazing how time flies. Seems things friends consider as occurring yesterday were probably 40, 50 or 60 years ago or more.

Whitefish High School Talent Show

Thursday

The Columbia Falls Lions Club meets at 6:30 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays each month at the Back Room, in the same building as the Nite Owl Restaurant. Contact a Lions Club member for information about joining the organization.

The ultimate Boy Scout

W. Richard Dukelow

Miller, Brown to fill vacant council seats

Lakeside voters headed to the polling at Lakeside Elementary School, last Tuesday, to determine the outcome of two open seats on the Lakeside Community Council. The seats were being sought by three contenders, Keith Brown, Marc Liechti and Barbara Miller.

No headline

Republican women's club hosts Rehberg at Camp Marshall

Letters to the editorNew park needs care

Lakeside already has a swim park on north Lakeside Boulevard, but because of the very limited parking, small picnic area, poor pedestrian accommodations throughout Lakeside and no well marked, safe crosswalk across Hwy. 93 near the park, it doesn't get the recognition it deserves. We need to do what we can to fix those deficiencies, but Lakeside still needs every park and recreational lake access that can be reasonably developed, including the proposed new park at Adams Street and Hwy. 93.

Lakeside students join P.A.C.E. Trek

This Tuesday, sixth-grade students at Somers Middle School completed a four-week-long team effort to match endurance runner Paul Staso of Missoula mile-for-mile on his 500-mile run from Juneau, Alaska to the Arctic Circle.

HB658 is a failure

REP. MIKE JOPEK / For the Hungry Horse News

WEB UPDATE: Averill retains school board seat

Bigfork Eagle

Tagging along for news

Becky always has interesting entertainment for me.

DOT to cut passing lanes on Hwy. 35

When a truck and pup carrying dry cement powder flipped into a barrow ditch along Highway 35 last week, Montana Department of Transportation Director Jim Lynch was on site to see it.

'Cats fall to Bigfork, Libby, Polson

Columbia Falls boys tennis coach Gary Yee is looking for improvement on the court each week, and he's seeing it.

Babe Ruth baseball league kicks offDavid Erickson / Whitefish Pilot

Above, Glacier Babe Ruth batter Kylee Bowerman tracks the ball before connecting on a single against Bigfork on Friday afternoon at Smith Fields. Results from last week's Glacier Babe Ruth League games: April 27 — Backroom vs. Montana Build, 0-13; Hill Brothers vs. Blue Moon, 8-9; April 28 — WF Sports Medicine vs. MacKenzie River, 6-9; CF Les Schwab vs. First Interstate Bank, 14 -11; April 30 — Backroom vs. Hill Brothers, 3-23; Montana Build vs. Blue Moon, 11-1; May 1 — MacKenzie River vs. First Interstate Bank, 6-9; CF Les Schwab vs. WF Sports Medicine, 6-11; Montana Build vs. Bigfork, 5-1; May 2 — Hill Brothers vs. Bigfork, 5-6.

Middle school schedule change could hurt music program

There is a proposed change to how electives are handled for seventh- and eighth-grade students at the Whitefish Middle School. Principal Kerry Drown recently announced having a 'strong interest" in implementing a new Advisory Program into the daily class schedule.

BHS Vals tennis sweeps four matchups

Bigfork High School's boys and girls tennis teams had a busy week as they played four schools. The girls won all four matches and the boys won two of theirs.

Property owners looking at legal options

While it's difficult enough to understand large complex remedial investigation reports, silence on the part of BNSF Railway has made Railroad District property owners nervous about their real estate investments — especially as BNSF recently began to acquire properties.

Witnessing the healing power of a mother's touch

At Coffee Traders downtown one morning, Robin Rice of Whitefish is accosted by two other women. Rice, who describes herself as "a round woman with a puffball on top," accepts coffee from one woman and compliments from them both. They say things to her like, "I'm a big fan," and she thanks them and they chat for a moment about their children.

A century of trains leaves unwanted legacy

BNSF consultants: Diesel plumes are 'weathering' away

Thursday

Whitefish Theatre Company will present “Annie Jr.” on May 1-10 at the O’Shaughnessy. With a cast and crew of more than 40 Flathead Valley youths, “Annie Jr.” will tug at the heartstrings with its familiar songs and a story based on the popular comic strip. The cast and crew will collect non-perishable food items for the North Valley Food Bank during the entire production. They will also collect dog and cat food to donate to local animal shelters. Performance dates are May 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. and May 10 at 4 p.m. with all seats reserved. Tickets are $14 adults and $10 students and seniors. Saturday matinee on May 9 at 2 p.m. is general admission. Ticket prices are $12 adults and $8 students and seniors. To purchase tickets, call 862-5371.

Burglary string suspect in district court in Polson

POLSON — In four separate cases associated with an extensive local burglary string, Cote Wheeler pleaded not guilty to four felony counts of burglary and one felony count of tampering with physical evidence in an April 29 Lake County District Court arraignment hearing.

Failure of the 61st Legislature

The spirit of the 61st Legislature produced many good things, from freezing tuition at Flathead Valley Community College to funding K-12 schools at a 3 percent annual increase. The legislature also listened to the 70 percent of Montanans that voted to provide children health insurance.

People need to stop fearing government

For almost 50 years, we Americans held common purpose with our government. From the early 1930s and Franklin D. Roosevelt through seven presidents, people believed that aggressive government made a positive difference in their lives.

Letters to the Editor

Thoughts on sharing

Carlson, Tudahl lead the way in Whitefish

It seems as though it is all starting to click for the Bigfork High School track team. Last Saturday in Whitefish they had 14 top six finishes; eight for the girls, who placed fifth as a team among 13 schools, and six for the boys, who placed eighth among 15 schools.

May 7, 2009

Recycler turns to biodiesel

If you happen to catch a strong whiff of French fries while you're driving around town this summer, it's not just because you're craving fried food.

Bulldogs host A.R.M. invitational meet

The 11th annual A.R.M. (Achey, Rosenberg, Murphy) Invitational track meet drew 16 teams from around the state to Whitefish High School on Saturday.

Boosters host annual fund-raiser

A few rain showers weren't enough to keep the Bigfork community from attending the 11th annual Bigfork Booster Club Barbecue Sunday afternoon at the Flathead Lake Lodge.

61st Legislature closes in Helena

HELENA – The final gavel fell on Montana's 61st Legislature Tuesday, as lawmakers gave final approval to the state budget, the federal stimulus plan and a bill that seeks to lessen the financial blow to taxpayers from the state's recent property appraisal.

North Fork should be better maintained

To the editor,

A Letter from Rose

YES! Last week's column on economic depressions, and how I see the future, was serious … meant to be. The views were from a man of near 81 years experience speaking to those who don't have that frame of reference. Will try to put some humor in this week, but first, let me share part of a letter from Rose Ottosen of Bigfork. Received other nice comments, but Rose made my week:

Avalanche could mean big problems for Sun Road

The Going-to-the-Sun Road has seen significant damage on the west side at Granite Creek, where a massive avalanche partially removed at least a lane of the highway.

Tea and taxes

On April 15, a respectable number of folks conducted "Tea Parties' across Montana to protest what they view as high taxes. It's all a matter of perception, I suppose, I know a lot of people who think their taxes are pretty reasonable, but I think it would be hard to get them to a "My Taxes Are OK" rally. 

16 new Habitat homes on tap

The Columbia Falls City Council on Monday approved Habitat for Humanity's plan to construct 16 homes units here.

'Kats take two from Havre

By virtue of a pair of weekend wins over Havre, Columbia Falls moved into first place in the Western A in high school softball.

Big wind here, big snow east

Wild weather last week dumped upwards of four feet of snow at St. Mary and East Glacier, and high winds that topped out near 75 mph toppled trees on homes south of Columbia Falls.

Lady Bulldogs claim two big victories

The Lady Bulldogs played their best game of the season so far on Saturday, drilling Browning 12-0 to move to 3-4 in Western A conference action and 5-7 overall.

Bigfork Babe Ruth splits season openers

Bigfork's Babe Ruth Baseball team started their season off last week with two games, one of which they won.

BHS sophomores plant trees, improve trail

The clank of shovels hitting rocks and the whine of chainsaws sounded like a forced-labor camp along the East Shore of Flathead Lake on Friday morning. But the labor there was purely voluntary, as nearly the entire sophomore class and a few juniors from Bigfork High School did trail work and put up interpretive signs along the Beardance Trail south of Woods Bay.

C-Falls boys second at A.R.M. Meet; Wildkats tie for seventh

Propelled by strong scoring in the distance events, Columbia Falls earned second place in the boys division of the 11th annual A.R.M. Invitational on a pleasant Saturday in Whitefish.

Letter from the editor 

With session over, a few thanks in order

Lakeside Council releases draft neighborhood plan

After more than a year of intensive study and an equally aggressive meeting schedule, the Lakeside Neighborhood Plan Committee presented their revised neighborhood plan to the Lakeside Community Council last Tuesday.

WEB UPDATE: Averill retains school board seat

Bigfork Eagle

Thursday

Whitefish Theatre Company will present “Annie Jr.” on May 1-10 at the O’Shaughnessy. With a cast and crew of more than 40 Flathead Valley youths, “Annie Jr.” will tug at the heartstrings with its familiar songs and a story based on the popular comic strip. The cast and crew will collect non-perishable food items for the North Valley Food Bank during the entire production. They will also collect dog and cat food to donate to local animal shelters. Performance dates are May 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. and May 10 at 4 p.m. with all seats reserved. Tickets are $14 adults and $10 students and seniors. Saturday matinee on May 9 at 2 p.m. is general admission. Ticket prices are $12 adults and $8 students and seniors. To purchase tickets, call 862-5371.

Council backs 5-lot proposal

After voting to release the draft neighborhood plan, last Tuesday, the Lakeside Community Council reviewed and voted unanimously to approve a request for preliminary plat approval of the Flathead Vista subdivision, north of Lakeside.

Final word from Helena

It is wonderful to be home. We are blest to live in the most beautiful place in the state, along with the greatest people.

Well-traveled local student learns leadership in D.C.

It's no secret that the West Shore is home to some remarkable talent, but not all have set the bar as high as 17 year-old Daniella Rottier of Lakeside.

Snowy East Side

Photos from the Whitefish Pilot 5-7-09

Somers Middle does well at Whitefish meet

West Shore News

Glacier will see $17.5 million in stimulus money

Several projects in Glacier National Park will get a multi-million dollar shot in the arm from the recently passed economic stimulus bill.

Montana Recreation Responsibility Act signed into law

The 61st Legislature is now in the books and the taxpayers will have new laws to learn as the enforcement begins. Many positive things have been done this session with some a bit harder to swallow.

Answers about the Bigfork Enhancement Program

For the Bigfork Eagle

The budget debate ends

The debate over the budget took center stage as the Republicans and the Democrats squared off over how to fund the $8.1 billion House Bill 2 and how to spend the $820 million House Bill 645, also known as the Federal stimulus bill. The Republicans wanted a balanced budget by ensuring expenditures equal revenues and keeping a minimum of $250 million in the ending fund balance. The Republicans justified their position by pointing to the almost $1 billion drop in the ending fund balance from a year ago and an estimated $130 million reduction in this year's tax receipts.