Ellington

Admitted con man faces new fraud charges

The confessed conspirator in the 1990s Whitefish Mountain Bank fraud scheme in Whitefish is facing new federal charges of stealing $170,000 from his brother and sister.

Nullification bills fail on House floor

Claiming that the federal government is out of control and making laws that adversely affect state sovereignty, Rep. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell, introduced two bills this year with the goal of providing Montana with the means to nullify federal law.

Clifton Lee Matthews

Clifton Lee Matthews, 82, of Augusta, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 at his home.

Dwight Russel Cook

Dwight Russel Cook passed away Friday, Feb. 18, 2011. He was born Oct. 5, 1931 in Conrad.

'Dogs lock up No. 3 seed

Defensive stops led to offensive bursts as Whitefish took care of business at home Saturday night by knocking off the Libby Loggers in their season finale.

Lady 'Dogs look for upsets at divisional

The Lady Bulldogs are embracing their underdog status heading into the divisional tournament as they hope to sneak up on a few top-ranked teams looking past them.

Bantams earn state title

Glacier Avalanche’s Bantam hockey team won the Montana Amateur Hockey Association State Tournament last week after winning all four of their tournament games and defeating Great Falls 6-1 in the championship game.

Glacier Nordic sends three to Nationals

The Glacier Nordic Ski Team will send three racers to Junior Nationals next week in Minneapolis. Whitefish High School seniors Stella Holt and Jack Steele and freshman Connor Gray each earned a spot on the InterMountain Division Junior Nordic team. Coach Robin Brooks was selected to lead the OJ and J1 girls.

Girls hockey team heading to state

The Glacier Avalanche girls hockey team will travel this weekend to Bozeman for the U19 State Hockey Tournament. The trip will mark the first time a Whitefish girls team has competed in a state tournament, which coach Lini Reading calls an important milestone in the growing program.

Locals back from World Cup Telemark series

Whitefish residents and U.S. Regional Telemark team members Maggie Doherty and Cole Schneider returned home last week from competing in World Cup Telemark ski races in Germany and Austria. They joined two other U.S. Telemark team members, Shane Anderson, of Cody, Wyo., and Cory Snyder, of Franconia, N.H.

Valentine goodies

I’m writing to express my heartfelt thanks. For 18 years, the children of Whitefish Christian Academy have hand delivered Valentines to local nursing-home residents and shut-ins.

Education on the chopping block

Last night, I attended a wonderful student concert at Glacier High School. While sitting in my seat enjoying the students’ intensity on never missing a note, I was thinking how our newly-elected state legislature is ready to put education, both K-12 and higher education, on the chopping block.

Skating club thanks

The Whitefish Figure Skating Club gives special thanks acknowledging the various support and contributions of the following local businesses and organizations that helped make the Flathead Valley Invitational Skating Competition possible and successful for 2011:

Whitefish keeps shining

Thank you to everyone responsible for having the winter holiday decorations up for as long as possible.

Charles Winters

Charles Winters

Jacqueline Weatherly-Trombly

Jacqueline Weatherly-Trombly

Hailey Rose David

Hailey Rose David

Robert Brower

Robert Brower

Matthew Shestak

Matthew Shestak

Jalan Mary Butkovich

Jalan Mary Butkovich

No property tax reform in 2011

Property owners in northwest Montana had a high anticipation of an interim reappraisal and meaningful property tax reform at the beginning of the 62nd Legislature. Our representatives listened, heard our plight and were motivated to help Montana have a property tax system that is simple to understand, predictable and fair for all residential, commercial and agriculture property owners.

It's time to work out auditorium issues

Major kudos to the Whitefish Pilot for a timely, well researched and lucidly presented forum regarding the desire of the Glacier Symphony and Chorale (GSC) to offer Festival Amadeus performances at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center (PAC) during the summer season, usually booked by the Alpine Theatre Project (ATP). A number of citizens have registered both valid complaints and detailed explanations concerning the status quo.

Time to organize to save Spencer Mountain

Here we go again. Seven years ago, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation came to town to announce that they were putting the state trust lands that surround Whitefish on the selling block for development.

Aquatic invasive species bill introduced

A bill toughening existing rules on aquatic invasive species was introduced in the Montana Legislature on Feb. 14 by Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell.

Cheers for volunteers

Gaye Lockwood was born among the redwoods in Eureka. Calif. While she was small, her father accepted a position as elementary school principal in San Jose, which became her home until she left for college in San Diego.

Local adult team debuts at Winter Games

The Special Olympics has given to Kyler Morrison for so many years that he decided it was time to give something back.

Money found to pay off B.C. mining interests

It appears the money to pay off two companies with mining claims upstream of the North Fork has been found.

Rec. trail gets $500,000 grant

Whitefish Legacy Partners, the local organization overseeing recreational opportunities on state school trust lands surrounding Whitefish, has been awarded a $500,000 Recreation Trails Program grant from the Montana State Parks Recreation Bureau.

Board holds off vote on vacation rentals

The Whitefish City-County Planning Board on Feb. 17 postponed a vote on a plan to increase the number of short-term rental units in Whitefish so more information can be gathered.

Winter Classic schedule

The Whitefish Winter Classic is an annual charity event featuring well-known college and NFL football players that raises money to assist Northwest Montana families with pediatric medical-related costs not covered by insurance.

Kats also beat Pirates for conference crown

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team finished the regular season on a high note, taking the regular season conference title.

Panel votes to slash vets home funding

A state legislative panel last week voted to slash funding for the Montana Veterans Home, a move that could ultimately lead to the shut down of the home, administrators claim.

For veterans, the Home is their home

Jack McFadden is a 20-year Army veteran. Took shrapnel in his leg when the helicopter he was in was shot down in Vietnam. Has crashed a couple of other times since. Survived them all.

Old Red Bridge fundraising begins

A fundraising effort to save the Old Red Bridge in Columbia Falls will begin in earnest next month. Supporters of the project can purchase a section of the new railing, which will have their name or family name engraved on it.

Quintin Uziah Wagoner

Quintin Uziah Wagoner, 2, died Tuesday, Feb. 8 at Community Medical Center in Missoula.

Save jobs, save the Vets Home

To the editor,

Memories of Vets Home

To the editor,

North Fork watershed resolution

Since Gov. Brian Schweitzer signed a memorandum of understanding with British Columbia, which promised up to 17 million dollars to Canadian companies for reimbursement for cash already spent, we have all wondered where he would find the money. Montana could not pay and for months efforts were made, without success, to get Uncle Sam to foot the bill.

Thou shalt not ogle

Going back to work on Radio KGEZ as a broadcaster and forgetting Monday was a holiday caused me to lose track of my writing schedule. That is why I’ve gone back to review a 1995 discussion on the evils of “lustful staring.”

SMS students explore potential careers

Bill could cost state parks its key funding source

A bill that proposes changing how Montana collects money for state parks through light-vehicle registrations could cost the state about $1.6 million in fiscal year 2012 and nearly $3 million a year starting in 2013.

Montana needs to follow North Dakota's example

We have the opportunity to dramatically increase tax collections for the state of Montana while at the same time using some of the funds to lower property taxes. We need to follow the North Dakota example.

Vikes and Vals enter District 7B Tournament play

How ski runs get named

The early 70s followed the late 60s. I was working in the Bierstube and skiing the often foggy Big Mountain. Some may say that those coincidences make these recollections suspect.

Passenger's bomb threat delays Amtrak train

An Amtrak passenger from Minnesota has been charged with two felonies following a bomb-threat incident last week near Browning.

Joint subcommittee votes to close veterans home

A joint legislative subcommittee voted Feb. 17 to close the Montana Veterans Home, in Columbia Falls, and have nursing home services for veterans provided privately.

City prosecution contract under review

Faced with climbing prosecution costs, the Whitefish City Council met in a Feb. 7 work session to discuss whether to hire an in-house city prosecutor or continue contracting services with Hedman Hileman & Lacosta.

Community Players' 'Blithe Spirit' takes Bigfork stage

Workshop snagged for Lakeside tennis courts

Dryden is new girls tennis coach

Whitefish High School recently hired former Bulldog head football coach Patrick Dryden as the new girls tennis coach. Dryden replaces 2010 head coach Mike Watson.

Whitefish knocks off Eureka

Jump shots and lay ups fell with ease for the Lady Bulldogs on Feb. 8 at Eureka as the Whitefish girls rolled to a 46-39 victory — their second win of the season. The 46-point total was their highest thus far and more than double their season average of 22 points a game.

Bulldogs top Vikings, fall to Wildcats

It’s been a roller-coaster ride for the Bulldogs in the third quarter this season — the dips often leading to tough losses and the highs bringing big wins. On Saturday night at Columbia Falls, the boys found themselves in a total freefall.

Freestyle team earns golds at home

Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Freestyle team took advantage of its home turf last weekend as they earned numerous first-place finishes at the Inland Northwest Snowboard Series.

Special Olympics Winter Games returns to Big Mountain

Special Olympics Montana, a 40 year-old movement that enables children and adults with intellectual disabilities to train for life through sports, will conduct its State Winter Games at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Feb. 27 through March 1. This marks the 16th consecutive year that the games have been held on Big Mountain.

Willard Ramlow

Willard Russell Ramlow, 89, died at his home on Feb. 6, 2011.

Alan Moore

Alan Lee Moore, 68, was born on Feb. 2, 1942, in Rochester, N.Y., and passed away peacefully at Brendan House on Jan. 12, 2011.

Leo Evans

Leo Bruce Evans, 87, passed away at 5:15 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2011, at Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. He was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend and mentor.

Births

Nikolas Perez

Whitefish Shines thanks

Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped to take down the Whitefish downtown winter decorations on Sunday, Feb. 13th. Volunteers like you have made this project a success for more than 50 years.

Park fee

Here’s what you get for the paltry $4 added onto your vehicle registration fee every year unless you choose to opt out: Unlimited, hassle-free admittance to well-maintained state parks that serve not only to provide high-quality recreation for you and your family, but that also help increase the flow of tourist dollars into the Montana economy.

Reject union-controlled teacher tenure

I am responding to Dana Carmichael’s recent editorial letter where she defended the practice of teacher tenure. Both Mrs. Carmichael and her husband taught my children over the years, and I can vouch for their professionalism and their dedication to educating children. However, I believe her loyalty to her fellow teachers prevents her from realizing that not all teachers are as dedicated and capable as she.

Theater company explains position

Alpine Theatre Project would like to respond to the recent articles regarding occupancy of the Whitefish Performing Arts Center during the summer.

Auditorium arrangement doesn't seem right

It’s not right. Those words sounded in my brain after reading Richard Hanners’ article in the Feb. 2 Whitefish Pilot about the Alpine Theatre Project’s apparent summer monopoly of the Whitefish Performing Arts Center (PAC) from now until potentially 2025.

Whitefish Middle School honor roll

Whitefish Middle School

Whitefish Christian Academy honor roll

Whitefish Christian Academy

Whitefish High School honor roll

Whitefish High School

School briefs

Winter Classic kicks off Feb. 24

The Whitefish Winter Classic is an annual charity event that raises money to assist Northwest Montana families with pediatric medical-related costs not covered by insurance.

City hydroplant to be working by November

The city of Whitefish will be in the electrical power generating business by this fall, according to public works director John Wilson.

Draft ethics policy panned by city staff

The draft version of a proposed ethics policy for city officials and employees met with general criticism after it was passed on to city staff for review.

Civil suit dismissed in teen texting case

The attorney for the Evergreen teenager convicted Feb. 10 of two deliberate homicide charges has moved to dismiss a lawsuit filed on her behalf against the estate of the woman killed in the March 19, 2009, crash.

Water leak damages police documents

A water leak at the city’s new Emergency Services Center on Feb. 1 damaged some police documents and required city personnel to redirect their work toward cleaning up the mess. No electronic equipment was damaged.

Cats get their mojo back

Call him a good luck charm. On a night when barber and photographer Randy Bocksnick was an honorary assistant coach, the Columbia Falls Wildcats got their groove back and hammered the Whitefish Bulldogs, 68-44 last Saturday.

Girls drop Maidens, Bulldogs handily

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team continued its winning ways last week, downing Ronan 58-31 last Friday and thumping rival Whitefish 50-22 at home Saturday.

Whitman 2nd, Baccaro 3rd at state

Columbia Falls wrestler Justin Whitman took second at the state A wrestling tournament last week in the 125-pound weight class. Teammate Sal Baccaro took third at 119. The rest of the team failed to place.

Marti Elletson

Marti Elletson, longtime Columbia Falls resident, passed away Feb. 13, 2011 at the age of 66.

Donald Gene Julian

Donald Gene Julian, 76, passed away in Las Vegas, on Jan. 24, 2011, after being air transported there from Arizona due to an unknown medical problem.

Alan Lee Moore

Alan Lee Moore, 68, was born on Feb. 2, 1942, in Rochester, N.Y., and passed away peacefully at Brendan House on Jan. 12, 2011.

Conservancy to pay B.C. province

Finally, the specter of mining in the North Fork of the Flathead looks like it’s over.

Veterans Home on state chopping block

The Montana Veterans Home is an idyllic campus along the Flathead River with an orchard, a hay field, a walking path, historic buildings and a top-notch five-star care rating from Medicaid.

Creating a community center

The School District 6 long-range planning committee is taking suggestions for how best to utilize the Canyon Elementary building once it no longer houses students.

Legislators self-centered

To the editor,

Stop painting ice

To the editor,

No longer shopping C. Falls

To the editor,

Valentines in the stars

Iris is my valentine. Didn’t get her a fancy box of chocolates this year because we still have fudge in the icebox ... ‘er fridge. Inside a lacy romantic card, I did thank her for putting up with me for more than 50 years, and lately reminding me when it’s time to take pills.

Correcting mistakes

Every now and then, I make mistakes.

Bigfork Chamber launches website redesign

Clothing sought for injured soldiers

Barter for beer

Tucker Sargent and Leah Lewis were the winners of the inaugural Black Star Beer Barter competition at the Great Northern Brewery on Saturday, Feb. 5. More than 1,000 people attended the new Whitefish Winter Carnival activity.

QB Roche commits to Fighting Saints

Bulldogs romp in back-to-back wins

Whitefish sends seven to Butte

Glacier Nordic skiers ranked in top 5

Fancy fruit fundraiser this week

Whitefish High School music students, including band, orchestra and choir, are fundraising for future educational tours. One possible tour is to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. To raise money for our trips students are selling “fancy” grade oranges and grapefruits, picked fresh and delivered straight from Arizona. This sale will take place from Feb. 4-15 and the fruit will be delivered the week of March 8-12.  Please contact Nicole Sanford at 862-8600 ext. 421 for more information or to purchase fruit.

School briefs

Harper Mae Sibson

Harper Mae Sibson

Nathan Thomas Sibson

Nathan Thomas Sibson

Tensley Sable Conner

Tensley Sable Conner

Jacqueline Weatherly-Trombly

Jacqueline Weatherly-Trombly, 85, of Whitefish, passed away Feb. 6, 2011, in her home. She was born Aug. 6, 1925, in Sweet Grass, the daughter of Happy and Lola “Singleton” Madill. She is survived by her grandchildren Josh Trombly and Tara Royse. There will be a celebration of life at the Jagz restaurant, in Kalispell, on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Robert Schumacher

Robert Schumacher

Travis Herring

Travis Herring

Glenn Freeman

Glenn Freeman

Girls edge Pirates, take first

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team took sole possession of first place in the conference last week.

Gladys Fredenberg

Gladys Fredenberg

High Five campaign kicks off for schools

Imagine this: If you donate $5 today to the Whitefish Education Foundation, your $5 may be worth thousands to our children’s education. How? The High Five campaign has been launched as a community-wide effort asking for a $5 donation from parents, family members, educators, community and business members. The money collected now will go towards our upcoming spring 2011 teacher and classroom grants.

Montessori poster contest

Children’s House Montessori School would like to thank the community for their support of the International Wildlife Film Festival which was held on Jan. 22 at the O’Shaughnessy. The tour was made possible due to the generous support of the River Design Group, with additional contributions from Swank Enterprises, Davidson Construction and Imagination Station. 

Don't criminalize inanimate objects

While an impressionable young soldier in Vietnam, my first sergeant once told me, “God gave soldiers, through the genius of John Browning, the Model 1911 pistol and that it carried eight shots because that was enough.”

MatCats take second at divisional tourney

For awhile there, they were in the lead. A young Columbia Falls wrestling team put eight wrestlers in the final round of the Northwest A divisional tournament last Saturday, but just couldn’t muster enough points against a more experienced Polson team for the crown.

Growing number of well-paid state workers

As we hit the sixth week of the session, the budget continues to take center stage. My concerns were highlighted this week when the Lee Newspapers did a story that analyzed the growth of state employees in the past six years — 1,000 new employees.

Cats streak ends at 13

It’s over. Last week the Polson Pirates stopped the Columbia Falls boys basketball team’s winning streak dead in its tracks. The Pirates downed the Wildcats Saturday 59-52. Polson held a six-point lead at the half and extended it to as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Eugene Edward Sweeney Sr.

Once upon a time a big, strong man full of life was sent to us. He worked hard, loved strong, and yes, even tipped the bottle at times. He was sent to us to fulfill our dreams in the short time he had with us.

Fire damages C. Falls home

A Columbia Falls home was heavily damaged by fire about 9:20 a.m. Tuesday morning, though no one was injured in the blaze.

North Fork bill is back in Congress

Proposed bed tax cut worrisome

In this atmosphere of cutting spending on the state and national levels, two bills in the Montana legislature are getting a lot of attention.

Whitefish teen with a knack for business

Council OKs Nucleus trial stop sign

A four-way stop for Nucleus Avenue has gotten the OK.

Planning should reflect citizens' will

This coming week has two meetings in the valley that involve the North Fork.

Housing market rebound needs jobs

Duty, honor, country

"They” are asking state veterans to write a short essay on the questions: “How did your service affect you most deeply, especially in terms of your feelings about America, patriotism, the flag – in short, duty, honor, country.” In this case, “They,” are the editors of “Rural Montana,” a fine monthly magazine published by the Montana Rural Electric Cooperative’s Association.

Obituary: Ron Baird

Commissioners give final stamp to zoning district

Two Bigfork coaches honored

Assistance offered for filing FAFSA forms

Teen found guilty of both homicide counts

The Evergreen teenager accused of killing two people in a fatal car wreck last year was found guilty of two counts of deliberate homicide in Flathead County District Court on Thursday, Feb. 3.

McConnell signs with Saints

Goliath night for Galbraith

Lady 'Dogs get first win

Bulldogs show true grit on the mat

Dodds earns Class A speech and debate title

XC coach given top honors

Auditorium scheduling raises concerns

Attorneys claim doughnut lawsuit is over

All mail-in election bill fails in House

New library board has work cut out for it

Suspended sentence for indoor pot farm

School briefs

The Whitefish PTA recently awarded a $1,500 grant to Whitefish Middle School for a new kiln. A $1,300 grant was awarded to the Whitefish Independent High School for new kitchen appliances. Students use the school’s kitchen as part of the daily curriculum with their student-run store and numerous other projects.

Burlage shines as girls split the bill

The Columbia Falls girls basketball team still salvaged a split last week, even though one of their best players was out with the flu.

Boys streak an even dozen

The Columbia Falls boys basketball team continued its winning ways last week, downing Class B Thompson Falls 78-29 Thursday and Class AA Missoula Big Sky 74-49 Saturday.

Grapplers win two in divisional tuneup

Columbia Falls built up a nice bit of momentum going into the divisional tournament this weekend. Last week they downed Libby 43-34 in a dual Tuesday and then Saturday they blanked Whitefish 88-0.

Good luck, Cairo

Watching the protests in Egypt over the past week has been a unique experience for me. Why? Because I lived there.

Debunking goose grease

Now they tell us! An article in last Sunday’s edition of the newspaper magazine, Parade, says, “Smearing goose grease on your chest and wrapping it with flannel, does not cure colds.”

Robert L. Johnson

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.

Elmer Roy Ellingson

Elmer Roy Ellingson, 89, of Kalispell died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2011 at his residence. Elmer was born Feb. 1, 1921 to Edwin and Mabel (Johnson) Ellingson.

Stupendous speakers earn sixth-straight title

Make it six.

Leases may be paid for with private money

Last week, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said he was working on a new solution to pay for retired oil and gas leases in the North Fork.

Library relocation squabble continues

Friends of the Columbia Falls library seem split on what the future of the library should be.

Obituary: Kerry Henrickson

Kerry (Thomson) Henrickson, Northern Arizona University physiology and pathology assistant professor, died of cancer at her home in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Jan. 26, 2011. Dr. Henrickson was born in Kalispell on Nov. 19, 1969, and lived with her parents Bob and Jan Thomson in Great Falls, where she graduated from CMR High School in 1988.

Submit an obituary

Starting Feb. 1, the Bigfork Eagle has begun charging for obituaries printed in its newspaper.