Thursday, June 30
Tips to keep pets safe this Fourth of July
The Flathead County Animal Shelter wants every pet owner to enjoy the holiday while keeping their pet safe and secure. Here are some easy to follow suggestions to make sure the “rocket’s red glare” don’t upset your dog or cat.
Wednesday, June 29
Grizzly bear kills mountain biker near West Glacier
A West Glacier mountain bicyclist was killed Wednesday afternoon by a grizzly bear near West Glacier.
Tuesday, June 28
Assault with bodily fluids documented
Whitefish Police calls from June 20-26:
200 jobs gone with Weyerhaeuser mill closure
In 1945, D.C. Dunham started a mill in Columbia Falls and called it Plum Creek. Seventy-one years later Weyerhaeuser closed it and its neighboring plywood plant down for good. The announcement, coupled with the closure of Weyerhaeuser’s Columbia Falls administrative offices means the loss of 200 jobs.
Tester supports Wildfire Disaster Funding Act
In Montana we are entering a new season. No, I am not talking about summer — I am talking about wildfire season. Increasingly severe fire seasons threaten our forests here in Flathead County, our wildlife, our communities, and our health. This needs to be taken seriously.
Stolte wins Glacier Challenge multi-sport race
Caleb Stolte led all solo competitors and nearly beat every team at the annual Glacier Challenge multi-sport race Saturday in Whitefish.
Crazy Canucks stop in Whitefish for friendly competition
If you happened to see a group of eight men causing shenanigans in their mud-covered yellow and red polo shirts last Tuesday, it was probably the Crazy Canucks.
Thousands expected at City Beach fireworks show
After last year’s cancellation due to fire concerns, fireworks will return to Whitefish Lake for next week’s Fourth of July celebrations.
Whitefish dog park gets new wash station
Dogs playing at Whitefish’s dog park can often get covered in dirt and mud, and their owners would rather clean them up a bit before heading home in the car. It’s a trend the Hugh Rogers WAG park board has noticed and it’s beginning construction on the solution — a new two-station dog wash is expected to open in mid-July.
Fire chief stresses fireworks safety
With already an inch more of rain this month compared to last June, Whitefish Fire Chief Joe Page said conditions for fireworks are good heading into the Fourth of July weekend.
Fourth of July Tournament heats up WLGC
An outstanding field of some of the best players in the region are set to partake in the annual Fourth of July Tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Club this weekend. The championship flight will feature more than 20 players with a scratch handicap, meaning they normally shoot par or better.
Concert played on historic cello
When cellist Amit Peled performs at the O’Shaughnessy Center on Thursday, he’s bringing more than just music to the stage.
Study to identify gaps in workforce housing
A housing needs assessment for Whitefish underway now should provide a complete picture of the housing situation here by this fall.
Torgerson tackles city projects as intern
Aaron Torgerson has always liked taking his own idea and shaping it into reality.
What if Trump is elected President?
What if Donald Trump never intended for things to get this far? What if he actually only intended to destroy the Republican Party and things got out of hand?
Twins teams reach semifinal of Ed Gallo Wood Bat
The Glacier Twins A and B teams nearly swept their home Ed Gallo Wood Bat Tournament last weekend, until they didn’t.
Grant assists city in studying energy consumption
A member of Energy Corps is set to help identify energy conservation opportunities for the city of Whitefish, along with participating in efforts to create a climate action plan for the greater community.
Veterans Peace Park lease renewed
The city of Whitefish will continue leasing its property off Ramsey Avenue to be part of the Veterans Peace Park.
Marlyn James
Marlyn James passed very peacefully on June 25, 2016 from complications following brain surgery. Marlyn was born Nov. 27, 1945, a day she shared with Jimi Hendrix, which she always liked to remind us.
Tap House offers wide selection of state's microbrews
The owners of the Montana Tap House are aiming to fill a new niche in Whitefish by offering a large selection of beers on tap, while still honoring the roots of the building on Wisconsin Avenue.
Whitefish Trail group aims to finish loop by 2020
There’s not much vertical relief along the lowlands at the head of Whitefish Lake. Gentle pastures and wetlands stretch from the BNSF Railway tracks to the broad flood plains at Swift Creek. It’s an easy walk or ride along Delray Road to traverse from one side to the other.
Columbia Falls Babe Ruth bleachers destroyed in fire
The bleachers at the Sapa-Johnsrud Babe Ruth Fields in Columbia Falls were destroyed by fire Monday evening about 11 p.m. Columbia Falls Fire Chief Rick Hagen said the cause appeared to be fireworks that youths had set off in a garbage can under the bleachers.
Monday, June 27
Local golfer cards two aces in same month
Cindy Stein had gone her entire golfing career without an ace. She’d been close a few times, but never carded an elusive hole-in-one.
Wednesday, June 22
Tiny house development planned
A new condominium development inspired by the tiny house trend is proposed for the west side of Whitefish.
Apprentice rides to ownership of Great Northern Cycle
When Willie Hobbs took a job sweeping floors at Great Northern Cycle & Ski, he would have laughed at the idea of owning the business just five years later.
Schools hire firms to help with public relations
The Whitefish School District is hiring separate public relations and marketing firms to help establish a more defined brand and improve communications with the community.
Whitefish hospital searching for new chief executive
North Valley Hospital is in the process of selecting a new chief executive.
Classic boats on display at Woody Weekend
When Larry Schroeder moved to Kalispell in the early 1990s, he couldn’t resist curiosity after spotting a beat-up boat on the side of Highway 35 South.
Revised Marriott plans met with approval
The Whitefish Planning Board voted Thursday to recommend approval of a revised plan for a Marriott hotel on Highway 93 South.
Sapa tosses no-hitter in first outing
Jonny Sapa’s season debut on the mound for the Glacier Twins will be one to remember.
Climbing gym takes shape at Whitefish mall
Whitefish local Shaun Olcott is taking his passion for climbing and fitness and flipping it into a new business venture that’s set to open next month.
Police calls: Stuck paddleboard not city's problem
Whitefish Police calls from June 13-19:
City budget talks turn to police, court, public works
Whitefish City Council last week took a look at the second half of the fiscal year 2017 preliminary budget for the city.
Pilot Editorial: City takes action on smelly situation
When Whitefish’s wastewater treatment plant began acting up earlier this spring, the stench was enough to drive nearby residents indoors with windows shut — no matter how nice the day might have been.
Whitefish Municipal Court records for June
Whitefish Municipal Court from June 15 with the honorable Judge Bradley Johnson presiding:
Resort opens for summer with new bike offerings
Whitefish Mountain Resort’s summer season kicked off Saturday with a new addition to the resort’s growing offering of mountain bike trails.
Police end car chase in Whitefish with spike strips
Spike strips and a pit maneuver finally ended a high speed chase Saturday that started south of Kalispell and ended in Whitefish.
McKay joins Whitefish Pilot newsroom
Daniel McKay has joined the staff of the Whitefish Pilot as a reporter.
Legislative audits
There is a huge secret lurking in the capitol building in Helena. No, it has nothing to do with this election cycle, and there are no ghosts from the past.
Bulldogs shine for Montana in Badlands Bowl
The Montana team dominated the Badlands Bowl from start to finish in a thorough 36-7 beat down of neighboring North Dakota Saturday in Dickinson, N.D.
Zinke explains land transfer vote
Earlier this month, the Natural Resources Committee voted on a series of bills, two of which dealt with public lands. The first piece was an outright transfer of federal lands. The second piece dealt with establishing a land management pilot program.
Edward Sundberg
Edward Sundberg passed from natural causes and is taking his longest ride. He left on June 4, 2016.
Camp Invention gets kids thinking creatively
To most it might seem like yesterday’s trash, but the cardboard boxes, pipe cleaners, plastic lids and coffee filters that filled the room of recycled materials were just the building blocks of creation for the children at Camp Invention last week at Whitefish Middle School.
Monday, June 20
Olson steps down as Whitefish golf coach
Whitefish is searching for a new varsity golf coach to continue the school’s winning tradition.
Friday, June 17
Duff tapped to lead Whitefish boys basketball
Sean Duff is set to return to the bench as a Whitefish High School basketball coach, this time leading the boys varsity team.
Whitefish Mountain Resort opens for summer
Whitefish Mountain Resort’s summer season kicks off Saturday and will include a new trail-riding zone in its bike park along with the Aerial Adventure Park, zip-line tours and other seasonal attractions.
Thursday, June 16
Wisconsin Avenue paving starts Tuesday
Whitefish commuters should plan for some delays next week while crews chip seal Wisconsin Avenue from Edgewood Drive to the Big Mountain Road turnoff.
Tuesday, June 14
Developers scale down Marriott hotel proposal
Revised plans for a Marriott Hotel on Highway 93 South will go before the Whitefish Planning Board this week.
Shanti Yoga marks 10 years in Whitefish
Even before yoga became her life’s work, Jodi Petlin knew yoga meant peace.
Bike taxi business approved
A bicycle taxi business will operate in Whitefish this summer, picking up and dropping off customers who want a ride in the city.
Music school hosts "Montana Music Event"
North Valley Music School presents “The Montana Music Event,” sponsored by Charles Schwab, and featuring the Mike Murray Band along with world-class Montana photography, on Friday, June 17, at 7 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Tickets for this family-friendly event are $10 and can be purchased in advance online at www.northvalleymusicschool.org or by calling 406-862-8074.
Whitefish moves to annex West Lakeshore properties
Whitefish City Council has passed a resolution officially signaling its plan to annex 25 properties on West Lakeshore Drive into city limits.
76-room Hampton Inn celebrates grand opening
Whitefish’s newest hotel, the Hampton Inn and Suites, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony last week.
Rancid beer raises health concerns
Whitefish Police calls June 6-12:
City Hall project more than 25 percent complete
Structural steel erection is ongoing for the Whitefish City Hall construction project and concrete work continues on the attached parking structure.
Unnecessary idling
Bravo to eighth grade students, Jessica Henson and Caroline Dye, for their efforts to stop cars and buses from idling while dropping off or picking up students at the middle school.
Fishers a dynamic duo
In the article “Renaissance Man,” (Whitefish Pilot, June 8) I noticed a couple important details were lacking.
Preiss steps down as Glacier Conservancy leader
Glacier National Park Conservancy’s president and chief executive officer has stepped down from his post, the fundraising organization said this week.
Protect our common legacy
As the rhetoric ramps up leading to the election and the next legislative session, so does the finger-pointing at the failure of the past legislature to pass meaningful infrastructure funding in the final form of Senate Bill 416.
Bulldog Open tees off this Sunday
There are still a few morning spots open for teams in the Bulldog Open scramble this Sunday, June 18.
Utility boss is longest-serving city employee
When Greg Acton got out of the U.S. Army in 1974, there weren’t a lot of career options for an atomic demolitions munitions technician with top-secret government clearance.
Alyce Jacobson Nadeau
Alyce Jacobson Nadeau passed away peacefully on June 10, 2016. She was born in Cando, S.D., to John and Ragna Jacobson on May 13, 1917.
Protecting our access to public lands
Earlier this month near the banks of the Yellowstone River, I joined dozens of hunters, anglers, hikers, bikers, boaters, skiers and wildlife watchers to announce a vision for Montana that I believe is one of a governor’s fundamental responsibilities: protecting access to our public lands.
Stillwater Gallery expands into new downtown space
Whitefish Pottery has expanded its gallery space to allow for an even larger showcase of its guest artists and additional retail space.
Glenda Line-Williams
Glenda Line-Williams, 68, passed away unexpectedly May 31, 2016.
Monday, June 13
Pilot staff honored at newspaper awards
The Whitefish Pilot took home 15 awards and was named the best weekly newspaper in Montana for its circulation size at the Montana Newspaper Association awards banquet Saturday in Whitefish.
Wednesday, June 8
Regier beats out Kaltschmidt in Republican primary
It came down to a roughly 100 vote difference June 7 in determining the winner of the Republican primary contest in the race for Senate District 3.
Tuesday, June 7
Resort pass holder party set for June 17
Whitefish Mountain Resort wants to thank its 2015/16 winter season pass holders with an Appreciation Party on Friday, June 17.
WHS graduates 127 seniors
Whitefish High School’s commencement ceremony Saturday squarely focused on the journey that brought the seniors to graduation day and the bright future they now face. One chapter closes, another begins.
Students help with annual garden planting
Whitefish Middle School seventh graders last week planted the seeds that will become food for themselves and other Whitefish students this fall.
Rod Fisher is a renaissance man
Whitefish musician Rod Fisher got his first paying gig in the eighth-grade playing trombone at the Great Northern. He really hasn’t stopped since.
Candelaria Sanchez
Candelaria Sanchez, 94, was born on a ranch in Salt Lake, New Mexico, in Catron County to Audon and Paula Gonzales in 1922. She passed away at The Springs of Whitefish from complications of Alzheimer’s on June 2, 2016.
Helen (Strom) Blush Eglsaer
Helen (Strom) Blush Eglsaer was born Jan. 2, 1921 to Alfred A. Strom and Mary (Smith) Strom in Whitefish.
John R. Kahle
John R. Kahle, 98, long time resident of Saratoga and Los Gatos passed away peacefully at home on May 19, 2016.
Roger Erickson
A celebration of life for Roger Erickson will be held June 11 in the Whitefish VFW Post 276 community room from 1-3 p.m. The family invites his friends to join them in sharing memories of this proud veteran. Military honors by the United Veterans of Flathead Valley will precede the reception at 1 p.m.
City Council wants higher budget reserve
Whitefish City Council began digging into the city budget last week, which includes a potential tax cut for city residents, but also shows a dip in the year-end reserve.
Work continues to repair manholes around city
For another approximately two weeks crews will continue to repair manholes around town as part of a project aimed at minimizing the amount of groundwater that is entering the city’s sewer system.
Stream flows impact Whitefish Lake
The limiting nutrient concept developed in the field of ecology a century ago states that the yield of any organism will be determined by the abundance of the substance that, in relation to the needs of the organism, is least abundant in the environment. For algae in a lake, the limiting nutrient is usually either nitrogen or phosphorus. In multispecies algal communities like we have in Whitefish Lake, growth rates among different species are likely to be affected by the timing and delivery amounts of nutrients to the system.
Police Calls: Justin Bieber look-alike attempts break in
Monday, May 30
SNAP important protection against hunger
The highly effective federal assistance program called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, makes it possible for Americans in low income households to protect themselves from hunger and malnutrition. As currently administered, SNAP has one of the lowest error rates in providing benefits to eligible households of any federal program. It reaches the low income populations for which it is intended.
League play in full swing at WLGC
League play is in full swing at the golf course with three separate leagues operating plus the Ladies Day events each week. Both the mens Senior League (growing exponentially) and ladies league are every Tuesday. The senior league is open to any member 50 years or older and begins with tee times each week at 12:30 p.m. Senior members interested in joining the “Geezer League” should contact Paul Jeremiassen for information and to sign-up.
Flathead Forest plan includes a gamut of options
The Flathead National Forest has released a draft environmental impact statement for its new forest plan. The plan includes four alternatives — a no action alternative, an alternative that includes no wilderness recommendations and then two others that are somewhere in between.
Hope that each student can find their passion
After each passing year, it seems as if I am asked more and more difficult questions, and know less and less of the answers. When I was little, it was “what game do you want to play?” and when I fell down it was “where does it hurt?”
Housing assessment focus of breakfast
The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce has selected a Colorado firm to conduct a comprehensive housing needs assessment for the city and has scheduled its first meeting to get input from local business owners and managers.
ATP announces cast for summer season
A principal baritone with New York City’s Metropolitan Opera, Jeff Mattsey, has joined the cast of Alpine Theatre Project’s summer company full of Broadway actors.
Twins romp twice over Libby
The Glacier Twins A squad hammered Libby in a doubleheader at Memorial Field Sunday. The won the first game 16-0 in five innings and the nightcap 13-3 in five as well.
Friday, June 3
NVH competing for most beautiful hospital
North Valley Hospital is part of a contest that points out that hospitals don’t have to be gloomy places and in fact some are beautiful.
