Wednesday, April 26
Student Art: ‘Tiger’ by Vanessa Solomon
The art featured above is called "Tiger" and is a graphite drawing by Whitefish High School freshman Vanessa Solomon in the WHS class Introdution to Art.
Plows working near Haystack Creek in Glacier Park
The Many Glacier Road opened to vehicles for the season last week. Meanwhile, Glacier National Park plow crews are at Haystack Creek on the west side of the Divide on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Whitefish skatepark expansion will break ground in June
Activity at the local skatepark is ramping up with the warmer weather and this summer the expansion project will add features and even more fun.
Council approves higher density zoning for parcel near Park Knoll
Approximately 11 acres of a 31-acre parcel were successfully rezoned for higher-density housing at the last Whitefish City Council meeting.
Planning board recommends WB-T in rezoning property on Highway 93 South
After much discussion at a meeting last week, the Whitefish Planning Board voted in favor of recommending the WB-T (Business Transitional District) zoning to an approximately 11-acre parcel of land at the corner of Highway 93 South and Montana 40.
Student actors to perform in ATP Kids production of Les Miserables
Fifty-five high school students from all over the Flathead Valley have been working together to present what is widely considered Broadway’s most famous musical, Les Miserables, running April 27-30 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.
Walk-up music approved by MHSA for softball, baseball
It’s official: Walk-up music for softball and baseball is coming to a field near you.
Hit the Whitefish Trail during May to get outside, support local trails
Whitefish Legacy Partners’ fifth annual Hit the Trail Challenge returns in May.
Metropolitan Opera Live in HD airs ‘Champion: An Opera in Jazz’ in Whitefish
Whitefish Theatre Company and the Whitefish Performing Arts Center are co-presenting the eighth live on-screen performance of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD 2022-2023 season.
Ballet performance in Bigfork
Kalispell’s Northwest Ballet Company is presenting "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on stage this Mother's Day weekend at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts.
Looking Back for April 26
Having amassed 22 years of memories of pre-school children in Whitefish, Louise Wilhelm was reading to her last class of Kindergartners in the classroom in her home on Second Street in Whitefish.
1% for Whitefish: A vibrant and healthy community for all
Recently a few community members have continued to create confusion around Explore Whitefish and our business membership.
Zinke: Make America Work Again
There’s dignity and honor in work. I was raised to value a good day’s work and to have pride in what you do. To be skilled at a craft is an honorable way to make a living whether you are a dishwasher or a surgeon.
Mobile asbestos screening clinic in Sanders County
Libby, Montana was home to a vermiculite mine for over 70 years. The mine closed in 1990, but the damage was already done.
Meet the trustee candidates running in Whitefish School District
The information below was provided by candidates for Whitefish School District and edited for spelling, punctuation and space.
Annual Project Whitefish Wine and Food Fest
Flathead locals and visitors are cordially invited to enjoy an annual Whitefish tradition — Project Whitefish Wine and Food Fest.
John Highfill, 66
John Michael Highfill Sr., a beloved father, outdoor sports enthusiast and small business owner in Whitefish, Montana, died on March 20, 2023.
Police Calls: Man takes off with scooter
The driver on Glenwood Road was given a warning for driving too fast but was cited for an expired registration.
Bulldog baseball notches another win over Corvallis
Led by a grand slam from senior Jake McIntyre, the Whitefish Bulldogs recorded an 11-0 win over Corvallis on Thursday evening at Memorial Field.
Track and field athletes win several events in CFalls
Chilly weather didn’t hold back Whitefish track and field athletes from performing well at the Iceberg Invite in Columbia Falls on Saturday.
Friends remember Columbia Falls baseball coach Bill Sapa
In 1991 Ray Queen was playing baseball for Grand Canyon University. A familiar face was on the mound, staring him down as he stood on the plate. It was longtime friend Bill Sapa, pitching for the University of New Mexico.
Crown of the Continent Choir ends season with finale at O'Shaughnessy
Started in 2010, the Crown of the Continent Choir has spent over a decade performing music across northwest Montana. After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this season was the choir’s first full year back to performing.
City Council preview for May 1
Whitefish City Council meets on Monday, May 1, beginning at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall.
Legals for April, 26 2023
Wednesday, April 19
Community-supported school celebrates 40 years
Many of the little kids in the class photos all over the office at the Children’s House Montessori School (CHMS) are upstanding, adult citizens of Whitefish now, and many of them have sent their own children to the same preschool.
Teachers on the front lines
School shootings and the bloody murders of totally innocent children and their teacher caretakers is a societal tragedy that Americans have become numb to. Without the common sense outlawing of the assault weapons used in most of these atrocities, the preventable horror will relentlessly continue, in our schools, most of them public schools.
District board issues cease and desist order on inholder home along McDonald Creek in Glacier
The Flathead Conservation District has formally issued a cease and desist order to the California couple building a home on lower McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park.
Glacier ticketed entry unfair and bad for business
As a seasonal small business owner in East Glacier, I’m greatly concerned with the overreach of the Glacier National Park pilot program for ticketed entry.
Whitefish company develops soccer ball made of recycled denim
A local soccer company has developed an ultra-durable soccer ball made of recycled denim to encourage global play.
Modest 24-lot subdivision on Pheasant Run gets city approval
Whitefish City Council, on April 3, voted unanimously to approve a preliminary plat to develop a 24-lot subdivision on 7 acres northwest of Pheasant Run, west of Highway 93.
Parker Kelly, 88
Parker Kelly, 88 passed away at home on April 5, 2023.
BNSF investigates oil sheen spotted in Whitefish River
A stretch of the Whitefish River is closed while BNSF Railway workers investigate an oil sheen that appeared earlier this month on the shoreline near Roundhouse Landing.
Building Tour Conversations at Whitefish School District
Whitefish School District has announced that it is beginning a new program called “Building Tour Conversations” in each of the schools this spring.
Matching campaign launched for Owen Sowerwine conservation easement effort
The Flathead Land Trust has announced a matching campaign as they raise funds to place the Owen Sowerwine area under a conservation easement.
Whitefish tourism promotion spending
The Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau is spending 1.2 million per year on tourism promotion.
Looking Back for April 19
A long discussion on the relative merits of various extracurricular sports programs highlighted the District 44 school board regular meeting. The discussion followed a sports budget presentation with a report that broke down the costs of interscholastic sports.
Police Calls: Lost wallets and found crutches
The director of a store on Highway 93 called to report that a man wearing pajama bottoms is “creeping everyone out” and has been asked to leave the store a few times but the man refuses.
Alyce Streich, 73
On April 7, 2023, Good Friday, Alyce Marie Streich, surrounded by the love of her family and held by the strength and grace of her youngest daughter, entered the light dancing in her husband’s arms, and returned home.
Student Art: ‘Colors’ by JoJo Guerico
The art featured above is called "Colors" and is a watercolor painting with pen and ink by Whitefish High School sophomore JoJo Guerico in the WHS class Art 1: Painting.
Whitefish Schools to hold election for trustee positions, operating levy
Whitefish School District will hold its annual school election on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at the District Office.
WTC to hold auditions for last Black Curtain production
The Whitefish Theatre Co. is holding auditions for its last Black Curtain theatre production of the 2022-2023 season.
WTC presents final music performance of season with The Black Market Trust
The Whitefish Theatre Company is thrilled to present The Black Market Trust, a pop/vocal jazz band whose music combines the sounds of the great American crooners and vocal groups with the romantic gypsy fire of jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.
TikTok ban gets final approval by Montana Legislature
Montana's House gave final passage Friday to a bill banning the social media app TikTok from operating in the state, a move that's bound to face legal challenges but also serve as a testing ground for the TikTok-free America many national lawmakers envision due to concerns over potential Chinese spying.
Flathead again the fastest growing county in Montana
Flathead County was the fastest growing county in Montana from July 2021 to July 2022, with 3,089 new residents counted in that time according to recently released Census data.
William Eric Kuehn, 91
William Eric Kuehn, known to his loved ones as Bill, passed away on April 11, 2023, in Sandy, Utah, at the age of 91.
FEC Roundup for Safety program assists Flathead County Search and Rescue
At an April 13 meeting, Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety Directors awarded about $44,000 to nine area nonprofits, including Flathead County Search and Rescue Association (FCSAR).
Whitefish Mountain Resort breaks visitation record again
Whitefish Mountain Resort broke its visitation record with more than 500,000 skiers and snowboarders riding Big Mountain during the 2022-23 ski season, which ended Sunday.
Alpine Theatre Project welcomes new, expanded Board of Directors
Alpine Theatre Project recently announced the appointment of 11 new people to serve on the Board of Directors.
A.L.E.R.T. Banquet supports medical flight program, access to lifesaving care
The A.L.E.R.T. Advisory Board and Logan Health are hosting the 45th Annual A.L.E.R.T. Banquet, the marquee fundraising event for the medical flight program, on Saturday, April 29.
Whitefish tennis sweeps Ronan despite wintery weather
In a match that was nearly canceled due to snow and inclement weather, both the Whitefish boys and girls tennis teams beat Ronan on Friday.
Conference win over Eureka highlights big week for Bulldog baseball
Whitefish baseball’s first conference game of the year featured stellar pitching by senior Ty Schwaiger that resulted in the Bulldog’s first no-hitter.
Voluntary 1% fee not transparent
The subject of public comment [Monday] at the City Council meeting involved the controversy surrounding the Tourism Promotion Assessment (TPA), or recently renamed Whitefish Community Sustainability Fund (WCSF).
In a Nutshell: Celebrating our volunteers at North Valley Food Bank
April is National Volunteer Month and at North Valley Food Bank (NVFB) we celebrate and thank the helping hands who give their time to build food security in our community.
Softball has quiet week, hosts first home game
The Whitefish softball team only played one game last week when Eureka came to town to play at Smiths Field on Friday.
Local conservation enthusiast takes over as director of The Bob
Clifford Kipp will begin his new job as executive director of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation next month and both parties are happy about that.
Fast times continue for Whitefish track and field at two invites
As the season moves forward, Whitefish track and field athletes continue to post fast times on the track.
Famous Broadway musical Les Miserables returns to Whitefish
Fifty-five high school students from all over the Flathead Valley have been working together to present what is widely considered Broadway’s most famous musical, Les Miserables, running April 27-30 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. This production is part of the ATP Kids Educational Outreach Program.
Cake and Clydesdales event
Looking for a unique and fun way to celebrate Mother's Day weekend with your family?
Thursday, April 13
Four rescued after falling through ice on Lower Stillwater
The Whitefish Fire Department rescued four people who fell through the ice at Lower Stillwater Lake on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 12.
Wednesday, April 12
Bulldog baseball picks up another win in Florence
Though two games were canceled last week due to weather and lingering snow on the fields, the Bulldogs went on a last-minute road trip to Florence where they earned their second win of the season.
Fun girls hockey weekend caps the season
Each year, an all-girls jamboree-style event is held at the end of the youth hockey regular seasons to encourage continued growth in the game for girls.
Closing weekend of WTC’s ‘Evelyn In Purgatory’
Only four shows remain of the Whitefish Theatre Company’s dramatic comedy “Evelyn In Purgatory”.
Student Art: ‘Crazy Chicken and More’
The art featured above is called "Crazy Chicken and More" and is a watercolor study by Whitefish High School junior Ella Kincheloe in the WHS class Art 1: Painting.
Stack Financial Management named Top Financial Advisor in Montana
Stack Financial Management (SFM) of Whitefish has been named No.1 in Montana in the 2023 Forbes list of “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” and Barron’s 2023 “Top 1200 Financial Advisors by State.”
North Valley Music School hosts spring workshop
North Valley Music School invites the community to attend its 2023 Spring Workshop, “Your Brain on Music.”
Metropolitan Opera Live in HD airs grand comedy in Whitefish
Whitefish Theatre Company and the Whitefish Performing Arts Center are co-presenting the seventh live on-screen performance of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD 2022-2023 season.
Looking Back for April 12
Evidence of massive pollution of the Whitefish River by the Whitefish city sewage lagoon was disclosed in a letter to the Whitefish city council and mayor from David Nunnallee, P.E., of Montana State Department of Health.
Festival in Whitefish features Montana-made spirits
Providing the opportunity to taste and learn more about Montana-made spirits, the Montana Distillers Guild is holding its fourth annual Distiller’s Festival this month in Whitefish.
Glacier Bank, Glacier Range Riders team up
Glacier Bank and Ridge Run Baseball have announced that the home of the Glacier Range Riders will now be known as Glacier Bank Park.
Police Calls: Please don’t smoke (or pee) here
A black Labrador was running loose and was described as looking “out of sorts.”
River group looks to boost river safety, stewardship on Flathead River
Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) recently announced the 2023 River Ambassador and River Recreation/Citizen Scientist volunteer program trainings ahead of float season to enhance river safety, stewardship and citizen science, on the Three Forks of the Flathead River.
Free workshop helps nonprofits craft outreach campaigns
Whitefish Community Foundation will host a workshop on April 20 for nonprofit organizations interested in building effective marketing campaigns to promote their programs, events and issues.
Council discusses adding C-PACE district, changing marijuana facility ordinance
At a work session last week, the Whitefish City Council considered a plan that could help businesses and also looked at some potential changes to the marijuana facility ordinance.
Whitefish Fire Department to buy new fire truck
The Whitefish City Council gave a thumbs-up to Whitefish Fire Chief Joe Page last week as they awarded a contract for a new fire engine.
Dave Fern: This year’s session a perfect storm for chaos
I’m home on an abbreviated Easter Break.
Tennis teams begin year with wins over CFalls
The Whitefish tennis boys and girls teams both defeated Columbia Falls last week by 5-2.
Whitefish track and field team gets season started with two invites
The Whitefish girls track team junior captains Brooke Zetooney and Hailey Ells picked up right where they left off last year in the Bulldogs’ first two meets of the new season.
2023-24 ski season passes, programs available
Passes and programs for Whitefish Mountain Resort’s 2023-24 ski season went on sale online last Wednesday, April 5.
Prescribed fire projects planned across Flathead Forest
Prescribed fire projects on the Flathead National Forest area planned this spring as weather, fuel conditions and air quality conditions allow.
Shooting in Kalispell leaves one injured
Kalispell Police are investigating a Monday morning shooting in the city’s southwest side that left one injured.
Residents escape burning home in Whitefish without injury
A house fire in Whitefish over the weekend caused no injuries but left an East Second Street home a total loss, fire officials said on Monday.
Flathead Valley youth hockey coach pleads not guilty to child rape charges in Butte
A youth hockey coach accused of raping two boys at Butte hotels pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual intercourse without consent Wednesday, five days after he pleaded not guilty in Kalispell to four rape charges in Flathead County.
San Diego couple asks for ruling in Glacier Park home removal case
The California couple who built a private home along the banks of McDonald Creek inside Glacier National Park have petitioned the Flathead County Conservation District for a declaratory ruling — another step in the regulatory process that could see the matter eventually go before a district court judge.
Firefighter foundation supports those who put lives on the line
Lucas Stacy knew of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation long before his accident, but he couldn’t have known how the foundation would come to assist him personally.
City Council preview for April 17
Whitefish City Council meets on Monday, April 17, beginning at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall.
Softball off to slow start with varsity schedule
The Whitefish softball team played its first varsity games in over three years last week.
Photos: WMR's annual Pond Skim draws large crowd
Whitefish Mountain Resort held the 16th annual Pond Skim competition on Saturday, April 8.
Republican Party needs reasonable candidate
How can the divided Republican party find a "non-Trumpian" to be candidate for president?
Legals for April, 12 2023
Tuesday, April 11
City concerned over bills relaxing regs on short-term rentals, ADUs
The Whitefish City Council held a special meeting Monday, April 10, to discuss what action to take on two senate bills that could potentially hinder workforce housing efforts in Whitefish; the bills will both be addressed in the Montana Legislature this week.
Wednesday, April 5
House brings down Gianforte’s ‘HOMES Act’
The Montana House voted decisively Monday evening to kill one of Gov. Greg Gianforte’s key housing affordability proposals, a bill that would have allocated $200 million toward infrastructure to help build new homes in an effort to ease the state’s housing crunch.
Campaign sends generators to war-torn city in Ukraine
Recently, one of Whitefish’s newest residents, Yurii Zinchenko, gave a presentation in Kalispell that illustrated the amount of destruction that is occurring in Ukraine, particularly in his hometown of Kharkiv.
Softball is back — Lady Bulldogs will field a varsity team this season
It has been a journey to revitalize the Whitefish High School softball program over the past few years, but this season the Bulldogs have enough players to field a varsity team again.
Track teams look forward to opportunity to defend state trophies
Last season was a historical one for the Whitefish track and field team.
Bulldog tennis teams ready to hit the court for new season
As both the boys and girls teams have patiently waited for the snow to melt off the courts, they have been busy practicing indoors to prepare for the season.
DREAM Adaptive Recreation hosts fourth annual Shred-a-Thon
Last Saturday, folks on the Big Mountain witnessed a skiing zebra, some funky chickens and a furry Viking flying downhill, along with about a dozen robust souls making uphill laps.
Plows starting work on roads in Glacier Park
Glacier National Park plow crews have started clearing some roads on the east side of the Park.
Earth Day activities in April
Flathead County residents can celebrate Earth Day every day in April. Local non-profit, Climate Smart Glacier Country (CDGC), encourages everyone to take time this month to celebrate our planet and has compiled its third annual “Earth Month” on-line calendar with activities throughout the month of April.
Flathead Freeride Club qualifies two athletes for IFSA junior championships
In only its second season of offering a competitive freeride program at Whitefish Mountain Resort, the Flathead Freeride Club (FFC) has two athletes qualified for the North American (NOR-AM) Junior Championship going on at Kicking Horse Resort near Golden, B.C., Canada this week, April 5-9.
Freight train derails into Clark Fork River; no injuries from incident
A Montana Rail Link freight train derailed in Sanders County on Sunday morning, sending multiple railcars into the Clark Fork River.
REAL Montana Class V travels to Washington D.C. for national trip
Flathead Valley residents Shauna Dunn, Shelby George, Brian Hogue and Cameron Wohlschlegel just returned from six days in Washington, D.C., as part of REAL Montana (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership).
Muldown Elementary celebrates Marinara Madness by serving locally sourced sauce
Students at Muldown Elementary School will enjoy a hot lunch on Wednesday featuring a new locally sourced pasta sauce, Montana Marinara.
Looking Back for April 5
A contract for a new fire truck was awarded to the Superior Fire Apparatus at the city council meeting.
U.S. 93 north of Kalispell gets traffic signal
The intersection of U.S. 93 and Rose Crossing north of Kalispell is undergoing some major changes to accommodate increasing traffic spurred by new development in the area.
Police Calls: Young, thirsty neighbors to the north
A caller said someone was letting their pitbull run around very close to the highway.
Student Art: ‘White Bat Flower’
The art featured above is called "White Bat Flower" and is a four corner study including oil paint, India ink, acrylic paing and watercolor, by Whitefish High School junior Remy Retke in the WHS class Art 2: Advanced Art.
Zinke asks Park Service director to move back reservation requirement in Glacier to 1 p.m.
Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke on Wednesday asked the Park Service to back up the non-reservation entry to Glacier National Park to 1 p.m.
Hospital Corner: Volunteers enhance the hospital experience
Once a week the aroma of freshly baked cookies permeates through the hallways at Logan Health—Whitefish.
Republican Roots and the Politics of Party
“The Democrats killed two of my brothers.”
Gianforte’s vision to grow Montana’s economy includes C-PACE
One of Governor Gianforte’s current initiatives is to cut red tape in our government to help grow our economy and create good-paying Montana jobs.
The whale that spouts off
Everyone who voted for you thinks this criminal charge is just another political ploy by those who are currently in power.
Economic environment – what it should mean to you
As a Financial Advisor, I've recently had an uptick in conversations.
Montana State to award honorary doctorate to Robyn Jones
Robyn Jones, a successful entrepreneur with a passion for improving rural health care who, along with her husband, made an historic investment in Montana State University's nursing college, will receive an honorary doctorate in humane letters from MSU during the university’s spring commencement, university officials announced last week.
