Ellington

Whitefish book store relies on experience to keep well-stocked shelves

Owner Cheryl Watkins has been selling books since 1996 when she acquired the store from Mary Pat Love, who ran the same shop beginning in the early 1970s.

Council briefs: Business registration program, lakeshore protections among public hearings

The Whitefish City Council addressed two resolutions regarding fees and an ordinance about Lakeshore Protection regulations after Mayor John Muhlfeld and three council members took their oaths of office at the Dec. 4 regular council meeting.

The Chairlift: Wealth and winter wonderlands

My first and only chairlift ride thus far this season was when Chair 1 took me to the summit on Thursday, Dec. 7.

Student Art: ‘Renaissance Redo: The Unequal Marriage’ by Gabriella Diehl

The art featured above is called "Renaissance Redo: The Unequal Marriage" and is a charcoal drawing by Whitefish High School sophomore Gabriella Diehl in the WHS Art 1: Drawing class.

Looking Back for Dec. 27, 2023

The Book Shoppe, which was located at Fort Whitefish, became the newest downtown business house when the book store opened with an expanded stock in the store formerly occupied by Gesek Electric.

Feds pass on funding North Fork Road paving study

Flathead County did not receive federal funding for an environmental analysis to look at paving a portion of the North Fork Road, county Public Works Director Dave Prunty confirmed last week.

Family-run business celebrates 75 years in Whitefish

Nelson’s Ace Hardware and the town of Whitefish have been growing hand in hand for the past 75 years. Nelson’s offers steadfast support to the community, open seven days a week and closed only for Thanksgiving and Christmas each year.

Explore Whitefish makes $50,000 donation to Housing Whitefish

Explore Whitefish presented a check for $52,012 to Housing Whitefish Tuesday for the first increased Community Sustainability Fund allocation for housing from July through September.

Restore our republic

I am writing to express my support for an Article V Convention of States (COS). With the federal government so obviously out of control, I would like to know why some representatives in the Montana Senate choose to withhold their support for the Article V covention provision of our Constitution?

Ski bum culture hits reality

Nearly two decades ago, I moved to the mountains to be a ski bum, chasing snow. I was a stereotype — an East Coast kid pulled west by the promise of bigger adventures and higher mountain ranges. I was also part of a counterculture that rejected social norms in favor of 100-day ski seasons.

Photos: WHS Choir performs at winter concert

The Whitefish High School Treble Choir, Concert Choir and Flex Choir recently performed at the program's winter concert on Dec. 7. Soloists included Cole Pickert and Evie Everett. The middle school choir also performed ahead of the high school at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.

Local blacksmith hammers out custom ironwork

It's the custom touches that turn a beautiful house into a spectacular home.

Whitefish fends off previously undefeated Eureka Lions

Whitefish handed previously undefeated nonconference foe Eureka its first loss of the season, downing the Lions 69-59 in their gym on Tuesday, Dec. 19, as a pair of Bulldog players scored 18 points in the victory.

Whitefish girls take down Eureka in final game before break

Whitefish weathered a Eureka comeback in the fourth quarter, and the Lady Bulldogs came away with a 39-35 victory over their nonconference foe on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

Kelch selected for East-West Shrine Game

Whitefish senior Mason Kelch made the West Team roster for the 77th Annual Montana East-West Shrine Game. The game will be played on June 15 in Billings.

City Council preview for Jan. 2

Whitefish City Council meets on Tuesday, Jan. 2, beginning at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall.

Conman sentenced for stealing $150K from Kalispell resident

A Florida man who admitted to bilking a Kalispell woman out of $150,000 through a computer hacking scheme was sentenced in U.S. District Court on Tuesday to two years and nine months in prison.

FVCC, Soroptimist of Whitefish partner for human trafficking awareness presentation

Flathead Valley Community College’s Mask and Hammer Theatre Club and Soroptimist International of Whitefish present an evening spotlighting Human Trafficking Awareness Month on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.

Glacier Park inholders file suit against Conservation District

The owners of a house along the banks of McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park have filed an amended complaint in Flathead County District Court challenging the Flathead Conservation District’s recent ruling that the house be removed by April 1.

Whitefish High senior earns Eagle Scout with ‘flybraries’ project

Anglers in the Flathead Valley have another option for sharing flies thanks to a recent Whitefish Eagle Scout project.

Land Board approves Owen Sowerwine conservation easement

Following years of work by local conservation groups, the Montana Land Board on Monday unanimously approved the purchase of a conservation easement on the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area.

Consumers urged to dispose of Quaker Oats products following recall

Officials with the Montana Department for Health and Human Services are urging residents to dispose of recalled Quaker Oats products.

Winter Carnival knightings in the Realm

The Whitefish Winter Carnival Royal Court for 2023 graced the Realm with their final Knightings of Significant Citizens last week.

Community Foundation awards $50,000 for restoration of Big Creek

Whitefish Community Foundation awarded a $50,000 Major Community Project Grant to the Glacier Institute for the restoration of the historic buildings at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center, located 20 miles north of Columbia Falls.

Police Calls: Driving recklessly, parking ‘like an idiot’

The caller left a family heirloom, a ring, in the room where they were staying on Wisconsin Avenue and it is missing.

Legals for December, 27 2023

WMR temporarily restricting uphill skiing due to snow conditions

Due to unfavorable snow conditions and increased pressures from holiday visitation, Whitefish Mountain Resort and the U.S. Forest Service have paused all uphill skiing traffic within the resort's boundaries.

Local rodeo riders compete in Vegas

Over 800 kids from all over the world come to Vegas to compete in the Junior World Finals rodeo for ten days each December.

Whitefish’s planned 9/11 Memorial will serve as reminder of sacrifices made

The Whitefish Fire Department has fragments of the Twin Towers’ steel beams from when they collapsed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City.

Whitefish girls fall to Miles City, Havre

Whitefish wrapped up their trip to the East-West Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday with a 57-18 loss to Miles City.

Student Art: 'Photosynthesis' by Elias Anderson

The art featured above is called "Photosynthesis"

Bonnie Jean Donsbach, 78

Bonnie Jean Donsbach, age 78, passed away on Dec. 5, 2023, in Kalispell, Montana.

Property taxes too high, but special session not the answer

The Montana Freedom Caucus, a group of 21 legislators, has called for a special session. The content of the call asks for a reduction of the 95 mills, clarification of MCA 15-10-420, a mechanism that caps growth on cities and counties, and permanent legislation that would return budget surplus to taxpayers.

Police Calls: Kids joke about grand theft auto, irritated man locks self in car

The driver of a Ford collided with a deer around 6:00 a.m. and was able to get the vehicle and the deer off the road.

Looking Back for December 20

Lack of available parking space in the downtown business area, particularly for the merchants and their employees came under discussion during the city council meeting.

Photos: Whitefish student holiday orchestra concert

Whitefish student musicians from seventh grade, eighth grade and the high school entertained a full house at the Performing Arts Center last week when they presented a Holiday Orchestra Concert.

ATP’s Yuletide Affair celebrates 20th anniversary

The Alpine Theatre Project (ATP) is celebrating its 20th anniversary of the “Yuletide Affair” this season, a mix of heartwarming holiday music and irreverent satire that has become one of the Flathead Valley's biggest holiday traditions.

Wildlife photographer Sumio Harada to present at FVCC

Anyone can come across a variety of animals in Glacier National Park.

Whitefish man allegedly aimed rifle at job site worker

A Whitefish man accused of aiming a rifle at a worker on a Blanchard Lake Drive job site Dec. 4 has been brought up on a felony assault with a weapon charge.

Whitefish speech second in home tournament

The Bulldog speech and debate team hosted 17 high schools at the Whitefish Invitational on Saturday.

Whitefish insurance company makes donation to Special Olympics Montana

Whitefish’s Lone Tree Insurance awarded a $10,000 donation to Special Olympics Montana, a local organization dedicated to providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Local bareback rider becomes World Champion

They say nice guys finish last but that was not the case in the Junior World Finals in Las Vegas last week.

Grizzly bear conflict calls down, despite a few notable conflicts

Despite several high profile run-ins with bears in 2023, the overall number of grizzly mortalities and conflict calls per bear in the area was lower than in previous years, experts say.

Fortine wood bank earns grant

The St. Michael and All Angels Wood Bank Ministry based in Fortine has been awarded a $20,000 grant.

Don ‘K’ makes donation to animal shelter

Don “K” Subaru presented a $3,100 check to the Flathead County Animal Shelter in recognition of the shelter’s dedicated staff finding forever homes for over 31 dogs and cats during October.

Donation allows for free adoptions at Flathead County Animal Shelter

A chorus of barks can be heard at the Flathead County Animal Shelter on any given day.

Evelyn Pacheco, 89

Evelyn Marie Pacheco, 89, passed away on Dec. 11, 2023 in Whitefish, Montana.

Sandra LuAnn Aalderks (Née Cain, Tepfer), 58

Our amazing mom, daughter, wife, sister and friend Sandy passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, Dec. 14 surrounded by her family.

Track club athletes place in first winter meet

The Stumptown Track Club competed over the weekend in Spokane at The Podium.

Whitefish’s Norah Schmidt commits to Gonzaga

Whitefish High School senior all-state goalkeeper Norah Schmidt on Thursday signed a National letter of intent to play soccer at Gonzaga University.

Wreaths honor U.S. veteran heroes each December

Wreaths Across America came to the Whitefish Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. The VFW Post 276 along with volunteers placed wreaths on the gravesites at the cemetery.

In a Nutshell: Give the gift of community

For many, the holiday season is a time of joy, gratitude and giving. Making a charitable gift during this time not only helps those less fortunate but also fosters a sense of compassion and unity. It presents a unique opportunity for our communities to come together and make a positive impact on the lives of our neighbors in need.

Whitefish carves out win against Miles City

Whitefish had three players score in double-digits and capped off its trip to the East-West Tip-Off Tournament in Havre on Saturday with a 54-50 victory over Miles City.

Adult ski programs bolster local Nordic community

The Glacier Nordic Club has a mission to inspire a lifelong love of cross country skiing from youth as young as 4 years old through the golden years of age. The nonprofit community ski club offers a variety of programs for different age groups.

Bulldog grapplers see important action ahead of holiday break

With health and the upcoming holiday break affecting wrestlers' availability, Whitefish headed over to Great Falls and came back with some hardware.

Photos: Glacier Skate Academy's Winter Wonderland on Ice

Ice Skating

Legals for December, 20 2023

Gov must practice what he preaches

The Montana Supreme Court clarified the state’s ability to accrue “banked mills” when the calculation required under Monana code 15-10-420 results in mills above the cumulative cap of 95. While that opinion was directly in contrast to the position of many counties, and the Montana Association of Counties in our defense of our membership, we recognize the Supreme Court’s determination and appreciate the clarity.

Whitefish author pens novel based on growing up in Jewish community

Local Whitefish author Linda Hunt recently released her debut historical fiction novel which is based on her life growing up in an almost solely Jewish community.

Student Art: ‘Through My Lens: A Sunset Skier’ by Isaac Kincheloe

The art featured above is called "Through My Lens: A Sunset Skier" and is color pencil, watercolor and sharpie drawing by Whitefish High School sophomore Isaac Kincheloe in the WHS Introduction to Art class.

Whitefish Ski Museum opens for winter

The Ski Heritage Center Museum of Skiing will open for the winter season on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Police Calls: Drivers doing donuts, kayak man shooting near homes

A car in the alley on Second Street had been running without a muffler for at least an hour at 7:33 a.m. and the noise was troublesome for the caller.

Skiers, boarders play hooky on WMR opening day

Stoke was high despite low snow levels on opening day at Whitefish Mountain Resort when Dec. 7 marked the beginning of the 2023/23 ski season.

Looking Back for Dec. 13

“No way” was the overwhelming consensus of the more than 100 local residents who attended a town meeting to express their opinions on an alternate road to The Big Mountain Ski Area through Haskill Basin.

WCA Lions finish second in Rural League

The Whitefish Christian Academy’s fifth/sixth-grade basketball team recently finished their season in second place in the Flathead Valley Rural League.

Flathead Lady Fusion 19U win Bozeman Cup

The Flathead Lady Fusion 19U hockey team recently defeated the Bozeman Lady Ice Dogs 6-0 in the Bozeman Cup 19U Division.

WTC to hold auditions for production ‘Misery’

Whitefish Theatre Company is holding auditions for their upcoming main stage production of “Misery”, the stage adaptation of Stephen King’s best-selling novel.

Wild Montana Winter Adventures open for registration

Wild Montana’s Winter Adventures are now open for registration.

Winter Solstice birding on Dec. 21

Celebrate the Solstice with a morning of birding along Flathead Lake’s North Shore.

National Park, U.S. Forest Service seek input on managing climbing

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service (NPS) are seeking public input on proposed guidance that would guide agency personnel in managing climbing opportunities on national forests, grasslands and parks.

Montana outdoor economy grows 14%, third largest in U.S.

The Montana outdoor economy grew 14% from 2021 to 2022.

Logan Health hospitals recognized for Performance Leadership

Four Logan Health hospitals were recognized with a 2023 Performance Leadership Award for excellence by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

New workforce housing program sees support from city, local businesses

After pledging its support for the new Whitefish Workforce Assistance Program a couple months ago, the Whitefish City Council was pleased to learn that businesses are also stepping up to help fund the first year of the program.

Gov. Gianforte announces task force to deal with rising property taxes

Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte announced this week he will launch a task force to address rising property taxes — an idea met with some skepticism from both sides of the aisle.

Kaye Simons, 87

Kaye Elizabeth Simons died Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023.

Dorvall stands out at major girls wrestling invite

Whitefish wrestlers took on the field at the Flathead Girls Invitational on Friday and Saturday, and returned with one podium trip.

Whitefish swimmers place at Kalispell Invite

At the Kalispell Invite on Saturday, Dec. 9, Whitefish had many placers against Class AA and Class A competition.

Whitefish nets two wins at tip-off tourney

A hot start by the Whitefish offense led to the Lady Bulldogs' first victory of the season — a 54-28 nonconference victory over Stevensville in the Western A Tip-Off Tournament in Frenchtown on Friday.

Whitefish goes 2-0 in Western A Tip-Off Tournament

After a season-opening loss, teams typically want to bounce back and Whitefish did that by picking up two victories at the Western A Tip-Off Tournament over the weekend.

MT Coffee Traders appreciates the support

Our team at Montana Coffee Traders has had a recent business dispute with Ghost Town Coffee Roasters regarding our trademarked brand name for our Glacier® Blend of coffee. We want to clarify information and communicate the sincere, repeated efforts we made to easily resolve this issue while being repeatedly ignored.

Benefit concert to support high school music students

A benefit concert called the “Gift of Song” has been organized by local volunteers in order to raise money for new instruments and essential repairs for the music program at Lincoln County High School in Eureka.

Ruling on 95 mills protects taxpayers and students

The Montana Supreme Court’s recent order upholding the Montana Department of Revenue’s calculation of the 95 school equalization mills provided a protective shield for residential property taxpayers and students educated in Montana’s public schools.

Annual on-ice show features local skaters coming together as a team

The Glacier Skate Academy produces the Winter Wonderland Ice Show every year to showcase its skaters and provide a winter holiday experience for the community.

Whitefish Theatre Company tells classic holiday story in ‘A Christmas Carol’

This holiday season, the Whitefish Theatre Company is taking its own shot at telling it during its production of “A Christmas Carol: The Musical.” The show opened Thursday and runs through Dec. 17.

Police Calls: Sometimes suspicious men are doing nothing illegal

A member of the security team reported a black bear up a tree on Woodland Star Circle.

Looking Back for Dec. 6

The Whitefish Police Department was commended by the Flathead County Sheriff's office for their assistance on Nov. 27.

Student Art: ‘Mug Shots’

The art featured above is called "Mug Shots" and is a collection of pinch pot mugs created by students in the WHS Pottery class.

Councilors shouldn't accept developer campaign contributions

Two Whitefish City Council members accept campaign contributions from a developer. They then vote to approve the development projects. We need to protect and ensure the integrity and transparency of campaigns, politics and government in Montana.

Flashback: We, the People of Whitefish

About 20 years ago when I was in my early 30s, I wrote a regular column for the Whitefish Pilot called “Buckshot.” Re-reading this particular column below struck me in a variety of ways, but mostly how timeless many of the themes felt—so I thought I would share it again.

Christmas Stroll kicks off holiday season

With a scene that could be out of a Hallmark Christmas movie, the Whitefish Christmas Stroll is an event that gets the whole town in the spirit of the holiday season.

Swim team readies to hit the pool

The Whitefish swim team will get the season started on Saturday in Kalispell.

Bulldog wrestlers show potential on mat

The Whitefish wrestling team is going into the season with hard work in mind as some experienced grapplers and new faces look to make an impact for their program.

Whitefish places four at Owen Invitational

Whitefish opened the season at the Owen Invitational over the weekend, getting four grapplers on the podium.

Ski resort set to open Thursday with busy season ahead

Local skiers and snowboarders have been crossing their fingers for more snow as they gaze up at the Big Mountain in anticipation for the ski season to begin.

NVMS presents inaugural concert of youth symphony program

The Flathead Valley Youth Symphony (FVYS) will present “Sounds of the Symphony,” the inaugural concert of this new youth music collective, on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.

Whitefish boys basketball hoping to move up conference ladder

Whitefish moved from the bottom of the Northwest A conference two years ago to the middle of the pack last season.

Lady Bulldogs return experienced core

Whitefish posted one postseason victory last year in a season that saw a rash of injuries that tested the program’s youth and depth.

Barbara Jean Janni, 68

Wife and mother Barbara Jean Janni passed peacefully and entered the kingdom of Heaven on Nov. 21, 2023.

Charlene Dale, 80

Charlene Dale, 80, died on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, at Logan Health Hospital in Whitefish, Montana.

Traffic changes begin at Glacier Park International Airport

Changes to the traffic flow at Glacier Park International Airport begin Monday.

CASA for Kids advocates sworn-in

Six community members on Nov. 13 were sworn in as CASA/GAL volunteers.

Glacier National Park adds early access lotteries for backcountry permits

Visitors to Glacier National Park hoping to secure permits for wilderness camping, also known as backcountry camping, for next season can enter early access lotteries in the spring of 2024.

Glacier Park implements campground rate increase

Glacier National Park is implementing fee rate changes to most frontcountry campgrounds in 2024 and Apgar Group Sites in 2025.

Hospital Corner: Winter blues and holiday anxiety

The holidays bring a range of emotions from joy and gratitude to sadness and anxiety.

Man in custody after firing gun in Hungry Horse

A Hungry Horse man is in police custody after he allegedly was firing a gun in Hungry Horse early Wednesday morning, Nov. 29.

North Valley Food Bank’s 24 Days of Giving

The North Valley Food Bank has launched the 24 Days of Giving as part of its biggest year-end fundraising campaign in the organization’s history.

Famous Spanish-language opera airs in Whitefish

Whitefish Theatre Company, in collaboration with the Whitefish Arts Council and the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, presents Mexican composer Daniel Catán’s opera “Florencia en el Amazonas” as part of the 2023-2024 live streaming season of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD.

Counties plead with Gianforte on property taxes

The Montana Association of Counties said it appreciates clarity in the state Supreme Court’s recent order on a question about property taxes — but MACo said the state can still choose to give property taxpayers a break this year.

Grant to improve ADA accessibility on Flathead River

Flathead Rivers Alliance has received a $30,411 grant to help fund its effort to improve American Disability Act (ADA) accessibility on the Flathead River.

City reminds residents, businesses of snow removal requirements

On Dec. 1 the City of Whitefish sent out a reminder to all residents and businesses that, with the first snowfall of the season, there are snow and ice removal responsibilities in Whitefish.

Bulldog speech and debate takes second in Frenchtown

The Whitefish speech and debate team notched another second-place finish for the season.

The Chairlift: The buoyant mood of a chairlift ride

My dad shared his love of skiing with his eight kids by telling us if we got ourselves to Whitefish, he’d rent a condo on the Big Mountain and buy our lift tickets.

Legals for December, 6 2023

Lineup announced for 2024 Under the Big Sky Festival

Country music star Miranda Lambert, bluegrass musician Billy Strings and Americana roots act the Turnpike Troubadours will headline the Under the Big Sky music festival near Whitefish next summer.