Ellington

July Glacier Park reservations open March 1

The next round of Glacier National Park vehicle registrations begins next week on Wednesday, March 1 at Recreation.gov.

Alice Foder, 82

1940 – 2023 Mrs. Alice Foder of Lethbridge, beloved wife of Mr. Al Foder, passed away at St. Michael’s Palliative Care Unit, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the age of 82 years.

Free the Seeds offers workshops, activities

Free the Seeds returns to Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) on Saturday, March 4, 2023, for an eighth year of interactive workshops, activities, seed sharing and more.

Enid McFarland, 81

On Saturday, Jan. 28, Enid McFarland, beloved mother, passed away after a sudden illness.

Community Foundation awards $20,000 to Whitefish Skatepark Association

Whitefish Community Foundation recently awarded a $20,000 Major Community Project Grant to support the expansion of the Dave Olseth Memorial Skatepark to include terrain for beginner and novice skateboarders and help disperse the growing number of park users.

Marilynn Dunn

Marilynn Margaret Dunn (Fry), a longtime resident of Whitefish, passed away in Kalispell on Feb. 12, 2023, after a long illness.

Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race this weekend

Next weekend, Feb. 25-26, the sled dogs will be taking off at Dog Creek Lodge and Nordic Center, near Olney for the annual Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race.

Terminal expansion progressing at Glacier Park International Airport

A year and a half into construction, Glacier Park International Airport is making significant progress on its $150 million terminal expansion project with the first phase of the expansion nearly at the halfway mark.

Looking Back for Feb. 22

A report from an alert citizen resulted in a major drug haul. Whitefish Police Department Patrolmen, Joseph Jingle and Don Lamb kept the suspected house under observation with binoculars.

Learn to Program at Whitefish Library

Learn to Program at Whitefish Community Library will be held weekly on Monday nights at 5:30 p.m. beginning March 6.

Police Calls: Driving and parking on wrong side of street

The driver of a vehicle that received a parking ticket explained to police that she had tried to move the car last night but it was frozen to the ground.

Student Art: ‘Bridge’ by Kelly Howeth

The art featured above is called "Bridge" and is a pen drawing by Whitefish High School senior Kelly Howeth in the class WHS Art 3: Advanced Art.

NVMS is a great asset to community

There is an anonymous saying, “Music is what emotions sound like”.

Richard Charles Cowan Jr, 75

Richard Charles Cowan Jr., 75, passed away on Oct. 23, 2022, after a long battle with MDS. He spent his last moments at home with his wife and best friend, Barbara, and his faithful companion, Annie.

Katherine Taylor, 88

Katherine Ann (Kay Flinn) Taylor passed away of natural causes Feb. 4, 2023, with the love of family and the caring staff at both the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls, Montana and Logan Health Whitefish.

GoFundMe fundraiser set up for injured Highway Patrol trooper

The Montana Highway Patrol trooper who was grievously injured during an incident involving a four-time convicted felon in northern Lincoln County last week has been identified and a fundraiser has been launched to support him and his family.

Muldown principal announces resignation after two years

Last week in a letter to parents, Muldown Elementary School Principal Catey Nasello announced her resignation from her position.

Council Notes: Committee members appointed, response to commissioners

Deputy Mayor Frank Sweeney held the reins at last week’s Whitefish City Council meeting and after addressing one public hearing, the council appointed new committee members, opted to respond to the county commissioners and were informed of a new hire.

In a Nutshell: Montana Farm to Food Bank Program will build access to local, fresh food

Montana is home to almost 28,000 farms that produce beef, lentils, wheat and a wide variety of fresh produce. Sadly, many of our food-insecure neighbors don’t have access to this abundance of local, nutritious food.

Two Nordic athletes qualify for Junior Nationals in Alaska

A crew of 13 Glacier Nordic Club athletes, seven from the comp team and five from the prep team, raced at the last Junior National Qualifier in Bozeman over the weekend.

Junior ski racers find podium at Great Divide

Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation (FVSEF) junior ski racers Colter Bengtson (West Glacier), Theo Elliott (Kalispell) and Lucy Love (Polson) all scored victories in their age classes at Northern Division Youth Ski League (YSL) alpine races held at Great Divide Ski Area near Helena, Montana over the weekend.

Whitefish girls miss divisionals; split play-in games

The Lady Bulldogs unfortunately saw the end to their season on Saturday as Ronan took Whitefish down in a divisional play-in game.

Judith Nicodemus

Judith Nicodemus was born Oct. 16, 1939, to Harold and Margaret Seckel of Bucyrus, Ohio.

Bulldogs’ big win creates momentum heading to divisionals

As Whitefish faced a must-win game against Libby on Saturday, the Bulldogs kept pushing throughout the game to take a huge 67-34 win at home.

Historic Whitefish home returns to original grandeur

The historic home at 405 Central Ave. in Whitefish has for years been a focal point of the transition between the commercial bustle of downtown and the charming residential neighborhood to the south.

Man accused of injuring trooper in vehicle chase makes first court appearance

A Lincoln County man accused of running over a Montana Highway Patrol trooper during a law enforcement pursuit Thursday made his initial court appearance Friday.

Whitefish hospital acknowledged for rural care

Logan Health Whitefish has been named a 2023 top 100 critical access hospital by the Chartis Center for Rural Health.

Local firefighter steps up to a challenge for cancer awareness

On March 12, Whitefish Firefighter Jamison Smith will head to the Columbia Center, the tallest building in Seattle, and run up the stairs as fast as he can while wearing his full structural turnout gear which weighs about 60 pounds.

Climate Smart Glacier Country hosts community conversation

Flathead County residents enjoy a lifestyle centered around the great outdoors.

Flathead Valley racers ski to success at Big Sky

Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation (FVSEF) ski racer Melody McNalley (Columbia Falls) secured two victories at the Lone Peak Speed Series alpine ski races held at Big Sky, Montana over the weekend of Feb. 11-12.

Flathead Freeride Club podiums at IFSA events

Over the past weekend members of the Flathead Freeride Club (FFC) competed in IFSA (International Freeskiing and Snowboarding Association) junior competitions at Big Sky Resort and Fernie Alpine Resort.

U.S. Ski Association youth races coming to Whitefish

The Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation recently announced that it will be hosting two days of junior ski racing at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Feb. 25-26.

Foundation awards $95K to Center for Restorative Youth Justice

Whitefish Community Foundation has awarded a multi-year grant to Center for Restorative Youth Justice (CRYJ) to respond to behavioral escalation and provide conflict resolution within Flathead Valley public schools.

Landstar Properties affiliates with Coldwell Banker Network

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is recently announced Landstar Group, a Kalispell-based residential and commercial real estate company, has joined the Coldwell Banker brand and will begin operating as Coldwell Banker Landstar Properties.

Resort tax revision would allow funding of workforce housing

A bill that would revise Montana’s resort tax laws by increasing the population cap and allowing for a percentage of the tax to go toward workforce housing was presented to the state Legislature last week.

Amending Montana’s Constitution thoughtfully

2022 was the year of celebrating the fiftieth birthday of Montana’s Constitution – its visionary provisions and the unique bipartisan approach adopted by the citizen delegates who wrote it.

Community Solar Project on Monegan Road gets go-ahead

Last week, the Whitefish City Council voted unanimously to approve an agreement with Flathead Electric Cooperative that will produce even more clean energy.

Legals for February, 22 2023

Montana Highway Patrol trooper injured in Lincoln County chase

A Montana Highway Patrol trooper is in stable condition at a Kalispell hospital after being run over by a vehicle during a police chase Thursday afternoon in northern Lincoln County.

Logan Health, Billings Clinic discuss potential deal

Logan Health and Billings Clinic, two of Montana’s largest hospital systems, have opened discussions about uniting as a single health-care organization.

John Wesley Muffley, 67

John Wesley Muffley, a beautiful soul weighed down by decades of earthly turmoil, and yet still larger-than-life, left behind the shackles of gravity and electric bills on Jan. 23, 2023.

Flathead Lady Fusion wins tourney in Idaho

The Flathead Lady Fusion 19U team recently won the 2023 Sun Valley 19U Tournament by defeating the Idaho Falls Lady Eagles 2-1 in an overtime shootout.

Revisionist Republicans

The Republican Party is the party of white Christian Nationalists trying to rewrite history by banning books, blocking black history education and imposing their religious beliefs on us all.

Police Calls: Flaming car heads to town

The caller spoke to the landlady in an effort to fix the issue, yet someone is revving a Jeep at all hours on Wisconsin Avenue.

WTC presents double feature of family-friendly theatre

The Whitefish Theatre Company is delighted to present a double feature of family-friendly theatre, including “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “Bedtime Stories (As Told By Our Dad)(Who Messed Them Up)”.

Council adopts transitional zoning district

After over a year of public hearings and work sessions, the Whitefish City Council finally voted to establish the transitional zoning district (WB-T).

Public unease spurs council consideration on dispensaries in city limits

Concerns from the public about the number and location of marijuana dispensaries in town spurred the Whitefish City Council to meet for a work session last week to discuss whether changes need to be made to the distancing requirements in the marijuana facilities ordinance.

Whitefish lakes conference taking submissions

The Whitefish Lake Institute is hosting the Montana Lakes Conference this fall and is taking science abstract submissions now in preparation for the gathering.

John Chrysostom Nelson, 89

Polson - John Chrysostom Nelson passed away on Feb. 7, 2023, at the age of 89. John was born on Dec. 2, 1933.

Lady Bulldogs defeat Libby, fall to Wildkats

Whitefish had strong first quarters in both games, but each took a different turn.

Boys basketball splits games with Libby, CFalls

In two games last week, Whitefish went 1-1 to end its regular season. The Bulldogs defeated Libby on Friday 42-40 and fell to Columbia Falls Saturday, 74-47.

McDaniel repeats as state champ for Bulldog swim

The Whitefish swim team competed at the All-Class State Swim Meet in Great Falls on Friday and Saturday.

Writing Coaches seeks Flathead Valley volunteers; upcoming training

Writing Coaches of Montana seeks community members in Flathead County to participate in its coaching program with the mission of helping local students improve their writing skills.

One arrested after large fight involving motorcycle club at Majestic Valley Arena

Law enforcement responded to reports of a large group of people fighting in the crowd at Majestic Valley Arena on Highway 93 South on Saturday, Feb. 11 around 9:30 p.m.

Nash places at state wrestling to lead Whitefish

After dropping his opening match on a narrow 3-2 decision at the All-Class State Wrestling Tournament Friday, Bulldog senior Kai Nash came all the way back to make it into the placing rounds.

Whitefish Middle School coding class chosen as state finalists

Whitefish Middle School has been named a state finalist in the 13th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, receiving a $2,500 prize package.

City Council preview for Feb. 21

Whitefish City Council meets on Tuesday, Feb. 21 beginning at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall.

P.E.O. Scholarships for outstanding female seniors

The local P.E.O. Chapter D, Whitefish is seeking high school female senior students to apply for the 2023 $1000 P.E.O. Local Scholarship.

Looking Back for Feb. 15

Voters in the Elementary School District #44 were asked to vote on a capital outlay levy of approximately 7.8 mills for the purpose of finishing the interior of the Central school physical education facility.

Whitefish Community Foundation hosts nonprofit workshop

Whitefish Community Foundation will host a workshop on Feb. 16 for nonprofit organizations interested in building relationships with individual and corporate donors that keep them giving.

County planning board again rejects KM Ranch proposal

The Flathead County Planning Board on Wednesday again gave a negative recommendation for a proposal that could lead to a residential development along KM Ranch Road.

Balanced budget best, but debt default dumb

Government spending is increasing by $2.6 million a minute. The national debt now stands at over 31 trillion dollars.

Whitefish murder suspect pleads not guilty

The man charged with the shooting death of a neighbor in a Whitefish extended-stay hotel pleaded not guilty to one count of deliberate homicide in Flathead County District Court on Thursday.

Young bowler’s successes keep on rolling

For most people, bowling means renting a pair of shoes and having fun while heaving a heavy ball down the alley with the hope of knocking over at least a few pins.

Student Art: ‘The Brooklyn Bridge’

The art featured above is called "The Brooklyn Bridge" and is a watercolor painting by Whitefish High School senior Jack Cruickshank in the class WHS Art 2: Advanced Art.

Flathead Rivers Alliance names new executive director

The Flathead Rivers Alliance starts 2023 by naming Sheena Pate as the organization’s first executive director.

UM Study: Montanans share common love toward grizzly bears

For an animal whose population barely tops 2,000, Montana’s grizzly bears hold an outsized presence in the psyche and politics of the Treasure State.

North Valley Music School launches American Indian Music Scholarship

North Valley Music School, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching Montana communities through music education, appreciation, and performance by offering musical opportunities for all ages, is now accepting applications for its American Indian Music Scholarship.

Brothers return to ranching roots to teach next generation

Through teaching an agriculture and construction class at Whitefish High School for the last four years, educator Mark Casazza has watched struggling students transform into attentive and motivated workers.

Legals for February, 15 2023

Food bank launches its annual FEED LOVE Food Drive

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, North Valley Food Bank is holding its third annual winter food drive and fundraiser: FEED LOVE.

Flathead County attorney… A mistake?

Flathead County Attorney Travis Ahner just won a second term to lead the prosecutorial arm of our county justice system.

Paul Martin Johannsen, 62

Paul was born on May 18, 1960 to Jay and Beverly (Watts) Johannsen in Great Falls, Montana.

Keith Raykowski, 66

Keith Raykowski passed away Feb. 2, 2023 after a nearly seven-year battle with Younger Onset Alzheimer’s disease.

WTC to hold auditions for ‘Evelyn In Purgatory’

The Whitefish Theatre Co. is holding auditions for a spring production of “Evelyn In Purgatory” on Feb. 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.

REAL Montana Class V learns about state government

Flathead Valley residents Shauna Dunn, Shelby George, Brian Hogue and Cameron Wohlschlegel recently returned from Helena as part of the program REAL Montana (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership).

Police Calls: Loud construction and noisy neighbors

The caller who exchanged explicit photos with someone he met online and then was threatened with blackmail, was advised to block the person and not send any money.

Hospital Corner: Cardiac Rehab heals the heart, with heart

It started with chest pain.

Looking Back for Feb. 8

An ordinance providing two salary increases was introduced before the City Council.

Community Foundation scholarships open Feb. 27

Whitefish Community Foundation will offer six scholarship opportunities for high school seniors and graduates who intend to enroll in a post-secondary educational institution this fall.

Penguin Plunge raises over $75,000 for Special Olympics Montana

Hardy folks took the Penguin Plunge to support local Special Olympics Montana athletes last weekend as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival Festivities.

Chief plant operator brings spark to wastewater treatment facility

Condoms and kitty litter, tampons and baby wipes are all things that should not go down the toilet.

Bravo, Leos!

Our community has much to be proud of in the Whitefish High School Leo Club!

In coal we trust

Montana’s sovereign fund was established in 1975. The Coal Trust is funded by extensive deposits of coal in southeast Montana and the Bull Mountains outside of Roundup.

Flathead Avalanche Friends Fest event this week

Understanding avalanche conditions is potentially life-saving when planning to recreate in the backcountry.

Fynn Ridgeway signs with Minnesota State Moorhead for football

Whitefish High School senior Fynn Ridgeway last week signed a letter of intent to play football at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Experts weigh in on true cost of homelessness

As local governments and residents grapple with the Flathead Valley’s rise in homelessness, discussions about the public and private costs of addressing the problem have come to the forefront.

Resort's newest chairlift resumes running after maintenance team undergoes training

Following a rope evacuation and several day shutdown of the new Snow Ghost Express chairlift, the conveyance is spinning again at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Photos: Whitefish Winter Carnival Grand Parade

The 64th Whitefish Winter Carnival was celebrated last weekend with a Penguin Plunge, a parade and a party.

N’Kenge returns for Big Band Swing with ATP

Just one day ago, she was rubbing elbows with music industry elites at the 2023 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

Lady Bulldogs struggle with tough week on the court

The Whitefish girls basketball team played three games last week and came up short in all of them. The girls continue to deal with injuries and a thin roster, which made the busy week especially difficult. “We’re still down people so it’s made it really tough on the girls, in all of these games we don’t really have much depth,” Whitefish coach Bob Bolam said.

Whitefish turns up the heat in two league wins; falls to Cut Bank in 2OT

It was as if the Whitefish boys basketball team flipped a switch last week as they exploded for two Northwest A conference wins while narrowly dropping a road game to Cut Bank in double overtime.

Bennetts siblings have special relationship on wrestling mat

From the side of the mat, both Bennetts siblings can often be spotted hollering in support of one another as they wrestle for the Bulldogs.

Bulldog wrestling headed to state, seven place in divisionals

Whitefish wrestlers had a good showing at the Western A Divisional tournament on Friday and Saturday, qualifying seven wrestlers for state.

Legals for February, 8 2023

Whitefish Mountain Resort evacuates 150 skiers off new Chair 4 Wednesday

Skiers and boarders were lowered down by rope from the new Snow Ghost Express chairlift at Whitefish Mountain Resort following a mechanical failure Wednesday.

Students initiate Leo club reboot, host Kiddie Carnival Saturday

Two Whitefish High School students this year took the initiative to restart the Leo Club at their school as a way to be more involved in the community and help other students also find fulfillment through service.

Shocking and shameful

The recent letter issued by the Flathead County Commissioners caught me completely flat-footed. Surely I thought, this is satire, possibly pulled from the pages of the “Onion”. No, it appears our esteemed commissioners have delivered one of the most ignorant, misguided, and repugnant statements conceivable.

City Council preview for Feb. 6

Whitefish City Council meets on Tuesday, Feb. 6, beginning at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall.

Photos: Bulldog swim at home invite

Whitefish swimmers competed at the annual Cat-Dog Invite at The Wave on Friday night.

Photos: Whitefish Skijoring competitors thrill crowds over weekend

Whitefish Skijoring is an annual event that takes place in tandem with the Whitefish Winter Carnival.

Whitefish wrestlers prepare for Western A Divisional

For the team’s final matches of the regular season, Bulldog wrestling hosted the Whitefish Duals on Friday afternoon.

Maya Lacey signs with Carleton College for soccer

Whitefish soccer captain and four-year varsity player Maya Lacey will play at the collegiate level in the fall.

Lady Dogs top Stillwater, drop game in Browning

Whitefish finally got the ball rolling on the offensive end in a 15-point win over Stillwater Christian last week.

Whitefish boys oust Stillwater in OT thriller

Bulldog senior Jack Sears went off for 31 points to lift Whitefish over Stillwater Christian in overtime, 71-62, last week in Whitefish.

Example of ride-share program presented for city’s consideration

With the effects of climate change becoming more evident, many communities are looking at ways of easing their carbon footprint by carpooling, using public transportation or walking and biking more often.

Flathead Commissioners misguided

So the Flathead County Commissioners sent a joint letter criticizing the provision of shelter and services to a homeless population, which many officials say is not so much an imported problem as much as a Flathead County residents problem.

Protect our winters

Congratulations to all who made the film “75 Years.”

Toys for Tots success

To the wonderful people of our Flathead Valley, Once again, our U.S. Marine Corps Flathead Valley Toys for Tots campaign was a giant success.

Bulldog speech and debate team State A runner-up

The Whitefish speech and debate team turned on the heat in the second half of the season and finished its run with a second-place finish in Class A at the State Tournament in Sidney last weekend.

Flathead Valley ski racers find success at Bridger Bowl

Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation (FVSEF) ski racers Melody McNalley of Columbia Falls and Otto Lund of Polson both secured victories at Northern Division alpine ski races in Bridger Bowl.

Tester secures grants to improve roadway safety

Last year, U.S. Senator Jon Tester negotiated the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and helped pass it into law.

Winter Carnival treasure found by Whitefish family

The annual Whitefish Winter Carnival Treasure Hunt is over. Whitefish residents Steven Dicello, Meghan Schultz and their son Jackson Dicello found the Winter Carnival Treasure on Wednesday evening under a barbeque grill at Whitefish City Beach near the gazebos.

Classroom collaboration yields unifying display at WHS

A collaboration between Whitefish High School art and language arts students resulted in a moving display with the punchy, alliterative title, “Staff Profile Project – Putting Personality on Paper.”

Student Art: ‘Portrait of Miss Long’

The art featured above is called "Portrait of Miss Long" and is a watercolor painting, colored pencil and Sharpie pen piece by Whitefish High School sophomore Ky Sisson in the class WHS Art 1: Drawing.

Community members honored at Chamber Awards Gala

At a special evening full of reflection over the last few years and honoring those that kept the City of Whitefish safe, protected and functioning through the Covid-19 pandemic, several community members were honored with awards.

Disagreement over noise preceded fatal shooting, officials say

The victim of Tuesday’s shooting in Whitefish died from a bullet to the head after a disagreement over noise escalated, according to newly-filed court documents.

Glacier reservations available starting Feb. 1

The first block of reservations to access Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork during the 2023 summer season will become available next week.

Billion-dollar tax rebate, spending package passes budget committee

Republicans on a key legislative committee voted Friday to advance a six-bill package totalling more than a billion dollars in one-time spending, signaling that different factions of Republican lawmakers and Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte have reached an agreement about how to allocate a major chunk of the state’s estimated $2.5 billion surplus toward tax rebates and other priorities.

Looking Back for Feb. 1

Birthday greeting received by wire from President and Mrs. Nixon in Key Biscayne, Florida, and congratulatory letters received from Senator Mike Mansfield and Representative Dick Shoup in Washington, D.C. were read to the more than 100 friends and relatives who gathered at the Whitefish United Presbyterian Church to honor twin brothers Lloyd and Floyd Sissel, Whitefish's oldest citizens, on their 95th birthday.

Police Calls: Online blackmail and a creepy Uber ride

Someone found and turned in a black leather wallet containing $10 and several credit cards.

Patricia Millard, 83

Patricia died Jan. 25, 2023 in Kalispell, Montana.

Liesel Triggs, 99

Liesel died Dec. 19, 2022, in Whitefish, Montana.

Jeffery Brookshire, 31

Jeffery died Jan. 24, 2023, in Whitefish, Montana.

William Vance, 79

Bill died Jan. 22, 2023, in Whitefish, Montana, at The Springs. No local services are scheduled.

John Muffley Jr., 67

John died Jan. 23, 2023, in Kalispell, Montana.

June Marguerite Leverson, 94

June Marguerite Leverson (Gettelman), age 94, of Whitefish, Montana passed peacefully on Jan. 15, 2023.

Explore Whitefish director proud of accomplishments among challenging situations

After serving as the Executive Director of the Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau, also known as Explore Whitefish, for the past 10 years, Dylan Deane-Boyle is heading 600 miles due west for his next adventure.

Restoration transforms rusted ax heads into functional art

When Paul Flannigan saw a meticulously restored ax a few years ago, he thought to himself “I can do that.”