Ellington

Glacier Park reopens Sun Road over Logan Pass after summer snow

Going-to-the-Sun Road has reopened following dangerous road conditions caused by snow and ice. The road closed at approximately 2 p.m. yesterday, between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook.

Summer snow coats Whitefish ski resort

Winter is a full season away, but Flathead Valley skiers were left salivating Wednesday after Whitefish Mountain Resort recorded a rare August snowfall.

Police Calls: Reckless driver on his phone

There was an active fire in an air conditioning unit on Seventh Street and the hallway was filled with smoke.

City Council preview for Sept. 3, 2024

Whitefish City Council meets on Tuesday, Sept. 3, beginning at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall.

Whitefish School District Bond hosts information sessions

The Whitefish School District invites staff, families and community members to attend informational sessions regarding two school bonds that will appear on the ballot in September.

Cedar Ridge area closure

The Cedar Ridge area in the Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest will be closed for the safety of the public and contractors for planned activities on the Crystal Cedar Project starting at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.

Hootenanny drowned out by torrential rain

Storm clouds darkened the sky at Depot Park just as the Whitefish Trail Hootenanny started last Friday.

Flathead Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s

The Flathead Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s is Saturday, Sept. 28, at Lawrence Park, 1105 North Main, Kalispell.

Looking Back: Incidents of indecent exposure were on the rise

Eight new teachers were hired by Superintendent R.D. Giesy.

Whitefish Theatre Company hosts volunteer appreciation party

The Whitefish Theatre Company is hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Party at the O’Shaughnessy Center on Friday, Sept. 6 from 6 - 8 p.m.

Whitefish football opens season at Hamilton

The Whitefish Bulldogs will finally get to show the work they’ve been putting in this summer in the first football game of the season this Friday in Hamilton.

Group starts community produce program in Whitefish

During the growing season, community members can donate extra bounty from their gardens to Land to Hand’s new community produce fridge in Whitefish. Anyone can stop by the fridge and enjoy the donated local produce at no cost.

Student Body President: Vote ‘Yes’ for the WHS expansion bond

I love growing up in Whitefish.

Whitefish approves budget with tax bump

The Whitefish City Council approved the final budget for fiscal year 2025 at its regular meeting last week and prepared to send thank you notes for generous donations to the city.

Hunter education courses offered free in Northwest Montana

Hunter education classes and a trapper education field day in Northwest Montana this fall are open for registration.

Dale Duff hands over the wheel of Whitefish’s Rocky Mountain Transportation buses

After 78 years of dedicated service driving school bus routes, managing the oldest Hertz rental location in the country, supporting Glacier National Park red bus tours, and operating Whitefish’s SNOW Bus, Whitefish-based Rocky Mountain Transportation Company has new ownership.

Community Support Fund passes $300,000 milestone in supporting Housing Whitefish

The Community Support Fund (CSF), also known as 1% for Whitefish, in coordination with Explore Whitefish, has contributed over $300,000 to Housing Whitefish to tackle the challenge of affordable workforce housing in our area.

Flathead County landfill fees to increase

Following a public hearing held Tuesday, Aug. 20, the Flathead County Commissioners unanimously approved a fee increase for the Flathead County Solid Waste District.

Fall Into Hockey gives girls an opportunity to learn the game

The Fall Into Hockey Program is for all girls 6-12 years old at the Stumptown Ice Den on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, Sept. 4 - 29.

Photos: The Springs at Whitefish car show, concert

The Springs Living in Whitefish has hosted an annual car show for years and this time around, they added a concert to the attraction.

Whitefish makes headway on shutting down illegal vacation rentals

The Whitefish City Council held a work session last week to get an update on the new short-term rental enforcement process and to discuss potential changes to the Legacy Homes Program.

Swiftcurrent area of Glacier Park closes Sept. 16

Glacier National Park announces the details of the Many Glacier Valley, Swiftcurrent area closure, beginning on Sept.16 for road, parking, and pedestrian safety improvements and a water system replacement.

Board OKs $26.4M budget for Whitefish schools

Whitefish School Board trustees on Aug. 13 unanimously approved the district’s final budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Student Art: ‘Handmade Nest that Represents What Home Means to Me’ by Ramzi Maaliki

The art featured above is called "Handmade Nest that Represents What Home Means to Me" and is a sculpture made with words, sticks, cat hair and other materials by Whitefish High School senior Ramzi Maaliki in the WHS Sculpture class.

Build school and athletic facilities we can be proud of

The Whitefish High School facilities, practice field, and football stadium rank as some of the worst conditions I have ever seen. The field and practice grass/turf are rock hard, the stadium is decaying, and everything from the bleachers to the other buildings are awful.” He concluded by saying, “I am shocked that such a beautiful city doesn’t reflect the same with their high school athletic facilities.”

Photos: 2024 Summer S.N.O.W Bus Brewfest

Folks came out to Depot Park for the 2024 Summer S.N.O.W Bus Brewfest Saturday.

Twins' Kroger selected for All-State team

The Glacier Twins’ Kellen Kroger was named to the American Legion A All-State team for his performance in 2024. In all, seven West District players earned all-state or all-district team honors.

Legals for August, 28 2024

Whitefish volleyball reloads talented roster

Whitefish made the Class A state volleyball tournament in 2023 and has five seniors returning for the 2024 campaign.

Whitefish mountaineer’s body recovered from Glacier National Park

The body of missing mountaineer Grant Marcuccio, a 32-year-old man from Whitefish, was recovered Sunday from alpine terrain in Glacier National Park.

Search underway for missing climber in Glacier Park

Search efforts are underway in Glacier National Park for Grant Marcuccio, a 32-year-old man from Whitefish, Montana who has been missing since Sunday evening.

In a Nutshell: Junior Chef Summer Camp

Food and cooking is so much more than having a full belly; it’s a tangled web. Pull one string of the web and it’ll lead you in different directions—from culture and immigration, to food equity and access, to local food and precarious food systems.

Whitefish golf ready for ‘short but intense’ season under new head coach

While this fall will be Shaun Forrest’s first year as head coach of the Whitefish High School Golf program, he brings a wealth of coaching experience.

Family’s annual swim celebrates lost loved ones

John Kavanagh’s family and friends know how to make the most of a summer reunion on Whitefish Lake.

Teacher looks to expand Science Olympiad program in schools

Agricultural science, anatomy, astronomy, chemistry lab, codebusters, experimental design, thermodynamics, forestry, fossils, microbe mission, optics, scrambler, wind power, and ‘write it - do it’ are some of the events Whitefish High School students competed in last spring at the state’s Science Olympiad held at Montana State University in Bozeman.

Whitefish schools to use artificial intelligence program

Whitefish School District classrooms will be getting a boost from the artificial intelligence (AI) program Magic School Inc. this school year.

Chairlift: Remarkable courtesy and insolence on the road

A typical ride down Baker Avenue can provide a myriad of emotional experiences and expose one to the full spectrum of human behavior.

New edition of guidebook for Flathead Valley hikes released

The popular guidebook, “Day Hikes Around the Flathead,” originally came out in 1999.

Board recommends expanded storage for automotive sales

The Whitefish Community Board made a recommendation to the council in favor of a conditional use permit, approved one variance request and denied another at its meeting Aug. 15.

Special Olympics Montana hosts community social

Special Olympics Montana - Glacier Area invites the community to its annual summer social on Friday, Aug. 23, at Lawrence Park, Kalispell, from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.

West Glacier Historical Gateway Project restores iconic West Glacier underpass

Every day, thousands of people enter Glacier National Park through the small village of West Glacier, passing under the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad at the intersection of Going-to-the-Sun Road and U.S. Highway 2.

Annual Plein Air Glacier fundraising event

Plein Air Glacier: Paint Out, Exhibition and Sale is a combined painting experience and favorite destination event, with selected established painters from Montana and around the country painting in Glacier National Park and nearby Swan and Flathead Valleys.

Logan Health’s Run Cedar Creek to benefit suicide prevention in the Flathead Valley

Logan Health’s third annual Run Cedar Creek event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Columbia Falls.

Equip Whitefish High School graduates by voting yes on bonds

We believe the vibrancy and prosperity of a community is highly dependent on the quality of its education.

Habitat Flathead and Northwest Montana Community Land Trust join forces to build affordable housing

Construction is underway at the corner of Seventh Street and Ninth Avenue West in Kalispell. Habitat Flathead is building a duplex-style townhouse on this lot owned by the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust (NWMCLT).

Looking Back: Sign ordinance discussed

Whitefish Junior Rifle Club shooters competed in some very windy weather at the Junior Outdoor Position Regional meet in Anaconda.

Police Calls: Supposedly barking dogs play it cool

Someone keyed a Grand Cherokee parked on Railway Street.

Student Art: ‘Japanese Cherry Blossoms’ by Jackson Stewart

The art featured above is called "Japanese Cherry Blossoms" and is a watercolor painting by Whitefish High School junior Jackson Stewart in the WHS Art 1: Painting class.

August 21 Notices

0821 Notices

William Warren (Bill) Tarr, 87

William Warren (Bill) Tarr, 87, of Kalispell, formerly Whitefish, passed away on July 21, 2024.

Whitefish Trail Hootenanny on Friday

The Whitefish Trail Hootenanny will be held on Friday August 23 in Depot Park in downtown Whitefish from 5-9:30pm. The favorite community event celebrates our local trails and open lands with live music, local beer, food trucks, a raffle, and kid activities.

East Side Hungry Horse Reservoir Road remains closed through mid-September

The closure on the East Side Hungry Horse Reservoir Road (Forest Road 38) is extended due to unforeseen construction challenges with the installation of the open-bottom arch.

Glacier National Park invites volunteers to 2024 annual Hawk Watch Training

Glacier National Park will host volunteer training for its annual Hawk Watch Program on August 27 and September 23.

An open letter to the ATP kids

Thank you and your families for putting your faith and trust in us. Thank you for giving us the chance to share this art with you. And mostly, thank you for inspiring us and reminding us how wonderful it is to be Theatre Kids. We Love You.

Legals for August, 21 2024

Flathead County landfill rates set for increase this fall

Flathead County landfill rates could be increasing by 15% beginning this fall.

Star Meadow, Tally Lake forest project up for review

The Flathead Forest on Thursday released its environment assessment for a 41,000-acre forest project west of Whitefish.

Division I soccer match delights local community

The Flathead Valley community got a special treat Sunday night. The Montana Grizzlies and the Gonzaga Bulldogs, two Division I womens soccer teams that travel all over the West during the regular season, played in the Flathead Valley.

Student Art: ‘Handmade Nest that Represents What Home Means to Me’ by Piper Belski

The art featured above is called "Handmade Nest that Represents What Home Means to Me" and is a sculpture made with dried grasses, clay, colored pencils and other materials by Whitefish High School senior Piper Belski in the WHS Sculpture class.

Whitefish Library celebrates Edible Book Feast

The annual Edible Book Feast Celebration is a fun, wacky, weird and yummy way to celebrate books.

City Council preview for Aug. 19, 2024

Whitefish City Council meets on Monday, Aug. 19, beginning at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall.

Hazardous waste expert to discuss CFAC Superfund cleanup

The Coalition for a Clean CFAC will be hosting public meetings on Aug. 20 and 21 regarding the proposed Columbia Falls Aluminum Plant Superfund cleanup plan.

Great Fish Community Challenge launches with extra grants

Community members and people representing the 80 participating nonprofits participating in the 10th Great Fish Community Challenge gathered at Three Rivers Bank in Whitefish last Thursday to celebrate the launch of the five-week long giving campaign.

Sixth-grader Ella Heyne is tough on the wrestling mat

Ella Heyne just finished fifth grade at Whitefish Middle School, and according to her mom, Carly Sether-Heyne, when she steps onto the wrestling mat, “she makes girls and boys equally cry.”

Monday mule meeting at Whitefish Credit Union

Sophie, Penny, Peaches, Saltese, Rufus and Judy, six mules who pack crews in and out of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, visited the Whitefish Credit Union for a lunchtime meet and greet Monday.

District: Tax impacts for bond proposals less than projected

Two bonds that would fund the expansion of Whitefish High School and the athletic improvements are expected to have less of an impact on property tax owners than originally anticipated.

Whitefish settles class-action lawsuit over impact fees

The Whitefish City Council voted unanimously last week to approve a settlement agreement in a federal class-action lawsuit over impact fees.

Pilot in Paris

This photo with the Pilot was taken on the way to watch beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower Stadium during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Choppy water challenges Swim the Fish competitors

A choppy start to the Whitefish WAVE’s annual Swim the Fish ended with calmer waters, sunshine and smiles all around as nearly 200 swimmers traversed Whitefish Lake Saturday.

Preschool expansion OK'd; East Sixth next up for rebuild

The Whitefish City Council voted unanimously in favor of granting a conditional use permit for the expansion of Whitefish Community School located at 805 Park Avenue.

Whitefish Food and Wine Festival Sept. 13-15

Whitefish Food and Wine will hold its inaugural event Sept.13-15 at Haskill Creek Farms.

Looking Back: County refuses to maintain and repair Wisconsin Avenue

The budget for fiscal year 1974 for the city of Whitefish was up substantially from the previous tax year.

See the forest through the trees

We’ve all watched the white haze roll in on an otherwise sunny afternoon and lost the mountains and buttes on the horizon with it.

Division I soccer delights local community

The Flathead Valley community got a special treat Sunday night.

Police Calls: People “smoke their dope” in the dark

Someone found a blue-green kayak in a park.

Eric Schenck, 62

Eric Matthew Schenck, 62 of Whitefish, passed away July 28, 2024, following a decade-long struggle with a rare neurological disorder.

35th annual Huckleberry Days Art Festival

The Huckleberry Days Art Festival is a highlight of the weekend's huckleberry season festivities.

Roundup for Safety provides seed money for safer parking at Flathead Industries

Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety Board approved a $12,000 grant request to provide seed money in support of Flathead Industries’ long awaited capital improvement project.

Legals for August, 14 2024

Twins win two at regional tournament

Glacier opened up the 2024 Class A Northwest Regional Tournament in Roseburg, Oregon, with a 5-4 victory over Dr. Randol on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The Twins had 13 hits and Maddox Muller went 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Media campaign raises awareness of ongoing search for missing woman

Friends and family of a woman who vanished while paddleboarding on the Hungry Horse Reservoir last month are expanding a public outreach campaign in the hopes of finding the missing 33-year-old.

Fire restrictions lifted in Whitefish, caution is advised

Whitefish joined Flathead County and other federal and state agencies last week in lifting stage 1 fire restrictions that prohibit campfires.

Home Ranch Bottoms meshes food and drink with entertainment offerings

Defying the odds that come with an off-grid restaurant, Home Ranch Bottoms is a quaint spot in Polebridge, offering quality food and drink, and aiming to be a cultural hub for music, comedy and art.

Tribute concert features music of Huey Lewis and The News

The music of quintessential American rock band, Huey Lewis and the News, is featured during a tribute concert next week for the final installment of the Whitefish Summer Concert Series.

Campaign aims to bring back the Les Mason dock

Beachgoers at Les Mason State Park on the east shore of Whitefish Lake have kept afloat without a swim dock this summer.

Historic North Fork ranch up for sale for $30 million

A historic North Fork Ranch is up for sale. The Rocky Bar O Ranch, founded by the Ladenburg family in the 1800s is being listed for $30 million.

Return of the Redband Rainbow

Montana’s only native rainbow trout is making a comeback in the northwest corner of the state.

Volunteers sought for annual Flathead Waters Cleanup

The 2024 Flathead Waters Cleanup event returns Saturday, Aug. 10.

Sawtelle steps into head coaching position

A new coaching staff will lead the Montana state champion Whitefish High School boys soccer team this season.

Ordway takes reins of girls soccer team

The reigning Montana state champion girls soccer team, the Whitefish High School Bulldogs, welcomes a new coaching staff this year.

Keeping it chill in Whitefish

One downtown store, named for its vibe and that of its owners, Chill Clothing Company, stands out because of its original art work and top-notch customer service.

The Springs annual car show and concert

The Springs Living in Whitefish is hosting their annual car show and summer concert on Saturday, August 24, from 12 - 4 p.m. at 1001 River Lakes Parkway.

Whitefish Workforce Assistance Program provides vital support to community

The Whitefish Workforce Assistance Program launched in January, 2024, and has made significant strides in supporting the local workforce by providing rental assistance.

Police Calls: Suspicious and stumbling

A vehicle had been parked in front of the post office for a week.

Student Art: ‘Vitality’ by Felix Solem

The art featured above is called "Vitality" and is a watercolor painting by Whitefish High School senior Felix Solem in the WHS Art 1: Painting class.

North Valley Music School receives $500,000 grant

North Valley Music School received a grant for $500,000 from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for its capital campaign to build a new music school and campus in Whitefish.

Looking Back: Pollution-causing homeowners to be evicted

Dean Jellison, county attorney, told the Whitefish City Council of the county's proposed action to halt pollution of the Whitefish River.

Great Fish Community Challenge opens with Launch Party

Whitefish Community Foundation kicks off the 10th Great Fish Community Challenge on Thursday, Aug. 8 with the Great Fish Launch Party at Three Rivers Bank in Whitefish.

Heavirland a player in new era for women’s rugby

When the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team clutched bronze in Paris last week, they earned their first ever Olympic medal in history.

Kenneth Michael Burke, 81

After a very storied 81 years of life on this planet-Kenneth succumbed to his lengthy battle with cancer and died on June 9, 2024.

Twins named co-champs at state tourney

With a 5-1 rain-shortened lead over Gallatin Valley in the Class A American Legion Baseball State Tournament Championship Game, the Twins were named Co-Champs on Sunday, August 4.

Virg and Mary Delap, 60s

Virgil passed on June 9, 2024, and Mary a mere 13 days later.

Legals for August, 7 2024

Donna McGough, 77

Donna Jane McGough, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep on her 77th birthday at her home in Kalispell.

Whitefish hosts Huckleberry Days this weekend

The huckleberries are ripe and so is the excitement for the 35th annual Whitefish Huckleberry Days.

Glacier National Park rangers recover body of drowning victim in Avalanche Creek

Glacier National Park officials believe the body of 26-year-old Siddhant Vitthal Patil from India was recovered on Saturday after weeks of searching for the drowning victim, according to a press release.

Missing woman was likely paddleboarding alone on Hungry Horse Reservoir

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and assisting agencies continue to search for Emily Rea, who went missing in the Hungry Horse Reservoir area on July 16.

Stage I fire restrictions in place for Whitefish

Northwest Montana entered stage 1 fire restrictions that prohibit campfires last weekend.

Hospital Corner: Determining the community’s health needs

When a car accident sent me to the emergency room in April 2023, I was surprised by a few of the questions I was asked upon arrival.