River Plan is back on track with new leadership
The Comprehensive River Management Plan still has a pulse.
Yeats family places acreage east of Flathead River under easement
A key parcel of farmland just east of the Flathead River has been placed under a conservation easement with the Flathead Land Trust.
The origin of the Sapa-Johnsrud baseball tournament
The Sapa-Johnsrud tournament marks the end of the regular season for Columbia Falls and Whitefish baseball, but many folks don't know the origin of the tournament or what it means to the communities.
Columbia Falls teen is dead in Kentucky; man arrested on murder charge
An 18-year-old Columbia Falls man is dead and a 21-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with murder.
Powers, Mitchell, announce candidacies, but in different districts
Democrat Debo Powers has announced her candidacy for House District 3 this coming election, but the district, which once included the city of Columbia Falls and all of the Canyon to Essex, has vastly changed under redistricting.
Couple behind McDonald Creek home takes fight to federal court
A California couple is taking a two-pronged legal approach to fight the ordered removal of their house along the banks of McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park.
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.
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.
As snow and ice melt, Glacier Park seeing new lakes
As global warming continues to shrink glaciers and ice fields in Glacier National Park, another feature is growing on the landscape — small lakes from the melting ice and snow.
The Quest: Renowned photographer Dr. Richard Buswell releases seventh book
Ask Dr. Richard Buswell how many photos he’s taken and printed over the span of his 51-year career and he can tell you exactly: 534.
Glacier National Park Conservancy receives grant for Wheeler Cabin
The Glacier National Park Conservancy has received a Montana Historic Preservation Grant for the preservation of the Wheeler Cabin in Glacier National Park.
Grizzlies put down after becoming food-conditioned, aggressive
Two grizzlies bears were killed last week because they continued to get in trouble with humans and human foods.
New book takes a deep dive into history of the Polebridge Mercantile
North Fork author Lois Walker comes out with new book “The History of the Polebridge Mercantile.”
Historic bison release fully supported by Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park supports the release of bison into the Chief Mountain Wilderness area of the Blackfeet Reservation.
Free-roaming buffalo released by Blackfeet Tribe east of Glacier Park
On Monday the Blackfeet Tribe released a herd of 20 bison in the Chief Mountain Wilderness.
More than 1,000 Izaak Walton Inn items up for sale
About 1,200 pieces from the historic Izaak Walton Inn will go up for sale.
Lease dispute over Columbia Falls Community Market results in lawsuit; judge upholds lease for now
The market filed suit against O’Brien Byrd, Three Byrd’s Properties and North Fork Intuition on May 26, claiming the Byrd and his partners broke the five-year lease the market renewed in April 2022 for use of the property.
Hearing date set for Glacier National Park inholder case
The Flathead Conservation District Board Monday night set Aug. 25 as the hearing date for a home that it believes was illegally built on the shores of McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park.
Glacier Park plows progress to Logan Pass
Glacier National Park plows are now at Logan Pass, going about 3 miles in the past week.
Glacier's Sun Road open to Avalanche Creek
The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park opened to Avalanche Creek for motor vehicles beginning Saturday morning.
Glacier National Park inholder case centers on jurisdiction
The case of a private home built along the shores of lower McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park could come down to jurisdiction.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Board orders California couple to remove home in Glacier
The Flathead Soil and Water Conservation District Board Monday night decided that a home under construction along the banks of McDonald Creek is in violation of state law and ordered it be removed by Nov. 1.
Whitefish artist has creative freedom painting murals in CFalls building
Grand vistas that many would recognize. Striking portraits. Wildlife on the move through the Montana landscape.
Sun Road to be accessible to bikers, hikers by mid-May
Hikers and bikers should have access to the Going-to-the-Sun Road by mid-May, Glacier National Park spokeswoman Gina Kerzman said last week.
21-year-old pedestrian killed near Columbia Falls
A Columbia Falls pedestrian is dead after he was hit by a vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Montana 40 about 2:07 a.m. Saturday morning.
Zinke calls for end to Glacier’s reservation system
Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke has concerns about Glacier National Park’s reservation system, claiming it locks out locals.
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.
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.
Historic Glacier cabin seeks Preservation Grant approval
The Glacier National Park Conservancy is on the list to receive a Montana Historic Preservation Grant for preservation of the Wheeler Cabin in Glacier National Park.
Planning board again rejects massive Columbia Falls subdivision proposal
For the second time in five months, the Columbia Falls City County Planning Board on Tuesday voted down the massive River Highlands subdivision project proposed for the east side of the Flathead River.
Denis Twohig, a founding father of the Glacier Mountaineering Society, dies
Denis Twohig, a pioneer in the Glacier National Park mountain climbing community, died Friday. He was 83.
Local author Fraley writes of own wilderness adventures in new book
Floating in cheap rafts in an “impassable” canyon. Snorkeling for native cutthroat trout. Traveling more than 40 miles through the woods in a day. And a heartfelt tribute to a friend who died in a plane crash.
Developer returns with new Columbia Falls subdivision plan
The River Highlands subdivision is back for a second go-around before the Columbia Falls City-County Planning Board in January.
Proposed tram up Columbia Mountain rejected by Forest Service
Pursuit Glacier Park Collection is considering a tram that would run from Hungry Horse to about 1,000 feet below the summit of Columbia Mountain in the Swan Range, Pursuit Vice President and General Manager Gary Rodgers said.
Does art outlast the notoriety of its creator?
The criminal case against acclaimed artist Nicholas Oberling has sent ripples across the local art world, his once-coveted paintings taken off display in venues and upcoming shows paused.
Longtime Glacier National Park ranger dies at age 102
Lyle Ruterbories, a longtime ranger and one of the oldest rangers ever in the National Park Service, died last week.
Glacier Park will require reservations at all major entrances this summer
Glacier National Park will require reservations at all of its major entrances during the summer of 2023, the park officially announced Friday.
Jamison recognized for conservation efforts around the North Fork
His first child was born in a cabin up the North Fork of the Flathead. One of his first assignments as a young journalist was howling with wolves with renowned wolf biologist Diane Boyd up the North Fork.
Glacier Park considers adding reservation system for Two Medicine, Many Glacier
Glacier National Park said Friday it has not made a final decision on whether to implement a reservation system for the Two Medicine and Many Glacier valleys.
Husky-mix dogs abandoned near Hungry Horse up for adoption
Some of the multitude of dogs that were abandoned up the Hungry Horse Reservoir a few weeks ago are now up for adoption.
Glacier plans to phase out commercial air tours by 2029
Glacier National Park released a final air tour management plan last week that looks to end all helicopter and airplane air tours by Dec. 31, 2029.
Suit claims commissioners applied spot zoning in West Glacier
Citizens for a Better Flathead and West Glacier resident Sharon DeMeester have filed suit in Flathead County District Court against the Flathead County Commission over what they claim is spot zoning in West Glacier.
Woman dies after shooting at Saloon in Martin City
A dispute over a golf cart led to a shooting at a bar in Martin City on Saturday that left one woman dead and her husband seriously injured, charging documents filed Monday reveal.
Interior secretary visits Lost Trail Conservation Area
On a hot and dry morning, Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland made a brief visit to the Flathead Valley to celebrate the Lost Trail Conservation Area, the newest unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the first under her tenure.
History lives on through former Stoltze vice president
Ronald Buentemeier has probably one of the most unique yard ornaments in the Flathead Valley: A real, and fully working, vintage fire lookout tower.