Talking the talk, taking the title

Two schools with superlative speakers and two state titles.

Whitefish High School overwhelmingly won the Class A speech and debate championship on Saturday while Flathead High School again topped the Class AA competition the same day.

Last weekend's dual triumphs in the wars of words reinforce the long-running supremacy of Flathead Valley speakers. Every year one or two local schools are among the best in the state.

Whitefish's first-ever state title capped a nine-year run in which the school was in the top three every year.

Flathead won its seventh state crown in the last eight years.

Well-deserved congratulations are due all the young orators whose months of hard work paid off with state championships. Their successes aren't always in the same spotlight as their counterparts in athletic endeavors, but their achievements are just as worthy of acclaim.

Speaking of Whitefish, the North Valley community is the place to be this weekend for the crown jewel of seasonal fun, Whitefish Winter Carnival.

Although the tropical weather of late has pared down some of the snow-centered attractions, there are still plenty of events beckoning carnival-goers.

From the Penguin Plunge to the always-impressive grand parade, Whitefish will be alive with the spirit of winter.

This is one for the local-man-makes-good category.

Brad Bird, a Kalispell native, is achieving fame and fortune based on his animated movie hit, "The Incredibles."

Bird won awards from the Animation Film Society last week for best animated feature, best directing and best voice acting (he not only wrote and directed the film but was the voice of diminutive seamstress Edna Mode).

More honors may be in store for Bird, who was nominated for an Academy Award for best original screenplay while "The Incredibles" is in the running for best animated feature film.

Congratulations, Brad, and good luck on Oscars night.

Good news is coming out of Flathead Electric Cooperative these days.

The local electric utility has emerged from some troubled financial years and is on solid enough ground fiscally to slightly reduce electricity rates.

This is welcome news to the many ratepayers who endured one double-digit increase after another a few years back.

And more good news may be ahead: a much larger rate decrease is possible in 2006 if Flathead Electric can arrange a switch in its power-supply situation.