Kalispell police

Kalispell police may have a tip for anyone who risks driving while drunk but doesn't want to get caught: Don't drive the wrong way down a divided highway.

Police Chief Frank Garner said one of his officers was driving north on U.S. 93 near the Russell Elementary school zone and the Sunset building just before 9 a.m. That stretch of highway is divided by a concrete boulevard.

Ahead, he noticed vehicles "abruptly split" to either curb. In another second or two, he saw a southbound vehicle using the northbound lane as his personal speedway. He tagged the offender's speed near 70 mph.

At the same time, another driver phoned in the reckless driving from his vehicle, as well.

After getting run off the traveled roadway himself and turning the patrol car around, the officer was able to stop the driver in an adjoining neighborhood. Garner said the 21-year-old driver refused a Breathalyzer test, but was obviously intoxicated. He was arrested.

Police had other drunk drivers to deal with, as well. Among them was the man arrested on his second DUI for refusal to submit to a field sobriety test when stopped Friday evening, and another man arrested a bit later and charged with felony DUI.

Some decided to drink and walk. One was the intoxicated man seen behind the TeleTech and Sears buildings who got a ride home from police.

The girl who evidently had been drinking but refused to stay home said she was going to help lock up at work. Eventually she did turn up there, and was arrested for being a minor in possession.

A large-denomination dollar bill was turned in at the Police Department after someone found it nearby.

The passenger window was broken out, the vehicle rifled through, and a police report filed.

Dogs were biting and running loose Monday near the Museum at Central School, on Sylvan Drive and elsewhere.

On First Avenue West, it wasn't a dog in the back yard but a raccoon. It was gone on arrival of officers.

Seeing an unoccupied vehicle rolling down the alley behind Third Avenue East alarmed a neighbor, prompting a call to police. An officer pushed it into a driveway and contacted the owner. Leaving it in gear had been an accident.