Summer recipe: High heat, add wind

Air conditioners and tornado shelters are not usual features people would need in their houses in Northwest Montana.

But the crazy weather of late might make one wonder whether those might come in handy after all.

The past two weeks of scorching weather - a withering touch of August even though it's still July - has sent hundreds of people to local stores desperately seeking air conditioners and fans to beat the heat. But the rush for relief has also emptied store shelves of cooling appliances.

No wonder: The Flathead Valley has had 12 days above 90 degrees this month (and places such as Libby, with 10 days above 100 degrees, have been even worse).

Severe storms on Tuesday and Wednesday added to the misery, and Wednesday night's weather onslaught included a real tornado near Polson and tornado warnings well up into the Flathead Valley.

This is not the weather one usually associates with Northwest Montana, but it's certainly a harbinger that this is shaping up as a highly unusual summer.

If you look into the sky this weekend and see a World War II bomber, your eyes are not deceiving you.

A vintage B-17 Flying Fortress will visit Glacier Park International Airport today through Sunday.

The historic aircraft will be parked at Edwards Jet Center and will be open for public tours throughout the weekend.

The bomber, "Sentimental Journey," is touted as the most authentically restored B-17 in flight today.

This plane represents a critical time in American and world history when these bombers and their brave crews helped turn the tide of a global war and restore peace to Europe.

It's always a pleasure to steer people to our local attractions, and we have often proudly touted the merits of both the Hockaday Museum of Art and Glacier National Park.

Both institutions are highly esteemed and don't need any introduction to local residents, but in this case, we are pleased to recommend the Hockaday's Crown of the Continent Gallery as a way to enjoy Glacier Park in a new manner.

The gallery, which changes from time to time with new exhibits, features paintings, photographs, sculptures, videos and books that capture part of the unique experience that is Glacier Park.

The museum opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday in the summer, and closes at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. A small admission fee is charged to non-members.