Ellington

Northwestern A divisional volleyball starts Friday in Whitefish

Regular-season champion Polson, runner-up Whitefish and third-place finisher Libby all have first-round byes for the Northwestern A divisional volleyball tournament this weekend in Whitefish.

AA volleyball: Bravettes, Wolfpack home for play-in matches

All six Class AA volleyball play-in matches are scheduled for Thursday.

BSMA has 7 double winners in taekwondo

Big Sky Martial Arts had seven individuals take first place in both forms and sparring at the 2011 Missoula Taekwondo Championships on Oct. 22.

Beau Bronson

Beau Bronson and his father, Jon, stand on the main level of the tree house they have built together at their home near Columbia Falls. The 12-year-old recently was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect discovered after he suffered a cardiac arrest while riding his bike in Kalispell. Jon Bronson is recovering from a foot injury he suffered in North Dakota.

Happy Halloween!

Rob Tracy, a volunteer firefighter for the Bigfork Fire Department, makes his way south along Main Street on Monday afternoon in downtown Kalispell.

Bronson Portait

From left Beau Bronson and his dad Jon stand on the main level of the tree house they have built together on Friday afternoon at their home near Columbia Falls. The 12-year-old was recently diagnosed with a congenital heart defect discovered after he suffered a heart attack while riding his bike.

Invasive Aquatic Weed Removal in Beaver Lake

From left, diver Sara Wilkinson and Gordon Jewett of the Flathead County Weeds and Parks department discuss the section of lake where Wilkinson will be diving and removing Eurasian Water Milfoil.

Cain says he was 'falsely accused' of harassment

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said Monday he was "falsely accused" of sexual harassment while he led the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s.

Millions without power after October snow storm

Signs of the times

‘Way-finding’ study finds Kalispell directions come up short

If Kalispell wants to market itself as the most rewarding place to stage a vacation in Northwest Montana, visitors need to be able to find their way around the city to its attractions.

Monday Profile

Painting the vault doors from the Courthouse is not a usual job for Dave Knaff, who normally paints vehicles for the county. But he says he did his best to be true to the original doors.

Car guy goes from private to county shop

Dave Knaff doesn't remember many times in his life when he wasn't tinkering around with autos in some fashion or another.

Police investigating death of woman found behind mill

Police are investigating the death of a 47-year-old homeless woman from Kalispell whose body was found near an old lumber mill off Appleway Drive, in an area reportedly frequented by transients.

Judith Corneliuson, 98

Judith Cornelia Corneliuson, 98, passed away at her residence in Tucson, Ariz., on Oct. 21, 2011, surrounded by the presence and love of her family and friends. She was born Jan. 9, 1913, to Kaurin B. and Johanna Johnson on the family farm in the Bigfork area.

Bulldogs win state soccer

WHITEFISH - The Whitefish boys soccer team was under a lot of pressure.

Polson spikes Libby in 4

LIBBY - Kenzie Clay had 14 kills and Shalaina Duford contributed 38 assists, 15 digs and three service aces as the Polson Pirates defeated host Libby in a Northwestern A volleyball matchup on Saturday. Scores were 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 25-19.

Loyola rolls past Eureka

MISSOULA - Missoula Loyola quarterback Bo Hughes threw for 250 yards and four touchdowns as the Rams defeated Eureka 48-8 in a first-round Class B football playoff game Saturday afternoon at Rollin Field.

Hamilton upends Loggers

LIBBY - Hamilton (5-5)jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and rolled from there, posting a 28-11 Class A first-round football playoff victory on Saturday over Libby.

Generals, Nationals slug it out

WHITEFISH - Dozens of fights. Sixty penalties. A total of 297 minutes spent in the penalty box. At least 10 ejected players.

Eureka wins District 7B volleyball

EUREKA - Cassidy Morgan had 10 kills and Selene Elster nine to help Eureka down Thompson Falls 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 in the District 7B volleyball tournament final on Saturday.

Second half magic lifts Vikings

BIGFORK - The message from Bigfork football coach Todd Emslie to his players in the locker room at halftime Saturday was direct, and simple.

Art sale a reminder of city's bygone days

Today is the last day to see the Conrad Mansion decked out as it would have been in the days of Charles and Lettie Conrad.

Couple in seventh decade start new store

Clothing-industry veterans launch resale venture

At an age when most people have long retired, Mark and Harriet Rosen started a new Evergreen business drawing on their good taste, flair for fashion and talent for finding great deals.

Meet the new war... Same as the old war?

OK, Gadhafi is dead. Good riddance.

Occupy Wall Street is the real heir to the Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party was a protest against the British government and the monopolistic East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies. It was a protest against corporate interests condoned and imposed by “dynastic” government.

Man convicted of kidnapping charge

A 36-year-old man has accepted a plea deal in a kidnapping case.

Youth project works to help save lives

On both a personal and professional level, Jolie Fish knows the devastating effects of teen suicide on friends and loved ones who are left to cope with heartbreaking loss.

Bigfork Victory over Florence

Bigfork's Cody Dopps keeps moving through a pack of Florence defenders during the first quarter of Saturday's first-round playoff game between the Falcons and the Vikings. Dopps scored four touchdowns for the Vikings, helping the defending state champions to a 35-26 victory.

No... it's not just horseplay

For some people, what happened on a Glacier High School freshman football bus on Sept. 12 was just boys being boys.

Anarchy and experience: Can people still learn from their mistakes?

Anarchy is a great place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.

Inebriated man arrested by police

Officers with the

Mary Lou Ballard, 84

Mary Lou Ballard, 84, passed away Sept. 27, 2011, in Lynnwood, Wash.

William Louis 'Popo' Bertino, 73

Lt. Col. William Louis “Popo” Bertino, U.S.A.F. retired, 73, of Columbia Falls, passed away peacefully at Hospice of Arizona. Surrounded by his family, he died in his wife’s arms on Oct. 23, 2011.

Grace E. Williams, 89

 Grace E. Williams, 89, of Spearfish, S.D., “went to be with the Lord” Oct. 26, 2011, at Spearfish Regional Memorial Hospital. 

Class A Soccer Finals: Whitefish vs. Polson

Polson senior Nick Howell (3) puts pressure on Whitefish junior Sean Janni (2) as he moves the ball down the field during the Class A soccer finals on Saturday in Whitefish.

Paranormal art critic? Mansion art gets moved by unseen hands

During this weekend’s craft and gift bazaar at the Conrad Mansion, Cathi Spence is trying to get another response from what could be a paranormal art critic in Kalispell.

Fantastic finish for Wolfpack

It was a big night Friday for the Wolfpack football team.

Braves make AA football playoffs

MISSOULA - After a two-year hiatus, Flathead is back in the playoffs.

Glacier boys knock off Sentinel in loser-out match at state soccer

HELENA - The Glacier boys soccer team brushed off an opening day loss at the Class AA state tournament with a 4-1 win over Missoula Sentinel in a loser-out game Friday.

Senior stops Flathead girls in AA state soccer semis

HELENA - The Bravettes had allowed just four goals this season entering Friday's Class AA state tournament semifinal match against Billings Senior.

Class A football playoffs: Libby eyes fast start versus Broncs

Libby coach Neil Fuller feels a whole lot better about his football team this week than he did halfway through the season.

Class B football playoffs: Eureka travels to Loyola; Bigfork hosts Florence

Eureka gets a shot at redemption while Bigfork hopes that home field magic lives on as the Class B football playoffs get under way today.

Glacier defeats Missoula Big Sky

Glacier junior running back Aaron Mitchell (28) dives into the end zone for the Wolfpack's second touchdown Friday night at Legends Stadium.

Peterson students vow to help one another at annual Olweus assembly

Fifth-grader Trinity Lee sings with other students at Peterson School Friday morning in the sixth annual Olweus Bullying Prevention Program assembly. At top, students raise signs they made for Bullying Prevention Rule 2: “We will help students who are bullied.” Different grades were asked to makes signs for one of the four rules. The other three rules are, 1) We will not bully others; 3) We will include students who are easily left out; and 4) We will tell an adult at school and an adult at home when we know someone is being bullied.

'Cove' turns teen into dolphin defender

Melissa Batt of Coram was so affected after watching a documentary called “The Cove” that she rented out Discovery Square in Columbia Falls to hold a free public screening and raise awareness.

Chris L. Emerson, 64

Chris L. Emerson, 64, passed away Oct. 25, 2011, at his home in Columbia Falls.

Naked woman wants trip to ER

'Hope for Holidays' lists resources for helping

 The United Way gain is compiling a comprehensive guide for people and organizations wanting to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors by providing “Hope for the Holidays.”

Parents speak out about bus incident

A judge has temporarily denied a request to prevent an alleged assailant in the Glacier High School football bus case from returning to school on Monday.

9 bears trapped, moved

The busy season for bear management is well under way in Northwest Montana.

Chris Emerson

Dorothy Mae (Sume) West, 63

Dorothy Mae (Sume) West, 63, passed away Oct. 27, 2011, in Kalispell.

Teachers receive grants for technology

Students at two Kalispell schools and a Polson elementary school should soon have new equipment to use in their classrooms after their teachers received grants from CenturyLink.

Rehberg starts web page to collect comments on Jesus statue

Rep. Denny Rehberg has launched a new web page to help facilitate public response to a pending Forest Service decision regarding the World War II era statue of Jesus on Big Mountain in Whitefish. 

Way-finding

Tourists looking for the city center may have a difficult time seeing the faded sign among the sea of other signs at the corner of Idaho and Main Street.

Peterson Performs to Prevent Bullying

Students raise signs they made for Bullying Prevention Rule 2: We will help students who are bullied. Different grades were asked to makes signs for one of the four rules. The other three rules are: Rule 1: We will not bully others. Rule 3: We will include students who are easily left out. Rule 4: We will tell an adult at school and an adult at home when we know someone is being bullied.

Paranormal art critic?

Cathi Spence sets out cards she is selling this weekend at the Christmas at the Mansion Craft and Gift Bazaar.

Nocturnal Illumination

Nocturnal Illumination Bright yellow leaves take on an erie glow in the light of a street lamp in Kalispell on Thursday night.

Line paves way for Flathead's potent offense

The Flathead Braves had just turned Missoula Sentinel away at the goal line.

Bulldogs at Stevi for Class A football playoffs

What a year a difference makes.

Bravettes march on to state semis in AA soccer

HELENA - The Flathead defense posted its 10th shutout of the season Thursday as the Bravettes topped Bozeman 2-0 to move on to the Class AA girls soccer semifinals.

Glacier boys lose to Bozeman in first round of state AA soccer

HELENA -  The Glacier boys soccer team fell behind early, fought back late and came up just short.

Judge allows expelled teen to return to school

Parents file lawsuit against school district

A judge has denied for now a request to prevent an alleged assailant in the Glacier High School football bus case from returning to school on Monday.

Flathead Lineman

From left, Brandon Beland, Terry Reynolds, Randy Holmquist, Tanner Thiel, Austin Jones, Gage Marcum, Nick Riley and Travis Oakason make up the Flathead High School offensive line.

Willis Robert 'Bob' James, 64

Willis Robert “Bob” James died Oct. 24, 2011. He was 64.

Pet-eating mountain lion

Barbara Steward and Jim Moellman pose with a mountain lion Moellman shot Saturday after the animal kept coming onto the Steward's porch.

Pet-eating mountain lion slain

A pet-eating mountain lion confronted by a college student armed only with a broom was killed near Plains last week — although not with the broom.

Fire torches Evergreen home

Flames shoot from the roof Thursday morning at the home of Richard “Butch” and Rose Brester on Dogwood Avenue in Evergreen.

Roberta E. Gould, 74

House not a total loss after morning blaze

Residents escaped without injury

A Thursday morning fire badly damaged a home on Dogwood Lane in Evergreen, but it wasn’t a total loss and no one was hurt.

Daniel Busick

Daniel Busick, 18, is helped by hospital personnel in Idaho Falls. Busick is being treated for major head injuries he sustained Sept. 30.

County to auction annex buildings

As various Flathead County government offices are moved back into the renovated courthouse, the county commissioners have decided to sell the two annex buildings at an public auction.

Teen recovering from head injury

When 18-year-old Daniel “Dano” Busick of Columbia Falls partially opened his eyes Oct. 15 — and when he smiled on Oct. 19 – his family knew he had the will to fight for his life.

Maybe a zombie? Or vampire?

The

Realtors raise money to buy toys for kids

Leslie Knuth, a retired Lakeside resident who runs the West Shore Food Bank, expects to have lots of children to shop for again this holiday season.

The Ballad of the USS Arizona by Marshall Catch

Stockpiling Leaves

Annika Mason, 6, and Adair Luikens, 11, both of Kalispell add leaves to a pile they are making so the girls can play on Thursday afternoon in Kalispell.

Dave Knaff

Painting the vault doors from the Courthouse is not a usual job for Dave Knaff, who normally paints vehicles for the county. But he says he did his best to be true to the original doors.

Evergreen House Fire

Evergreen firefighters Jared Pitcher, left, and Jackie Smith walk away from the site of a house fire on Thursday morning on Dogwood Avenue in Evergreen.

NICU Reunion

Stephanie and Michah Neason smile as they hold their 3 and a half month old daughter Freya on Wednesday evening at the reunion for children whose lives were saved because of the Neonatol Intensive Care Unit at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Freya was born five weeks premature and spent one month in the NICU.

Betty June Micone, 86

Hospital debuts new interventional suite

 In September, a wide range of procedures usually offered only at major medical centers became available at Kalispell Regional Medical Center with the installation of a new digital X-ray system.

Larry Jon Love, 71

Larry Jon Love, 71, passed away Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at his home in Kalispell.

Hearing delayed in 2010 murder case

A mental competency hearing for accused double murderer Tyler Miller was postponed Wednesday due to the unavailability of defense witnesses.

Soldier memorial to be unveiled Nov. 4

Grateful Nation Montana will unveil its Fallen Soldier Memorial at 5 p.m. Nov. 4 on the main campus of the University of Montana.

West-side road opens on Friday

The West-side Hungry Horse Reservoir Road (Forest Road 895) will reopen at noon on Friday, Flathead National Forest officials have announced. 

Pro-life group gathers signatures for amendment

The Montana ProLife Coalition has once again launched a petition drive for a personhood amendment to the state Constitution that would establish rights for the unborn.

Fight against statue ludicrous

Good for the Flathead National Forest in backing off its decision to kick a statue of Jesus Christ off national forest lands on the Big Mountain, rather than buckling under to the totalitarian demands of a Wisonsin-based group called the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Russell James Walter Sr., 71

Russell James Walter Sr., passed away peacefully of natural causes on Oct. 24, 2011, in Kalispell. He was 71 years old.

Donald James Doerschlag, 89

Donald James Doerschlag, 89, of Kalispell, died Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Home with his loving wife, Virginia, by his side.

Taylor Peterson

Taylor Peterson

28th Annual Christmas at the Mansion Decorating

Christmas at the Conrad

Reproduction glass ornaments by Christopher Radko add vintage flair to the decorations at the Conrad Mansion.

Tyler Miller

Tyler Miller, left, listens as defense attorney Noel Larrivee makes arguments Wednesday afternoon in Flathead District Court.

Origami Demonstratoin and Lesson

FVCC student and Master Folder Shuki Kato brought several of his intricate and complex origami pieces to a demonstration and lesson at FVCC October 20th and 25th at the Blake Hall Board Room.

Courthouse Customization

Courthouse Customization Pete Sifuentes, of Lakeside, works on custom pin striping for three vault doors which are being restored for the old courthouse on Wednesday morning in Kalispell. Sifuentes has been a custom sign maker for 35 years. He said that he would spend about 15 hours painting each door. "I look at this as working on a piece of history," said Sifuentes. "As an artist it is an honor and a privilege to restore something like this." Sifuentes went on to say that he enjoyed working on a project like this because it allows him to contribute something lasting to the community.

Turkey earthquake: Hundreds killed

Glacier vs Hellgate Volleyball

Glacier senior Shayna Atlee (30) hits the ball during the first game against Missoula Hellgate on Tuesday night in Kalispell. Glacier won the match 25 to 15.

State seeks $28 million for bypass completion

Federal grant sought for north half of project

The Montana Department of Transportation is in the hunt for $28 million in federal funding needed to build the northern half of the U.S. 93 Alternate Route on the west side of Kalispell.

Willis Robert 'Bob' James, 64

Thelma Helen Kleppen, 98

Ducks may get reprieve

By TOM LOTSHAWThe Daily Inter Lake

Katelyn Mackenzie 'KK' Roker, 6

Katelyn Mackenzie “KK” Roker, 6, died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, at home, in her mother's loving arms, surrounded by a devoted family.

Norman Oscar Caudill, Jr., 58

John W. Gordon, 92

John W. Gordon, 92, of Lewistown, and formerly of Kalispell, died Tuesday morning, Oct. 18, 2011, of natural causes at Valle Vista Manor.

Matt Iavicoli Profile

Matt Iavicoli (37) on the field for the Glacier Homecoming on Friday, October 14, in Kalispell.

Anti-religion group still wants Jesus statue removed

Although the Forest Service has rescinded its plan to evict a Jesus statue from federal land at Whitefish Mountain Resort, a spokeswoman for the Freedom From Religion Foundation still says the statue must go.

Order reprints of the Jesus statue photo HERE!

Halloween Preparations

Entrance to the Harry C. Keith House at he corner of Fifth Avenue E and Sixth Street in Kalispell has been decorated with a cemetery and other Halloween features as the Apgars prepare for their fifth year of hosting a haunted house for Monday night's Trick-Or-Treat.

Downtown Whitefish

Early morning sun shines on downtown Whitefish.

Columbia Falls downtown

Columbia Falls downtown.

Bigfork Downtown

Downtown Bigfork.

Paving progress

The last of the paving on Second Street and Central Avenue in Whitefish is finished Tuesday afternoon. Concrete work will continue this week to finish sidewalks and alley aprons. Work on the Second Street reconstruction is expected to wrap up for the season sometime in early to mid-November, according to City Manager Chuck Stearns. Separately, Central Avenue between First Street and Railway opened up Saturday, completing the final phase of that three-year downtown improvement project, Stearns said.

Downtow Kalispell

View of mainstreet from inside the Bookshelf on Wednesday, October 12, in downtown Kalispell.

How the doughnut rolls: A timeline

Here is a history of developments regarding the planning jurisdication outside Whitefish city limits.

Referendum could repeal 'doughnut' deal

A referendum aimed at repealing a 2010 planning agreement is part of the Whitefish city election that began last week when registered city voters get their ballots in the mail. 

Soccer event to Showcase area talent

O'Brien Byrd and a few of his soccer buddies on the Flathead Rapids have been kicking this idea around for at least a couple years.

Kalispell fugitive featured on 'Most Wanted'

A former Kalispell man who shot at Missoula County sheriff’s deputies before fleeing into the mountains west of Lolo in June is the subject of Saturday’s episode of “America’s Most Wanted.”

Teens charged with assault for bus incident

Two freshmen at Glacier High School have been charged with misdemeanor assault for their alleged roles in a Sept. 12 incident on a freshman football bus.

Couple feels lucky to have escaped blast

Gunshot may have caused explosion

Even though they lost their home to a powerful natural-gas explosion over the weekend, Art and Diane Wright feel very fortunate for the serendipitous circumstances that allowed them to escape harm.

Slow start for area hunters

Opening weekend of the big game hunting season was a bit slower than last year, judging from results at the six Northwest Montana game check stations.

Jobless rate below 10 percent

For the first time in a year, the unemployment rate has dropped below double digits in Flathead County.

Assaulted man taken to hospital

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a 56-year-old man being assaulted by several people behind a bar on Montana 35 in Evergreen at around 5 a.m. Sunday. The man had to be transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Beaver Lake closed after milfoil discovered

Beaver Lake north of Whitefish Lake was closed to public use Monday evening after Eurasian water milfoil was discovered in the lake.

Explosion Follow

Art and Diane Wright were both out of the house when it was destroyed by a gas explosion Saturday.

This Week in Pictures October 17-23

Title time for soccer; playoffs start for football

Champions in Class A and AA soccer will be crowned this weekend in Whitefish, Billings and Helena while football prepares for the first weekend of postseason action in the Class A, B, C (eight-man and six-man) ranks.

Pedestrian complains of paintball shooting

Saturday afternoon, a man told the

Dream proves prophetic

Registered Nurse Tischel Dagnoli, right, shows Amber Thornton and Don Lessor how to clean the mouth of their baby daughter Alexis Wednesday morning. Alexis was born with a mild cleft lip and palate and is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Mother's dream about baby proves prophetic

Infant born with cleft lip, palate

Amber Thornton, 26, had a recurring nightmare about her unborn baby's face.

Monday Profile

Chancy Jeschke, manager of the fishing department, sorts and prices gear on Friday afternoon at the Snappy Sport Senter in Kalispell.

Fixated on fishing: Snappy's angler extraordinaire is hooked on the sport

Lots of people love to fish, but Chancy Jeschke lives to fish.

A journey with grief

Cinnamon Hall of Kalispell holds an engraving of her husband, Dale, who died in 2008. Hall says it is one of her son's favorite things to take to the camps offered by Tamarack Grief Resource Center.

Tamarack Grief Resource Center expands programs, services

After her husband died in 2008, Cinnamon Hall contemplated how to help her two young sons deal with the loss of their father. She found guidance - and open arms - through Tamarack Grief Resource Center.

Girls soccer: Bulldogs, Wildkats fall in semifinals

HAMILTON - A dramatic Class A semifinal match ended in disappointment and defeat for the Whitefish girls soccer team Saturday.

Dogs, Pirates in state A boys soccer final

Whitefish's 5-4 Class A semifinal win over Frenchtown Saturday was undoubtedly fun for the fans.

Wildcats' Williams wins first Class A cross country title

MISSOULA - Derrick Williams is finally a state cross country champion.

Morley wins state cross country championship

Flathead's Perrin 2nd, Glacier's Fraley 5th at state cross country

MISSOULA - For juniors Zach Perrin of Flathead and Troy Fraley of Glacier, there is always next year.

Cougars state champs in soccer, volleyball

LAUREL - Another year, another title for the Stillwater Christian School boys soccer team.

House explosion

Gas explosion destroys a South Kalispell home Saturday afternoon.

Gas explosion destroys home

High school royalty

Local students crown homecoming kings, queens.

Book state-park campsites for next year

The public can now book campsite reservations at Montana state parks for 2012 online at stateparks.mt.gov or by phone at 1-855-922-6768 for the summer season that runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Judy Bea Mansfield, 64

Judy Bea Mansfield, 64, passed away on Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at home in Kalispell.

Whitefish doctor battles Lou Gehrig's disease

A 37-year-old physician in Whitefish is taking up the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, after being diagnosed with it in July.

Patricia Ann Fellers, 61

Patricia Ann Fellers, 61, passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 16, 2011, with her husband Ron and daughter Tracy by her side.

One percent logic; 99 percent bull

The Occupy Wall Street movement has been aptly described as “Anarchists for Totalitarianism.”

Flathead High School royalty

Seniors Jene Amundson and Natalie Griffin were crowned homecoming king and queen at Flathead High School’s Sept. 23 game.

Whitefish High School royalty

Whitefish High School seniors Michela Millette and Maxl Smith were crowned homecoming king and queen on Sept. 30.

Bigfork High School royalty

Taylor Peck, left, and Kevin Countie were crowned Bigfork High School’s homecoming king and queen at halftime during the Sept. 30 football game.

Columbia Falls High School royalty

Markie Reiten and Tayler Gress were voted the senior homecoming king and queen at Columbia Falls High School. They were crowned Sept. 23.

Sylvia Bloomer Carie, 104

Sylvia Bloomer Carie, 104, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

Gas explosion destroys southern Kalispell home

Neighbors felt their houses shake as an enormous gas explosion blew apart a house on the south side of Kalispell Saturday.

Lecture features Internet ethics

Flathead Valley Community College’s inaugural President’s Lecture Series continues  at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 with Deni Elliott presenting “Internet Ethics for Everybody.”

Glacier High School royalty

Seniors Alexa Lang and Shane St. Onge were crowned queen and king at Glacier High School’s Oct. 14 homecoming game.

Getting smart Co-op installs appliances to study efficiency

Flathead Electric Cooperative member Donna Hall said she loves the three new “smart” appliances the utility co-op installed in her home as part of a study to find the best ways to get 48,000 customers to reduce their peak time power demands.

Legacy of an American hero

The death of Elouise Cobell is nearly — but not quite — the end of a remarkable saga that began more than 100 years ago when the U.S. government put American Indians on reservations, made promises to manage fees and royalties on reservation lands, and then essentially stole the money.

Roundabout proposed at MT 35/206 junction

A public meeting on a proposed highway roundabout is 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Creston School.

CMR upends Flathead

C.M. Russell didn't just beat Flathead on Friday night.

Capital's fast start sinks Glacier

HELENA - Helena Capital scored on its first play from scrimmage, then held off a hard-charging Glacier Wolfpack for a 35-23 Class AA football victory on Friday night at Vigilante Stadium.

Dopps ties Bigfork's game mark with 5 TDs in win over Eureka

EUREKA - Cody Dopps tied Bigfork's single-game touchdown record by scoring five times Friday night as the Vikings defeated Eureka 49-7 in a District 7B football matchup.

C-Falls, Whitefish, Polson in Class A state soccer semifinals

The field has been trimmed to four teams as the Class A soccer playoffs continue for a second-straight weekend.

Individual, team titles up for grabs at state cross country meet

Glacier has never had an individual state champion in cross country.

Daybook

Local man files two campaign complaints

An outspoken Flathead Valley conservative has filed an ethics complaint against Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Dave Gallik and the teachers’ union, MEA-MFT, alleging violations of state campaign finance law.

Fifth-ranked Glacier falls to No. 1 Helena in volleyball

HELENA - The No. 5-ranked Glacier Wolfpack (5-5, 12-10) took the first set, but couldn't contain No. 1 Helena High after that. Helena defeated visiting Glacier 14-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-23 on Friday.

Bravettes bounce back by beating Capital, 3-1

HELENA - The Flathead Bravettes overcame a slow start to rally past the Helena Capital Bruins 21-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-16 in a Western AA volleyball match on Friday afternoon.

Stillwater volleyball, soccer in title games at MCAA state

LAUREL - Stillwater Christian School has advanced to the championship matches in volleyball and boys soccer at the Montana Christian Athletic Assocation state tournaments.

Flathead takes on C.M. Russell

Flathead junior Nick Iavicoli (37) dives to try to make a play on a pass intended for a C.M. Russell receiver at Legends Stadium Friday night.

Fly fishing on the Flathead

Robert Tebeau of Kalispell fly fishes Wednesday afternoon on the Flathead River east of Kalispell.

13-year-old cowboy a champion roper

Thirteen-year-old Lincoln May Jr. has quite a few roping wins under his belt buckle.

Man pleads not guilty to drug charges

A Columbia Falls man facing between five and 40 years in prison was arraigned in federal court Thursday in Missoula.

Muddy footprints a clue in break-in

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office received a report that someone broke into a shop on U.S. 2 East in Kalispell and tried to start a fire. The caller said he found muddy footprints at the scene.

WWII memorial statue of Jesus

A District Court judge has OK'd the Forest Service's decision to renew the permit for this statue of Jesus on Big Mountain in Whitefish, Montana. 

Jesus statue may be spared by Forest Service

The Flathead National Forest supervisor is withdrawing his earlier decision to deny a permit renewal for the memorial statue of Jesus Christ located on the Big Mountain, citing the statue's possible historical significance.

Police comb home, yard of missing baby

Chancy Jeschke Profile

Chancy Jeschke, manager of the fishing department, sorts and prices gear on Friday afternoon at the Snappy Sport Senter in Kalsispell.

Best Quality Resale

Harriet Rosen sorts through items in the kitchen section of Best Quality Resale in Evergreen. She and her husband, Mark, said one of the reasons they opened the store was to keep busy.

Construction of the new AutoZone Auto Parts Stores

From left, Dan and Norm Root of Root Masonry work on building the new AutoZone Auto Parts Stores at the site of the old King Buffet on Friday morning in Kalispell. AutoZone is among the leading auto parts retailers in America with more than 4,000 stores in the U.S.

Bengals defeat Bravettes in volleyball

HELENA - Hannah Sackett had 10 kills and Timi Severson had six blocks, but the Flathead Bravettes couldn't get past Kaitlyn Oliver and the Helena High Bengals in Western AA volleyball play on Thursday.

Glacier drops Capital in 3 sets

HELENA - Lexy Boschee had 14 kills and Emily Gilbertson had 16 digs as the Glacier Wolfpack (5-4) secured a home volleyball playoff spot on Thursday with a 25-20, 25-14, 25-20 victory over Helena Capital.

AA soccer: Bravettes knock out Wolfpack

When it counted the most, Joey Thiel was right on the money.

Glacier National's

Nationals' forward Austin Givens (21) stretches for puck during the Glacier's loss to Vancouver Thursday night at the Stumptown Ice Den.

Couple sentenced for animal cruelty conviction

In the presence of more than a dozen volunteers from the Flathead Spay & Neuter Task Force who helped take care of their more than 100 cats after they and the animals were rescued from snowbound trailers last December, Cheryl and Edwin Criswell were sentenced for their felony convictions of aggravated cruelty to animals Thursday evening.

'Native Vision' pairs professional theater with film

The Whitefish Theatre Co. presents a professional theater performance of “Native Vision” by Living Voices at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the O’Shaughnessy Center.

Whitefish townsfolk: City Hall should stay

Electronic poll taken on possible sites

The majority of people at a town meeting Thursday to study site options for a new City Hall in Whitefish believe a new facility should be rebuilt on the current City Hall site.

Lily Gladstone

Blackfeet actress Lily Gladstone stars in "Native Vision" at the O'Shaughnessy Center Oct. 28, a unique pairing of professional theater with archival film.

Man pleads innocent in restaurant incident

Carlos Seeley of Columbia Falls pleaded not guilty to felony charges of assault with a weapon, assault on a peace officer and intimidation Thursday in District Court.

HealthCenter receives MRI accreditation

The HealthCenter’s MRI department became the first in the state this week to receive American College of Radiology’s gold seal of accreditation in breast MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

Candidate hopes to benefit from crowded field

Former state Sen. Ken Miller from Laurel says he will benefit from the abundance of Republican gubernatorial candidates because he has been focused on face-to-face, grass-roots campaigning since June 2010.

Daybook

Pair plead innocent to chase charges

A pair of Kalispell men allegedly involved in a high-speed chase on Oct. 3 pleaded not guilty to separate sets of charges Thursday in District Court.

Thanks for Project Lifesaver

Flathead Valley families who care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia now have an extra measure of security available through Project Lifesaver.

Crosstown Girls Soccer

Flathead’s Jaclyn Rauthe (11) fights for possession of the ball with Glacier’s Abbe

Lincoln May Profile

Lincoln May practices roping on Streak, his Quarter Horse, on Wednesday afternoon, in Ferndale.

Moammar Gadhafi

Moammar Gadhafi

Longtime Libyan leader Gadhafi killed

Moammar Gadhafi, who ruled Libya with a dictatorial grip for 42 years until he was ousted by his own people in an uprising that turned into a bloody civil war, was killed Thursday when revolutionary forces overwhelmed his hometown, Sirte, the last major bastion of resistance two months after his regime fell.

Seeley Arraignment

Carlos William Seeley appears in court before Judge David Ortley on Thursday morning in Kalispell. Seeley entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment.

Armed robbery suspect pleads not guilty

Steven Dee Norred appears in court before Judge David Ortley on Thursday morning in Kalispell. Norred, who is accused in the Sept. 28 armed robbery of Glacier Bank in Lakeside, entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment.

Rosalez Arraignment

Joshua Allen Rosalez appears in court before Judge David Ortley on Thursday morning in Kalispell. Rosalez entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment.

Hermann Arraignment

Joshua Dale Hermann appears in court before Judge David Ortley on Thursday morning in Kalispell. Hermann entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment.

Stillwater Christian volleyball team seeks three-peat

C.F. Council candidate wants to do what he can to help

Darin Fisher, a trail builder for the U.S. Forest Service, is one of the five candidates running for three open seats on the Columbia Falls City Council.

Ballad earns band Pearl Harbor gig

It started as a call to a generation on the verge of war: Remember the Arizona.

Mountain Jesus in jeopardy

After being denied a permit renewal to keep a memorial statue of Jesus Christ on the Big Mountain, the Knights of Columbus have appealed the Flathead National Forest decision and garnered the support of Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg.

Man arrested after shooting incident

A Columbia Falls man faces a series of charges after he was arrested following an alleged shooting incident Tuesday night.

Group will need help getting to Hawaii

Getting to the Pearl Harbor Day 70th Anniversary Commemoration won’t be easy for four band members and their equipment, but Marshall Catch is determined to get to Hawaii — even if it means sleeping in tents on the beach for a few nights or forgoing bringing their own instruments and borrowing a guitar when they get to Honolulu.

Joby Bealmer

FFA students compete at nationals

Several Flathead FFA members are representing the district and state this week at the 84th Annual National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.

Hunting Season Begins on Saturday

A deer bounds away on Wednesday afternoon in Bigfork. Hunting season will start on Saturday.

Darin Fisher

Darin Fisher

Exotic animals on the loose

A sign warning motorists that exotic animals are on the loose rests on I-70 Wednesday, Oct. 19, near Zanesville, Ohio. Police with assault rifles stalked a mountain lion, grizzly bear and monkey still on the loose after authorities said their owner apparently freed dozens of wild animals and then killed himself.

Jack Hanna

FILE - This March, 2009 file photo, shows Jack Hanna in New York City for a taping with David Letterman. TV host and zookeeper Jack Hanna says he took his own advice and used pepper spray on grizzlies headed toward him in Montana's Glacier National Park on Saturday. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File)

Jack Hanna has another wild adventure

Marshall Catch

From left, Jared Denney, Aidan Foshay, Luke Lautaret and Aaron Danreuther make up the band Marshall Catch. The group will perform its song, “The Ballad of the USS Arizona,” at the Pearl Harbor Day 70th Anniversary Commemoration in December.

Burton Boxing

Shelly Burton, a former professional boxer, recently opened a gym in Kalispell.

Wesley R. Cobb, 48

Wesley R. Cobb, 48, of Columbia Falls, passed away Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, as a result of a tractor accident at his home.

Donald William Armstrong, 81

Polson man makes a sporting donation

Soccer: Braves ready for play-in game with Sentinel

Whitefish High School could get money from city

Council may tap TIF fund

The Whitefish City Council is willing to consider using a portion of the city’s tax increment finance district revenue to help make improvements to Whitefish’s aging high school.

Man kicks in door, knocks holes in walls

Officers with the

Elmer Gentry, 90

Treed bears escape into the dark

This bear cub, its three siblings and mother spent Monday up a tree near U.S. 93.

Four candidates vie for two seats on Bigfork board

The first contested race in a couple of decades has shaped up for two spots on the Bigfork water and sewer district board.

Duck owner runs afoul of city's fowl limits

A Kalispell ordinance that prohibits some livestock inside the city limits is running afoul of a Tenth Avenue West resident who said the city has told her to get rid of her ducks.

County sets Election Day schedule

The Flathead County Election Department will count votes in a different location for this year’s city elections because the main Courthouse in Kalispell remains closed for reconstruction.

Urban renewal plan expansion gathers support

The Kalispell City Council heard from several people who said they support expanding the West Side Urban Renewal Plan during a public hearing Monday night.

Food Bank thrift store has grand opening Thursday

Flathead Food Bank’s new thrift store, Second Helpings, celebrates its grand opening starting at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Virginia Averill, 89

Virginia Averill passed away peacefully at her home on Oct. 15, 2011.

Joy Anne Wayne, 54

Joy Anne Wayne, 54, died Oct. 13, 2011, at Alaska Regional Hospital, with her family by her side showing her all the caring and love she gave so generously to all others.

Christy Bower Profile

Christy Bower recently was named Writer of the Year by the American Christian Writer's Association.

Foggy river ducks

Ducks swim through early morning mist on Whitefish River Tuesday morning.

Street Cleaning

Kalispell city worker Mike Nelson cleans up leaves off the side of East Washington Street Tuesday afternoon.

This Week in Pictures October 10-16

AA boys soccer: Glacier's state trip on line at Big Sky

One and done, or one and in ... Glacier prefers the second scenario.

Karper wants to see the city maintain what it has

One of the longest-serving members on the Columbia Falls City Council, incumbent Doug Karper is one of five people running for three open seats this fall.

Critical areas law changes proposed

Ordinance may get a new name

Several key changes to Whitefish’s critical areas ordinance will be considered during a public hearing at the Whitefish City-County Planning Board meeting on Thursday.

Glacier adds new deputy superintendent, science chief

Two people have taken over top jobs in Glacier National Park.

John James William Kloeckl, 83

John James William Kloeckl, 83, died peacefully at his home on Oct. 16, 2011, following a hard-fought battle with cancer. “We praise our Father in Heaven that he is now resting peacefully.”

Eleanor Irene Halverson Fitzgibbons, 89

Eleanor Irene Halverson Fitzgibbons, 89, passed away on Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

County applying new rules to trail grant requests

New rules are in place for developing recreation trails with money allocated to Flathead County.

Mary Ann Axline, 82

Mary Ann Axline of Columbia Falls passed away Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

One Vehicle Rollover

Sheriff's deputies Eric Morrison, left, and Alan Brooks circle a one vehicle rollover accident on Monday evening. Three people were injured, one serious, in the accident on Somers Stage Road south of Kalispell.

Order photo reprints of bears in tree

This link points to thew website where you can buy reprints of Daily Inter Lake photos that show the five bears spotted in a tree Monday.

Five bears in a tree stop traffic on U.S. 93

Perched high up in a birch tree just off U.S. 93 on Monday, a mother black bear with four cubs became quite a distraction for passing motorists, causing a hazardous "bear jam" that required continuous attention from the Montana Highway Patrol.

Black Bears

A mother and four cubs take refuge in a tree near US 93 just south of Whitefish on Monday morning. The bears quickly drew a crowd as both sides of the highway were lined with parked cars and people stopping to take photos.

Samantha Johnson

Samantha Johnson 

Native American leader Elouise Cobell dies at 65

HELENA (AP) - Elouise Cobell, the Blackfeet woman who led a 15-year legal fight to force the U.S. government to account for more than a century of mismanaged Indian land royalties, died Sunday. She was 65.

Harvey Reikofski Jr.

Harvey Reikofski Jr.

Doug Karper

Doug Karper 

Darin Fisher

Darin Fisher

Police tell motorcyclist that child needs helmet

Saturday evening, a motorcycle driver was reported for driving at a high rate of speed on Airport Road with a young child not wearing a helmet sitting on the tank in front of him. The

Monday Profile

Gene Thompson sits in his workshop on Tuesday morning in Evergreen.

Retired firefighter still going strong at age 80

Thompson heads state Landlords Association

At 80, former fire marshal and firefighter Gene Thompson fights mostly political flare-ups as the very active local chapter and state president of the Montana Landlords Association.

Path of destruction

Gene Doty, 76, was Kalispell fire marshal during a rash of arson-caused fires in 1976 and 1977.

Whitefish utility rate plan would tap snowbirds

A proposal to establish a year-round monthly base rate for all city utility users will be considered during a public hearing tonight at the Whitefish City Council meeting.

Whitefish studies $42 million in special spending

The Whitefish City Council tonight will begin mapping out a plan for how to spend millions of dollars in projected tax increment finance district revenue over the next decade.

Julie Plevel

C.F. incumbent Plevel hopes to continue serving community

Lisa Marie Petersen

Lisa Marie Petersen, 41

Lisa Marie Petersen, 41, passed away in Kalispell on Oct. 14, 2011, after a courageous two-year battle with oral cancer.

Ballot guide to doughnut fight

The power struggle between Flathead County and the city of Whitefish for planning control of the two-mile "doughnut" outside of Whitefish has become a political tsunami that has left both sides awash in frustration and uncertainty.

Cruise control: Kiser, Delventhal both score 5 goals as Wildkats down Loyola, 13-0

COLUMBIA FALLS - Maybe it was a statement. Maybe the Wildkats were winning one for their coach. Or maybe the Columbia Falls girls soccer team is just that good.

Bulldogs move on to semis in state soccer

WHITEFISH - The Whitefish boys soccer team continues to impress veteran coach O'Brien Byrd.

Glacier 2nd for 3rd straight year at Missoula volleyball

MISSOULA - Make that three straight.

Bigfork's Olson divisional run champion

PABLO - Chelsea Olson, who has run in the shadow of Makena Morley all season, had her moment to shine on Saturday at the Western B divisional.

Williams, Whitefish boys retain cross country divisional titles

POLSON - Derrick Williams won his second straight Northwestern A divisional cross country title on Saturday.

Bravettes shut out Helena High in soccer

Flathead wrapped up a successful girls soccer regular season by blanking Helena High 2-0 on Saturday at Kidsports Complex.

Passion for percussion: Longtime local drummer opens retail store in Kalispell

Rob Spencer’s lifelong love of drumming has turned into a full-time business.

Are you really for revolution?

“This is WHAT democracy looks like,” chanted about 1,000 protesters as they plotted their Occupy Philadelphia strategy a couple of weeks ago.

Couple hikes 80 miles in Bob Marshall honeymoon

Jennifer and Nemanja Cobet came up with the recipe for a perfect honeymoon: Combine hunger, blisters and a few bears into an 80-mile hike including climbing 9,000 feet and fording freezing cold rivers.

Kalispell candidate forum planned

Tuesday’s monthly Kalispell Chamber of Commerce luncheon includes a question-and-answer forum with candidates running for the Kalispell City Council.

Control of 'doughnut' area uncertain

Referendum could repeal city-county joint agreement

A referendum aimed at repealing a 2010 planning agreement will be part of the Whitefish city election that begins this week when registered city voters get their ballots in the mail.

How the doughnut rolls: A timeline

Here is a history of developments regarding the planning jurisdication outside Whitefish city limits.

Honeymoon

The Chinese Wall, a natural rock outcropping, stretches for miles in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Newlyweds Jennifer and Nemanja Cobet spent a week hiking in the Bob for their honeymoon, because both enjoy backpacking and minimalist hiking.

Diocese responds to child-abuse allegations

On Wednesday, Sept. 21, local reporters informed the Diocese of Helena that a press conference had taken place at a Helena motel. The main focus was allegations of child abuse, said to have taken place decades ago mostly at the historic mission school in St. Ignatius, Mont., staffed by the Oregon Province of Jesuits and the Ursuline Sisters, a community of women religious.

Hiker covers every mile of park trails

Three pairs of shoes and 734 miles later, Jake Bramante emerged from Lincoln Lake trailhead as the first person in recent history to have hiked every Glacier National Park trail in one season.

Incumbent wants to keep C.F. costs down

Woman assaulted at bar on Airport Road

The

Jake Bramante Completes His Hike 734 Project

Jake Bramante crossing through a make-shift finish line on Saturday at the Lincoln Lake trailhead in Glacier National Park. Bramante estimates that he has covered approximate 1200 miles in his quest to hike all 734 miles of trail in Glacier National Park. When asked what he was going to do next summer Bramante said he would like to hike Waterton Lake National Park of Canada.

Jake Bramante

Jake Bramante of Kalispell, is greeted by family and friends as he exits the Lincoln Lake trail on Saturday in Glacier National Park. With this final hike Bramante became the first person known to have hiked all 734 miles of trails in Glacier National Park in a single year.

Columbia Falls vs. Loyola Girls Soccer

Columbia Falls senior McKenzie Kiser (right) drives toward the net under pressure from Loyola junior Caelin Miltko during their Class A state soccer first-round playoff match on Saturday afternoon in Columbia Falls.

AA football: Glacier drops Great Falls

Just when it was needed the most and just in the nick of time.

Braves drop 3rd straight in football

BOZEMAN - Defending Class AA state champion Bozeman didn't look like a team with just one win and its quarterback didn't look like a sophomore.

Bravettes blank Bruins in AA soccer

Flathead coach Scott Warnell was ready to settle for a scoreless tie after 70-plus minutes of physical play on Friday.

Glacier spikers unbeaten at Missoula Invitational

MISSOULA - Glacier defeated Helena High, Missoula Hellgate, Libby, C.M. Russell, Polson and Columbia Falls to finish on top of the Hellgate Pool at the Missoula Invitational volleyball tournament on Friday.

Transmitter bracelets help cops locate at-risk people

A technology originally developed to locate stolen vehicles will now help Flathead County law enforcement agencies locate missing Alzheimer’s and dementia patients as well as children with autism and Down syndrome.

Glacier vs. Great Falls

Glacier defensive back Evan Epperly (20) moves in to tackle Great Falls running back Robert Hubka (21) during first-half play Friday night.

Micah Raymond Johnston

Micah Raymond Johnston, son of Jeremy and Jessica Johnston of Kalispell, was born July 20 at North Valley Hospital.

Asher Aaron McPherson

Asher Aaron McPherson, son of Aaron and Carrie McPherson of Whitefish, was born July 11 at North Valley Hospital.

Property crime on the rise in Flathead County

A door ajar, personal belongings rummaged through, valuables missing — property crime is a violation of privacy and security, and it is on the rise in Flathead County.

Cole David Chin

Cole David Chin, son of Wes and Amanda Chin of Kila, was born July 15 at North Valley Hospital.

Michael Wood

Michael Wood, son of Jonathan and Kitch Wood of Kalispell, was born July 21 at North Valley Hospital.

Brittney Mahree Kelley

Brittney Mahree Kelley, daughter of Levi and Elizabeth Kelley of Seeley Lake, was born July 11 at North Valley Hospital.

Blake Nicole Ruta

Blake Nicole Ruta, daughter of Scott and Erica Ruta, was born July 14 at North Valley Hospital.

Brielle Rose Downing

Brielle Rose Downing, daughter of Jeremy and Cameron Downing of Martin City, was born July 19 at North Valley Hospital.

Arianna Lynn Guinnane

Arianna Lynn Guinnane, daughter of John and Amanda Guinnane of Kalispell, was born July 21 at North Valley Hospital.

Zoey Jeschke

Zoey Jeschke, daughter of Jenny and Kyle Jeschke of Columbia Falls, was born July 20 at North Valley Hospital.

Tia Nicole Gerke

Tia Nicole Gerke, daughter of Russell Gerke and Cameo Hener of Kalispell, was born July 10 at North Valley Hospital.

Pyper Lee Barnes

Pyper Lee Barnes, daughter of Scott Barnes and Nycole Edwards of Coram, was born July 7 at North Valley Hospital.

Urijah George Eckhardt

Urijah George Eckhardt, son of Tyson and Kimberly Eckhardt, was born July 18 at North Valley Hospital.

Flynn Aaron Badley

Flynn Aaron Badley, son of Jeremy and April Badley of Kalispell, was born July 7 at North Valley Hospital.

Kiarra Amani Williams

Kiarra Amani Williams, daughter of Shawn and Brittaney Williams of Columbia Falls, was born July 11 at North Valley Hospital.

Zalana Lee Sizemore-Wobschall

Zalana Lee Sizemore-Wobschall, daughter of Trent Wobschall and Frankie Sizemore of Kalispell, was born July 18 at North Valley Hospital.

Former state road boss joins gov. race

Former Montana Department of Transportation director and Kalispell businessman Jim Lynch has announced he will be a Republican candidate for governor, joining eight other GOP hopefuls.

Tyrus James Harris

Tyrus James Harris, son of Aaron Harris and Jessica Cushman, was born July 18 at North Valley Hospital.

J.J. Stephens

J.J. Stephens, son of Rob and Amanda Stephens of Kalispell, was born July 20 at North Valley Hospital.

Ozel Lee Peters

Ozel Lee Peters, daughter of Paul and Teauna Peters of Whitefish, was born July 19 at North Valley Hospital.

Cassidy Lee McLean

Cassidy Lee McLean, daughter of Nathan and Autumn McLean of Kalispell, was born July 24 at North Valley Hospital.

Polson vaulter eyes 2012 Olympics

POLE VAULTER Melinda Owen has her sights set on the U.S. Olympic Trials next summer.

Asher Benjamin Dyck

Asher Benjamin Dyck, son of Tyler and Jessi Dyck of Kalispell, was born July 11 at North Valley Hospital.

Caroline Marcia Corinne Fraser

Caroline Marcia Corinne Fraser, daughter of Chris and Cortney Fraser of  Kalispell, was born July 10 at North Valley Hospital.

Jack Gerald Price

Jack Gerald Price, son of Ryan and Liz Price, was born July 16 at North Valley Hospital.

Girl says friend spiked her drink

The

Blayke Holly Timmons

Blayke Holly Timmons, daughter of Brad Timmons and Chanel Laugen, was born July 7 at North Valley Hospital.

Prescribed burning could start Monday 

The Tally Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest is planning to manage up to 80 units with prescribed fire this fall. 

Charles William Hagemeier

Charles William Hagemeier, son of Jeff and Heidi Hagemeier of Kalispell, was born July 8 at North Valley Hospital.

Ryder Jameson Hagen

Ryder Jameson Hagen, son of Eric and Chelsea Hagen of Kalispell, was born July 18 at North Valley Hospital.

Gene Doty Profile

Gene Doty in his home in Kalispell on Friday afternoon.

Anthony Gugliuzza

Glacier's senior wide receiver Anthony Gugliuzza (85) tries to escape a tackle during the crosstown football game Legends Stadium .

Glacier boys lose to Helena High

Glacier's Nate Higgins (19) and Helena High's Dylan Allen (4) fight for position near the sideline during Glacier's 2-0 loss to Helena High Friday afternoon.

Project Lifesaver

Flathead County Search and Rescue Coordinator Brian Heino demonstrates a new mobile locator system called Project Lifesaver Friday afternoon. The project helps locate people who may wander off, such as those with Alzheimer’s or autism.

Gene Thompson Profile

Gene Thompson sits in his work shop on Tuesday morning in Evergreen.

If you were a resident of Whitefish, who would you support for mayor?

Stillwater bounces C-Falls

COLUMBIA FALLS - It helps when you've been there before.

Football Preview: Bison vs. Wolfpack

TODAY: Great Falls High (3-4) at No. 4 Glacier (7-1).

Football preview: Braves vs. Hawks

Tonight's opponent: Bozeman High (1-6)

Flathead runners on top

Flathead runners topped the boys and girls divisions as the Braves and Bravettes won both team titles at the Glacier Invitational cross country meet at Kidsports Complex on Thursday.

Bulldogs hope to roll into Class A football playoffs

Beating Columbia Falls last Friday night 14-6 in the rain in Columbia Falls was huge for Whitefish's football team on several fronts.

Columbia Falls vs. Stillwater Christian volleyball

Jade LeGassey of Stillwater Christian School passes the ball during the first set of Thursday evening’s nonconference volleyball match against Columbia Falls.

Wise: 'We need to change our attitude'

It was the town's sense of community, not its resort status, that drew Doug Wise to Whitefish.

An apple a day

From left, Jeffrey Funk pedals as Seth Axelsen and his 10-year-old son, Daylan, feed apples into a grinder Wednesday afternoon at Funk’s home in Bigfork. Funk made the three-sink bath and grinder to run soley on self-generated power and using items found at the dump. Funk will be bringing the grinder and apple press to the Community Cider Press Saturday at noon on the deck of La Provence in Bigfork. The event, sponsored by the Essential Stuff Project, is free and open to the public. Those who wish to participate are asked to bring containers and rinsed apples.

Don't mute bands at games

The Montana High School Association hit a note of discord with marching band fans when it recently set limits on the amount of time bands are allowed to play during high school football games.

Board supports annexation plan

Kalispell City Planning Board members voted 5-0 on Tuesday to recommend the city annex the 19.77-acre Kalispell Armed Forces Reserve Center on U.S. 93.

Shirley Wilhelmina Reiten Spencer, 85

Shirley Wilhelmina Reiten Spencer, 85, passed away at Immanuel Lutheran Home on Oct. 13th, 2011, with her family at her side. 

Hiker deters charging griz with bear spray

What a difference pepper spray can make. That’s the confirmed thinking of Dan Kotter after he recently deterred a charging grizzly bear in the Great Bear Wilderness while working on a bear population research project.

Cops can't find sick, bloody man

The

Bigfork named top community for children

Bigfork has been named one of the nation’s best communities for young people.

Grant applications sought by education foundation

The Kalispell Education Foundation is seeking grant applications from Kalispell teachers.

Emily Murdock

Cross Country

Flathead’s Zach Perrin pulls ahead of the pack early in a cross country meet on Thursday afternoon at Kidsports Complex.

Community Cider Press at Tamarack Time

Daylan Axelsen, 10, of Kalispell, rinses apples as he and his family prepare to help Jeffrey Funk grind and then press apples on Wednesday afternoon in Bigfork.

General Hunting Season Opens Saturday October 22

A deer blends well with the colors of a fall field on Wednesday, October 13, north of Bigfork. General Hunting Season will open for deer and elk on Saturday, October 22.

'Restorative' meeting planned for parents

Parents of students involved in the Sept. 12 Glacier High School football-team incident have been invited to a "restorative meeting" on Sunday.

Football: Sherwood is Flathead's deep threat

Bravettes feeling great after Spokane tournament

Bring on the Helena High Bengals - or anybody else who'd like to play volleyball.

Vail wants to preserve family-friendly nature of Whitefish

Mary Vail says her focus for improving Whitefish begins with finding ways for families to flourish.

Full spectrum of fall color

A rainbow peeks out over the Flathead River on Wednesday afternoon east of Kalispell.

Cadence Timothy McMullin

Cadence Timothy McMullin, son of Michael and Trenna McMullin of Kalispell, was born June 29 at North Valley Hospital.

WHS rebuild just too costly?

On paper, the design for a brand new Whitefish High School looks good, but that’s where it should stay — on paper.

Caidan Brian Kingsbury

Caidan Brian Kingsbury, son of Brian and Haven Kingsbury of Columbia Falls, was born July 1 at North Valley Hospital.

Anna Edel MacLean

Anna Edel MacLean, daughter of David and Niki MacLean of Whitefish, was born June 30 at North Valley Hospital.

Joseph Ramon Tullis

Joseph Ramon Tullis, son of Ricky and Katy Tullis of Eureka, was born July 1 at North Valley Hospital.

Andi Mae Crowley

Andi Mae Crowley, daughter of Jeremiah and Christina Crowley of Kalispell, was born June 29 at North Valley Hospital.

Singer home for symphony show

Emily Murdock vividly remembers the moment she decided to become an opera singer.

Tenzin Warner Nels Stensland

Tenzin Warner Nels Stensland, son of Dan and Kat Stensland of Kila, was born July 18 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Keller Rye Sawtelle

Keller Rye Sawtelle, son of Eric and Camisha Sawtelle of Whitefish, was born June 27 at North Valley Hospital.

Skylar Hawxhurst

Skylar Hawxhurst, son of Scott Hawxhurst and Melissa Sladek of Columbia Falls, was born July 7 at North Valley Hospital.

Hadley Elizabeth Hopkins

Hadley Elizabeth Hopkins, daughter of Brock Hopkins and Kaitlyn Lawson of Martin City, was born June 29 at North Valley Hospital.

Morgan Daniel Lucas

Morgan Daniel Lucas, son of Mark and Monica Lucas of Whitefish, was born June 23 at North Valley Hospital.

J. Willard Lybeck, 80

J. Willard Lybeck, 80, passed away peacefully at his home in Kalispell, surrounded by his wife and three generations of his family.

Koda Allen Hagadone

Koda Allen Hagadone, son of Rose Hagadone of Kalispell, was born July 18 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Gianna Mia Mitchell

Gianna Mia Mitchell, daughter of Robert and Molly Mitchell of Whitefish, was born July 1 at North Valley Hospital.

Jason Serge Lazukin

Jason Serge Lazukin, son of Sergey and Alla Lazukin of Kalispell, was born June 17 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Riley Evalynn Rose Galassi

Riley Evalynn Rose Galassi, daughter of Tony Galassi and Maia Daigle, was born June 22 at North Valley Hospital.

Emalynn Grace Sterling

Emalynn Grace Sterling, daughter of Michael and Sheena Sterling of Kalispell, was born June 30 at North Valley Hospital.

Whitefish Doughnut

OVERSIGHT of the area outside Whitefish has been the subject of a decade-long tug of war between Whitefish and Flathead County.

Crosstown Football

Flathead's senior wide receiver George Sherwood (11) goes up for a pass during the crosstown football game at Legends Stadium Friday night.

George Sherwood

Flathead's senior wide receiver George Sherwood (11) runs off the field after scoring a touchdown during the crosstown football game against Glacier at Legends Stadium Sept. 30.

Roberta Johnston

Roberta 'Bobbi' Johnston, 84

Roberta "Bobbi" Johnston, 84, "passed from this life" Oct. 6, 2011, in her home in Blackfoot, Idaho, with her family at her side.

Student in bus incident expelled until Oct. 28

A Glacier High School freshman has been expelled until the end of the quarter for his role in an alleged assault on a football bus.

Thrift-store operation ends for season at county landfill

The pilot thrift-shop collection program at the Columbia Falls green-box site has wrapped up for the season.

Eagles' rest

Two bald eagles perch in a tree near Foy’s Lake southwest of Kalispell.

Roberta 'Bobbi' Johnston, 84

Philip Joseph Ryan, 54

Connie McCown Hensley, 77

Church zoning change gains final approval

A long-debated zone change for an Evergreen church gained final approval from the Flathead County commissioners last week.

Man at accident scene appeared drunk

Gregory Wayne Bothun, 58

Tester joins GOP in halting jobs bill

Drum Den

Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake Rob Spencer, owner of Drum Den, has been playing drums since he was 12 years old.

Cath the Vision Artist Opening Thursday at the Hockaday

Liz Moss, executive director and curator for the Hockaday Museum of Art, hangs work by Mayla Stufft of Somers, the artist who won the 2010 Catch the Vision: From Dreams to Discovery emerging artist competition, in preparation for the opening reception tomorrow night at the Hockaday starting at 5 p.m. According to Moss the goal for this year is to really encourage emerging artists who are still in school, either high school students looking to build their portfolio for college applications or college students who want to build their resume's for when they approach professional galleries. Those interested in entering the contest should go to www.hockadaymuseum.org and apply online. The deadline for submissions for this year's contest is December 1. The next exhibition will open January 5.

Glacier football practice

Center Chase Eisenzimer (69) yells calls to the offensive line during practice at Glacier High School on Thursday afternoon.

Glacier lineman

Mack Sutherland (72) blocks teammate Noah James (4) during practice at Glacier High School on Thursday afternoon.

Focus and Strength: Soo Bahk Do combines spirituality and skill

Brotherhood in the trenches

Some guys are born to command the spotlight. Some get their names and numbers announced on nearly every down.

Whitefish resort scenic lift reopens

Nearly four months after a slumping slope shut down Chair One at Whitefish Mountain Resort, the chairlift is ready for the winter season and will be open on Saturday for scenic lift rides from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Raffle winner collects coveted pickup truck

Twenty dollars was all it took for Gene and Jackie Lenz of Kalispell to win a 2011 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.

Noell wants to protect Whitefish's quality of life

There's no time like the present to get involved in city government, Life Noell maintains.

Man arrested for slicing open packages

Someone on U.S. 93 called the

Power outage snarls Kalispell traffic

A power outage Monday afternoon left homeowners, businesses - and traffic lights - without electricity at the north end of Kalispell.

Power Outage

Kalispell Police Officer A.J. McDonnell directs traffic at the intersection of U.S. 93 and Reserve Drive Monday afternoon after a power outage caused several traffic lights to fail.

This Week in Pictures October 3-9

Mary Vail

Mary Vail

Life Noell

Life Noell

Frank Sweeney

Frank Sweeney

Doug Wise

Doug Wise

John Muhlfeld

John Muhlfeld

Muhlfeld vows to work for 'common benefit' of citizens

Balance figures prominently into John Muhlfeld’s view of city government. It’s something Whitefish needs and he feels equipped to deliver if elected mayor.

Turner Askew

Turner Askew

John Anderson

John Anderson

Swanson first in 30th Le Grizz 50 Mile Ultramarathon

Seth Swanson of Missoula was the overall winner of the 30th Le Grizz 50 Mile Ultramarathon on Saturday. Swanson's time - 5 hours, 57 minutes and 39 seconds.

Monday Profile

Natalie Norrell works on a page for her journal on Monday afternoon in Kalispell. She uses art therapy to help people of all ages improve their physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Art therapist uses creative process to help clients

Natalie Norrell sees the healing effects of art on a daily basis.

911 caller claims police stole his pot

A man on Woodland Avenue called the

Thinking Pink: Campaign focuses on saving lives

As leaves turn gold, Save a Sister turns the Flathead pink in the annual October crusade to boast breast cancer awareness among women as well as men.

Paint the Flathead Pink

Jan Brazda pulls individual balloons out of the tangle as she and other Save A Sister volunteers help to Paint the Flathead Pink on Wednesday morning in downtown Kalispell.

Thinking Pink: Research changes breast-cancer treatment

Calling October the month of pink, local breast surgeon Dr. Melissa Hulvat launched into an update on groundbreaking studies and her work at the Bass Breast Center at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Whitefish seeks public input on City Hall options

After the Whitefish City Council last month put the brakes on choosing a site for a new City Hall, city officials now are gathering public comments.

Connie Hensley

Connie Hensley, 77

Connie McCown Hensley, 77, of Kalispell, a devoted wife, cherished mother, grandmother and treasured friend, passed away Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, lovingly surrounded by her family at their summer home in Lakeside.

Hildner ready to put government knowledge to work

ELECTION 2011: Whitefish City Council

Richard Hildner

Ruby Conner

Ruby Conner, 88

Ruby Doraine Victoria Conner passed away on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at the Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center in Whitefish. Ruby was born Oct. 19, 1922, to Victor and Aldina (Pearson) Roos.

Williams, Osborne lead way for C-Falls runners

WHITEFISH - Columbia Falls snapped up both individual titles and a team trophy on a near-perfect day for the Wildcats/Wildkats at the Whitefish Cross Country Meet on Saturday at the WHS Campus Course.

Glacier spikers get 1st home win over Sentinel

Lexy Boschee picked a great moment Saturday to play her best volleyball.

Volleyball: Bravettes 3rd in Crossover Classic

SPOKANE, Wash. - The teams at the Crossover Classic volleyball tournament may not have known anything about the Flathead Bravettes before Saturday's tournament, but it's a cinch to say they'll definitely remember the Bravettes for next year.

Eureka spikers stick 1st loss on Stillwater

EUREKA - The Eureka Lions snapped Stillwater Christian's 24-game winning streak in five sets Saturday.

Bravettes, Sentinel tie in soccer

MISSOULA - Malia Ozegovich scored after a pass from Bailie Poe and the Bravettes played to a 1-1 draw with Missoula Sentinel in a Western Class AA soccer contest on Saturday.

Spear hunting? Well, why not?

Hoorah! Hunting season is here. Deer tags, elk tags, supertags, waterfowl stamps, rejection letters from FWP, all the things that make the season what it is! Bow season, bear season, bird season, rifle season — all either open now or soon to be. Mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, grandparents, cousins, friends, rivals out in force for the next two months or so, spending time with each other, building relationships, and if fortunate, filling the freezer or the empty wall above the fireplace.

Askew concerned about Whitefish's lack of growth

Whitefish City Council member Turner Askew has spent the past four years cautioning fellow councilors to be mindful of the “unintended consequences” of their decisions. It’s a practice he aims to continue if elected mayor of Whitefish.

Expanding TIF makes sense

The clock is ticking on Kalispell’s much-discussed Westside Tax Increment Financing District.

Are the conditions ready for revolution?

So at last we have come full circle. The revolution that started on the streets four decades ago, then went underground, has returned to the streets once again.

United Way tries to help 'hurting' neighbors

 As the United Way kicks off its annual fundraising drive, many member agencies are facing huge increases in the need for their services, some as much as 40 or 50 percent over last year.

A work in progress: Cooper's dining room open; second-floor project under way

After six years and 10 different building designs, Cooper’s Eatery & Drinkery has emerged as a prominent downtown Whitefish “upscale casual” restaurant and lounge in the former Truby’s Wood Fired Pizza location.

Dolores B. Hileman, 84

Dolores B. Hileman died peacefully of natural causes, in Kalispell, on Oct. 6, 2011.

Richard Raymond Bosnak, 68

Richard “went home to be with the Lord” on Oct. 5, 2011, after losing his battle with cancer at home surrounded by his family.

Candidate pushes economic development

Flathead County's chip-sealing costs remain affordable

It was a good summer road construction season for Flathead County’s road crew, Public Works Director Dave Prunty told commissioners last week.

Whitefish Invitational

Columbia Falls senior Derrick Williams crosses the finish line in first place at the Whitefish Cross Country Meet on the Whitefish High School Campus Course on Saturday morning. Williams won by 31 seconds with a time of 15:31.

No. 4 Capital crushes Flathead

For the first time this season, the Braves had nowhere to run.

Glacier stops Sentinel in OT

MISSOULA - Glacier found a way to get it done - again.

Whitefish upends Columbia Falls

COLUMBIA FALLS - Maximilian Smith ran 5 yards for a touchdown and Christopher Forrest teamed up with Logan Harwood on a 35-yard scoring strike as Whitefish picked up its first Northwestern A football victory of the season with a 14-6 triumph over rival Columbia Falls on Friday.

Hellgate boys, girls sink Wolfpack in soccer

MISSOULA - Glacier managed to score two goals despite some adverse playing conditions Friday afternoon, but it wasn't quite enough as Missoula Hellgate sailed off with a 3-2 Western AA boys soccer victory.

Whitefish Oktoberfest

Several women participate in the stein-holding contest at Oktoberfest at Depot Park in Whitefish on Friday evening.

Helena Capital defeats Flathead High School

Flathead  senior  running back Juston Windom (27) is stopped in his tracks by three Bruins defenders during Flathead’s loss to Helena Capital at Legends Stadium on Friday night.

Candidate aims to help police combat crime

It's been a year of firsts for 49-year-old Cecilia Lee. 

Glacier Jazz Stampede

David and Suzanne Joseph of Falls Church, Va., dance at the Kalispell Center Mall on Friday afternoon at a free concert by the Rocky Mountain Rhythm Kings as part of the annual Glacier Jazz Stampede. The couple has driven to Kalispell for the festival for the last seven years. The festival continues today and Sunday at the Red Lion Hotel and the Eagles Lodge.

Dolores B. Hileman, 84

Richard Raymond Bosnak, 68

Ruth Leonard, 69

Whitefish High School: Latest design unveiled for new school

The latest design for a proposed new Whitefish High School would involve a $19 million, 120,000-square-foot facility.

North Valley Eagles give $59,000 to charities

North Valley Eagles Aerie 4081 of Columbia Falls took a look at today’s economy and decided to give generously to local charities.

Ex-girlfriend accused of assault with bat

The

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Toyota Winner

Gene Lenz smiles as he remembers the night he got the call that he had won the raffle for the Toyota Tacoma (in background).

Gene Riffle - Jackie Bushman Sweepstakes Winner

Gene Riffle sorts through a bag of Scent-Lok gear he recently won as part of a sweepstakes through the Jackie Bushman Show.

Candidate ready to 'jump in' to solve problems

Phil Guiffrida III is one of two political newcomers vying for a Ward Four seat on Kalispell City Council that incumbent Duane Larson is leaving after 21 years in office.

Randy Kenyon

Randy Kenyon

Phil Guiffrida III

Phil Guiffrida III

Cecilia Lee

Cecilia Lee

Volleyball: Bravettes streak by Wolfpack

Cross country: Glacier's Fraley, Bigfork's Morley win in Helena

Soccer: Columbia Falls, Whitefish girls tie

Crosstown Volleyball

Flathead's Emma Andrews (left), Kwyn Johnson (21), Emily Russell (right), and Cassie Krueger (19), celebrate during game two of their crosstown volleyball matchup with Glacier on Thursday at Flathead High School.

Ewald George 'Dutch' Kassner, 85

E.G. “Dutch” Kassner, 85, passed away of natural causes, on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, after a six month decline in his health.

Group transforms sick girl's bedroom

While designers were busy redoing her bedroom in Kalispell, Katelyn Roker was in a hospital 250 miles away fighting for her life.

Daybook

'Raising Cain' on the GOP list

As a conservative, I’d like to comment on the Republican candidates who have participated in the presidential debates thus far. I will focus my attention on viable or, at least potentially viable, candidates and eliminate Rick Santorum, Gary Johnson and Jon Huntsman.

Court upholds ruling in local assault case

The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a decision made in a criminal assault case in Flathead District Court.

Teresa Lynne Archibald Cook Allison, 70

Duo will play local farewell show

Terra Marotz and Stephen Fairweather, the electronic pop duo Terabyte and the Battery Eaters, play Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the Craggy Range.

County will poll 'doughnut' residents

Flathead County commissioners decided Thursday to conduct a poll of property owners in the two-mile zone surrounding Whitefish, in spite of some opposition to the plan.

Natalie Norrell Profile

Natalie Norrell works on a page for her altered journal on Monday afternoon in Kalispell.

Read for the Record

Sue Rolfing of the Great Northern Ranch reads Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney to kindergarden students on Thursday afternoon at Peterson Elementary as part of their Read for the Record program which focuses on the importance of early education. In addition to reading the book Sue and her husband Steve Rolfing brought Audacity, an 18 month old Llama from their ranch for the students to see. In September Kalispell Public Schools announced that it would take part in Jumpstart's Read for the Record. Children and adults across the nation are reading this book and trying to set two new records; largest shared reading experience and largest digital reading experience.

Sharon Lamar Profile

Sharon Lamar, a teacher at Bigfork Elementary, with her new book Mountain Wildflowers for Young Explorers on Wednesday, October 5, in Bigfork.

FHS band

The Flathead High School marching band plays before the start of the crosstown football game at Legends Stadium.

Crosstown volleyball: Glacier looks to avenge loss

Whitefish Oktoberfest wraps up this weekend

Get that lederhosen washed and stretch out those chicken-dancing muscles: The Great Northern Oktoberfest is back for its second and final weekend in Whitefish.

Ward Three veteran faces limited election challenge

Three-term incumbent Randy Kenyon is facing a limited challenge for the Ward Three seat on the Kalispell City Council.

Feds forget 2nd Amendment

Well, the federal government is at it again — overreaching, encroaching and arbitrarily dictating to states and businesses — this time in regards to the Second Amendment.

Last weekend for long drive at Bison Range

 This weekend  provides the final opportunity this year for the public to take the 19-mile Red Sleep Mountain Drive at the National Bison Range.

Flathead High School Marching Band

The Flathead High School marching band plays before the start of the crosstown football game on Friday at Legends Stadium. New high school association rules limit the times bands can play during football games.

New rules restrict when bands can play

Bands are playing less at high school football games due to new rules from the Montana High School Association.

Food bank accepts wild game meat

The North Valley Food Bank will accept hunters’ freshly killed, dressed animals throughout the hunting season.

Vote on zoning-rule changes postponed

An ordinance to make five proposed changes to the city’s zoning regulations was tabled Monday by the Kalispell City Council.

Ag forum planned Tuesday in Kalispell

 The Montana Land Reliance will sponsor an agricultural forum in Kalispell on Oct. 11 featuring collaborative organizations and a variety of speakers dedicated to the perpetuation of a sustained agricultural economy in the region and the Flathead Valley.

Bass anglers

Pictured back row, from left, are young bass anglers Tyler Garrison, Richard Robinson, Cole Hayes, Caleb McCracken, Blaine Newman and Tyler Sonju. Front row, from left, Tyler Evans, Josh McCracken, Danial DeVall, Cody Garrison, Austin Johnson, Hunter Gust.

Renewal plan change to be considered Oct. 17

The Kalispell City Council has scheduled a public hearing Monday, Oct. 17, on a proposed expansion of the Westside Urban Renewal Plan.

The 39 Steps

Tony Hernandez, left, and Adam Pitman as the two clowns in the dress rehersal for the new production of The 39 Steps at the Whitefish Theater Company on Tuesday night. The play, which is directed by Nancy Nei, opens Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

Cooper's Restaurant

Tom Donahue has been working for almost six years to open Cooper’s restaurant in downtown Whitefish.

Special Spaces refinishes bedroom for Katelyn Roker

Paula Strickland organizes clothes in Katelyn Roker’s bedroom Wednesday afternoon. Strickland completed a makeover of the room under the auspices of Special Spaces, a nonprofit corporation that redecorates bedrooms of children with life-threatening illnesses.

horizonal rule

Flathead Deals contest listings head

contests coming soon

Paint the Flathead Pink

Jan Brazda pulls individual balloons out of the tangle as she and other Save A Sister volunteers help to Paint the Flathead Pink on Wednesday morning in down town Kalispell.

contests-page-instory-2

contests-page-instory-1

Leslie Walter Jans, 85

Leslie Walter Jans, 85, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at his home in Kalispell.

Lucy (Stearman) Tyler, 57

Lucy (Stearman) Tyler, 57, of Loveland, Colo., passed away on Sept. 27, 2011, at North Shore Health & Rehab Facility in Loveland, after a six-year battle with colon cancer.

Keg hurling

A competitor prepares to toss a keg last week at the Great Northern Oktoberfest. The finals of keg-hurling competition are Saturday.

Cougars roll past Troy

Stillwater Christian had 40 kills as a team and easily defeated Troy in straight sets in a nonconference volleyball match Tuesday.

Thomas leads Libby to cross country win

Libby boys and Fernie Academy (British Columbia) girls won team titles at the Eureka Invitational Cross Country Tri-Meet at Indian Springs Ranch Golf Course Tuesday afternoon.

Waldher, Bray lead Cougars

The Cougars scored two goals in the first three minutes and never let up from there as Stillwater Christian earned a 6-0 win over the Polson Pirates Tuesday in a nonconference soccer match.

Two arrested after long chase

A pair of Kalispell men are in jail after leading police on a two-county chase traveling more than 100 miles per hour Monday afternoon on U.S 2.

Council OKs nonunion pay raises

After several years of going without, the city of Kalispell’s nonunion employees were granted a 1.3 percent pay raise Monday night by the Kalispell City Council.

Faye Agnes Thigpen, 92

Val Rueben Schweigert, 55

Two road contracts awarded

By TOM LOTSHAWThe Daily Inter Lake

James J. Hladky, 64

Ronald B. Romera, 78

Ronald B. Romera, 78, passed away peacefully with his treasured family by his side on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, in Kalispell.

Roscoe Ray Giesey, 92

Stillwater vs. Polson Boys Soccer

Stillwater freshman Schuylar Kauffman, 8, moves the ball down the field during the game against Polson on Tuesday evening in Kalispell.

County offers drug disposal site

People who want to remove unneeded prescription pills from their homes now can take them to a 24-hour drop-off site in Kalispell.

Barn fire

Creston firefighters using foam work to put out a barn fire Tuesday afternoon near the intersection of Mennonite Church Road and Creston Road. No one was injured in the fire.

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First degree midnight blue belt regional testing

Emma Nixon, 13, left, of the Sawbuck Do Jang, and Jacob Jeffries, 11, from Wasatch Martial Arts of Salt Lake City, right, gather with other students going over their forms.

First degree testing

Eoghan Knibbe, 12, of Wasatch Martial Arts of Salt Lake City, performs in the one-step sparring portion of the Region 8 competition of the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan 128th Dan Classing Championships Oct. 1 in Whitefish.

Whitefish mayoral race

Turner Askew, left, and John Muhlfeld are competing to become Whitefish mayor.

Candlelight Vigil

Loretta McCartney, shelter coordinator, lights candles in preparation for the Violence Free Crisis Line/Abbie Shelter candlelight vigil on Monday night in Kalispell.

Wayne Saverud

Age: 66

Crosstown Football

The fifth meeting of Flathead High School and Glacier High School for the crosstown football game at Legends Stadium Friday night.

2011 Crosstown Football

Erik Jerde

Erik Jerde

This Week in Pictures September 26 - October 2

Daybook

Broken window, stolen rig at car lot

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office got a report Sunday regarding a broken window broken and a stolen truck from a car lot on U.S. 2 in Evergreen.

Creston killer faces new charges in Alaska

A Creston man who is in prison for shooting his girlfriend to death in 2008 has been indicted by a jury in Alaska for a similar crime that occurred there in 1996.

Helen Delores Tipton

Helen Delores Tipton, 79

Helen Delores Tipton, a day short from 80 years old, passed away from pneumonia on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, in Missoula.

Deo Keil

Bernard A. 'Bernie' Onsager, 82

Bernard A. “Bernie” Onsager, 82, of Kalispell, passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, at his residence.

Deo Marie Keil, 79

Deo Marie Keil, 79, passed away peacefully at home in Palmer, Alaska, surrounded by family on Sept. 26, 2011, after a brief, courageous battle with cancer.

Frank W. Hatfield

Violet Cleyola Brewer Morrow

Violet Cleyola Brewer Morrow passed away Oct. 1, 2011, in Kalispell.

Leslie Ann Bergman-Lewellen

Frank W. Hatfield, 73

Frank W. Hatfield, 73, of Columbia Falls, passed away early Tuesday morning, Sept. 27, 2011, from congestive heart failure, after a tough fight with cancer.

Leslie Ann Bergman-Lewellen, 62

Leslie Ann Bergman-Lewellen, 62, of Kalispell, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, at her home surrounded by loved ones, after a battle with metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

80th birthday zip line

Lindley Couser, right, helps Barbara Kemler onto the first zip line at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Kemler chose to go zip lining as an 80th birthday present from her son Steve.

Woman zipped Big Mountain for 80th

Barbara Kemler of Lakeside zipped through the trees with the greatest of ease, celebrating her 80th birthday with sport at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Griz wrangler

Erin Bolster and her trusty steed Tonk turned away a grizzly bear that ran into their horse party in late July.

Wrangler, horse heroes to appear on Letterman

A Whitefish wrangler and the horse that helped her scare a charging grizzly bear away from an 8-year-old Illinois boy are booked on “The Late Show with David Letterman” next week.

Amanda Knox: American's murder conviction thrown out

Open Burning Season Started

A field north of Kalispell temporarily fills the sky with smoke on Monday afternoon. Open burning season started on Saturday.

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Festival of Flavors at FVCC

Tony Brown, a first year student in FVCC's culinary arts school carefully trims the crust of a Rum Raisin Apple pie on Thursday evening at FVCC. According to Tara Roth, director of Communications and Marketing for the college, FVCC culinary arts students play a significant role in the FVCC Foundation's Festival of Flavors event. In addition to presenting two Chef's Table winemaker dinners, the students made handcrafted seasonal fruit pies that were auctioned off at the Festival of Flavors kick-off event. The students will participate in the event's conclusion, the Grand Wine Tasting, by joining chefs across the Valley as they present fine foods they created to event patrons.

Keep checking back for updated election news!

The primary election in Montana is Tuesday, June 3.  Please keep checking back.

Three year-end titles for Eash at NRA Finals

Gerald Eash of Trego won three year-end titles over the weekend at the Northern Rodeo Association Finals at the Butte Civic Center in Butte.

Figure B champion

Brandi McAtee of Kalispell overcame systemic fibromyalgia and was crowned Figure B champion at the 2011 Washington Ironman Competition in Bellevue, Wash.

From pain to triumph

Fibromyalgia sufferer becomes figure champion

Brandi McAtee's health provider calls her the poster child for living with chronic pain from systemic fibromyalgia as well as osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease.

Two thefts reported to Whitefish Police

A caller reported a theft on U.S. 93 to the

Chad Graham

Vice chairman of the Kalispell City Planning Board and a board member of the Flathead Building Association, Chad Graham is one of three candidates for the Ward Two seat on the Kalispell City Council.

Monday Profile

Jesse DeVine, the new artistic director for the Whitefish Theater Company, at the O'Shaughnessy Center on Wednesday morning in Whitefish.

Living a brand new dream

Theater company's artistic director finds place outside the spotlight

Jesse DeVine is living the dream.

Grace Dorothy Allick, 79

Grace Dorothy Allick, 79, “was called home to be with her Lord and Savior” on Sept. 28, 2011. Grace passed away after a battle with congestive heart failure at the Brendan House. She was surrounded by her loving family, friends and caregivers.

Bravettes topple Sentinel in volleyball

Flathead went the distance with visiting Missoula Sentinel, posting a 25-16, 25-13, 26-28, 19-25, 15-7 Western AA volleyball win Saturday night.

Food bank's second-hand store set to open this month

Second Helpings, a new thrift store benefiting Flathead Food Bank, has a feast of goodies waiting for hungry bargain hunters at its grand opening Oct. 20.

Whitefish library now part of network

Users of the Whitefish Community Library now have access to nearly one million books, audiovisual items and other library materials.

State school leader visits Lakeside class

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau watches Lakeside student Emily Lembke, 9, show her Cheyenne grandparents’ moccasins to her fourth-grade class on Wednesday.

Flathead girls, Glacier boys rule in crosstown soccer

Brittany Earnest scored her second crosstown goal of the season, this time on a direct kick from 30 yards, and Sarah Cummins added another first-half goal as Flathead blanked Glacier 2-0 on Saturday in Western AA soccer action at Glacier.

Power research to be unveiled this week

Results of a nearly three-year collaborative research study of energy opportunities and challenges in Flathead County will be released Thursday, Oct. 6, at Flathead Valley Community College.

Polson girls Class A state golf champs

HAMILTON - Polson's girls captured the Class A state golf tournament title on Saturday.

Beck announces run for state Senate seat

 State Rep. Bill Beck, R-Whitefish, has announced that he will be a candidate to succeed state Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish.

Man sentenced to prison for child pornography

A Kalispell man was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison Friday morning after pleading guilty to receipt and possession of child pornography.

Catering to convenience

New Bigfork business’ on-the-go style blends movie rentals with gourmet fare

With a close ear to the ground about what the community wanted in a convenience store, Kim Dutton has opened a new business in the old Local Joe’s gas station in Bigfork.

Slugging it out over slough

The legal boondoggle that has emerged over public access on Church Slough is frustrating and maddening on several levels, starting with the fact that it has become a time- and money-consuming struggle for the county to preserve a simple access that, from our standpoint, the public is entitled to.

Why care about Ayers?

Some people say that writing a series of columns about 1960s revolutionaries is a waste of time. They say that radicals like Bill Ayers weren’t that popular to begin with and are completely irrelevant by now.

Helen Pappenfus, 96

Biker leads cops on chase Friday

Fair officials discuss site improvements

Long-term plans for updating and renovating the Flathead County Fairgrounds are beginning to take shape, Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell reported to county commissioners earlier this month.

Meltwater stonefly

Lednia tumana, the meltwater stonefly, is a species found only in Glacier National Park.

Seumas V. Gallagher, 85

Crosstown Soccer

Flathead sophomore  Paige Birky (19) fights to keep possession of the ball with Glacier defenders Morgan Meier (8) and Abbe Breeding (24) during the crosstown

Glacier wins classic crosstown

Wolfpack hangs on for a wild 56-44 victory

They'll be talking about this one for a long, long time around here.