Air show to be 2013 highlight
The skies over the Flathead Valley will be crisscrossed by fighter jets next summer in the form of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
The elite demonstration squadron will be the centerpiece of the Mountain Madness 2013 Air Show at Glacier Park International Airport.
The July 20-21 event promises to be the event of the year for the Flathead Valley, with 40,000 or so visitors expected to attend and view not only the Thunderbirds but also the many other elements of a major air show.
The Thunderbirds have a local connection for the summer show, since Capt. Jason Curtis, a Flathead High School graduate, recently joined the Thunderbirds as the opposing solo pilot.
The homecoming for Curtis will be a spectacular one aboard an F-16 performing high-speed maneuvers with the Thunderbirds.
Circle July 20 and 21 on your calendars. It promises to be a weekend not to be missed.
ONE OF THE most uplifting stories yet this Christmas season was the delivery of a brand new house to Afghanistan combat veteran Ryan Pengelly and his wife, Crystal, by Operation Finally Home.
Pengelly has had a tough time since returning home. He is in rehab for traumatic brain injuries he received from a bomb blast overseas, and the couple lost their home and belongings in a house fire late in 2011.
That made them the perfect choice to be receipients for the first home delivered by the local chapter of Operation Finally Home, established by local builder Terry Kramer and his wife, Debbie.
Kramer expects Operation Finally Home to build at least one new home for a veteran each year.
We expect that many more veterans and their families will therefore share the sentiments of Crystal Pengelly, who when she learned of the gift, said, “This means a great deal — all the stress off our shoulders.”
Good job to all involved.
THE MONTANA STATE Bobcats had homefield advantage in the Division I quarterfinals last weekend, but unfortunately they had to use that advantage against Sam Houston State — which is quickly becoming the nemesis of the entire Big Sky Conference.
MSU played a valiant first half, but in the end they lost 34-16.
MSU had their playoff hopes dashed last year by Sam Houston as well. And the Bearkats beat the Montana Grizzlies in the semifinals last year, too.
As always, our hat is off to the Bobcats and Grizzlies, but maybe we need to start planning a Sam Houston strategy for 2013 now! Desperate times call for desperate measures.
In the meantime, Sam Houston moves forward to battle Eastern Washington in Cheney on Saturday. And now that the pride of the Big Sky Conference hangs in the balance, we hate to say it, but — Go Eagles!