Emergency etiquette: Don't chat on 911

Emergency dispatch received a call from a woman who just wanted to talk “because she was lonely.” She stated that she had a “wonderful” husband who bought her things, however. The woman was counseled on proper use of 911 and the information was passed on to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

The theft of cigarettes, money and vehicle registration documents was reported on U.S. 2 near Columbia Falls.

A pair of gas cans and a chainsaw were reported missing from a shed on Columbia Falls Stage.

Amid a neighbor dispute on Conrad Drive, one resident found a broken-off screwdriver in a vehicle tire.

A sport utility vehicle was reportedly stolen and ditched in a “wetland area” near Marion. Multiple weapons were said to be stolen from the vehicle.

It started as a friendly neighbor-to-neighbor loan of a gun on Whitefish Stage. But the borrower eventually disappeared without returning the pistol.

There was a “very friendly” pit bull roaming around the Lower Valley Road area. The animal was micro-chipped and deputies tried to reach the owner.

An East Edgewood Drive resident went to check her mail and found a bullet hole in the mailbox. She likely didn’t order any bullets.

One man tried to tow his boat and found that the hitch had been stolen from the vehicle.

Part of an ATM machine was reportedly found near Anderson Lane.

A woman was startled when a man tried to open her car door near Montana 35 because he “needed to talk to her.”

A reportedly intoxicated man caused a fender bender while walking around a Montana 35 parking lot, according to a report.

Out at South Cedar Drive, a woman threatened someone with a tire iron in response to another woman pointing a gun at her. The woman with the gun was reportedly missing teeth.

The Big Mountain Fire Department responded to a report of smoke rising from the Lion Mountain area.

A grass fire was reported in the area of Mooring Road. It started in a grain field and the response included airplanes.

There was a report of a black bear in the area of East 10th Street, according to a call to the Whitefish Police Department.

Another bear sighting was reported near West Lakeshore Drive.

The theft of prescription pills was reported at a Baker Avenue business. An employee was the suspect and was suspended.

One caller witnessed a man dumping trash in an East Second Street business’ bin. Furthermore, the suspect “looked big and strange.”

—Compiled by Inter Lake reporter Matt Hudson