Ellington

Steven Jake Weisz, 66

Bonita 'Bonnie' Lee Williams, 70

Bonita “Bonnie” Lee Williams, 70, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

Herb Lerew, 96

Coroner investigates discovery of body

Early ranger a close friend of Teddy Roosevelt

‘NO BETTER SOLDIER’

A new book about Theodore Roosevelt and his leadership ability details a friendship and mutual admiration between the 26th president of the United States and backcountry hunting guide Fred Herrig, an early forest ranger in Northwest Montana who spent the last part of his life living in Fortine.

Frederick Herrig

Broken promise leads to 7-year prison term

A man who promised Flathead District Judge Robert Allison that he would have no problems staying off drugs during a 2013 sentencing for injuring a child is now headed to prison for violating terms of probation and committing another felony.

Alleged fire-starter pleads guilty to car thefts

A man charged with causing a massive Aug. 5 fire in Evergreen was in court on Wednesday for unrelated felony charges.

AP Poll: Islamic State conflict voted top news story of 2015

NEW YORK — The far-flung attacks claimed by Islamic State militants and the intensifying global effort to crush them added up to a grim, gripping yearlong saga that was voted the top news story of 2015, according to The Associated Press’ annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors.

Flathead Flames

Flathead Flames' Laurel Davidson lines up a shot during the first period against the Washington Wild at the eighth annual U-19 Winter Classic at the Woodland Ice Center on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

A.J. Popp

Glacier freshman A.J. Popp has set seven school records in only three meets in her high school career. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

#ListenLocal

The Whitefish Community Radio station has become home to some of the best local music the Flathead Valley has to offer.

Listening local

2015 was a fantastic year for local music with several great releases that not only put on full display the immense talent that lives here but also shows the great diversity of music available in the community. Whitefish Community Radio and This Week in the Flathead ranked our top 10 local albums of the year, and also give you our most anticipated albums for 2016.

This Week in the Flathead | Dec. 31, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016

Finley Point reservations begin Jan. 6

Montana State Parks has announced that Finley Point State Park will be open for reservations for the 2016 camping season beginning Jan. 6.

Anglers flock to Smith Lake derby

The 45th annual Lions Club Smith Lake Ice Fishing Derby west of Kalispell on Saturday attracted over 300 anglers.

Eugene Farly 'Gene' Scott, 77

Eugene Farly “Gene” Scott, 77, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, at his residence in Polson.

Leroy John McFadden, 86

Leroy John McFadden, 86, passed away at his home in Columbia Falls on Dec. 21, 2015.

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COLUMN: Big hunting meeting coming up on Jan. 9

If you are a hunter, mark Jan. 9 on your 2016 calendar.

TERRY COLUMN: College football playoff has terrible timing

There’s a limit to my fandom.

Leroy John McFadden, 86

Eugene Farly 'Gene' Scott, 77

Man reports truck stolen after week

Kalispell fire

Fire in Evergreen

YEAR OF FLAMES, Part 2: Hectic year for fire crews

Business, home fires take a toll

While state and federal employees had their hands full this summer with 2015’s historic wildfire season, local fire departments in Flathead County stayed busy throughout the year as they scrambled to structure fires at dozens of homes and businesses.

County admits 911 district process was flawed

Acknowledging flaws in the process of establishing an E-911 special district, the Flathead County commissioners voted 2-1 Wednesday to terminate the process.

Mike Cooney

Bullock appoints Cooney as lieutenant governor

Fundraising campaign wraps up on Thursday

 The United Way of Northwest Montana and its member agencies help thousands of individuals and families in a variety of ways, from providing meals and emergency shelter to supporting healthy families.

Nancy Sacrison Curtis, 53

Nancy Curtis died at home in Missoula Dec. 19, with her family by her side, after living with cancer the past two years. She was 53.

Daybook

John Harvey Lowell, 83

John Harvey Lowell departed this world on the Winter Solstice, Dec. 21, 2015. At 83 years of age, John died from hemophilia at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He passed with grace, dignity and above all humor. He was surrounded by family and friends, which he kept entertained with his stories and wit to the very end. He was as much of an inspiration in his final days as he was throughout his life. He will be missed greatly.

Donald A. Bennett, 80

Donald A. Bennett was born Nov. 24, 1935, in Depree, South Dakota, to Charles and Elizabeth (Shorty) Bennett. He went “home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” on Dec. 21, 2015.

Walfred B. Malmberg, 84

Walfred B. Malmberg, 84, died Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, at his home following a long battle with many illnesses.

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2015 A year in Photos

John Harvey Lowell, 83

Walfred B. Malmberg, 84

Donald A. Bennett, 80

Psychic: Icy with a chance of drowning

Sexual offender ponders plea deal

A plea bargain is in the works for a Columbia Falls man facing two felony counts of sexual abuse of children and one felony count of sexual intercourse without consent.

Man charged with stealing ammunition, dozens of guns

A Martin City man is behind bars for allegedly violating probation by stealing two dozen guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition from a residence in Kila earlier this month.

YEAR OF FLAMES, Part 1: An intense, 'epic' fire season

In Northwest Montana and the Rocky Mountain Front, more than 529 reported wildfires scorched 219,000 acres this summer and early fall, with a fire suppression price tag in excess of $45 million.

Hot weather, rainless summer: a timeline of fire season

June 27: During an ongoing heat spell, the temperature in Kalispell hits 97 degrees, marking the hottest June day on record. The Glacier Rim Fire breaks out in the North Fork.

County's proposed 911 district fails

A proposed countywide tax district to raise $1.9 million per year for 911 dispatch center upgrades will not move forward.

Shepherd's Hand

Tammy Stevens of Columbia Falls on an afternoon walk on Wednesday, December 23. Stevens has been a patient at Shepherd's Hand Clinic and has recently become involved in their wellness program. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

Suspect nabbed on host of warrants

Woman accused of beating boyfriend with 2-by-4

A woman was charged last week with beating her boyfriend with a piece of lumber on a Kalispell pedestrian trail.

Man charged with causing crash that paralyzed woman

A man is facing felony charges after a suspected drunk-driving incident on Nov. 16 left a woman severely injured.

911 tax district protests due Tuesday

The Flathead County commissioners will release the results of the E-911 special tax district protests shortly after 5 p.m. today when the protest period officially ends.

Fire damages attic of Evergreen home

A family of four and a handful of rabbits are OK after a fire in the attic of a Parkside Drive home in Evergreen.

Kalispell offers Citizens Police Academy

The Kalispell Police Advisory Council and the Kalispell Police Department will sponsor their third Citizens Police Academy starting Feb. 2, 2016.

Almeda Louise (deLongpre) King, 88

Betty Hoyt, 89

Betty Hoyt, 89, of Somers, passed away Friday, Dec. 25, 2015 in Whitefish.

Mumford W. 'Mump' Kenyon, 95

Mumford W. “Mump” Kenyon, 95, passed away Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015, peacefully at his home with family in Bigfork.

Joe Schmidt, 88

On Dec. 15, 2015, after 13 years of caring for a heartbroken family, Dad has “gone to join the love and meaning of his life — our mom.”

Mary Mullins, 88

On Dec. 22, 2015, “the last genuine bit of faery magic left our world.” Mary Mullins, 88, passed from this world into the next, leaving behind a diminishment that can never be replaced.

Structure Fire in Evergreen

Fire Chiefs Craig Williams, center, and Dave Dedman, right, and members of the Evergreen Fire Department, converge outside the residence at Parkside Drive as the fire begins to be taken under control on Monday afternoon, December 28, in Evergreen. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

Whitefish Moose Lodge welcomes new administrator

'It doesn’t get any better than what we’ve got here'

Robert “Bob” Lund, in many ways, has come full circle. After a lifetime of service and travel, he and his wife Renate have settled in Whitefish “for good.”

Crossword whiz had roots in Kalispell

A Kalispell native who was famous for his finesse in solving crossword puzzles died recently of heart disease at his home in Maryland.

Convicted rapist up for parole on Tuesday

A man serving a 50-year sentence for sexually abusing a child in Evergreen in 1997 is up for parole on Tuesday.

Early hunt studied for Eureka elk

SHOULDER SEASON

Hunters in Northwest Montana could get an early crack at an elk next summer: State wildlife officials are considering a shoulder season for a troublesome herd of elk in the Eureka area.

Glacier plans east-side housing for workers

Glacier National Park has released a proposal to develop new employee housing at two locations on the east side of the park, replacing 10 dilapidated trailers in St. Mary.

There's nothing romantic about this notebook

An employee of a hotel on North Main Street called the

Shoulder season

Elk in the Tobacco Valley.

LETTER: Zinke has been disappointment to conservatives

Corey Stapleton was right. He stated during the Republican primary debate that conservatives would not be able to count on Ryan Zinke. I hope Stapleton runs again so we can replace Zinke with a true, reliable, and courageous conservative.

LETTER: Dropping out of Republican Party

As there is no representation for me by the Republican Party, I will not be voting for ANYONE who runs under their banner. That includes, but is not limited to: dog catcher, city council or president.

OPINION: What net neutrality really means

Is big government control of speech in your future?

In late February, “netroots” activists were successful in haranguing the Federal Communications Commission into passing sweeping regulations that placed the Internet’s private networks under direct government supervision and declared the Internet a public utility.

James E. Bell Jr., 91

James E. Bell Jr. passed away peacefully on Nov. 8, 2015, at his Kalispell home, 18 days shy of his 92nd birthday.

FVCC housing plan marks new era

The beginning of a new era for Flathead Valley Community College is nearly upon us, with the announcement last week that FVCC plans to have student housing available on campus by 2017.

Yvonne LaRae Peck, 53

One of the world’s biggest, kindest, and most humble hearts has stopped beating. Yvonne LaRae Peck left our world on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015.

LETTER: Turning U.S. into armed state is wrong response to terrorism

Contrary to Eric Knutson’s op-ed in the Dec. 20 Inter Lake, the Second Amendment is not a justification for becoming vigilantes. Knutson wrote:

OPINION: Zinke: On the Omnibus bill, I did what I said I'd do

Congressional report

Yes, I voted for the 2,000-page spending bill which funds the government next year, known as the Omnibus. Yes, my staff and I read it. And yes, it was a difficult vote. I assure you, the easy thing to do in these situations is vote no. It’s easy to vote no. But before judgment is delivered, you deserve to hear the reasoning behind my decision.

Mark Nicholas Mergenthaler, 43

Mark Nicholas Mergenthaler, 43, “returned to live with his heavenly Father” on Dec. 15, 2015, while in Bozeman.

OPINION: Providing security has to be job No. 1

In the wake of yet another terrorist attack against the innocent people of our nation, all of the facts have not yet been disclosed or discovered. Yet the president and other Democrats use this as a tool to attack our rights as provided by the Second Amendment. They immediately take to the air and state that the guns and ammunition were purchased legally and obviously that must be the problem.

LETTER: Our 'Keystone Commissioners'

The Flathead County commissioners, like the hapless Keystone Cops, don’t seem to do anything right.

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Daybook

Suspected drunken driver leaves the scene

COLUMN: Christmas pageantry, American tradition and a dose of common sense

"That touch of red on the clown’s nose makes it look just right, doesn’t it, dear?”

James E. Bell Jr., 91

Libby doctor's license suspended

The state Board of Medical Examiners has indefinitely suspended a Libby physician’s license after finding he overprescribed pain medication to a patient.

COLUMN: 2015 was a thankful year to remember

I doubt many would disagree that on a global scale 2015 had more than its fair share of bad news.

Christmas bird count

Avian census reflects climate change

Rare visitors to Montana, a pair of Pacific loons bobbed along in the gentle swells of Flathead Lake on a chilly morning Dec. 19.

Man charged with threatening family

A Columbia Falls man has been charged with felony assault on a peace officer and felony assault with a weapon after an incident on Brunner Road Dec. 17.

New credit-card security takes hold slowly

At Best Buy and other stores in Kalispell, shoppers are enjoying a new level of credit-card fraud security. Rather than swiping their cards, customers insert them into the card-reading terminal and remove them after a few seconds and a prompt from the machine.

High court won't stay review of sentence review

DUI CASE

The Montana Supreme Court on Thursday refused to issue a stay in an upcoming review of the sentencing of former Thompson Falls school board member Lance Pavlik, who is serving 10 years in prison for killing two people and injuring two more in a drunken-driving accident on Sept. 8, 2012.

New distillery features local flavor

With the opening of the new Spotted Bear Spirits in Whitefish, the downtown scene has expanded in both flavor and charm.

Chick-fil-A submits construction plans

Two years after purchasing property in the north Spring Prairie Center shopping area, Chick-fil-A, a popular fast-food chicken restaurant, has submitted construction plans for its Kalispell location.

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Jackson Saverud, 6, sits down and waits for a fish to bite while fishing with his grandpa at the Sunriser Lions Family Ice Fishing Derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. Children over 15 were given prizes for the largest northern pike and perch and children under 15 were giving prizes for the smallest northern pike and perch. There were also prizes for the largest trout and non-game fish. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Brinly Youso, left, and Quinn Tennison, jig their lines during the Sunriser Lions Family Ice Fishing Derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. About 300 people participating in the annual event. With the first 75 children getting fishing rods and tackle donated by Walleys Unlimited. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake).

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James Calobeer, 12, pulls a northern pike from the hole while fishing at the Sunriser Lions Family Ice Fishing Derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. The event was co-sponsored by Sportsman and Ski Haus, Flathead Wildlife, Inc. and Walleyes Unlimited. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Lilly Walkup, 5, carries the northern pike she caught to the station during ther Sunriser Lions Family Fishing Derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. The fish was "so big, but real gooey," Walkup said. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Trolley-car proposal lights up holidays

What seemed like a casual Wednesday evening trolley ride through town with close friends and family turned into a night to remember for one Kalispell couple.

After-school club keeps growing popularity

Evergreen facility to be open next week BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

After school, the Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country in Evergreen comes alive with activity.

Driver complains about beer truck

A frustrated driver called the 

LETTER: Thanks to high school for Christmas music

I would like to thank Callie Langohr and the choir and band teachers at Glacier High School. They brought their students together and performed an extraordinary Christmas program. 

City of Kalispell to recycle residents' Christmas trees

Next month, the Kalispell Parks and Recreation Department will begin its annual Christmas tree pickup and recycling program.

LETTER: Saint Joseph is an example for all fathers

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I believe it is appropriate to focus a little time on His dad.

OPINION: This Christmas, let's recommit to what has made the USA great

(or: a Constitution in every stocking)

After a tough year in terms of American prestige around the world and unshakable economic doldrums, people are undoubtedly wishing that the new year will bring better news. We all want success in defeating global threats and an economic reawakening that brings real opportunity for Americans at all stages of life to improve their financial fortunes.

OPINION: Reflecting on a Christmas past… It's about service

It’s a dozen years later and much of the “Holiday Letter” I sent to family and friends in the early hours of Christmas Day 2003 still holds true. Far from loved ones this holiday, thousands of U.S. airmen, soldiers, Marines, and sailors are deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and remote locations around the world protecting our way of life and the freedoms we hold dear. They sacrifice much in the service of others, and all too often pay the ultimate price for that most precious gift of freedom.

FOOTBALL: Northwest sends 17 players to 70th East-West Shrine Game

BUTTE — Coming off one of the best seasons in school history, Whitefish football coach Chad Ross will lead a new challenge, leading the West team in the 70th annual Montana East-West Shrine Game on July 16 at Naranche Stadium in Butte.

Donald 'Donny' Clifford Toftum, 40

Donald “Donny” Clifford Toftum, 40, passed away Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at his home.

EDITORIAL: Coming together for the holidays

In the end, maybe it doesn’t matter so much whether a business greets us with “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas.”

Daybook

Kalispell's Adam Bartlett

Kalispell's Adam Bartlett, a freshman at Glacier High School, qualified for the U.S. National Taekwondo Team in December and will compete at the German Open in April. (Aaric Bryan/The Daily Inter Lake)

FEATURED: Kalispell's king of kicks is 14-year-old taekwondo champion

Close your eyes.

Turner Mountain Ski Area to open Saturday

Libby-area skiers will be able to hit the slopes Saturday morning and ski daily until the end of the holiday season when Turner Mountain powers up its lifts and begins shuttling people to the top of the snow-covered hill.

Mason Bebee

SPOTTED BEAR SPIRITS

Lauren Oscilowski, founder of Spotted Bear Spirits, opened the distillery tasting room on Dec. 16 for a soft opening. The Whitefish still house will host a grand opening next month. (Seaborn Larson photos/Daily Inter Lake)

Court may intervene in drunk-driving appeal

The Montana Board of Pardons and Parole has asked the Montana Supreme Court to intervene in an ongoing appeal by a former Thompson Falls school board member serving 10 years in prison for causing a drunken driving accident that left two people dead and two toddlers seriously injured on Sept. 8, 2012.

Some area businesses still open on Christmas Day

Remember the scene in “A Christmas Story” where Ralphie’s family ends up at a Chinese restaurant and the chef abruptly chops the head off a duck to please his only customers?

Donald 'Donny' Clifford Toftum, 40

LAW ROUNDUP: Man cited after pulling child on sled

Marines brighten comrade's Christmas

‘Those guys just boosted my morale 100 percent’

After finishing dinner Wednesday, Retired Marine Capt. Wayne Bolton settled into a chair in the corner of his room at The Retreat at Buffalo Hill.

Summer Dawn Sutton

Abused mom finds hope in Polson

Good Samaritans pitch in to help homeless woman

Baby Orizon Sutton will likely be sleeping at an inn this Christmas, showered with gifts from good Samaritans and providing a glimmer of hopeful light into her mother’s life on this Christmas Day.

TV listings to change next week

Friday’s paper includes the last issue of the Intertainer, but the Inter Lake will continue to provide TV listings for our readers in a new format.

Polson family loses 2 dogs in house fire

A Polson mother and her two children spent Christmas Eve without a home, but were grateful for an outpouring of community help after a Wednesday house fire burned most of their belongings and left two of their young dogs dead.

Farm-to-Market wreck

Winter on the mountain

Area bobcat trapping season closes today

Bobcats in Northwest Montana can breathe a sigh of relief this Christmas, as the regional hunting and trapping season for the big cats will close tonight.

Semper Fi Christmas

Retired Marine Captain Wayne Bolton recovers from triple bypass surgery at The Retreat in Kalispell on Friday, December 18. The recovery process is going slower that the Captain would like but he still has a smile to share and a light in his eyes. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

Permits needed on groomed trails

Those heading out on a snowmobile or fat bike on groomed trails this winter need to purchase permits to access trails on public lands.

LETTER: Reasons why Comet should be most famous reindeer of all

1. Comet sounds way cooler than Rudolph.

Diving artist takes aim at Glacier

There have been plenty of artists-in-residence at Glacier National Park. Chris Gug, however, is the first to dive right into his project — literally.

Christmas cheer from many sources

Hundreds of gifts bestowed on veterans

Everything from fuzzy dice to chocolate-covered huckleberries and a wall calendar of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders emerged from red-and-green wrapping paper Wednesday as residents of the Montana Veterans Home received hundreds of donated Christmas presents.

LETTER: Fighting slavery

We kids have two places in the world. Some are slaves and some are not. I hope we can help the slaves. A lot of the chocolate companies in the USA buy from people who use child slave labor. This Christmas we could buy chocolates from people that don’t take children as slaves. Try http://equalexchange.coop/. —

LETTER: Words are powerful

The words we utter can be calm, or wise, or kind, or brilliant, or angry, or hateful and threatening. Once uttered, the words belong to us. We create them, and we are responsible for what they create in the world.

EDITORIAL: Gold coins reflect well on community

As we approach the end of the Christmas season, we should all be touched by the golden generosity of the donor or donors who touched hearts by opening their purses when pitching valuable coins into the red kettles of the Salvation Army.

Daybook

Births, Published Dec. 24, 2015

This Week in the Flathead | Dec. 24-30

Flurry of entertainment found at Whitefish Mountain Resort

Winter on the mountain

Every Wednesday, mountain employees, friends and skiers trickle in the Bierstube at Whitefish Mountain Resort for the Frabert awards. After a few announcements on general items of the mountain at the bar on Dec. 16, members of the ski patrol read off people’s storied failures on the hill for some good ol’ light-hearted public humiliation.

Kristin Ann Kjos Shane, 66

Kristin was born on May 20, 1949, in Kalispell to Leslie Homer and Lillian  Randall Kjos (both now deceased) and passed away in Pflugerville, Texas, on Oct. 20, 2015.

OPINION: Empowering gratitude in an imperfect world

At most family gatherings during the holiday season, there is a formal or informal time for reflecting on what we are grateful for. Almost invariably a prominent object of that gratefulness is family, in its many varied forms. What a lovely tradition.

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TERRY COLUMN: Glacier's elite running out of room

The Glacier High School Wall of Fame has a growing problem.

Last-minute gift ideas for anglers

If you find yourself today in a last-minute gift emergency for an angler in your life, chances are a gift related to fishing would be very welcome.

Kristin Ann Kjos Shane, 66

The new fad? 'You've got mailbox!'

A woman on Parliament Drive in Kalispell reported to the

Trial approaching in attempted murder case

Two juries will have to sort out in early January whether or not a frequent felony offender tried to kill two people in December 2014 and failed to register as a sex offender earlier that year.

Man pleads guilty to drunken crash

A driver has admitted driving drunk, running a red light and crashing into a pregnant woman’s vehicle earlier this year.

Montana Veterans Home

Christmas a tough time for jailed inmates

The inmates’ offenses might warrant stockings full of coal instead of presents from Santa, but a touch of holiday cheer still manages to seep into the otherwise somber setting of the Flathead County Detention Center at Christmastime.

Man released to California in case of criminal endangerment

A man has been released to live in California after he pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment on Dec. 10 for assaulting his girlfriend in Whitefish High School parking lot in August.

Plum Creek donates $35,000 to food banks

For the seventh year in a row, donations by Plum Creek will help local food banks meet the ongoing needs during the holiday season.

College to look at housing options

New building could cost $7 million or more

Next month, Flathead Valley Community College will seek architectural bids for student housing on the Kalispell campus.

Go Tell it on the Mountain

Group shares Gospel amid ski culture

Snowboarders & Skiers for Christ brings special brand of holiday cheer

During this busiest week of the season at Whitefish Mountain Resort, a local Christian outreach ministry is going the distance to deliver the Christmas message — and plates of cookies — to resort workers.

Ugandan boy reunited with parents

‘Operation Marvin’ has a happy ending

Victor and Kari Kimera are getting exactly what they wanted for Christmas this year: Their 13-year-old son Marvin has finally come home.

Monday Profile: Bob Lund

Bob Lund was recently named the lodge administrator of the Whitefish Moose Lodge.

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Gene Hamann, a U.S. Navy veteran that served in the Korean War, smiles as he gets a bag of candy as one of his gifts at the Montana Veteran's Home in Columbia Falls on Wednesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Arlene Soderstrom shows her husband Bob Soderstrom a picture from the cowboy calendar he received as a Christmas gift at the Montana Veteran's Home. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Jessica Groff of the Montana Veteran's Home carries gifts to the residents. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Shelby McGrady, a certified nurse assistant, helps Monroe Davis open his Christmas presents at the Montana Veteran's home in Columbia Falls on Wednesday. Hundreds a gifts were donated for the residents of Montana Veterans Home. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Snowboarders and Skiers for Christ

Jake Christiansen of Snowboarders and Skiers for Christ delivers cookies to one of the ticket checkers at the Whitefish Mountain Resort on Wednesday morning, December 23, in Whitefish.  (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

Snow Report

David and Jeannine Trousdale of Whitefish head up Big Mountain on early Wednesday morning, December 23. According to the Whitefish Mountain Resort Snow Report they have received 24 inches of snow in the last seven days. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

Evergreen enterprise zoning gets final approval

The Evergreen business community now has a permanent zoning tool designed to boost commercial development.

Kalispell considers privatizing ambulance services

A Kalispell City Council work session on Monday examined emergency medical service fee scheduling from Great Falls and the option to work with a private medical emergency service provider for ambulance service.

Patty O'Rork Higgins, 65

Patty O’Rork Higgins, 65, passed from this world on Dec. 17, 2015, at 12:45 a.m. at her home in Columbia Falls, surrounded with love from her friends and sister.

Group wants limits on railroad traffic

By SEABORN LARSON

Lon W. Bullman, 79

Lon W. Bullman lived 79 joyful years, leaving us on Dec. 19, 2015.

WRESTLING: Top-ranked Spartans subdue Wolfpack

Top-ranked Missoula Sentinel made quick work of an undermanned Glacier team in a Class AA wrestling dual on Tuesday at Glacier High School.

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Glacier girls hammer Butte, boys stumble in Mining City

BUTTE — The Glacier girls kept their momentum rolling from the weekend, trouncing Butte 68-30 in a nonconference Class AA basketball game on Tuesday, the final game for each team before the holiday break.

WRESTLING: Polson wins pair of duals at host triangular

POLSON — Polson dominated dual matches against Libby and Whitefish at home Tuesday night in the final event of 2015.

Suspect allegedly hopes to be arrested so he can see woman

A Kalispell man has been jailed on felony stalking charges after he allegedly used a secretive smartphone application to contact a woman despite a previous court order and multiple orders from law officers to leave the woman alone.

Man denies shooting gun on Electric Avenue

A Bigfork man has denied firing a gun while drunk on Nov. 15.

Daybook

Lon W. Bullman, 79

Patty O'Rork Higgins, 65

Stranded boater able to re-start engine

Glacier wrestler Justin Gibson

Glacier 126-pound wrestler Justin Gibson takes down Missoula Sentinel's Luke Joy during a dual at Glacier on Tuesday. Gibson pinned Joy, but the Wolfpack fell to the Spartans 55-15. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Weird weather pattern turns weather upside-down across U.S.

SEATTLE (AP) — A weather pattern partly linked with El Nino has turned winter upside-down across the U.S. during a week of heavy holiday travel, bringing spring-like warmth to the Northeast, a risk of tornadoes in the South and so much snow across the West that even skiing slopes have been overwhelmed.

Governor allows bison to roam outside Yellowstone

BILLINGS — Wild bison will be allowed to migrate out of Yellowstone National Park and stay in parts of Montana year-round under a Tuesday move by Gov. Steve Bullock that breaks a longstanding impasse in a wildlife conflict that’s dragged on for decades

Helena man jailed after student threatened over 'Star Wars' spoiler

HELENA (AP) — A Montana man is charged with threatening to shoot a boy for sharing information about a subplot of the new “Star Wars” movie during an online conversation.

Last-minute gift needs surface

With only two days left before Christmas, the United Way has received calls from many families that cannot afford to purchase Christmas gifts for their teenagers.

FVCC to build student housing

College plans 100-bed facilities by 2017

Flathead Valley Community College announced on Tuesday that it plans to build student housing on the Kalispell campus.

New snow pushes avalanche danger higher

The Flathead Avalanche Center on Tuesday warned of significant avalanche danger in the Swan Range, along with more moderate danger in the neighboring mountains including parts of Glacier National Park.

LETTER: Fighting Nazis provides lesson for humanity

In April of 1945 two war heroes died in Nazi Germany. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Christian theologian, hung by Nazis for conspiring to assassinate Adolf Hitler, and my own uncle, Lt. Thomas Zinkand, shot down while flying underground fighters into Germany seven days before World War II ended.

LETTER: Mixed-up world needs you to help fix it

It seems history is repeating itself. About 100 years ago, my grandparents fled Norway in search of a better life. Norway was, and is, a very expensive place to live. They came through Ellis Island. I recently learned that my grandfather paid off grandma’s indentureship — she had agreed to work to pay for her passage.

LETTER: Another resource for non-profit board members

We at the Whitefish Community Foundation are happy to see the recent dialogue started by Susan Repa and continued by Kristin Bruninga in letters regarding financial oversight of nonprofit boards.

LETTER: Thanks to Zinke

This year, access to Montana’s natural resources was threatened in Congress by agendas that simply don’t understand our traditions and heritage. The Land and Water Conservation Fund became an unnecessary political football, officially expiring on Sept. 30, 2015, despite pleas from Republicans and Democrats alike for the program to remain intact.

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East Evergreen third-graders Memphis Vulles, left, and Brandi Coats dance while singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," during the school's sing-along on Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Christmas song

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Al Wellerstein stands at his station at Reverse Street and Hutton Ranch Road selling American flags for a $1 on Tuesday. Wellerstein said he was thankful for all the people that have bought a flag and made it possible for him to get off the street. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Al Wellerstein puts a dollar in his pocket after selling an American flag on Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Al Wellerstein stands at his station at Reverse Street and Hutton Ranch Road selling American flags for a $1 on Tuesday. Wellerstein normally sells the flags for four hours a day, but with Christmas he's been staying out longer. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Oil-lease bequest raises $126,334

HELENA — Montana regularly sells oil and gas leases for its own land, but rarely, if ever, has it sold mineral rights in another state — until now.

Woman pleads guilty to baseball bat attack

A Flathead County woman on Thursday admitted attacking another woman with a baseball bat last summer.

Magazines for Troops entering its ninth year

Magazines for Troops is entering its ninth year of providing U.S. service members all over the world with reading materials, a service that involves working six days a week to accomplish.

Bureau studies dam upgrades

HUNGRY HORSE

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is considering upgrades to the Hungry Horse Power Plant, including replacements and repairs to components within Hungry Horse Dam that are operating beyond their intended service life.

Another resource for non-profit board members

Mixed-up world needs you to help fix it

Thanks to Zinke

Fighting Nazis provides lesson for humanity

Egger forgets to cover his tracks

John Taylon Cogar, 18

Richard 'Dick' Seibert, 80

Hungry Horse Dam

School leaders to go on Dominican mission trip

Evergreen School District Superintendent Laurie Barron and Columbia Falls Junior High School Principal Dave Wick were delighted to get a second chance at building a school in the Dominican Republic on a Lifetouch Memory Mission.

Snowy sidewalks

Mark Souhrada of Columbia Falls shovels the sidewalk for his girlfriend on Monday afternoon, December 21, in Kalispell.   (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

Man admits to embezzlement during time as bookkeeper

In Flathead District Court on Thursday, a Kalispell man admitted embezzling thousands of dollars from his employer.

Flathead Electric runs with power-cutting program

In an effort to cut costs for powering hot water heaters during peak hours this winter, Flathead Electric Cooperative has unrolled its new Peak Time Demand Response Program.

Slow, sober driving encouraged during holidays

Snow blanketing the ground and holiday drinks with friends might make for some good times as Christmas and New Year’s festivities approach, but those conditions can also make getting home safe and sound a bit tricky or even treacherous.

Council to approve loan, discuss EMS rates

The Kalispell City Council tonight will hold both a regular meeting and work session discussion, with just a few items on the agenda.

The man behind the 1968 Charger

DODGE DESIGNER

When he dropped out of Michigan State’s fine arts program just days into a fresh semester, Richard Sias never expected that just a few years later, he would be designing one of the most iconic cars to emerge from the 1960s.

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Couple attempts to cash bad check

A bank employee alerted

Sidney L. Workman, 96

Sidney L. Workman, 96, passed away peacefully into the hands of our Heavenly Father on Monday Dec. 14, 2015, in Eureka after a long stay at Mountain View Manor. Sid was born May 9, 1919, in a log cabin beside Pinkham Creek to Charles and Alta Workman.

Monday Profile: Richard Sias

Richard Sias stands in front of a painting of a 1968 Dodge Charger at his home in Marion on Wednesday. Sias designed the original Dodge Charger.

Property tax assistance explained

The Montana Department of Revenue wants to let property owners know about a change in state property tax assistance programs to make it easier for taxpayers to apply for reduced property taxes.

LETTER: Trump is trouble

If Donald Trump can make disparaging comments about the other Republican candidates and Mexican immigrants, women, “the blacks” (his words), disabled people and now Muslims in general, then I can make disparaging comments about Donald Trump.

OPINION: Election cop's new rules need close study

The State Administration and Veterans Affairs Interim Committee has oversight of the Commissioner of Political Practices. Candidates file their election forms with this office and follow the rules for fair campaigning. Many refer to the job as the “election cop.”

OPINION: More questions about Turkey role in tribal issues

As the readership of the Daily Inter Lake may recall, on Sept. 2, 2015, my law firm filed suit against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Interior on behalf of two Montana state senators and a Montana-based recreational enterprise. The action challenged the administration’s historic condition-free conveyance of Kerr Dam to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.  

LETTER: Refugee solution?

I believe the way to solve the Syrian refugee problem is private sponsorship. Unlike Canada, which has had a policy of private refugee sponsorship for years, there is currently no legal program available in the United States for individuals and/or groups to sponsor refugees.

LETTER: Iranians friendly

A few years ago I went to Iran to see for myself if what I was reading in our newspapers about that country was true. It wasn’t!

Minister leads 'partnership pilgrimages' to Holy Land

A PASTOR’S PENCHANT

After 33 trips to the Holy Land, the people and places of Palestine, Israel and Egypt still hold a sense of wonder for the Rev. Paul Rowold of Polson.

Thanks to a great Glacier Park team for September rescue

Glacier National Park is a jewel in the crown we know as Northwest Montana. Glacier Park is critical to our local economy and our most accessible recreation site throughout the year. Glacier Park is operated and maintained by an incredibly professional and proficient staff, led by Superintendent Jeff Mow.

Rosamond Margaret Hollopeter, 97

Rosamond Margaret Hollopeter, 97, the longtime sweetheart of Swan Lake, passed away on Dec. 17, 2015, at the Brendan House, her daughter and son holding her hands, with loving grandchildren standing by her side.

EDITORIAL: Bullock-McLean feud reveals flawed system

It’s been quite educational the past few weeks to watch Gov. Steve Bullock scramble as he tries to reassure the citizens of Montana that he is an adept administrator.

OPINION: Quran itself warns against Islam, reader says

This is written on Monday, Dec 7, 2015, five days removed from the San Bernardino massacre, and the president has finally called San Bernardino a terrorist attack, and Fort Hood as well.

OPINION: Autism should be treated under Medicaid

With a prevalence of one in 68 children, autism spectrum disorder and its effective treatment should interest us all.

Myrtle Irene (Kennedy) Weisert, 92

Myrtle Irene (Kennedy) Weisert, 92, passed away on Dec. 14, 2015.

Daybook

LETTER: A physicist's view of climate change

Aztec priests told people they must cut out their beating hearts to bring better climate for their crops. The people believed them.

OPINION: Muslims are our allies in the war on terrorism

After I heard Donald Trump’s recent call to ban the entry of all Muslims into the United States, I realized most Americans never hear this simple truth: some of our most critical allies in the war on terrorism in the Middle East are Muslim.

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BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Bravettes win third straight, Bigfork wins twice in Libby

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Tiana Johnson scored 15 points and Flathead came from behind to upend Coeur d’Alene, 49-45 Saturday afternoon for its third straight win.

Braves 5th at CMR wrestling tournament

GREAT FALLS — Flathead finished fifth overall at the 38th annual CMR Holiday Classic wrestling tournament, which ended Saturday afternoon.

Wolfpack mounts huge comeback to beat Great Falls High

Things didn’t look good for the Glacier girls with four minutes to play in Saturday’s home game with Great Falls High.

Eureka wrestlers Buzz Lucey champs

EUREKA — Led by individual champions Kahdan Bakkila (120), Jonathan Schmidt (126), Josh Schmidt (138) and Garrett Graves (170), Eureka won the Buzz Lucey Memorial wrestling tournament on Saturday.

Glacier girls break swim record in 400 free relay

GREAT FALLS — For the third straight outing, it was a record-setting day for the Glacier girls in swimming.

Myrtle Irene (Kennedy) Weisert, 92

Rosamond Margaret Hollopeter, 97

LAW ROUNDUP: Caller 'just says no' to drugs

What could have been a lucky day for a pot user instead ended with disposal of marijuana by a Columbia Falls Police officer. A person discovered a baggie of weed at a business on Nucleus Avenue and asked that police respond for proper safe-keeping.

COLUMN: Boehner with a beard: Paul Ryan's legacy of surrender

On Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, Congress held up a white flag and surrendered its constitutional authority to make laws and to regulate spending on behalf of the United States government.

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Hailee Bennett is fouled by Great Falls Hannah Collins as she drives to the hoop. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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A great horned owl was one of the birds counted during the Bigfork Christmas Bird Count on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Craig Hohenberger, front, and Dick Walker peer into their binoculars to identify birds near the mouth of the Flathead River during the Bigfork Christmas Bird Count on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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The Glacier Wolfpack celebrate after 18 straight points to comeback and beat the Great Falls Bison 48-43 at home on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Aging bear at center of court fight is euthanized in Ohio

MEDINA, Ohio (AP) — A toothless, 41-year-old bear in the middle of a permit dispute between his owners and the state was euthanized after finishing a last meal that included a cream-filled doughnut.

COLUMN: Christmas letters still a time-honored tradition

Facebook and electronic greeting cards may have stolen a little of the anticipation of getting Christmas cards and letters in the mail this time of year, but I’ll admit I still look forward to hearing from friends and family members during the holidays.

Farmers can get help for crop losses

Farmers in Flathead and Lake counties are eligible for financial assistance for crop losses after the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared Lake County a primary disaster area Thursday.

Sentencing delayed for a second time in child sex case

Psychologist too busy for needed evaluation

Sentencing had to be delayed a second time on Thursday for a man convicted of having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 2012.

Middle school receives breakfast grant

Kalispell Middle School was awarded a $3,928 grant as part of the state’s Breakfast after the Bell initiative.

Toy-machine thief accused of shopping spree on stolen card

A woman lasted less than a month serving a three-year deferred sentence before she was picked up for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars through credit card fraud.

Keep the grinches at bay this holiday season

They most likely aren’t green furry creatures with bright yellow eyes, but there are plenty of Christmas grinches lurking around the Flathead Valley trying their best to spoil the holiday season for other folks.

Starla Hilliard-Barnes

Paraplegic, husband recovering from crash

Paralyzed a second time

To be paralyzed once during a lifetime is a tragedy. But to be paralyzed a second time after being able to move one’s legs and even stand again after six years is an unspeakable loss.

Levy request possible for high schools

A levy request, at least at the high school level, is likely to be on the May 2016 ballot for Kalispell Public Schools.

WHS GIS

Bob Denner with the U.S. Forest Service, center, discusses how to measure tree height using a laser rangefinder and clinometer with Whitefish High School students Emma Nixon, Mackenzie Grover and Emily Clark. Students were collecting data on forestry management techniques in the Priest River Experimental Forest.

Students track forest management

On Wednesday, Whitefish High School seniors Haley Burger, Kate Ehrenberg and Emma Nixon explained why following protocols is worth more than just points for a grade in their GIS and Natural Resource Data Analysis class.

Local churches announce special Christmas services

Daybook

Helen Rosemary Leach, 87

Helen Rosemary Leach, 87, passed away peacefully on Dec. 15, 2015, at her home in Grass Valley, California.

First Night Flathead

GLACIER BASKETBALL: Wildkats knock off Glacier girls, boys blow out 'Cats

The Columbia Falls girls ratched up their defense to pull away from Glacier in a close 56-47 nonconference basketball victory on Friday at Glacier High School.

FLATHEAD BASKETBALL: Braves, Bravettes roll Whitefish in pair of runaway wins

Tyler Johnson scored 13 points in his first game of the season and Flathead forced 21 turnovers en route to a comfortable 55-38 nonconference basketball win at home against Whitefish Friday night.

WRESTLING: Two from Flathead advance to CMR Holiday Classic semifinals

GREAT FALLS — Flathead will have two wrestlers competing in semifinal action today at the CMR Holiday Classic in Great Falls.

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Libby girls tip Thompson Falls, boys get payback

THOMPSON FALLS — Libby outscored Thompson Falls 21-9 in the second half to pull away for a 36-23 District 7B girls basketball victory Friday night.

Flathead senior Kye AuClaire

Kye AuClaire splits Whitefish defenders Zander Wold (11) and James Sampson (3) as he puts up a shot during the first quarter at Flathead on Friday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Columbia Falls' Kiara Burlage

Columbia Falls' Kiara Burlage puts up a shot after pulling down a rebound in a crowd of Wolfpack defenders. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Columbia Falls at Glacier basketball

Glacier's Courtney Mitchell and Columbia Falls' Kiara Burlage (32) fight for the ball as Sydney Hovde defends Mitchell during the second quarter of the Wildkats' 56-47 win at Glacier Friday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Flemming

Helen Rosemary Leach, 87

Lieutenant governor flap highlights blurred lines

HELENA — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock said Friday that he uses private email to communicate with staff only about political or campaign-related issues, but he acknowledged the line between politics and state business sometimes gets blurry.

Three-peat for Columbia Falls in holiday fundraiser

Bell ringers

For the third straight year, Columbia Falls has emerged as the winner of the Salvation Army Flathead Valley City and Chamber Kettle Competition.  

CHS move won't get tax credits

The Montana Community Development Corporation on Thursday said it would not grant new market tax credits to the Core and Rail Redevelopment plan, a joint project between the city of Kalispell and the Flathead County Economic Development Authority.

Counterfeiting suspect caught

A suspected counterfeiter was taken into custody Thursday by the Kalispell Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service.

Montana 83 crash

Log load spills in collision

One person was ejected from his vehicle and injured in a collision between a loaded logging truck and pickup truck at the intersection of Montana 83 and Echo Lake Road on Friday afternoon.

Kalispell man pleads no contest in stabbing case

On Thursday, a 28-year-old Kalispell man pleaded no contest to felony criminal endangerment for stabbing another man six times on Feb. 3 following an argument.

Columbia Falls parking shouting match disrupts yoga zen

Bigfork man facing released pending trial on five felonies

A young Bigfork man with five pending felony cases was released from jail on Thursday against the wishes of the Flathead County Attorney’s Office.

Teen sought in connection with shooting in Pablo

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Flathead Tribal Police are looking for a teenage boy in connection with a Monday shooting in Pablo that sent one woman to the hospital.

Former Flathead felon convicted on gun charges

A former Flathead felon will now serve federal time after being convicted Dec. 10 of felony possession of a firearm in a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in Billings.

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Muldown third-graders watch The Polar Express during a pajama party at the school on Friday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Muldown third-grade teachers Jennifer Watson, left, and Sarah Akey pour hot chocolate as their students watch Polar Express in their pajamas at the school on Friday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Sherry Simmons leads the Echoes and Orchestra iln The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) during the first performance of the Glacier High Music Department's "And the Stars Sang," at the school on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Summer Gangewar sets up her stuffed animals as she draws during an art activity at the Boys and Girls Club of Glacier County on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Delilah Hanson stands up to finish paint her Christmas ornament at the Boys and Girls Club of Glacier County on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Mason Bebee draws an illusion during an arts activities at the Boys and Girls Club of Glacier County on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Two Lake County deputies injured during arrest

An uncooperative woman injured two Lake County sheriff’s deputies after she attempted to ram their vehicles in Finley Point at about 5 a.m. Friday.

Woman won't report to probation, give sample

A woman given a three-year deferred sentence in May 2014 for felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs never reported to probation and parole as required and further refused to provide a urine sample when sent out of the courtroom to do so last week.

Ethelyn Lorraine Dalen, 94

Ethelyn Lorraine Dalen, 94, of Whitefish, passed away on Saturday morning Dec. 12, 2015, at The Springs in Whitefish with family at her side.

EDITORIAL: Snow is good sign for start of ski season

It’s beginning to look a lot like winter.

Births, Published Dec. 18, 2015

Edward Lee Hubbs, 68

Edward Lee Hubbs, 68, passed away Dec. 14, 2015, in Kalispell.

OPINION: Planned Parenthood's value depends on your perspective

In reference to Martha Stahl’s Nov. 8 guest opinion titled “Planned Parenthood is resource for Montana”:

OPINION: State senator's support for Clean Power Plan no surprise

Recently, State Sen. Greg Jergeson, perhaps best known for allegations that he illegally coordinated with “dark money” groups in order to “improperly influence the outcome” of his election, took to the opinion pages of several Montana newspapers attacking Americans for Prosperity for standing up for Montana’s right to make its own energy decisions by refusing to implement President Obama’s “Clean Power Plan” in our state.

Daybook

Christmas Blessing

BASKETBALL: Bigfork whips Eureka in 7B opener

BIGFORK — Bigfork held Eureka to two baskets in the first half on its way to a 58-17 rout in a District 7B conference boys basketball game on Thursday night.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Class A boys - Columbia Falls' long reign to be tested

Retooled, C-Falls’ reign to be tested

BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Class A girls - Columbia Falls ready to take next step

Less than a month ago, Cydney Finberg and Kiara Burlage celebrated a state volleyball championship.

Glacier adding 21 student-athletes to Wall of Fame

Twenty-one student-athletes from the 2015 graduating class at Glacier High School have qualified for its Wall of Fame recognition. They will be honored tonight between the varsity girls and boys basketball games at the high school.

Bigfork's Logan Taylor

Bigfork's Logan Taylor splits Eureka's Tayler Sherwood (40) and Sam Hannay (30) as he puts up a shot during the third quarter of the Vikings' 58-17 win at Bigfork on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Bigfork's George Gibson

Bigfork's George Gibson shoots over Eureka's Sam Hannay during the third quarter in Bigfork on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Ethelyn Lorraine Dalen, 94

Man accused of second sexual assault of child

A Kalispell man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 5-year old girl less than a year after the Montana Supreme Court overturned his 40-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl in 2010.

Kootenai National Forest group reaches accord

A collaborative group representing stakeholders in and around the Kootenai National Forest announced an agreement last week that will guide its input on proposed land management projects.

David Letterman

David Letterman sports a long white beard as he speaks Nov. 30 at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Letterman is donating memorabilia from his career in television to his alma mater. Upon his retirement from television last May, the former “Late Show” host took advantage of the opportunity to quit shaving, and the impressively bushy result has been on display in the few public appearances he’s made. (Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press via AP)

Retired TV host talks Montana in local scoop

DAVID LETTERMAN AND WHITEFISH REVIEW

As Whitefish Review prepares to release its 18th issue, “Growing Up and Getting Older,” on Saturday, the nonprofit literary journal got some unexpected national attention thanks to retired “Late Show” host David Letterman.

Whitefish weighs in on proposed county zoning

With a final round of public comment taken Thursday, the Flathead County commissioners now must decide what changes, if any, they will make before adopting the Rural Whitefish Zoning District and five new county zoning classifications for the Whitefish area.

Stillwater parents sue over tax-credit rule

Three mothers of children attending Stillwater Christian School are challenging the Montana Department of Revenue’s exclusion of religious schools from a program that will provide scholarships to students attending private schools.

Church in Columbia Falls burglarized

A person called

Flathead High earns high marks from review team

Flathead High School has received accreditation from AdvancED and was noted for its diverse course offerings and a strong school community.

LETTER: Night of Lights better than ever

Hats off to the Columbia Falls community for making the 30th annual Night of Lights an awesome celebration on Dec. 4!

Land preservation includes rare firefly habitat

The Flathead Land Trust last week secured more than 300 acres of land to conserve critical habitat for the tens of thousands of migratory birds that use the Flathead area’s wetlands each year.

LETTER: Islamophobia: distraction from the real enemy

On Dec. 4, I listened to a visiting Christian preacher whose project is to “eradicate politically correct rhetoric about Islam… to show the savagery of this ideology…” The Quran passages inciting violence are not difficult to find. No doubt, those words can be used to incite those radicalized… The problem is, the focus on Islam distracts from our own government’s involvement in the development and support of jihad and the consequent refugee crisis.

LETTER: More complaints about 911 vote

Gritting my teeth, I will mail my “protest” to the Board of County Commissioners regarding the creation of the 911 Special District.

LETTER: Read Quran for yourself and decide on the danger

There are some people that erroneously think we can defeat the radicals with love and understanding. They are dreaming the impossible dream.

LETTER: Loss of citizen confidence?

Most know of Abe Lincoln. Some know his various thoughts and homilies. Many know the last portion of the following sentiment attributed to him, but without knowing the first part, no one knows the full intent and meaning. I hope to clear that up...  

Donald S. Dale, 77

Donald S. Dale was born to spread joy to the world. Don was born on April 19, 1938, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to Pansy and William S. Dale and a family of musicians and entertainers. As the second youngest in a family of 21 kids, he learned quickly to connect to the best in people and to add value to the world wherever he would go. The family had a traveling music and entertainment show where he perfected his musical craft and learned to work with his hands and the ability to sell from his heart.

Daybook

Stumptown Art Studio hosts Santa's Workshop event

Santa's little helpers

Santa has some little, local elves hard at work this week at the Stumptown Art Studio in Whitefish.

Skylar Marcus Belstad, 23

Skylar Marcus Belstad, 23, passed away Dec. 11, 2015, unexpectedly.

EDITORIAL: Luminarias are bright Christmas tradition

There are many treasured traditions that accompany the holiday season, and here in the Flathead Valley we look forward to the luminarias that line Rose Crossing on Christmas Eve. The votive candles in sand-filled bags create a peaceful display on a very special night.

James Noble Toavs, 79

James Noble Toavs, 79, of Columbia Falls, “went to be with the Lord” on Friday, Dec.11, 2015, at his winter home in Sun City, Arizona, under the care of his family.

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TERRY COLUMN: Brock's time could be short

Brock Osweiler has played well in his NFL debut the last month.

Andrews pioneering sport of flyboarding

Whitefish's Andrews finishes 37th at Flyboard World Cup

Everything worked for T.J. Andrews at the Flyboard World Cup earlier this month, except for the results.

Comments being taken on snowmobile fun run

The Kootenai National Forest is accepting public comments for the annual Fun Run snowmobile race in the Fortine Ranger District sponsored by the 10 Lakes Snowmobile Club.

Glacier changing backcountry permit system

Glacier National Park announced Monday it will change its backcountry permit system from a lottery to a first-come, first-served reservation application.

COLUMN: Ice tradition returns to Smith Lake Dec. 26

Northwest Montana citizens love to fish and love friendly sports competition, so it’s a natural to combine both of these loves into fishing contests.

Donald S. Dale, 77

Skylar Marcus Belstad, 23

Man thinks gun is the one stolen 18 years ago ago

A man showed up to the

When the Night Comes

Night in the cold raises money for Sparrow's Nest

About $31,000 was raised for Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana and participation was up during the second annual “12/12: When the Night Comes” fundraising event.

LETTER: A 2002 incident shows danger of immigration policies

On July 4, 2002, Hesham Mohamed Hadayet, a 41-year-old Egyptian national, living in the United States since 1992, decided to drive down to Los Angeles International Airport, to the Israeli El Al Airlines terminal and with two Glock pistols he started randomly shooting innocent bystanders. He managed to murder one El Al ticket agent, and kill a waiting passenger, but he was shot dead by an El Al security officer while he was shooting at a group of passengers huddled in a corner. God only knows what the mass-murder toll would have been if someone in the crowd didn’t have a gun.

LETTER: We the People need to stand up for our rights

You all know about the killing of 14 people in San Bernardino by a Muslim and his wife. This man worked in the place of the attack. What you might not know is he had a good salary and was allowed to go home several times a day, with pay, to pray to his God.

LETTER: Shooters beware

From my observations on my last winter visit to Whitefish, I believe had those gunman in San Bernardino opened up firing away on people in Whitefish, there would be a good chance that someone would shoot back. —

LETTER: Help for boards of nonprofits

I applaud Susan Repa’s letter on “Common sense rules for money handling in nonprofits.” As a former executive director of a nonprofit, former owner of a bookkeeping business, and current nonprofit board member, I echo her rules for making simple accounting changes to help prevent embezzlement.

Conservation fund may get extended

Members of Montana’s Congressional delegation and state conservation and sportsman groups gave tepid support for a temporary extension of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund on Wednesday.

Team effort rescues stricken snowmobiler

Bigfork and Creston fire departments and the ALERT helicopter crew had to get creative rescuing a man injured in a snowmobile accident Tuesday afternoon near Jewel Basin.

Temporary jail solution nearly ready to begin

The Flathead County Detention Center will have more room for inmates at the end of the month after the longtime juvenile detention facility is converted to temporary housing for adult female inmates.

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Columbia Falls Police Detective Steve Hughes checks out the Hot Wheels Noah Nicoson picked out during the Shop with a Cop at Target on Wednesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Shop with a cop

Shooting suspect

Pablo Shooting suspect arrested

A Lake County shooting suspect was apprehended Wednesday, two days after an incident in Pablo left a woman seriously wounded.

Hockaday begins search for new executive director

The Hockaday Museum of Art announced Tuesday that it would conduct a nationwide search to identify potential candidates for its executive director position.

Suspects still at large in Pablo shooting

Authorities were still searching Tuesday for two suspects who fled the scene of a Pablo shooting Monday afternoon that left one woman seriously wounded.

City studies backup plans for rail-park funding

The Kalispell City Council and Flathead County Economic Development Authority on Monday discussed a hypothetical situation in case funding pieces fall through in building the new Glacier Rail Park.

Anton Peter 'Holly' 'AP' Hollinger, 88

Anton Peter “Holly” “AP” Hollinger, 88, of Missoula, passed away Saturday evening Dec. 12, 2015, surrounded by his family, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Leo Renfrow, 93

Happy, kind, active, strong, gentle, fun-loving and playful, Leo Edgar Renfrow, 93, passed away at Beehive Homes in Columbia Falls on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015.

Daybook

BASKETBALL: Braves fight for overtime win against Polson

Flathead was getting nothing on offense.

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Bravettes earn first win in Polson

POLSON — The Flathead girls rode a big second quarter performance to pull away from Polson, winning 55-26 in a nonconference basketball game on Tuesday.

Anton Peter 'Holly' 'AP' Hollinger, 88

Leo Renfrow, 93

LAW ROUNDUP: Man injured in snowmobile accident

Flathead guard Matt Marshall

The Braves' Matt Marshall drives past the Pirates' Julian Jones for a basket against Polson on Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead's C.J. Dugan

Flathead's CJ Dugan sails past Polson's Tanner Wilson for a layup during the first quarter at Flathead Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

St. Ignatius police investigate shooting

St. Ignatius Police Chief Matthew Connelly said he could release few details about an incident where shots were fired near the Sinclair gas station and Allard General Store early Monday morning.

'Doughnut' zoning in final steps

Public hearings planned Thursday

Two public hearings on Thursday are among the final steps in Flathead County’s takeover of zoning for 12,740 acres of land known as the Whitefish “doughnut.”

Force awakens this week

‘Star Wars’ screenings still available on opening day

Star Wars fans have waited a long 10 years since the last film in the space saga was released in theaters.

Gold coin

Gold coin donated to red kettle

A Liberty Head Double Eagle gold coin was donated to a the Salvation Army red kettle recently at the Columbia Falls Smith’s store.

First night

First Night gears up for 17th gala event

‘FOOD FOR THE SOUL’

First Night Flathead is in the final stages of preparation for its 17th annual New Year’s Eve event on Dec. 31.

Murder defendant tries to skip hearing

An Evergreen man tried Tuesday to get out of sitting through part of a weeklong pretrial hearing meant to determine what a jury will and will not see and hear in a deliberate homicide trial early next year.

Chester Bailey

This Week in the Flathead: Santa's Workshop

Detail of the painted ceramic ornaments at the Stumptown Art Studio Santa's Workshop on Monday afternoon, December 14, in Whitefish. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

Santa's Workshop

Silas Stimac, 4, of Kalispell, uses a stamp and paints to create his own Christmas wrapping paper at the Stumptown Art Studio Santa's Workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Whitefish.

Santa's little helpers

Rylan Deupree, 5, of Bigfork, gets his hands dirty as he makes personalized Christmas wrapping paper at the Stumptown Art Studio Santa's Workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Whitefish.

Fee increase proposed for Star Meadows Guard Station

The Flathead National Forest is accepting public comments for a proposed rental fee increase for the Star Meadows Guard Station 20 miles west of Whitefish.

Dine and dash thwarted in C. Falls

Two women were caught trying to pull a “dine and dash” on a Columbia Falls restaurant. The employee who called

Making spirits bright

Alyssa White, a kindergarten student at Trinity Lutheran, gives a candy cane to Laura Morse, a resident at Prestige Assisted Living in Kalispell on Monday, Dec. 14.

Songwriter Don Pfrimmer dies at 78

Prominent country music songwriter Don Pfrimmer, who grew up in Whitefish, died of leukemia Dec. 7 at his home in Nashville. He was 78.

Woman convicted of fraud, assault

On Thursday a Kalispell woman admitted issuing bad checks, using a stolen credit card to steal more money and assaulting a woman in three separate incidents in the past year.

Three valley teams finish on top in Polson

Bigfork, Glacier and Whitefish high school teams won sweepstakes titles Saturday in Polson at the Piratepalooza Speech, Debate and Drama Meet.

Glacier, Flathead finish 1-2 in speech meet

Glacier High School finished first and Flathead High School second on Saturday in the Electric City Invitational speech and debate meet in Great Falls.

Pablo shooting injures woman

A shooting at a home in Pablo at about 1 p.m. Monday wounded a woman and forced the lockdown of Pablo Elementary School.

Glacier Symphony and Chorale performs Handel's Messiah

Alto Kari Donovan performs with the Glacier Symphony and Chorale in Handel's Messiah on Saturday, December 12, at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

Christmas Carols by Trinity Luterhan students at Prestige Assisted Living

Trinity Lutheran Kindergarten teacher Susan Junk leads students Audrey Rasmussen, left to right, Ada Thiel, Gavin Knapp, Katrina Bochman, and Landon DePaulin Christmas carols at Prestige Assisted Living in Kalispell on Monday morning, December 14. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

Salon owner shows the community amore

During the holidays, examples of giving are everywhere: the Salvation Army in front of a store or Toys for Tots signs filling business windows, for example.

Groups release avalanche video

Several local groups have collaborated on a 30-second avalanche safety video to encourage skiers, snowmobilers and others recreating in the backcountry during winter to take advantage of free avalanche safety programs.

Student releases 'Shelter Tails' book

For the past year, 14-year-old Julia Wynne has been writing a book sharing stories of longing to belong and the bond between people and their adopted canine and feline companions.

Artist donates work to Abbie Shelter

‘Everybody can do something’

Whitefish artist Jane Latus Emmert received a phone call in 2002 that changed her life.

Council session to consider development details

At a work session tonight, the Kalispell City Council will meet with the Flathead County Economic Development Authority to hammer out details on the upcoming Core and Rail Redevelopment project.

Woman denies driving drunk with child in car

A Columbia Falls woman on Thursday denied driving drunk with a 5-year-old child in her car.

Sidewalks aren't extra parking spots

A Stumptown Loop resident called the

Julia Wynne

Julia Wynne, pictured with the family dog Charlie, recently wrote a book "Shelter Tails: Stories of Friendship & Finding Forever Homes." Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the Flathead County Animal Shelter.

Tyra (Rydell) Hobbs, 83

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Joanne Thompson and her Irish setter Rosie sit by the fire while camping out for When the Night Comes event for the Sparrow's Nest of Northwest Montana at the Glacier Gateway Mall on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily inter Lake)

Whitefish Wolverines

Whitefish's Connor Brennan (center) skates through a pair Idaho Junior Steelheads during a game at the Stumptown Ice Den on Dec. 13, 2015. The Wolverines franchise has folded after two seasons in Whitefish. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake, file)

OPINION: Time to find a scapegoat for Whitefish city hall project?

The Whitefish City Hall project was rammed down the taxpayers’ throats with a quick demolition of the old building before the taxpayers figured out what was happening but hopefully after they forgot about the recent one-cent increase in the sales tax.

OPINION: Defund Planned Parenthood - or fund the church?

The Christian church is an organization vitally needed in our society as well as around the world. It not only provides spiritual and psychological assistance to millions, it provides for the poor both at home and abroad. It helps needy women with health issues and offers a multitude of resources to them as well as the total family.

LETTER: Disappointed in Keystone decision

Once again, I am disappointed by decisions made by President Obama. His decision to stop the Keystone pipeline is yet another example of his ideology conflicting with the best interests of the people of Montana.

Indoor winter carnival staged at fairgrounds

FLATHEAD FUN

Laurie Mason’s childhood was a picnic — quite literally.

OPINION: Rolling over to D.C. bureaucrats hurts state

Clean Power Plan

Does ignoring reality ever turn out for the best? When it comes to energy policy in Montana, Gov.Bullock sure seems to think so.

OPINION: A letter from Montana Planned Parenthood

In light of the recent attacks on Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs, Planned Parenthood of Montana would like to assure Montanans that its doors stay open. We are grateful to the Planned Parenthood staff and law enforcement agencies who handled this tragedy with such courage and compassion, and Planned Parenthood of Montana’s thoughts and prayers are with the families of the people who were killed and injured.

OPINION: Obama vs. the JV team

A Pattern of Apologizing for Islam?

After the Benghazi 9-11 attack on our embassy in Libya, the Obama-Hillary propaganda machine repeatedly came out with the false narrative that “a reprehensible and disgusting video that insulted Islam” was responsible for the “spontaneous attack” that killed four Americans.

Karen Louise (Ortman) Mateeff, 58

Karen Louise (Ortman) Mateeff, 58, “entered the gates of heaven” on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015.

Hope Renee Wamsley, 52

Hope Renee Wamsley, 52, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015.

EDITORIAL: Lake County's growing drug problem

We were disheartened, but frankly not surprised, by the story last week that revealed a growing problem in Lake County for drug-related crime.

OPINION: Is climate change man-made disaster or man-made scam?

A call for critical thinking

Any sane person wants clean air and water; however, it is absurd to believe humans can control the Earth’s climate. Meteorologists have been studying, keeping records, and predicting climate changes for approximately 250 years. the very old sequoia trees have kept records of climate changes for over 1,200 years. The tree rings provide irrefutable (impossible to deny or disprove) proof that climate changes are repeated over and over.

Daybook

Cora Lynne (Torpen) Hoye, 54

Cora Lynne (Torpen) Hoye passed away in her home on Dec. 8, 2015, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She fought a long and hard battle, but never let it slow her down. Throughout her journey, she was always optimistic and never gave up. Her smile and humor will always be with us.

A reprise for Mama Blanca's restaurant

Latin-fusion effort revived after 10 years

Ten years after its initial opening in Whitefish, Latin-fusion restaurant Mama Blanca’s is getting a second chance.

William G. 'Bill' Vogt, 80

William G. “Bill” Vogt, 80, passed away on Nov. 18, 2015, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.

Lloyd A. Moe, 89

Remember Dec. 9, 2015, as a historic day in Libby as one of its most beloved fishermen, loggers, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Lloyd A. Moe, 89, left us “for better fishing and taller trees.”

OPINION: Spokesman for BNSF proud of its 'strong record of safety'

At BNSF Railway, operating safely is the most important thing we do every day.

Richard William Knapton, 78

Richard William Knapton, 78, passed away in San Antonio, Texas on Dec. 9, 2015, surrounded at home by his family.

LETTER: Legislator says keeping Montana safe is job No. 1

I have had the opportunity to read Sen. Kaufmann’s guest opinion printed Dec. 6, and I felt it necessary to respond.

LETTER: Turning away refugees will create terrorists

As I observe the rhetoric that has emanated from certain politicians concerning Syrian refugees, I wonder if these “public servants” have forgotten the meaning of Thanksgiving in our nation’s history.

Stephen Victor Hinck, 59

Stephen Victor Hinck, 59, passed away on Dec. 6, 2015, at home in Polson.

At Home Flathead Dec 2015

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BASKETBALL: Bison too much for Braves

The start couldn’t have been better.

BASKETBALL: Missoula Tip-Off Tournament roundup

MISSOULA — Libby outscored Stevensville 18-12 in the fourth quarter to pull out a 51-49 boys basketball victory at the Tipoff Tournament at the University of Montana on Saturday.

WRESTLING: Whitefish wins Kinney Invitational

SUPERIOR — Led by individual winner Travis Catina at 205 pounds, Whitefish won the Bob Kinney Invitational wrestling tournament on Saturday.

SWIMMING: Glacier speeds in Butte

BUTTE — Glacier freshman AJ Popp continues to set records in her debut season, setting two more school records in another fantastic performance for the Wolfpack at the Butte Invitational swim meet on Saturday.

RUNNING: Glacier's Hill places 22nd at Foot Locker Cross Country national championships

SAN DIEGO — It wasn’t the race she was looking for.

WRESTLING: Flathead grapplers 5th at Mining City Duals

BUTTE — Flathead finished fifth at the Mining City Duals wrestling tournament on Saturday.

Cora Lynne (Torpen) Hoye, 54

Richard William Knapton, 78

William G. 'Bill' Vogt, 80

Hope Renee Wamsley, 52

Lloyd A. Moe, 89

Karen Louise (Ortman) Mateeff, 58

LAW ROUNDUP: Snakes on a plane? No, just drugs on a train

A

Mama Blanca's reopens in Whitefish

Obama: Climate deal may save planet

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Saturday hailed the newly passed international climate agreement that he said “offers the best chance we have to save the one planet we have.”

Boy collects toy cars, gives them away

A spirit of giving

Koby Isles handed out a lot of happiness at Saturday’s annual Christmas at Our House community dinner.

Bigfork Playhouse, foundation reach lease deal

$1 per ticket fee will cover maintenance

The Bigfork Summer Playhouse has signed a 10-year lease for use of the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts that enables the Playhouse theater program to continue but requires a $1-per-ticket fee for building maintenance.

COLUMN: I was there for 'The Birth of the Mirth'

One of the most popular features in the Daily Inter Lake’s is  the Law Enforcement Roundup, our version of the daily police blotter that informs readers about interactions between citizens and the local constabulary.

Anna Creek Work Station proposed for rental status

A proposal by the Flathead National Forest would add the Anna Creek Work Station near Hungry Horse Reservoir to the forest’s cabin rental program for a fee of $75 per night.

Attorney fights new charges against sexual offender

A judge has the right to send a Columbia Falls sex offender to jail for violating terms of his probation by having sexual contact with a minor, but new charges that arose from a probation officer’s investigation should not prevail, according to public defender Vicki Frazier.

COLUMN: Needy youths to get special stockings

Old St. Nick will be surprising about 80 high school students this year with Christmas stockings thanks to the generosity of local community members and merchants.

County adjusts board application process

Flathead County has revamped its board application process and is readvertising various board vacancies following complaints that the application process was flawed.

Flathead's Kye Auclaire

Flathead's Kye AuClaire passes the ball as he is swarmed by Great Falls defenders Daniel Silverstein (5) and Kellan Romsa during the Braves' 65-47 loss at home Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead's Micah Bucy

Flathead's Micah Bucy puts up a shot over Great Falls' Brendan Howard during the third quarter on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Tabitha Harrod feeds her 15-month-old daughter Willow some pumpkin pie during the Christmas at Our House at the U.S. Army Reserve Center on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Loredana Ratliff, left, and Terry Pietron were dressed festive as they volunteered to serve food at the Christmas at Our House. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Jacoby Isles smiles after giving Michael Ambler a toy car at the Christmas at Our House at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Kalispell on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Youths debate weighty world issues at model U.N.

Model U.N.

As the world reacted to Turkey shooting down a Russian warplane on Nov. 24, students from the Flathead Valley and Polson were tackling issues of an international importance such as biological weapons, migration, terrorism, peace building and food security at the  50th annual Model United Nations High School Conference.

Legislator honored for DUI legislation

Two Montana lawmakers were recognized Wednesday by the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility for their efforts to promote responsible drinking during the legislative session earlier this year.

Daybook

Plea deal reached in stabbing, threat cases

Prosecutors and defense attorneys have agreed to recommend a 10-year commitment to the Montana Department of Corrections, with five years suspended, for a 22-year-old man accused of two separate cutting-related incidents earlier this year.

WRESTLING PREVIEW: Flathead, Vasquez look to get back on top

Now for an encore.

SWIMMING PREVIEW: Promising start for local athletes

It’s hard to judge a season on one meet, let alone the results from the opening event, but swim coaches around the Flathead Valley are optimistic at what’s ahead for their individuals and teams.

BASKETBALL: Cold-shooting Glacier drops opener

Glacier wanted to be the aggressor, so it trapped in the backcourt, attacked the ball and forced Great Falls C.M. Russell to run up and down the court in the early going.

TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT: Fast start carries Vals to easy win

MISSOULA — Bigfork’s girls basketball team used a fast start to roll by Anaconda 52-31 at the Tipoff Tournament on Friday at the University of Montana.

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Glacier girls nip CMR

The Daily Inter Lake

WRESTLING: Dogs pin Vikes

WHITEFISH — Five pins and several forfeits gave Whitefish a 57-12 dual wrestling victory over Bigfork on Friday.

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Glacier's Xavier Pace is fouled by C.M. Russell's John Learn while going up for a shot during the first quarter at Glacier on Friday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier's Drake Dulin

Glacier's Drake Dulin goes up for a shot in a crowd of C.M. Russell defenders during the second quarter at Glacier on Friday. Dulin was called for a charge on the play. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Judge angered by serial abuser's excuse for sentencing delay

Flathead District Judge Robert Allison was not amused when an Evergreen man set for sentencing for choking his girlfriend told him that he simply had not shown up for a mandatory pre-sentence investigation ahead of his scheduled sentencing on Thursday.

LAW ROUNDUP: Snow builders get frosty reception

A woman asked

Kalispell man pleads guilty to his sixth DUI

A Kalispell man was convicted of his sixth charge of driving under the influence of alcohol on Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Rape charges dropped in plea bargain

A Whitefish man pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment on Thursday as part of a plea bargain in which two charges of sexual intercourse without consent were dismissed.

Northwest storms ease some drought worries

SEATTLE (AP) — Fierce storms in the Pacific Northwest sent rivers bursting from their banks, spilled boulders and trees into a major highway and spawned a rare tornado that snapped power poles and battered homes. They’ve also had one positive effect — easing drought concerns after an unusually dry summer.

South Campus

County construction well underway

Flathead County is in the midst of one of its busiest building years ever, with $11 million in facilities projects scheduled for completion by mid-2016.

Monday Profile: Tracy Anderson

Tracy Anderson, owner of Amore Salon in Kalispell, on Friday, Dec. 11, at the salon's Fifth Avenue West location.

Mama Blanca's reopens in Whitefish

Dave Sheeran and Giovanni Lopez add the final touches to dishes before they are served up at Mama Blanca's on Thursday, December 10. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

LETTER: 911 tax plan doesn't work

I MEAN REALLY! A ballot that isn’t a ballot. Doing nothing is a yes vote. Vote no on a ballot with no dollar value is a yes vote. A vague promise to adjust things after we get this turkey passed. A total frontal tax assault on every small business owner in the valley. And for an explanation all we get is a tepid acknowledgment from one county commissioner that “we did a very poor job of explaining it.” Is this really the best they can do?

LETTER: Help school kids collect box tops

Hey, do you want to help school kids in your neighborhood? You can in a small way by clipping the BoxTops for Education and Label for Educations labels on soup cans, stock cartons and flour packaging and passing them on to the kids to take to school.

LETTER: Get right with God for the bad times ahead

This latest terror attack by Islamists should be a wake-up call for all of us. Funded by petrodollars, they have infiltrated every facet of our society. They are called to emulate Muhammad, who himself helped behead 600 Jews. There is no common ground nor negotiating with these fundamentalists.

Immanuel Lutheran gets bus donation

Residents of Immanuel Lutheran Communities in Kalispell on Thursday got a little more mobile with the donation of a new senior citizen transportation bus.

Judge won't dismiss compact suit lawsuit

A Lake County district judge has ruled against the state of Montana’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the implementation of the water rights compact for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Schools' food leader leaving for D.C. position

Kalispell Public Schools Food Service Director Jenny Montague has resigned to take a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

LETTER: Seat belt rant drives another reader into tizzy

Re: Dec. 3, 2015 letter, “Should the government dictate seat-belt rules for all?”

Flathead fugitive nabbed after gunfire, chase

After evading a Flathead County arrest warrant for nearly eight years, a Washington man was captured Thursday after a charged standoff with police, gunfire and a car chase in the Tri-Cities area.

OPINION: Don't make LWCF another broken promise

Before Thanksgiving we had a hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee about the Land and Water Conservation Fund. When talking with my colleagues from all over the country about the fund, I ask them to imagine America without iconic national parks like Rocky Mountain, Grand Canyon, Acadia, and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. All of those parks were created by the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

EDITORIAL: Books reveal two sides of Montana

Hagadone Montana Publishing doesn’t just publish newspapers. The parent company that owns the Daily Inter Lake and seven weekly newspapers in Northwest Montana also publishes books, and two of them are available just in time for Christmas.

Jerry D. Tiller, 59

Jerry D. Tiller, 59, of Kalispell, passed away Tuesday night, Dec. 8, after a long battle with brain tumors. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Daybook

LETTER: Whitefish Proud & shopping local

The city of Whitefish is happy to announce “Whitefish Proud” — a campaign to inspire residents to do more of their business locally.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Coming off historic season, Glacier girls reaching for peak

There was nothing easy about Glacier’s climb to the upper-echelon of Class AA programs.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW: New-look Glacier boys have big holes to fill

Even before it happened, this year’s Glacier team was going to look a whole lot different than a season ago.

WRESTLING: Unbeaten Flathead pounds Hellgate, Glacier falls at Big Sky

MISSOULA — Flathead pushed its dual wrestling mark to 5-0 with a dominating 51-24 Western AA victory over Missoula Hellgate on Thursday evening.

RUNNING: Hill chasing national championship Saturday

SAN DIEGO — Annie Hill has been nearly unrivaled this season.

BASKETBALL: Troy girls top Stillwater Christian, Cougars boys flip script

TROY — Class B Troy outscored Stillwater Christian, a member of the Montana Christian Athletic Association, 13-4 in overtime to claim a 57-48 nonconference girls basketball victory Thursday evening.

WRESTLING: Polson, Columbia Falls and Eureka all ranked in first coaches poll

Havre, Polson and Columbia Falls are the top three ranked Class A wrestling squads in the first coaches poll of the season.

Daughter trash talks parents online

A Marion man asked for advice from

Blacktail set to open on Dec. 18

Blacktail Mountain Ski Area near Lakeside announced Thursday it will open Dec. 18.

Courthouse trees face chopping block

Two towering spruce trees that have framed the north side of the Flathead County Courthouse for a century are scheduled to be removed this winter because one of the trees has decayed and poses a safety hazard.

Whitefish City Hall shortfall close to $1 million

Cost overruns for Whitefish’s new City Hall and parking structure have now grown to nearly $1 million in a “worst case scenario,” the Whitefish City Council learned Monday.

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Shannon Barnes, left, and Starla Hilliard-Barnes at their home in Kalispell on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Starla Hilliard-Barnes kisses her daughter Elissiah goodbye before the 3-year-old leaves with her grandma Wendy Hilliard. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Three-year-old Elissiah plays with her dad Shannon Barnes as Starla Hilliard-Barnes looks on at their home in Kalispell on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Dr. Katarine Egressy the interventional pulmonologist at Kalispell Medical Regional Medical Center is the only doctor in the region that performs brochial thermoplasty surgery. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Two large spruce trees in front of the Flathead County Historic Courthouse may be cut down. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Courthouse trees

Jacoby Isles

Lincoln County floodwaters recede

A state of emergency remains in place in Lincoln County following flooding throughout Libby and Troy Wednesday, but waters had receded to safe levels by Thursday morning, according to county officials.

'Mandatory kill' for walleyes approved

State panel also OKs Haskill land easement

The Montana Wildlife Commission on Thursday approved a “mandatory kill” fishing rule for walleyes in Swan Lake.

LETTER: Is history repeating itself?

It is said that those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. We saw a good example of this this week in the words of Donald Trump when he referred to closing all American doors to Muslims.

Road to Avalanche open until Tuesday

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Snow has been scarce in Northwest Montana, meaning people may still have a chance to get to Glacier National Park’s popular Avalanche trailhead by vehicle until road gates are closed at Lake McDonald Lodge on Tuesday.

LETTER: Change your mind-set and change world

There have been more than 350 shootings this last year in America in which at least four people were killed or wounded. That’s about one a day.

LETTER: Radical Christian promotes love

I dislike to say it: I am a radical Christian. Our nation is reaping the rewards of radical Islam. I am programmed by Christ’s words — “As you have done it to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”

Paint, Metal and Mud celebrates the season

Twelve Artists of Christmas

As shoppers enter the final two weeks for Christmas gift-getting, many Flathead Valley art galleries are offering specials to encourage people to spend in support of local artists.

EDITORIAL: Glacier Park, events boost tourism

Neither fire nor smoke nor drought could keep Glacier National Park from another record-breaking year.

Daybook

This Week in the Flathead | Dec. 10-16

Fred R. Brown, 64

Fred R. Brown passed away Nov. 13, 2015.

Miriam Poe Evans Ryan, 90

Miriam Poe Evans Ryan of Polson passed away on Dec. 5, 2015, at Genesis Whitefish Center in Whitefish.

TWIF 121015

TERRY COLUMN: Using your head on concussions

A short opinion piece caused a big issue in the sports world this week.

Weekend fishing tournaments in jeopardy

The Perch Assault and Ice Duels tournaments scheduled Saturday and Sunday on Smith Lake are at risk of being rained out.

Santa show

Santa auction

'SANTAS IN THE BARN': Props from holiday reality show up for auction

‘Ultimate Christmas competition’ was filmed at various Flathead locations

’Tis the season to decorate for Christmas and Monday is the deadline to snap up props — even Santa’s chair and sleigh — used on set in a new reality television series called “Santas in the Barn.”

New book highlights humorous tales from daily law roundup

Daily Inter Lake readers already know that there is plenty to laugh about in the law roundup from Flathead County almost every day, and now they don’t have to wait for the morning paper to get a chuckle.

High Winds in Hungry Horse

A split tree with a double trunk came down in high winds at the Middle Fork Motel property in Hungry Horse on Wednesday, December 9. According to resident Don Cruzan the high winds have been coming in waves. "We'll get winds at 50 to 60 miles, then they'll slow down and go quiet for a bit before another blast hits," said Cruzan. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

Winds roar across NW Montana

Strong winds whipped through Northwest Montana on Wednesday, with high-elevation gusts reaching more than 70 miles per hour and downed trees knocking out power to hundreds of people in the Essex area for several hours.

Public defender asks to be dismissed from stalking appeal

The state public defender’s office has asked that the Montana Supreme Court rescind the appointment of an attorney from its office and deny an appeal made by a Missoula man convicted of felony stalking in Lake County.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Book links 1915, 2015 in Glacier Park

Re-created journey the subject of FVCC talk

Flathead Valley Community College will welcome local author and Hungry Horse News Editor Chris Peterson for a community presentation Dec. 16 on Mary Roberts Rinehart’s book, “Through Glacier Park in 1915.”

Miriam Poe Evans Ryan, 90

Fred R. Brown, 64

Woman sucked into vacuum scam

Feds look to maintain Yellowstone bear numbers

BILLINGS (AP) — Wildlife managers will seek to maintain grizzly bear numbers in the three-state Yellowstone region near current levels as they move toward lifting protections for the threatened species, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Kids OK; bus driver cited in crash

A school bus driver was cited after a collision with a tractor-trailer on U.S. 93 Wednesday afternoon that left two people in the semi with minor injuries.

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Traffic is backed up after a bus and a semitrailer were involved in an accident at the intersection of U.S. 93 South and Montana 82 on Wednesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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The bus driver hugs her passengers Kylie and Conner and their dad Joseph after the bus was involved in an accident with a semi-trailer on U.S. 93 Wednesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Snow globes and nutcrackers are just a few of the items from the set of truTV's "Santas in the Barn," that will be auctioned at Gardners. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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Kent Rosenlund looks over the plans while doing electrical work on the second floor of the South Campus Building. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Bus Accident

Bus accident at Montana 82 and US 93

A multi-vehicle accident at the intersection of Montana 82 and US 93 Wednesday afternoon involved a school bus. All 11 children on board were reported to be unhurt, but the driver was transported to the hospital. The accident occurred just before 2 p.m., blocking multiple lanes. By 3 p.m. traffic on U.S. 93 was flowing on at least one lane in both directions.

Troy flooding

Paint, Metal and Mud

A painting by Raette Meredith on display at Paint, Metal and Mud Art Gallery in downtown Kalispell.

Lake County laser suspect captured apprehended

Man had been sought since Nov. 22 chase

The man wanted for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy last month was apprehended Wednesday morning.

Suspect apprehended

Lincoln County declares state of emergency

FLOODING WOES

Two days of rain and melting snow caused widespread flooding near Libby and Troy Wednesday, prompting Libby and Lincoln County officials to declare a state of emergency.

Pets without rabies shots could be costly

Cats and dogs throughout Flathead County that haven’t been vaccinated for rabies could cost their owners hundreds of dollars in quarantine fees if there’s a bite incident.

Crowd hears pastor denounce Islam

The Flathead Valley may be more than 200 miles from the nearest mosque, but more than 250 people gathered in Kalispell last week to hear a controversial pastor from Spokane present a nearly three-hour denunciation of Islam.

Comments being taken on forest project

The Flathead National Forest is seeking public comments on its proposed Lost Beetle Project approximately 10 miles west of Kalispell just north of Ashley Lake.

Free meals offered this month

In addition to the Community Kitchen and Feeding the Flathead, the following free meals are being offered in the Flathead Valley.

Nancy Lynn Clark, 60

Our “Nancy Bella” was “called home to her perfect camp spot in the sky” Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, due to a car accident in Washington.

Allen L. Foss, 71

Allen L. Foss, 71, “went to be with the Lord” after a one-year battle with leukemia on Dec. 4, 2015.

Kathryn Elizabeth West, 89

Kathryn Elizabeth West, 89, known as “Betty” to family and friends, passed away at her daughter’s home in Bigfork on Dec. 7, 2015.

Birders get ready for annual counts

With the approaching holidays, the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Counts take to the field this month.

Daybook

BASKETBALL: Bigfork boys, girls post lopsided wins in Whitefish

WHITEFISH — Bigfork raced out to a 42-point halftime lead and blasted Whitefish 67-28 on Tuesday night in the Vikings’ first game of the season.

WRESTLING: Libby splits pair of duals

LIBBY — In its first two duals of the season, the Libby wrestling team pinned down a pair of quick meets against Bonners Ferry and Whitefish on Tuesday.

Bigfork-Whitefish boys basketball

Bigfork's Jonathan Landon shoots over Whitefish's James Sampson during the Vikings' 67-28 victory in Whitefish Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Bigfork-Whitefish girls basketball

Bigfork's Lana Berg pulls down a rebound in front of Whitefish's Mariah Drown during the Valkyries' 67-41 victory in Whitefish Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Kathryn Elizabeth West, 89

Allen L. Foss, 71

Nancy Lynn Clark, 60

Kids in diapers? A messy situation

Center helps people overcome their disabilities

After Debra LaVanway was severely injured in a car wreck, she turned to Summit Independent Living Center for help.

National Weather Service downgrades rain warnings

The National Weather Service downgraded its flood watch in much of Northwest Montana Tuesday.

Man jailed after brief standoff

Deputies were able to talk a 29-year-old Lake County man into peacefully surrendering Monday afternoon after he allegedly fired a shot in St. Ignatius and hid during a brief standoff with law officers.

ART SHOW

Influenza arrives in Flathead

Seasonal influenza is now confirmed in the Flathead Valley.

Council decides not to increase impact fees

The Kalispell City Council on Monday decided not to adjust police and fire impact fees that were recommended for dramatic increases.

Defiant Trump shrugs off condemnation of his plan

BANNING MUSLIMS

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s call to block Muslims from entering the United States is being met with a chorus of near-universal condemnation from across the country and around the globe.

Gunman tries to rob assisted-living facility

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man who held an assisted living facility worker at gunpoint Monday night in an attempt to steal prescription drugs.

Motorist gets help with missing car

Kalispell, West Valley see enrollment jumps

Public elementary schools in the Flathead Valley experienced an upswing in enrollment over the past 10 years despite the recession, growing by 773 students, or 9 percent.

Workplace violence? That won't fly this time

Do Muslims practice jihad through immigration?

Hospital move doesn't feel like a win to patient

A Christmas quote

Elsie 'Penny' Maynard Fleming, 76

Trump, Clinton lead in Montana Poll

Montanans support Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for their respective parties’ presidential nominations, but Trump would handily defeat Clinton in the general election, according to an independent poll released Monday.

Glacier wins third straight speech tournament

Daily Inter Lake    

Columbia Falls wins Whitefish speech meet

Columbia Falls, Glacier and Eureka won team titles on Saturday at the Whitefish Invitational Speech Meet.

Warmth, rains lead to flood watch

With up to six inches of high-elevation rain in the forecast, the National Weather Service on Monday issued a flood watch for portions of Northwest Montana through Wednesday afternoon.

Dennison adamant about representing self in court

Flathead District Judge Amy Eddy gave a man representing himself in a felony probation revocation hearing on Thursday a second stern warning to seek the advice of an attorney before she makes a determination about whether or not he will go to jail on Dec. 10.

Software expert had career in rocket science

Alison Godfrey has had a blast as a software engineer.

'Mandatory kill' proposed for Swan Lake walleyes

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is proposing a “mandatory kill” regulation for walleyes in Swan Lake after two of the invasive fish were found to have been illegally introduced into the popular fishery.

Teen shelter tops Whitefish agenda

Seven public hearings, including a permit request for a homeless teen shelter, will keep the Whitefish City Council busy tonight during its only meeting this month.

Kalispell council to hear public input on impact fees

The Kalispell City Council tonight will hear from the public about proposed increases to police and fire Impact fees.

Whitefish City Hall: Cost overruns mounting

Higher-than-expected material and labor costs for the new Whitefish City Hall and adjoining parking structure have forced the city of Whitefish into a cost-cutting scenario that still leaves the city nearly $227,687 short for the $14.95 million project.

Price tags attached to school plans: Initial estimates range from to $40 million to $54 million

A Kalispell Public Schools committee continues to chip away at figuring out how the district should accommodate future elementary growth and how long each scenario would last before buildings are once again at full capacity.

Whitefish City Hall

View of the on-going construction at the corner of Second Street and Baker Avenue on Thursday, Dec. 3.

Caller reports a suspicious sleeper on the bike path

A 13th Street West resident called the

LETTER: Time to impose limits on railroad

Regarding the article in the Daily Inter Lake Nov. 26 on the BNSF railroad.

LETTER: Can we talk impeachment?

It is well past time for some one (Republicans?) to bring about impeachment charges against Barack Obama.

OPINION: Get covered, rural America

Official urges rural families to sign up for health coverage

I love living and working in rural Montana. The open spaces, the feeling of community, and the strong agricultural heritage and values are just three of the many reasons that make me happy to call my rural community, home. And during the recent Rural Health Week, I was especially proud to add another reason to that list: affordable health insurance options that give rural families like mine piece of mind, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

OPINION: Montana must save Colstrip and block double digit rate hikes

What happens if we lose Colstrip? “It’ll look like Ground Zero.” That’s what the mayor of Colstrip told me recently. To Colstrip moms like Cheryl Fulkerson, it means her husband and her son may both lose their jobs in the coal industry. And, it means the place that she has called home for 21 years may no longer exist.

Flathead Youth Home welcomes attendees, gifts at holiday open house

The Flathead Youth Home is hosting a holiday open house from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11.

OPINION: Time to pass the Resilient Forests Act

Montanans are blessed with abundant public lands, which help support a large and vital recreation-based economy. Our national forests provide sportsmen with unsurpassed opportunities for challenging, fair chase hunts for Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer and a host of other game animals, both big and small. But there exists a serious threat to the Forest Service’s ability to manage and be good stewards of these lands.

LETTER: Don't go the way of Europe!

Look at the history of Europe and the history of the United States.

LETTER: Nazis provide model for how to 'register' people who are 'threats'

Several candidates have suggested a register for American Muslims. If we want a model, the Nazis had this down. They registered those who might be considered a threat to the safety and traditions of the Aryan race.

OPINION: Don't let political correctness shut you up

When are we Americans going to take our country back?

Ann Marie Smith, 77

Ann Marie Smith, 77, of Kalispell, passed away at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Dec. 2, 2015, of natural causes.

OPINION: A new social engineering mission won't save USPS

The U.S. Postal Service has lost money every year since 2007, and its financial finances aren’t likely to improve any time soon. Thanks to declining mail volume due to greater reliance on email and exorbitant labor costs, the postal service loses billions per year despite a range of benefits that include taxpayer subsidies, a government-enforced monopoly on certain types of mail, and exemptions from state and local taxes.

Daybook

LETTER: Letters need to be checked for facts

Do you screen letters to the editor even slightly for factual content? I’ve read when there’s disagreement with the paper’s columns and editorials, the editor makes comment on errors in factual content where they might exist. I continue to think you have to be careful when it comes to glaring misstatements of fact. It’s a nasty thing used by nasty people. But... some nice people are sponged in. Good balance with the letter concerning the Reagan administration in the Nov. 22 opinion pages. There was balance from the other side concerning his ventures into the Middle East. Reagan was practical and pragmatic... He didn’t always get it right. Among other things at time, Paul Volcker (the Fed chairman) saved our economy with harsh measures involving money supply to control hyper inflation. Measures that were very unpopular but Reagan didn’t object.

OPINION: Unchecked immigration, unassimilated refugees will destroy us

I am so tired of the Bushes and Rubios, Clintons and Obamas, Pelosis and Sanders, Ryans and Boehners, McConnells and Reids telling us what American values are. What is clear to anyone with half a brain is that bringing in Muslims — whether it’s through student visas, refugee status or the government’s distorted immigration policy — does not represent American values.

OPINION: Legislator urges Montanans to welcome refugees

A week before the Paris attacks, I was on the Greek island of Lesbos, volunteering alongside young people from across Europe, welcoming overloaded rafts of refugees to safety.

Terri Daun O'Neal Boyd, 55

Terri Daun O’Neal Boyd, an “angel” placed on Earth to offer love and support, and affirm God’s love for us, passed away in her home on Dec. 1, 2015, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. Throughout her journey, she never complained or felt sorry for herself. She always had a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye — a beautiful soul inside and out. Terri was an inspiration to everyone she met. She was caring, generous and loving. She devoted herself to always finding the good in people and to helping others in need.

OPINION: On Judaism, Christianity and Islam

The Paris terrorism prompts this op-ed, which will address the three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and try to shed some light on the centuries-old Islamic practice of killing non-Muslims — a practice which has become critical in our time.

EDITORIAL: CFAC cleanup moves in right direction

A deal reached this week between the federal government and the owner of Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. will begin the process of determining how to move forward with assessing and then cleaning up contamination at the 960-acre plant site in Columbia Falls.

Jack Pfrimmer, 96

Jack Pfrimmer, 96, passed away Dec. 2, 2015.  

Trump and the truth: Why his version resonates with voters...

On Friday, the Republican establishment and the mainstream media got terrible news: Donald Trump had doubled his lead over his nearest rival from 10 points to 20 points.

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SWIMMING: Glacier, Popp make big splash in first meet of season

For the first meet, Glacier’s swimmers exceeded the expectations of coach David Lillard Saturday afternoon at The Summit.

BASKETBALL: Braves can't get over hump against Bozeman, fall 54-47

If this was not a moral victory, there are no moral victories.

BASKETBALL: Bravettes stumble in opener against Bozeman

Tiana Johnson scored a game-high 20 points but the balanced Bozeman Hawks were too much Saturday afternoon, spoiling Flathead’s season opener with a runaway 74-37 win.

BASKETBALL: Around the Valley - Columbia Falls girls start season with win, boys dumped by Corvallis

COLUMBIA FALLS — Peyton Kehr tallied 18 points and Kiara Burlage just missed out on a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds as Columbia Falls dropped Corvallis 57-24 on Saturday in Class A nonconference girls basketball play.

RUNNING: Glacier's Annie Hill wins Foot Locker West regional

WALNUT, Calif. — Glacier sophomore Annie Hill ran out front all day, winning the Foot Locker West cross country regional for the second straight year on Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College. The win advances Hill to the Foot Locker National Championships next weekend in San Diego.

WRESTLING: Flathead wins three duals, improves to 4-0 on season

HELENA — Flathead moved to 4-0 in dual action on the first weekend of wrestling by going undefeated at the Helena Duals on Saturday.

WRESTLING: Sentinel dominates field at Polson Invitational

POLSON — Missoula Sentinel had six individual champions and three runners-up to dominate the mat action Saturday at the Polson Invitational wrestling tournament.

Ann Marie Smith, 77

Jack Pfrimmer, 96

Terri Daun O'Neal Boyd, 55

LAW ROUNDUP: Woman's car is 'slimed'

A woman on Eighth Avenue East North called 911 to report that someone threw “white slime” on her car. She said she has had ongoing problems with criminal mischief and that the people responsible for the criminal activities had “killed her cat too.”

Jersey City 9/11 Celebration Report CBS

Flathead junior Tiana Johnson

Flathead's Tiana Johnson looks to pass to a teammate as a pair of Bozeman defenders stop her drive. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior guard Kye AuClaire

Flathead's Kye AuClaire drives past a group of Bozeman defenders for a basket during the first quarter at Flathead on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Gov. Bullock to attend ribbon cutting at Lake House health center

Lake County, in partnership with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Health Services, Providence Health and Services and the Western Montana Mental Health Center  is having a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Lake House at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11. The public is invited and welcome to attend.

Tom Schock

Fleet of mini skeeters taking shape at Lakeside woodshop

THE ICEBOATS COMETH

A couple of months from now, don’t be surprised if a fleet of miniature iceboats sets sail on Smith Lake or any other area lake where the ice is good.

Christmas tree season at Snow Line Tree Company

Christmas business still strong

Snow Line Tree Co.

On U.S. 93 south of Kalispell, the Christmas spirit is piling up at Snow Line Tree Co. in the form of  Christmas trees, wreaths and centerpieces.

Librarian's demotion upheld by board

The ImagineIF Library Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to deny Deena Wirkus’ appeal to be reinstated as library branch manager in Columbia Falls.

Town hall talks snow shoveling in Kalispell

Snow shoveling was a focus of a Ward 3 town hall meeting on Wednesday in Kalispell.

Woman changes plea for brandishing ax

An Evergreen woman admitted in court Wednesday to brandishing an ax in a drunken incident on South Cedar Drive on Sept. 20.

Dangerous wind stalls launch of space station supplies

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Once again, high wind is keeping space station supplies stuck on Earth.

Bears keep expanding farther onto plains

As the lone grizzly bear expert for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Region Four office, Mike Madel hasn’t had any problems keeping busy along the Rocky Mountain Front.

Drug related offenses are on the rise

Drug crime rate highest in Polson

Meth invasion

Crime data released last month by the Montana Board of Crime Control shows that drug-related offenses are on the rise across Montana, with numbers skyrocketing in Polson and Lake County where drug offenses per capita are the highest in the state.

Flathead swimmer Blaine Normandeau

Flathead's Blaine Normandeau competes in the 100-yard freestyle during the Kalispell Invitational at The Summit on Saturday. Normandeau finished with a time of 1:05.12. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier swimmer Olivia Gibson

Glacier's Olivia Gibson competes in the 100-yard butterfly during the Kalispell Invitational at The Summit on Saturday. Gibson finished second in her heat with a time of 1:03.59. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Park studies leases for Lake McDonald cabins

Glacier National Park officials are contemplating the idea of leasing several historic cabins along the shores of Lake McDonald.

Warrior competitor a hit with youths

YOUNG NINJAS

On Wednesday Edgerton Elementary kindergarteners, fourth and fifth graders became ninja warriors as they bounded from one obstacle to the next in a course adapted from the NBC competition series, “American Ninja Warrior.”

Deola Mary 'Dee' Shryock, 94

Deola Mary “Dee” Shryock, 94, from Polson, died at Heritage Place in Kalispell on Dec. 2, 2015.

Mildred Maxine Casper, 87

Mildred Maxine Casper “went to be with her heavenly Father” on Nov. 30, 2015. The last few weeks she was so anxious for her “mansion to be ready.”

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John William Safford Jr., 75

John William Safford Jr. passed away Nov. 30, 2015, at the Hidden Meadows Memory Care Home in Columbia Falls, with his loving wife Sarah by his side.

WRESTLING: Flathead bites 'Dogs; Vasquez starts season with flashy pin

Pin falls aren’t anything new for Flathead sophomore Trae Vasquez.

WRESTLING: Butte pins Glacier in season-opening dual

Butte took advantage of a short-staffed Glacier wrestling squad on Friday afternoon, capitalizing on four forfeits and winning six weight classes by pins to post a 63-12 dual victory over the Wolfpack at Glacier High School in the season opener for both schools.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Braves dreaming big under new head coach

As a first-time head coach inheriting a team that lost 12 straight games to end last season and beginning this year without its most dynamic scorer, it would stand to reason that Flathead’s Ross Gustafson would be modest when discussing his squad’s prospects this basketball season.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Bravettes making progress in Hendrickson's third season

Former college assistant Lisa Hendrickson took her first head-coaching job two winters ago at Flathead High School, ready to put the rigors of college recruiting behind her and to settle down with her young family.

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Whitefish girls open season with win

WHITEFISH — Whitefish won its first game under new head coach Ben Johnson, taking down Eureka 36-26 Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Flathead wrestling

Flathead's Payton Hume puts Butte's Kaleb Ferriter in a cradle during a 15-4 major decision in the 145-pound match at Flathead on Friday. The Braves won the dual 35-31. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier wrestling

Glacier freshman Caden Willis puts Butte's Will Queer in a cradle before pinning him at 3:30 in the 103-pound match in a dual at Glacier on Friday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

John William Safford Jr., 75

Deola Mary 'Dee' Shryock, 94

Deola Mary 'Dee' Shryock, 94, then

Men plead not guilty to Bigfork burglary spree

Four men accused of burglarizing Bigfork and Kalispell businesses and a home in mid-October all pleaded not guilty to two counts each of felony burglary.

Man faces felony charge after crash

A man is facing a felony charge for a Nov. 18 crash on Montana 35 that left him and another driver injured.

Prosecutor: Man confessed to killing Deer Lodge woman, son

DEER LODGE (AP) — A handyman who was doing work for a Deer Lodge woman confessed to authorities that he killed her and her adult son after he sold 17 silver bars that he is suspected of stealing from the son, officials said in new court filings.

Admitted shooter released from jail pending sentencing

A judge has agreed to release a man awaiting sentencing for shooting two people outside a Marion bar in June and distributing dangerous drugs on Aug. 19.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

American Ninja Warrior comes to Edgerton Elementary

Shooting investigated as act of terrorism

Woman had pledged allegiance to Islamic State on Facebook

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The FBI announced Friday that it is investigating the mass shooting in Southern California as an act of terrorism, while a U.S. law enforcement official revealed that the woman who helped her husband carry out the attack had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and its leader on Facebook under an alias.

Dragon boats row in nearly $1 million

Total impact of special events is $6.7 million

The Montana Dragon Boat Festival produced a $955,000 economic impact, according to a survey by the University of Montana Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, aiding both the local Lakeside and Flathead Valley economies.

Threat case likely to go to trial

After saying in November that a plea deal was likely, prosecution and defense attorneys have agreed that a case involving online threats is now more likely to go to trial.

New Glacier record: 2,352,699

Popular park registers its busiest year ever

A summer filled with fire and smoke didn’t stop Glacier National Park from breaking its all-time annual visitation record.

LETTER: Fight over dam license explained

As the chair of an organization which is an intervenor in the Kerr Dam partial license transfer proceedings, I was disappointed to see the Daily Inter Lake’s Nov. 24th front page headline entitled “Agency upholds tribal dam acquisition.” The proceedings have nothing to do with the tribes’ acquisition or ownership of Kerr Dam, which the story accurately discusses. None of the intervenors have challenged the tribes’ ownership of the facility in these license transfer proceedings.

LETTER: Student: Dream of assimilation is not realistic

Being a senior at Capital High I would like to spit something out on current affairs since doing so is always taboo in the classroom. A group of people who happen to be the best people we have are not being given a voice in the community — the military veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

LETTER: Bring prayer back into country

It is so sad Christians are being punished by godless courts for prayer in our schools. Look around at what has happened in our schools since prayer for protection from God has been outlawed. Obama wants all guns, so evils of the greedy can enslave — totally control — all We the People. Our children need all true Americans to pray now to our Creator of all that was/is/yet to come!

LETTER: It's time to face facts about ISIS

The party is over for those hedonistic French, and ISIS will try to do the same to America. In fact, I believe that many from ISIS are already here!

OPINION: Myths and misinformation about CO2 and climate change

 The Nov. 8 guest op-ed by Robin Sterrett, a retired mechanical engineer from Colstrip, includes factually incorrect and misleading claims about CO2 and climate. Sterrett refers to those claims as “real news” that he or she apparently found on some web sites. But that “real news” has absolutely no basis in fact, and is certainly not real and, if anything, is nothing but fake news.

LETTER: About that 911 call center bill...

Here comes the 911 center with its hand out again. But wait, this time they are not asking for more, but demanding more through the fiat of our three little dictators.

Slick roads make motorists slide

Freezing rain caused hazardous road conditions that led to crashes and school closures or delays on Friday morning.

EDITORIAL: Shop small and make big difference

The holiday shopping season is off to a brisk start in the Flathead Valley, with a noticeable uptick of retail traffic on Small Business Saturday. Many local retail stores were lined with shoppers taking advantage of special deals.

Mary Ann (Niedringhaus) Lund, 75

Mary Ann (Niedringhaus) Lund, 75, of Kalispell, “changed her residence to heaven,” Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. She slipped away with her husband of 52 years by her side.

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Linda Arnone Prieto, 77

Linda Arnone Prieto, 77, formerly of Kalispell, passed away Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015.

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Health Link 120415

CLASS AA FOOTBALL: Glacier, Flathead land combined 35 on all-state teams

Glacier’s Caleb Jones earned first team all-state honors as a wide receiver and cornerback, and teammate Thomas Trefney was named the Western AA Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday when the Class AA award winners were announced.

Source: California gunman had been in touch with extremists

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizwan Farook had been in contact with known Islamic extremists on social media, a U.S. intelligence official said Thursday, and police said he and his wife had enough bullets and bombs to slaughter hundreds when they launched their deadly attack on a holiday party.

Judge puts lawsuit over energy lease on sacred land on hold

BILLINGS — A federal judge put a lawsuit over a disputed energy lease near Glacier National Park on hold Thursday until early January, after attorneys for the government and leaseholder said they were seeking to resolve the case outside court.

SKI SEASON: Resort has limited opening Saturday

Whitefish Mountain Resort opens Saturday at 9 a.m., although meager early season snowfall will keep some of the ski runs closed for the time being.

Grizzly

Area grizzly population continues to grow

State and federal wildlife officials believe the largest population of grizzlies in the lower 48 states is continuing to make strides as they move toward a possible delisting of the great bear in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.

Linda Arnone Prieto, 77

Mary Ann (Niedringhaus) Lund, 75

LAW ROUNDUP: Would-be robbers Tase victim

Plea agreement delayed for accused stabber

Flathead County prosecutors will have to file new charging documents if they want a plea deal to go through for a Kalispell man accused of stabbing someone eight times in February.

Finale in the works for lake level case

Teams of attorneys were back in court this week to create a timeline for a jury trial that could be the grand finale of a long-running disagreement over whether former operators of Kerr Dam should be held responsible for property damage allegedly caused by varying levels of Flathead Lake in the 1990s.

Cash prizes offered for science fair

Area student-scientists will have cash incentives to participate in the Flathead County Science Fair this March thanks in part to a $1,000 grant from Applied Materials Foundation in partnership with the Kalispell Education Foundation.

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A group of tom turkeys lead the hens away near Whitefish Mountain Resort on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

Whitefish opening

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Daybook

LETTER: Should the government dictate seat-belt rules for all?

Evidently I can’t decide for myself what is safe on the road, so government must do it for me with police stops and financial extortion for not wearing a seat belt.

LETTER: Lake County citizen chooses 'tribal option' on not paying taxes

Congratulations to the tribes in their acquiring of Kerr Dam. It is nice that our three Lake County commissioners, along with our state delegation, gave support to the tribes’ undertaking. It shows that our elected officials truly have all taxpayers interests in mind.

LETTER: Flat Earth and the global society

Recently Obama gave a speech and he said that he did not have time for the Flat Earth Society. And I am trying to understand what society he is talking about. Is he talking about the International Flat Earth Research Society? Is he talking about the Flat Earth Society? Or is he talking about the United Nations?

LETTER: Rail park will mean brighter future for area

The Glacier Rail Park will benefit the citizens of Northwest Montana, strengthen the economy, and implement safety improvements. As a Flathead Valley farmer, I know the Glacier Rail Park means a brighter future. Our industry’s success relies on a vibrant and efficient rail system. Developing an industrial rail park on the edge of city limits, that accommodates CHS and other rail-served businesses, is critical to our local agricultural trade.

The magic of Mary Poppins

The Whitefish Theatre Co. is bringing the magic of “Mary Poppins” to the O’Shaughnessy Center just in time for the holidays.

John R. Bolles Sr., 65

John R. Bolles Sr., 65, “left his home in West Glacier for his home in heaven” on Nov. 29, 2015.

This Week in the Flathead | Dec. 3-9

'Mary Poppins'

Mikey Winn as Bert Late and Amy Beth Chisholm as Mary Poppins rehearse "Jolly Holiday" on Monday, Nov. 30, at the O'Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. The performance of "Mary Poppins," directed by Jesse DeVine, will open with a preview on Dec. 3 for $10, and will continue with shows on Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, at 7:30 p.m. and on Dec. 6, 13, and 20 at 4 p.m. with tickets for $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $8 for students.

Evelyn Irene Longpre, 94

Evelyn Irene Longpre, 94, of Kalispell, passed away peacefully on Nov. 29, 2015, of natural causes.

Births, Published Dec. 3, 2015

EDITORIAL: Kalispell: Cradle of quarterbacks

One quarterback just led his Edmonton Eskimos team to victory in the Canadian version of the Super Bowl.

Donald 'Don' John Phillips, 86

Donald “Don” John Phillips, 86, of Kalispell, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Nov. 28, 2015.

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Mass Shooting

A couple embraces following a shooting that killed 14 people at a social services facility Wednesday in San Bernardino, Calif. (David Bauman/The Press-Enterprise via AP) 

'People shot ... Pray for us'

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — At least two heavily armed attackers opened fire on a banquet at a social services center for the disabled Wednesday, killing 14 people and seriously wounding more than a dozen others in a precision assault that looked “as if they were on a mission,” authorities said.

FVCC students to present research work

Nearly 50 Flathead Valley Community College students will present their research projects Friday during the college’s Fall Semester FVCC Conference on Student Research.

Helicopter pilot in fatal crash missed helipad

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board says the pilot in a helicopter crash that killed two men at a California airport missed the portable helipad he was trying to land on.

Stolen truck torched

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a suspected arson fire that occurred at a Montana Department of Transportation gravel pit north of Kalispell along U.S. 93.

Sellout crowd celebrates chocolate fun

The 31st annual Flathead County Republican Women’s Chocolate Extravaganza was held Wednesday to a sold-out crowd of 480 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell.

Evelyn Irene Longpre, 94

John R. Bolles Sr., 65

LAW ROUDUP: Where's dat wascally wabbit?

Montana 83 reopened after propane leak

A portion of Montana 83 was closed near Bear Creek southeast of Bigfork for more than seven hours Wednesday after a two-vehicle crash toppled a propane truck and caused it to leak.

31 Annual Chocolate Extravaganza

A collection of Winter Bliss Cupcakes by Amy Regier was awarded a blue ribbon in the amateur category at the 31st Annual Chocolate Extravaganza at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell on Wednesday, December 2. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

31st Annual Chocolate Extravaganza

Nonprofits must reapply for tax exemptions

The Montana Department of Revenue is alerting nonprofit organizations and other tax-exempt property owners that they need to reapply for property tax exemptions by March 1, 2016.

Wolf experts to give talk on Thursday

The final installment of the “Humans and Wildlife Together in the 21st Century” speaker series will feature a pair of internationally known wolf experts discussing the history of the animals in Western Montana.

Ronald Allen Speer, 74

Ronald Allen Speer, 74, of Columbia Falls, “went to be with the Lord” on Nov. 29, 2015, surrounded by family at the Montana Veterans Home.

Christina Linn Sires, 40

Christina Linn Sires, 40, passed away Nov. 27, 2015, in Kalispell.

James 'Jim' Bradford Ingram, 68

James “Jim” Bradford Ingram, 68, passed away in Kalispell on Nov. 27, 2015, of natural causes.

Bear cub

Project manager to craft initial plan

Construction on the Glacier Rail Park is set to begin in spring 2016, the Flathead County Economic Development Authority said on Tuesday.

In slap at Obama, GOP-led House moves to block climate rule

WASHINGTON — As President Barack Obama worked to hammer out a global climate agreement in Paris, Republicans in Congress moved to block his plan to force steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants.

Land easements approved

Concerns from the mountain biking community notwithstanding, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on Monday announced it will sign off on two conservation easements to secure more than 10,000 acres of private forested land north of Whitefish.

Ronald Allen Speer, 74

Christina Linn Sires, 40

Escape plan: #I'm outta this joint

A woman on Martha Road reported to

Man jailed for cutting monitoring bracelet

A Kalispell man is back in jail after allegedly cutting off his Global Positioning System monitoring bracelet while awaiting trial for felony charges of criminal endangerment and assault with a weapon.

Man arrested after skipping out on sentencing for car chase

A man landed back jail recently with bail set at $100,000 after he failed to show up to a Nov. 12 sentencing for leading Flathead Sheriff’s deputies on a chase after being caught trying to steal a vending machine on July 26.

Math team excels at national meet

The first Montana team to compete at the Harvard-MIT Math Tournament in Boston exceeded all expectations.

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Brent Steiner hangs christmas lights on the tree at his house in Kalispell on Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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A large whitetail buck watches over a doe near Lone Pine State Park on Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)

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This Week in the Flathead: Mary Poppins

From left, Jackson Schindler, Ian Thomsen and Eloise McKeon rehearse a scene in the Monday, November 30, dress rehearsal of Mary Poppins at the Whitefish Theatre Company. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

'Mary Poppins'

Mary Poppins, played by Amy Beth Chisholm, measures her new charges, Jane and Michael Banks, played by Eloise McKeon and Jackson Schindler, as they rehearse a scene from "Mary Poppins."

Brock Osweiler

The regional cover of Sports Illustrated in December 2015 featured Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler.

Osweiler makes Sports Illustrated cover

Kalispell quarterback Brock Osweiler is featured on this week’s regional cover of Sports Illustrated.

Local veteran fixes up fishing poles

Few people exemplify the old adage about teaching a man to fish like Alan Erickson.

Hunter numbers highest in 4 years

The 2015 big game general season wrapped up Sunday, and preliminary results from check stations in Northwest Montana show both hunter participation and animals taken have increased compared with recent years.

Gianforte talks telecommuting, jobs during stop in Flathead

As he explores a potential run for governor, Bozeman tech entrepreneur Greg Gianforte is focusing his efforts on what he knows best — jobs.