Ellington

State distribution plan details vaccine rollout

Many Montanans won't get vaccine until late spring, early summer

As Montana rounds into the new year, state and local officials are focused on transitioning into the next phase of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan after nearly 17,000 high-risk health-care personnel received their first doses of the vaccine in December.

Legals for December, 31 2020

State GOP vice chair says she's neutral on water compact

A letter released Monday and purportedly signed by 18 Montana state lawmakers blasted a fellow Republican, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, for backing a historic water-rights settlement with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Thomas William Bates, 83

Thomas William Bates passed away on Dec. 24, 2020, in Bigfork after a short illness. He was 83.

Betty Jane Kraft, 92

Betty Jane Kraft made her journey home in the arms of the Lord and joined her beloved husband, Jerry, the morning of Dec. 26, 2020.

Kimberly Sue Mitchell, 50

Kimberly Sue Mitchell, 50, of Rapid City, South Dakota, passed away on Dec. 24, 2020, and is now resting peacefully.

Geraldine (Jeri) Cardin, 79

Geraldine (Jeri) Cardin dedicated her life and her hands to making grandmothers and widows walk out of her beauty salon feeling pretty.

Outdoors briefs: Glacier Nordic Center open

The Glacier Nordic Center at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course has opened for skiing...

2020 Reflections: Local health-care industry sees 'new path forward' in new year

For Flathead County’s health-care industry and those on its frontlines, 2020 has been one for the books, filled not only with stretches fatigue and frustration but also with moments of resilience, collaboration and growth.

Dog in Christmas sweater goes missing

A dog owner reported to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office a black and white shih tzu went missing while taking a walk on Christmas day in the Harry Horn Day Use at Wayfarers State Park.

Dr. Williams remembered fondly at Sunriser Lions 50th fishing derby

Dr. Chuck Williams remains a beloved man in the Flathead Valley a little more than seven years...

We must be vigilant!

We, who live in Montana, have been largely spared from most of those disruptions...

Weekly calendar

WEEKLY EVENTS THURSDAY, 12/31

TWIF Briefs

Frame of Reference presents its fourth annual Smaller Works Show

Learn how to ‘pocket sketch’ with Zoom classes

The Hockaday Museum of Art is offering a virtual workshop titled “Pocket Sketching” with artist and instructor Kath Macaulay

FLIC celebrates its ninth annual film festival

The Flathead Lake International Cinemafest (FLIC) premieres its ninth annual winter film festival during the weekend of Jan. 29 to 31, at the new Showboat Stadium 6 on Main Street in Polson.

Letters to the editor Dec. 31

Letters to the editor Dec. 31

Golden Griz: Flathead players key to UM’s 1969-70 success

While the University of Montana rightly celebrated the 25 year anniversary of its first national football championship, there is another landmark that just maybe put Griz football on the map.

Arrest made in Lake County man’s death

A Stevensville man is behind bars and charged with deliberate homicide in the Christmas shooting death of a Lake County man.

Firewood goes missing in Columbia Falls

law roundup

Polson students take second in Stock Market Game

Polson High School played the stock market and won second place in a game about “investing wisely.”

2020 Reflections: ‘The joy of school’ persists through pandemic

Education is often engineered to provide structure and familiarity in students’ lives, but going to school in 2020 was anything but routine.

Bigfork woman sentenced for negligent vehicular assault

A Bigfork woman was sentenced to a prison term for her role in a 2019 traffic crash that severely injured three people.

Court records reveal troubled marriage in deliberate homicide case

A court document filed earlier this year by a woman who allegedly died by the hands of her husband Dec. 15 reveals more information about the couple’s tumultuous relationship.

Blanche Eunice Shodo Johnson, 91

Blanche Eunice Shodo Johnson, age 91, passed away at home with family on Dec. 24, 2020.

Bradley Thomas Dunkin, 36

Bradley Thomas Dunkin, age 36, passed away in Kalispell on Dec. 25, 2020.

Legals for December, 30 2020

'Be a Friend of the 'Fish': Local actors play role in COVID safety campaign

WHITEFISH — Local artists have been working hard to battle the COVID-19 pandemic through their own medium — an informational video aimed at safety and awareness.

Carol Wynette Hecker, 83

Carol Wynette Hecker passed away peacefully on Dec. 20, 2020, at The Lodge at Buffalo Hill Terrace in Kalispell, at the age of 83.

Lois Birky, 95

Lois Birky, 95, passed away on Dec. 23, 2020, at Brendan House.

New school academy combines online and outdoor education

A new academy that combines online and outdoor learning in a one-room schoolhouse concept starts Jan. 11.

Senate GOP blocks swift vote on Trump's $2K checks

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked Democrats' push to immediately bring President Donald Trump's demand for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks up for a vote, saying the chamber would “begin a process” to address the issue.

Fate of Trump's $2,000 checks now rests with GOP-led Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s push for $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks now rests with the Senate after the House voted overwhelmingly to meet the president's demand to increase the $600 stipends, but Republicans have shown little interest in boosting spending.

Hunters restricted from some former Weyerhaeuser lands

With the local real estate market booming, Southern Pine Plantations, the company that purchased 630,000 acres of Weyerhaeuser timberlands in Montana, has begun selling off parcels.

UM to play pivotal role in vaccine rollout

MISSOULA – Capitalizing on its robust bioscience infrastructure, research facilities and statewide network of student and alumni pharmacists, the University of Montana will provide and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to Montanans.

Restrictions set for school winter sports, events

The Flathead City-County Health Department on Monday released extensive COVID-19 guidelines and procedures for high school and middle school sporting events and other winter activities.

1229 LAW: Caller shares ‘world is ending’ prophecy

Dispatchers received a call from someone whose voice had an accent, and could be heard on the open line shouting prophecies that the world was ending and saying, “I love you,” multiple times.

Vickie Lynn Jumper, 60

Vickie Lynn Jumper passed away on Dec. 22, 2020, at home with her family, surrounded by love.

Health officials fear pandemic-related suicide spike among native youth

WOLF POINT — Fallen pine cones covered 16-year-old Leslie Keiser’s fresh grave at the edge of Wolf Point, a small community on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation on the eastern Montana plains.

State GOP lawmakers blast Daines over water compact

A historic water-rights agreement between the federal government and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes became law on Sunday, as President Donald Trump reluctantly signed a $2.3 trillion spending bill that included the pact as well as a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package.

Innovative musical illustrates how arts are surviving pandemic

Take four outrageously talented, creative types – e.g. musicians, actors, filmmakers — stick them in a theatrical town like Whitefish, Montana, in the middle of a pandemic and out of the pandemonium, the quarantining and the coronavirus, an original, irreverent, wildly hilarious and scintillating musical takes shape.

Lake Five resort case will go to bench trial

A lawsuit filed last spring by Friends of Lake Five Inc. against Flathead County will go to a bench trial after each party’s motions for summary judgement were denied by Flathead County District Court Judge Amy Eddy during a pre-trial hearing last week.

Legals for December, 29 2020

Man identified in weekend fatal traffic crash

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim of a traffic accident Saturday as Jesse Butler, 30, of Kalispell. man who died in a traffic crash Saturday.

Legals for December, 28 2020

State Park visitation way up in 2020

Visitation at Montana State Parks increased in 2020 significantly.

Woman fears SUV will crash into her home

A worried woman told Kalispell Police Department that an SUV drove by three times and almost hit her house. She was concerned the SUV would either cause a wreck or crash into her house.

KRMC births

Clayton Juneau, son of Clayton Juneau and Krystene Desrosier of Browning, was born Dec. 9, 2020, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

2020 Reflections: Black Lives Matter protester reflects on local racial justice movement

Samantha Francine stares up at a man blaring in her face while she holds a sign that reads: “Say their names.”

One dead and two injured in Columbia Falls crash

A 30-year-old Columbia Falls man died and two women were injured in a crash on U.S. 2 at mile marker 133 by Sunrise Creek Drive on Saturday.

Tribes try to shield elders and their knowledge from virus

As Monica Harvey watched, crowds flocked to a Sam's Club in northern Arizona where she works, picking shelves clean of toilet paper and canned goods. Native American seniors couldn't move fast enough, and Harvey saw their faces fall when they reached empty shelves.

Supreme Court case tests reach of tribal law enforcement

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case stemming from a meth bust that raised questions about whether non-Natives carrying out crimes on state and federal highways running through reservation lands are out of reach from tribal law enforcement's authority.

Arthur 'Art' T. Purdy, 91

Arthur “Art” T. Purdy, 91, passed away at the Cabinet Peaks Medical Center on Nov. 24, 2020.

Legals for December, 27 2020

Roommate hides man’s food and takes off

A man reportedly told Kalispell Police Department his roommate “just took off,” and said that he previously spoke to officers about her hiding his food. He was counseled.

Sam Wayman, 92

Sam Wayman died at The Beehive in Columbia Falls on Dec. 17, 2020.

Additional litigation involving bottling plant still possible

While a recent District Court ruling closed a major chapter of litigation involving a controversial water bottling plant in Creston, representatives from both sides of the legal battle say there is potential for further legal action, including an appeal to the Montana Supreme Court.

A ‘Christmas’ card for a coronavirus year

We’ve almost made it. Only five more days of 2020. There’s probably not a soul who isn’t looking forward to turning the last page on this calendar. We’re all exhausted.

2020 Reflections: Montana's GOP sweep signals changes ahead

Montana turned deep red in 2020, as Republican candidates swept every statewide office on the November ballot and won the governor's office for the first time in 16 years.

Motor manufacturer wins Exporter of the Year

Engineers are somewhat stereotypically known for being a socially reserved bunch. Maybe that’s why Burgi Engineers has kept such a low profile while building a global empire out of a nondescript manufacturing center along U.S. 2.

Frame of Reference to open second location in Bigfork

frame of reference

'Bully' breed rescue works with aggressive canines

Perseverance is paying off for Coleen Flight, the founder of an Evergreen dog rescue for “bully” breeds in Northwest Montana.

Virginia Gail Vaughn (Gilchrist-Burghardt), 64

Virginia Gail Vaughn (Gilchrist-Burghardt), 64, our beautiful mom GiGi, and dear friend died on Dec. 10, 2020, at the University of Washington Medical Center with her three children by her side.

Dayle R. Vondal

Dayle R. Vondal received his angel wings Dec. 20, 2020, at North Valley Hospital, following a bout with cancer.

Waldenberg and Cebulla married

Lauren Catherine Waldenberg and Adam James Cebulla were married at Saint John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork on Nov. 14.

Terrance ‘Terry’ Fox, 70

Terry was released from his pain on Dec. 7, 2020 after a short and hard fought illness.

Myrtle (Moon) Geis, 95

Myrtle (Moon) Geis passed on Dec. 16, 2020, in Kalispell at the age of 95.

Trump signs massive measure funding government, COVID relief

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package Sunday, ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown.

Legals for December, 26 2020

Labor department program partners with FVCC

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry is expanding its Become an Alum program to partner with Flathead Valley Community College.

2020 reflections: Sheriff discusses police reform, other challenges facing officers

The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers in May set off an eruption of protests and riots across the nation as many called for changes to how police do their job and how law enforcement is funded.

Maskless riders challenging S.N.O.W. bus drivers

Whitefish's COVID-19 task force and the operator of the S.N.O.W. bus that shuttles skiers and snowboarders between the city and Big Mountain are urging riders to wear masks when boarding – and keep them on for the duration of their trips.

Teepees erected atop Rimrocks to honor those who died

BILLINGS (AP) — William Snell's record for erecting a teepee is just under 14 minutes. It's a bit more complicated in the winter, he said, but in a little more than five hours on Saturday, seven teepees were standing tall atop the Billings Rimrocks, their white canvas taut against the winter winds moving across the snowy prairie.

Whistling for Dixie in Whitefish

A Chihuahua named “Dixie” was reported missing after she escaped from a yard in Whitefish. Fortunately, Dixie was found soon after the call. An accidental 911 call resulted when a man was outside playing with his dog. All was well.

Kalispell man accused of killing his wife

A Kalispell man charged with killing his wife was jailed late Thursday afternoon in the Flathead County Detention Center.

Lakeside motorcyclist reunited with man who helped save his life

Lakeside man reunited with man who helped save his life

Montana Children’s ‘Toy Box’ guarantees Christmas for patients

On the second floor of Montana Children’s is an unassuming makeshift hallway that most likely wouldn’t catch a second glance from passersby if it weren’t for the shimmering set of red, green and silver Christmas garlands dangling at the end of the path.

Henry O. Jordahl, 98

Henry O. Jordahl, 98

Woman hopes animal owner gets her goat

A goat got loose in Columbia Falls. A Flathead County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher explained Animal Control doesn’t have an ordinance for goats, so there was nothing they could do. The woman who found the goat promised to wait with it until its owner returned.

Alyce Lorraine Goodwin Eastman, 91

Alyce Lorraine Goodwin Eastman, 91

City rejects apartment complex appeal

During its final meeting of the year on Monday, the Kalispell City Council remotely discussed requirements for a new apartment complex, updating the city’s water system and a few personnel changes.

Historic mission church restoration nearly completed

ST. IGNATIUS — After three summers of painstaking, intricate, loving labor and artistry, the lion’s portion of the St. Ignatius Mission Church restoration project is completed.

When the Night Comes is fundraiser for homeless youth

When the Night Comes, an annual sleep out event for the Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana homeless shelter for teens, will be held from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Majestic Valley Arena.

Reports: Boise St. interested in Bobcats' coach

Montana State football coach Jeff Choate is a candidate to replace Bryan Harsin as head coach at Boise State, both the Idaho Statesman and Bozeman Chronicle newspapers reported Wednesday.

Shrine Game: Beccari, Wilkinson selected

Whitefish, Eureka, Bigfork all represented

Glacier’s Rocco Beccari and Columbia Falls’ Stevie Wilkinson are among six area gridders named to the West roster for the 74th East-West Shrine set for July 19 in Billings. Beccari, a 6-foot-4, 250-pounder, is on the roster as an offensive tackle. Wilkinson, 6-1 and 250, is listed as a guard. They’re joined by two players from Bigfork — defensive lineman Luke Benson and running back Cormac Benn — as well as Eureka running back Gunnar Smith and Whitefish defensive end Camren Ross.

Legals for December, 25 2020

Kalispell man accused of killing his wife

A Kalispell man charged with killing his wife was jailed late Thursday afternoon...

Alternative overlooked for Bigfork Senior Center

Having read the recent article by MacKenzie Reiss Dec. 13 about possibilities for a new facility for the Bigfork Senior Center it seemed to me Shane Jacobs, the architect representing A & E Architects did not evaluate all the possibilities for a Bigfork Senior Center facility

Be with those you love, even if apart

On this eve of Christmas, we would like to extend heartfelt condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one this year.

Hockaday announces Members Salon People’s Choice winners

The People’s Choice artist winners of the Hockaday Museum of Art’s Members Salon 2020 have been recently announced:

Hunting season ends with a bang, just no buck

It was pointed out to me last week that I needed to share the rest of the story...

Legals for December, 24 2020

Local church leaders say Christmas is a light in the darkness of 2020

It’s easy to focus on what isn’t happening this Christmas season.

Last-minute gift ideas

Well, here we are…Christmas Eve and you still have not gotten that special angler on your list...

Montana lawmakers criticize actions on defense bill, COVID package

President Donald Trump vetoed a $740 billion defense bill on Wednesday after sharply criticizing another massive spending bill that includes $900 billion in COVID-19 relief, putting him at odds with Montana lawmakers who helped pass both pieces of legislation with veto-proof bipartisan majorities.

Board OKs purchase of Flathead Lake access sites

The Montana Land Board on Monday approved the purchase of two private land parcels on Flathead Lake that will be used as new fishing and public access sites.

Surprise visit goes awry

Someone on Zimmerman Road in Kalispell reportedly told Flathead County Sheriff’s Office there was an intruder knocking at his bedroom door and holding his parents hostage.

Column: Hoping the Pioneer’s days aren’t numbered

Not that long ago, and a few months before I started working at the Daily Inter Lake, I freelanced a story for MiLB.com(1) on Avery Weems, a sixth-round pick of the Chicago White Sox.

North Valley receives 400 doses of Moderna vaccine

North Valley Hospital in Whitefish received its first delivery of a COVID-19 vaccine - 400 doses in total - late Tuesday afternoon.

Population estimate favors Montana for second House seat

BILLINGS (AP) — Montana could add a second U.S. House seat if population estimates made public on Tuesday hold, officials said.

Trump threatens COVID relief, Pelosi urges 'sign the bill'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has threatened to torpedo Congress' massive COVID-19 relief and year-end package, upending a hard-fought compromise in the midst of a raging pandemic and deep economic uncertainty by demanding changes fellow Republicans have opposed.

Montana county swears in first female commissioner

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — A Montana county that includes most of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and parts of Glacier National Park has elected its first female commissioner. Mary Jo Bremner's friends thought she was crazy when she said she was running for the Glacier County Commission, which had never had a female member let alone a Native American woman.

Gianforte picks federal agency director as agriculture boss

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Governor-elect Greg Gianforte on Wednesday said he has picked a former state lawmaker who now directs the federal Farm Service Agency in Montana to serve as the next director of the state Department of Agriculture.

Legals for December, 23 2020

Repair work underway at Whitefish Train Depot

Work to repair the wooden deck around the Whitefish Train Depot downtown began last week.

Sherlyn Irene Anderson, 72

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Sherri, our loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all who knew her

Woman needs help with TV

A woman on First Avenue in Hungry Horse allegedly called 911 on behalf of her friend to report kids breaking into and vandalizing properties and requested a phone call from an officer.

Rural ambulance service raising funds for cardiac equipment

Those who help people when they need it the most are in need of a little help themselves this holiday season as Three Rivers EMS in Columbia Falls is searching for funding to replace aging Zoll E-Series ambulance cardiac monitors.

Arthur 'Art' T. Purdy, 91

Arthur “Art” T. Purdy, 91, passed away at the Cabinet Peaks Medical Center on Nov. 24, 2020.

Montana Republicans fail to pass new rules ahead of session

HELENA (AP) — Montana lawmakers rejected Tuesday contentious rule proposals for the Legislature that would have consolidated power in Republican hands. The result leaves the House to operate under rules that were in place the previous session when the legislative session begins in January.

Montana US Marshal Ostermiller retiring after three decades

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana U.S. Marshall Rod Ostermiller said Tuesday he is retiring after nearly 30 years in law enforcement.

Commissioners rescind COVID emergency declaration

The Flathead County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to rescind their prior declaration of a COVID-19 emergency, saying none of the county's emergency funds have been used to mitigate the coronavirus.

Health officials report 5 more virus deaths

On Tuesday, the Flathead City-County Health Department confirmed five additional COVID-19-related deaths in Flathead County.

Congress passes historic CSKT water compact with massive spending bill

Tucked in the mammoth spending bill that Congress passed Monday night is a historic pact that will resolve thousands of water-rights claims by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

Legals for December, 22 2020

AmeriCorps members partner with Habitat for Humanity in Lakeside

With snow in the forecast this week, volunteer crews are working hard on a housing project to provide shelter for low-income families in Lakeside.

Rascals pester neighbors with ding-dong-ditch

law roundup

Flathead Food Bank's Christmas distribution tops 50,000 pounds of food

The Flathead Food Bank donated a total of 50,000 pounds of food to 450 households on Friday during its annual Christmas distribution event.

Commissioners to rescind COVID emergency declaration

The Flathead County commissioners are scheduled to vote Tuesday on a proposal to rescind their prior declaration of a COVID-19 emergency, which made available hundreds of thousands of dollars for contact tracing and other efforts to mitigate the pandemic.

Libby man ID'd in weekend fatal crash

Authorities have released the name of a Libby man who died in a traffic crash Friday night near Lake Blaine.

Winter storm elevates avalanche danger

The avalanche hazard is elevated across Northwest Montana due to a series of winter storms that continue to impact the region.

Legals for December, 21 2020

Weekly roundup: Lincoln Co. Health Board won’t support tighter rules

Asking for community backing to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Lincoln County’s top doctor got plenty of praise from Lincoln County Health Board members on Dec. 9, but no endorsement for future measures.

KRMC births November

Brina Elizabeth Jouppe and Claire Esther Jouppe, twin daughters of Kent and Nikki Jouppe of Marion, were born Nov. 7, 2020, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Developer's appeal, water system upgrades top Kalispell agenda

At its final meeting of 2020, the Kalispell City Council tonight will consider a developer’s appeal in a sidewalk matter and talk about system upgrades to the city water utility.

Expert horseman reflects on lifetime love of equines

Dave Gamble strides across the arena with purpose, guiding a red roan in a circle with the movement of his body and a flick of the rope.

Men and deer head raise concerns

A manager was suspicious of a parked truck containing two men and a deer head. The manager allegedly told Kalispell Police Department that when they went to see what the pair were up to, they allegedly became defensive and the passenger, who was wearing a ski mask, jumped out and wanted to fight.

Tourism is the little engine that can

As with many tourism businesses in the Flathead Valley, we were not sure if we were going to make it earlier this spring and summer.

2021 will bring hope, healing and prosperity to Montana

Fellow Montanans, I’d like to extend my warmest Christmas and holiday wishes to you and your loved ones.

Leave it better than you found it

As I wrap up my four-year term as your state auditor, I’m reminded of a common lesson Montana parents teach our children: leave things better than you found them.

We don’t need a Christmas miracle, just leadership

With the arrival of the holiday season this year, the cardinal rule in Montana shines brighter than ever, like the star on top of my Christmas tree: We help our neighbors and community in trying times of need.

Blessings Box goal is neighbors helping neighbors

One of Santa’s most dedicated helpers lives in Kalispell on Third Avenue East.

White and Halleck married

Alexandra White and Jeffrey Halleck M.D., were married Oct. 4 at Log Haven in Millcreek Canyon, Salt Lake City.

Stanley 'Royal' Smart Jr., 92

Stanley “Royal” Smart Jr. was born on Dec. 1, 1928, in Missoula. He died on Dec. 5, 2020, in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Marguerite MacDonald Schenck, 94

Marguerite Helen Schenck passed away at her residence at The Springs in Whitefish on Dec. 8, 2020, with three of her children by her side.

Louis B. Ruiz Jr., 89

Our dad, a great man, husband, father, teacher, mentor and friend, quietly left us on Dec. 11, 2020, of natural causes.

Holiday homecoming: Naval officer gets warm welcome after year in East Africa

Colby Lenz’s face lit up with a gigantic smile as he walked through the revolving doors of the arrival gates at Glacier Park International Airport shortly after midnight Friday morning.

Vaccine arrival is turning point in pandemic

At long last, there was some good news to report about the COVID-19 pandemic this week as the first shipment of the vaccine arrived at Kalispell Regional Medical Center and health-care workers began receiving vaccinations.

Jerry Lee Lachenmaier, 72

Jerry Lee Lachenmaier, 72, of Columbia Falls, passed away on Dec. 7, 2020, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center due to COVID-19 complications.

Roy W. Bauska, 76

Roy W. Bauska was born Sept. 16, 1944, in Kalispell to Lester and Camilla (Metcalf) Bauska.

Larry 'Larz' Warren, 60

Larry “Larz” Warren, at the age of 60, passed away from cancer in the comfort of his home on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020.

Hardcore: Whitefish adventure racer tests his limits

Tremendous dread fills the heart of Happy Valley resident Jesse Nelson as he stands in the frigid air above a freezing-cold river in Oregon.

Legals for December, 20 2020

Man allegedly pulls out gun, robs two kids

Someone called Kalispell Police Department after a man allegedly pulled a gun on them and robbed two kids in Hawthorne Park. Someone claimed that over the past year they had been receiving calls in the middle of the night from a “strange religious group” that was using an unknown number.

KRMC births November

Brynlee Ingrid Krause, daughter of Torrance and Kelina Krause, was born May 2, 2020, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Brynlee weighed 9 pounds, 1 ounce, and was 21 inches long.

Montana medical dispensaries will be first in line to sell recreational pot

After voters approved two legalization measures in November, many of Montana's medical marijuana dispensaries are expected to seek licenses to sell their products for recreational use beginning next fall.

Has the state budget grown too fast?

HELENA — As the state heads into the 2021 legislative session, Montana Republicans are hoping to capitalize on their newfound control of the governor’s office to advance a number of conservative priorities. Toward the top of many Republicans’ wish lists: reining in what they consider out-of-control state spending.

Letters to the editor Dec. 20

Letters to the editor Dec. 20

Christmas carols bring us comfort and joy

“...A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,

Beverly H. Watts, 86

Beverly H. Watts was born on April 6, 1934, in Flaxville, Montana, to her parents, Hans P. and Beulah B. (Olds) Jacobson.

Paul Bunyan Bar and Grill opens near Coram

The Paul Bunyan Bar and Grill, located next to the Packer’s Roost between Martin City and Coram, is now open.

Alcohol and speed suspected in fatal Columbia Falls crash

A 38-year-old Flathead County man died after his truck hit a tree on Friday night.

Montana Artesian Water Co.: Judge rules ballot initiative was lawfully enacted

A Flathead District Court judge has issued a final order in a years-long legal battle between the owners of a water bottling plant in Creston and its neighbors, ruling that a ballot initiative to expand a zoning district in that area was fair and lawfully enacted.

Interior nominee draws praise from conservationists, Indigenous leaders

Some Montana conservation groups and Indigenous leaders, including the chairwoman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, are celebrating the nomination of New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Hospital, nurses union still working toward contract

It’s been nearly 18 months since Kalispell Regional Healthcare management, nurses and union representatives entered into negotiations, and the parties have yet to settle an initial contract.

Ex-convict pleads not guilty to assaulting probation officer

Two probation officers ended up in a life-and-death struggle recently when they encountered a wanted man in a local motel.

Local Code Girls team wins state app challenge

The Code Girls United team “Tech Trio” has won the Montana Congressional App Challenge.

Man nearly run over, not by reindeer

A man told the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office he was in his garage when a woman showed up, started yelling at him and then tried to run him over with her vehicle.

Donald Leroy Simmonds, 85

Donald Leroy Simmonds of Columbia Falls passed away on Tuesday,Dec. 8, 2020, at the age of 85.

Feds reduce Montana's shipments of COVID vaccine

Montana will receive fewer doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine than state officials had anticipated by the end of the year, Gov. Steve Bullock said Friday, as the pharmaceutical giant and the federal government quarreled over details of the nation's complex distribution effort.

Pence, wife Karen, surgeon general get COVID-19 vaccines

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence became the highest ranking U.S. official to receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday in a live-television event aimed at reassuring Americans the shot is safe. He celebrated the milestone as "a medical miracle" that could eventually contain the raging pandemic.

Soggy weekend precedes return to winter

Will Northwest Montana have a white Christmas? The extended forecast is pointing toward yes, but not before a spell of warm and soggy conditions.

Bigfork man faces sexual assault charges

A local man is accused of sexually assaulting a young girl numerous times over a three-year period.

Herbert 'Larry' Smith, 77

Larry Smith passed away Dec. 6, 2020.

Whitefish council urges compliance with COVID rules

The Whitefish City Council has adopted a nonbinding resolution urging residents to follow public health guidelines such as masking and social distancing, while a city COVID-19 task force has begun reinforcing that message with downtown signage, a website and short videos featuring local business owners.

Briefs: Libby's Beagle to UM; Griz, Cats on SWX

Griz soccer gets U-20 Canadian

Libby sprinter Jay Beagle is among the athletes in Clint May’s first signing class as coach of the University of Montana’s track and field program.

New bus route connects Kalispell with Whitefish ski resort

Kalispell residents have a new way to reach Whitefish and Whitefish Mountain Resort as Eagle Transit Mountain Climber began operation of its new Saturday Kalispell Ski Connect run last week.

Bravettes go full-court under new coach

One year removed from an amazing run with the Bigfork boys, Sam Tudor takes over a Flathead girls’ basketball program that hasn’t been to state since 2013.

Legals for December, 18 2020

Kalispell council gets update on core trail

The design phase of the Parkline Trail planned through Kalispell’s core is nearing 100% completion, and by this time next year the trail on the old railroad bed is expected to be completed, the Kalispell City Council learned Monday during a work session.

Vehicle towed after confusing situation

Some out-of-state family members told the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office a car had been left unlocked for them in Kalispell. However, they accidentally got into a different unlocked car, and then one of the visitors left his backpack in the wrong car and couldn’t open it again to retrieve the backpack. Then, the real owners of the mistaken vehicle showed up and said they couldn’t get into the vehicle, either. The car ended up getting towed.

The joy of giving: 'Shop with a Cop' filled with holiday spirit

Eleven-year-old Baylen Crampton was having the time of his life Wednesday afternoon at the local Target store while he participated in the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office “Shop with a Cop” event.

Health Board discusses declining COVID cases, eyes Moderna vaccine

A recent decline in COVID-19 cases, vaccine distribution and a resolution from the Flathead Community Health Center topped a busy agenda for the Flathead County Board of Health during a Thursday meeting.

Flathead Valley health workers get COVID vaccine

Front-line staff at Kalispell Regional Healthcare rolled up their sleeves Thursday to receive the first round of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Biden to pick Rep. Haaland as interior secretary

President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as interior secretary, according to two people familiar with the decision, a historic pick that would make her the first Native American to lead the powerful federal agency that has wielded influence over the nation's tribes for generations.

Hunting season, it could've been much different

To begin, I should have killed a bull elk...

“New” coach looks familiar to Flathead Braves

Meet the new coach, who looks suspiciously like the old coach. The Flathead Braves of 2020-21 are led by Dirk Johnsrud, who takes over for Ross Gustafson, for whom Johnsrud was junior varsity coach in 2018-19.

Montana pulls away late, stuns Washington 66-58

SEATTLE (AP) — Travis DeCuire got the best of Washington when he was a player at Montana in the early 1990s.

Donald Dale Komenda, 89

Donald Dale Komenda was born on Jan. 12, 1931, in Hettinger, North Dakota.

Legals for December, 17 2020

Letters to the editor Dec. 17

Letters to the editor Dec. 17

Collaboration seals the deal for easement

Northwest Montana can celebrate a big win for conservation, forestry and public access to prime hunting grounds.

Arnold Quentin Sandefur, 96

Last Tuesday afternoon, Arnold laid down in the grass on his daily walk to the mailbox.

Kalispell church features live Nativity scene

A live Nativity scene will be in front of Family Life Christian Church in Kalispell from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 18 and 19.

Town Pump will replace trees cut down in Whitefish

Town Pump says it will plant new trees at the site of a new gas station under construction at the intersection of U.S. 93 and Montana 40 after several mature trees on the property were cut down.

Time to hit the ice!

Last week, along with a couple dozen other folks, I was on Smith Lake...

'A perfect place for a nest' Osprey platform replaced through collaborative effort

The usually serene peacefulness of the Swan River Nature Trail in Bigfork was disrupted for a good cause last week as a bucket truck crew from Flathead Electric Cooperative installed a new osprey nest platform adjacent to the Bigfork Dam.

Parents needs help locating trombone

A parent called the Whitefish Police Department to see if anyone had turned in a brass trombone that was lost about 10 days ago. The parent said her son rides the bus and somewhere between the middle school and home, the instrument disappeared. It is in a brown plastic case.

Montana lawmakers reject mask mandate ahead of session

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Republican state lawmakers in Montana rejected proposals Wednesday by Democrats to require masks at next month's legislative session or meet remotely.

Montana prison reports 6th virus death, another has 65 cases

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Montana State Prison reported its sixth death from a coronavirus outbreak Wednesday, while a prison in Dawson County reported the same day an outbreak of at least 65 people.

Brendan House reports no active COVID cases; reopens to admissions

More than a month after COVID-19 cases began emerging at Brendan House in Kalispell, the long-term care facility is now reporting zero active cases among its residents and is once again able to accept new admissions.

Flathead County reports seven more COVID deaths

The Flathead City-County Health Department on Wednesday announced seven more Flathead County residents died from COVID-19-related issues, bringing the county’s total fatalities to 51.

Montana high court appoints new redistricting chairperson

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Montana Supreme Court unanimously appointed on Wednesday tribal attorney Maylinn Smith as the chair of the state's political Districting and Apportionment Committee. The appointment was made as the state awaits data results from the 2020 U.S. Census, which may yield a second U.S. House district.

Judge tells Montana bar to follow health directives on virus

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — A Montana judge on Wednesday ordered a Bozeman bar to comply with health directives — including a 10 p.m. closing time — meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus in another case of businesses pushing back against the rules.

$2K reward offered in Wyoming grizzly bear killing case

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wildlife managers in Wyoming are offering an up to $2,000 reward for information about the illegal killing of a grizzly bear.

Troy officials asked to support new selenium standards

In hopes of protecting the water quality and aquatic life of Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River, state environmental regulators have approved new standards for levels of a heavy metal that has leached into the bodies of water from upstream Canadian mines.

Kalispell man named chief of Highway Patrol

Attorney General-Elect Austin Knudsen on Wednesday named Kalispell resident Major Steve Lavin as the next colonel of the Montana Highway Patrol.

Timber project alters public access near Hungry Horse Reservoir

Recreational access near the Hungry Horse Reservoir will change for the time-being as the Flathead National Forest conducts work on the area’s Royal Tiger timber sale.

Fred C. Hartson, 93

Fred C. Hartson passed away on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Whitefish.

Briefs: Glacier boys have scrimmages, meeting tonight

Glacier High School has a pair of boys’ basketball scrimmages scheduled for Thursday at the Glacier gym.

Legals for December, 16 2020

Alleged drug deal reported in parking lot

Someone called the Kalispell Police Department and reported an alleged drug deal in the back parking lot.

Donald Leroy Simmonds, 85

Donald Leroy Simmonds of Columbia Falls passed away on Tuesday,Dec. 8, 2020, at the age of 85.

National Signing Day: Griz are “full”; Cats also land big class

The Montana Grizzlies officially added 19 future players on National Signing Day Wednesday, and the Montana State Bobcats added 20, and where they all fit in may not be clear for a while.

Signing Day: List of signees

Montana, MSU, Montana-Western class

Montana Grizzlies signees Daniel Britt, QB, 5-11, 185 Las Vegas Liam Brown, OL, 6-5, 307 Beaverton, Ore.

4 starters back mean good things for Pack

Four starters are back for the Glacier girls’ basketball team, and the Wolfpack are among a handful of teams — thanks partly to COVID-19 — that won their last game last season.

Column: New challenges, still the same great numbers

The season is still set to start on or about Jan. 2, and to conclude about three weeks later than usual — March 5-6.

Climate-change report details potential health impacts in Montana

A group of scientists and physicians this week released a report detailing how heat, wildfires, drought, floods and other events related to climate change have impacted the physical and mental health of Montanans, and are likely to continue doing so into the future.

Philanthropist helps Warming Center reach campaign goal

After just three months, the Flathead Warming Center has hit its capital campaign goal of $750,000, which will go toward erecting the low barrier shelter’s new, permanent location in Kalispell.

Glacier boys have big things in store

Coming off a 10-11 season in which the Glacier boys tapered off after a 7-3 start, this season’s Wolfpack basketball team sees big things coming.

Montana nurse released from hospital after battling COVID-19

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Ellen Edlund, the Billings Clinic nurse who battled for her life against COVID-19, carried dual messages as she traveled through a tunnel of cheering staffers during her discharge.

Covid vaccines arrive at Kalispell Regional

More than 10 months after the coronavirus pandemic reached the Flathead Valley, frontline workers at Kalispell Regional Healthcare are expected to begin receiving COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursday.

Elevation Christmas Light Car Show

Vehicles decorated with Christmas lights cruise down Main Street at the Elevation Christmas Light Car Show in downtown Kalispell on Saturday, Dec. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

CFAC cleanup plan expected next spring

The wheels are still turning on the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. Superfund site cleanup.

Montana officials weigh in on electoral college vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Electoral College gave Joe Biden a majority of its votes Monday, confirming his victory in last month’s election in state-by-state voting that took on added importance this year because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to concede he lost.

Wallace D. “Mark” Norley, 89

Wallace D. “Mark” Norley passed away from cancer at The Retreat at Buffalo Hill on the morning of Dec. 8, 2020.

Toys for Tots volunteers hard at work

Volunteers help out at the Flathead County Toys for Tots distribution warehouse at The Party Store on Saturday, Dec. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Wreaths Across America ceremony in Kalispell canceled; Veteran’s Home event still on

The annual Wreaths Across America ceremony in Kalispell has been canceled this year due to fundraising challenges, organizers announced Monday.

Stephen William Cheman Jr., 80

Stephen “Steve,” “Dad,” or “Uncle Butch” William Cheman Jr., 80, of Kalispell, passed away peacefully Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, at the family home after a battle with metastatic bladder cancer.

Legals for December, 15 2020

Dore’ Schaffer, 83

Dore’ Schaffer of Big Arm/Polson passed away peacefully the morning of Dec, 12, 2020, at The Retreat assisted living facility in Polson, after suffering 4 four-plus years with dementia;

Staff, volunteers rally to make Christmas spirits bright at Veterans Home

The halls of the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls are silent this Christmas.

Class AA Speech and Debate: Flathead takes 2nd, Glacier 3rd at Kalispell Invitational

Bozeman notched a solid first-place win at the Kalispell Speech and Debate Invitational Tournament Friday and Saturday, outdistancing the competition with a total of 237 points.

Class A Speech and Debate: C-Falls rebounds to win big at Laurel Invitational

The Columbia Falls Speech and Debate team rebounded from its first tournament to top the competit

Area mentors honored as MCA Coaches of Year

Coaches recognized for work in fall sports

Byrd brothers honored by Class AA, A soccer

Traffic snarled after truck wreck in Kalispell

A Nissan Titan pickup truck rests on its roof Monday afternoon after it hit a pole...

Kila rapist sentenced to 40 years in prison

Nearly three years after it began, a Kila man who viciously raped and beat a woman on Christmas Eve 2017 was sentenced Monday to 40 years in the Montana State Prison.

Groups sue feds over lack of wolverine protections

A coalition of conservation groups on Monday sued the Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its director over the agency’s recent decision to withhold Endangered Species Act protection from wolverines in the Lower 48, which number about 300 in the contiguous United States.

'Relieved': U.S. health workers start getting COVID-19 vaccine

The biggest vaccination campaign in U.S. history kicked off Monday as health workers rolled up their sleeves for shots to protect them from COVID-19 and start beating back the pandemic — a day of optimism even as the nation's death toll closed in on 300,000.

Montana to accommodate new National Suicide Prevention line

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana and 36 other states have announced they will update their phone numbers to accommodate the new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is expected to work nationwide the same way the 911 emergency number does.

Montana's first COVID vaccine doses arrive in Billings

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A hospital in Billings was the first in Montana to receive a shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.

Blacktail Ski Area to open Friday

Opening day at Blacktail Mountain Ski Area is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 18.

Downtown Kalispell in focus for work session

The Kalispell City Council will hold a virtual work session tonight to review updates of various planning activities taking place in the city.

Legals for December, 14 2020

Santa slashing caught on camera

An inflatable Santa decoration was allegedly slashed by a man who was the passenger of a black Ford “short bed” truck. The Santa slashing was reportedly caught on camera. A man allegedly took a phone from a bar and called 911. When dispatchers asked what his emergency was he said, “The emergency is a girl with an explosive a--.” A friend took the phone and said the man was drunk, wouldn’t provide their location, and hung up. Dispatchers called the number back and a bartender confirmed there wasn’t an emergency.

Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Elaine Nix, 84

Jacqueline “Jackie” Elaine Nix, 84, passed away Dec. 7, 2020, at The HealthCenter, Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Stoltze manager reflects on 45 years in timber industry

After 45 years in the timber industry, Chuck Roady has decided it’s time to step aside and care for his own land.

November births KRMC

Kesler Schoener, son of Joey and Jessica Schoener of Kalispell, was born Nov. 25, 2020, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Weekly roundup: Turner Mountain aims for Dec. 18 opening

The Turner Mountain ski area is expected to open Dec. 18 and be open daily through New Year’s Day, according to Bruce Zwang, president of the Kootenai winter Sports Ski Education Foundation. However, the start date may change depending on snow conditions.

Rebrand makes sense for hospital’s growth

The landscape of Northwest Montana’s health care industry is poised for a new look in 2021. Kalispell Regional Healthcare made a major announcement last week that it would be rebranding as Logan Health beginning next month.

Report examines options for improving Bigfork Community Center

This month, A&E Architects released a preliminary architecture report, which includes diagrams and detailed cost estimates for six options to improve the building.

Darlene Cunningham Grattan, 81

Darlene Cunningham Grattan, 81, passed away at her home in Whitefish, on Dec. 7, 2020.

Legals for December, 13 2020

Covid curfews hurting small-town economies

We, the Central Montana Tavern Association Board of Directors, are writing today to express our many concerns about the grievous implementation of closing times (curfews) being imposed on local bar and restaurant establishments.

7 non-medical symptoms of the pandemic

As COVID numbers spread across our country and world, we are faced with the reality of this pandemic everywhere we turn. Regardless of what we do to limit our exposure to this virus the reality is that we all have been affected by the Pandemic. Here are seven non-medical symptoms that this whole pandemic might be getting the best of you regardless if you have had COVID or not.

Today’s mines must obey today’s laws

Montana is not the only place with an economy that depends on its rich natural resources, though I would argue that it is the most spectacular.

Letters to the editor Dec. 13

Letters to the editor Dec. 13

Lawmakers should follow common sense Covid measures

Nearly nine months into a pandemic, COVID-19 has impacted Montanans in every corner of the state.

Parent wants kids warned for throwing rocks

Two boys and a girl were allegedly throwing rocks at someone’s children and they wanted Kalispell Police Department to give them a warning.

Alma Leona Foot, 99

Alma Leona Foot, 99, died November 1, 2020 at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, Montana

Carol Jean Herring, 71

Carol Jean Herring was born in North Dakota, on Dec. 27, 1948, to Art Thingstad and Viola Seney Sundgren.

Another chapter begins for landmark Kalispell Mercantile

Since it was first built at the end of the 19th century, the Kalispell Mercantile in the heart of downtown Kalispell has been home to many: government officials when Flathead County first split from Missoula County, bustling warehouses served by the Great Northern Railroad, and even the building’s longtime owner, Bill Goodman.

White Raven Winery opens in C-Falls

A winery that’s able to pour a glass of red made from grapes crushed, fermented, aged and monitored in its own cellars, under the shadow of snow-capped Montana peaks near the banks of a glacier-fed river, is about as rare as a white raven in a murder of its charcoal black relatives.

Gluten-free bakery owner eyes expansion

Christmas cookies are a classic holiday treat, but the ones coming out of the oven at Red Poppy are a little less conventional.

Physician perspectives: KRH doctors discuss virus’ impact on hospital operations

When cases of the novel coronavirus first emerged in the United States, concerns over whether the nation’s health-care system had the capacity to care for mass quantities of sick individuals loomed large.

South Kalispell gets land donation for new fire hall

The new year hopefully will bring a new fire hall for the South Kalispell Fire Department.

Donald E. Leuty, 68

Donald E. Leuty, 68, of Kalispell passed away peacefully with his wife by his side on Dec. 1, 2020, in Kalispell.

Donald Lee Clark, 90

Donald Lee Clark, adoring husband and devoted father of two sons, passed away on Dec. 5, 2020, one week shy of his 91st birthday at The Springs at Whitefish.

Tales from the road with our ‘Bugs’

Years ago in Ohio when my boyfriend was teaching me how to drive his VW Super Beetle — a stick shift — I forgot to switch to a lower gear and the car started doing that bucking thing that’s so embarrassing.

Jacqueline 'Jackie' Ann Skuletich McGregor, 73

Jacqueline “Jackie” Ann Skuletich McGregor, Butte girl born and raised, and longtime resident of the Flathead Valley, passed away Dec. 2, 2020, at the age of 73.

Marion Smith Jr.

Marion Smith Jr. said, “No one enjoys ‘or’bits,’ but if one is going out, do it with dignity and smile. Whatever you achieve in life know that you loved and were loved.”

Indian Health Service plans for COVID vaccine distribution

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The federal agency that provides health care to Native Americans said Friday it will receive more than enough vaccines to protect all the people working in hospitals and clinics, including doctors, nurses and support staff.

COVID-19 vaccine shipments begin in historic US effort

KALAMAZOO, Michigan (AP) — The first shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use in the United States headed Sunday from Michigan to distribution centers across the country, with the first shots expected to be given in the coming week to health care workers and at nursing homes.

Delivery man finds trouble on the doorstep

A delivery man alleged he was attacked and bitten by a dog after dropping off a package. The man asked the owner of the crazed canine for its records, but he refused.

Legals for December, 12 2020

Local man accused of gun running, meth dealing

A Flathead Valley man is facing federal gun and drug charges as well as local charges for allegedly stealing an item from a county law enforcement facility.

Bullock, Fox and Gianforte weigh in on Texas election lawsuit

Elected leaders in Montana have sent mixed messages to the U.S. Supreme Court on whether it should hear an unprecedented lawsuit from Texas that seeks to overturn election results in four battleground states despite there being no evidence of widespread fraud.

Supreme Court rejects Texas lawsuit to overturn election

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a lawsuit backed by President Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden's election victory, ending a desperate attempt to get legal issues rejected by state and federal judges before the nation's highest court.

Man dead, officer wounded following Trout Creek shooting

A man suspected of shooting at Northwest Montana law enforcement officers in Trout Creek early Friday morning is dead and a Kalispell Police Department officer was wounded.

Neo-Nazi website founder accused of ignoring $14M judgment

A Montana real estate agent who secured a $14 million judgment against a neo-Nazi website publisher for orchestrating an anti-Semitic harassment campaign against her Jewish family is seeking a court order compelling the man to disclose information about his assets and finances.

Plains man gets federal prison time for making child porn

A Plains man who admitted creating and transporting child pornography videos was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.

Commission OKs purchase of Lost Trail easement

Terry Zink of Marion is a lifelong bowhunter and houndsman and his comment about the Lost Trail Conservation easement was brief, but meaningful.

Flathead man with long criminal record gets prison time

The man recently received an eight-year term to the Montana Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in October to several felony charges.

Die-hards hit the slopes as season opens

At 9:30 a.m. Thursday, the sun slid out from behind a cloud and a cheer went up from the crowd of skiers and snowboarders gathered by the base of Chair 1 at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

M. Dean Jellison, 91

M. Dean Jellison passed away on Dec. 6, 2020, at the Lodge at Buffalo Hill Terrace.

Bertha Leona Andrew Meyers, 87

Bertha Leona Andrew Meyers, 87, was born on March 18, 1933 in Gravois Mills, Missouri, to Thomas and Beulah (Scarborough) Andrew.

Headwaters Montana to fold after 13 years of conservation work

After 13 years of advocating for wildlife and wilderness in land management decisions for the Flathead and Kootenai regions, Headwaters Montana will officially close its doors at the end of the year.

Annie Catherine Cote Edwards, 94

Her family is sad to announce the passing of Annie Catherine Cote Edwards on Dec. 8, 2020.

Whitefish council closes ‘loophole’ for affordable housing

The Whitefish City Council voted unanimously Monday to close a "loophole" in the city's Legacy Homes program that has allowed developers to build up to seven units in multifamily housing projects without triggering affordability requirements.

Kalispell council broadens manager's authority to use AG

The Kalispell City Council on Monday unanimously passed a resolution giving the city manager the direct authority to reach out to the state attorney general for assistance with issues related to criminal prosecution.

County formalizes taxing district for 911 center

The Flathead County commissioners passed a resolution Monday establishing a special taxing district for the Flathead Emergency Communications Center, meeting the requirements of a ballot measure voters passed in November to increase funding for 911 services and equipment.

Legals for December, 11 2020

Anti-masker makes a scene at local business

Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies were on the way after an area business called when a man became irate over having to wear a mask.

CSKT leaders say 'Big Sky' producers exploiting tribes

PABLO — Leaders of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are calling out ABC Studios for actions they deem exploitative regarding the production of the network’s new fall prime-time drama “Big Sky,” which is set in Montana.

Surgeon General commends Montana for reducing virus spread

HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock was joined by U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams Thursday as they commended residents for reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the state even as the number of cases in other parts of the country is on the rise.

Northern lights a 'big miss,' space forecaster says

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — An initially promising U.S. forecast for the northern lights has gone bust.

Suspect in Missoula shooting death arrested; bail set at $1M

MISSOULA (AP) — The suspect in a Missoula shooting death has been arrested, police said. Christopher Lance Newrider, 33, was arrested at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the apartment complex where the shooting happened, said Sgt. Travis Welsh.

Judge demands speedy demolition of Flathead Lake's 'bridge to nowhere'

A court-appointed engineer will oversee the demolition of a private "bridge to nowhere" that connects Dockstader Island to the north shore of Flathead Lake.

Legals for December, 10 2020

Tensions rise over masks as virus grips smaller cities

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Arguments over mask requirements and other restrictions have turned ugly in recent days as the deadly coronavirus surge across the U.S. engulfs small and medium-size cities that once seemed safely removed from the outbreak.

Letters to the editor Dec. 10

Letters to the editor Dec. 10

Puppy locked in vehicle is rescued

A person was locked out of a Subaru Crosstrek in Kalispell when the puppy locked the doors while the car warmed up. Soon after, the pup and owner were happily reunited, according to the Kalispell Police Department.

Man charged with felony child endangerment

A Kalispell man was arrested after authorities said he drove drunk during an alleged hit-and-run while a child was in the vehicle.

Toys for Tots keeps trucking amid COVID

Visions of children gleefully opening presents and playing with their toys at Christmas warm are iconic holiday memories for most of us.

Herbert Larry Smith, 77

Herbert Larry Smith, 77, of Kalispell, passed away on Dec. 6, 2020, at his home in Kalispell with his family by his side.

Reinhold J. Kraft, 85

A true hometown American hero has been put to rest. Retired Col. Reinhold “RJ” Kraft passed away on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Bigfork.

Margaret J. Shergalis, 95

Margaret J. Shergalis went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Nov. 19, 2020

Welcome to hard water season

For folks that know me well, they know that I live to ice fish!

Column: A long wait to get home for Petrino

Montana Lady Griz coach Mike Petrino spent the two weeks leading up to his team’s home opener on the road. OK, not really on the road. But away from home. His oldest of two daughters had hung out with a friend, you see.

Board finalizes hiring of retired health officer

The Flathead City-County Health Department will be under new leadership beginning next week after the Board of Health unanimously approved a final contract for a permanent public health officer during a special meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Ski resort opens today with 7 lifts

Whitefish Mountain Resort opens for the winter ski season Thursday with seven lifts operating and 35 inches of snow at the summit.

Montana among states to sue Facebook for 'predatory' conduct

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government and 48 states and districts sued Facebook Wednesday, accusing it of abusing its market power in social networking to crush smaller competitors and seeking remedies that could include a forced spinoff the social network's Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services.

Montana joins suit challenging swing state election results

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to let him join an improbable lawsuit challenging election results in Pennsylvania and other states that he lost, a day after the justices rejected a last-gasp bid to reverse Pennsylvania's certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory.

License permanently suspended for Ranch for Kids near Rexford

An administrative law judge has ruled in favor of actions taken by the state Department of Public Health and Human Services to remove 27 children in July 2019 from the Ranch for Kids, a private alternative adolescent residential/ outdoor program located near Rexford.

Missoula police searching for suspect in shooting death

MISSOULA (AP) — Police in Missoula are searching for a suspect in a fatal shooting.

Juneau to resign as Seattle Public Schools superintendent

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau said Tuesday she will resign when her contract ends in June.

Kenneth Hubert Nardinger, 83

Kenneth Hubert Nardinger, 83, of Kalispell, passed away Dec. 1, 2020, following an extended battle with dementia and other complications.

Tree shines blue light on fallen officers

Born out of a tragedy, Concerns of Police Survivors has worked for decades as a support system for those affected by the deaths of on-duty law enforcement officers.

Montana gets $126M to expand rural broadband service

Six internet providers are expected to extend broadband service to nearly 46,000 homes and businesses in rural Montana with nearly $126 million from the Federal Communications Commission.

New high-school band director keeps the beat in Whitefish

Matthew King stood on the ladder podium conducting the famous Ohio State marching band during the second quarter of the BCS National Championship college football game in early 2015 when the Buckeyes defeated Oregon.

Legals for December, 9 2020

Evan Gilbert Speer, 91

Evan Gilbert Speer of Columbia Falls passed away on Thursday, Dec.3, 2020, at the age of 91.

House fire near Dayton leaves family of seven homeless

A fire that destroyed a home on Gunbarrel Lane in the Chief Cliff area between Elmo and Dayton Monday afternoon has left a Northwest Montana family homeless a little more than two weeks before Christmas.

Billings nurse in hospital with COVID, fighting for her life

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — In late November, like so many health care workers across the world, Ellen Edlund was diagnosed with COVID-19 and went from provider to patient.

New chairman for Crow Tribe in Montana sworn in

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Frank White Clay has been sworn in as the new chairman of the Crow Tribe, a federally recognized tribe located in southern Montana.

Officials identify 17-year-old girl killed in Billings

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Yellowstone County officials have released the name of a 17-year-old girl who died in a weekend shooting in Billings.

Montana legislators clash over rules for legislative session

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Republicans and Democrats clashed Monday over contrasting visions for how to hold Montana's upcoming legislative session safely amid the coronavirus pandemic.

County launches program to track landfill visits

A new punch-card system will allow Flathead County homeowners to drop off three oversized loads of garbage at the county landfill each year, free of charge beyond the existing annual assessment for solid waste.

United Way campaign off to strong start

Northwest Montana United Way is well on its way to the organization’s ambitious campaign goal of $4.2 million after an out-of-state foundation agreed to match up to $300,000 worth of donations made between now and the end of March 2021.

It's OK to feed the birds in C-Falls

law roundup

State adds lights to crosswalk near Smith Valley School

The Montana Department of Transportation last week installed new flashing lights on U.S. 2 West near Smith Valley School to improve the safety of the crosswalk along the busy highway.

NW Montana business sector better positioned to weather economic storm, bankers say

Survey suggests 20% of state's businesses could go bankrupt without federal assistance

Amid a bleak outlook for many businesses across the state, Northwest Montana is in a better position to weather the ongoing economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic than most other regions, according to local bankers.

C-Falls Speech and Debate takes close second at Whitefish tourney

The Columbia Falls Speech and Debate team kicked off the 2020-2021 season with a formidable showing at the Whitefish Virtual Tournament.

Speech and debate: Flathead takes 2nd, Glacier 3rd as season kicks off online

Flathead and Glacier high school speech and debate competitors finally got a word in this season after it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ID of man who found Rocky Mountains treasure chest revealed

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A grandson of Forrest Fenn has confirmed that a medical school student from Michigan found an over $1 million treasure chest that the retired art and antiquities dealer stashed in the wilds of Wyoming over a decade ago.

Legals for December, 8 2020

Evelyn M. Sutton, 89

Evelyn M. Sutton, 89, born Sept 20, 1931, passed Dec. 2, 2020, at Footsteps Memory Care in Whitefish.

KRMC workers on track to get COVID vaccine this month

Kalispell Regional Medical Center and nine other Montana hospitals are expected to receive shipments of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine this month, providing the first doses for 9,750 health-care workers across the state, Gov. Steve Bullock's office announced Monday.

Five more COVID deaths reported in Flathead County

Flathead City-County Health Department officials confirmed five additional COVID-19-related deaths on Monday, bringing the county’s total number of fatalities to 44.

Man’s meltdown on display in showroom

Kalispell Police Department received a report about an enraged customer who allegedly hit an employee and broke something in the showroom before leaving.

Lady Griz Stiles, Gfeller put away Fighting Hawks

First-year coach Mike Petrino gets first win

MISSOULA -- The Montana Lady Griz got across a couple thresholds Monday: First win of 2020-21, first win for new head coach Mike Petrino, and in front of what had to be a record-low crowd.

Legals for December, 7 2020

Letters to the editor Dec. 7

Letters to the editor Dec. 7

Flathead public works director stays busy managing roads, garbage

Dave Prunty makes sure Flathead County's roads get plowed each winter and road dust gets tamped down each summer.

Development proposals top busy Kalispell agenda

The Kalispell City Council has a busy schedule for its meeting tonight, which will be held virtually via Zoom videoconference starting at 7 p.m.

Whitefish council mulls affordable-housing changes

The Whitefish City Council tonight is scheduled to consider a change to the city's Legacy Homes affordable-housing program as well as a final plat application for the 8.8-acre, 58-lot Trailview subdivision on the southeast edge of town.

Weekly roundup: Whitefish rural fire board, city nearing contract deal

The Whitefish Fire Service Area and the city of Whitefish appear to be nearing agreement on a contract that would provide fire service to the rural area for the next five years.

NVH October births

Rebel Keli’i Lynn Allison, daughter of Raelynn Darsow and Garret Allison of Columbia Falls, was born Oct. 26, 2020, at North Valley Hospital.

Energy payments to states in US West plummet in 2020

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Payments to states in the U.S. West have plummeted for oil, natural gas and coal extracted from U.S. lands after low crude prices and the pandemic slowed drilling and mining in many areas in 2020, according to federal data.

Montana teenager arrested in fatal shooting of girl, 17

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A 17-year-old boy was arrested early Sunday in the shooting death of a teenage girl from Billings, police said.

Delores Morton, 88

Delores Morton, 88, passed away on Nov. 30, 2020, at Brendan House.

Letters to the editor Dec. 6

Letters to the editor Dec. 6

Violet V. Cranmer, 88

Beloved mother, grandmother, and friend Violet V. Cranmer, 88, passed away due to COVID-19 at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls on Monday, Nov. 23, 2020.

Elopement service offers one-of-a-kind ceremonies

At Elope Montana, Lindsey Gardner has found the perfect match for her talents.

Montana lawmakers mull COVID rules for 2021 session

With the coronavirus pandemic still raging, Montana lawmakers are negotiating whether to meet virtually or in person when the next legislative session begins Jan. 4.

Siu and McKay married

Maren Siu and Daniel McKay were married on Oct. 18, 2020, at Tupper Manor in Beverly, Massachusetts

Legals for December, 6 2020

Where is Benjamin Earls?

'None of it makes sense — just to vanish like that'

Four months into the search for Benjamin Earls, his case is still a mystery.

Russell a wise choice to lead health department

It’s been a tumultuous year for the Flathead City-County Health Department and the Board of Health as the two entities have been on the front line of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic here at home. And it’s no secret the situation is becoming dire.

Sammy Allick, 92

Sammy passed into the arms of his Lord on Dec. 2, 2020, at the Brendan House in Kalispell, due to complications from COVID-19.

Skiers should expect changes for opening day

It’s been a long off-season in the Flathead Valley since Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail Mountain Ski Area closed early in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former C-Falls man returns to answer burglary charges

More than 12 years after the alleged crime occurred, a former Columbia Falls resident appeared Thursday in Flathead County District Court to answer to charges of burglary.

A sensible and compassionate anti-COVID strategy

Excerpts from a forum Oct. 9 presented by epidemiologist Dr. Jay Bhattachara.

Public health workers need county’s support

We recently read articles in both the Daily Inter Lake and Flathead Beacon about the Flathead City-County Health Department (FCCHD), the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic activities and interactions with our elected Flathead County Commissioners. We are disappointed, to say the least, over the lack of actions to come to the aid of our Health Department exempt workers.

Leadership and compromise needed now to save small businesses

Some of the most important and far-reaching legislation passed by Congress in past decades, on issues such as Social Security, the Affordable Care Act and taxes and welfare, were the result of input from and compromise between the two parties.

Ormand Bruce Eastman, 94

Ormand Bruce Eastman, 94, of Polson, passed away Nov. 7, 2020.

Judith F. Crowell, 79

On Nov. 23, 2020, Judith “Judy” Crowell went to be with her Lord and Savior, as well as her husband Bruce, whom she missed dearly.

Todd 'Theodore' A. Schlapfer, 73

Todd “Theodore” A. Schlapfer died peacefully at home in Somers on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, at the age of 73

Roger Verne Wendt, 91

Roger Verne Wendt passed away Nov. 27, 2020, with his sons at his side.

Spirits are high, business brisk at Whistling Andy

Distillery marks 10th anniversary as state's longest operating craft distillery

From the get-go, Whistling Andy Distillery co-founder Brian Anderson wanted to create a world-class product.

Debbora Marie Romain Sargent, 73

Debbora Sargent passed away suddenly to an unforeseen medical condition on Nov. 18, 2020, at the age of 73.

Anna Mae Bunyea, 91

Anna was born to William and Eleanor Lecher on Aug. 6, 1929, in Chadron, Nebraska.

Gloria Fay Heibein Jones, 81

Gloria Fay Heibein Jones, 81, passed away peacefully in Kalispell after a short, non-COVID respiratory illness on Nov. 26, 2020, with her husband Floyd and her four children, Lynda, Cindy, Terry and Charla at her bedside.

Jaqueline Dee (Czapla) Van Dyke, 74

Jackie passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Nov. 20, 2020, from COVID-19.

What’s so funny? Serious thoughts about humor

“Laughter is the best medicine,” the age-old saying goes.

Stillwater Christian boys, girls pick up basketball sweeps

Blake Prewitt dominated inside for 25 points and 14 rebounds, and sophomore point guard Luke Frampton scored 16 points to help Stillwater Christian past Helena Home School in MCAA boys’ basketball Saturday.

Two shot, one arrested in Pablo

A man and a woman are expected to survive after being shot in Pablo Friday night, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Kalispell Regional agrees to $4.2M fund for security breach

Kalispell Regional Healthcare has agreed to establish a $4.2 million settlement fund to provide relief for individuals who allege they were impacted by a data breach of the hospital’s internal systems that was announced in October 2019.

Governor-elect Gianforte holds first press conference

During a Friday press conference, his first since being elected, Gov.-elect Greg Gianforte offered few hints about what policies he may pursue or support once he’s sworn in on Jan. 4.

Today's Achievers: Stillwater junior excels at art, academics and athletics

For the hard work Stillwater Christian School junior Grace Anderson has poured into academics, art, music and athletics, she has found success, which she passes on in her leadership roles.

Youth allegedly brings gun and bullets to school

Kalispell Police Department received a report that a 12-year-old allegedly brought a handgun and bullets to school. He reportedly showed the items to other children right after school.

Bigfork man charged with felony assault in shooting incident

A man involved in two different shootings in the Echo Lake area during the last three months has been charged.

Visit Santa today on Zoom

Whitefish Community School is inviting all members of the community who might not be able to see Santa in person this year to join him on Zoom this Saturday, Dec. 5, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. as part of an event to raise funds for the nonprofit daycare.

Grinch suspected in Christmas tree theft

An inflatable 6-foot Christmas tree was stolen from a yard, a caller told the Kalispell Police Department. The tree owner was worried more items might go missing in the future.

Bigfork apartment project gets green light

The Flathead County Board of Adjustment on Tuesday gave developers a green light to build 20 apartment units in Bigfork.

Land Board to consider easement for North Fork Road project

Montana's Land Board is expected to decide whether to grant Flathead County an easement for a 1-mile stretch of the North Fork Road just south of the Canada border – the missing piece in a $2 million project aimed at rehabilitating nearly 21 miles of the gravel road that serves as a back door to Glacier National Park.

Avalanche dog needs help with cancer treatment

Jett has been serving the Flathead Valley almost his entire life as an avalanche dog.

Beccari, Rendina first-team All-State for AA football

Glacier’s Rocco Beccari and Jake Rendina were selected first-team All-State for Class AA by the league’s coaches, it was announced Friday.

Hospital unveils new name as Logan Health

Kalispell Regional Healthcare will be rebranded as Logan Health beginning in January, the company announced Friday.

Army Corps withdraws plan to charge for reservoir water

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Army Corps of Engineers reversed course on an Obama-era proposal to charge for water drawn from reservoirs the Corps manages, North Dakota's attorney general said Friday.

Western AA Football All-Conference

Western AA First Team Defense Linemen Forrest Suero, Helena, 5-10, 240, jr. Rocco Beccari, Glacier, 6-4, 250, sr. Daniel Difort, Sentinel, 5-10, 255, sr.

Retired Flathead District Judge Ted Lympus dies

The Honorable Ted O. Lympus, a former Flathead County Attorney and Flathead District Court judge for decades, died peacefully at home Thursday morning in Missoula.

Legals for December, 4 2020

Gun goes missing during tree-cutting trip

A man who bought a pistol with duct tape on it at a pawn shop told the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office the gun went missing when he went to cut down a Christmas tree.

Kalispell embarks on design standards for historic buildings

The city of Kalispell is taking a step back in time as city representatives get to work on the first draft of a set of design standards for historical buildings in the downtown area.

Christmas comes early for HEART program

This holiday season, 60 high school students connected with the HEART Program will be receiving a special gift.

Kalispell mall prepares for Santa's arrival

Last week Dr. Anthony Fauci said Santa Claus is immune to the COVID-19 virus, but the Kalispell Center Mall is taking a few extra precautions to ensure safety when Santa’s sleigh touches down in Kalispell next week.

Glacier’s Rendina, Beccari are first-team all-Western AA

Glacier’s Jake Rendina and Rocco Beccari are first-team All-Western AA selections for football, according to the all-conference honors teams released Thursday.

Board eyes retired health officer to fill position

The Flathead County Board of Health is hoping to fill the soon-to-be vacant public health officer position with Joe Russell, a longtime Flathead Valley resident who previously held the position for 20 years before retiring from the Flathead City-County Health Department in June 2017.

Man charged with crashing into grocery store pleads not guilty

A Columbia Falls man accused of driving through a grocery store and running naked in an assisted-living home last month pleaded not guilty Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

Kalispell Regional preparing site for non-COVID patients

An alternative care site on the vacant third floor of Montana Children’s that had been prepared for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients is now being set up to begin receiving patients.

Thelma Herbst, 95

After 95 years, Thelma Herbst joined her beloved husband, Leonard Herbst, who preceded her in death.

Legals for December, 3 2020

Letters to the editor Dec. 3

Letters to the editor Dec. 3

Think local this shopping season

Congress continues to negotiate the parameters of a new federal stimulus bill this week as the partisan bickering drags on.

Thief ‘blessed’ with a stolen bicycle

law roundup

Fairgrounds takes $535,000 hit due to COVID

Low turnout at the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo and other effects of COVID-19 have cost Flathead County roughly $535,000 in revenue, nearly twice what the fairgrounds department has saved in reserves, according to Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell.

Snow, a hindrance or help to hunters

If there is one weather factor that can and does influence hunter success it is snow.

"Heroes of the Bob Marshall Wilderness" book signing Friday

Terry Lee McCoy and John Fraley were good friends and college students at the University of Montana...

Sun Road could get makeover along Lake McDonald

The U.S. Department of the Interior has proposed rebuilding a 9.3-mile stretch of Going-to-the-Sun Road and replacing a bridge over McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park, among hundreds of other maintenance projects on federal lands.

Toys for Tots coordinator confident despite COVID

Applications nearly doubled this year

Like Rudolph’s red nose lighting the way through a blizzard, Kelley Hamilton is leading Flathead County’s Toys for Tots program through the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Celebrate a Victorian Christmas at the Conrad Mansion

The Conrad Mansion has decked its halls in holiday finery for the holidays.

Column: Picture of a man defined by a voice

Mick Holien, the late former Griz play-by-play announcer, wore a lot of hats in his three-plus decades in Missoula and Polson, but my earliest memory of him is at a Washington-Grizzly Stadium that was less than half the size it is now.

Montana could receive first vaccine doses by Dec. 15

HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock said Wednesday that the state could receive around 9,750 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by drug company Pfizer as soon as Dec. 15.

Wildlife advocates sue agency to protect Canada lynx

BILLINGS (AP) — Wildlife advocates sued the federal government Tuesday in a bid to force officials to do more to conserve Canada lynx, a snow-loving cat that has struggled to survive in parts of the U.S. West.

Bigfork man in jail following armed standoff

A Bigfork man is in jail after allegedly engaging in an armed standoff with law officers Tuesday night. Ronald Dean Clackler, 63, is facing pending charges of assault with a weapon, resisting arrest and criminal mischief.

Whitefish Chamber leads Christmas 'shopping spree'

The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce’s “Christmas Tree Shopping Spree” will run through Dec. 11.

Barbara Joan Kelley Gallagher, 71

Barbara Joan Kelley Gallagher passed away in her husband’s arms on Nov. 29, 2020, after a wrenching three-week battle with COVID-19.

Pilot project to help CSKT tribes address missing person cases

At a council meeting of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation Tuesday in Pablo, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme and the CSKT Council launched a pilot project to develop a Tribal Community Response Plan that will address missing and murdered indigenous persons cases.

Man has bone to pick with government

An angry man called the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office to complain “that all government was bad and corrupt,” allegedly based on his father’s experience as a law enforcement officer in Texas. The caller also told the dispatcher about a friend who was reportedly given $300 million dollars, and then he hung up.

Georgia Leigh Penniman, 79

Georgia Leigh Penniman of Ronan, daughter of William and Ruby Penniman, passed away on Nov. 25, 2020.

Dorothy 'Dolly' Jean Pluid, 72

Dolly has peacefully transitioned into heaven. Dolly was born April 29, 1948 and passed Nov. 10, 2020.

Nancy (Mellet) Tesmer, 83

Nancy (Mellet) Tesmer, 83 years old, with her family by her side, died a natural death on Nov. 23, 2020.

August James Strobbe, 92

August James Strobbe, born May 8,1928, in Pompeys Pillar, Montana, went to be with the Lord Nov. 28, 2020, just three weeks shy of his and his wife Jeanette's 70th wedding anniversary.

Legals for December, 2 2020

County begins tough task of replacing health officer

The Flathead City-County Health Department is in flux after the Interim Public Health Officer Tamalee St. James Robinson announced she will step down at the end of the year — a decision that set a tight deadline for a hiring team to secure her replacement in the midst of a pandemic.

Flathead mother accused of cancer scam

A Flathead Valley divorced mother of three and former operator of a daycare business is facing allegations she falsely said she had cancer and scammed donors of tens of thousands of dollars.

'Big Sky' producers recognize Native American criticism

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Native American tribes and advocates are condemning "Big Sky," a Montana-set ABC drama, for ignoring the history of violence inflicted on Indigenous women and instead making whites the crime victims.

Montana launches new hotline to address COVID-19 struggles

HELENA (AP) — A new counseling hotline is available to help Montana residents struggling with their mental health during the COVID-19 crisis, Gov. Steve Bullock announced Tuesday.

Board of Canvassers certifies Montana election results

HELENA — Montana’s 2020 election came to its anticlimactic-but-official end in a mostly empty hearing room Monday as the state Board of Canvassers met in the state Capitol to certify official vote counts.

FWS proposal would list whitebark pines as endangered

BILLINGS (AP) — Climate change, voracious beetles and disease are imperiling the long-term survival of a high-elevation pine tree that's a key source of food for some grizzly bears and found across the U.S. West, U.S. officials said Tuesday.

Officials investigating illegal killing of female grizzly

Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and game wardens with Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks are investigating the illegal killing of a grizzly bear near the Yaak.

Landowners petition state to keep Tepee Lake non-motorized

A group of landowners and stakeholders last week formally petitioned the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks commission to restrict a remote and fishless lake in the North Fork of the Flathead to manually powered boats only.

Ronald Wilson Lockhart, 83

Ronald Wilson Lockhart, 83, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Aug.15, 2020, from heart failure in his home in Murrieta, California.

Co-eds embroiled in kitchen kerfuffle

law roundup

Shirley Ellen Brewer, 86

Shirley Ellen Brewer passed away peacefully on Nov. 26, 2020, in her home in Kalispell.

August James Strobbe, 92

August James Strobbe, born May 8,1928, in Pompeys Pillar, Montana, went to be with the Lord Nov. 28, 2020, just three weeks shy of his and his wife Jeanette's 70th wedding anniversary.

Flathead Community Foundation disbanding, moving assets to Whitefish

The Flathead Community Foundation is disbanding after 15 years and transferring its assets to the much larger Whitefish Community Foundation, a move both organizations say will strengthen local philanthropic efforts, eliminate redundant administrative costs and ensure that funds are distributed according to donors' wishes.

Legals for December, 1 2020

People's Center moving forward with fresh start

When The People’s Center, a cultural museum and gift shop in Pablo that provides education about traditional lifestyles and histories of the Salish, Pend d'Oreille and Kootenai people, was destroyed by arson in September, many artifacts, including beaded buckskin dresses and vests and historic photographs, were destroyed along with the center’s gift shop.

Boat inspections remain steady on Whitefish Lake

About 1,600 boats were inspected for aquatic invasive species this summer at two check stations on Whitefish Lake.