Ellington

Flathead rallies past Gallatin for second win

GREAT FALLS — Alyssa Leimkuehler hit a two-out, two-run single that tied the score at 9-all, and the Flathead Bravettes rallied from an 8-2 deficit to beat Gallatin 12-10 at the Great Falls Crossover softball tournament Saturday.

AA Lakers sweep Senators

A Lakers split; Mariners sweep Libby

The Kalispell AA Lakers got a gem from pitcher Kostya Hoffman Saturday, beating the Helena Senators 5-1 to complete a doubleheader sweep of the defending State AA Legion baseball champions.

Glacier softball picks up two wins in Great Falls

GREAT FALLS — Ella Farrell hit a tie-breaking two-run single in the sixth inning, and picked up the win in relief in Glacier’s 3-1 win over Great Falls High Saturday, at the Crossover softball tournament.

C-Falls’ Moultray throws no-hitter at tourney

FRENCHTOWN — Maddie Moultray threw a six-inning no-hitter Saturday, continuing Columbia Falls strong start to the season with a 10-0 win over Corvallis at the Frenchtown Invitational.

Range Riders start hitting town in a week

First-year Pioneer League team begins season May 23

In one week 45 baseball players, give or take, will be in Kalispell preparing for a short training camp, with the goal of playing in the Pioneer League.

Bobcat linebacker Troy Andersen drafted by Atlanta in 2nd round of 2022 NFL Draft

BOZEMAN — Montana State linebacker Troy Andersen became the second-highest Bobcat ever drafted on Friday when the Atlanta Falcons picked him 58th overall, 26th in the second round.

Two dead after small plane crashes in West Valley

Multiple Flathead County emergency agencies responded to a deadly airplane crash in the West Valley on Saturday morning.

Mother of hit-and-run victim calls for tougher DUI penalties

The mother of the victim of an April 25 hit-and-run says her daughter will make a full recovery, but faces a year of rehabilitation and a potential mountain of medical bills after being struck by an allegedly uninsured drunk driver.

Track: Eureka girls, Libby boys take Lincoln County titles

EUREKA — The Eureka girls, led by Maya Carvey’s three wins, took the top spot at the Lincoln County Meet Thursday, a triangular track and field meet involving Libby and Troy.

Timber harvest proposed along South Fork of Flathead

A 3,776-acre forest project beyond the far reaches of the Hungry Horse Reservoir is out for a second round of public comment.

Private island on Flathead Lake listed for $72 million

The property is the largest private island with a single owner west of the Mississippi River, according to the property listing with Hall and Hall Partners.

Polson, Libby and C-Falls all go 2-0 in Frenchtown

FRENCHTOWN — The Polson battery of pitcher Katelyn Druyvestein and catcher McKenna Hanson teamed up for a one-hitter and combined for six RBIs in the Pirates’ 13-0 win over Corvallis at the Frenchtown Invitational softball tournament Friday.

Polson netters sweep Columbia Falls

POLSON — Polson topped Columbia Falls in tennis duals Thursday, both by scores of 6-1.

Glacier girls top Gallatin at MCPS tennis

MISSOULA — The MCPS Invite got underway Friday, with the Glacier tennis team lining up against Gallatin.

PHOTOS: Third-graders celebrate Arbor Day at Woodland Park

Third-grade students from School District 5 in Kalispell participated in the Arbor Day celebration at Woodland Park on Friday, April 29.

Road work resumes near Glacier Park

Motorists headed to Glacier National Park should expect minor delays as work along U.S. 2 east of Columbia Falls is set to resume next week.

Letters to the editor April 29

Letters to the editor April 29

Karen Jean Scheldorf Morgan, 79

Karen Jean Scheldorf Morgan, devoted mom and nana (aka Nana Montana), passed away at the age of 79 on April 26, 2022, in Bigfork, surrounded by family.

Bigfork Water and Sewer candidate has history of long legal battle with district

A candidate for the Bigfork Water and Sewer District Board has waged a lengthy legal battle with the utility, but says the dispute spurred him to campaign for a seat on the panel.

Law Roundup: Call me maybe, or maybe not

A caller took a rude tone with dispatchers with the Kalispell Police Department while haranguing them about an apparently ongoing civil case. She called them white trash, which dispatchers took offense at and asked her to stop calling them names and refrain from swearing.

Red tape prevents old-growth forest restoration

In celebration of Earth Day last Friday, President Biden signed an executive order aimed at identifying and protecting old-growth forests. Old-growth forests sequester carbon, provide clean air and water and sustain wildlife populations. It’s certainly within human interest to promote the health of these forest ecosystems.

Big US energy transmission projects inch closer to approval

The federal government has finished another environmental review of a proposed transmission line that will carry wind-generated electricity from rural New Mexico to big cities in the West and similar reviews are planned for two more projects that would span parts of Utah and Nevada, the U.S. Interior Department announced Thursday.

Sara Ann 'Sally' Peabody Wagner, 91

Sara Ann “Sally” Peabody Wagner, 91, died March 30, 2022, at her home in Bigfork.

Gary Rhodes, 85

Gary Rhodes went to be with his Lord, while visiting with his family on Sunday, April 24, 2022.

Man accused of hitting pedestrian while driving under the influence

A 21-year-old accused of striking a pedestrian while driving drunk near Somers on April 25 — leaving her in intensive care — now faces felony negligent vehicular assault and misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer charges.

Lakeside missionary group coordinating relief efforts in Ukraine

YWAM's LaDawn Dyck can't wait to get back to Ukraine to help her friends there, but for now she will do what she can from Montana.

Pillans pleads not guilty to rape, sexual assault

William James Pillans, 25, who remains in the county jail on a $200,000 bond, briefly appeared before Judge Amy Eddy in Flathead County District Court on Thursday.

Legals for April, 29 2022

Kernan deals, Allen homers, Glacier wins

MISSOULA — Alli Kernan threw five solid innings and Zoey Allen’s two-run home run highlighted an eight-run sixth inning, as Glacier downed Missoula Hellgate 13-2 in a Western AA softball game Thursday.

We love that Bas-Skee-Ball

Scott Stone was posing for a photograph at “The Hangar,” as they call American Airlines Arena in Dallas, when an employee of the NBA Mavericks found him.

McIntyre hits walk-off HR, Twins top Mariners

WHITEFISH — Jake McIntyre hit a walk-off solo home run to lead off the 10th inning Wednesday, lifting the Glacier Twins over Mission Valley 3-2 in American Legion baseball.

Whitefish sweeps Flathead

Whitefish swept Flathead in a pair of duals Thursday that were made up from a previous cancellation.

Hannah Sempf balances running with flying high in the pole vault

Pole vaulting is an art — athletes need to be strong and spend hours building the muscle memory and technique required to clear the bar while flying through the air. When it all comes together, a good pole vaulter makes it look easy, even though it’s far from it. Hannah Sempf is one of those athletes.

Website doesn't reflect court ruling on voter registration

Montana's Secretary of State's office has yet to update its website to reflect the reinstatement of Election Day voter registration, more than three weeks after a court ruling temporarily blocked a Republican bid to impose more restrictive voting laws.

Signature gathering can continue on property tax initiative

A state judge has ruled a new law that requires Montana's attorney general to warn voters if a proposed ballot initiative would hurt businesses does not apply to ballot measures that would amend the state constitution.

U.S. economy shrinks, threats loom, but growth likely to last

The U.S. economy shrank in the first three months of the year, and faces threats from high inflation and rising interest rates, yet economists foresee a return to growth for the rest of 2022 based on the strength of the job market and consumer spending.

Amazon reports rare quarterly loss as online shopping slows

Amazon reported its first quarterly loss since 2015 on Thursday, its money-making juggernaut stalled by a slowdown in pandemic-induced online shopping and a huge write-down of its investment in an electric-vehicle startup.

Whitefish man arrested following police chase, standoff

Authorities report that a Whitefish man is behind bars following a police chase and armed standoff Wednesday evening in the Halfmoon area near Columbia Falls.

Whitefish school board candidate defends threatening email

A Whitefish School Board trustee candidate is standing behind a profanity-laced email she sent to the school board last year in which she says the board is full of “morons and child abusers.”

Letters to the editor April 28

Letters to the editor April 28

Eureka Community Players take up residence in ‘Almost, Maine’

The Eureka Community Players present the family-friendly “Almost, Maine” by John Cariani Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30, at 7 p.m.; with a matinee at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1.

The economic failures of the Biden administration

When I had the honor of being elected to my first term as chairman of the Montana Republican Party three years ago, the vast majority of Montanans had money in their pockets, gas in their cars, and groceries in their pantries.

The supernatural takes center stage in FHS Theatre’s ‘Ghostlight’

Flathead High School’s Theatre’s Acting 2 Class presents, “Ghostlight,” May 4 and 5 at 6:27 p.m. in the David M. Hashley Theater.

U.S. News ranks Whitefish in top three Montana high schools

Whitefish High School ranked third among its peers in the state this year, according to a U.S. News & World report.

Hockaday exhibit celebrates area high school students

The Hockaday Museum of Art’s exhibition New Artists 2022 highlights artwork by local high school students. The popular annual exhibit, now in its 23rd year, opens May 3, with a free public reception for artists, their families and the public May 5 from 5 to 7 pm.

0428 TWIF briefs

Mizutani presents Opus 4 in The Lord of the Strings concert series Saturday

Master illusionist comes to Whitefish

The Whitefish Theatre Company hosts Arthur Trace and his jaw-dropping magic show “The Artful Deceiver.” Trace will perform one night only on May 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish

Better weather heats up Spring Mack Days

Montana’s spring weather has finally made it. Anglers were relieved to have some calmer sunny days for fishing on Flathead Lake during the sixth weekend of 2022 Spring Mack Days. All three days of the weekend fishing were warmer and the water was more settled.

Wolfpack stages choose-your-own verdict melodrama

The Wolfpack Theatre Company at Glacier High School presents the gripping melodrama “Night of January 16th” by the Advanced Acting Ensemble Class May 3 and 4.

Hypocrites on the left and right

In San Francisco and other cities there is a big homeless issue.

Poll: Older people fret less about aging in place

WASHINGTON (AP) — The older you are, the less you fret about aging in your own home or community.

Law roundup: Retrievers unwelcome visit not a golden moment

A golden retriever allegedly bared its teeth at a Bigfork woman when she got home.

Caretaker arrested after allegedly planning to steal from dementia patient

A Columbia Falls caretaker who planned to steal from his elderly dementia patient was foiled by a surveillance camera, prosecutors say.

Council seeks more information before moving on traffic calming policy

After discussing the draft policy on traffic calming measures during its work session meeting, Council asked city staff for additional information before moving forward. One area of concern from Council and the public seemed to be that the policy focuses on addressing vehicle speed, but not the volume of traffic on a street that can impact a neighborhood.

Bigfork Community Players’ Sherlock Holmes parody in final weekend

The Bigfork Community Players present their final weekend of their parody of the Sherlock Holmes classic “The Hound of the Baskervilles.”

Legals for April, 28 2022

Hemsley, Walburn help Carroll win Frontier men’s track

GREAT FALLS — Carroll College ran away with the Frontier Conference men’s track and field title Wednesday, and a host of athletes from around the Flathead Valley led the way.

Authorities identify victim in Snow Slip Inn shooting

Authorities identified Jeremy McKenzie as the 36-year-old man killed in an alleged shooting at the Snow Slip Inn near Essex on April 16, saying he died after a fight with another man.

Rose Valeria (LaChambre) Sweetser, 94

Rose Valeria (LaChambre) Sweetser, 94, of Kalispell, passed away April 21, 2022, due to natural causes.

Arbor Day celebrations center around trees

The idea for Arbor Day originated in Nebraska in 1872, and is now widely celebrated in all 50 states, as well as internationally.

Law roundup: Washed checks still not clean of fraud

Three washed checks cashed at a location remained dirty to an account manager who called the Kalispell Police Department to report the fraudulent activity.

Children removed from Polson homes during drug sweep

Multiple area law enforcement agencies converged on three Polson homes April 25 as part of a drug bust that netted 13 arrests and facilitated the removal of two children into state care.

Grant awarded to Flathead Youth Home

Whitefish Community Foundation has awarded a grant to Flathead Youth Home in Kalispell to support a new Youth Advocate position.

Bio station director Jim Elser joins National Academy of Sciences

After a two-year pandemic delay, researcher Jim Elser finally will attend his official induction ceremony for the National Academy of Sciences during the NAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Friday, April 29.

Charles L. Guldner, 82

Charles L. Guldner, 82, of Bigfork, passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

Man accused of holding up C-Falls pharmacy brought up on federal charge

The Columbia Falls man accused of holding up a pharmacy at gunpoint earlier this month made his first appearance in federal court this week.

LaVern Mae Kemp, 84

LaVern Mae Kemp passed peacefully surrounded by family on April 23, 2022.

LaVera Corrine (Mahoney) Morton, 89

LaVera Corrine (Mahoney) Morton went to be with her Lord and Savior Feb. 16, 2022, due to cardiac arrest.

Nate Robert Spoklie, 18

Nate Robert Spoklie, 18, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 14, 2022, with one of his best friends by his side.

Early visitation numbers indicate another busy year for Glacier

While down compared to last year, Glacier National Park visitation has seen its second-highest totals ever through the first three months of 2022.

Legals for April, 27 2022

Man allegedly threatened to kill cannabis store employee during robbery

A man who allegedly threatened to kill a cannabis store employee in Evergreen unless she gave him marijuana earlier this month is being held in the county jail on a $77,000 bond.

Timber sale proposed near Swan Lake

A new forest project is planned on 22,738 acres of state land straddling Montana 83 in Lake County.

Forestry expo set for May 2-7

The hands-on Family Forestry Expo at Columbia Falls is scheduled for May 2-7, with the theme of “Forests-Landscapes of Many Uses.”

Three Valley athletes win gold at Pilcher Top 10 meet

MISSOULA — Taliana Miller of Flathead, Gabe Menicke of Whitefish and Jack Jensen of Bigfork all won events at the 22nd Russ Pilcher Top 10 Meet, held Tuesday at MCPS Stadium.

Broncs softball edges Pirates in 8

FRENCHTOWN — Cassidy Bagnell scored on a wild pitch in the eighth inning Tuesday to give Frenchtown a 3-2 win over Polson in a Class A softball showdown and pitcher’s duel.

Bigfork’s Berreth signs with Rocky

BILLINGS — Bigfork basketball standout Emma Berreth has signed to play with the Rocky Mountain College women’s team, Battlin’ Bears coach Wes Keller announced Tuesday.

Bockus-led Browning boys and host Eureka girls win Top 8

EUREKA — The Eureka girls and Browning boys were the victors Tuesday, at the Top 8 Northwest ABC meet hosted Tuesday by Lincoln County High School.

Man arrested following barricade situation near Flathead River Bridge

A transient man faces resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer after a check on an illegally parked motor home on Montana 35 turned into a barricade situation April 26.

U.S. decides to limit leasing in Alaska petroleum reserve

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Interior Department has issued a decision to limit roughly half the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to oil and gas leasing. The decision rolls back an approach taken by the prior Trump administration, and it drew criticism from Alaska's U.S. senators.

Canada lynx protections deal sealed by US, environmentalists

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. wildlife officials have agreed to craft a new habitat plan for the snow-loving Canada lynx that could include more land in Colorado and other western states where the rare animals would be protected, according to a legal agreement made public Tuesday.

Nonprofit leader steps into library foundation role

A seasoned nonprofit leader has been tapped as the new executive director of the ImagineIF Library Foundation. Adam Tunnell has worked with local organizations since 2009 and is also a former board member and treasurer of the library foundation.

Law roundup: Squirrel suspected of setting off alarm

A burglary alarm was set off and a squirrely squirrel was the suspected culprit.

New Glacier Park Conservancy license plates hit the streets

After two decades featuring the same design, Montana’s Glacier National Park Conservancy license plate has a new look for 2022.

Legals for April, 26 2022

Crossing the finish line — Cross country program provides competition to kindergarten through eighth-graders

Hundreds of kindergarten through-eighth cross country runners and families descended on the Evergreen Jr. High field for the first meet of the season on April 5.

Alleged shoplifting spree lands three in county jail

A trio of women face multiple felony charges after they allegedly twice went on a shoplifting spree — one successful, the other less so — during a three day period earlier this month.

Letters to the editor April 26

Letters to the editor April 26

Accused child abuser sentenced for criminal endangerment

Flathead County District Court Judge Robert Allison handed down a five year sentence — with two years suspended — to Taylor Silva, 26, of Kalispell on April 21.

Dalton’s Garage offers vehicle repair right in Evergreen

Dalton’s Garage opened in February at 128 Springcreek Drive in Evergreen

Group claims fee scheme forces those awaiting trial into poverty

A possible class-action lawsuit filed in federal court against Ravalli County claims that officials there have run what amounts to debtor’s prison that preys on indigent and poor people, making it more likely they’ll reoffend or stay in poverty.

Flathead, Bigfork battle it out on tennis courts

White, Kersten claim victories at No. 1 singles

Elon Musk has an agreement to acquire Twitter for about $44B

Billionaire Elon Musk has reached an agreement to acquire Twitter for approximately $44 billion, the company said.

Steps of Justice Crossfit works to show kids ‘they can do hard things’

Ready to move and test their limits, more than a dozen kids run into the Steps of Justice Crossfit session in Evergreen.

A devoted life — Master violinist Wai Mizutani retraces his journey to the Flathead Valley

A child prodigy in his homeland China, renowned violinist Wai Mizutani has performed worldwide with distinguished orchestras, at famed venues and shared the stage with a myriad of luminaries.

Law roundup: Dog walk interrupted by woman’s accusation

A woman, who appeared intoxicated, reportedly yelled from her balcony at another woman out walking her dog, saying, “Don’t talk to my husband like that, or I’ll beat your (expletive).”

Letters to the editor April 25

Letters to the editor April 25

Kalispell Council talks traffic at work session

Implementing traffic calming measures — such as reducing street widths and adding traffic circles — will be the topic of discussion at the Kalispell City Council’s work session on Monday.

Legals for April, 25 2022

Mariners split in Florence

Lakers A split with Missoula

Bozeman providing services to unhoused where they are

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Isaac Ochoa was on his way to Texas from Spokane, Washington, in 2021 when a car wreck on I-90 near Livingston landed him in southwest Montana.

Christopher Patrick Wallace, 55

Christopher Patrick Wallace passed away on April 16, 2022, at the age of 55.

Joan ‘Jo’ Lucille Soller Beck, 91

On Thursday afternoon, April 14, 2022, Joan “Jo” Lucille Soller Beck, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, passed away in the presence of her loving family at the age of 91.

Rosie Mae Swisher King, 96

passed away April 16, 2022, four days before her 97th birthday.

Mary E. Low, 95

Mary E. Low, 95, went home to be with the Lord on April 18, 2022, at the Whitefish Care and Rehab.

Flathead Business Newsmakers

Highlights from Flathead Valley businesses

Law roundup: Speeding teens take man for a ride

A man purportedly put his dog away and decided to get in his truck and follow teens speeding down his street when they didn’t heed his request to slow down. He claimed

Glacier Ace Hardware looks to revitalize store

Big changes are coming to the Glacier Ace Hardware in Evergreen. Formerly the Cardinal True Value Hardware store, the business was purchased by Livingston’s Matthew Dowdell and Tom Shellenberg in November 2021 and is in the process of being converted into an Ace location.

Developer moves apartment building to Evergreen

Brett Kelly has a unique solution to the local housing crunch: he simply picked up an apartment building and transported it to Evergreen. Kelly took a prefabricated 20,000-square-foot apartment building out of North Dakota and relocated it to 1245 U.S. 2 East throughout the past year.

Applied Materials moving into former Shopko store

Applied Materials is on track to start operating in its new Evergreen building this month, according to Ricky Gradwohl, Applied Materials' senior director of communications.

Stockman Bank honored by Forbes

Stockman Bank has been honored by Forbes on its list of the World’s Best Banks for 2022.

MDT begins road painting projects

The Montana Department of Transportation expects road painting to begin this week on stretches of U.S. 93 north of Whitefish to the Canada border and on Montana 37 from the junction of U.S. 93 south to Libby.

Flathead Business Watercooler

Events regarding local business

Former teammates back together at Columbia Falls physical therapy clinic

Nick Emerson and Devyn Rocker won a state A basketball championship as teammates 11 years ago for Columbia Falls. Today, they’re working together again as physical therapists at Berube Physical Therapy in Columbia Falls.

Report: ‘Yellowstone’ TV series injects $70 million in state economy

Report: ‘Yellowstone’ TV series injects $70 million in state economy

New chef draws on Mexican heritage

Christian Ochoa didn’t always dream of cooking for a living. The new chef at Whitefish Handcrafted Spirits originally hoped to be a neurosurgeon.

Book looks at the impact of Depression-area program in Glacier Park

The Civilian Conservation Corps was created by an act of Congress on March 30, 1933. It was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal designed to help bring the country out of the Great Depression.

Facing a water quality problem in public schools, state should ward against being led astray

As far as the EPA is concerned, there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. And for good reason.

Letters to the editor April 24

Letters to the editor April 24

Levy will support a strong community and strong schools

It’s been an amazing two years since I took over as superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools.

Supreme Court to hear case tribes fear is a threat to sovereignty

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a dispute over a 44-year-old law that prioritizes placement of Native children in the foster system with extended family or Native communities whenever possible.

Look to nuclear and coal for Montana’s energy needs

Energy is the lifeblood of human civilization and progress. Transportation, manufacturing, the internet, heated homes, clean drinking water, agricultural production, and almost every other vital component of our modern lives relies on having consistent and reliable access to energy.

To protect our parks, invest in infrastructure

National Park Week began April 16, a timely reminder to get outdoors and appreciate the beauty that God bestowed upon our country and in particular, Montana.

Nate Robert Spoklie, 18

Nate Robert Spoklie, 18, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 14, 2022, with one of his best friends by his side.

Ronald C. Young, 76

Ronald “Ron” Clarence Young, 76, of Joliet, Montana, passed away on April 15, 2022, due to heart failure.

Rose Helene Loy Doney, 83

Surrounded by family at her home on Whitefish Lake, our beloved Helene passed away April 15, 2022, after suffering for several years with dementia.

Legals for April, 24 2022

For officeholders, the ears have it

The 2022 race for Flathead County commissioner has four contenders in the upcoming election. What makes it such a hot seat? I also wondered, What does a county commissioner do all day?

Polson considers youth curfew law

The city of Polson took a step Monday night toward reinstating a curfew ordinance for juveniles that was erroneously removed from the books five years ago.

Twins beat Cranbrook in walkover, 13-3

WHITEFISH — The Glacier Twins managed just four hits, but didn’t need any to score nine first-inning runs in a 13-3 Legion baseball win over Cranbrook, B.C. on Saturday.

Whitefish selects Bollweg as next football coach

Whitefish High School selected its next football coach Thursday, and the backstory for Brett Bollweg lines up nicely with the man he’s replacing.

Kersten, Knutson third at Western Conference tennis

Rain washed out some of the later rounds of tennis at the Western AA Conference Invite at FVCC Saturday, but a few winners were crowned before the weather came.

Legion preview: New faces for Lakers, Twins

Legion baseball season, whether you were ready or not, has begun in Northwest Montana and at this early, wind-whipped moment one thing is clear: The Mission Valley Mariners are salty.

Whitefish girls cruise, boys second at Iceberg

COLUMBIA FALLS — Hailey Ells and Erin Wilde won two events each, and the Whitefish girls cruised to the team title at the Iceberg Invitational track and field meet Saturday. Wilde, a senior, cleared a career-best 5 feet, 5 ½ inches to win the high jump, which is the best mark in Class A, and won the long jump with a leap of 16-9. That sits third in A.

PHOTOS: Good boys and girls of the Flathead Kennel Club's Canine Expo

Scenes from the Flathead Kennel Club's Canine Expo at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center in Kalispell on Saturday, April 23. The event featured vendors, demonstrations, speakers, canine sports, food and a chance to meet different breeds of dogs.

$19.3M pegged for wildfire mitigation on Kootenai Forest

A swath of Northwest Montana pegged for forestry work aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire is among a handful of similar projects across the West selected for an initial surge of federal dollars.

State officials issue warning regarding bird flu

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been sweeping across dozens of states and has been confirmed in Montana. The avian flu is very contagious and very deadly in domestic poultry flocks, warned veterinarian Marty Zaluski from the Montana Department of Livestock.

Erickson, Sempf help Wildkats to third in Corvallis

CORVALLIS — Hannah Sempf and Siri Erickson were double winners for Columbia Falls at the Sapphire Twilight Meet to help the Wildkats to a third place overall finish Thursday.

Butte downs Wolfpack, 4-1

Butte pitcher Ashlinn Mullaney held the Glacier offense to four hits and the Bulldogs downed the host Wolfpack 4-1 in a Western AA softball game Friday.

C-Falls softball downs Polson, 14-4

POLSON — Kyrah Trenkle had three hits, and she and Abbie Darsow hit home runs to lead Columbia Falls to a 14-4 Northwest A softball win over Polson Friday night.

Wolfpack boys win Dahlberg Invite

BUTTE — It was a fast track in Butte Friday, and the Glacier boys were the fastest.

California man gets life in prison in Montana deputy's death

A California man was sentenced Friday to life in prison without parole for his role in the death of a Montana sheriff's deputy, who prosecutors said was shot by the defendant's son after being provoked into a high-speed chase.

Sun Road hiker-biker access opens to the Loop

Hikers and bikers in Glacier National park can go as far as the Loop this weekend on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Blizzard warning for parts of Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana

Heavy snow and strong gusty winds will whip up blizzard conditions for parts of several states this weekend, including the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana, according to forecasters.

2022 school board candidate profiles

Editor's note: The Daily Inter Lake reached out to school board candidates asking them to participate in filling out a bio. Below is information supplied by candidates and was edited for punctuation and format.

Judge blocks Montana's transgender birth certificate law

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Montana judge on Thursday temporarily blocked enforcement of a law that required transgender people to have undergone a "surgical procedure" before being allowed to change their sex on their birth certificates.

Legals for April, 22 2022

Tensions flare in Bigfork over proposed school math curriculum

Concerned parents and community members criticized members of the Bigfork School Board at a fiery special meeting on Monday for not having enough parent input into the district’s curriculum choices.

County’s new North Complex building opens on North Main

The Flathead County North Complex includes the offices for the Flathead County Treasurer, Superintendent of Schools and Family Court Services, and following the primary election in June will also be home to the Flathead County Elections department.

Fetching up a good time, dog expo Saturday at fairgrounds

Saturday may very well be going to the dogs in Kalispell as the Flathead Kennel Club hosts its 2022 K-9 Expo at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

History group presentation focuses on prehistoric lake

The Northwest Montana Posse of Westerners history organization’s next meeting will be Monday, April 25. Posse member Jim Sheldon of Missoula will present “After the Dam, Rush to the Gorge'' when the posse resumes hosting its popular series on Glacial Lake Missoula.

Law Roundup: Stakeout uncessary after key produced for vehicle

Did he lose his keys or something more ominous? That was the concern of a person who called the Kalispell Police Department while watching a man in a hooded sweatshirt trying to get into a blue Volkswagen.

Glacier surges past Flathead

First the Flathead Bravettes had a big inning, and then the Glacier Wolfpack had a bigger one. When the mud settled, Glacier had a rainy crosstown softball win Thursday, 17-6 over the Bravettes on the Wolfpack’s field.

Halt Cancer at X awards $50K grant for early breast cancer detection

KALISPELL — Researchers from the Mayo Clinic seeking to better understand genetic mutations that increase risk for breast cancer received a $50,000 grant from Halt Cancer at X to advance their work.

C-Falls tennis dual almost washed out

COLUMBIA FALLS — Rainy weather mostly foiled the Columbia Falls and Polson tennis dual Thursday, but a few matches finished before the storm rolled in.

Bird flu drives free-range hens indoors to protect poultry

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Is it OK for free-range chickens to not range freely?

State hospital administrator out after federal funding loss

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The administrator of Montana's state psychiatric hospital is leaving his post amid the facility's loss of Medicare and Medicaid funding for repeated failures to meet health and safety standards, the state health department said Thursday.

Commissioners interview health officer candidate

The sole candidate for public health officer in Flathead County says he’d have a “hard learning curve” ahead of him if offered the job, but that he’s be up for the task.

Ferguson arraigned on attempted deliberate homicide charge

The 35-year-old accused of stabbing another man in the throat with a box cutter during a bar fight earlier this month has pleaded not guilty to attempted deliberate homicide.

Mizutani presents Opus 4 of The Lord of the Strings concert series

Mizutani presents Opus 4 of The Lord of the Strings concert series

Man stole industrial vacuum from car wash, authorities say

A man who allegedly stole an industrial vacuum cleaner from a Kalispell car wash April 14 faces a felony criminal mischief charge in Flathead County District Court.

GSC’s Spring Festival showcases Mozart and Mahler

The 39th season of the Glacier Symphony and Chorale continues its celebration of the 25th anniversary of the leadership of Maestro John Zoltek as music director and conductor and will feature both the orchestra and chorale, as well as distinguished guest soloists in two weekend performances of monumental works in the classical music repertoire.

Senators wolf column ignores vitriol toward the species

Gray wolves in the Northern Rockies need federal protection to stave off the onslaught of measures the states have passed to kill as many as possible.

Letters to the editor April 21

Letters to the editor April 21

Legals for April, 21 2022

Konen returns to Flathead as incoming principal of Columbia Falls High School

The Columbia Falls High School has a new principal in Jon Konen.

ATP Kids presents ‘RENT — The School Edition’

Alpine Theatre Project’s ATP Kids program brings to the stage the Pulitzer Prize winning musical phenomenon “Rent — The School Edition” April 29 and May 1 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, 127 Spokane Ave., in Whitefish.

Port Polson Players presents comedy classic

Port Polson Players, in association with Mission Valley Friends of the Arts, presents the comedy classic “The Curious Savage” on two weekends.

Public education is a national birthright

Located directly between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, Montanans are proud to recognize our land of natural splendors as the nation’s “last best place.”

Daines returns from Ukraine calling for more aid, and more quickly

Fresh off a tour of the recently liberated suburbs of Kyiv, Sen. Steve Daines called for the U.S. to more quickly ship lethal aid to Ukraine, reestablish a diplomatic presence there and welcome refugees from the war-ravaged nation at home.

Recovery center for wild birds braces for avian flu

Three quarantine cages sit empty, but prepared to receive occupants on the edges of the Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center on the east side of Kalispell.

Kalispell man accused of selling stolen firearms

A Kalispell man is being held on a $25,000 bond for allegedly stealing and selling three firearms from a house guest in 2021.

Events for April 21

WTC’s community adult prom is this Friday

History Museum screens romantic comedy ‘High Society’

The Northwest Montana History Museum will screen the 1956 romantic comedy “High Society” at the next Movie Night at the Museum beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 26.

Bigfork Community Players stage hilarious parody of Sherlock Holmes classic

Early in the 20th century, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the third of his four Sherlock Holmes mysteries, “The Hound of the Baskervilles.”

Spartans down Flathead softball

MISSOULA — Stella Summerfield threw a five-inning one-hitter for Missoula Sentinel, and the Spartans downed Flathead 21-1 in softball Wednesday with walks and a handful of hits.

Strong shoulders: Labrum hopes Wolfpack can turn softball season around

Sammie Labrum has a solid softball name, and it makes sense that as a senior she’s shouldering more of a leadership role for the Glacier Wolfpack softball squad.

Bigfork boys, Whitefish girls win Bigfork Invitational

BIGFORK — Bigfork won the boys team title at its own Bigfork Invitational track and field meet Tuesday, but a lot of the big marks belonged to Whitefish.

Flathead netters top C-Falls

Alexis Kersten’s singles victory highlighted a Flathead tennis dual win over Columbia Falls Tuesday.

Vals, Vikes split Tuesday tennis duals

BIGFORK — Bigfork split in tennis duals Tuesday, against Valley Christian and Missoula Loyola.

Windstorm topples 100-foot tree onto Whitefish home

A large tree fell onto a home in Whitefish on Tuesday evening while the occupants were inside, but no injuries were sustained.

2 men banned from hunting after Yellowstone grizzly poached

Two Idaho men have been sentenced to jail time and banned from hunting for years after pleading guilty to poaching a grizzly bear near Yellowstone National Park.

Poll seeking special session on election integrity fails

Montana lawmakers have rejected an attempt to call a special legislative session to investigate the state's election processes amid continued false claims by former President Donald Trump and his supporters that the 2020 election was stolen.

Justice Dept. to appeal order voiding travel mask mandate

The Justice Department is filing an appeal seeking to overturn a judge's order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes and trains and in travel hubs, officials said Wednesday.

Oregon wolf population flounders after poaching, car crashes

The growth of Oregon's wolf population slowed significantly last year because 21 animals were poisoned by poachers, hit by cars or were killed by wildlife officials after they attacked livestock, state wildlife authorities said Wednesday.

84-year-old Montana woman dies after being mauled by dogs

A Billings woman has died of injuries suffered when she was attacked by three dogs earlier this month, police said.

Data flag Lincoln County sinks in school lead exposures

Nearly half of all classroom sinks tested in Lincoln County schools require action to remove unsafe levels of lead in drinking water, according to the Department of Environmental Quality.

As shares plunge, Netflix takes aim at password sharing

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A sharp drop in subscribers sent Netflix shares into freefall Wednesday, forcing the company to consider experimenting with ads and -- hold onto your remote -- cracking down on millions of freeloaders who use passwords shared by friends or family.

Massage therapists sue City of Billings for violating their constitutional rights

A group of massage therapists is suing the City of Billings because it says new laws aimed at protecting victims of sex trafficking are violating their constitutional rights, forcing them to choose between a paycheck or their freedom.

BLM releases 3,400 acres for oil and gas leasing in Montana and North Dakota

The Bureau of Land Management has fired up its oil and gas leasing system again in Montana. The restart follows a hiatus that was initiated last January when President Joe Biden placed a moratorium on federal oil and gas leasing while the White House reviewed the practice’s contribution to climate change. BLM’s regional office announced the new sale April 18, characterizing the move as a response to a federal court order that reversed Biden’s moratorium.

Law Roundup: Man has TV forensic show expectations

A Bigfork man may be watching too many forensic and crime dramas on TV when he reportedly expected Flathead County Sheriff’s Office to do some kind of forensic investigation on a picture on his phone because he thought it was a fake photo and didn’t look like what someone told him.

Legals for April, 20 2022

Jason W. Green, 44

Jason W. Green, 44

Kalispell approves grant request from neighborhood

Kalispell City Council on Monday approved a grant application that could allow for a South Woodland Drive community to connect to the city’s sewer system.

Polson native Beatrix Frissell earns Truman Scholarship at UM

There are 58 names on the list for the prestigious Truman Scholarship this year out of more than 700 applicants.

Melva June (Nebeker) McClain, 86

Melva June (Nebeker) McClain, 86

ADI Builders owner sentenced for wire fraud

The owner of a Flathead County construction company who took customers’ money and spent it on personal expenses, including leasing a racetrack and buying car racing trophies, was sentenced to 70 months behind bars in federal court Tuesday.

Claire Belle Simons, 89

Claire Belle Simons

Roundup for Safety awards 10 community grants

Roundup for Safety awards 10 community grants

Fusaro returns to Kalispell Public Schools as new assistant superintendent

Peter Fusaro, director of Trades and Industrial Arts at Flathead Valley Community College, will replace Kalispell Public Schools’ outgoing assistant superintendent Callie Langohr.

[Mary] Joan Davis-Gause, 94

[Mary] Joan Davis-Gause, 94

Ashley Chantel Jensen, 33

Ashley Chantel Jensen

Craver, Vessar lead Bravettes to first win

MISSOULA — Macy Craver had three hits and scored three runs, Laynee Vessar drove in four runs and Flathead picked up its first softball win of 2022 Tuesday, beating Missoula Hellgate 12-6.

Big rally paves way for Big Sky’s win over Glacier

MISSOULA — Missoula Big Sky’s 8-run second inning doomed the Glacier Wolfpack Tuesday, in a 10-7 Western AA loss to the Eagles on Big Sky’s field.

Ells, Glacier boys prevail at end of long day

Flathead Bravettes forge a split of crosstown track

Sam Ells is used to long days, and Tuesday was one of those for the Glacier distance standout: The crosstown track and field dual with Flathead gave him a late-May menu with swirling winds to boot.

Glacier netters top Columbia Falls in windy dual

Netters from Glacier and Columbia Falls braved high winds out on the FVCC courts on Tuesday in a dual made up from last week.

Maas pleads not guilty to deliberate homicide

Zackary Matthew Maas pleaded not guilty to felony deliberate homicide Tuesday in his first court appearance since the man he allegedly shot in the back succumbed to his injuries.

Lonepine woman, child killed in Sanders County crash

A woman and child were killed Monday morning in Sanders County after their vehicle ran a stop sign and was hit by a semi-truck.

Officials ID Swan Lake kayakers who died after capsizing

Officials on Tuesday released the names of two Flathead County residents who died in a kayaking accident in northwestern Montana last week.

Blacktail ski area to re-open Saturday

Blacktail Mountain will spin its chair lifts for another weekend, the ski area announced Tuesday.

Road work planned along Parkline Trail

Road crews in Kalispell on Wednesday will be striping and painting crosswalks for the Parkline Trail.

Biden finalizes rule restoring broad review of big projects

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is restoring federal regulations guiding environmental reviews of major infrastructure projects such as highways and pipelines that were scaled back by the Trump administration in a bid to fast-track the projects.

Court ruling creates mishmash of transportation mask rules

A decision by a federal judge in Florida to throw out a national mask mandate for public transportation across the U.S. created a confusing patchwork of rules for passengers as they navigate airports and transit systems.

Johanna Louise 'Jan' Hardesty, 66

Johanna Louise “Jan” Hardesty, 66

Letters to the editor April 19

Letters to the editor April 19

Gary H. Brothers, 82

Gary H. Brothers, 82, of Hamilton, Montana, peacefully passed away on April 15, 2022, after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Law roundup: Man strikes out with alleged threats

Kalispell Police Department received a report that a man was allegedly yelling and threatening people with a bat, which he was slamming into the ground.

‘Dr. Phil’ show to shine light back on mysterious deaths of two local children

Story.It's been nearly 12 years since the unexplained deaths of Darby Hodges and Kiera Pulaski, but former Flathead Valley resident Cheryl Hodges refuses to give up hope of getting answers — and justice — for her grandson and his stepsister.

Legals for April, 19 2022

School success is community success

If you could do only one thing to renew your faith in our community it would be taking a tour through Kalispell high schools.

Kalispell man accused of sexually assaulting teen girls at party

Prosecutors allege that a 25-year-old who passed himself off as a teenager at an underage Halloween party last year raped one girl and sexually assaulted two others.

Mariners hold off AA Lakers in 9th

Dylan Davis has three hits, two RBI for Mission Valley

Board to interview health officer applicant

The Flathead City-County Board of Health is slated to interview today the lone candidate for the health department’s soon-to-be-vacant health officer position.

One dead in alleged shooting near Essex

Deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office are investigating an alleged shooting inside The Snowslip Inn near Essex over the weekend.

Bodies of 2 teenage kayakers recovered in Swan Lake

Search teams have recovered the bodies of two teenagers who went missing after their kayak capsized in a lake in northwestern Montana last week, officials said Monday.

Bodies of teenage kayakers recovered in Swan Lake

SWAN LAKE (AP) — Search teams have recovered the body of one of two teenagers who went missing after their kayak capsized in Swan Lake in northwestern Montana last week, Lake County official said Monday.

Whitefish Council looks at requests from businesses

Whitefish City Council on Monday will hear from two businesses — one looking to open in a new location and the other looking to expand in its current location.

Kalispell Schools new suicide prevention specialist focuses on health, wellness

Serving as the Kalispell Public Schools new health, wellness and suicide prevention specialist, Ben Dorrington has been examining the best ways to serve students, staff and parents.

Letters to the editor April 18

Letters to the editor April 18

Shirley Lee Hamilton, 78

Shirley Lee Hamilton, 78, died at the Buffalo Hill Retreat Center on Friday, April 9th, 2022, at 5:41 p.m.

Kalispell Council considers neighborhood’s grant request

Kalispell City Council on Monday will officially consider a request to submit a grant application on behalf of a resident-owned manufactured home community that is looking to connect to city sewer system.

Legals for April, 18 2022

Law roundup: 'Shifty figure' suspected of casing houses

Someone called the Kalispell Police Department to report a “shifty figure,” wearing a hoodie.

Emergency responders making house calls to reduce 911 calls

ENNIS, Mont. (AP) — It's not an emergency, it's a house call. Madison Valley Medical Center first responder Corey Siders recently knocked on the front door of an Ennis home, just to check on 91-year-old Robert Kensinger.

Local master woodcarver's work depicts disciples

In the Gospel of Luke, they were called to be ‘fishers of men’ Local master carver’s woodcarvings depict them in linden wood

Judicial activism at work in recent court ruling

“The Legislature shall provide by law the requirements for residence, registration, absentee voting, and administration of elections.” It doesn’t get much clearer than that line in Article IV, Section 3 of Montana’s Constitution.

Henry John Hebing, 66

In December of 1978, Henry arrived in Whitefish after a harrowing drive across Eastern Montana on roads, he said, were snow packed and icy for 500 miles, to find work as a carpenter and ski Big Mountain.

Legals for April, 17 2022

Recreational cannabis sales off to a booming start

Recreational cannabis revenue in Montana is exceeding projections — by a wide margin.

Know the consequences of CI-121

Know the consequences before signing the petition to put CI-121 on the November ballot.

Letters to the editor April 17

Letters to the editor April 17

Hazel Harness, 94

Funeral service for Hazel Harness, 94 year old lifetime Flathead County Resident who passed away quietly at her home in Kila on Sunday the 10th of April, will be held Saturday, April 23rd at 2:00 p.m. at the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel in Kalispell with Reverend Mike Mattocks officiating.

Law roundup: Driver takes one-way their own way

A loud car allegedly drove by fishtailing, sliding and “doing cookies” in the road.

Children’s consignment boutique opens inside mall

Looking to expand her business, Leesa Blackwood reopened her children’s clothing store this month inside the Kalispell Center Mall. Helen Dean is a children’s consignment boutique that offers gently used children’s apparel and toys.

Building permits

Building permits for the month of March for the cities of Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish

John T. Bowdish, 90

John T. Bowdish was born April 21, 1931, during the peak of America’s deepest Depression.

Junell (Sletvold) Gates , 65

Junell Gates (Nee Sletvold), 65, of Kalispell passed away on April 8, 2022, at her home.

In pursuit of rare owls in Glacier National Park

Biologists know great gray and boreal owls live in Glacier National Park. Finding them is another matter altogether.

Flathead Business Watercooler

Business events, trainings and seminars

What is Gianforte’s plan to save Montana State Hospital?

I have been the executive director of National Alliance on Mental Illness Montana since 2008.

Spartan Race next month expected to again provide economic impact

Providing an economic boost each year, the Montana Spartan Race is set to return for its ninth year to the shores of Flathead Lake on May 7 and May 8.

John 'Jack' Robert Perry, 82

John “Jack” Robert Perry, 82, passed away April 10, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas.

Food, a universal human right

I had intended this column to be about my memories of Easter Sunday growing up in Columbus, Ohio.

Polson shuts out Libby

LIBBY — Katelyn Druyvestein threw a 5-hit shutout and had four hits from her leadoff spot, leading Polson over Libby 10-0 in Northwest A softball Saturday.

Zetooney zooms to second at MCPS Invitational

MISSOULA — The weather hasn’t cooperated very well with Montana’s spring sports, but on Saturday, a handful of Whitefish Bulldogs were able to hit the track for a second time.

Bigfork sweeps Dilly Bar titles

RONAN — Bigfork’s big numbers and impressive speed led to a sweep of the Dilly Bar Invitational Saturday.

Highly contagious bird flu found in 2 Idaho chicken flocks

A highly contagious form of avian influenza has been found in two Idaho chicken flocks, prompting state agriculture officials to warn bird owners to take extra protections when interacting with their flocks.

PHOTOS: Easter egg hunt at Lone Pine State Park

Families scooped up Easter eggs hidden along a short loop trail at Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell on Saturday, April 16.

Sun Road plows at west side tunnel

Glacier National Park plow crews have made it to the west side tunnel on Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Park Service reported Friday.

White House Easter Egg Roll returns after 2-year hiatus

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House hopes to stir up some "egg-citement" when the Easter Egg Roll returns on Monday after a two-year, coronavirus-induced hiatus.

Man shot by deputies in 2021 sentenced in Lincoln County to five years behind bars

The man shot by a Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy during an early 2021 domestic call was sentenced Monday to five years in state prison, minus time already served.

A year in, Montana’s rolled-back public health powers leave some areas in limbo

A year after a new Montana law stripped local health boards of their rulemaking authority, confusion and power struggles are creating a patchwork oversight system that may change how public health is administered long after the pandemic is over.

Report: Montana Medicaid reduced ER visits, charity care, leaned into telehealth

A groundbreaking study released Thursday showed that many of Montana’s greatest hopes about how Medicaid expansion could benefit the state have turned out to be true, and in some cases, better than expected.

Work on U.S. 2 near Marion begins Monday

A project to repair and replace multiple culverts on U.S. 2 southwest of Marion is slated to begin April 18.

Glacier drops pair to Helena schools

Glacier lost a pitchers’ duel to Helena Capital, then got out-hit by Helena High, dropping a pair of Western AA softball games at the Glacier High fields.

Bruins, Bengals shut out Bravettes

Helena Capital and Helena High each pitched shutouts at Kidsports Friday, in wins over the Flathead Bravettes in Western AA softball.

Whitefish, C-Falls split in Cat-Dog dual

WHITEFISH — The Whitefish track team finally got its season started Thursday in a meet with Columbia Falls that was put together earlier in the week.

Browning drops opener to Libby

LIBBY — Destinee Crawford tripled and drove in five runs and Paislee MacDonald threw four innings of one-hit ball as Libby downed Browning 23-4 in a Northwest A softball game shortened by the mercy rule.

Gone from KPD, county commissioner candidate Parce under review by state bureau

Jason Parce, who has made his career in local law enforcement a tentpole of his campaign for the Flathead County Commission, no longer works as a police officer for the Kalispell Police Department and is under review by the state bureau that oversees public safety officer certification.

Putin's Pollock: U.S. seafood imports fuel Russian war machine

MIAMI (AP) — A U.S. ban on seafood imports from Russia over its invasion of Ukraine was supposed to sap billions of dollars from Vladimir Putin's war machine.

Biden increases crude oil royalty rate, scales back leases

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Biden administration is sharply raising rates for royalties companies pay on oil and natural gas extracted from federal lands as it moves forward under court order with sales of public fossil fuel reserves in nine states, Interior Department officials said Friday.

Highly contagious bird flu found in 2 Idaho chicken flocks

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A highly contagious form of avian influenza has been found in two Idaho chicken flocks, prompting state agriculture officials to warn bird owners to take extra protections when interacting with their flocks.

C-Falls man charged with homicide after shooting victim dies

Prosecutors filed a deliberate homicide charge against Zachary Matthew Maas on Friday after the man he allegedly shot in March succumbed to his injuries in King County, Washington.

Montana unemployment falls to record low 2.3% in March

Montana's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped 0.3 percentage points in March to 2.3% as it continued to hit new record lows, Gov. Greg Gianforte said Friday.

Yellowstone National Park culls just 49 bison this winter

Forty-nine Yellowstone National Park bison were shipped to slaughter, killed by hunters or captured for relocation this winter — well short of officials' goal to remove 600 to 900 of the animals.

Authorities search Swan Lake for missing kayakers

Authorities are searching Swan Lake for two people after Lake County 911 received a report Thursday afternoon of two kayakers struggling in the water about 1,000 feet from shore during high winds.

Expanding drought leaves western U.S. scrambling for water

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Tumbleweeds drift along the Rio Grande as sand bars within its banks widen. Smoke from distant wildfires and dust kicked up by intense spring winds fill the valley, exacerbating the feeling of distress that is beginning to weigh on residents.

North Valley bear manager ready to hit the woods, neighborhoods

Justine Vallieres was recently named the new Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife conflict management specialist to fill the role of longtime grizzly bear manager Tim Manley.

UM’s Kyiyo Pow Wow Set for April 22-23

MISSOULA – One of the nation’s oldest student-run powwows and a beloved University of Montana tradition, the Kyiyo Pow Wow, will be held on campus Friday, April 22, through Saturday, April 23, in the Adams Center. Unifying Native Americans from across the nation and Montana, the annual celebration preserves the rich heritage of tribes and cultures while renewing old traditions.

Kalispell planning board recommends senior housing complex

The Kalispell Planning Board voted Tuesday to recommend a senior affordable housing complex proposal adjacent to the Gateway Community Center.

Employers at job fair hope to attract workers with opportunities to grow

More than 100 employers gathered at Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair Thursday looking to reach potential employees in a competitive job market.

Legals for April, 15 2022

Bigfork Water and Sewer candidate forum

Meet the candidates forum for the Bigfork Water and Sewer District and Bigfork School District no. 38 at a candidates forum starting at 5:30 p.m. April 21, in the Ark Building, 8559 Montana 35. Public invited.

Law Roundup: Speeding drivers cause consternation

Law Roundup: Speeding drivers cause consternation

Glacier sweeps crosstown tennis

There was finally tennis in Kalispell Thursday after cancellations earlier this week iced a set of duals for both Flathead and Glacier. The sun shone and a light wind blew at FVCC for the first crosstown dual of the season, which Glacier swept. The boys won 8-0, the girls 5-3.

Winter weather cancels Saturday softball games

Expected bad weather on Saturday has led the Glacier and Flathead softball teams to condense their series with the Helena schools to Friday only.

Walburn third in Group B at Bryan Clay decathlon

AZUSA, Calif. — Whitefish product and Carroll College standout Lee Walburn completed a couple solid days of competition by finishing third in his decathlon group at the Bryan Clay Invitational meet Thursday.

Two bird flu cases confirmed in U.S. zoos as virus spreads

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two cases of bird flu have been confirmed in U.S. zoos, but officials said they won't order widespread euthanasia of zoo birds the way they have on farms.

Daily Montanan, Montana Federation of Public Employees, sue Board of Public Ed

The Daily Montanan and Montana Federation of Public Employees are asking the Lewis and Clark County District Court to void a decision by the Board of Public Education, arguing it was made without proper public notice or the opportunity for public participation.

Couple found dead as wildfire destroys New Mexico homes

The remains of a New Mexico couple were found near their burned home as a wind-driven wildfire charred more than 200 residences on the edge of a mountain community in the southern part of the state.

Closures due to blizzard remain in effect in North Dakota

Record snowfall from a spring blizzard is shutting down government offices, schools and some businesses for a third day in North Dakota.

MSU to hold listening session regarding proposal to name Gianforte Hall

BOZEMAN – Montana State University will hold a public listening session on a proposal to name a new $50 million building to house the MSU Gianforte School of Computing as Gianforte Hall.

UM’s Baucus Institute to host John Kerry for climate panel

MISSOULA – John Kerry, the first U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, will be in conversation with Max Baucus, former Montana senator and U.S. ambassador to China, on Thursday, April 21, at the University of Montana.

Edy Paxman, 89

Edy Paxman, 89, passed peacefully on April 4, 2022.

FHS Theatre stages comical ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Flathead High School Theatre will take you on an enchanted trip through a forest where love is discovered, magic and mischief prevail, and adventure is around every corner in William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Kalispell woman accused of forging checks

Kalispell woman accused of forging checks

High Plains Book Awards nominations in

A total of 294 books have been nominated for the 16th annual High Plains Book Awards, which recognize writers and their work from seven Western states and three Canadian provinces. Forty-five works were from Montana.

Events for April 14

Kalispell Elks Lodge hosts Stanton Creek Band

County departments prepare to move to new building

County departments prepare to move to new building

Kalispell man pleads not guilty to rape charge

A Kalispell man accused of a 2019 rape pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent in Flathead County District Court on Wednesday.

WTC hosts Celtic rock sensation

The Whitefish Theatre Company presents the Derina Harvey Band, an award-winning Celtic Rock quintet known for their big sound, humor and dynamic live shows.

WTC hosts Under the Sea, a community adult prom

Join the Whitefish Theatre Company for a community celebration as it hosts the first ever adult prom with the theme “WTC Under the Sea,” Friday, April 22, from 8 to 11 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center.

Brooklyn subway suspect tipped off police to his location

NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of shooting 10 people on a Brooklyn subway train was arrested Wednesday and charged with a federal terrorism offense after the suspect himself called police to come get him, law enforcement officials said.

Four allegedly would-be burglars plead not guilty

The quartet accused of breaking into the wrong home last month pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary charges in Flathead County District Court on Wednesday.

Legals for April, 14 2022

Wolfpack Theatre brings action-packed adventure to the stage

The Wolfpack Theatre Company at Glacier High presents the action-packed children’s adventure “The Island of Dr. Libris” April 18 and 19.

Dorothy ‘Dot’ B. Framness, 98

Dorothy “Dot” B. Framness, of Columbia Falls, passed away April 5, 2022, she was 98.

Letters to the editor April 14

Letters to the editor April 14

Blankenship camping: Wild and scenic, or a sewer?

Last year, residents of the Blankenship Bridge and Teakettle Mountain area petitioned the Forest Service to change the Blankenship Bridge gravel bar from unrestricted camping to day-use only.

Libby, C-Falls chase Northwest A softball crown

The Northwest A softball race should start shaping up soon, with defending State A champion Polson playing at Columbia Falls Thursday, hosting Ronan Friday and traveling to Libby Saturday.

After so many relays and TDs, time to hand off

Somewhere in the late 1990s, Arron Deck called the Billings Gazette looking for information on Flathead High School.

Bigfork to compete in Class A beginning in 2023-24

The Vikings and Valkyries of Bigfork will be making the move to Class A beginning in the 2023-24 school year, the Montana High School Association announced Wednesday.

Caleb Aland picked to lead Flathead football

Caleb Aland was named the new football coach for Flathead High School Wednesday, an event he didn’t imagine last summer while he was a seasonal worker in Glacier National Park.

Man wanted in Brooklyn subway attack arrested, officials say

NEW YORK (AP) — The man wanted in the shooting of 10 people on a subway in Brooklyn was arrested Wednesday afternoon, a day after the attack on a crowded rush-hour train.

As state psychiatric hospital struggles, health department turns to private consultants

Montana has awarded a contract to a private consulting firm to oversee operations of seven public health facilities, a move that follows a substantial reorganization of the state health department and a compounding crisis that drove federal health authorities to cut off funding for the state’s adult psychiatric hospital in Warm Springs this month.

Gov. Gianforte speaks at UM about bipartisanship

Gov. Greg Gianforte said he goes into every conversation expecting to learn something, a lesson he took away from influential and controversial author Jordan Peterson’s “12 Rules for Life.”

Retail store Kohl’s eyes Kalispell location

Retail giant Kohl’s appears to be making plans to open a location in North Kalispell.

Fair taking applications for new food vendors

Fair taking applications for new food vendors

Teen driver charged with child endangerment

A 19-year-old faces a felony criminal endangerment charge after Montana Highway Patrol troopers caught her allegedly drunk behind the wheel with a 12-year-old in the vehicle.

Researcher studies winter canola in Flathead Valley

A Montana State University researcher is looking into the benefits of planting an uncommon variety of a common crop, winter canola.

Legals for April, 13 2022

Barbara Hupfer Stevens

Barbara Hupfer Stevens, formerly of Kalispell, passed away at her home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Nov. 6, 2021.

FVCC’s culinary seniors serve up Italian lunch fare

FVCC’s culinary seniors serve up Italian lunch fare

Hop on over to an Easter egg hunt

Hop on over to an Easter egg hunt

Forest 'Rusty' Rodger Hill Jr.

Forest “Rusty” Rodger Hill Jr., known as “Big Red,” of Olney, passed away on April 8, 2022, peacefully in his sleep.

Law roundup: Snowball fight gets rowdy

A passerby thought a boy was beating his sister at a bus stop when they claimed he had “punched her full in the face.”

Donna Margaret (Nash) Morken, 78

Donna Margaret (Nash) Morken went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 5, 2022, due to pancreatic cancer.

City recreational amenity requirements discussion turns to affordable housing

A City Council work session on Kalispell’s recreational amenities requirements for multi-family developments Monday turned into a discussion about how those requirements affect housing costs.

Western A softball: Libby edges Ronan in 7th inning

LIBBY — Sidney Rusdal doubled twice, drove in three runs and scored the winning tally in the seventh inning of Libby’s 12-11 softball win over Ronan Tuesday.

Weather causes schedule changes to local sports

Several area sporting events were postponed or canceled due to high winds and low temperatures on Tuesday.

US inflation jumped 8.5% in past year, highest since 1981

WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation soared over the past year at its fastest pace in more than 40 years, with costs for food, gasoline, housing and other necessities squeezing American consumers and wiping out the pay raises that many people have received.

Russian war worsens fertilizer crunch, risking food supplies

KIAMBU COUNTY, Kenya (AP) — Monica Kariuki is about ready to give up on farming. What is driving her off her 10 acres of land outside Nairobi isn't bad weather, pests or blight — the traditional agricultural curses — but fertilizer: It costs too much.

Forest Service looks to acquire 200 acres near Savage Lake in Lincoln County

U.S. Forest Service officials look to tap the Land and Water Conservation Fund to acquire roughly 200 now-private acres adjoining Savage Lake and Cabinet Mountains Wilderness.

Portland sees 1st measurable snow in April in known history

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland, Oregon, received the first measurable snowfall in April in recorded history on Monday as the greater metropolitan region racked up more than a half-foot of snow in some places from an unusual spring storm.

Biden waiving ethanol rule in bid to lower gasoline prices

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is visiting corn-rich Iowa on Tuesday to announce he'll suspend a federal rule and allow the sale of higher-ethanol gasoline this summer, trying to tamp down prices at the pump that have spiked during Russia's war in Ukraine.

Updated: Gunman opens fire on Brooklyn subway; at least 10 shot

NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman in a construction vest donned a gas mask, set off a smoke canister on a rush-hour subway train and shot at least 10 people Tuesday morning, authorities said. The shooter was at large and described as dangerous after leaving wounded commuters bleeding on a Brooklyn platform while others ran screaming.

Blacktail ski season continues Saturday

Blacktail Mountain is slated to open for skiing over Easter weekend, with mid-winter conditions on tap.

Margaret Ellen Renneberg, 82

Margaret Ellen Renneberg, born to Leslie “Les” and Beatrice Holden in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, on Oct. 9, 1939, passed on April 6, 2022, after suffering a stroke.

California utility to pay $55 million for massive wildfires

California utility to pay $55 million for massive wildfires

Law roundup: Toddler and puppy find way home

A 2-year-old with a full diaper and a puppy in tow was reportedly seen unsupervised in front of an apartment building by someone who tried to prevent both of them

Legals for April, 12 2022

Dorothy 'Dot' B. Framness, 98

Dorothy “Dot” B. Framness, of Columbia Falls, passed away April 5, 2022. She was 98.

Letters to the editor April 12

Letters to the editor April 12

William 'Bill' George Bruce, 78

William “Bill” George Bruce, 78, passed away April 2, 2022.

Affordable housing up for planning board approval

A senior affordable housing complex will come before the Kalispell Planning Board for approval Tuesday.

Failure of integrity at Montana PSC

In 2021, a state audit of the MT Public Service Commission (PSC) revealed “several situations indicative of an unhealthy organizational culture and ineffective leadership, including certain commissioners overriding department controls.”

Columbia Falls pair charged with assault with a weapon

Story.

Hot Springs man killed in collision with logging truck

A 74-year-old Hot Springs man was killed after crashing into a logging truck near St. Regis on Monday.

California utility to pay $55 million for massive wildfires

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pacific Gas & Electric, the nation's largest utility, has agreed to pay more than $55 million to avoid criminal prosecution for two major wildfires sparked by its aging Northern California power lines and submit to five years of oversight in an attempt to prevent more deadly blazes.

Feds to cut funding to troubled Montana psychiatric hospital

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Federal officials say they'll no longer pay for services at Montana's state psychiatric hospital following staffing shortages and other problems that were blamed in patient deaths and a violent assault last month involving two unsupervised patients.

Judge says Montana officials unlawfully approved copper mine

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — State environmental officials unlawfully approved a large copper mine in central Montana despite worries that mining waste would pollute a river that's popular among boaters, a state judge ruled.

Bipartisan old guard lines up behind independent U.S. House candidate

HELENA — As he launches a rare independent campaign to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale for the privilege of representing eastern Montana in the U.S. House, Billings businessman Gary Buchanan is running without the support of a major political party — but with backing from some of the state’s preeminent elder statesmen.

City to revisit recreational amenity requirement for developers

Kalispell City Council will revisit the city’s requirements for multi-family dwellings at a work session Monday evening.

Law roundup:

A man riding an electric scooter without a helmet allegedly “got tangled up in a car,” that was turning at a stoplight and was “dragged a bit.”

County planning board looks at rezone on 290 acres near Whitefish

A pair of property owners have submitted a request to Flathead County to rezone just over 290 acres of property outside of Whitefish.

Births

Bently Henry McVay, son of Karah Barker and Eli McVay of Marion, was born on March 24, 2022, at Logan Health Medical Center.

Glacier's 'Bird Lady' giving a voice to the park's smaller creatures

Few people know the birds and bats of Glacier National Park like Lisa Bate.

Legals for April, 11 2022

Letters to the editor April 11

Letters to the editor April 11

Once a retail giant, Kmart nears extinction after closure

Once a retail giant, Kmart nears extinction after closure

Patricia Sharlyn Bennett, 86

Patricia “Pat” was born to loving parents, followed by a brother a few years later.

Mobile ice cream trailer gets permanent C-Falls home

Jessie and Duane Schrade have the scoop on running a small business.

Flathead Business Newsmakers

Flathead Business Newsmakers

Legals for April, 10 2022

Births

Gabriel Scott Hall, son of Kyle and Larua Hall of Kalispell, was born on Feb. 28, 2022, at Logan Health Medical Center.

Flathead Business Watercooler

Flathead Business Watercooler

State, county share burden in upgrading Lake County jail

A class-action lawsuit filed last week alleging dangerous and inhumane conditions at the Lake County jail has highlighted a troubling situation in Polson that should come as no surprise to county officials.

Hiawatha rail route will better connect rural Montana

For over a century, passenger rail has been part of Montana’s heritage, culture, and economy. It’s currently a lifeline for Hi-Line communities. And, without a doubt, it is part of Montana’s future.

Letters to the editor April 10

Letters to the editor April 10

Stockman Bank breaks ground on new building in Whitefish

Construction of the new Stockman Bank building on the corner of Highway 93 and 13th Street in Whitefish is now underway.

Springtime comes to McIntyre farm

Calves are born from scholarship heifers

Out at the McIntyre farm, spring is in its full form — blue skies, sun and baby animals.

Justin Ronald King, 35

Justin Ronald King, 35, passed away on April 3, 2022, at Logan Health after having a major stroke.

Russia’s war to shrink Ukraine economy 45%, World Bank says

Russia’s war to shrink Ukraine economy 45%, World Bank says

William 'Bill' George Bruce, 78

William “Bill” George Bruce, 78, passed away April 2, 2022.

Breweries collaborate to create Last Best Pale Ale

Breweries collaborate to create Last Best Pale Ale

Some jobs start after the buck

“You and I, we could sign up and ride in the rodeo next weekend,” emergency medical technician Kim Vierra told me about the amateur rodeo staged between Kalispell and Whitefish.

Law roundup: Woman doesn’t care for rich people

Dispatchers answered a 911 call, but the line was open. They heard a lot of wind and a woman say she “doesn’t care for you rich people.”

Arnold Carl Peterson, 100

Arnold Carl Peterson passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, just after celebrating his 100th birthday.

Dorothy 'Dot' B. Framness, 98

Dorothy “Dot” B. Framness, of Columbia Falls, passed away April 5, 2022, she was 98.

Area schools grapple with lead testing, cost of remediation

Most schools testing drinking water for lead under a new state rule show elevated levels of the heavy metal, which is toxic to humans.

Montana pot industry sees strongest month yet in March

Montana medical and recreational marijuana sales are approaching ambitious projections from legalization supporters through the first quarter of 2022, the first year in which recreational dispensaries have been legally allowed to operate in the state, industry supporters say.

Gutting local zoning codes won’t fix the housing crisis

Now that Montana has finally figured out it has a serious housing problem, “housing experts” have come out of the woodwork to tell us all how to solve it.

John T. Bowdish, 90

John T. Bowdish was born April 21, 1931, during the peak of America’s deepest Depression. John had a love of farming, a love of timber, and his mother’s love of family.

Donna M. Morken, 78

Donna M. Morken, age 78, of Bigfork, passed away on April 5, 2022, at her home with her family by her side.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk won’t join Twitter’s board after all

Tesla CEO Elon Musk won’t join Twitter’s board after all

Wolfpack boys stay unbeaten

The Glacier Wolfpack boys tennis team won both its duals Saturday to improve to 5-0 overall. But even more impressively, the defending state champions were 16-0 in matches against Big Sky and Sentinel.

Bravettes tie Sentinel, fall to Big Sky

Alexis Kersten won in singles, as did Lolita Sattler, and the Flathead Bravettes tied Sentinel in a tennis dual on Saturday.

Columbia Falls wins twice; Loggers shut out Eureka

LEWISTOWN — Aspen Dawson hit a go-ahead RBI single and Columbia Falls scored five runs in the fifth inning to beat Havre 8-4 at the Lewistown Round-Robin softball tournament Saturday.

Bigfork thinclads sweep Libby Invite

LIBBY — Levi Peterson and Scout Nadeau each won twice Saturday, and Bigfork swept all four relay races on the way to the team titles at the Libby Invitational track and field meet.

PHOTOS: The 12th annual Glacier Fiddle Festival

Musicians young and old gathered at Cornerstone Community Church in Kalispell for the 12th annual Glacier Fiddle Festival on Saturday, April 9.

State supreme court rejects convicted murderer's request for new trial

The Montana Supreme Court rejected an attempt by convicted murderer Cecil Rice to win a new trial last week.

Griz get going in second half of Maroon-Silver scrimmage

HAMILTON — Aaron Fontes made the play of the Montana Grizzlies Spring Game Friday, and it wasn’t his catch of a 25-yard touchdown pass from Kris Brown.

USS Billings will be decommissioned in 2023

Well, Billings, it was fun while it lasted.

Amount of fentanyl seized in 2022 surpasses 2021 total

The amount of fentanyl seized by the Montana Highway Patrol just months into 2022 has already surpassed the 2021 total, MHP Colonel Steve Lavin said in a Thursday press release.

Food prices soar to record levels on Ukraine war disruptions

ROME (AP) — Prices for food commodities like grains and vegetable oils reached their highest levels ever last month largely because of Russia's war in Ukraine and the "massive supply disruptions" it is causing, threatening millions of people in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere with hunger and malnourishment, the United Nations said Friday.

Rumsey Eash, 6 more Flathead tracksters shine

GREAT FALLS — Lilli Rumsey Eash ran the fastest 3,200 in Class AA this spring and six Flathead athletes won twice in a track and field dual with Great Falls Russell Friday.

C-Falls softball claims 2 big wins in Lewistown

LEWISTOWN — Maddie Moultrey, Haden Peters and Sydney Mann combined for six hits and eight runs batted in — and a five-inning 4-hitter — as Columbia Falls downed Lewistown 21-3 at the Lewistown Invitational softball tournament Friday.

Griz-Cat Dual set for Saturday in Bozeman

The Griz-Cat Dual is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Bozeman, Montana. The annual track & field meet is always a fan favorite as it pits student-athletes from the Treasure State's two Division-I programs.

Bobcats show well at MSU Spring Rodeo

BOZEMAN – Montana State’s Molly Salmond and Bella Fossum traded places in two events Friday, and the net result that each led one of the in the first performance of the 2022 MSU Spring Rodeo in Worthington Arena on Friday.

Man armed with knife puts Evergreen Junior High School temporarily on lockdown

Officials temporarily placed Evergreen Junior High School on lockdown Friday after a man armed with a knife allegedly tried to enter the building.

GOP congressional candidates to debate in Whitefish

Whitefish next month will host a debate of Republican candidates vying for Montana’s District 1 congressional seat.

Whitefish on pace for busiest ski season ever

An adult season ski pass at Whitefish Mountain Resort will top the $700 mark next winter, the ski area revealed Friday as it closes in on its busiest winter ever.

St. Ignatius man, mother plead guilty to roles in fatal crash, cover up

A St. Ignatius man and his mother have pleaded guilty to felonies related to their roles in a January 2021 fatal crash and attempted cover up that sparked widespread calls for justice for the victim.

Oregon sues COVID test company, millions of dollars pocketed

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The state of Oregon accused owners of an Illinois-based COVID-19 testing company of stealing millions of dollars in federal funds and insurance money in a lawsuit filed Thursday and said they boasted about buying a mansion and expensive sports cars.

Man allegedly impersonated agent, claimed ties to Pakistani intel

WASHINGTON (AP) — One of two men accused of impersonating federal agents and giving actual Secret Service agents gifts and free apartments in Washington has claimed to have ties to Pakistani intelligence and had visas showing travel to Pakistan and Iran, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Strike kills 50 at Ukraine rail station crowded with people

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A missile hit a train station where thousands of people had flocked to flee in eastern Ukraine, killing 50 people Friday, Ukrainian authorities said, while warning they expect to find more evidence of war crimes in areas abandoned by Russian troops.

Glacier boys top Hellgate, but Knights sweep Flathead

Will Rudbach headlined for the Glacier boys Friday in a 6-2 tennis dual victory against Hellgate. Rudbach dispatched his opponent, Leo Mart, in straight sets (6-0, 6-0) at No. 2 singles. Kyler Knutson won at No. 3 singles. Harrison Sanders was felled by Sebastian Silverstein in No. 1 singles.

Dillon netters sweep duals with C-Falls, Polson

POLSON — Polson hosted a set of tennis duals Friday with Dillon and Columbia Falls in attendance. Dillon defeated Columbia Falls girls 6-1, the boys 5-2, and both Polson teams 6-1.

Commissioners approve housing subdivision for former racetrack

Flathead County Commissioners have approved a plan that would turn the former Montana Raceway Park property into a 28-lot residential subdivision.

KALICO seeks artists with ‘tunnel vision’

Are you an artist or a team of artists interested in creating a mural to enhance the beauty of Kalispell’s local pedestrian paths?

Legals for April, 8 2022

Glacier High School French program wins national award

Glacier High School’s French program was recently honored with a top distinction by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF).

Flathead High School students test their business acumen at state

The Flathead High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) team tested their knowledge recently at the state leadership conference in Billings with several advancing to nationals.

New technology improves sexual-assault exams at Logan Health

Logan Health Medical Center recently added new technology aimed at improving examinations of sexual-assault victims.

Pack of Griz that’s trimmed down to three

The last time we checked in with the Montana Grizzlies football squad during drills, it was last fall and there were five Glacier High products. Now there are three, which shows you even Silvertips have attrition.

Whitefish netters sweep C-Falls

WHITEFISH — Whitefish’s tennis teams started their season with dual wins against Columbia Falls on Thursday.

Libby outscores Bravettes 19-4

Courtney Benson doubled and drove in three runs, and Lyndee McElmurry scored three times in Libby’s 19-4 non-conference softball win over Flathead Thursday, at KidSport.

Sterck, Gulick chosen for inaugural volleyball Classic

BILLINGS — Kalispell volleyball players Sidney Gulick and Savanna Sterck have been selected for the inaugural East-West Montana All-Star Classic set for June 18 in Lockwood.

PHOTOS: Fire crews hold prescribed burn at Lone Pine State Park

Fire crews from Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation in conjunction with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks held a prescribed burn aimed at benefiting the park's grassland habitat, including native plants and the wildlife species that frequent the area on Thursday, April 7.

Dolphins' playful social habits form bonds, but spread virus

REEDVILLE, Va. (AP) — Three young male dolphins simultaneously break the water's surface to breathe — first exhaling, then inhaling — before slipping back under the waves of the Chesapeake Bay.

Blackfeet Council removes chairman after family drug arrests

BROWNING, Mont. (AP) — The Blackfeet Tribal Council in Montana voted Thursday to remove its chairman from his leadership role after nine people were arrested on drug-related charges following a search at a residence the chairman owns.

Tschida levels new allegations against Missoula County Election Office

Following a recent effort by the Missoula County Republican Party to settle claims of voting irregularities in the county’s 2020 election, Rep. Brad Tschida, R-Missoula, leveled a fresh allegation this week, suggesting that the Missoula County Election Office was “incompetent” or that unnamed actors had engaged in deliberate wrongdoing.

Jackson confirmed as first Black female high court justice

The Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Thursday, shattering a historic barrier by securing her place as the first Black female justice and giving President Joe Biden a bipartisan endorsement for his effort to diversify the court.

Charges and names of those arrested in search of Blackfeet Tribal Council Chairman’s home released

The names of the nine people arrested in the search of Blackfeet Tribal Council Chairman Timothy Davis’ home last week that resulted in charges related to fentanyl were released Wednesday morning by the Blackfeet Tribal Prosecutor.

Box cutter used in bar fight, court docs say

The Kalispell man facing an attempted deliberate homicide charge after an April 5 fight at a local bar wielded a box cutter in the clash, court documents say.

Prescribed burn on Lone Pine State Park today

Fire crews are scheduled to conduct a prescribed burn at Lone Pine State Park on Thursday, April 7 as conditions allow.

Construction promises to curtail early morning access to Logan Pass

Folks looking to get to Logan Pass from the west side of the park before 6 a.m. without a reservation are out of luck this year.

Law roundup: It all started over a hot dog in a cooler

A man with a short circuit allegedly started recording an employee while screaming at them about the store’s bathroom policies. The man also tried to reach across the counter to touch them. The whole incident purportedly started over “a hot dog in a cooler.”

WTC stages award-winning classic ‘Sense and Sensibility'

The Whitefish Theatre Company presents the romantic classic “Sense and Sensibility” at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.

History Museum and Celtic Society present Scottish film

The Northwest Montana Historical Society is partnering with the Flathead Celtic Festival for a cultural event for the entire family at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 8, at the Northwest Montana History Museum.

Glacier Fiddle Festival is a fun family affair

Leah Farnes grew up playing in fiddle contests, a junior fiddle group and meeting other kids who played fiddle from around Montana and other states, many of whom she’s still friends with today.

Gilbert Mather Harrison, 77

Gilbert Mather Harrison came to a peaceful end of his more than 77 years on March 28, 2022, at his home in Whitefish.

Hopper arrested after allegedly pulling knife on treatment center staff

A man exiting Logan Health’s addiction treatment center allegedly pulled a knife on facility staff after they refused to return his marijuana with his other belongings.

Don Ira Frownfelter, 81

Don Frownfelter, beloved father, Dad to three girls, Danette, Kimberly and Connie, and his stepson Kevin, Grandpa to 18 beautiful grandchildren and one great-grandchild, loved his family and friends deeply and was fortunate to have many of them by his side when he passed away Saturday evening April 2, 2022.

Letters to the editor April 7

Letters to the editor April 7

Gray wolf delisting mired in politics

Idaho and Montana’s successful recovery of the gray wolf was a significant achievement in species conservation.

The biggest issue we are ignoring

The two of us became acquainted when we organized Montana’s first Earth Day on the MSU campus in Bozeman in 1970. One year later we both showed up in the Montana Legislature, representing different communities and different political parties, at age 23.

Teenager works toward recovery following brain injury

Not even two months after suffering a traumatic brain injury as the result of a car accident, 16-year-old Josie Elgin has her sights set on getting back to doing what she loves.

Larsson recognized as longest serving hunter ed instructor in Montana

KALISPELL — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently honored the service of its Region 1 Northwest Montana hunter and bowhunter education instructors at an annual workshop in Kalispell.

Turkey season

It’s springtime in the Flathead. Similar to the fall season, the outdoor person has many choices of what to do in the great Flathead outdoors.

Song Montana songwriters workshop is Saturday in Ronan

In cooperation with the Western Montana Musicians Co-op and The Red Poppy Stage, Song Montana announces a new songwriter workshop and concert series featuring talented singer-songwriters from Montana.

0407 TWIF briefs

Gypsy Theatre Guild’s ‘Cockeyed’ in final weekend

Legals for April, 7 2022

Glacier’s Bernhardt balances books, band and the hurdles

The opening of the 2022 track and field season started well enough for Glacier’s Caleb Bernhardt, who smoothed through the 110-meter hurdles in 16.10 seconds.

Sentinel gets best of Glacier, 8-0

MISSOULA — Rylee Crane threw a five-hit shutout and Missoula Sentinel used walks and timely hits to beat Glacier 8-0 in a Western AA softball game Wednesday at Sentinel Field.

Montana judge temporarily blocks new election laws

A Montana judge has temporarily blocked several new election laws that the Montana Democratic Party, tribal organizations and youth groups argued were meant to make it more difficult for Native Americans, new voters, the elderly and those with disabilities to vote.

Man undergoing treatment following Kalispell standoff

A man is undergoing mental health treatment after a standoff with local law enforcement in downtown Kalispell this afternoon.

Zoos hiding birds as avian flu spreads in North America

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Zoos across North America are moving their birds indoors and away from people and wildlife as they try to protect them from the highly contagious and potentially deadly avian influenza.

Wind energy company kills 150 eagles in US, pleads guilty

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A wind energy company was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay more than $8 million in fines and restitution after at least 150 eagles were killed over the past decade at its wind farms in eight states, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

JetBlue makes offer for Spirit Airlines, could spark bid war

JetBlue Airways has offered to buy Spirit Airlines for about $3.6 billion and break up a plan for Spirit to merge with rival budget carrier Frontier Airlines.

Kalispell man charged with attempted deliberate homicide

Kalispell police arrested a local man overnight on an attempted deliberate homicide charge after an assault at a bar on the city's east side left another man hospitalized with a neck laceration.

First pope, now U.S. churches face boarding-school reckoning

As Native Americans cautiously welcome Pope Francis' historic apology for abuses at Catholic-run boarding schools for Indigenous children in Canada, U.S. churches are bracing for an unprecedented reckoning with their own legacies of operating such schools.

City holds open houses on Reserve Drive improvements

City holds open houses on Reserve Drive improvements

Timothy John Calaway, 69

Timothy John Calaway, 69, left a massive hole in the world this March 30, 2022, when he was called home to his Lord and Savior.

Law roundup: Mysteries abound in the valley

A horse may have been pulled into a vortex when it was allegedly wandering around the area of the House of Mystery west of Glacier National Park. Meanwhile,

Michael Lloyd Guthrie, 76

Michael Lloyd Guthrie, 76, passed away from natural causes on Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Newport, Oregon. He had been living there for the last 20 years.

ImagineIF launches new youth programming this spring

ImagineIF launches new youth programming this spring

Legals for April, 6 2022

Dennis Brooks, 87

Delmas Deloraine “Dennis” Brooks passed away at Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell on March 29, 2022.

Forest opts for status quo on Blankenship camping

The Flathead National Forest will allow overnight camping on a plot of land it owns along the Flathead River at Blankenship for at least one more season.

Electric Co-op's annual meeting set for April 23

Flathead Electric Co-op's annual meeting is slated for a return to an in-person gathering this year.

Glacier Symphony receives $10,000 grant

Glacier Symphony, Orchestra and Chorale was recently awarded a $10,000 Challenge America grant from the National Endowment for the Arts titled Music for Rural Montana.

Teck appears in Libby, fights back on troubling fish data

Key fish data prove invalid in flagging higher-than-allowed levels of selenium at Lake Koocanusa, representatives of Canadian coal miner Teck said last week at a meeting with Lincoln County Commissioners in Libby.

City authorizes West Reserve Drive grant application

Kalispell City Council unanimously supported a decision to pursue a grant to improve West Reserve Drive on Monday.

Stroll Bibler Home and Gardens to support FVCC scholarships

Stroll Bibler Home and Gardens to support FVCC scholarships

PEO program helps Polson girls reach educational goals

P.E.O. Chapter CA, Polson, presented its Ready? Set-Goals! program to Polson’s eighth-grade girls March 17 at the Polson Middle School.

Property manager accused of rape, using eviction as threat

A Kalispell man faces a felony sexual intercourse without consent charge in Flathead County District Court after allegedly raping a low-income housing tenant under the threat of eviction last year.

Carol Bean creates in quintessential quilter’s studio

Carol Bean creates in quintessential quilter’s studio

Bravettes, Braves earn high marks at Big Sky dual

MISSOULA — Gabe Felton, Miller Bushnell and Dylan Zink won two events each for the boys, and Lilli Rumsey Eash won twice for the Bravettes while Flathead performed well at a dual track and field meet with Missoula Big Sky.

Big Sky softball slams Bravettes

Grace Hood hit a grand slam and Missoula Big Sky picked up its first softball win of the season with a 16-5 win over Flathead Tuesday at the Eagles’ field.

Glacier tracksters sweep Bison

Sidney Gulick and Alyssa Vollersten each won two events for the Glacier girls and Caleb Bernhardt and Tate Kauffman did the same for the boys, as the host Wolfpack swept a windy dual track and field meet with Great Falls Tuesday.

Columbia Falls sweeps Ronan in tennis opener

RONAN — Columbia Falls netters started their season Tuesday with a sweep of Ronan by both the boys and girls teams.

Appeals court says U.S. downplayed coal mine's climate impacts

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. officials improperly downplayed the climate change effects from burning coal when they approved a large expansion of an underground Montana coal mine that would release an estimated 190 million tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, a court ruled.

Murkowski, Romney back Jackson, all but assure confirmation

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney say they will vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's historic elevation to the Supreme Court, giving President Joe Biden's nominee a burst of bipartisan support and all but assuring she'll become the first Black female justice.

Drought leads power company to store more water behind dam

NorthWestern Energy is reducing the amount of water it releases from Hebgen Dam into the Madison River in southwestern Montana for nearly three weeks, starting Monday, in order to store additional water for use this summer.

Four area soccer players compete in Vegas

Four local soccer players participated in the 2022 Players Showcase, an annual tournament and opportunity to play in front of college scouts, held this year in Las Vegas on March 18-20.

Stalled legislation would strip Army of medals for its involvement in Wounded Knee

Most folks living in Montana know the name “Wounded Knee.”

Westward Ho! Maine potatoes travel far after western drought

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine's potato growers had such a bumper crop this past season that they stepped in to help their big brothers out west who were short on spuds.

Missionary worker recounts latest trip to Russia

Staring out the airport window at the heavy fog blanketing the Russian city of Volgograd on March 2, Craig Blair wasn’t exactly sure how he was going to make it home to Columbia Falls.

Partnership between families, schools critical

I have great pride in the continued work of advancing learning at the Office of Public Instruction.

Legals for April, 5 2022

Class-action lawsuit filed following Logan Health data breach

Former patients of Logan Health allege in a new class-action lawsuit that the medical provider’s November data breach left them open to identity theft and represented negligence, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.

Letters to the editor April 5

Letters to the editor April 5

C-Falls, Whitefish start tennis season this week

The Columbia Falls tennis team almost didn’t have a court to play on when practices started last month, but a little persistence and improvisation on coach Michelle Colliander’s part created at least a temporary solution to the issue.

Law roundup: Woman advised of her bathroom options

A woman purportedly staying in the Kalispell Police Department lobby needed to urinate “really bad” and couldn’t make it to another location. She was advised of her options.

Legals for April, 4 2022

Letters to the editor April 4

Letters to the editor April 4

Ax-thrower targets World Championships after injury

A Trego ax-thrower hopes her story of perseverance inspires others like her to pick up a hatchet.

Kalispell looks at grant for West Reserve Drive improvements

The City of Kalispell is looking at securing a grant to make improvements on West Reserve Drive, according to the agenda for a city council meeting April 4.

Whitefish considers easing restrictions on accessory apartments to create housing

Whitefish City Council on Monday is set to consider an overhaul of its regulations relating to accessory apartments with the goal of creating more workforce housing.

Wiesgram hits another slam for Griz

CEDAR CITY, Utah — Brooklyn Weisgram hit another grand slam and the Montana softball team wrapped up its three-game series at Southern Utah on Saturday afternoon with a 19-8 win over the Thunderbirds.

Kalispell man's incredible journey lands him spot on American Ninja Warrior

A few short years ago Eric Robbins weight and blood pressure threatened his life. After losing 100 pounds and transforming his life, Robbins fulfilled his dream of competing on NBC's American Ninja Warrior last week.

Ignoring the nursing home crisis will costs more in the long run

The older people in our nursing homes have a problem.

A belated tribute to a musical ‘heartbreaker’

Like most everybody, there are all kinds of music I like and keep on my personal playlist — from classical to classic rock — which doesn’t get fed much new material these days; I seem content enough to listen to the old standbys when exercising, gardening, cooking, etc.

Russia war could further escalate auto prices and shortages

Russia war could further escalate auto prices and shortages

Kalispell gets bold with transformational learning initiative

Kalispell Public Schools is encouraging the community to think big and paint outside the lines as it embarks on a multi-year journey to reassess “how school is done.”

Earl Gene ‘Babe’ Harriman, 71

Babe passed away March 3, 2022, with his family by his side.

Thousands of birds migrate to Freezout Lake

Thousands of birds migrate to Freezout Lake

Eureka wellness center shines light on alternative practices

Eureka wellness center shines light on alternative practices

Law roundup: Pushy goat butts heads with resident

An aggressive goat made its way on a resident’s property where it rammed their leg. The feisty goat then started ramming the house, according to a call to Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

Robert ‘Bob’ Jorgenson, 92

Robert “Bob” Alvin Jorgenson, 92, passed away March 8, 2022, surrounded by family at home.

Michael Lloyd Guthrie, 76

Michael Lloyd Guthrie, 76, passed away from natural causes on Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Newport, Oregon.

Flathead Business Newsmakers

Flathead Business Newsmakers

Legals for April, 3 2022

Letters to the editor April 3

Letters to the editor April 3

Three businesses selected for Employer of Choice awards

Three businesses selected for Employer of Choice awards

Flathead Business Watercooler

Flathead Business Watercooler

Sarah Schoales Stevenson

Sarah Schoales Stevenson was born to Virginia Jocelyn (Vanderlip) and Dudley Nevison Schoales September 1944 in New York.

Sharon Marie Parker, 81

Sharon Marie Parker passed away peacefully on March 21, 2022, with her children around her at St. Pat’s Hospital in Puyallup, Washington.

Small businesses in need of a loan find banks are stingy

Small businesses in need of a loan find banks are stingy

JPMorgan’s Dimon warns of myriad issues for economy, bank

JPMorgan’s Dimon warns of myriad issues for economy, bank

Suddenly, Twitter’s biggest stakeholder is Tesla’s Elon Musk

Suddenly, Twitter’s biggest stakeholder is Tesla’s Elon Musk

Ill-conceived provisions of CI-121

In the next few weeks you might well be asked to sign a petition to put CI-121, a constitutional initiative to “cap property taxes,” on the ballot. We urge you to say no.

Gary James Cusick, 72

Gary James Cusick was born Aug. 5, 1949, in Kalispell, and passed away on March 23, 2022, in Reno, Nevada.

James Lloyd Schrage, 76

James Lloyd Schrage, 76, passed away at Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell March 31, 2022.

Kenneth Field, 89

Kenneth Field, 89, passed away March 26, 2022, at his daughter’s home. He was born Aug. 29, 1932, in Whitefish to Howard and Linnie Field.

Montana lawyers support Judge Jackson for U.S. Supreme Court

We write as lawyers of Montana to express our strong support for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the next United States Supreme Court justice.

Patricia Ann Phillips, 85

Patricia Ann Phillips was born July 24, 1936, in Wolf Point, Montana to Edwin and Lucille Sillerud.

Glacier boys sweep Helena tennis duals

HELENA — The Glacier boys won their opening duals against Helena High and Helena Capital, and the girls split theirs on the opening day of AA tennis on Friday.

Polson girls top Stevi

POLSON — Sierra Lundeen and Hope Morrison won their singles matches to help Polson to a 4-3 win in a tennis dual against Stevensville on Friday.

Effort advances to save Montana's territorial Capitol

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — It may not have felt like it, but there are some folks who will swear that March 21, 2022 was a very historic day for Montana.

PHOTOS: The 56th annual Creston Auction

The 56th annual Creston Auction and Country Fair plus Auto, Marine, RV and Equipment Sale runs Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3, in Creston — 12 miles east of Kalispell on Montana 35. The sale is the largest annual fundraiser for the Creston Fire Department and has been held in Creston since 1966.

Green Party candidates can appear on Montana ballot in 2022

Two Green Party candidates who have filed to run for seats in the Montana House can appear on the ballot this year as part of a settlement in a long-running legal case, a federal judge said this week.

Area trail projects selected for federal funding

A number of trail projects in Northwest Montana are set to receive a shot of funding through the federal Recreational Trails Program.

Lake County sued over 'dangerous' jail conditions

A class-action lawsuit alleging inhumane and discriminatory conditions at the Lake County jail was filed in Missoula County District Court last week on behalf of 38 current or former prisoners.

Early kindergarten on the upswing

On March 15, state lawmakers in a joint meeting of two legislative committees briefly discussed significant growth in the number of students under the age of 5 who have been admitted to Montana’s kindergarten classrooms in recent years. The meeting’s chair, Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton, requested that the Montana Office of Public Instruction investigate further to determine whether those students are eligible for the state funding that districts are receiving for their instruction.

Bigfork man sentenced for sexually assaulting two girls

A Bigfork man who pleaded guilty to sexual intercourse without consent in January will spend the next two decades behind bars.

Bio station tracks river health in real time

Rivers and streams are akin to arteries and blood vessels in a human body, so monitoring the metabolic respiration and production rates of Earth’s freshwaters can help us understand the overall health of our planet.

Kalispell man accused of sexually assaulting young child

A Kalispell man faces a felony sexual intercourse without consent charge for allegedly abusing a young girl in 2021.

Wolfpack gets solid marks, splits dual

Sam Ells ran impressive times while winning the boys 1,600 and 3,200, and Noah Fincher and Holly Skelton won twice as well for Glacier, in the Wolfpack’s dual track meet against Helena Capital Friday.

Flathead county students rack up ribbons at the Montana Science Fair

Budding scientists represented Flathead County well at the state science fair in Missoula with Flathead High School’s Kenna Anderson qualifying for one of two spots to compete at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

Safety improvements planned for Montana 206

The Montana Department of Transportation is planning safety improvements for Montana 206 that runs between Kalispell and Columbia Falls.

Legals for April, 1 2022

Law roundup: Perfect aim or great miscalculation?

A woman was struck by the sight of an arrow allegedly shot through her front windshield.

Women Who Wine to meet Tuesday

The next gathering of Women Who Wine will be Tuesday, April 5, from 5:30- to 7 p.m. at MontaVino Winery, 38 First Ave. E. Ste. D in Kalispell.

Creston Auction returns this weekend

Creston Auction returns this weekend

Neighbors sue over Whitefish vacation rental

A group of neighbors has filed a lawsuit in Flathead County District Court over a vacation rental they claim is operating illegally in their rural subdivision north of Whitefish.

Kalispell Public Schools asking for $1.5M levy

A $1.5 million high school district general fund levy will be on the May ballot following a unanimous vote by the Kalispell Public Schools board of trustees Tuesday.