Columns
Searching for opinion based articles? Below we'll share opinion news articles on a wide variety of topics.
A modern arsenal for ice fishing
The recent cold weather has been very welcome for those of us that like to ice fish.
Saddled up for stories
About a hundred of us leaned in to hear every word said in honor of this occasion — the 60-year anniversary of the Wilderness Act — and also the recent publication of Elser's memoir, “Hush of the Land: A Lifetime i…
Opening day excitement builds
This Saturday is the opening day for the general rifle season for deer and elk hunting in Montana. This is the grandaddy of all opening days for the fall of 2024 hunting seasons. This is the day that probably over …
Clock doctor makes house calls
The museum’s Seth Thomas wall clock that hangs in the museum’s Swanberg Classroom hadn’t worked in years. Gentle prompts from our volunteer teachers spurred me to action.
Column: From Rawson to the Grizzlies' Hall of Fame
Dylan McFarland confirmed that he was in Washington-Grizzly Stadium Saturday, watching Weber State prevail over his alma mater 55-48, and he is surprised as anybody that it was the Wildcats’ fifth win in six games …
For the love of hunting
Is hunting and are hunters an endangered species? Living in Montana, where most adults, especially males, hunt, it seems that our tradition of hunting for food and fun has rock-solid public support.
Northern Pike: Love or hate?
Before we get full time into outdoor columns about hunting, let me do a final end-of-summer column about fishing.
Let’s leverage common ground
When I moved to Kalispell a few years ago I visited a new friend’s house and saw that neighbors at the end of her street had hung a massive banner across their garage.
Some duffers don’t need to bluff
We were a few holes into what would be one of the highlights of our summer: A grand tour of prime Flathead Valley terrain during the golden hours of a summer evening.
Column: Samson hits send, lands big fish
It was March of this year that Kyle Samson, seeking a home football game for his Montana Tech Orediggers, did something drastic.
Column: Short game, short season
Shaun Forrest had all of one season as an assistant before he answered the call to lead the Whitefish golf teams in 2024.
Dahlia growers bloom at Northwest Montana Fair
Two big fellas load a cart just outside the Mini Horses Barn, a tied-up Clydesdale whinnies at me, and the signs along “Hamburger Road” make their pitches, including for Blended Red Bulls and the alluring combo of …
Summer on the lakes is set to loon music
Last week I enjoyed an early morning fishing trip on a beautiful lake, using only my quiet electric trolling motor. Using my onboard electronics, I slowly cruised around the lake searching my favorite spots for sch…
Column: We've run out of teams... not really
Blaine Baker, Libby Class of 2004, didn’t know what was wrong with him at the Western Divisional basketball tournament his senior year; he just knew he was miserable and had white sores in his mouth and throat.
Lifelong love of trees bore fruit
The valley lost a real good apple recently — Rod McIver.
Column: New AD Bravely steps in at Flathead
If the state of Idaho is a triangle, then you could say new Flathead High activities director Matt Allison has lived in every corner of the Gem State — including the town of Middleton, which isn’t in the middle at …