Safety first in all areas of outdoor recreation

It is that time of year again where many things are in transition: We have waterfowl seasons open, general rifle season this weekend, fall fishing going on everywhere and before you know it … ICE fishing!

Generous man replaces boy's stolen bike

Facebook post asking people to keep an eye out for a stolen bike landed a happy ending for a 10-year-old boy in Whitefish.

Debates are a challenge in more ways than one

Candidates love to challenge each other to debates. It’s an easy way to make news — first for issuing the challenge, then for critiquing the opponent’s response to the challenge, and then again when the debate is h…

Watch the games, not the polls

As playoff season  rises, so are the nerves in the state.

Help enforce rules for private lands

Montana hunters are extremely fortunate to have over 30 million acres of public land to hunt. In Northwest Montana we have an addition 900,000 acres of Plum Creek and Stoltze land for hunting. Since most Plum Creek…

The power of one woman is astounding

I was puttering around the kitchen Friday morning, getting my coffee, when I stopped abruptly and listened. The TV in the next room was announcing that Malala, the Pakistani teen who was shot in the head by the Tal…

Rule of law or tyranny by courts?

Pivotal week for prep playoffs

Friday marks the start of the home stretch to the high school football season, and an important date for many local schools trying to stretch their season a few more weeks.

Benefit sale a grand success

After a one-year hiatus, the North Valley Community Sale for Refugee Aid was rekindled by Sam and Ruth Neff in Whitefish for its lucky 13th year.

Religious persecution not just part of history books

Assuming that they still teach history in school, then students today are learning — just as I did almost 50 years ago — that many of the early settlers of the American colonies were people who were escaping from r…

Golfers shoot for state

With the temperatures sliding into the 50s and leaves starting to fall, the golf season is wrapping up in Montana. The fall high school season closes up this weekend with the schools from Northwestern Montana looki…

Should younger kids be allowed to go hunting?

Montana is well-known as one of the best states for offering quality hunting. But is Montana a youth-friendly hunting state?

Nome an unlikely spot for birthday celebration

My oldest daughter, Heather, will celebrate her 30th birthday next week in a far-flung place — Nome, Alaska — where she’ll be doing some feature stories for the CBS affiliate in Anchorage.

Don't blame the weatherman if it's dark outside

I’m well aware that my column is mostly of the “doom and gloom” variety, and perhaps some folks think that life cannot possibly be that bad — that it must be a negative reflection on me that I don’t have more posit…

The right to big arms

The power seems to have shifted sides of the net in Kalispell’s crosstown volleyball rivalry. In this case, literally.