DIL Editorial
Thoughtful perspectives from the Daily Inter Lake editorial board—local viewpoints on issues shaping Northwest Montana.
Reckless cruisers jeopardize Main Street pastime
Kalispell’s downtown cruisers are dealing with a few rotten apples that threaten to spoil the bunch.
Strategy to relieve Sun Road congestion
Glacier National Park stakeholders are currently debating how to best address increasing congestion along Going-to-the-Sun Road. A number of ideas have come forward — some more controversial than others — and recen…
Partnerships help keep island pristine
Only accessible by boat, Wild Horse Island State Park has long been considered a hidden jewel of Flathead Lake.
Teachers tap into crowdsourcing
In a perfect world, teachers would have all the money they need for classroom supplies and projects. But the reality is, most school district budgets are tight and teachers routinely dip into their own pockets to p…
Collaboration key to solving worker shortage
All of the indicators point to a robust economy in the Flathead Valley. Unemployment rates are at historic lows and wages are up. Visitation levels are still on the rise and tourists are spending more than ever bef…
CFAC cleanup hits important milestones
Significant progress has been made with the ongoing cleanup at the former Columbia Falls Aluminum Co., plant Superfund site. Following a little more than three years of work, many of the structures that once define…
Unintended consequences of new ordinance
The Kalispell City Council last week narrowly approved an ordinance making it a civil infraction to sleep overnight in vehicles parked on city streets.
Valley unites in search for Katie
From “Lassie” and “Lady & the Tramp” to “Benji” and “Beethoven,” who doesn’t love a good dog story?
Sun Road plan offers bold solutions
Challenging times call for extreme measures, and that’s exactly the approach Glacier Park officials are taking with a new management plan for Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Mental-health mapping tool is worthy project
Those working with behavioral-health issues in Flathead County have a new mapping tool at their disposal that aims to develop a justice system model that doesn’t criminalize mental-health or substance-use disorders…
Order on e-bikes conjures questions
A recent secretarial order from the Interior Department classifies electric-powered bicycles as non-motorized bikes. While seemingly insignificant at first glance, this order could alter the recreational landscape …
Evergreen can overcome latest retail closure
Kmart announced last week that it will be closing its Evergreen location after decades of serving the community. Liquidation sales will soon begin and by the end of the year the iconic “Big K” store will go dark.
Citizens' closure is a loss in planning arena
For 27 years Citizens for a Better Flathead has been the watchdog for land-use planning and smart growth in the Flathead Valley, but that oversight will now be gone as the nonprofit shutters its office amid a fundi…
The bears are back in town
Kids are back in school, nights are getting chilly and bears are roaming town — three sure signs that the end of summer is near in Northwest Montana.
Program offers a good way to 'age in place'
As the Flathead County Agency on Aging was formulating its new long-range aging plan earlier this year, agency leaders asked seniors what they feared most about aging. Many older adults concurred that losing their …
Rebuilding Sperry is a marvel, even in modern times
The logistics of rebuilding the Sperry Chalet dormitory on a stone bluff high up in Glacier National Park are perhaps not as daunting as they were when the original chalet opened in 1913. After all, construction wo…