William 'Will' Dopp, 48

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Will Dopp, 48, who passed away Thursday, July 13, 2023.

Legals for July, 30 2023

Committee recommends denial of Bigfork subdivision

The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee voted to recommend the denial of three requests by Longbow Land Partners, Inc. pertaining to the planned North Shore Woods housing development project during its July meeting Thursday.

Harold Herington, 90

Harold Herington

County considers Lower Valley property again for septage plant

Flathead County is reconsidering a previously rejected Lower Valley property as the potential location for a regional septage treatment facility.

Investigators say poor track conditions caused a 2021 Amtrak derailment in Montana that killed three

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Poor track conditions that should have been flagged by a freight railroad company's inspectors caused the derailment of an Amtrak train in Montana that killed three people and injured 49 others in 2021, federal investigators said Thursday in a final report.

Legals for July, 28 2023

Montana train derailment report renews calls for automated systems to detect track problems

Federal investigators renewed their recommendation that major freight railroads equip every locomotive with the kind of autonomous sensors that could have caught the track flaws that caused a fatal 2021 Amtrak derailment in northern Montana.

State commission to reform Montana's mental health system launches

A new state commission dedicated to rebuilding Montana’s mental health system met for the first time last week.

Whitefish likely to ask voters to approve spending resort tax dollars on community housing

Whitefish City Council voted unanimously earlier this month to review a proposed financial plan that reallocates resort tax funds to include community housing.

Legals for July, 27 2023

Big Richard Band headlines Whitefish Hootenanny

The Whitefish Trail Hootenanny, considered the local’s finale event of the summer, is planned for Friday, Aug. 25 starting at 5 p.m. in Depot Park in downtown Whitefish.

'Big fruit year' say cherry growers

Flathead cherry season is here, and lots of sweet, juicy cherries are ripe and ready to eat. “Big fruit this year,” said Bruce Johnson, a board member of the Flathead Cherry Grower’s Co-op. “Lots of size, and lots of stands are open.

Traps removed after no sign of the grizzly that killed a woman near Yellowstone

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Wildlife workers on Tuesday halted their efforts to capture a grizzly bear that killed a woman over the weekend near Yellowstone National Park after finding no sign of the animal since the day of the attack.

Major automakers unite to build electric vehicle charging network they say will rival Tesla's

DETROIT (AP) — Seven major automakers say they're joining forces to build a North American electric vehicle charging network that would rival Tesla's and nearly double the number of fast-charging plugs in the U.S. and Canada.

Troy Dispatch no longer taking calls for service

Emergency and non-emergency dispatch services for the Troy Area District were transferred to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch on Monday, July 17.

Zinke seeks money for Kalispell infrastructure project

Federal money for community infrastructure projects in Kalispell and on the Blackfeet Reservation may come within the year.

Law roundup: Husband shot by paintball gun

Drama unfolded at Woodland Park when a woman called the Kalispell Police Department to report that her husband was reportedly shot by paintball guns controlled by boys standing on the hill behind the pool.

James Blow, 68

James Blow

Judge approves $9M settlement for Blackfeet telecomms customers who alleged discrimination

A federal judge has approved a $9 million class action settlement involving a nonprofit telecommunications co-op that will pay back millions in capital credits to several hundred tribal members of the former Browning Exchange who alleged discrimination when the company withheld the credits after a 2020 sale.