Former Montana revenue director says property tax system ‘rigged,’ ‘broken’

Homeowners and renters in Montana are about to experience the largest property tax increase in history — and it’s by design, said Dan Bucks, former head of the Montana Department of Revenue.

Legals for August, 16 2023

Federal regulators flag ‘concerns’ as Montana cuts Medicaid rolls

Federal regulators are urging Montana health officials to fix shortcomings in the state’s Medicaid redetermination process, expressing “concerns” that the state may be disenrolling people who are eligible for the public health insurance and creating barriers for others through long wait times at call centers and during the application process.

Montana property tax rebate claims open Aug. 15

Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 15, eligible Montana homeowners may apply to claim their property tax rebates. Claims must be filed by Oct. 1, 2023.

Flathead Watercooler

Business events, trainings and seminars

While rare, otter attack not out of character, experts say

The three women who were recently attacked by an otter while floating on the Jefferson River near Three Forks stood about a near-equal chance of being charged by an angry unicorn.

Legals for August, 13 2023

Glacier National Park proposes campground fee rate changes

Officials at Glacier National Park are proposing fee rate changes to most front country campgrounds in 2024 and Apgar group sites in 2025.

Diminished Flathead Lake leaves some residents crying mismanagement

RONAN — The amount of water flowing into Flathead Lake peaked both lower and earlier than normal this year, frustrating those accustomed to the lake’s reliably clean, clear water for recreation, irrigation and power generation through the summer.

Board advises people to stop eating whitefish caught downstream of train derailment

Montana’s Fish Consumption Advisory Board issued an initial advisory Friday that people should stop consuming mountain whitefish caught between the site of a train derailment and chemical spill last month and Laurel after chemicals were found in several of the fish that were tested.

State defendants in Montana drag ban lawsuit request jury trial

Attorneys for Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen are requesting a jury trial in the legal case challenging the constitutionality of the drag ban in Montana.

Fairgrounds offers sanctuary to fire evacuees

When mandatory evacuations for Walking Horse Lane and Early Dawn Road and adjacent areas near Big Arm were announced last Thursday afternoon by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Vicki Holmberg, Polson Fairgrounds caretaker, was immediately on the phone with people seeking shelter for their animals and places to park their campers and RVs. When she wasn’t on the phone, she was showing people where to put their animals.

Donations pour in for pair injured in food truck explosion

Online fundraising efforts have so far raised over $30,000 each for boutique ranch Clydesdale Outpost co-owner Matt Arnold-Ladensack and employee Jordan Glosser, who each suffered extensive third degree burns after the food truck they were working in exploded Aug. 1.

Artists paint in downtown Kalispell

The challenge, running from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., is a unique event that aims to celebrate local and regional artists while promoting beautiful Montana landscapes.

Glacier Park’s artist-in-residence programs opens for applications

The artist-in-residence program offers artists focused time to creatively explore the park’s numerous and varied natural and cultural resources and to share their work through educational programs.

Deadpan-style comedian Rich Hall takes stage in Polebridge

Rich Hall is an award-winning comedian, writer, documentary maker, and musician, first coming to prominence as a sketch comedian in the late 1980s. He wrote and performed for a range of networks in series such as “Fridays,” “Not Necessarily the News,” “Otis Lee Crenshaw” and “Saturday Night Live.”

Hockaday Museum hosts annual Plein Air Glacier Paint Out

The 16th annual event offers the change to observe artists while they work, an exhibition and sale.

Polson officials annex property for casino project

A near unanimous decision on Aug. 7 by the Polson City Commission confirmed the annexation of a 79-acre piece of land owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Live spoken word event features storytellers

Story coaches and writing instructors Glenn and Barbara Schiffman are launching a new series of spoken word events in Flathead Valley beginning this month.

Evacuation warning issued between Hungry Horse and West Glacier

Residents on the east side of U.S. 2 between Hungry Horse and West Glacier were placed under a pre-evacuation notice Wednesday morning due to the nearby Ridge Fire.