Big Sky Notes: Griz LB O’Connell is Hula Bowl-bound

To the long list of accolades he’s built already, add the Hula Bowl for Montana linebacker Patrick O’Connell, who was invited to the college football all-star showcase this week.

Columbia Falls students top-5 at Model UN

More than 250 students from 12 Montana and Idaho high schools participated in the 57th annual Montana Model United Nations Conference, hosted in November at the University of Montana.

Glacier QB Sliter commits to the Griz

Glacier quarterback Gage Sliter made it official that he’s headed to the Montana Grizzlies Tuesday, announcing his intention to join their football program via Twitter.

Drunk driver sentenced for wreck that sent pedestrian to ICU

Despite calls for stiffer penalties, a Flathead County judge kept to the terms of a plea deal Dec. 1, handing down a partially suspended sentence to a motorist who drunkenly ran down a woman in the spring.

Legals for December, 6 2022

Sale jumpstarts floating, offshore wind power in US waters

The growth of offshore wind comes as climate change intensifies and need for clean energy grows. It also is getting cheaper.

Whitefish Mountain Resort president starts day on the slopes

It was while skiing in his youth in Loveland, Colorado, where Nick Polumbus grew up, that he had the realization that he wanted to work in the ski industry.

Gary Luce, 76

Gary was born April 2, 1946, grew up in Columbia Falls and passed away Nov. 25, 2022, surrounded by loved ones; wife, Elaine Luce; and son, Robert Luce.

Scholarship funding, more reading, more teacher pay top Gianforte’s education priorities

Gov. Greg Gianforte called on parents — and grandparents, aunts and uncles — to help close the learning gap that emerged after the Covid-19 pandemic by doing one thing. “It’s easy. Please read to your kids 20 minutes a day. This will help close the gap,” Gianforte said.

Community briefs

Blue Christmas service; Holiday market in Whitefish; Evergreen holiday gathering; Free meals; Klothes Kloset Christmas store

Legals for December, 4 2022

Ladies of the dance — Beloved holiday ballet brings family together

When the San Diego Ballet’s “Nutcracker” touring company travels to Kalispell this week, it will not only bring one of the most beloved ballets and Christmas stories to the McClaren Hall stage, it will also nurture a unique kinship between an aunt and her niece. Carol (Brannan) Sullivan has spent most of her lifetime teaching dance in the Flathead Valley.

Montana State defeats Weber State 33-25 in FCS playoffs

It was, “Second verse, same as the first” for the Montana State Bobcats Saturday, who rode Sean Chambers and another huge run game to a 33-25 FCS playoff win over Weber State.

Blacktail ski area to open Saturday

Blacktail Mountain Ski Area will open Saturday, Dec. 10 for the winter season, marking the earliest opening date in a decade for the ski slopes above Lakeside.

New sex ed law ensnares English and history lessons

A Montana law requiring public schools to notify parents of lessons that mention human sexuality — and allowing parents to pull their children from those lessons — has reached further and been more cumbersome than anticipated, according to two school district leaders.

Legals for December, 2 2022

Griz aim to stun Fargodome crowd

Bobby Hauck’s first game as coach of the Montana Grizzlies was in September of 2003, and it didn’t go as expected.

WTC presents ‘Little Women’ for the holidays

The Whitefish Theatre Company presents “Little Women” as its winter show at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.

Judy Rae Simonson, 71

Our loving mother, Judy Rae Simonson, 71, of Polson passed away peacefully at St. Joseph Hospital on Nov. 28, 2022.

Kalispell Public Works Department accepting bids to develop solid waste master plan

The Kalispell Department of Public works is seeking a firm to craft a solid waste management master plan for the city.