North Valley Hospital tallies numbers from a busy 2019
North Valley Hospital last year recorded more than 45,600 outpatient visits.
Whitefish aims to improve irrigation water efficiency
Whitefish is looking for ways it can save water in its parks and landscaped rights-of-way in the city.
Music ambassador: violinist gives year to college program
Though Wai Mizutani has been a musician since age 5, it wasn’t until he moved to Northwest Montana that he could play his violin with a truly joyful heart.
Juggling Act
Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish stages three big musicals in three weeks this summer Alpine Theatre Project
When it was formed 10 years ago, the Whitefish-based Alpine Theatre Project had a good reason for its choice of name.
Singer in the spotlight for 'Sober & Sorry'
Kayla Adams wants her first video to not only showcase her first country single — “Sober & Sorry” — but also be her introduction to the world.
Artists take a chance on Bigfork
A rainy Monday completely changed the summer of 2014 for two Missoula artists.
Kalispell logger takes a crew into the wilds of Russia on new Discovery Channel series
Sean Vann said he believes he was born 100 years too late, but working for 17 years in the Russian logging industry has given him the opportunity to feel as if he’s living in the past.
Creative energy: Dancer shares history of teaching, performing with Flathead
Dancer brings long history of teaching, performing to the Flathead
Musician launches booking agency for local talent
Jazz Night Out brings together trio of renowned talent
Local graduate on 'Runway' spinoff
“Project Runway: Under the Gunn” mentor Nick Verreos said on the first episode of the new Lifetime show that he wanted to be “part of the cool group” by having Columbia Falls High School graduate Brady Lange on his design team.
Polson film festival grows dramatically in second year
Hockaday Museum offers traveling exhibition of Japenese woodblocks
Maintenance managers: Michigan firm acquires successful local software company
A Bigfork-area computer software company with corporate clients such as Facebook, Campbell’s Soup and Burlington Coat Factory was purchased by a Michigan firm in December, but founder Paulson Palmer said Upturn Solutions will stay and most likely expand its Flathead Valley presence.
Conference highlights valley's organic growers
Julian Cunningham has cut down on the number of acres in production on his Creston-area organic farm, but not because there’s a lack of interest in his produce.
State organic growers organization holds annual meeting at FVCC
Judy Owsowitz’s Montana Organic Association colleagues had long maintained they would never hold the group’s annual conference in the Flathead because, they would tell her, “it’s too far.”
Thunderbirds to roar into valley Aug. 30-31
Contract disagreement leads to TV-station blackout
When Northwest Montana DISH Network subscribers turn to the NBC station, instead of programming they now see a static blue screen and a message that begins “Bonten Media Group has blocked your access to this channel.”
Inspiration on ice
Glacier skate director brings experience to valley
As someone who went on to build a life around ice skating after putting on his first pair of skates at age 2, Glacier Skate International Training Academy Director Chad Goodwin knows the power of starting out young.
Jesco business thriving in new location
It wasn’t too many months after Jesco Marine and Power Sports took over its new expansive facility south of Kalispell in January that it was breaking ground to add more space.
Think small: Local entrepreneurs band together for Small Business Saturday
While what happens during the Christmas shopping season can make or break some locally owned small businesses, a technology store such as RadioActive in Kalispell doesn’t have to base its annual success on sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Music and memories: Kalispell store part of resurgence of records
Connor Crevier has found that some people will pay a good deal to own their favorite music in its most tangible and collectible form.
The Outlaw: New life for old favorite
Transformation of every guest room at the Outlaw is underway as new owners reposition the property in the Flathead market
Although the Outlaw Hotel & Convention Center was Kalispell’s most illustrious, high-end establishment for many years after it was built in 1973, its newest owners have no illusions that they can bring the site back to its former grandeur.
Eagle's Nest creates shopping adventure with 14,000-square-foot display of antiques, furniture display
The selection of merchandise at Eagle’s Nest Antiques & Home Decor in Columbia Falls is wide-ranging and takes many turns, just like the background of store owner Kevin Underdahl.
Investor links firm to Asian markets
The Asian market offers enormous potential for WaveSource Inc., and now the Kalispell-based optometry technology company has a solid advocate in the region.
Lethbridge connections: City could be business gateway to Canada
A small contingent from the Flathead Valley traveled to Lethbridge, Alberta, earlier this month to begin the process of forging business ties that go beyond luring Canadian shoppers and skiers to Northwest Montana.
Former Tiebuckers owners open the new Tree Frog Tavern on west side of Kalispell
Julie and Barry Smith incorporated a bit of their now-closed Tiebuckers restaurant into their newly opened Tree Frog Tavern in Kalispell, bringing some repurposed barnwood and an old door from the Tiebuckers building.
Endurance lifestyle
Pat Caffrey’s years of running long races of 50 miles or more — called “ultras” in the running community — have helped shape his ability to tackle another tough assignment.
Compatible Manufacturing masters design challenges
Compatible Manufacturing owner Tim Miller has a good idea why a Montana manufacturing group has chosen to tour his firm on Tuesday as part of the Montana Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Woman dreams of community center in vacant store
Eryn Edelen has spent many of the wetter and colder months in Kalispell wondering what to do with her four children, and she realizes that this dilemma may face other Flathead Valley families.
Honoring tradition - Glacier Prosthetic Care owner aims to carry on service philosophy of his mentor and friend
To Ian Reynolds and Niles Velin, a prosthetic device doesn’t have to be just a utilitarian replacement for a lost limb — it can be a work of art.
FVCC panel discusses how to 'Lean In'
New day for New West: Licensed Medicare provider seeing dramatic growth
Not much more than a year ago, New West Health Services was coming back from an antitrust settlement restructuring that forced it to drop the commercial side of insurance, leading to a layoff of some employees in Helena and Kalispell and a 50 percent drop in annual revenue.
FVCC gets $46 million - Award from German company announced during tour
Due to some bad weather in Washington, D.C., Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., was unable to attend a breakfast meeting Friday with ambassadors of four countries and Flathead Valley business leaders at Applied Materials.
New owners bring manufacturing, business expertise to Kettle Care organic skin-care line
If choosing someone to purchase a company involved traditional job interviews, it seems likely that Klaus and Annegret Pfeifer would be the perfect hires to run Kettle Care Organics, a Whitefish-area company producing a line of therapeutic organic skin-care products.
Luxury real estate auctions increase as vehicle for selling local properties
New York City-based Concierge Auctions will take local auctions to a new level on Tuesday when Endless Sky Estate in Whitefish sells to the highest bidder in an event that promises to be as sophisticated and luxurious as the home itself.
Horse event to be richest ever in U.S.
Majestic Valley Arena hosts championship showdown in October
The World Class Bucking Horse Association finals held last fall at Majestic Valley Arena this year will be called the Cinch Bucking Horse Championships and claim the status of being the richest bucking horse event ever held in the United States.
Fountain of youth: Effects of cancer treatments lead Kalispell entrepreneur to create a new line of natural, anti-aging skin-care products
When the market didn’t provide Susan Nickell with what she needs, she responded in true entrepreneurial fashion — she made the products herself.
Local businesses more confident on economy climate
A confident mindset is a crucial driver in any business community, and Kalispell’s attitude seems to be overwhelmingly positive heading into the second half of 2013.
Whitefish Sportsman store gets new look
Sportsman & Ski Haus in Whitefish recently began a complete exterior overhaul of its facility, the first major improvement at the store since Sportsman moved into the south end of the Whitefish Mountain Mall.
Hostel territory: Valley entrepreneurs offer new affordable lodging for travelers
Hostels are generally appealing to budget-minded, adventurous travelers and often have the reputation as being a bit on the rustic side.
Hilton Suites nears finish line
It’s difficult to turn a corner inside Kalispell’s new Homewood Suites by Hilton without running into one of the dozens of men and women working on all aspects of construction in preparation for an Aug. 15 opening.
Valley manufacturer's first product gives new life to older Semitool technology
If you’re looking to build retrofittable control systems for older Semitool equipment, there could be no better place to start than with the people who helped create the equipment in the first place.
Know Obstacles: Special training course built on fitness facility grounds
Anyone who wants to prepare for next year’s Spartan Race in Bigfork or any other obstacle-racing challenge now will have a training ground in Kalispell.
Economic leaders share concerns at roundtable
Start-up aims to help families on vacation
With three children ages 9, 6 and 3, Jenni Cheff has spent many years either hauling awkward child paraphernalia on vacation or making frantic phone calls to pull together everything her children needed to be safe and happy away from home.
Top Chef
Moroldo's owner impresses cooking peers
Fabrizio Moroldo, chef and owner at Moroldo’s Fine Italian Restaurant in Bigfork, is more than capable of cooking in styles from around the world.
Two local restaurant-supply businesses stay busy serving retail and commercial needs
People who love to cook may not be aware of the bounty of kitchen supplies that await them at two stores in the Evergreen area.
New owners, new identity for Outlaw Inn
Though the Outlaw Inn in Kalispell will probably be known by that name for years to come, its official name soon will be GuestHouse Inn & Suites.
AERO to raise money that will help bring more flights to valley
The Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming is serving as a model for much of what some Glacier Park International Airport supporters are hoping to accomplish.