
Transformation of Kalispell Center Mall aims to make it a downtown destination
Showing a mockup featuring the redesign of the 7 acres of the west side of the site at the May 8 Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Growth Summit, giving a glimpse into the future of what the property along the Parkline Trail might look like.

New coffee shop Glacier Grinds brews up in Kalispell
Glacier Grinds officially opened in mid-April in a shared space with The Rancher’s Daughter, a local farm-to-table retail store. The coffee business, owned by Hailey and her husband John, started as a mobile trailer last year.

Author weaves journey of motherhood into novel
A mother of two young children, Zemke, has taken her experiences with motherhood as inspiration in writing her first fiction novel.

Flathead County begins adopting out 20 dogs seized from Coram property
Twenty of the dogs removed from allegedly unsanitary conditions in March are now in the care of Flathead County and became available for adoption last week.

Business customizes vehicles with specialty designed wraps
Wrap Hive can take a plain trailer and turn it into a creative slate, with straight lines, contrasting colors and high-quality images.

Large nail salon opens in Evergreen
The walls of the salon are covered in flowers, purple fabric, fairy lights and more to bring in a whimsical feel.

ABS Park continues to expand opportunities for young athletes
In almost 80-degree weather, parents and spectators watch a high school baseball game on the park’s main field, cheering with every pitch and hit. A younger group of boys gather on the adjacent field for an after-school Sluggers practice.

New director looks to lead Evergreen Chamber of Commerce
In recent years, the Evergreen population has continued to grow with the greater Flathead Valley, introducing new businesses and places for residents and tourists alike. Dorrington hopes to keep up with that change, using it to Evergreen’s benefit to expand community, social and business options.

Cherry growers hopeful for big crop after total loss in 2024
The rows of cherry trees at Buena Vista Orchard in Bigfork last week were flaunting thousands of buds of the delicate white flowers that will eventually turn to delicious fruit this summer.

Fine mountain dining returns to Kandahar Lodge on Big Mountain
Owners and siblings James Buchanan and Caitlin Buchanan hope to continue the 40-year legacy of fine mountain dining that the location represents.

Lego store builds on its product on Main Street
Big Sky Bricks is one of the latest stores to come to downtown Kalispell, sporting a range of Lego products including miscellaneous pieces, figurines, already-built sets and brand-new sets.

Flathead County Library board seeks to tweak terms of Kalispell land deal
The Flathead County Library Board of Trustees on Thursday signaled that it planned to adjust its offer for a new library branch location near the Kalispell Center Mall.

Kalispell City Council votes to amend nuisance ordinances
Kalispell City Council on Monday voted to expand and streamline two city ordinances addressing junk vehicles and community decay on private property.

Dog seized in animal cruelty case gives birth in Flathead County shelter
One of the dogs removed from allegedly unsanitary conditions last month has given birth to puppies, adding to the capacity crunch at the already overwhelmed Flathead County Animal Shelter.

Wood turner handcrafts unique pieces
The process to create each mug is tedious. After carving the shape and creating the handle, the mugs go through rounds of sanding and glossing, each finished with a food-safe alcohol epoxy that can withstand both cold and hot beverages.

Injured by flying debris, Flathead Valley man calls for tougher enforcement of unsecured loads
On a late March morning, Gary Gilham drove a truck loaded with tables, couches and chairs back to Kalispell, a routine trip for the 15-year furniture store employee.

Employers at job fair looking to fill open spots
Levels of urgency varied when it comes to hiring across industries with some employers expressing extreme hiring concerns and others finding themselves in a better place than in previous years.

Volunteer medical work important to Whitefish dentist
One of the greatest aspects of being a dentist is being able to help others, Whitefish dentist Mandy Stebbins said.

Specialty running store sprints into Kalispell retail scene
Casey Jermyn is the owner of Bozeman Running Company as well, which he opened in 2010 in Bozeman

Flathead Valley tutor service assists students in learning process
The tutoring center seeks to assist students and others in the accomplishment of intellectual tasks, whether that be homework help, concept tutoring, test preparation and more, all while encouraging confidence.

Big Mountain saw big turnout for ski season
Whitefish Mountain Resort saw a snowy end to its ski season, with the delivery of another winter storm just days before the closing weekend shenanigans.

County teams up with Logan Health to distribute gun locks
The Flathead City-County Health Department and Logan Health are rolling out a program to distribute gun locks to community members in an effort to prevent firearm related deaths.

Homemade classics and twists at center of Columbia Falls cafe menu
The bakery, cafe and coffee roaster in Columbia Falls offers artisan hearth breads, savory and sweet baked goods, breakfast, lunch and a full espresso and tea bar, with everything made in the open-concept kitchen.

Rooted in history, Kalispell boutique offers eclectic mix of new finds
The store features a range of items, gifts and clothes, from sweaters to plates to cards. Each item is carefully curated.

Magic flight: Observing geese migration at Freezout Lake unique experience
Located just north of Fairfield on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountain Front, the Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area at 12,000 acres, has become a hot spot for waterfowl hunting and bird watching.

Flathead County Library moving forward with Kalispell branch project
Flathead County Library trustees inched closer to the construction of a new Kalispell branch on Thursday, signing a letter of intent for property near a downtown mall.

New Kalispell Center Mall owners seek anchor chains for retail hub
The Texas company that purchased the Kalispell Center Mall last year is in negotiation with three potential anchors to join the commercial space.

Mountain photographer captures new perspectives from Glacier
Jason Weiss stood at the top of Mount Siyeh moments before the sun rose.

Follow ‘nature first’ rules for photography
When photographing in nature, it is important to maintain a “nature first” mentality, a concept spearheaded by photographers and nonprofits to help conserve the places outdoor photographers love through education and outreach.
Flathead County Animal Shelter overwhelmed after authorities seize 27 dogs in animal cruelty case
The Flathead County Animal Shelter is overwhelmed with animals after 27 dogs were seized from allegedly unsanitary conditions at a Coram property earlier this month, according to shelter division manager Austin Hicks.

Unique wellness treatments focus for Lakeside spa
Annie Dillard constantly looks for calming treatment options to add to the spa that are unique and contribute to a serene experience.

Amazon warehouse planned for south Kalispell
The one-story building is set to be about 28,000 square feet in size and located on United Drive near Fred’s Appliances.

Glacier High student’s appointment to West Point celebrated
Wyatt Jensen specifically remembers opening the mail with his parents in the third grade when he saw an academy brochure. He was in awe, and immediately knew he wanted to go there one day.

New sales manager aims to promote Kalispell
As group sales manager, Ben Gould leads efforts by Discover Kalispell to drive revenue growth by securing new conferences, reunions, tour groups, sports events and more by working closely with industry partners to promote Kalispell as a travel destination, ultimately reinvesting back into the local economy.
Kalispell studio illustrates stories using natural products for stop-motion animation
Stop-motion animation is a style of animation that utilizes photographing and then physically moving objects within the frame in order to tell a story. As each frame is played together, the technique makes it appear like the object is moving itself.

Flathead Childcare expands with two new locations
Mishael Jelley owns Flathead Childcare alongside her brother, Mark Vogel. Originally from Northwest Montana, the pair grew up with almost a dozen siblings. Child care has always been a part of their lives, from taking care of siblings to looking for childcare for their own nieces, nephews and children.

Glacier High School students question Zinke on upheaval in Washington, education funding
Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke defended efforts by the Trump administration to downsize and remake the federal government while taking questions from Glacier High School students on Thursday.

Peaks to Prairie collaboration showcases Montana in new beer
The beer Peaks to Prairie, spearheaded by the Montana Brewer’s Association, is being served locally at Sacred Waters Brewing Co. in Kalispell.

Students hone scientific ideas at annual Flathead County Science Fair
The Flathead County Fairground’s Trade Center was packed with dozens of tri-fold boards Thursday morning, each asking — and attempting to answer — a question rooted in the scientific method.

Young violinist hosts debut show Friday
The 16-year-old Montana native is debuting his first solo performance on Friday, one rung in a ladder he said he is climbing.

Flathead County health experts prepare as measles spreads across U.S.
Flathead County health officials and experts are preparing for measles as an outbreak rages in Texas and cases of the virus spread across the United States.

Chef focuses on homecooked flavors at grab-n-go shop and pop-up restaurant
The first dish she makes, pasta Bolognese, represents the homecooked meals she’s grown to love, with each bite packing a punch of flavor.

Compass Chiropractic expands to Kalispell
Seven years later, the demand for the system-oriented chiropractic practice has grown, leading to the recent opening of an extension practice space downtown Kalispell in February, continuing their focus on tonal techniques and the nervous system.

Lower Valley landmark: Effort to restore Blasdel Barn comes forward
Built in 1908 by settler Frank W. Porter, the barn was such a design marvel that at the time valley residents threw a party upon its completion, according to Daily Inter Lake archives. Some still coin the structure the Porter Ranch Barn after its original roots.

Bill incentivizing sale of Montana-produced foods moves through the House
House Bill 440, sponsored by Rep. Jane Weber, D-Great Falls, lays out a pilot program that would provide tax incentives for the sale of Montana-produced food. The bill passed with an amendment to add a sunset date in 2031.

Flathead County Library looks to build new Kalispell branch on mall property
Flathead County Library officials signed a letter of intent Thursday to purchase several acres of property at the Kalispell Center Mall for a future branch for the municipality.

Gateway Community Center expands children’s library offerings
Formerly known as the Gateway West Mall, what was once a business epicenter for Kalispell’s west side sat mostly empty for several years until the United Way seized on an opportunity to turn the building into a dedicated resource for nonprofit organizations purchasing the building in 2015.

PEAK Fit with focus on functional fitness expands to Kalispell
The gym seeks to provide a holistic approach to fitness and recovery through the utilization of high intensity interval training, also called HIIT, mixed with caring for the body and prioritizing recovery

Influenza numbers remain high across Flathead Valley
Seasonal influenza activity remains high across the country and within Flathead County.

Montana House votes down bill to ban mRNA vaccines
The Montana House on Wednesday voted down a bill that would have banned mRNA vaccines statewide, including the Covid-19 vaccine.