Sunday, March 16, 2025
Kalispell studio illustrates stories using natural products for stop-motion animation
March 16, 2025 midnight

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
March 16, 2025 midnight

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
March 15, 2025 midnight

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
March 9, 2025 midnight

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
March 7, 2025 midnight

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
March 6, 2025 midnight

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.

Chef focuses on homecooked flavors at grab-n-go shop and pop-up restaurant
March 5, 2025 midnight

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.

Flathead County health experts prepare as measles spreads across U.S.
March 5, 2025 midnight

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.

Lower Valley landmark: Effort to restore Blasdel Barn comes forward
March 2, 2025 midnight

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.

Compass Chiropractic expands to Kalispell
March 2, 2025 midnight

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.

Bill incentivizing sale of Montana-produced foods moves through the House
February 28, 2025 midnight

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
February 27, 2025 1:19 p.m.

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
February 26, 2025 midnight

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.

Influenza numbers remain high across Flathead Valley
February 23, 2025 midnight

Influenza numbers remain high across Flathead Valley

Seasonal influenza activity remains high across the country and within Flathead County.

PEAK Fit with focus on functional fitness expands to Kalispell
February 23, 2025 midnight

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

Montana House votes down bill to ban mRNA vaccines
February 21, 2025 midnight

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.

Whitefish shop shakes up delicious joy with over-the-top drinks
February 19, 2025 midnight

Whitefish shop shakes up delicious joy with over-the-top drinks

On top of the shake is a mountain of sweet, whipped cream covered in caramel drizzle, topped with the star of the show: the Liege waffle.

Snow bikes make for a unique way to shred the mountain
February 16, 2025 midnight

Snow bikes make for a unique way to shred the mountain

“A SNO-GO,” I promptly smiled back to him. “Basically, a bike on skis.”

At-home therapy aimed at improving day-to-day life
February 16, 2025 midnight

At-home therapy aimed at improving day-to-day life

It’s a type of therapy that focuses on how to address functional deficits across all aspects of the body.

Valentines: The key to love from those who know it
February 14, 2025 midnight

Valentines: The key to love from those who know it

Loreley and Fred McLaughlin met over 60 years ago while at a mutual friend’s house. The apartment was unfurnished, so they sat on pillows, drinking margaritas and having a good time.

Bill to ban mRNA vaccines passes out of House committee
February 14, 2025 midnight

Bill to ban mRNA vaccines passes out of House committee

A bill that would ban the use of mRNA vaccines, including for Covid-19, is on its way to the House floor after passing out of committee in a party-line vote Wednesday.

Housing affordability remains a top economic concern for Flathead Valley
February 13, 2025 midnight

Housing affordability remains a top economic concern for Flathead Valley

Montana has become a top five state in job creation over the past year yet is ranked low when it comes to wage growth, according to Jeff Michael, director of the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Passion for wellness, Logan fitness director retires
February 12, 2025 midnight

Passion for wellness, Logan fitness director retires

Brad Roy has retired after 30 years serving as the executive director of Logan Health Medical Fitness Center.

House committee takes testimony on bill that would ban certain vaccines in Montana
February 11, 2025 midnight

House committee takes testimony on bill that would ban certain vaccines in Montana

Legislation that would ban mRNA vaccinations statewide — including the Covid-19 vaccine — drew equal parts support and opposition during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Friday.

Custom clothing has Western inspiration
February 9, 2025 midnight

Custom clothing has Western inspiration

The online shop features a range of unique frayed jean jackets, leather purses, accessories and more, all inspired by the West and hand-created by Adkins, who lives south of Billings but travels across the state for different events to showcase her work.

Family-owned home goods shop opens in Kalispell
February 9, 2025 midnight

Family-owned home goods shop opens in Kalispell

Upon walking into Trio Collective, one is greeted with an array of items across a range of price points.

Mental health center CEO aims to expand services
February 3, 2025 midnight

Mental health center CEO aims to expand services

A fourth-generation Montanan, Bob Lopp was born and raised in Kalispell. Growing up, his parents were always involved in the community, a concept he brought into his adult life too.

Bigfork firearms manufacturer continues to grow
February 2, 2025 midnight

Bigfork firearms manufacturer continues to grow

The Bigfork firearms manufacturer expects to carry a new pistol system, and company officials are looking forward to maximizing space, personnel and machinery to keep up with demand that is expected as a result.

Kalispell rock shop place to find hidden gems
January 26, 2025 midnight

Kalispell rock shop place to find hidden gems

The idea to open a rock shop developed over time. Originally from Bozeman, Wendy Skelton and her family moved to the valley in 2000. Prior to the move, Skelton went to school to become a massage therapist, but soon after gave birth to her first born and focused on family instead.

The Cabins at Blacktail offer a serene getaway
January 26, 2025 midnight

The Cabins at Blacktail offer a serene getaway

The Cabins at Blacktail, located on a unique plat of land off Blacktail Road featuring a sauna, cold-plunge and six separate cabins nestled in the forest, wants to foster a place for community to gather, grow and challenge themselves – whether that be through a cold plunge, a retreat or just a mid-week staycation getaway.

Influenza cases increasing in Flathead County
January 24, 2025 midnight

Influenza cases increasing in Flathead County

Flathead County continues to see an uptick of influenza cases and was home to a norovirus outbreak in December.

New medical imaging center opens in North Kalispell
January 19, 2025 midnight

New medical imaging center opens in North Kalispell

The Montana Imaging Center, located just next to the water tower on U.S. 93, offers both magnetic resonance imaging, also called an MRI, and computerized tomography scans, also known as CT using Canon brand machines.

January 18, 2025 midnight

Whooping cough cases jump in Flathead Valley

Flathead County has seen a spike in pertussis, or whooping cough, cases in recent months.

Logan Health adds gynecological cancer services
January 17, 2025 midnight

Logan Health adds gynecological cancer services

Three experts on a Billings Clinic–Logan Health outreach team are providing the new service.

Registration open for Logan Health fundraiser CycleMT
January 15, 2025 midnight

Registration open for Logan Health fundraiser CycleMT

Logan Health will host its third annual stationary bike relay event in March to raise money for Montana children and young adults facing medical hardships.

Kalispell’s Fair Trade Tattoo focuses on traditional tattoos
January 12, 2025 midnight

Kalispell’s Fair Trade Tattoo focuses on traditional tattoos

From opening a massive shop with Zac Brown from the Zac Brown Band in Georgia to competing on the TV show Ink Masters to making a name for himself in Hawaii, he has a breadth of experience in tattooing.

Logan Health to close inpatient rehabilitation unit
January 5, 2025 midnight

Logan Health to close inpatient rehabilitation unit

Logan Health is closing its inpatient rehabilitation facility in February with plans to turn the facility into a surgical unit. It’s a decision hospital Co-CEO Kevin Abell announced at the beginning of December in an email to staff.

Skin care company focuses on natural ingredients
January 5, 2025 midnight

Skin care company focuses on natural ingredients

Products that are all natural, all organic and sourced from the woods of Montana when possible.

Community rallies for Kalispell business destroyed by fire
January 5, 2025 midnight

Community rallies for Kalispell business destroyed by fire

A fire ripped through Tanner and Jana Roach’s Kalispell business, Beck and Cap, in the early morning hours of Dec. 17, destroying everything within its walls.

North Kalispell bustling with construction while more on the horizon
January 2, 2025 midnight

North Kalispell bustling with construction while more on the horizon

Some of the projects were approved just last year and others have been in the works for more than a decade. Construction is underway on a hotel on the west side of U.S. 93, while plans have been submitted to the city for a new Costco warehouse to the east.

Led by faith, couple serves others around the globe
December 30, 2024 midnight

Led by faith, couple serves others around the globe

On Jan. 15, the couple is set to embark on their latest adventure: serving on a medical vessel with Mercy Ships in Papa New Guinea, the eastern half of the island New Guinea, just northwest of Australia.

Kalispell massage therapist focuses on mind-body connection
December 29, 2024 midnight

Kalispell massage therapist focuses on mind-body connection

Aly Aiyn George, born and raised in Eureka, opened her shop just across the street from Elrod Elementary in April. A year of renovations and work later, the building — originally built in 1893 — has a new, welcoming, fantasy sort of look with curving wood features.

Dazzling Christmas light show awes viewers while giving to nonprofit
December 25, 2024 midnight

Dazzling Christmas light show awes viewers while giving to nonprofit

The lights, synchronized to music and displayed on the house and across the front lawn, have raised nearly $10,000 over the years.

Flathead Valley churches honor Christmas season
December 24, 2024 midnight

Flathead Valley churches honor Christmas season

The build-up to Christmas is a time of joy and thankfulness for churches across the valley, many of which have special services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Bojangles Diner closes the door on decades of nostalgia
December 22, 2024 12:05 a.m.

Bojangles Diner closes the door on decades of nostalgia

“The main point has always been community,” said owner Tena Bowen. “Bojangles is just a building and without the community, you have just an empty building. [These people have] been my world for all these years.”

Hope Thrift spreads a sense of hope in the community
December 22, 2024 midnight

Hope Thrift spreads a sense of hope in the community

Hope Thrift, located at 105 6th Ave. W., is located behind Bob and Peggy’s Houses. From decorations to winter jackets to games, the store boasts an assortment of fairly priced thrifted goods for both shelter residents and the public to check out.

Cocktail syrups capture flavor of Montana
December 15, 2024 midnight

Cocktail syrups capture flavor of Montana

Doug Satterly currently offers four flavors of syrups but is in the process of creating and launching two more. Each bottle of nonalcoholic syrup has a suggested mocktail on its label, which can be turned into a cocktail by adding any spirit.

Flathead High School alumni help current students through donations
December 15, 2024 midnight

Flathead High School alumni help current students through donations

When Carol Lechner saw a Facebook post from the Heart Locker last year asking for donations for teens for Christmas, she wanted to help. A year later, it has officially grown into a tradition for Lechner and the Flathead Alumni and Friends.

Health officials say active tuberculosis case in Flathead County is under control
December 10, 2024 midnight

Health officials say active tuberculosis case in Flathead County is under control

Health officials say that an active tuberculosis case in Flathead County is under control.

Ski patrol union frustrated with negotiation timeline
December 8, 2024 12:05 a.m.

Ski patrol union frustrated with negotiation timeline

Contract negotiations between the recently formed Whitefish Mountain Resort ski patrol union and resort executives remained unfinished as the ski season opened Thursday, with the union president saying that a mid-season picket or strike could be on table if talks don’t move forward.