Subdivision proposed near Grouse Mountain soccer fields
Development is front and center as the Whitefish City Council starts the new year by considering a 20-lot residential subdivision next to the Grouse Mountain soccer fields on Fairway Drive.
Opposition voiced over rural Bigfork vacation rental proposal
The Flathead County Board of Adjustment will start the new year on Jan. 4 by weighing in on a request for short-term rental housing in Bigfork that has drawn opposition from neighbors.
County poised to complete building projects in 2022
911 backup center added to North Building lineup
Flathead County will see a number of building and remodeling projects come to fruition in 2022, including the renovation of the former CenturyLink building that will house several county departments and a new 911 backup center.
Whitefish council considers short-term rental rule changes
The Whitefish City Council on Monday will wrap up a public hearing for a proposal that aims to update and improve regulations and enforcement for residential short-term and medium term rentals.
Whitefish Christian Academy seeks to make temp classrooms permanent
Whitefish Christian Academy is asking the city of Whitefish to allow temporary classrooms at the school to be made permanent.
County OKs tiny home project; neighbors object
A plan to build nine residential tiny homes on 4.18 acres at 125 Wiley Dike Road in the Lower Valley near Somers won approval from the Flathead County commissioners on Tuesday.
Commissioners reappoint 2 Health Board members
The Flathead County commissioners on Thursday decided to retain incumbent Board of Health members Dr. J. Peter Heyboer II and Ronalee Skees, reappointing them for another three-year term.
County extends health officer contract, OKs pay raise
The Flathead County commissioners have extended the contract for Public Health Officer Joe Russell to June 30, 2022, and gave him a raise as the county continues its search for a new health officer.
Creston subdivision proposals top Planning Board agenda
Two proposed subdivisions in the Creston area top the Flathead County Planning Board agenda for Wednesday’s meeting.
Whitefish council to vote on curbside recycling, short-term rental rules
The Whitefish City Council has packed its final meeting agenda for the year with a number of big decisions, ranging from a proposed mandatory curbside recycling program to a reconsideration of where marijuana may be sold in the city starting in January.
Interim library director resigns amid conflict with board
The interim director of ImagineIF Libraries has resigned amid growing tension between some library board members and library staff over what she sees as board overreach in how the library is operated.
Short-term rental requests draw opposition near Whitefish
The Flathead County Board of Adjustment is being asked to weigh in on two separate short-term rental requests that have drawn opposition from neighbors.
Whitefish Planning Board rejects Mountain Gateway project
The Whitefish Planning Board on Thursday voted 3-1 to recommend denial of the proposed Mountain Gateway mixed-use development at the base of Big Mountain.
Library reviewing gender identity books after complaints filed
ImagineIF Libraries has received a formal request to remove the graphic novel and memoir, “Gender Queer,” by Aia Kobabe, and Interim Library Director Martha Furman is establishing a review committee to investigate the complaint.
Mountain Gateway hearings continue Thursday
The Whitefish Planning Board on Thursday will continue two public hearings on the proposed Mountain Gateway development at the base of Big Mountain.
Whitefish proposes stiff fee increase for short-term rentals
A city proposal to increase the business license fee for a short-term rental unit in Whitefish is the focus of a public hearing at the Whitefish City Council meeting on Monday.
Flathead County names new planning director
Interim Flathead County Planning and Zoning Director Erik Mack has been hired to fill the director position that was vacated by Mark Mussman in July.
County approves new commission district boundaries
The Flathead County commissioners on Thursday finalized new commission district boundaries based on population growth throughout the county.
Evergreen sidewalk project gets $25,000 from Flathead Electric
Evergreen’s sidewalk project recently got a big boost from Flathead Electric Cooperative with a $25,000 grant.
Whitefish council tackles pot rules, infrastructure projects
The Whitefish City Council on Monday is poised to finalize its game plan on where marijuana dispensaries will be allowed in the city.
County eyes septage treatment, biosolids facility
Flathead County has taken the first step in working toward a long-term solution for handling the county’s burgeoning septic waste by seeking firms or individuals interested in developing a septage treatment and biosolids composting facility.
Proposed retreat center west of Whitefish includes horse facilities
A camp and retreat center proposed on 20 acres of agricultural land off U.S. 93 west of Spencer Lake near Whitefish will need a conditional-use permit to move forward.
Citizens group forms to oppose Mountain Gateway project
A new nonprofit group called Flathead Families for Responsible Growth has formed in response to the proposed Mountain Gateway development at the base of Big Mountain, a sizable project the group says will negatively impact water quality, traffic and the small-town way of life in Whitefish.
Kalispell woman joins race for Montana's 2nd House seat
Mary Todd, a Kalispell businesswoman and church leader, announced Thursday she is running as a Republican for Montana’s newly established second U.S. House seat.
Hearings Thursday for big housing project in Whitefish
One of the biggest housing projects ever proposed in Whitefish, along with a request for accompanying commercial development — all at the base of Big Mountain — is the focus of two public hearings Thursday before the Whitefish Planning Board.
Whitefish council to vote on two hotel projects
The Whitefish City Council will decide the fate of two hotel projects at Monday’s meeting, and is poised to potentially deny approval of an 85-room hotel planned on U.S. 93 South.
Early voting for municipal election starts in mid-October
Ballots for the Nov. 2 municipal elections will be mailed to voters on Oct. 13, according to the Flathead County Election Department.
Commissioners restore marina standards in zoning regs
A zoning text amendment that adds marina as a conditional use in the B-3 community business zone was approved last week by the Flathead County commissioners, correcting an error when zoning changes were made in 2018.
County OKs purchase of new election software
The Flathead County commissioners took another step forward in updating the county’s election equipment on Tuesday by approving the purchase of new election software.
Pfizer booster shots to begin in Flathead County
Vaccine clinic planned Tuesday at fairgrounds
Flathead City-County Health Officer Joe Russell said the health department will begin giving Pfizer booster shots this week, now that the Centers for Disease Control’s independent advisory committee has recommended certain people get a booster shot at least six months after the completion of their Pfizer vaccine primary series.
Columbia Falls transportation plan ready for public perusal
A draft transportation plan that prioritizes millions of dollars’ worth of potential road improvements in Columbia Falls over the next two decades will be unveiled to the public next week during three separate events.
Proposed zone change for marinas would affect Bigfork development
The Flathead County commissioners will consider a zone change regarding the use of marinas that affects Bigfork Bay during a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
Assessment for 911 center will be on November tax bills
Flathead County property owners will begin seeing a new assessment supporting the consolidated 911 dispatch center on tax bills that go out in November.
County hits pause button a second time on vote tabulators
The purchase of new vote tabulators for Flathead County elections has been tabled again by the county commissioners to enable further evaluation of the proposed equipment.
Commissioners weigh in on congressional redistricting
The Flathead County commissioners have recommended to the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission that Flathead County be kept within a Western Montana congressional district.
Covid shuts down Eureka elementary school
Eureka Elementary School closed Monday due to a large number of Covid-19 positive or symptomatic staff, Eureka Superintendent of Schools Jim Mepham said.
County mulls purchase of new vote tabulators for elections
The Flathead County commissioners on Tuesday will further consider the purchase of new vote tabulators and a hardened laptop system for use in county elections, after tabling the matter Aug. 26.
Rose Crossing safety project completed
A safety improvement project to adjust a troublesome 90-degree turn on Rose Crossing near Kalispell has been completed, except for hydroseeding in the road right of way that will happen this fall.
Zone change proposed for acreage near Happy Valley
A proposal to alter the zoning on roughly 28 acres north of Happy Valley to allow further development is among four zone-change requests awaiting the Flathead County Planning Board at its Wednesday meeting.
Columbia Falls brewery among businesses suing Montana secretary of state over duplicate charges
Backslope Brewing of Columbia Falls is one of seven small businesses that have sued Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, alleging her office overcharged many businesses for various fees and then declined to issue refunds unless requested in writing.
Longtime Flathead physician Bruce McIntyre dies at age 100
Well-known Flathead Valley physician Dr. Bruce McIntyre died Aug. 25 at the Immanuel Skilled Nursing Center in Kalispell, where he was a resident. He was 100.
US 2 roundabout, interchange near Kalispell almost complete
The new $5.2 million roundabout on U.S. 2 at the Dern/Springcreek Road intersection west of Kalispell will open to motorists in October, state highway officials told the Flathead County commissioners during an Aug. 10 briefing about road construction projects throughout the county.
Whitefish, Columbia Falls schools announce opposite mask policies
The two biggest school districts in the North Valley will take opposite approaches to mask requirements when the school year starts in a couple weeks.
West Glacier Vision Plan offers guide for growth
Planning Board hearing next hurdle in adoption process
The heavily traveled Going-to-the-Sun Road serves as the west entrance to Glacier National Park, but it's also West Glacier's main street. It's a conundrum that has put the West Glacier community in a struggle to save its small-town soul amid burgeoning park visitation and the accompanying impacts.
County renews agreements for Bigfork's Sliter Park
The Flathead County commissioners have signed two agreements that will keep the Everit L. Sliter Memorial Park in downtown Bigfork operating as one of the community's premier parks.
Hoopers' beloved Mustangs to be displayed at car show
Those in Bob Hooper's wide circle of friends and acquaintances know he had a passion for old cars — Ford Mustangs in particular.
Bigfork bridge owner sues county for 'taking'
In the latest legal chapter of the embattled "bridge to nowhere" that connects the north shore of Flathead Lake to Dockstader Island, the property owner who built the bridge is now suing Flathead County for inverse condemnation.
Judge rules state agencies' review of bottling plant insufficient
A Flathead County District Court judge has ruled the Montana Department of Environmental Quality failed to consider the cumulative impacts of the Montana Artesian Water Co. water bottling plant near Creston at full build-out when it conducted an environmental review of the plant.
Flathead Class of 1951 gathers for 70th reunion
In the days leading up to commencement in 1951, many of Flathead County High School's 219 graduating seniors likely were cruising to the local drive-ins to gather one last time as classmates.
Flathead County gets $3M-plus federal payment
Flathead County will receive a $3.114 million payment from the federal government under a program that compensates local governments for nontaxable federal land.