Columbus
Bigfork Eagle
Joyce 'Peach' Graeff, 81
Compassionate and dedicated servant and friend to the community of Bigfork, Peach from Bigfork was called to her eternal home on May 24, 2024; her room was ready.She was born Dec. 13, 1942, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to Arthur Bung and Frances Germann. She was the youngest of four, and, at birth, her father lovingly called her Peach, which stuck with her throughout her life. She grew up on a dairy farm and lost her mother at age 15. From that time, she took on the responsibility of cooking, cleaning, and caring for her family.Immediately following high school, she moved...
Fourth of July festivities across the Flathead
The Flathead Valley and beyond will be busy with events for the weekend leading up to and through the Fourth of July holiday. Bigfork Head to Bigfork for the community’s annual Fourth of July Parade at noon. This year’s parade theme honors the parade’s grand marshal Gretchen Gates of Eva Gates Preserves, which is marking its 75th anniversary with the theme “Preserving Bigfork Traditions.” Parking for the parade will be in the field at the intersection of Montana highways 35 and 82. From this parking area only, a free shuttle service is available to downtown from 8 a.m. to 5...
Driving change: New owners clean up Bigfork’s car wash
Steve Davis and Liana Orsolini held high-stakes executive jobs when they lived in Virginia. Davis was an active-duty Marine for 21 years, followed by over a decade of continued service to the government, including as program manager on a project developing combat clothing to protect troops from anti-tank missile systems at Quantico. Orsolini had a near 40-year career in nursing, last as vice president of nursing for the prison clinics in Virginia. They decided they needed a break when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and found themselves in Condon. In hopes of semi-retirement, they purchased Bigfork Quicklube and Powerwash off of Montana...
Blotter: Fuel spill in Bigfork Bay
Reports from Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, based in Bigfork. June 19 A man reported he was chased on his bike by a neighbor’s dog. June 20-23 No reports. June 24 A dog was reported left in a car with the windows rolled up. Later in the day another caller confronted a man about his dog left in the car, which turned into a verbal dispute. June 25-27 No reports. June 28 A black bear was reported in the caller’s yard. June 29 A motor vehicle extrication was requested for a crash off Highway 35. June 30 An ongoing issue of off-leash dogs on a Bigfork trail was reported. A boat was reported leaking gas near the Swan River access off Bigfork Bay; two quarts of drive oil were found spilled and cleared from the water by Fish and Game. A bar on Electric Avenue was reported for a noise disturbance due to loud music; the caller was informed there is no noise ordinance in the county. July 1 A verbal dispute between a man and a woman was reported. A caller reported reckless drivers revving their engines. A suspicious vehicle was reported seen on the caller’s security camera.
Missing boater presumed drowned in Flathead Lake
Search and rescue teams from Lake, Flathead and Missoula counties, as well as Kootenai County, Idaho, on Monday continued scouring Flathead Lake for the body of a missing boater, presumed to have drowned after becoming separated from his boat Thursday, June 27.According to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell, the missing boater has been identified as 34-year-old Chad Hansen of Missoula.Lake County 911 took the report of a boater on Flathead Lake who was in trouble at around 9:41 p.m. Hansen “somehow ended up in the water, separated from his boat,” stated a press release from the Sheriff’s Office.“Witnesses attempted to assist him, but were not able to,” Bell said, which prompted the search and rescue mission. “Based on the information gathered from witnesses, he has died of drowning.”“The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office offers our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Hansen and we commit to do our best to find him,” the sheriff said.
Powerful rain drenches parts of Flathead Valley
A drenching rain Sunday afternoon caused some localized ponding across the Flathead Valley.The Columbia Falls area took the brunt of the impressive storm that developed around 5 p.m., with 2.17 inches of rain recorded at a site 1 mile southwest of the city.Some parts of Kalispell picked up 1.37 inches of precipitation and Bigfork saw 1.26 inches. Most valley locations reported at least 0.50 to 1 inch of rain.The official weather station at Glacier Park International Airport recorded 0.83 of rain to bring the June precipitation total to 2.54 inches. That’s just shy of the 2.84 monthly average.Overall temperatures in...
Yes, build in my backyard
Gen Z is too young to remember the “Rent is Too Damn High Party” from 2005. However, they would likely appreciate the spirit of the movement.Housing affordability is the top voting issue for an astounding 91 percent of Gen Zers ahead of the 2024 election, according to a new survey by Redfin, beating out abortion, democracy and student debt. Rent and shelter costs will remain stubbornly high until we address the long-standing shortage of affordable housing. Policymakers must break the stranglehold of heavy-handed housing regulations that limit community housing options.Clearing the way for expanding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — a...
Local author shares story of hope in new children’s book
Michelle Weltz and her family were playing fetch with their black lab, Sky, having a fun Labor Day at the lake in 2014. When Sky brought back the ball covered in blood, they took her to the vet. Suddenly, their 8-year-old dog had a cancer diagnosis and was given 30 days to live. Stage II oral cancer treatment was pretty well limited to surgery or chemotherapy. Neither seemed right for the family. “We basically turned it over to God and said, ‘We’re going to have to have faith in this,’” Weltz said. The vet saw Sky again and described her...
Bigfork library temporarily closes for move to new building
The Bigfork branch of Flathead County Library will be closed for a month while staff move into their new Bridge Street building. A release from Flathead County Library on Monday said the Bigfork branch, currently located inside the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center, will be closed starting July 6. At a recent Flathead County Library Board meeting, trustees approved a closure for the branch that will run until Aug. 6. Library Director Teri Dugan said the next four weeks will be busy for staff as they move materials and equipment into the new library building. The last day to pick up holds or return library books at the current Bigfork library location is July 5. After that date, patrons can pick up holds at other Flathead County library locations until the new Bigfork library opens. The Bigfork branch will reopen in August at the newly remodeled building located at 186 Bridge St. Officials encouraged library patrons to keep tabs on the Flathead County Library website at imagineiflibraries.org and the library’s social media accounts for updates on a grand opening celebration.
Going-to-the-Sun open for the season
Going-to-the-Sun Road officially opened June 22 for the 2024 summer season. The road may now be accessed by motorized vehicles over Logan Pass from both the West Glacier and St. Mary entrances. Services at Logan Pass include restroom facilities, but potable water is currently not yet available. Visitors should plan to bring their own drinking water. Visitor information services will be provided at the Logan Pass Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. With Going-to-the-Sun Road fully open, the number of vehicle reservations available will be increased. For the remainder of the season, this increase will be executed through...
Blotter: Stolen pistol
Reports from Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, based in Bigfork. June 14 A man was reported threatening the caller outside their vehicle, the parties were separated and counseled. A pistol was reported stolen from a vehicle between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. June 15 No reports June 16 A caller claimed another person was speeding and threatened to kill them.
Lake County petitions White House to remedy Flathead Lake’s water woes
Lake County commissioners sent a letter to President Joe Biden June 6, asking him to intercede “on behalf of two counties and affected U.S. citizens visiting this area” and to make compensation for “depredations” by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, mostly pertaining to the low water level in Flathead Lake last summer.The letter references the Blackfeet Treaty, signed in 1855 by the leaders of eight tribal nations including the Flathead and Kootenai, and refers specifically to Article 8, which states in part “that the navigation of all lakes and streams shall be forever free to citizens of the United...
Happenings: Fill the Shelves, Ferndale Firefighters fundraiser, 'Legally Blonde'
Today, Wednesday, June 26, is the last day to register for the Bigfork Library’s Fill the Shelves finale fundraiser on July 10 at 6 p.m. Attendees will be the first to see the new library building at 186 Bridge Street in Bigfork. Montana authors Mark Sullivan and Leslie Budewitz, delicious food, and sparkling cocktails to toast this new chapter, and a live auction and paddle raise to fill the bookshelves and open the doors to your new library. Buy tickets online at https://www.imagineiflibraryfoundation.org/newbigforklibrary or contact Andrea Goff with questions, (406) 471-9847. Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department will hold their annual Bison BBQ fundraiser Saturday, July 6 at the Ferndale Fire Hall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be grilled bison burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, huckleberry ice cream, fire engine rides, a silent auction, live music and more. Money raised goes towards equipment upgrades and training. The Bigfork Summer Playhouse debuts its fabulous spin on Legally Blonde, the Musical, opening July 5 and running all summer. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit bigforksummerplayhouse.com or call the box office at 837-4886.
State Republicans drawing up immigration policy ahead of 2025 legislative session
Montana Republicans say they will push legislation next year to police immigrants in the country illegally, following in the footsteps of GOP-led states like Texas and Iowa.Texas passed a bill in March allowing state law enforcement to arrest and deport immigrants in the United States illegally, an authority typically held by the federal government. The law was only briefly in effect before a federal appeals court put it on hold. Iowa passed a similar but less expansive law in June, imposing criminal penalties on immigrants found to be in the country illegally and giving local authorities the ability to deport...
Coexisting with ease; keeping the garden bear-free
My wife and I are big gardeners. When we purchased our property in Bigfork some thirteen years ago, one of the first things we did was identify a site suitable for a large garden, complete with vegetable and flower beds, fruit trees, and composting bins. We live on a heavily wooded property but there was an open area at the rear of our parcel which we deemed perfect. We knew that the site needed to be fenced to keep the deer out but bears were not on our radar when we began planning and laying out the garden space. It...
New library wraps-up construction, but some work still lies ahead
Flathead County Library staff stepped foot inside the newly finished Bigfork branch for the first time last week, marveling at the transformation the space has gone through since construction began last fall.“This location is going to show the valley what a 21st century library is like, I hope it gets people excited,” Communications and Outreach Librarian Lune Axelsen said. There’s still landscaping to perform, furniture to place and, of course, books to put on the shelves. But for those who have been working toward a new Bigfork branch of Flathead County Library for more than a decade, the completed construction...
Pennsylvania woman drowns near St. Mary Falls
Authorities on Tuesday identified the woman who drowned near St. Mary Falls on the east side of Glacier National Park as 26-year-old Gillian Tones of North Apollo, Pennsylvania.Park officials initially said that Tones went into the water above St. Mary Falls on June 23, but clarified Tuesday that she likely slipped on wet, slick rocks and fell into Virginia Creek between the St. Mary and Virginia falls, about 200 yards above the trail bridge. Tones was swept up by the cold, fast moving water and went over a series of smaller waterfalls before becoming pinned underwater by a log for several minutes, officials said. Nearby visitors undertook “heroic efforts” to free her from the water, authorities said. Despite resuscitation efforts by bystanders, park rangers, ambulance personnel and A.L.E.R.T. air ambulance medics, Tones never regained consciousness. She was pronounced dead by A.L.E.R.T. personnel about 7 p.m., June 23. Park dispatchers received multiple 911 calls routed through Glacier County dispatch at about 5:20 p.m. Park rangers were on the scene by about 5:45 p.m. and the A.L.E.R.T. helicopter landed nearby about 6:20 p.m.
Birch Provisions feeds community spirit
“I think I want Birch to be a community hub where everyone’s welcome. We can be a place where people can keep up on things and get involved with things,” said Stephanie Meyers, owner of Birch Provisions, which opened in downtown Bigfork mid-May. The cafe is a blend of fast-casual comfort food; homemade sandwiches, baked goods, chocolates, coffees, teas and smoothies alongside a retail section filled out with local art and goods. Meyers’s vision is a welcoming, family-friendly place with great food flavors and accessible pricing; as homemade, organic, natural and local as possible. The space on the second story...
Sheriffs support Cory Swanson for chief justice
Law enforcement officers dedicate their lives to protecting public safety, maintaining order, and upholding justice. Our jobs are intrinsically tied to Montana’s judiciary. When law enforcement and prosecutors can trust that the courts will handle criminal cases fairly, it gives us and the public confidence that we can keep our communities safe and achieve justice. In pursuit of that goal, we are proud to endorse Cory Swanson for Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court. Swanson is the best candidate because he will be fair in criminal cases, keep politics out of the courtroom, and uphold the rule of law. Swanson...
Bigfork Eagle
918+
Posts
577K+
Views
The Bigfork Eagle – established in 1976 – provides the community of Bigfork with news, sports and entertainment coverage through our regularly updated news website and weekly print edition. Reinvented in 2019 after a few years hiatus, the Eagle has come back to serve the community with strong local news.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.