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By CHRIS PETERSONHungry Horse NewsThe Flathead County Commissioners Thursday unanimously voted in favor of interim zoning for the former “doughnut” of lands around the city of Columbia Falls.The zoning largely mirrors what was already in place when the city had jurisdiction of the area.The county over the next several months will then look to make the zoning regulations permanent and adhere to county codes.The city lost its “doughnut,” a 1-to 2-mile area around the city where it had planning jurisdiction as a result in changes to state law.County planner Erik Mack said the county will hold a few public workshops...

Ongoing work to improve the conditions at three popular river access sites along the North Fork Flathead River will require temporary closures this month to accommodate heavy-machinery operations, according to Flathead National Forest officials, who said they are suspending the work over the July Fourth holiday weekend to accommodate increased boating traffic.

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.

Lake County Sheriff Don Bell has identified the missing person as 34-year-old Chad Hansen from Missoula.

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. 

A motorist fleeing law enforcement on Saturday night crashed into a parked pickup truck on Kelly Road near Kalispell after Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies employed a maneuver designed to make suspects lose control of their vehicles.  The suspect, later identified as Derek Bruce Bigman, 34, of Kalispell, later attempted to flee on foot, Sheriff Brian Heino said in a press release. Deputies arrested him after deploying a Taser, he said. Bigman is being held in the county jail on pending felony charges of criminal endangerment and criminal possession of dangerous drugs as well as a probation violation. He also faces...

KALISPELL, Mont. - On June 29th, around 11:30 pm, Flathead County Sheriff Deputies attempted a traffic stop on Highway 2 near River Road in Evergreen. The vehicle, observed without taillights or headlights, fled when deputies approached, driving onto sidewalks and nearly striking parked cars. The suspect vehicle, driving in the...

                                               On June 20th, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about the possible location of an adult male who was a wanted fugitive from North Carolina. The fugitive, 35-year-old Steven Jeffrey O’Shields of Franklin, NC, was reported to be in the Kalispell/Evergreen areas. O’Shields had extraditable felony warrants for his arrest regarding various crimes, including burglary, theft of services, obstruction of law enforcement, and sexual battery against a child, all out of North Carolina. He was...

As you head to the hills for summer fun, remember to treat the land, both public and private, with respect. Flathead Wildlife works with private landowners in picking up litter, filling the back of a pickup at some sites year after year. Forests are not shooting ranges – glass, appliances and old TVs are not suitable targets. We pick up bags of empty brass and shotgun shells, paper, glass, cans, bottles and litter. Wood pallets are not suitable firewood. We have filled 5-gallon buckets with nails out of fire rings.

Bowing to repeated calls for a more professional design for a future logo, the Flathead County Library Board opted Thursday to go back to the drawing board.The move came after the board issued an open call for designs from the community. Submissions were narrowed down to five choices by library trustees and put to a public vote between the board’s May and June meetings.  The board voted in February to return to the library system’s original name, leaving behind the ImagineIF logo. A two-year timeline was laid out for the switch with a projected price tag of about $7,000, which...

Fairgoers should be able to grab a seat at the rodeo or concerts during the Northwest Montana Fair in August after an analysis showed the grandstands needing immediate repairs are safe.  The fairgrounds closed the covered grandstands in May due to safety concerns. Martin/Martin Consulting earlier this month conducted a visual structural assessment of the 16,000-square-foot grandstands and supporting framework, finding the need to make specific repairs to the grandstands before they can open for seating.  Flathead County has hired Martel Construction to complete two immediate repair items: reinforcing and repairing loose or split bridging on the roof canopy and...

NO. 30485 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE To be sold for cash at a Trustee’s Sale on November 14, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the East door of the Flathead County Justice Center, 920 South Main Street, Kalispell, MT 59901, the following described real property situated in Flathead County, State of Montana: THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 16, TOWNSHIP 30 NORTH, RANGE 20 WEST, P.M.M., FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA.  EXCEPTING THEREFROM THAT PORTION DEED TO THE STATE OF MONTANA IN BARGAIN AND SALE DEED RECORDED DECEMBER 12, 1979 AS DOC. NO. 19039, RECORDS OF FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA.  ALSO EXCEPTING THEREFROM THE FOLLOWING...

KALISPELL, Mont. — The Flathead Valley Community College received a $5,000 grant to support the college's Heavy Equipment Operator program. The grant was funded through the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund, with funding allocated to upgrade the program's belly dump trailer. The program provides hands-on experience to ensure graduates are job-ready...

A recovery mission is underway on Flathead Lake as law enforcement agencies from multiple counties search for a 34-year-old boater from Missoula who became separated from his boat on Thursday night and is presumed drowned, according to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell. In a Saturday morning press release, Bell said...

The Flathead County Commission on June 27 unanimously passed a $129.7 million preliminary expenditure budget for the 2025 fiscal year, marking a 12% increase over the previous year’s budget of $115.8 million. While that might appear to be a steep year-over-year increase, the preliminary figure is similar to what the commissioners initially approved last June and includes more than $7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds that will be allocated to the regional septage facility.

NO. 30479 Eli J. Patten Lindy M. Lauder Crowley Fleck PLLP 305 S. 4th Street E., Suite 100 P. O. Box 7099 Missoula, MT 59807-7099 Telephone: (406) 523-3600 Attorneys for MMG Investments I, LLC MONTANA ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, FLATHEAD COUNTY MMG INVESTMENTS I, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. THOMAS PRINTING, INC., a Montana corporation; CHAD A. THOMAS; MARJEAN E. THOMAS; ROOSEVELT PAPER COMPANY; WCP SOLUTIONS; VERITIV OPERATING COMPANY; FOX CAPITAL GROUP, Defendants. Cause No. DV-15-2022-0001350-OC District Judge: Judge Amy Eddy NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TO BE SOLD, in one single Sheriff’s Sale on the 17th day of July 2024, at 10:00 o’clock a.m., at the location of the FRONT ENTRANCE OF 38...

Crews are searching for a person who may be missing on Flathead Lake after an empty boat was found.