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Hungry Horse News
Hikers and bikers should be able to go to Logan Pass this weekend
Glacier National Park announced Friday that the full length of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is open to hikers and bikers when crews aren’t working.Since crews typically don’t work on weekends, that means folks should be able to hike and bike to Logan Pass this weekend. But expect some brisk weather. It’s expected to be showery Saturday with highs in the 40s at Logan Pass, National Weather Service Meteorologist Travis Booth said. Sunday should be a little better, but Monday and Tuesday really get wet, with cold rain at lower elevations and 1 to 3 inches of snow above 6,000 feet in Glacier...
Tense moments in Mosquito Flats neighborhood as slope slumps, tipping huge trees over homes
There were some tense moments Tuesday night in the Mosquito Flats neighborhood after a steep slope slumped, tipping several large trees precariously over homes on Second Avenue East. Residents David and Lesli Nadel said the dogs were barking so they looked out back of their home and saw the steep slope above their house starting to slide, with the roots of trees exposed. They alerted neighbors who called City of Columbia Falls officials, as a big chunk of the slope is actually platted as a city alley, though it’s at least 45-degrees steep. The city responded quickly, bringing in an arborist, J.D. Thinning,...
Wildcats win in Cut Bank
Hungry Horse NewsColumbia Falls Swim Team was thrilled to bring home a first place trophy from their second meet of the season in Cut Bank. The team brought 44 swimmers to the meet and won with a score of 1,078 points (425 points above second place). With very limited pool time so far this season, the swimmers proved a force to be reckoned with.“We had another amazing weekend in Cut Bank. Numerous beginners cut their teeth on their first meet and performed amazingly. Our veteran swimmers showed a strong presence with seven individual high point winners and many, many more...
The web of life
By Anne MillbrookeBiodiversity is simply the web of life that includes us. Montana lists over 300 species at risk or potentially at risk. That is evidence that the global biodiversity crisis is a Montana crisis as well. This crisis calls for a national biodiversity strategy. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon introduced in the Senate a resolution to create a national biodiversity strategy, “A resolution expressing the need for the federal government to establish a national biodiversity strategy for protecting biodiversity for current and future generations.” Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado introduced it in the House.Creating a national biodiversity strategy would encourage...
Where’s leaders on CFAC?
It’s an election cycle and you can see and hear Montanans politicians getting involved again. Low water in Flathead Lake Zinke and Daines all over it. A bridge repair in Bigfork a photo opportunity for Zinke. Locals access to Glacier National Park the big boys write legislation.But the most difficult circumstance in the Flathead Valley. The most sinister threat to public safety and the environment they are all ghosts. CFAC, where are you fellas? Public Health is public safety where are you? Show up, lead. Get us the right decision not the cost effective one for the company that left the mess.Stop the grandstanding and get your hands dirty.Daniel A. SiriColumbia Falls
Life after losing an election
By Bob BrownHaving lost an election, I know it hurts to lose. I know, too, that there is a good life beyond losing because I’ve been living it for the past 20 years.I know that the people’s will in a democracy can only be determined by a process of elections; American democracy has successfully functioned on that model since George Washington.When the people lose their faith in elections, democracy is finished. There have been as many losers as winners in our legacy of elections extending back over 230 years. By their respect for the will of the people in elections,...
Lower North Fork Road will see dust treatment soon
By CHRIS PETERSONHungry Horse NewsThe lower North Fork Road from just north of Glacier Rim to the Camas Creek entrance to Glacier National Park will see dust control measures this summer.The county received a $137,000 Good Neighbor Authority grant for three years of magnesium chloride dust abatement on the road, county Public Works Director Dave Prunty confirmed Monday.The funding comes through the Good Neighbor Authority program, which allows states to use federal dollars for forestry and other projects.Flathead National Forest spokeswoman Kira Powell said the Flathead Forest wrote a letter supporting the dust abatement project.Dust is a major problem in...
Sherry Lynn Elaine Martindale, 75
Sherry Lynn Elaine Martindale, 75, of Columbia Falls, passed away June 4, 2024. She was born July 31, 1948 in Kalispell to the late Leo John Schulte and Edith Arvellda Schulte (Knutson).Sherry grew up in Columbia Falls. After graduating from Columbia Falls High School, Sherry paid her own way through two years of business school in Billings. The skills she learned here would carry her throughout the rest of her professional career. She went on to join the United States Marine Corps, which is where she met her husband of 56 years, Bill. She was discharged from service as a...
Kehr recognized by coaches
Columbia Falls softball coach Dave Kehr was named the class A softball coach of the year by the Montana Coaches Association.Kehr led the team to its second straight class A championship this year. The Wildkats went 27-4 this season. He has been the head coach of the Wildkats since 2002. Though he retired as a teacher at the junior high this year, he plans on returning to coach the softball team again next season. In the above photo, he coaches the offense from third in a game against Ronan this season.
Belly Up: When things go south in a beautiful place, you just roll with it
It’s amazing how things can go south in a hurry. (By the way, why do things ‘Go south?” couldn’t they just as easily go north or west or east? I suppose going south has a ring to it, though I have traveled through Alabama on the back roads and I must admit, it’s a very nice state, at least to look at. Not sure about living in it. I mean, who can stand Nick Saban. I can’t, retired or not. But whoa, what a digression, huh?)At any rate we were trying to do some fishing in the Belly River country...
Junior high wraps up year with 8th grade awards
Kamry Young was named most outstanding eighth grader during the junior high’s year-end awards ceremony last week. She also was recognized in several other categories as well.Here’s the list of the full awards:Most Improved:Aiden Crosswhite Anakin Fish Garett Gress Landon Bowman Ayden JohnsonKyler Voermans Makynzi FraleyVeronica Barrientos Cruz Wyatt Hutchison Scholastic:Kamry Young Bri Miller Ella Branstetter Ella Robbins Eloisa Middlesworth Loren Connors Ava Anderson Jack Albrecht Phebe SmileyJosie EkholtRae Lobbestael Citizenship:Caden Zanett Kamry Young Ava Anderson Darius ShawJazzy LaValley Rae Lobbestael Talon BatesElla Robbins Lilly Miller Ella Cincis Work Effort:Bri Miller Lilly Miller Ella Branstetter Talon BatesKamry Young Olivia MartinAbby Phelps Devon Shough Chloe Kinsella Josie EkholtJuliana Grangroth
On Tenth Avenue, neighbors complain of speeders
By CHRIS PETERSONHungry Horse NewsThe city will do a speed study on 10th Avenue West after neighbors claimed that some motorists have been blasting down the street as of late.The north-south road near the high school has apparently become a raceway for youths, who try to hit a dip in the road, which makes their rigs go airborne.Neighbors brought up concerns at last week’s city council meeting.“We have the videos to prove it,” resident Justin King told council.King said it was particularly dangerous because the road has no sidewalks.After some discussion, the Kings were asked to file a formal speed...
Food truck owner competing for Food Network show spot
By ETHAN VANDEN BOSCHHungry Horse NewsThe owner of a Columbia Falls-based food truck is competing in the Food Network show, “Favorite Chef.”Monika Paris owns ZapoTaco, formerly Dancing Burro, a Tex-Mex food truck that sells tacos, nachos, and other delicious meals.“I follow Bobby Flay and watch the Tournament of Champions (on the Food Network) a lot. The application just popped up and I was able to use some photos from my old pastry chef days to qualify,” Paris said.If Paris wins, she would receive a $25,000 prize, plus she would appear on the cover of “A Taste of Home” cooking magazine...
Yesterdays: After flood, focus was getting bridge rebuilt into Glacier Park
70 years agoJune 11, 1954A young grizzly bear was trapped along the Going-to-the-Sun Road after he chased after visitors along the highway. The bear was sent to Montana State University for research. The bear was believed to be the first grizzly to frequent the highway since at least World War II. It was 2 years old and full of energy.60 years agoJune 12, 1964The Flood of ’64 dominated the newspaper. While many homes were lost and people were flooded out, one of the big concerns was getting a bridge reconstructed over the Middle Fork of the Flathead so there would...
Powers beats Quist in primary
The City of Columbia Falls will undergo a government review and Debo Powers beat Guthrie Quist easily for the Democratic seat on the November ballot in House District 3.Those were the local takeaways from the June primary last week.North Forker Powers beat Quist, who lives in Creston, 993-363. Powers will face Republican Cathy Mitchell in the November election.The government review was quite a bit closer, 481-444.The city underwent a government review 10 years ago, as a committee ultimately determined that the city’s governmental structure should remain unchanged.Currently Columbia Falls has a city manager form of government, where the elected city council oversees a city manager, who does the day-to-day business of the city and then reports back to council twice a month and sometimes more than that.
Blotter: Couch survives shooting
June 4Kid stole candy from a store. Person claimed a bottle of pills was stolen during an oil change from his car.June 5Report of a group of kids running in front of cars. A motorcycle with no plates evaded a police officer and may have been zipping down Highway 2 at 100 mph.June 6A caller was worried that her 13-year-old daughter was being “groomed.” A person told police in Missoula they had been sexually assaulted years ago in Columbia Falls.June 7Report of smoke coming from room 33 at Meadow Lake Resort. Report of a person who may be vandalizing a...
Montana Supreme Court upholds closing down of Whistlestop Retreat
By CHRIS PETERSONHungry Horse NewsThe Montana Supreme Court has largely upheld a lower court’s decision that effectively shut down a resort on the shores of Lake Five in West Glacier.In 2022 Flathead County District Court Judge Amy Eddy issued an order voiding a major land-use permit for the Whistlestop Retreat on the small lake a few miles from Glacier National Park.Flathead County granted Whistlestop Retreat owner Dr. Susie Dietz and the G&M Trust a major land use permit on Feb. 28, 2020 to turn a sleepy piece of property at the west end of Lake Five into a resort, much...
City continuing search for city manager, also needs public works director
By CHRIS PETERSONHungry Horse NewsThe City of Columbia Falls is in the second round of its search for a city manager.The council recently did not extend an offer to initial candidate Dennis Stark after a background check.Stark was the subject of an ethics investigation when he was county manager for Lyon County, Nevada, and ultimately was sanctioned $1,000 by the Nevada Commission on Ethics in 2012.Stark was county manager for Lyon County from 2007 to 2010.The case centered around whether Stark improperly used his position as county manager to try to preserve his wife Sharon’s job within the county’s library...
Fiery wreck claims life
Hungry Horse NewsA person died in a fiery wreck near mile marker 164 on U.S. Highway 2 Saturday afternoon. Coram-West Glacier Fire chief Walter Tabb said the vehicle was a pickup truck that had gone off the highway into the trees.The occupant died in the fire. Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said the accident is still under investigation. Ellen Keesling, who took a photo of the vehicle, said the accident happened about 3:35 p.m.Montana Highway Patrol said the age, sex and address of the driver could not immediately be determined. The body was taken to the Montana State Crime Lab for further analysis.The rig, a Toyota Tacoma, was northbound and failed to make a left hand turn and went into the trees, striking one head-on.Separately, a motorcycle was involved in a crash on River Road Sunday evening. It also caught on fire. Bad Rock Fire Department responded to the accident about 9:46 p.m. assistant chief Dylan Maddalena said.A Columbia Falls Police Officer was able to put out the burning motorcycle with a fire extinguisher.The driver was taken to the hospital by Three Rivers EMS. The accident happened on the curvy section of the road near the river.
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The Hungry Horse News has been in publication since 1946. It is the only weekly newspaper in Montana to win a Pulitzer Prize and has a reputation for fine photography of the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park. It is housed in a log cabin in Columbia Falls. Visitors with story ideas are always welcome to stop by.
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