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Hungry Horse News
Tennis competes at state tourney
Columbia Falls tennis competed at the state A tournament in Kalispell last week.Lexi Oberholtzer went 1-2 in girls singles. She beat Ava Wilcox of Corvallis 7-5, 6-3, but lost to Kinzie Brimmer of Miles City, 6-2, 6-2.In the consolation bracket Oberholtzer lost to Alivia Lusko of Whitefish, 7-5, 6-1.In girls doubles, Alanis Petersen and Lucie Love lost to Clea Rapson and Brylee Hager of Miles City, 6-1, 6-0 and then to Codie Clark and Charlie Holmes of Hamilton, 6-4, 6-2.In boys doubles, the Cats made the podium.Logan Heupel and Will Pickard opened with a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) marathon win over Finn Dufresne and Jason Chaplin of Hamilton. They then lost to Braydon Petermann and Aiden Sorenseon of Billings Central, 6-3,6-1.But in the consolation bracket they beat Brock Boyer and Wesley Walks of Hardin, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and Houston Dunn and Logan Jergensen of Park, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. But then they lost to Derek Blankenship and William Noteboom, 6-4, 6-2. They then moved on to face Otto Lund and Tate Barentsen of Polson for fifth and sixth, where they lost in a tight match, 6-4, 7-5 to take sixth.
River Alliance offering free safety event
The Flathead Rivers Alliance announces a free May 29 Spring River Safety Workshop for the public to kick-off the 2024 float season — bringing in leading experts from North Valley Search & Rescue and Glacier Raft Company to get you ready for the water.Spring river conditions are here! Flathead Rivers Alliance hosts Spring River Safety Workshop with industry experts Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 from 6-8 p.m. at Sacred Waters Brewing Company- The Wild Side and back lawn, 3250 U.S. Hwy 2 E., Kalispell. Learn from leading experts about cold water immersion, safety gear, river condition forecasts and handling spring river...
Dealing with Chinese aggression
The importance of the United States maintaining its technological superiority over China cannot be overstated. Not only for economic and national security implications, but for the preservation of the values and principles that have shaped the modern world. China is hungry to replace the U.S. as the leading superpower, and not just to establish economic dominance— they also want toestablish their version of suppressive authoritarianism as the norm across the globe.The warning lights are flashing everywhere.From mass surveillance perpetrated through Tik-Tok to widespreadcyberattacks aimed at American technology firms, China’s aggression only continues to grow. Furthermore, China has been accused of...
Thoughts on redistricting
With Primary Election Day rapidly approaching, we will soon start to see the impacts of the legislative districts map drawn by Democrats.First, let’s look at how we got the districts that are brand new for this year’s election.The Montana Districting Commission, which draws the maps, is made up of five members.Two each are appointed by Republicans and Democrats. If those four can’t agree on the fifth member (which they almost never do), then the Montana Supreme Court appoints the final person.The Court first appointed a Democratic donor. After that person resigned, the Court appointed another Democratic donor. In fact, all four...
Medicaid expansion worked
In 2015 Democrats and Republicans in the Montana legislature put aside their partisan and ideological differences, and taking advantage of the federal Affordable Care Act, expanded Medicaid coverage to more than 90,000 low income Montanans, almost 10 percent of the state’s entire population.That was a decision from which Montana would profoundly, and proudly, benefit.It meant that 90,000 of our neighbors would now get the regular and preventative health care that most Montanans enjoy, rather than having to wait to get sick and wait in a hospital emergency room when they needed care. It also meant that parents didn’t need to worry...
In split vote, council moves forward with Railroad Street housing
The Columbia Falls City Council last week formally voted to move forward with a housing project at the baseball field on Railroad Street.The preliminary plan looks to build several townhomes (where the garages share a common wall) with the remainder being parkland to the west of the triangularshaped lot. The vote was not unanimous. Councilors Jenny Lovering, Paula Robinson, Kelly King and Mike Shepard voted in favor of the project, while Mayor Don Barnhart opposed it.Barnhart in the past has suggested two homes be built there and favored further development of the park. The rest of council, however, favored the project because it...
Conservancy tops $23.5 million in giving back to Glacier National Park
The Glacier National Park Conservancy has dedicated about $3.5 million toward supporting a host of projects, research and educational programs in Glacier National Park this season. The giving puts the nonprofit over $20 million in giving to the park since its inception in 2013, when the Glacier National Park Fund merged with the Glacier Natural History Association to form the Glacier National Park Conservancy. The Conservancy reached the $20 million mark in 2023, pushed to nearly $23.5 million at the start of 2024 and hopes to raise about $4 million this year, making it $27.5 million by the end of...
Glacier National Park plow crews at Logan Pass
Glacier National Park plows will be working in and around Logan Pass this week — the final push to clearing the road.The last of the snow clearing for crews happens at what’s called the Big Drift, a large drift of snow that can sometimes reach 80 to 100 feet just east of the past. It usually takes a week, sometimes more, to punch through it.Motorists and visitors are reminded that in order to travel the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. they need a reservation now through early September. Reservations are available at Recreation.gov, then search for Glacier National Park.The road is open to motorists to Avalanche Lake on the west side and Jackson Glacier Overlook on the east side. Hikers and bikers can go beyond the gates. On the west side folks are urged to use caution as the road is under construction up to the North McDonald Road.Glacier’s secondary roads are now open, including the Inside North Fork Road to Kintla Lake. The North Fork also requires a reservation for motorized travel from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Folks can still hike and bike the North Fork roads without a reservation.
Tennis sending five to state tournament this week
Hungry Horse NewsThe Columbia Falls tennis team is sending five players to the state tournament in Kalispell this week, the most ever for coach Michele Colliander.Lexi Oberholtzer won the girls singles title, dropping Tess Troyer of Bigfork in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 for the title.In girls doubles, Lucie Love and Alanis Petersen took fourth and Logan Heupel and Will Pickard took fourth in boys doubles to qualify for state as well.“The ladies took second overall again which is truly amazing considering how new to tennis the team is,” Colliander said.Matches start Thursday at Flathead Valley Community College. In case of rain or snow, they’ll be moved to the indoor courts at the Summit in Kalispell.Oberholtzer will open the tourney Thursday against Ava Wilcox of Corvallis. Oberholtzer has lost just one match this season as the No. 1 seed in the Northwest A.Heupel and Pickard open with Finn Dufresne and Jason Chaplin of Hamilton, while Luci Love and Alanis Petersen open with Clea Rapson and Brylee Hager of Miles City.
Wildcats battle back to take third at state tourney
Hungry Horse NewsAfter a tough start, the Columbia Falls baseball team battled back to take third at the state baseball tourney in Missoula last week.The Wildcats lost to Hamilton in the opener 10-7, but battled back to beat Polson, 8-7 in the consolation bracket, then dropped AA Belgrade 10-9 and hammered Butte 16-2 to take third.The Hamilton game was a bummer, as the Wildcats were up 4-3 after three innings, but the Broncs tied it in the fourth and then put up six in the fifth. The Cats answered with two in the sixth and a run in the bottom...
Death notices for May 22, 2024
Harvey H. Fredericksen,93Harvey H. Fredericksen died May 12, 2024 in Columbia Falls. A celebration of life is to be held at a future date. To send online condolences, please visit www.columbiamortuary.com. Barbara Knickel, 102Barbara J Knickel died May 17, 2024 in Kalispell. Arrangements are being made at this time. Darlington Cremation and Burial Service is caring for her family.Lyndon John Slater, 44Lyndon John Slater died May 9, 2024 in Kalispell. Services will be held privately at the convenience of the family. To send online condolences, please visit www.columbiamortuary.com. Cathleen ‘Cathy’ Susan Willmeno, 62Cathleen “Cathy” Susan Willmeno died May 8, 2024in Kalispell. Services will be held at a later date in Jefferson City, Missouri. To send online condolences, please visit www.columbiamortuary.com.
Kats win Western A title
By ETHAN VANDENBOSCHHungry Horse NewsThey left no doubt.The Columbia Falls girls softball team dropped Polson 9-5 Saturday night to win the Western A divisional crown in Polson.It was a total team effort, coach Dave Kehr said.“There was just a lot of good hitting all the way up then down the lineup, one through nine. Maddie (Moultray) pitched really well‚ Just a whole team effort. We needed all of it. We need base runners, you know, the courtesy runners, substitutes, everybody contributed. That’s the best part about this whole thing,” he said after the game.Moultray went the distance, striking out a...
East side report
Went east of the divide about a week ago, so I feel like I should give some sort of report, even though the trip was largely uneventful. It was a Sunday and we didn’t even get going until 2:30 p.m., but the Looking Glass Highway was open so we went across to check out Will Hammerquist’s new store at Kiowa Junction.It is a very nice place and looks completely familiar to anyone who has been to the Polebridge Mercantile, right down to the huckleberry bear claws.(The ones we had were still warm and very good. We even met the baker...
Columbia Falls singers, musicians do well at festival
Columbia Falls students recently did well at the Western State Solo and Ensemble Festival in Helena May 3 and 4. Here’s the results:BandSuperior ensembles: Percussion ensemble; Columbians; Jazz Combo; flute quartet (Daylen Brunson, Kjasa Mohr, Eleanor Smiley and Merrell Cooley); clarinet trio (Claire Bates, Eric Miner and Tiptin Tourville); Greyson Pfiefle and Terrance Toavs, trumpet duet.Superior solos: Abbey Biel, tenor saxophone; Evan Fisher, trombone; Kajsa Mohr, flute; and Malaki Shaw, flute.ChoirSuperior solos: Angela Allen, Sarah Balla, Cash Byrd, Quinn Clark, Lucas Counts, Trevon Fauske, Amanda Fitch, Isabella Fitch, Audrey Hanley and Ryan Mee. Superior ensembles: Sonifers (Angela Allen, Sarah Balla, Camryn Brewer, Erica Burguiere, Cash Byrd, Quinn Clark, Lucas Counts, Trevon Fauske, Amanda Fitch, Isabella Fitch, Audrey Hanley, Colton Little and Celestine Young); Sonifers TB; senior quartet (Cash Byrd, Quinn Clark, Lucas Counts and Colton Little); trio (Angela Allen Isabella and Amanda Fitch); SATB quartet (Angela Allen, Lucas Counts, Audrey Hanley and Celestine Young); Fitch Sisters duet; Emery “Ren” Duran and Payton Owens duet. Excellent ensemble: Merrick Fairchild and Daena Robinson duet.
JoEllen Stimac Estenson, 84
JoEllen Stimac Estenson passed peacefully on May 2nd following a very brief and hard-fought battle with a third bout of cancer, which accentuated her otherworldly levels of grit, determination, and positivity. Her incredible attitude had helped her prevail against cancer twice in the past and we all expected a three peat (just like her beloved Phil Jackson’s Chicago Bulls did a few times), but the good Lord graciously had other plans.JoEllen was born in Chicago, Illinois on Nov. 10th, 1939 to Eugene Wyatt and Evelyn Birdsong but very quickly adjusted to an amazing new life when Evelyn married Steve Stimac...
Easement good for region
As Republican legislators representing Northwest Montana and the western edge of our state, we write to express our full support for the Montana Great Outdoors Project. The draft environmental assessment for Phase 1 of the conservation easement clearly illustrates not only that this proposal is the right move for conservation and the environment, but it’s also essential to protect good jobs and the Montana way of life, as well as preserve the very character of Northwest Montana. Much of the land between Kalispell and Libby has been owned by a rotating set of timber companies for generations. Those companies have...
Memorial Day, other events on tap
Memorial Day eventsColumbia Falls Freedom Post 72 is holding its annual Veterans Day Walk to Honor our fallen heroes. They will walk from the Nite Owl parking lot to the Flathead River, to honor the buried at sea, and then back to our Memorial wall at Marantette Park. They meet at the Nite Owl parking lot at 10:30 a.m. start our walk at 11 a.m. Open to all that want to join them.The United Veterans of the Flathead Valley will have a ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. Memorial Day and then will be at the Veterans Home Cemetery at 3 p.m.The Boy Scouts will have a flag retirement ceremony at the Veterans Home Monday starting at 8:30 p.m. Garage saleThe North Valley Senior Center is having a garage sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 7-8. Folks are asked to donate their unwanted treasures. Free mealsFree, delicious hot meals are being served on May 30-31 at 6 p.m. in the basement of St. Richard’s Catholic Church. They are nondenominational and everyone is welcome. Bring friends and family and join them.
At Kiowa Junction, a new mercantile has opened
On Mother’s Day Kiowa Junction, the historic intersection of the Looking Glass Highway and Highway 89 on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was something it hasn’t been in a very long time: It was busy.Busy with tourists looking to get a bite to eat and make a pit stop between sites in Glacier National Park. Busy with locals looking to have some fried chicken and a huckleberry bear claw for dessert.The new Kyiyo Mercantile had just opened and it was full as the line wound through the store, nearly to the door.The Kyiyo Mercantile (pronounced kee-iyou, it is the Blackfeet name...
Waterton Lakes National Park bans fishing in rivers and streams; no outside nonmotorized craft, either
Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada will not allow any fishing in moving waters this season. In addition, all non-motorized watercraft from outside park boundaries will not be permitted to enter waterbodies within the park, it announced in a release last week.Fishing will still be permitted in lakes.The park is concerned about spreading aquatic invasive species into its waterways and waterways downstream, as the park’s waters drain into irrigation and other sources downstream. The most worrisome invasive is zebra and quagga mussels, but there are other non-native aquatic plants and other species that are of concern.Motorized watercraft are subject to a 90-day quarantine period where the craft is tagged and cannot enter other waters in that period. Glacier National Park’s motorized boat regulations are similar, but Glacier does allow non-motorized craft after a mandatory inspection.It also allows for fishing in streams and rivers.Glacier’s waters do close to all boating during the late fall through the winter and early spring, as there isn’t staff available to inspect watercraft.
Track makes its mark at Western A
Hungry Horse NewsThe Columbia Falls boys took third and the girls took fifth at the Western A track meet over a cold and blustery Friday and Saturday.The Wildcats hosted the tournament on the windswept plateau of the Mike Nicosia track. Corvallis won the boys meet and Hamilton the girls.Top performers for the Wildcats included Malaki Simpson, who won the 100 and 200 meters with times of 11.07 and 22.36 respectively. Teammate Kai Golan took sixth in the 200 and fourth in the 100 to qualify for state. The 4x100 relay won with a time of 43.21, which included Adler Waters,...
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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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