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Whitefish Pilot
U.S women win a first Olympic medal in rugby sevens
SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Alex Sedrick ran the length of the field, dived in under the posts and then calmly took the conversion, securing a first Olympic rugby sevens medal for the United States with a 14-12, last-minute upset over Australia.Ilona Maher watched in awe as Sedrick bumped off two tacklers near her own tryline before sprinting all the way to the other end to score in front of a 60,000-plus crowd at Stade de France and spark jubilation for the Americans."I was kind of like, 'What is this? No way? It was crazy because I was like, 'No, there's...
Twins top A Lakers for State A tournament berth
FLORENCE — Jake McIntyre hit a two-RBI double during the Glacier Twins four-run first inning and the defense took over from there as the Twins topped the Kalispell A Lakers 4-1 for the Western A divisional title Sunday.Trenton Derosa started on the mound for Glacier (32-11) and gave up one run to the Lakers (34-26) over six innings, allowing six hits. He struck out two. Stevyn Andrachick closed out the seventh inning for the Twins, who went unbeaten at the tournament — including a pair of wins over Kalispell. Maddox Muller and Micheal Miller added RBI singles in the first inning as...
Flathead Lake Biological Station holds anniversary open house Aug. 2
The University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station is 125 years old this year and is holding a free FLBS125 anniversary open house celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2. Visitors can explore the FLBS campus in Yellow Bay, meet the team, and learn about the Flathead Watershed and the bio station’s cutting-edge, world-renowned research and immersive education programs. Programming will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a welcome presentation featuring past and current biological station directors. Throughout the event, the biological station’s 125 years of research, monitoring and education will be on full display. Science exhibits will...
Health department identifies restaurants connected to E. coli outbreak
One person died after consuming E. coli-tainted wagyu beef at Harbor Grille in Lakeside, the Flathead City-County Health Department confirmed Friday, while four other local restaurants are associated with the recent outbreak that sickened 13 people.Lab results confirmed that E. coli was found in ground beef from a restaurant supplier, the Health Department said in a press release. The last known consumption date was July 14. The source of the outbreak was wagyu beef from one lot number, and all cases reported eating undercooked or made-to-order burgers made with wagyu beef at one of multiple restaurants in Flathead County. The following restaurants...
Brent Jameson sets his sights on the horizon
Whitefish musician Brent Jameson has made a home in the Flathead Valley, but after years of sharpening his songwriting skills he’s ready for a new adventure. Originally from Cincinnati, he made his way to Montana after getting into trouble at 17, which resulted in his father sending him to live with his brother out West. He’s continued to live in Montana and other parts of the Northwest, making a name for himself playing his bluesy, jazzy, reggae inspired tunes. But he’s ready for his next chapter in life as he’s accomplished everything he set out to here as an artist....
Change in hours for City Beach boat inspection station
Starting August 1st, the City Beach Decontamination Station will be open on weekends, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Decontaminations will be available Monday through Friday by appointment only. Boaters can call 406-212-0750 to schedule an appointment. Boaters can also get a decontamination from the Region 1 Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) office in Kalispell, except during the week of the fair August 10-18. The FWP Region 1 office is located at 490 North Meridian Road. Call FWP at 406-751-4559 for more information. For more information on Aquatic Invasive Species inspections, please call 406-863-2473 or visit www.cityofwhitefish.org/173/Watercraft-Inspection-Decontamination.
River Design Group joins nationwide firm SWCA
River Design Group, a leader in water resources engineering and restoration based in Whitefish, has officially joined SWCA Environmental Consultants, a leading environmental consulting firm in the U.S. with a growing global presence.“This is an opportunity to grow River Design Group’s legacy of providing high-quality, specialized river restoration services to our clients,” said Matt Daniels, principal engineer and owner at River Design Group. “The supporting infrastructure and expertise of the established SWCA team will allow us to continue to focus on what we do best — designing and building projects that benefit the ecosystem.” SWCA is eager to bring the water...
Glacier Park’s Weed Blitz
The Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center and Glacier National Park invite volunteers for a day of hands-on learning during the Annual Noxious Weed Blitz on July 25. The event will take place from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in West Glacier. Participants will join Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Biologist Dawn LaFleur to learn about the ecological impacts of noxious weeds and how to identify and remove five targeted invasive plant species.“Bring your muscles, gloves, appropriate footwear, sun hats, sunscreen and drinking water,” LaFleur said.Glacier National Park Conservancy will provide a complimentary lunch to this year’s weed warriors. The event is free and open to the public. To register, RSVP by July 17 by emailing glac_citizen_science@nps.gov or by calling (406)888-7986.Once registered, participants will receive specific details about meeting location and parking.Glacier National Park Conservancy donors provide all funding for the park’s citizen science events. Visit the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center events page for more information about other learning opportunities offered to the public this summer.
A life of hang-gliding published in “The Wings of Men”
Newly published “The Wings of Men” dives into 50 years of flying hang gliders and light sport trikes around the world. A third-generation Montanan, author Robert Combs was born in Whitefish in 1947 and now lives in Eureka with his wife Darlene Cercil. “It’s a unique kind of aviation and sport. We jump off the mountains and fly up and down,” Combs said. “I tried to write the book in a way that would be interesting to all people, including pilots.” “We, mere mortals on the ground, could only gaze in awe as we watched the early hang-gliding enthusiasts. These pioneers left...
Ashley Millard and Kit Jeffrey wed
Ashley Terese Millard of Whitefish and Christian “Kit” Atherton Jeffrey of Greenwich, Connecticut, were united in marriage in a celebration of love and commitment on August 11, 2023, in New York City, NY.The bride is the daughter of Kelly West Haverlandt of Whitefish and Mike Millard of Whitefish. Ashley is the granddaughter of Ron Millard and the late Patricia Millard of Whitefish and Karla West and Don West, both of Kalispell. She is a 2012 graduate of Whitefish High School, graduated from the University of Montana Business School in 2016 and earned a Master of Accountancy from UM in 2017. Ashley is currently a CPA with PricewaterhouseCoopers.The groom is the son of Martha Jeffrey and the late Richard Jeffrey of Greenwich. He is a 2010 graduate of Brunswick School in Greenwich, CT, and graduated from the University of Montana Business School in 2015. Kit is a real estate professional with Sotheby’s International Realty.Ashley and Kit began their journey together with a job assignment abroad in Luxembourg and plan to celebrate with friends and family when they return to Whitefish.
Whitefish Council OKs new parking regs
The five members of the public in attendance outnumbered the councilors at the Whitefish City Council meeting last week. Mayor John Muhlfeld along with Councilors Rebecca Norton and Steve Qunell were absent. Councilor Giuseppe Caltabiano joined online.The agenda was similarly light but the meeting’s two public hearings featured some thoughtful interchanges. The first regarded an alleyway, and the second new parking regulations.The council addressed a resolution to discontinue, abandon and vacate an alley between West Eighth Street and West Ninth Street.Neal Bartleson and Kerry Kvigne were the two homeowners who requested the alley be abandoned. Bartleson told the council he...
Mountain Climber proposes intercity connector service
Mountain Climber Director Elizabeth Wood recently proposed a commuter bus plan that would provide transportation between Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish. While it garnered needed support from Whitefish in the form of a $60,000 commitment, Flathead County commissioners chose to pass on the idea this year, but Wood will present the plan again next year.The Flathead County Public Transportation’s Mountain Climber currently operates as an on-demand ride service, like Uber or Lyft. People can schedule rides via the app, Mountain Climber by Via, or they can phone dispatch. Riders are picked up at their door and taken wherever they need...
New pollinator gardens and park signs in Whitefish
What happens when the Whitefish Park Sign Plan meets and marries an idea for pollinator gardens? Whitefish Parks and Recreation Director Maria Butts and Community Services Director Carla Belski have been working on the city’s Park Sign Plan since 2020, the same year that Children’s House Montessori School suggested a pollinator garden in Memorial Park. Merging the two projects seemed natural and, recently, a dozen city parks received pollinator gardens and new monument signs.Round rock walls contain native plants including birch-leaved spirea, plains coreopsis, purple prairie coneflower and beebalm to attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Monument signs denoting the name of...
Student Art: ‘Icarus’ Lie’ by Cody Blaize
The art featured above is called "Icarus’ Lie" and is a painting with acrylics and artists’ pens by Whitefish High School junior Cody Blaize in the WHS Art 1: Painting class. The Pilot periodically features art from Whitefish High School students.
How do I find the dog park?
Countless visitors with canines ask this question. The simple answer: Go east on E. Second Street and you’ll see it. Of course, they easily find it given the metal letters “DOG PARK” on the concrete culvert lid facing the street. In 2014, the letters were expertly crafted by Whitefish High School students and are colored Bulldog green. Recall, the park included a small pond, fed by artesian water, but was hidden behind overgrown vegetation and surrounded by a high cyclone fence. In 2014, the fencing, excess vegetation and many yards of dirt were removed, to create a significantly larger and deeper...
Wildfires increase flooding risks
Recent hot temperatures and dry conditions have triggered wildfires throughout the state. While some wildfire effects are predictable, a lesser-known effect can be an increased risk of flooding due to wildfire burns. “It is difficult to think about flooding in the middle of or after a wildfire event. We urge residents to be observant of rapidly changing conditions, especially on uphill slopes, and be prepared for the possibility of flooding,” said Traci Sears, the Montana National Flood Insurance Program Coordinator at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. While most flood events in Montana occur as a result of rain on snow...
Roundup for Safety supports traffic education
On July 11, Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety program approved $19,668 in grants supporting community safety projects proposed by local nonprofit organizations. School District #5 requested $2,400 to purchase dashboard cameras for its eight traffic education vehicles, four at Glacier High School and four at Flathead High School.Instructor Aaron Denney informed the Roundup for Safety Board that traffic education is a self-funded program. Annually, it serves over 600 students in the classroom and behind the wheel. The eight instructional vehicles each have a "chicken" brake and second mirror in the passenger seat for instructors. Denney explained that adding dashboard cameras...
Property tax recommendations to the Governor's Office
In Flathead County, property taxes have increased well beyond inflation for residential homes and businesses. I was appointed to the Governor’s Property Task Force to dig deep into the cause of such escalations and provide recommendations for reforms for the 2025 legislature. In my eight years in the legislature, I’ve been a member of the minority party, nevertheless, willing to work collaboratively with the majority to address Montana’s solvable problems. I was assigned to serve on the Tax Fairness Sub-Committee under the leadership of Rep. Llew Jones, Conrad, the Chairman of House Appropriations. So, here’s how we define the problem in...
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