Happy Friday and happy snow day, Beacon readers! After a very Dry January, it seemed that February was going to continue the same anti-precipitation streak — that was until Mother Nature decided to unleash on the valley the last couple of days. Whitefish Mountain Resort this morning reported five inches of overnight fresh, bringing the week’s total to 21 inches of snow. Today’s snow reporter ventured to declare this might be the best day of the season, saying, and I quote, “this is one for the books.” Even I — a three-time skier — am a bit jealous as I sit at my desk typing this newsletter.
However, before you get out to enjoy all this fresh pow (assuming you haven’t already), Lauren Frick here, ready to bring you some news from Columbia Falls.
The Columbia Falls City Council this week approved a $110,933 contract with Mountain Trades Contracting for the construction of the River’s Edge Fishing Pond Accessibility project. The project will add a fishing pier and multiple fishing stands to the park’s pond.
River’s Edge Park is the largest park in Columbia Falls, located along the Flathead River near Third Avenue East and Fifth Street East. Spanning 28 acres, the park features open meadows, wooded areas and over 900 feet of river frontage with views of Teakettle and Columbia mountains.
Most of the project’s total cost will go toward a fishing pier, which will be about 16 feet by 16 feet in size. The project will also fund four fishing stands and four fishing slabs equally distributed around the pond.
The fishing stands will be designed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines in an effort to enhance safe, accessible use of the pond, especially as late-season water level drops in the pond limit access for the park’s youngest and oldest patrons.
Mountain Trades Contracting was the lowest of five bids for the project, with bids ranging from $110,000 to $247,000, according to city documents. The project’s engineering firm, WGM Group, estimated the project’s total to be about $140,000.
The city will also be getting some help from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) for the improvements at River’s Edge Park.
City councilors in December unanimously approved an agreement with FWP for a $70,000 grant from the agency’s William Kamps Memorial Fund to go toward construction costs for the River’s Edge Fishing Pond Accessibility project.
The project is just one piece of an ongoing multi-year project to revamp the city’s largest park. A 2019 River’s Edge Park Master Plan — which broke the park revitalization into six smaller phases to accomplish the work as funding became available — estimated the total cost of the project to be about $1.7 million.
Construction on the fishing pier is set to start this spring, along with updates and upgrades to the signage in the park, according to city documents.
Now reel in our best catches (also known as stories) from the last 24 hours with the rest of today’s Daily Roundup, then make sure to go hit the slopes. If you need me this weekend, I’ll be pizza-ing and french frying my heart out on Chipmunk at Big Mountain.
Izaak Walton Inn Owners Hit with $9.4M Foreclosure Lawsuit Months Before Decision to Shutter
Court filings allege LOGE Glacier Park and its CEO defaulted on debts months before abruptly announcing plans to shutter the historic Essex hotel. Employees at the Inn said there were signs of financial distress in the months leading up to the closure.
Cayuse Prairie School to Take $300,000 Levy Pitch to Voters this May
After months of deliberation, the district settled on an amount that would maintain current programming, provide a cost-of-living adjustment to its teachers and allow it to bring more support staff onboard. Without the levy’s passage, the school could face programming cuts.
Flathead High Principal, Former Fair-Mont-Egan Superintendent Among Finalists for Whitefish Superintendent Job
The three finalists will go through an interview process and community “meet and greets” before the board makes a final decision on the district’s next top administrator. It intends to make its choice March 5.
The Panto Company USA is thrilled to bring the cherished, family-favorite story, “The Jungle Book”, to life on stage. In this fully produced musical production, they present Kipling’s tales with great scenery, cool costumes and original songs the whole family will enjoy… and don’t forget the happy ending. Join Mowgli and all his pals for an adventure of learning, growth and fun in this all-new production!
A five-time Grammy nominee and one of the most successful instrumental artists of the past several decades, guitarist Ottmar Liebert has released more than 30 albums and performed over 2,000 concerts worldwide. Known for acclaimed albums like “La Semana” and “Winter Rose,” Liebert has crafted a globally celebrated style blending Spanish, Mexican and World music influences. His sound is rich with strong melodies, a touch of melancholy and vibrant, rhythmic energy.
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