“I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore! You’ve got to say it! Then we’ll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis.” Peter Finch delivered these classic lines in his Oscar-winning performance as a newscaster in the movie “Network.” His words are eerily […]

The Zamboni circled the ice yesterday, buffing out the surface for the season opening of Stumptown Ice Den today. But it wasn’t the same old Zamboni. “It’s brand, spanking new, just delivered two days ago,” says Andy Hergesheimer, who manages the rink. “It’s like moving up from a Datsun to a Cadillac.” Along with a […]

Glacier High School girls soccer coach Paul Holmgren has only one suggestion for his all-state junior forward Maddey Frey, who is widely regarded as the best at her position in the state. But he’s not sure Frey can do it. “Grow three inches,” Holmgren said of the 5-foot-3 Frey. “That’s about it.” Conceding the improbability […]

HELENA – Rep. Denny Rehberg on Friday voted against the $700 billion government bailout of the battered financial industry, saying he hopes the legislation will work but could not support it. The House passed the measure 263-171 and sent it to President Bush, who signed it. “Congress needed to get this right the second time, […]

3:31 a.m. A man allegedly choked his girlfriend at a Hideaway Court Trail residence. 10:14 a.m. A woman’s friend withdrew $100 from her account. The guilty party promised to pay her back. 10:54 a.m. Someone, possibly in the Bigfork area, left their ipod at a friend’s house. When they returned, the ipod was gone. 1:03 […]

WASHINGTON – The financial rescue plan signed by President Bush on Friday extends a program that pays rural counties hurt by federal logging cutbacks. Senators inserted the timber provision as one of several sweeteners to attract more votes for the bailout bill, which the House approved on Friday, two days after the Senate. The timber […]

Live Music: Friday: Can’t Hardly Playboys at Red’s; Glacier Jazz Stampede at Red Lion (all-weekend long); Dan Dubuque at The Cottage; Christian Johnson Project at Ricciardi’s; Spotash at Blue Canyon; Jim Lynch at Scotty’s; Smart Alex at Great Northern; Sonny King at Blue Moon; Mobile Beat DJ at Red’s Saturday: Andre Floyd at The Lodge; […]

U.S. Sen. Max Baucus has accused White House and Environmental Protection Agency officials of orchestrating a “conspiracy” by squashing a decision to declare a public health emergency in Libby three years after it was revealed more than 200 people died and another 2,000 fell ill because of asbestos exposure. On Sept. 25 the U.S. Senate […]

Good morning. Today, in 1950, the comic strip “Peanuts,” created by Charles M. Schulz, was syndicated to seven newspapers. On the Beacon this morning, the crisis roiling the U.S. financial sector has made its way to the our local market, where some lending behavior is beginning to change. Jazz musicians and enthusiasts are converging on […]

MISSOULA – The state Republican Party this week challenged the eligibility of 6,000 registered Montana voters in seven counties that have historically been Democratic strongholds. The move means that those who are registered to vote in Missoula, Butte-Silver Bow, Lewis and Clark, Deerlodge, Glacier or Hill counties and who filled out a change-of-address card with […]

If highway truck stops spent as much money on a good cook as they do on electricity to illuminate their 200-foot tall, 100-foot wide signs, it would be worth stopping at them for breakfast. My wife and I spent a nice hour and a half in one the other day somewhere alongside the interstate in […]

10:27 a.m. Someone received a voice mail that said, “Your boyfriend slept with my wife; and I just shot her.” 10:50 a.m. A first-grader and kindergartener disclosed to the principal that their father hit them. 1:25 p.m. Someone with an accent called up an Evergreen tire shop and tried to acquire information about an employee. […]

Normally, vice presidential debates don’t matter much. Not so this year, when the two candidates take the stage in St. Louis Thursday night. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose winning persona boosted the lackluster campaign of John McCain at last month’s GOP convention, is on the ropes after a series of subpar interviews left her looking […]

In the face of a hotly contested presidential race, Flathead County election officials are anticipating and preparing for record turnout at the polls. At a meeting of the election task board last week, Flathead County Election Administrator, and Clerk and Recorder Paula Robinson told the gathering of election volunteers, candidates and media the county has […]

After a summer of number crunching, Flathead County Commissioners approved an approximately $69 million budget Tuesday morning. With revenue from growth in the county declining significantly, county officials trimmed department budgets this year, put a freeze on new hires and approved the maximum levies allowed in hopes of avoiding staff cuts and severe budget shortfalls […]