Shortly after joining 227 of his congressional colleagues in opposing a $700 billion rescue of the nation’s financial sector Monday, U.S. Rep. Dennis Rehberg, R-Mont., said the legislation would have failed to prevent such an economic collapse from happening again in the future, and it did not go far enough to help small commercial banks […]

As I write this, the growing season is fast coming to an end and so I have to harvest and use the bounty of my garden – tomatoes, peppers and herbs. My favorite herb is basil. I like it so much that I bought one of those indoor herb garden thingamajigs so that I could […]

During sermons this Sunday, some 35 pastors across the country will tell their congregations which presidential candidate they should vote for, “according to the Scriptures.” Their endorsements represent a direct challenge to federal tax law, which prohibits tax-exempt organizations from engaging in partisan political activity. The clergy have embraced that risk, hoping their actions will […]

Two Bigfork area men were killed when the vehicle in which they were riding left the roadway and rolled. Flathead County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Browder says it happened shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday on Montana Highway 209 near Ferndale. No other vehicles were involved. Browder, a deputy coroner, says the vehicle was westbound on the […]

Growing up, Carly Lengstorf was always playing against the boys. Backyard barbecues produced flag football games and afternoons gave way to playing catch with her two older brothers, Jason and Kyle Lengstorf, and another “billion boy cousins.” “Everything in my childhood was a competition,” said Lengstorf, a senior on Whitefish High School’s varsity soccer team. […]

BOZEMAN – A NorthWestern Energy spokeswoman says natural gas prices are still expected to go up this winter, but not by the breathtaking margins feared in August. But organizations that help the poor with heating costs are still expecting more demand than ever for their services, and the federal government is poised to deliver huge […]

While rarely in Washington, presidential contenders John McCain and Barack Obama are keeping a close eye on the massive rescue of US financial markets working its way through Congress. One reason: As president, one or the other will have to live with its outcomes. But neither candidate expects to have to lop $700 billion – […]

When Dawn Duane Evans started buying Barbie dolls at garage sales, she planned on planting a “Barbie garden.” She had no idea that once she picked up the plastic princess, she wouldn’t be able to put her down. Or would she? Barbie turns 50 next year and, coincidently, Evans’ “2009 I Hate Barbie Calendar,” a […]

HELENA – Gov. Brian Schweitzer believes a university system policy banning those with concealed weapons permits from bringing guns on college campuses conflicts with state law, his campaign spokesman said Friday. The issue arose the night before in a debate with Schweitzer’s Republican challenger, state Sen. Roy Brown. During the debate, Brown said it was […]

MISSOULA – The former office manager of a Kalispell radio station was sentenced Friday to 60 days in prison and ordered to pay $815,000 in restitution in an office supply scam. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy also sentenced Kent Etchison, 33, of Vancouver, Wash., to 10 months of home confinement and 250 hours of community […]

The Wildcats’ Stephen Baumgartner show continued during Columbia Falls 42-6 win over Ronan Friday night. The Cats’ senior running back/linebacker contributed four touchdowns, a blocked punt and a return of the blocked punt. An excellent offensive and defensive performance kept Ronan at bay the entire game until a late score against the Cats’ reserves. Speaking […]

BIGFORK – Standing in the Bigfork High School gymnasium, senior Bekah Bell motioned to the wall where a single state volleyball championship banner from 1986 hangs. Bell wasn’t even born yet. Now she, along with three other seniors who have all played together since grade school, thinks this could be the year the Valkyries give […]

Good morning and happy birthday T.S. Eliot. On the Beacon this morning, Myers Reece writes about the quest by a quartet of Bigfork senior volleyball players to win the state championship. In Glacier Park’s high reaches, scientists are studying the effect of global warming on the pika population. Despite being ordered to pay $3.8 million […]

POLSON – A 62-year-old Polson concrete and gravel company has laid off about 20 employees and plans to close its office Friday. The Polson division of Knife River — known for more than half a century as Polson Ready Mix — laid off the employees Monday. “It’s definitely (due to) the economic times,” said Dave […]

A Polson man accused of killing his father is charged with murder in Flathead County. Flathead authorities filed the charge against 20-year-old Ross E. Johnson on Thursday. Authorities expect dismissal of a Sanders County murder charge filed earlier against Johnson in connection with the death of his father, Roger Johnson. Authorities say GPS mapping showed […]