BILLINGS – The federal government has limited control over a timber company’s plans to develop its vast Montana land holdings, U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey said Monday. As the Plum Creek Timber Co. moves to be a bigger player in the real estate industry, the company is negotiating with the federal government to renew approximately […]

“It’s an exciting way to kick off First Thursdays,” said Tom Gilfillan, owner of The Stillwater Gallery and Whitefish Pottery. Gilfillan has rustled up nearly 30 Flathead Valley potters for a celebration of clay for the 2008 opening of Whitefish Gallery Nights. This Thursday, May 1, kicks off the first in the series of six […]

Open burning in Flathead County will require a burning permit starting Thurs., May 1. Burning permits are available two ways: Go on-line to www.firesafekalispell.com and fill out an application. A permit will be generated on-line and e-mailed to you, and you can print it on your home printer. Or, stop by one of the following […]

Just south of Browning my muffler fell off. The timing seemed odd and strangely meaningful because, number one, I was in the middle of the prairie on the Blackfeet Reservation and, number two, it happened only a couple of hundred yards away from a giant field of broken-down cars and discarded auto parts. It was […]

Monte Yellow Bird Sr.’s life is full of color. It’s in his paintings, coated on his ceramics and constantly on his mind. This week Yellow Bird, a well-known artist who also goes by the name of Black Pinto Horse, is sharing his colorful view of the world with people in the Flathead Valley, speaking at […]

WASHINGTON – Members of Congress negotiating a multibillion-dollar farm bill continued to disagree Tuesday over the size of payments to wealthy farmers as President Bush renewed his call to reduce those subsidies. Negotiators reached a tentative agreement last week on how to pay for the massive bill, which would cost almost $300 billion over the […]

A Lakeside man faces charges of aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon in an ax attack on his former girlfriend’s current boyfriend. Flathead County deputies arrested 34-year-old Jesse Sheridan shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday. Officials say 40-year-old Marvin Saloway suffered leg injuries and lacerations to the head and eye in the attack, and that […]

The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Monday included the following: 7:18 a.m. A 12-volt screw gun was stolen out of a sawmill work shed. 9:06 a.m. A 15-year-old girl called in to report that two nights ago there was a man in his forties tapping his fingers on her windows. 10:47 a.m. […]

The sun chose an opportune moment to shine this past weekend as Bigfork filled up with restaurateurs and taste testers. “It was a beautiful day,” says Gretchen Gates with the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce, “we really lucked out this year.” Sunday marked the 14th annual Taste of Bigfork and the biggest year so far. Gates […]

LIBBY – A judge from Libby faces a hearing before the Montana Judicial Standards Commission on allegations he offered female defendants leniency in return for sexual favors. Gary D. Hicks is a married, two-term justice of the peace. He was first elected six years ago, and previously worked as a car salesman. Six named women […]

HELENA – Two former University of Montana football players were drafted by NFL teams Sunday. Defensive end Kroy Biermann of Hardin was chosen by Atlanta, while running back Lex Hilliard of Kalispell was taken by Miami. Biermann, this year’s Buck Buchanan Award winner and Big Sky Conference defensive MVP, was the 19th pick in the […]

Good morning. Happy National Cubicle Day and happy birthday to my mom. It looks like a beautiful day in the Flathead. On the site this morning, we report on two local athletes moving on to bigger and better things. Lex Hilliard was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 6th round, and Alyssa Fierro of […]

HELENA – A Republican lawmaker from Otter says the Montana Board of Environmental Review is overstepping its bounds, and he is taking steps to either restrict the board’s rule-making power or eliminate the board altogether. State Sen. Keith Bales has submitted two bill draft requests to the state Legislative Services Division. One would revise the […]

WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL The Whitefish City Council will again look at a proposed zoning change that would create a business service district at the intersection of Montana Highway 40 and Dillon Road at tonight’s 7:10 p.m. public meeting at city hall. The council has tabled the issue twice before. Planning staff members will present code […]

A hearty eater and aficionado of all things food, I was elated when my boyfriend scored free tickets from his boss for the Taste of Bigfork event yesterday. With 20-plus restaurants offering everything from wine to chocolate mousse and gourmet Reuben sandwiches, I started preparing for the event in the morning. A small breakfast and […]