Good morning and happy spring; today is the vernal equinox. Our top story on the Beacon this morning looks at federal funding cuts that could force drug task forces around the state to scale back dramatically. Whitefish Democratic Rep. Mike Jopek is running for re-election. Beacon columnist Dave Skinner writes about the origin of federally […]

In what has become a reoccurring theme preceding major events in Montana, many of those hoping to buy tickets to see both Democratic presidential hopefuls next month were greeted Wednesday morning with a buggy Web site, busy phone lines and few answers. Demand for tickets to the Mansfield-Metcalf Dinner at the Butte Civic Center featuring […]

There are some men and women in the world who spend their entire life looking for the meaning of life. I’ve spent my entire life looking for the free lift ticket. After five decades of making ski movies I have to tell you that I have just been selling freedom all of those years. That’s […]

HELENA – Republican Roy Brown addressed some current issues Thursday while filing for his race against incumbent Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Brown says he is undecided about a proposed constitutional initiative that would define a person as “a human being at all stages of human development or life, including the state of fertilization.” Brown says he […]

Less than a stones throw north over the railroad tracks in Kalispell, Habitat for Humanity ReStore is making use of building materials and things otherwise rendered useless. Reselling anything with life left to give and providing the community with, not only a cheap alternative to buying something new, but more space at the dump for […]

MISSOULA – The Ravalli County sheriff’s office is investigating an apparent arson fire at the First Baptist Church in Hamilton. The fire was reported at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Volunteer firefighters called law enforcement after discovering someone had broken into the building and entered several rooms in the church. The fire appears to have been […]

Jim Gilman stood before a crowd of more than 50 people last week and asked them if they remembered where they were in April of 1982. Gilman is the water adjudication bureau chief for the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in Helena and he remembers exactly where he was during that time. “I […]

The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Wednesday included the following: 12:24 p.m. A caller on Sunny Brook Lane in Somers reported that two obnoxious girls were throwing things at a house. 1:19 p.m. There was a dog at large on Shady Lane in Evergreen. 3:36 p.m. A woman called in to report […]

BASKETBALL: Osweiler, Fierro Tower Above the Rest These are Flathead County’s high school all-star basketball teams, as chosen by the Beacon. We’ve ignored class distinctions and conference limitations to round up what we feel would be the best squads to match up against any other all-star teams in the state. There’s a lot of talent […]

The software business is a funny place, but it offers lessons that can be used just about anywhere, whether you mow yards, own a septic tank business, specialize in international tax law, or design space-age computer chips in your sleep. One of the first lessons that you learn is that something good enough for you, […]

THOMPSON FALLS – A Sanders County man, accused of keeping a woman captive and sexually molesting her for 15 years, has been found guilty on all five counts in a Thompson Falls courtroom. The jury returned guilty verdicts Tuesday against 55-year-old Douglas Guill after 11 hours of deliberation. Guill and his wife were arrested after […]

A combination of rising construction costs, unforeseen building obstacles and planning problems has led to delays and significant price increases for several major projects in Northwest Montana, including Going-to-the-Sun Road’s restoration, Kalispell’s new city hall and an assortment of school renovations. The large jumps in price estimates for Going-to-the-Sun Road’s restoration and a downtown improvements […]

BILLINGS – A record 186 wolves were killed in the Northern Rockies last year in response to livestock depredations, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Government agents and ranchers legally killed about 12 percent of the population, but the FWS estimates that at least 1,513 wolves lived in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming at […]

Good morning; today is the fifth anniversary of the commencement of the Iraq War. It’s Wednesday and the new Beacons are hitting the stands. Our top feature this week ranks the very best high school athletes from around the valley in basketball, wrestling and swimming with killer photos. Public construction projects, from the Going-to-the-Sun Road […]

“I’ll work just as much with Republicans and Democrats because honey works better than vinegar,” says Representative Mike Jopek (D). He recently filed paperwork for re-election to State House District 4, seeking a third term in the state legislature representing the greater Whitefish area. The co-owner of Purple Frog Farms, who is known for his […]