The Columbia Falls Wildcats appear to be tuning up for another run for state, turning away the Ronan Chiefs 66-40 tonight in Columbia Falls. Below, senior guard Troy Bowman (14) wrestles past Ronan’s Jordan St. Clair (22) with a short jumper in the 2nd half against Ronan.

Live Music: Friday: Can’t Hardly Playboys at Red’s; Barrel Stove at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake; Splinters at Scotty’s; Andre Floyd at Blue Canyon; Silver’s Platter at The Cottage; Karaoke at Grizzly Jacks; Good Wood Trio at Raleigh’s; Smart Alex at Great Northern Bar; Mobile Beat DJ at Red’s Saturday: Can’t Hardly Playboys at The […]

The Jan. 24 edition of the Flathead Beacon carried a column by Dave Skinner that seemed to suggest conservation easements were not “good news” for the Flathead Valley. The truth is conservation easements are very “good news” for the Flathead and its current and future residents and businesses. Conservation easements are good news for the […]

Kalispell City Manager Jim Patrick was among five finalists last month who applied for the open city manager position in Great Falls – a job that eventually went to Gregory T. Doyan, the city manager in Franklin, N.H. Doyon’s compensation in the Electric City will be $105,000 annually, with a monthly vehicle allowance of $450. […]

Much has been written about the quality of ‘authenticity’ in presidential candidates – the ability of some politicians to convey a genuine sense of themselves to voters, and connect with people on a personal, emotional level. The logical side of us says to disregard such nonsense and critically evaluate the economic and foreign policies of […]

HELENA (AP) – Montana’s congressional delegation all voiced support for the stimulus package aimed at jump-starting the economy. U.S. Sen. Max Baucus was a key figure in working out the compromise package, and called it a victory. “We’re going to give the nation’s economy a shot in the arm,” Baucus said in a release. “And […]

BILLINGS (AP) – Montana must change its approach to fire policy as more people move into fire-prone areas, three environmental experts said in a letter sent to state lawmakers. The state should emphasize protecting communities from wildfires primarily through preventive measures, according to the letter. Meanwhile, a more hands-off approach should be taken with fires […]

Good morning and happy Boy Scouts Day. Be prepared. Just two days after Montana held its first ever GOP caucus – from which Mitt Romney emerged the winner – Romney announced yesterday he’s suspending his campaign. Turns out “suspend” is an important distinction there: Because he has not “withdrawn” from the race Romney retains control […]

WHITEFISH – After bowling another strike at the Pin & Cue, 72-year-old Marge Littlefield performs a graceful celebration jig and high fives her teammates. Then she embraces George Schrade, her soul mate, bowling partner and future husband. It’s fitting for Schrade, 76, and Littlefield to spend their Thursday afternoons together amid the chorus of cracking […]

When you read this, the results from Super Tuesday should be in with the major parties settling on their guy or gal. I’m gonna have some fun here and put on my Great Carsoni swami hat: On the D side: Hillary Clinton. The Democratic establishment has too much vested in her and Bill to take […]

The Bigfork School Board is putting the question of an updated high school back to voters, hoping for different results this time. In October the elementary bond passed, but the numbers came out 1,249 for the high school bond, and 1,333 against. “Much of the building is just worn out,” says school board trustee Denny […]

Good morning and Happy Chinese New Year! On the Beacon this morning, winter temperatures in the Flathead are as cold as it has been in a decade, and the amount of snowfall is dwarfing recent winters. Keriann Lynch examines where and how the county will make deep cuts when a federal rural schools funding program […]

More than 30 years ago, one of my photographers returned from Alta, Utah, with what was then some never-before-seen images on movie film. My cameraman told me that the men doing whatever they were doing were riding on some new homemade thing they called a “snowboard.” The only problem was, that they could only make […]

Trouble locating calls and dispatching help in the rapidly growing Flathead Valley may be a thing of the past, with Kalispell’s antiquated emergency response system set to go high-tech. The Flathead County Office of Emergency Services took over 911 on Feb. 1, in the first step of consolidation. “I’m confident that in two years we […]

The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Wednesday included the following: 10:57 a.m. Skis were stolen at Big Mountain. 11:59 a.m. A man stole medication from Canyon Foods in Hungry Horse. 1:31 p.m. Someone called in because they saw a black and white cat lying dead in the middle of the road. When […]