Recently, Mr. Rehberg wrote newspapers across Montana to voice his support for HR2102, the so-called “Free Flow of Information Act” (called by some the “Reporter Confidentiality Act of 2007”). Anyone who watches Washington regularly knows enough to know that the bill names usually are just the opposite of reality, and this one is no different. […]

KALISPELL (AP) – A Hungry Horse man accused of fatally shooting his wife pleaded not guilty Thursday in District Court in Flathead County. Charles Smith, 50, is charged with murder in the death of his wife, Jody. The incident began on the evening of Dec. 9 with reports of a domestic disturbance and shots fired. […]

KALISPELL (AP) – One person was killed and three others injured in a three-vehicle crash on icy U.S. 93 just south of Kalispell, the Montana Highway Patrol said. A southbound pickup truck slid into the northbound lane at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, striking an oncoming car head-on, the patrol said. The driver of the car, a […]

Good morning and Happy Birthday to chemist Louis Pasteur. On the Beacon this morning, we report on a political action committee that has threatened to sue Whitefish Councilor John Muhlfeld if he doesn’t address residency concerns. Several readers say this is a non-story – read their comments here. One man was killed and three others […]

I haven’t pinned down a New Year’s resolution yet. Oh well, I’ll probably break it anyway. Nevertheless, I’ve been throwing around some ideas. Eat healthier. Read more. Make lasting, valuable contributions to the health care system. Visit an African pygmy village. Increase awareness on the plight of depleting proboscis monkey populations in Malaysian Borneo. Take […]

Organizers of the first annual Flathead Sled Dog Days shifted their race venue from Olney to the head of Whitefish Lake due to plowing on the Olney Crossover Road. The race will now start and finish on the Upper Whitefish Lake Road, a popular local snowmobile trail that departs from East Lakeshore Drive in Whitefish. […]

KALISPELL (AP) – A 30-year-old Kalispell man was killed and three others injured in a three-vehicle crash on icy U.S. 93 just south of here, the Montana Highway Patrol said. A southbound pickup truck slid into the northbound lane at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, striking an oncoming car head-on, the patrol said. The driver of the […]

It’s clear that people want the Flathead County Library to stay in downtown Kalispell. But following a Dec. 5 library board vote denying a proposal to move into the abandoned Tidyman’s building, it’s unclear at the moment how the library will go about doing it. The Flathead County Library Board of Trustees voted 3-2 against […]

KALISPELL (AP) – Flathead County officials are investigating what they’re calling a suspicious death. The sheriff’s office received a call Thursday from an Oregon woman who said she hadn’t heard from her husband in the Flathead Valley since Christmas Eve. Deputies found 57-year-old Stewart Nuss dead. Sheriff Mike Meehan says he suspects foul play. Nuss’ […]

Live Music: Friday: Can’t Hardly Playboys at Red’s; Andre Floyd at Blue Canyon; Silver’s Platter at The Cottage; Good Wood Trio at Scotty’s; Russ Nasset and the Revelators at the Great Northern; Mobile Beat DJ at Red’s Saturday: Jay Hatt at Belton Chalet; Bad Larrys at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake; Silver’s Platter at The […]

For Christmas last year my odd-humored dad wrapped up a jar of pickles as a gift for his oldest grandson. A 5-year-old opening canned goods as a present – then still attempting to be polite about it – makes the holiday season well worth the preceding stress. A larger, industrial-sized jar was under the tree […]

Lindley Dupree spent most of this year planning a series of financial literacy classes for Flathead residents who have gotten into money troubles. So it confirmed for her that a need for the class existed when she learned some of her most vulnerable clients – many of whom were homeless not long ago – were […]

COLUMBIA FALLS (AP) – A 23-year-old Columbia Falls man was killed early Wednesday when his car left a railroad right-of-way near Frontage Road in Columbia Falls, and plunged hundreds of feet down a steep embankment. The victim was identified as Scott Jeffords. The Montana Highway Patrol says the man’’s Isuzu Rodeo rolled several times and […]

Good morning and happy second day of Kwanzaa. On the Beacon this morning, Dan Testa reports on a payday lender that’s marketing to the recently homeless, and a series of financial literacy classes for Flathead residents who have gotten into money troubles. Editor Kellyn Brown reminisces about Christmas’s past in the Brown household. Evidently jars […]

This is the time of year for reflection … sit back a moment and think about the past year – and for a change, what it was like for wildlife. You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase, “Think globally, act locally.” Well, is there anything you can do to assist the little critters that call your backyard […]