HELENA (AP) – New census estimates show that Montana’s population increased by more than 11,000 from July 2006 to July 2007. The census data show Montana’s population grew by 1.2 percent, which ties the state for the 16th fastest growth rate nationwide. Montana’s population is estimated at 957,861. Nevada, Arizona and Utah are the fastest-growing […]

“It’s nice to be home,” says Roy Loman. After 35 years on the East Coast, Loman has returned to the slopes where he raced in high school. “It wasn’t a difficult choice,” the new Whitefish Mountain Race Team head coach says, “but trying to pick up my life in a few weeks wasn’t the easiest […]

Blacktail Mountain is an ideal place for family skiing and boarding this season. With separate chairlifts for beginner, intermediate and advanced snow enthusiasts, cross traffic is minimal. The north-facing slopes keep the snow light and dry and help protect runs from wind. Although the area has been known to get busy during the holidays, the […]

The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Wednesday included the following: 8:23 a.m. A landlord in Whitefish called in because a renter had left a cat behind with no food or water. The renter claimed he stopped by daily to feed the cat. He said he will move the cat later. 9:22 a.m. […]

HELENA (AP) – A judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit claiming the Schweitzer administration illegally authorized a $140-per-homeowner tax credit. District Judge Thomas Honzel of Helena said that state Sen. John Cobb did not have standing to bring the lawsuit against the state. Cobb, a Republican from Augusta, argued the appropriate trigger for the extra […]

On Dec. 26 an attorney representing a local political action committee sent a letter to Whitefish City Councilor John Muhlfeld asking him to clear up concerns about the legality of his residency by Jan. 2 or he would face a lawsuit. Duncan Scott, an attorney representing Common Sense in Whitefish Government PAC and Rick Blake, […]

All Realtors are the same, right? All restaurants are the same, right? Web 2.0 is just for geeks, right? Not so fast, Mary. One of the first things you’ll hear from a real estate agent is “and look how convenient it is to schools and shopping…” Wouldn’t it be nice if you could do that […]

Not long after Rotary Club of Columbia Falls member Jimmy DeHerrera delivered a dictionary to each of Canyon Elementary School’s 3rd graders, he received a bunch of thank you cards in the mail. One stood out to him so much that he read it out loud to the club at their regular Wednesday lunch meeting […]

A friend’s small boat sank out from under him in a storm recently, but fortunately he had a survival suit onboard and was able to climb into it before he was afloat in forty-five-degree water for several hours. Since a survival suit saved his life, I thought it would be a good idea to buy […]

OLNEY – When the dogs see the rope that will secure them to the sled unfurled and laying on the snow, they start to moan and grumble to each other, to howl and yelp in anticipation of the run – except for Ricky. Katie Davis, 28, walks Ricky, 8, to the front of the gangline […]

Good morning and happy National Whiner’s Day. On the Beacon this morning, Dan Testa and Lido Vizzutti go mushing to get the lowdown on the first ever Flathead Sled Dog Days. Whitefish Mountain Resort has opened up most of its terrain following heavy snowfall – up to 30 inches has dumped in a week. Canadians […]

The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Christmas included the following: 12:59 a.m. A man was mad at a clerk at a Kalispell gas station because he refused to serve him. He then drove off heading east cursing the clerk along his way. 1:04 a.m. Someone out on Bass Lake Court called in […]

When Jan Ballard’s husband died last year she found herself without an income. So, after being a stay-at-home mom and then taking care of her husband who was disabled in an industrial accident 24 years ago, Ballard, 60, started her first job outside her home. “My husband had disability, social security and a workman’s comp […]

This morning I may have committed murder. Or, at the very least, assault. The victim plays many roles in my life – friend, personal assistant, co-worker, social liaison – and I certainly would never intentionally cause it harm. But, despite the victim’s seeming ability to meet my every need, it couldn’t prevent one thing: The […]

Bucky Wolford’s Glacier Mall, aka Glacier Town Center (no extra “e’s,” thank goodness) is going to have yet another public hearing, on Jan. 7. It should be a doozy, with everyone’s nerves freshly frayed by the just-ended North Kalispell Christmas Season Shopping Traffic Jam. At the recent non-voting hearing before Kalispell City Council, Citizens for […]