The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Monday included the following: 8:58 a.m. A hunter that had been missing since Sunday night was found near the Spotted Bear Ranger Station at 5:13 p.m. with the help of North Valley Search and Rescue and Flathead Search and Rescue. He was in good health when […]

Then what’s all this talk of doom and gloom in the real estate markets? Let’s take a look at what is really going on. California, Florida and Sun Belt markets became incredibly overbuilt in the last few years. Prices, driven by rampant speculation, rose so sharply that it appeared that real estate was a “can’t […]

The idea of “home” morphs over time. As the years separate us from our hometowns, going back brings on more and more complexities. For me, I have watched Livingston morph from “home” into a sort of makeshift meeting ground for all of the dispersed family members. As I prepare to head to Livingston for the […]

It’s a Bigfork day; from when the sun first comes out, to sunset. Granted, this year, rain clouds meant lightening gray, and darkening gray, but it was still a full day: the elves coming out to decorate the village, the lighting of the Christmas tree, and the 12th annual Art Walk. “There’s always a reason […]

HELENA (AP) – Two companies forming a joint venture to produce up to 100 million gallons of biodiesel by 2010, primarily with Montana crops, will be looking to sign up as many as 50 farmers by next year. The companies announced their project Tuesday morning with Gov. Brian Schweitzer, and Sens. Max Baucus and Jon […]

The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Sunday include the following: 8:05 a.m. A cow elk and her calf were hit on the train tracks in West Glacier. 9:14 a.m. Someone in Bigfork called in because for the last two days they had been watching two bull elks that had their heads stuck […]

Good morning; today is the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. The snow is falling, or at least it was, and the turkeys are waiting to be roasted. On the Beacon, Keriann Lynch analyzes the public criticism that is simply a part of the job down at the Flathead County Planning Department. Kalispell’s Lex Hilliard was […]

WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL Two weeks after approving a draft of the city’s growth policy, the Whitefish City Council will consider several proposed changes to the policy and address concerns raised by the F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Company at tonight’s council meeting. Ron Buentemeir, general manager of Stoltze Lumber, has voiced displeasure over four parts […]

First and foremost: On a totally unrelated note, today is my little sister’s 16th birthday. Happy Birthday, Katelynn! I woke up this morning to snowflakes and a light, fluffy dusting over my deck, trees and grass. I, for one, am excited to see it’s finally snowing – if not only because my boyfriend may finally […]

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) – Canadian cattle over 30 months of age will be allowed into the U.S. market starting Monday, despite criticism from some domestic ranchers worried about mad cow disease. No one knows for sure how the decision will affect U.S. ranchers or foreign markets, which have yet to fully recover from the discovery […]

HELENA (AP) – To a number of Montanans, those bright lights in the sky could be something quite significant. A new poll shows 35 percent believe in the existence of UFOs. While about 50 percent say they do not believe in unidentified flying objects, another 15 percent say they are unsure. The question was asked […]

Whether it’s dealing with neighbors who disagree over each other’s “lawn ornaments” of junk cars and rusted treasures or fielding complaints from either side of the growth debate, working at the county planning office is one of the most contentious jobs in the county. It may also be one of the busiest. “It’s kind of […]

A day after beating rival Montana State 41-20 to wrap up an undefeated season, the Montana Grizzlies earned the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The Grizzlies (11-0) will host Wofford on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 12:05 p.m. Wofford is the Southern Conference champion, finishing the regular season with a 8-3 […]

Jeff Ward, left, talks with a Kalispell firefighter while another extinguishes his pickup truck after it caught fire on Main Street in Kalispell Friday night. Witnesses say they saw flames underneath the small pickup truck and began honking. “I didn’t see anything or smell anything,” Ward said. “I didn’t have a clue until I pulled […]

Singer and songwriter Rob Quist kicks off Saturday morning’s daytime performances at Grouse Mountain Lodge during the Gatherin’ at the Grouse in Whitefish. This is the third year of the Montana cowboy poetry, music and western art gathering. The event is free to the public through Sunday. Tickets for Saturday night’s performance by Juni Fisher, […]