Accompanied by his wife Nancy, daughter Katrina, and even his dog Jag, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer dedicated the wall raising at the Missy Sweeney Habitat for Humanity home in Columbia Falls early Saturday afternoon. Kalispell Mayor Pam Kennedy introduced the Governor, who joined the Habitat work crew to raise and align the wall, before securing […]

The Rotary Club of Columbia Falls recently celebrated their first anniversary with a barbeque at Big Sky Waterpark, and as first years go, it has been exciting for the new club. The club’s efforts so far have helped the Columbia Falls Food Bank by funding and helping to assemble food baskets during the holidays, and […]

Walking out the backdoor into the alleyway behind the Beacon office, one of us always mutters, “That smells good.” That’s one of the advantages of working in a place that butts up against the Red’s Wines & Blues kitchen. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so sad to see it go. Red’s Wines & […]

KALISPELL (AP) – A 2007 graduate of Flathead High School swept to the top in a national speech competition. Treza Hirsch emerged a champion in the imromptu-speaking portion of the National Forensic League tournament held in Wichita, Kan. Hirsch defeated teammate Neil Hilton, also a Flathead High graduate, in the final round of competition Friday. […]

Although the snow has melted off most of Big Mountain, the summer season offers plenty for the outdoor enthusiast. Hiking the Danny On Trail is the perfect weekend day-hike with the longest rout 5.6 miles and shortest 3.6 miles from bottom to top. The trail traverses the slopes of Big Mountain to the 7000-foot-summit, giving […]

Oh I’ve tried to negotiate with the lawn. But the grass only grows faster. In times of desperation I’ve even removed its sprinkler privileges. Then it rains. After rain, grass resembles steamed spinach and strangles the blades on my aging mower. I demand cooperation, using spirited but questionable adjectives, until I realize I am no […]

HELENA (AP) – Nancy K. Peterson, director of the state Agriculture Department, died early Saturday in Great Falls hospice care after a battle with melanoma cancer. She was 52. Peterson was diagnosed with a recurrence of melanoma early last fall, but underwent treatment and was improving dramatically when the cancer spread to her brain and […]

Convicts’ minds play unfunny jokes … on themselves. They conjure up bright ideas of squeezing through rat holes, distracting prison guards and beginning clean-slate lives. Memory is suppressed, if only momentarily, and that’s all it takes. When Kelly A. Frank, the man once accused of plotting to kidnap David Letterman’s son, and William Willcutt rendezvoused […]

Spring runoff recedes and fat bugs plop down on the water’s surface. For a few weeks, before the phenomenon of blue rivers becomes summer routine, anglers embrace the dawn of summer. Stumptown Anglers owner David Brown calls it the “golden three weeks,” a temperamental period right after the mud fades but just before the water […]

HELENA – In a speech over breakfast to Montana Republicans, former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave a speech notable for whom he mentioned, and who he left out. In a stump speech in which he urged Republicans to focus on boilerplate issues like national defense, strengthening the United States economy and family […]

HELENA – While Republicans lunched on barbecued ribs, corn on the cob and salad, Secretary of State Brad Johnson lambasted Gov. Brian Schweitzer and state Democratic lawmakers. Johnson leveled harsh criticism at Dems concerning constituency funds, the legal, but largely unregulated bank accounts where state lawmakers, the governor and secretary of state can store funds […]

KALISPELL (AP) – A 14-year-old boy who nearly drowned in a tubing accident on the Stillwater River died early Saturday, hospital officials said. Andy Irvine, the son of Kalispell Fire Department chaplain Hal Irvine, had been in critical condition at Kalispell Regional Medical Center since Thursday’s accident. He spent 11 to 15 minutes underwater before […]

When Flathead Republicans head to their state convention this weekend in Helena, they find their party between a rock and a hard place. The 2007 Legislature was a political rock most GOP lawmakers felt they were banging their heads against in a futile attempt to achieve property tax cuts with a billion dollar surplus. Republicans, […]

A few years ago a wealthy Swiss guitar collector decided to visit the shop where some of his finest guitars were customized. He didn’t fly to Los Angeles or Nashville or Austin. He hopped a plane to Kalispell where, at Music One Workshop, the Miletich brothers were waiting with yet another finished guitar. Larry and […]

School’s out, and the kids are underfoot. If you’re looking to get your child involved in a summer program, Whitefish has plenty. For budding artists, Stumptown Art Studio (406/862-5929) runs week-long classes June through August. The five programs running $60 – $65 target different age groups for 4- to 11-year-olds for hands-on work with design, […]