Bob Harrington, state forester for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, spent much of last week briefing Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., along with several other state and federal agencies, on what to expect for Montana’s 2007 fire season. Next week the DNRC will hold its Wildland Fire Engine academy to […]

Sunday marked the final episode of the Sopranos, and really, what could I possibly say about this show that hasn’t already been said by people who are paid more money to weigh in on the cultural zeitgeist? The acting, the writing, the character development, the literary references, the music, and the violence: All are exquisite. […]

“As far as we know, it’s the only full block re-development project in Montana,” explained Lisa Jones, community outreach coordinator for the Block 46 project. It’s definitely the largest in downtown Whitefish. The 80,000-square-foot development will not only put a different face on downtown, but add a mixed-use building complex–the first of its kind in […]

There are certain corollary indicators of a thriving economy. When business is booming on Wall Street, ritzy steak houses in lower Manhattan enjoy an attendant rise in customers. So it only makes sense that when an outdoor mecca like the Flathead Valley grows like it has in recent years, there’s also an increase in the […]

Boaters on Swan and Echo lake will see an increase in Fish Wildlife and Parks officers. The higher visibility stems from a no-wake zone petition filed by several Swan Lake property owners. The area focused on includes the 1-mile stretch of lake where it narrows into the river channel. The “no wake” zone extends 200-feet […]

It’s second period, Mr. Galvin’s science class. The walls are lined with antlers, ducks, plants, coral, skulls, and some twisted, mummified rodent. “Measure your seed pods,” Mike Galvin tells the class, “Their life cycle has totally speeded up.” “Our plant’s life cycle already got cut short by a certain someone,” a front row student says […]

When it comes to golf conditioning, Ralph Simpson wrote the book. Literally. Simpson, a Whitefish physical therapist, recently released “Complete Conditioning for Golf,” a book and DVD that he says will help golfers at all levels — not just the ones on the PGA tour that he formerly practiced with. The book includes techniques and […]

LIBBY (AP) – People sickened by asbestos from a Libby mine that closed in 1990 continue to hope for a meaningful trial as federal appellate judges consider the future of the government’s case against mine operator W.R. Grace & Co., an activist afflicted with asbestos-related disease said Thursday. At a Seattle hearing Monday, federal lawyers […]

On a sunny spring evening, the crack of the bat resounds through the air. Snow clings to the high mountaintops on the Swan Mountains, and proud parents cheer on their kids. It’s just another night in the Cal Ripken League of the Babe Ruth organization, and Don Frey’s Deer Park Panthers are taking their lumps […]

KALISPELL (AP) – Police have arrested a 17-year-old Kalispell boy in connection with a weekend fire that destroyed a state Department of Transportation storage shed. The boy, who was not identified, is suspected of arson in the early Saturday blaze that destroyed the shed and damaged a nearby warehouse, authorities said. The shed contained DOT […]

Normally, the answer to that question is “No!” On the other hand, how often do you find a band saw running outside of the car dealer’s showroom door on a Saturday? Every once in a while, you wander across a business owner who will do anything for kids. Eisinger Chevrolet’s Greg Eisinger is one of […]

The Kalispell City Council sat down last week with some very thick binders and dug into the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. Under City Manager Jim Patrick’s plan, Kalispell would hire two new police officers, with one assigned to Glacier High School, a part-time clerk for the municipal court and […]

By the 1980s and 1990s, Saturday afternoon at the local mall had become a ritual for many teenagers and families across the nation. But today the question is: With the rapid expansion of big-box stores and so-called “lifestyle centers,” is there still room for the mall? Yes, says Kalispell Center Mall Manager Meg Lindberg. She’s […]

I stood in a grocery store aisle for nearly 15 minutes choosing a bag of flour, and I don’t even bake. I’m not sure what psychiatrists would call this, but I call it selective, an illness that comes out when I believe a purchase is “long-term.” Flour is a long-term item to me, as my […]

Editor’s note: The Beacon printed the wrong price for the Lakeside property in its print edition.The actual price is listed below. Lakeside Where: 170 Rimini Price: $339,500 What: Two-bedroom, two-bath home Square feet: 2,516 Located halfway between Somers and Lakeside, this home is a showpiece for thoughtful planning and location. It features views of Flathead […]