In a blog post not long ago, I mentioned a conversation with someone who felt that the act of marketing their service was unethical. My comment to them was that if they really can help people with a problem, then not marketing themself is the unethical thing. If you have a solution to someone’s problem, […]

Editor’s note: The Beacon will publish a response to this column by Republican Senator Greg Barkus of Kalispell next week. As the spin-doctors have been reviewing the last Legislature, it reminds me of the blind men describing an elephant, each perspective telling a different story. My perspective comes from a seat on the aisle and […]

There’s something about baseball. Each year more than a dozen high school boys, in the height of their teenage social lives, dedicate eight months, including the whole summer, to a sport that they have to raise much of the money to play. To Adam Olson, one the Kalispell Lakers’ captains, it makes sense. “It’s the […]

School will be out, Flathead Lake’s about full, and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks is inviting you to go fishing. Thursday June 21 is FWP’s “Fishing Without Barriers Day.” Anglers with disabilities are hosted for free fishing trips on Flathead. “The last few years we’ve had our max number of people turn up,” FWP spokesman […]

It’s all for a good cause, but don’t tell them that. Anxiousness overcomes any goodwill. Two teenagers – one from Columbia Falls and the other from Whitefish – exit their respective corners. They ignore strategy and defense, instead throwing dozens, no hundreds, of punches. Who has the better aim? It’s the annual Cat/Dog Smoker and […]

Five citizens told Kalispell City Council Monday night they opposed the Valley Ranch subdivision proposal for a host of reasons: its density, the traffic impact, the old growth Ponderosa pine trees that would have to be cut down, and the lack of storm water drainage planning. Whether the citizens’ comments had the intended effect or […]

A feeble attempt at humor Congratulations on your new enterprise. For some time we have needed a newspaper in the Flathead that represents the diverse nature of our residents. I hope you will be successful in doing this. That said, I was disappointed in your first commentary: “Statehouse or Schoolyard?” In his effort to be […]

Over the past year, drivers on Baker Avenue have watched the lawn at The Walking Man Frame Shop and Gallery sprout with stone and steel sculptures. Ripe from the imagination of Danny Kraus, the sculptures have attracted attention to the Arlee artist whose show opens this Thursday at The Walking Man. You can meet Kraus […]

A proposal to expand Safeway failed Monday night at Whitefish’s city council meeting. The 3-3 tie vote to approve the conditional-use permit counted as a “no-pass” because Mayor Andy Feury was out-of-town and unable to give the tiebreaking vote. Since there were no motions to deny the store expansion, only to approve it, council member […]

More than once in its life, the Whitefish Railway District has re-invented itself. And now, it’s re-inventing itself again. A wave of new businesses have launched in the past several years – well over 10 in the past year alone – in renovated historic railroad homes and new multi-use townhouses. They are banding together to […]

Some would say Northwest Montana is already on the map. It just depends on what map you’re talking about. Last Friday the National Geographic Society held its second Crown of the Continent Stewardship Council in Whitefish to discuss a Geotourism MapGuide that will include parts of Flathead County and Glacier National Park, among other areas […]

Former Massachusetts governor and current presidential candidate Mitt Romney will headline the GOP’s annual convention in Helena later this month. “We’re very excited to have Governor Romney in Montana to talk about the important issues facing our nation,” convention organizer, Jake Eaton, said in a prepared statement. “Attracting a top presidential contender is a great […]

I’m embarrassed to admit how excited I was when the new HuHot opened north of town. It wasn’t the idea of Genghis Khan-influenced food or watching it being prepared in a counterclockwise motion that excited me. It was the idea of having somewhere new to go in Kalispell. With all the growth in the valley, […]

You’ll see it soon, but you won’t believe it. There you are, driving past Pinewood Park at 630am when you get an urge for a donut. You pull into the bakery, get out of your car. A noise to the south makes you look down the hill toward the pool where you see….30-40 teenagers swimming […]

Located one mile from the northwestern entrance to Glacier National Park, the Polebridge Mercantile is an oasis for the weary traveler. Besides amenities such as gas and groceries, the “Merc” offers world-class pastries and a custom roasted Polebridge blend of coffee. “The furthest we’ve had anyone come from is Israel to try our pastries,” Deb […]