After Laurie and I got serious about each other we decided that instead of hanging out together at Sun Valley where we both had deep roots we would settle somewhere else. So we wound up in Vail and before I knew it we had become good friends with the new owner, George Gillette, and really […]

We’ve all been aware for a long time that renewable sources of energy like the sun and wind are better for our health and our planet than fossil fuels like oil and coal. But many have also assumed – and fossil fuel industries have certainly claimed – that renewable sources are more expensive. Fortunately, this […]

MINNEAPOLIS — An 84-year-old man from Reno, Nevada, has been sentenced for assaulting a woman on board his private plane as they flew to Minnesota. Robert M. Lee, who owns Cromwell Island on Flathead Lake and built a mansion on the property, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Minneapolis to 180 days of probation, […]

The Kalispell school board agreed to extend the contract of its superintendent through 2014 at a meeting on Jan. 10. Members of the Kalispell Public Schools Board of Trustees conducted an annual evaluation with Darlene Schottle, the School District 5 superintendent since 2003, and added a year to her contract, which was set to expire […]

The Flathead Valley is a veritable theater hub in Northwest Montana, with plenty of playbill options in Whitefish and Bigfork. Now, a theater collective is branching out to Kalispell, creating more opportunities for local actors and audiences. The Stumptown Players, who formed in Whitefish but also have Kalispell members on their board of directors, will […]

Tuesday 1/10 10:14 a.m. A “ring-tailed” dog was seen roaming the First Avenue East North area. 11:32 p.m. Someone called in with questions about dogs. 11:36 a.m. Someone shot cat in Olney with a shotgun. 12:08 p.m. A drunken woman was caught stealing two necklaces and a ring from a store in the mall. 1:22 […]

HELENA – U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg topped the list of candidates formally filing Thursday to appear on the 2012 ballot, saying Republicans are confident that they can win a number of key races — including his big challenge to U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. Both parties expressed a great deal of confidence as dozens of candidates […]

BILLINGS – A California company says it has lined up a $320 million loan to construct a wind farm in northern Montana that will generate 189 megawatts of electricity. San Francisco-based NaturEner USA LLC said Tuesday its Rim Rock wind farm will generate enough electricity to power more than 60,000 homes. The company said the […]

CONCORD, N.H. – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night, adding to a first-place finish in last week’s Iowa caucuses and establishing himself as the man to beat for the Republican presidential nomination. Ron Paul finished second, with Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum trailing. “Tonight we […]

Click the image or use the arrows to see more images from the Browning grass fires. BROWNING – Sharon O’Neil’s world is one of contrast now. Inside her home, just east of Browning along U.S. Highway 2, a fire is roaring in its proper place and dozens of family pictures line the mantle above it. […]

MISSOULA – Doug Taylor remembers somebody saying a heartfelt “Oh Jesus” just as the Rimrock Stages bus careened into the median on Interstate 90 early Sunday morning. As the bus slid out of control, bounced onto its side, turned upright again and finally rolled onto its side for a second time, the 51-year-old Texan remembers […]

Kalispell’s city attorney has agreed to fill in as the acting city manager while the search continues for a permanent hire. At a council meeting on Jan. 9, Charles Harball, the city attorney since 2001, agreed to fulfill dual roles inside City Hall after the original interim candidate, David L. Nielsen, resigned at the last […]

Most in Congress ignore the growing hunger for better food. Today a budding constituency is fed up with the quality of our school lunches and the laboratory modifications made to real food. Food has become a social movement. It makes sense: people make eating decisions three times a day. And eaters do not like all […]

BILLINGS – The mayor of Sidney says the use of civilian volunteers to search for a missing high school teacher has ended but FBI agents and local law enforcement will continue to pursue leads in the case. Mayor Bret Smelser said Wednesday the decision to suspend the search for 43-year-old Sherry Arnold came after extensive […]

The Whitefish School Board has approved a plan to float a $14 million bond to help fund a proposed $19 million high school reconstruction project, according to a press release sent out Wednesday. The bond election will be conducted by mail-in ballot, with ballots mailed to voters on Feb. 28 and due back to Whitefish […]