Page 10 - Flathead Beacon // 9.30.15

NEWS
Sign of the Season: Fritz Corn Maze Family-fun weekend planned for Oct. 3-4 at the corn maze
BY MOLLY PRIDDY OF THE BEACON
As the Flathead Valley continues to transition into autumn, with October approaching and the summer’s heat and smoke becoming a distant if not unwel- come memory, it’s time for the crispness and seasonal fun fall offers.
And though the Fritz Corn Maze isn’t necessarily the longest tradition – it opened to the public in 2007 – it is quickly becoming one of the pillars of autumn here. To celebrate the seasonal return, Heidi Fritz said the corn maze will host a family-fun weekend on Oct. 3 and 4.
“For the beginning of October, that’s usually our biggest time, we’re going to have a family-fun weekend,” she said. “For that weekendm we have all the same attractions and also some extra things.”
Typical activities at the 10-acres corn maze include wandering through the maze itself, which also includes a scav- enger hunt, the cow train – a train made of plastic barrels painted as cows pulled by a tractor – the culvert slides, a smaller
hay-bale maze, bean bag toss, and more. New activities for the Oct. 3-4 week- end will include gourd decorating, farm activity sheets, a coloring contest, pedal tractors, family sack races, and roping
practice.
Admission for the weekend is still $5,
and everything is included in the price. “October is our biggest month, so to get more people out, we’re having this
party to kick it off,” Fritz said.
Fritz also said new this year are the
“corn circle party rooms,” which are cir- cles cut from the existing corn to provide a bit of separation for private birthday parties or other private groups renting out a section of the maze.
The Fritzes also hope to host a scare- crow contest on Oct. 10 and 11, which would also include a scarecrow work- shop on Oct. 9. The Fritzes will provide the straw for the scarecrows. Winners of the contest will be chosen through a vote.
And starting Oct. 29, the maze is home to extra-creepy ghouls for the Haunted Trail, running from Oct. 29-31.
Otherwise, the Fritz Corn Maze is
Visitors navigate the Fritz Corn Maze. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
open Friday through Sunday; Friday from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information on the corn
maze, visit www.fritzcornmaze.weebly. com or call 406-755-4210.
[email protected]
Black Bear Attacks Elderly Woman Inside Her Home
Woman seriously injured at residence west of Kalispell, where investigators say bears were repeatedly fed
BY BEACON STAFF
A black bear attacked an elderly woman inside her home west of Kalispell Sunday afternoon, seriously injuring the woman before escaping through an open window.
Officials say the attack was severe and of grave concern given that it took place inside a home, near where bears had apparently been “extensively fed” with bird feed and other items.
“At this point we are still trying to fig- ure out what exactly happened,” Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesperson John Fraley said. “It was a severe attack.”
Wildlife officials say they don’t know how the bear got inside the woman’s home, which is located in a rural area between Batavia Lane and Ashley Lake, but that it clearly left through the win- dow. They emphasized that bears had been extensively fed in the area, but declined to name the parties responsible
for the feeding.
Fraley said he doesn’t know whether
those responsible for feeding the bears will face charges.
FWP’s Wildlife Attack Response Team completed its initial investigation Monday afternoon and has not yet been able to trap the animal, but will continue the trapping efforts.
Fraley said wildlife officials would have additional updates as the investiga- tion continues.
According to FWP investigator Brian Sommers, the attack was severe and the woman sustained serious injuries. She was hospitalized in Kalispell at press time Monday.
FWP’s Erik Wenum said other area residents have been notified of the situation.
According to FWP Warden Captain Lee Anderson, the incident is under investigation and more information will be released as it becomes available.
Lunch & Dinner
www.406barandgrill.com • 139 1st Avenue West • Kalispell • 755-4441
Monday Happy Hour all Night Long
Wine Wednesdays 1/2 off Select Bottles of Wine New fall menu coming soon!
f
Duck Ravioli, Elk Wontons and much much mor•
e!
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SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM