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Greetings, Beacon readers! There’s a new direct bus service in town (Whitefish) providing a beeline to Missoula, Butte, Bozeman, Livingston, Big Timber and Billings. Jefferson Lines, a family-owned and operated bus company with routes throughout the country’s heartland, is launching the Whitefish service starting tomorrow, July 3.
The business is taking over the route from Flathead Transit, which ended its bus service between Whitefish and Missoula on June 30. The two companies worked together to make it a smooth transition, said Kevin Pursey, director of operations at Jefferson Lines.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to Flathead Transit for their commitment and years of partnership in providing critical transportation services to the Montana region. Their dedication helped keep these communities connected, and we are honored to carry this mission forward.”
Travelers will still have options for their bus ride from Whitefish to Billings with the Greyhound, a sister to FlixBus under the global travel technology company Flix SE since 2021. Tickets to ride the Jefferson Lines bus start at $68 with a $2.50 service fee, comparable to a Greyhound ticket starting at the same price with a $3.99 service fee.
The Jefferson Lines service will run four days a week. The Whitefish to Billings route will operate Friday through Monday, leaving Whitefish at 8:30 p.m., departing Missoula at 12:30 p.m. and arriving in Billings at 6:20 p.m. The Billings to Whitefish route will operate Thursday through Sunday, leaving the Jefferson Lines Depot in Billings at 11:30 a.m., departing Missoula at 5:30 p.m., and arriving in Whitefish at 9:10 p.m.
The new bus service will bolster the connection between Whitefish and other communities along the route, in addition to offering a transfer- and layover-less ride. Other stops include: Kalispell, Lakeside, Polson, Pablo, Saint Ignatius, Ravalli, Arlee and Evaro.
I’m Zoë Buhrmaster, here to drive you through news from around the Flathead Valley and beyond.
Raft Guides Share the Stewardship Load at Flathead River Access Sites
A new stewardship program between the Flathead National Forest and a trio of river outfitters helps distribute the work of maintaining river access sites
Flathead County Officials Launch Outreach Campaign to Advocate for New Jail Bond
The $105 million bond will appear on the general election ballot in November and, if passed, would double capacity, address overcrowding and enhance safety at a new public safety facility location in south Kalispell
Browning Man Sentenced to Prison in Fatal High-speed Collision on Blackfeet Indian Reservation
Douglas Dean McDonald pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release
Say hello to Lil’ Wayne. He’s nearly 3 months old and will only grow up to be up 44 pounds fully grown. The staff at the Humane Society affirm that Lil’ Wayne is a sweet, playful guy who is eager to learn. His cutest quirk, they attest, is that he likes to keep all his favorite toys close by piling them onto the bed.
To find out more about Lil’ Wayne and other pet adoption opportunities at the Humane Society of Northwest Montana go to: www.humanesocietypets.com. To donate to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, visit the organization’s donation page here.
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