Happy Friday, Beacon readers! Lauren Frick here, back in Roundup action after a brief hiatus last week for the Fourth of July holiday. As I sit here on another beautiful Friday in the Flathead typing up yet another edition of everyone’s favorite newsletter, a question keeps popping up in my mind: What were you doing 15 years ago?
Fifteen years ago (on this date exactly), 11-year-old Lauren was quietly sitting in an equally silent living room as she, her parents and brother tensely stared at a TV projecting the USA women’s national team on the brink of their earliest World Cup exit ever. That was until the ultimate outside back, Ali Krieger, recovered the ball from a (Captain America) Christie Rampone tackle on a Brazilian attacker, slotting a pass forward to future Hall-of-Famer Carli Lloyd, who carried the ball across midfield to find a freshly 26-year-old Megan Rapinoe, who (thankfully) had even more audacity than she does now to launch a perfectly placed, 35-yard cross to the backside of the 6-yard box to find the forehead of none other than the legend herself, Abby Wambach.
Wambach scored the 122nd minute equalizer, my living room erupted, and equally emphatic color commentary blasted through our home — to this day, one of my favorite sports calls ever: “That’s what you call USA razzle dazzle! Heart, spirit, oh they’ve got it by the bucketload!” (I’ll get to the newsy bit in just a second; I needed to relive a happy memory after our depressing exit from a World Cup on home soil this week).
You know what else happened 15 years ago? That was the last time Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley broke ground in Whitefish. The good news: that will all change come next week.
Habitat Flathead on Wednesday is breaking ground on the first two of the 100 homes to be completed over 10 years to initiate its Grounded in Whitefish campaign. The milestone groundbreaking will be at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, at 1958 and 1966 Whitefish Ave.
Grounded in Whitefish is centered on homeownership opportunities for the Whitefish workforce. Applicants for homes built in the campaign must be able to prove that one of the household members signing the deed to the house works at least 30 hours per week for a Whitefish-based employer and essential workers will be priority applicants, according to Habitat Flathead.
All Habitat Flathead homes, and therefore all the Grounded in Whitefish homes, are deed restricted against any kind of rental and commercial use, and the nonprofit wants all the houses built to eventually become part of the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust’s long-term pool of affordable housing.
The lot for Grounded in Whitefish’s first project on Whitefish Avenue was sold with a generous discount by lot owners Jack Alton and Zach Pitts, and was purchased with city resort tax funds.
Whitefish city councilors in May unanimously voted to approve a one-time grant of $250,000 for the purchasing of the land for the two lots for Habitat homes. These funds came from the more than $1 million budgeted from the Fiscal Year 2026 Resort Tax Fund for affordable housing projects and homes, according to city documents.
The two homes will have a restriction of ownership to households with income at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI), a term of two years for completion of the project and a shared appreciation allowing the homeowner only 25% of the appreciated value at the time of sale.
Habitat Flathead will open applications for these homes in the upcoming weeks, the organization said in a press release this week. People interested in owning one of these homes should review Habitat Flathead’s criteria for participating in the program at habitatflathead.org/homeownership.
Habitat homebuyers are required to complete a mentorship program, invest hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” building their own home or a neighbor’s, and, purchase their homes with an affordable mortgage.
Habitat Flathead is also currently recruiting volunteers to mentor the new homeowners through its new homeowner curriculum which covers home maintenance, financial planning, and positive community engagement. Volunteers and donors are also needed to contribute to the landscaping around these homes. People interested in being a volunteer in any way should contact Hilary Devlin, community engagement manager, at [email protected]
“The key to getting 100 homes built in Whitefish in the next 10 years is to get the whole community involved in many different ways,” Habitat’s Executive Director MaryBeth Morand said in the press release. “We hope this historic groundbreaking draws a crowd of people who can learn about how our program works and all the different volunteer opportunities.”
Well, that’s all I’ve got for y’all. Let’s break into the rest of today’s Daily Roundup.
Flathead Rivers Alliance Continues Public Outreach and Conservation for Future Generations
As 219 miles of the Flathead River system celebrates its 50th year designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Flathead Rivers Alliance has evolved to provide education programming while engaging the public
Stakeholders Complete Conservation Easement on Thompson River Timberland
The initial phase of the project, which closed July 7, secures public access to 34,610 acres of working forestland owned by Green Diamond Resource Company in Flathead and Sanders counties
Columbia Falls to Seek Voter-Approval on Form of Government Adjustment This November
After a year-and-a-half of meetings, the local government study commission recommended taking the question of transitioning from general-governing powers to self-governing powers to voters this fall
Sierra Hull is a seven-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year, six-time Grammy nominee, and one of the most dynamic voices in bluegrass and Americana. Her latest album, A Tip Toe High Wire, marks a bold new chapter – her first independent release – spotlighting her songwriting and instrumental prowess. Featuring guest appearances by Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien, and Aoife O’Donovan, the album balances tradition with innovation. The project has been met with widespread acclaim and was nominated for four GRAMMY Awards, including Best Bluegrass Album, underscoring Hull’s continued evolution as one of acoustic music’s most visionary artists.
An Academy of Country Music Top Female Vocalist, multi-platinum artist, and Grand Ole Opry member Sara Evans is the voice behind number 1 hits like “Born to Fly” and “Suds in the Bucket” and “A Little Bit Stronger.” Don’t miss her powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics live on the Wachholz stage.
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