Happy Friday, Beacon readers! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and, whether you like it or not, it’s nearly 50 degrees on this first Friday of February. But don’t worry, Lauren Frick here with a couple Whitefish news nuggets, including a Whitefish Winter Carnival check-in — because even if Mother Nature disagrees, it is in fact still winter!
For those of you looking to embrace the heat wave, here’s a survey you can take while you’re laying out catching some rays. The city of Whitefish has launched an online survey as part of theWhitefish Rail Corridor Crossing Study to gather public feedback on several rail crossings throughout the community.
The city and BNSF Railway Company in 2023 received $400,000 from the Federal Railroad Administration to study alternatives to at-grade railroad crossings at Birch Point Drive, State Park Road, East Second Street and the Baker Avenue Viaduct. The study hopes to support safer and more efficient rail movement along Whitefish’s rail lines, which carry BNSF trains as well as Amtrak’s Empire Builder passenger service.
The corridor under inspection in the study has 13 public crossings — many without adequate safety features — in addition to inconsistent sidewalks and bike lanes, according to city documents. Traffic bottlenecks and congestion are also common in the corridor.
Potential improvements along the study area include crossing elimination, adding sidewalks and bike lanes, improving signage and wayfinding, exploring quiet zones and upgrading rail crossings, according to city documents. Upgrades to rail crossings could include Active Warning Devices, improved signage and pavement markings and enhanced sightlines.
The goal of this most recent survey is to identify barriers to emergency services and wildfire evacuation, as well as mobility and access limitations these rail crossings may pose to businesses, housing, education, and recreational areas.
Community members can take the surveynow through Feb. 25.
In other Whitefish news, the weather may not be aware, but we’re still plugging along with one of the city’s most beloved events: the Whitefish Winter Carnival.
Despite the Beer Curling tourney being canceled for the second time in its three-year existence, several other WWC event staples are on deck this weekend, including the iconic Grand Parade. Here’s a look at the WWC schedule for Saturday:
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Kiddie Carnival (Whitefish Middle School gym)
11 a.m. — Penguin Plunge (Whitefish City Beach)
12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. — Pie Social (St. Charles St. Charles Borromeo)
The city took to Facebook today to alert the community of new parking procedures, as festival organizers are anticipating record attendance. Here’s what to expect tomorrow:
No parking all day: A full “Clean Street” policy will be in effect throughout downtown. No street parking will be permitted.
Parking lot closure: The E. 1st St./Spokane Ave. parking lot (across from Whitefish Middle School) will be closed all day.
Towing enforced: Vehicles parked within the closure area or along the parade route on Feb. 7 will be towed at the owner’s expense.
Downtown closure details: Beginning at 12 p.m. on Feb. 7, the following restrictions will be in effect:
No through‑traffic will be permitted within the downtown grid. This includes Central Avenue (Depot St. to E. 4th St.) and all intersecting side streets between Baker Avenue and Spokane Avenue.
Through‑traffic should use Baker Avenue. No northbound traffic will be allowed on Spokane Avenue past E. 13th Street.
Now before you kick off your busy weekend, here’s the rest of today’s Daily Roundup.
Lawsuit Accuses Lincoln County Officials of Rebuffing Public Records Requests Seeking Information on Petition to Loosen Cap on Canadian Mining Waste
Lincoln County commissioners filed a petition last year to undo safeguards protecting Lake Koocanusa from the mining contaminant selenium. Plaintiffs accused local officials of "doing the bidding for a foreign mining company."
DREAM Adaptive Recreation has been key in Kalispell resident Katie Newman’s recovery from a horse accident in 2022. Now, the organization’s programming has become a family affair as Newman’s son, Aiden, has joined in on the lessons.
International Guitar Night (IGN) returns for its 26th Anniversary with a dynamic lineup featuring classical guitar virtuoso Thu Le (Vietnam), rock/flamenco/classical powerhouse Lucas Imbiriba (Brazil), innovative fingerstyle guitarist Alexandr Misko (Russia), and, for the first time, ukulele master Taimane (Hawaii).
Best known for its music featured in Netflix’s “Bridgerton,” Vitamin String Quartet delivers innovative string performances that blend classical elegance with modern pop culture. Erasing the boundaries between classical, dance, hip-hop and pop, VSQ has created fresh arrangements of familiar hit music by Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, BTS, The Weeknd and Daft Punk.
Grammy-nominated Della Mae returns to the Wachholz stage along with friends Big Richard, who together are touring as Big Mae. Big Mae unites these two celebrated all-female string bands into one electrifying ensemble, blending bluegrass, folk and Americana with exceptional musicianship and infectious energy. With new music brewing and plenty of mischief on stage, both bands promise powerhouse harmonies, dynamic storytelling and show-stopping instrumental skill.
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