Not long ago, the Flathead basin had the largest and healthiest population of native bull trout in the country with possibly 20,000 or more adult fish. Angler harvest of bull trout in the Flathead River system was 6,000 to 8,000 bull trout each year. Some of those fish reached more than 20 pounds. Today, because […]

In response to Kellyn Brown’s column in the Feb. 13 Beacon, “Unfair Playing Field” – interesting, but you’re missing a few important points: When the all-beverage and beer/wine license “with gaming“ were developed, it was done so with a few caveats. The original intention was to allow only one license per family. This was to […]

One of the most important issues facing the 2013 Montana Legislature is whether to take advantage of the opportunity to expand health insurance coverage to low-income Montanans who fall in the gap between those eligible for Medicaid and those who typically can afford private insurance. The Administration and Board of Directors of North Valley Hospital […]

What do an eating disorder clinic, the Zinke Inn and brewery, the new DePratu VW business locating in Kalispell, impact fees, and Whitefish High School all have in common? They all illustrate Whitefish’s identity crisis that makes us, in my opinion, too much of a resort/retirement community, at the expense of our families, our businesses […]

At the U.S. Department of Agriculture we’ve made record efforts in the past four years to support homegrown energy. This year, we’re looking ahead to a promising future for biofuels. Biofuels have already contributed a great deal to our economy, to our energy security and to the bottom line on our farms and ranches. Today […]

At the top of our state capital building in Helena sits a beautiful copper dome. Nearly a century ago, that copper dome wasn’t just for decoration. It was a symbol of the copper barons and their ultimate power to decide who represented the people of Montana. While miners risked their lives working thousands of feet […]

There is nothing like a grandchild to conjure up memories of the past, and provide glimpses into the future. When I watch my grandkids swim in the clear waters of Beaver Lake, see the marvel in their eyes when they catch their first fish, and when they ride their bikes on the Whitefish Trail, it […]

Both President Barack Obama and his congressional adversaries have shown themselves to be better at making tough talk to each other than making the tough choices necessary for the country. Their response to the so-called “fiscal cliff” did not involve a single tough decision and actually increased the national debt. The country continues to face […]

A number of articles have appeared statewide in recent days announcing Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park’s (FWP) decision to oppose threatened status for Montana’s wolverine. Some of these articles have argued that the threats to wolverine populations have nothing to do with trapping, implying that the trapping should therefore continue. This argument flies in the […]

With the new session of Congress just beginning, the U.S. Senate has an opportunity to reform its filibuster rule, an arcane parliamentary device which has paralyzed the proceedings of the entire legislative branch of our government and crippled our nation’s ability to meaningfully address the issues of our time. Long before cable television, 24-7 news […]

It is completely predictable that government officials and their compliant media would use the tragedy of a mass killing to promote governmental tyranny in the form of gun control for law-abiding citizens. Such an approach will increase mass shootings because those with evil intent will still be able to obtain firearms, and even the most […]

I am sadly reserving judgment about whether to continue membership in the National Rifle Association. I own about 20 guns, and have taken elk, antelope, whitetail, mule deer and many game birds. If all the gophers gunned down by me were placed end-to-end they would probably extend from Whitefish to somewhere east of Billings. As […]

Winter snow continues to pile up in the mountains and fortunately we even have snow on the valley floor. If you are planning on heading out to enjoy winter in the backcountry make sure to check weather and snow conditions before you go. Although general information is available on the radio, television or in print, […]

The movie “Lincoln” opened in theaters across the country and has rekindled America’s interest in our 16th president. In these current difficult times we need to remember and learn from Abraham Lincoln. He changed our understanding of the meaning of the words “the United States of America,” and rearranged our view of both our government […]

Of the many challenges facing Montana’s lakes and streams, perhaps the most pressing but controllable is the threat posed by aquatic invasive species, or AIS. Aquatic invasives include non-native plants, mussels, pathogens and fish that threaten environmental, commercial, and recreational resources. Montana is still free of many problematic species, but some that plague other states […]