Corvallis
Corvallis, MT · Lifestyle
NBCMontana
Northwest Montana History Museum wraps up final walking tour of season
KALISPELL, Mont. — The Northwest Montana History Museum wrapped up its final downtown walking tour of the season, giving visitors a closer look at Kalispell's unique past. The tour takes visitors about a mile through downtown Kalispell, with more than two dozen stops at around 30 historic buildings. Along the way, participants learn about Kalispell's early settlers, prominent citizens, and how the town evolved into a cultural, economic and transportation hub of Flathead Valley.
Whitefish Pilot
Photo: The Springs celebrates pearl anniversary
The Springs at Whitefish celebrated its 30th anniversary in style last week. With pearl elegance attire, residents, families, team members, and community partners enjoyed a cocktail hour with harp music, followed by a lavish supper. Guests also bid on exquisite jewelry in a silent auction that raised $450 for the Alzheimer’s Association. Meghan Burns, Nicole Jemming, market president of The Springs Living, Parker Waites, Hannah Pierce, Barb Toftum, Roberta Maness, Kathy Woerner and Brenda Connelly, President of The Springs Living, enjoy the 30th anniversary celebration last week. (Photo provided)
Whitefish Pilot
Five women, five media at Whitefish Gallery Night exhibit
For the last Whitefish Gallery Night of the year, five women working in five different media will showcase recent work at Cawdrey Gallery from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. Alongside the originals, “affordable” giclee reproductions will be prominent, showcasing work by Digital Planet which has moved into a back space of the gallery. The artists are Erin Cassetto, Sara Forbush, Nola Mehru Jinnah, Mary Roberson and Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey. They work in watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic, oil and silk painting and their subject matter is as diverse and individual as they are. Several of the artists will be in attendance to speak with interested collectors about their medium, technique and current work. From landscapes to precisely rendered colored pencil drawings, the show showcases emerging artists as well as established artists. Digital Planet has been printing high-end giclee reproductions for almost 30 years. After scanning the original artwork and spending hours color correcting the images, Production Manager Devin Jackson and assistant Riley Coyne hand-apply four coats of a special formula of varnish, ensuring many years of archival integrity. “Many collectors have a tough time distinguishing the original artwork from the reproduction,” said gallery co-owner Nancy Cawdrey. “The scan back captures
Whitefish Pilot
Meet the queens of the Great Northwest Oktoberfest
To earn a crown, one must be good at holding beer, at least when it comes to Whitefish's Great Northwest Oktoberfest hop queen pageant. Drawing back to its 19th century origins in Munich, Germany, the original hop queens were said to be the daughters of hop farmers. Today in Northwest Montana, no such royalty is required. All are welcome to try out, and individuality is embraced. "It's a pageant for people who aren't pageant people," said Megan Nuefeld, Whitefish Hop Queen VII. "It's more about the atmosphere and spirit." The pageant involves trying the best of Oktoberfest activities, like stein holding, log sawing and chicken dancing, and wearing the finest of dirndls, a folk costume. "It's not intimidating," said Ella Harrison, Hop Queen XI. "If you're considering running, just do it. It's a very open, loving and fun environment." Once crowned, a hop queen has the important job of keeping Oktoberfest lively. Embodying both tradition and spirit, hop queens "bring joy, help with competitions, interact with the crowds and dance with little kids," said Lauren Walton, Hop Queen IX. Walton is a mother of three and a veteran. She said her hop queen experience is a part of living the
Whitefish Pilot
Bavarian beer selection at Whitefish Oktoberfest is the real deal
Jürgen Knöller, owner of the Bayern Brewing in Missoula, is supplying traditional German beers for the Great Northwest Oktoberfest in Whitefish and will be accompanied by his iconic sidekick, Walter, a handsome St. Bernard. Twenty-five years after Knöller was born in Bavaria, Germany, he graduated as a master brewer and found himself in Missoula, working as the brewmaster at Bayern Brewing. He bought the company four years later and, after 40 years heading up the brewery, is planning to retire next year. His successor will be Cologne-born Bayern brewmaster, Thorsten Geuer, who has been working with Knöller for 25 years. “In my eyes, a brewery should span for more than just one generation,” Knöller said. “I've never worked for a brewery that was less than 400 years old.” His strong ties to Bavarian tradition and mastery of fine German beers are a boon to the Oktoberfest celebrations in Whitefish. It doesn’t hurt that Knöller is a big fan of the local event. “It is really the only true Oktoberfest that we have in the whole state,” he said. “There's nobody that can put anything like that on, like what the chamber and Kevin Gartland have created over the last umpteen
Montana Outdoor Radio Show
A Bad Berry Year Brings More Bears and a New Emergency Ordinance to Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls is experiencing a poor berry season, prompting bears to venture into town for food. In response, the city council implemented an emergency ordinance requiring residents to secure food attractants. While enforcement begins with warnings, ignoring guidelines may lead to tickets. Long-term measures are also being considered to address the issue.
Whitefish Pilot
Photo: Whitefish Ski Museum selling brick pavers for new walkway
Walkways between the Whitefish Ski Heritage Center and Museum and the adjacent Mountain Trails park are getting an upgrade this fall. Sponsored brick pavers and concrete will be the base of a new plaza surface between the museum and the park. There will also be a new walkway connecting to the Wisconsin Avenue SNOW Bus stop. Once the plaza and walkway are completed, the Ski Museum plans to build ski lift exhibits along the walkway. Mountain Trails Park is located at 705 Wisconsin Avenue adjacent to the Stumptown Ice Den. The land was acquired by the city of Whitefish in 1984 from the Mountain Trails Saddle Club. The walkway renovation is made possible by the city of Whitefish Parks and Recreation Department, the museum and a few generous community members. Brick pavers are for sale for $125. There is no deadline but sooner is a bit easier for placement. For more information see www.whitefishskimuseum.org or contact Tim Hinderman at 406-885-2730 or tim.hinderman@gmail.com. For questions about the park contact Parks and Recreation at 406-863-2470. Whitefish Ski Heritage Musuem and adjacent Mountain Trails Park are getting a new walkway. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Whitefish Ski Heritage Musuem and adjacent Mountain Trails Park are
Whitefish Pilot
Willkommen to Whitefish’s Great Northwest Oktoberfest
Welcome to two weekends of Bavarian fun, great music, cold beer, delicious food and plenty of friendly Oktoberfest competition! I’m especially excited about this year’s activities! Our presenting sponsors have some fun surprises in store, and most importantly, we work hard to keep Whitefish Oktoberfest true to its German roots. You won’t find many Oktoberfests in the Northwest more steeped in tradition than this one. Show your brawn in the keg-hurling competition, test your teamwork with a traditional two-person crosscut saw in the log-sawing competition, or see how long you can outlast the competition in the stein-holding contest. But be warned, we take stein holding seriously! Take one thirsty sip or lighten that stein by even a smidgen, and you’re out! Of course, no Oktoberfest is complete without great food! Our food trucks are serving up plenty of savory delights, including authentic German favorites and festival classics, from Schnitzel on a Pretzel Bun and Elk Brats to Sauerbraten, classic corn dogs, giant fried pickles and so much more. There’s something for every appetite, so be sure to come hungry! Let’s raise a toast to the beer! Bayern Brewing, Montana’s original craft brewery, is back with authentic German-style brews crafted by
NBCMontana
Hemorrhagic disease confirmed in deer on Flathead Indian Reservation
POLSON, Mont. — Wildlife officials confirmed hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, was responsible for a number of white-tailed deer deaths across the Flathead Indian Reservation. The disease was confirmed in deer around Polson, Ronan, St. Ignatius and Hot Springs. EHD is transmitted by biting midges, which are most active in...
Flathead Beacon
Columbia Falls Council Approves Temporary Emergency Bear Ordinance
Columbia Falls city councilors this week unanimously approved an emergency, temporary bear ordinance to address a rise in bear conflicts in the city and the Flathead Valley that has continued throughout the summer and into the start of fall. The ordinance took effect immediately after Monday night’s vote and will...
NBCMontana
2 young grizzlies wander into Polson, drawing crowds and hampering officials
POLSON, Mont. — Two young grizzly bears wandered into Polson Friday, Sept. 18, drawing crowds and creating challenges for wildlife officials trying to move the animals safely. The bears, believed to be siblings about 2-years-old and weighing roughly 300 to 400 pounds each, “followed their noses into town,” prompting...
Whitefish Pilot
New Whitefish pocket park to feature a wind phone for grieving and healing
A pocket park will be established at Cow Creek this fall and community members alongside city park leaders have agreed that a wind phone would be a fitting addition. A wind phone is a disconnected rotary phone typically placed in a serene environment. It is a symbolic tool for grief, providing a space for healing and emotional connection to those lost. "People can call their loved ones who have passed away and share their feelings aloud, trusting that the wind will carry their messages to the ones they love," said Melissa Hill, a community member leading the effort to bring a wind phone to Whitefish. Hill experienced a devastating loss on Oct. 18, 2024, when family member Kevin Trimm died by suicide. Trimm, born Sept. 11, 1993, left a profound absence. "There are still so many things we wish we could tell him — things we wish we could ask him, stories we wish we could share and moments we wish he could be here for," Hill said. While grieving, Hill's family came across the idea of a wind phone. The first "Phone of the Wind" was built near Otsuchi, Japan by gardener Itaru Sasaki after he lost his cousin
Bigfork Eagle
New wellness destination comes to life in Bigfork
The Fort has been a dream seven years in the making, since Kaci Calaway and Joe and Michelle Sikkema sat around Calaway's father Timothy's table and talked about his dream for transforming the fields he owned into a community center. Shortly after they started to develop the land, though, Calaway's father died unexpectedly of a heart attack. He wouldn't get to see the ribbon flutter to the ground at the grand opening of the space he had envisioned for so long, but Calaway and the Sikkemas know that The Fort would never have been possible without him. "Dad had everything ready, and he was supposed to break ground in 2022 when he passed away suddenly," Calaway said. "We were left with the development — well, the beginnings of a development. It was really just dirt." "We decided to keep the legacy going, and that's why this entire thing is called The Fort," Joe said to the people crowded into the building's entrance to watch the ribbon cutting. "We designed this space to be for everyone in the Bigfork community, for the valley, as a one-stop-shop for your health and wellness. We try to put everything under one roof." If Timothy
Lake County Leader
Photos: St. Ignatius, Charlo and Ronan celebrate homecoming weekend
Around the valley, multiple schools held a festive homecoming weekend with big floats and tons of school spirit. Mission’s homecoming court included Kieran Incashola, Anna Cronk, Madison Incashola, Avia Lee, Vincent Shepard, Macklen McDonald, Kai O’Brien and Sage Asinaboine. (Christa Umphrey photo) Mission high schoolers ride on a fire truck through town during the homecoming parade. (Christa Umphrey photo) Mission homecoming royalty Sage Assiniboine and Madison Incashola ride on a classic car through the parade. (Christa Umphrey photo) Two young Chiefs fans warm up to run down some candy at the homecoming parade. (Berl Tiskus/Leader) Ronan queen Kailyn Marengo and king Matiya Nenenmay pose for a photo during Ronan’s homecoming game against Loyola-Sacred Heart. (Susan Lake photo) Charlo’s 2026 homecoming court poses for a picture on Charlo’s football field. The royalty includes Anthony Lopez, Maizey McDonald, Olivia Carnell, Laila Stinson, G.G. Hawk, Colter Roylance and Ryden Eichwald. (Emily Messer/Leader) Colter Roylance and Laila Stinson were crowned Charlo’s 2026 king and queen. (Emily Messer/Leader)
Hungry Horse News
City passes emergency bear ordinance
The Columbia Falls City Council Monday night passed an emergency bear ordinance that requires people to secure garbage and other attractants from bears roaming into town. The vote was unanimously in favor. Like 2022, when the city first passed such an ordinance, it’s been a bad berry year and bruins have been frequenting the city limits in the past few weeks as they look to fatten up before winter hibernation. The bulk of reports have come from the city’s east side, where the neighborhoods are closer to the mountains. But bears can easily show up anywhere, as they follow the Flathead River downstream. The emergency ordinance would require that garbage not be placed out on the curb before 4 a.m. the day of pickup. It also requires that “All garbage, recycling containing food residue, food waste, and other attractants stored outdoors shall be maintained in a bear-resistant container, within a secured structure, or within a secured enclosure,” such as a garage or a secured and locked shed. It also prohibits leaving out pet feed from a secured enclosure, has provisions for securing garbage from commercial establishments and makes it illegal to purposely feed bears. “Garbage, recycling containing food residue, food