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Hungry Horse News
Health department releases more details on E.Coli outbreak; identifies restaurants
One person died after consuming E. coli-tainted wagyu beef at Harbor Grille in Lakeside, the Flathead City-County Health Department confirmed Friday, while four other local restaurants are associated with the recent outbreak that sickened 13 people.Lab results confirmed that E. coli was found in ground beef from a restaurant supplier, the Health Department said in a press release. The last known consumption date was July 14. The source of the outbreak was wagyu beef from one lot number, and all cases reported eating undercooked or made-to-order burgers made with wagyu beef at one of multiple restaurants in Flathead County. One person died...
Crawford found guilty in Martin City shooting
A Flathead County District Court jury on Thursday evening found Del Orrin Crawford guilty of deliberate homicide in the shooting death of Whisper Sellars outside a Martin City bar in August 2022. The 12-person panel also found the 42-year-old Kila resident guilty of attempted deliberate homicide, one count of assault with a weapon and tampering with evidence. They found him not guilty of a second count of assault with a weapon. Deliberations began about 3:45 p.m. The jury returned to a packed courtroom with a verdict about 8:45 p.m. Judge Dan Wilson, who presided over the case, set sentencing for Sept. 19. Wilson...
Columbia Falls taking bids for new skateboard park
A skateboard park is officially coming to Columbia Falls.The city recently learned it received a $330,000 Land, Water and Conservation grant that will go toward a new skatepark at Fenholt Park.In addition, the Church Women United have donated $50,000 toward a bathroom at the park. That funding came from the recent sale of the Klothes Kloset, which the organization owned for years.The city began running legal ads seeking bids for the skatepark earlier this month.It will be located west of the baseball fields, tucked into a grove of trees along the slope. Skateboarders in cooperation with the city have already done initial clearing of the site.Formed in 2021, the Bad Rock Skate Park Association, a local group of boarders and their families, has already raised about $400,000 toward the project.Bids for the park are due by Aug. 15.
County investigating e.coli cases, as one person dies
The Flathead City-County Health Department (FCCHD), the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and other local health departments, are working together to investigate an E.coli O157:H7 outbreak originating in Flathead County, the agencies said Wednesday in a release.To date, the investigation has identified at least 13 individuals associated with the outbreak and one person has died.Many of the cases experienced moderate to severe symptoms.Preliminary investigative findings indicate that ground beef containing the E.coli bacteria may be the exposure of concern. State partners continue to test clinical and food samples for laboratory confirmation. The FCCHD and DPHHS investigation has...
Fishing the North Fork of the Flathead from 2 p.m. to midnight is now illegal due to high water temperatures
After more than two weeks of unprecedented heat, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has announced “hoot owl” restrictions on the North Fork of the Flathead River. It’s the first time ever that the restrictions, which prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight each day, have been enacted on the North Fork. They went into effect today (July 24).The restrictions have become almost commonplace on many big name rivers in Southwest Montana. Region 1 spokesman Dillon Tabish said water temperatures on the North Fork have been at or above 66 degrees almost daily since mid-July, when the heat wave first started. The upper water...
Horse Gulch could have been prevented
Writing recently on X (formerly Twitter), Frontier Institute President and CEO Kendall Cotton observed that Montana’s Horse Gulch Fire is burning in a portion of Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest that was slated for landscape-scale thinning and controlled burns, that is, before anti-forestry litigation dramatically scaled back the planned effort, known as the “Middleman Project.”According to an analysis by the Frontier Institute, the Middleman Project planned active forest management on 53,131 acres to mitigate wildfire risks, improve forest health, enhance wildlife habitats and reduce carbon emissions. The U.S. Forest Service’s Environmental Assessment for the project noted that a substantial proportion...
Heat wave breaks records, should ease
Hungry Horse NewsThe heat wave should break this week. A cold front is expected to slide through Wednesday into Thursday as the Hungry Horse News went to press.That should bring spotty rain in the form of thunderstorms,. Temperatures should drop into the 80s for highs and humidity should increase as well.Unless you’re in a thunderstorm, precipitation is expected to be minimal, the National Weather Service is saying.Glacier Park International Airport broke a record for the most consecutive days above 90, with 16 as of of Tuesday. It was expected to be above 90 Wednesday as well.July 21 set a new record high temperature with 100 and July 20 was 99. The July 21 record broke the old record of 97 set in 1979 and the July 20 mark tied the 1979 record.
Triple crown winners
The Badrock 13U baseball team, made of players from Columbia Falls and Whitrefish recently won the Triple Crown World Series in Vail, Colorado.They beat the Gameday Bolts 10-4 for the title. Talis Pitts had three hits in three at-bats for the team, as they racked up 17 total hits in the game. Pitts , Mason Muller, and Brody each collected three hits for Badrock 13U. Dylan Jackson, Brady Lewellen, and Devin Meuter each collected multiple hits for Badrock 13U.Liam Krezowski began the game for Badrock on the bump. He surrendered one hit and one run over two innings, striking out one and walking one. Brady Lewellen appeared in relief.
Twins split with Lakers, twice in a week
By BRANDON HANSENHungry Horse NewsGlacier Splits Doubleheader Against KalispellGlacier recovered from a slow start to split a doubleheader against the Kalispell Lakers at home on Wednesday, July 17. The Kalispell Lakers scored three unanswered runs in a 5-2 victory to open their doubleheader against the Glacier Twins. Kellen Kroger started the game for the Twins, striking out six in five innings of work. Michael Miller and Maddox Muller each had doubles, while Kroger went 3-for-4 from the leadoff position. Glacier was tied 2-2 with the Lakers through four innings before the Lakers scored a run in the fifth and two in the sixth....
Wrong side of history?
Heat waves are more intense, longer lasting, and three times as frequent as 60 years ago. More areas are vulnerable to record-breaking temperatures each succeeding year. As a 72-year-old with a reasonably good recollection of the last 60 years, Montana summers are seldom as enjoyable as half a century ago.My youth did not have the multiple 90-plus degree days, weeks, and months occurring year after year. Each summer is hotter than the last, and each fire season lasts longer and is more destructive, resulting in more deaths and forest and river closures.For Montana farmers and ranchers, heat stunts the quality...
Property tax inequities
In Flathead County, property taxes have increased well beyond inflation for residential homes and businesses. I was appointed to the Governor’s Property Task Force to dig deep into the cause of such escalations and provide recommendations for reforms for the 2025 legislature. In my eight years in the legislature I’ve been a member of the minority party, nevertheless, willing to work collaboratively with the majority to address Montana’s solvable problems.I was assigned to serve on the Tax Fairness Sub-Committee under the leadership of Rep. Llew Jones, Conrad, the Chairman of House Appropriations. So, here’s how we define the problem in...
School District needs bus drivers, teachers
Hungry Horse NewsLike many other businesses across the valley, Columbia Falls School District 6 is finding it’s not immune to the labor shortage.The school has a host of open positions, Superintendent Cory Dziowgo said last week.The district has about 140 “classified” employees, which include bus drivers, custodians, secretaries and paraeducators. It also employs about 130 teachers.The school has about six teacher openings, two rather unique opportunities because they’re part-time; and several classified employee openings.A starting teacher, with a bachelor’s degree, makes about $41,380 a year.The biggest need is bus drivers. They need four this year and could need even more...
Corinne Hodgson Adomian, 89
Corinne Hodgson Adomian, born July 22, 1934, passed on April 5, 2024. She spent her childhood on a dairy farm in between Columbia Falls and Kalispell with her parents Dorothy and Mark Hodgson, her older brother and sister Paul and Mary Lou. She started her journey in a community rich in traditions and history, and deeply imbued her family with the same love of their Montana roots; she continued to share her passion for both genealogy and family stories throughout her life. Her delight in exploring the world led her in her youth to read every book in the local Carnegie...
Death Notices for July 24, 2024
Etta Dettmann, 80Etta Webb Dettmann died July 15, 2024 in Kalispell. Arrangements are being made at this time. Darlington Cremation and Burial Service is caring for her family.Gayle Gulbranson, 79Gayle Ann Gulbranson died July 7, 2024 in Kalispell. Family arrangements have been made. Darlington Cremation and Burial Service is caring for her family. James Passmore, 95James L Passmore died July 17, 2024 in Kalispell. Family graveside services are being planned at this time. Darlington Cremation and Burial Service is caring for his family.Rocky Hogan, 57 Paul Steven “Rocky” Hogan Jr. died July 17, 2024 in Kalispell. Arrangements are being made at this time. Darlington Cremation and Burial Service is caring for his family.Jack Allen Roberts, 81Jack Allen Roberts died July 10, 2024 in Kalispell. A celebration of Jack Allen Roberts life will be held at 2 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 2200 US Highway 2 East, Kalispell, MT 59901. Inurnment will be held privately at Glacier Memorial Gardens. To send online condolences, columbiamortuary.com.
Event looks at ways to make things better in Guatemala
There will be a special event at the Northwest Montana History Museum in Kalispell July 29 at 6:30 p.m.Learn about low-cost approaches to improving health, education, and income in rural Guatemala, while also reducing illegal migration. Featured Speakers include: Linda Carlson, PhD - Rotary International Board of Directors. From Canyon City, Colorado, she has extensive experience empowering women to create menstrual products locally, enabling girls to attend school as equitably as boys, creating STEM curriculum.She has worked in Nepal, Senegal, Iceland, India, and is now assisting Los Buenos Vecinos, The Good Neighbors, in their work in the coastal highlands of Guatemala. Serena...
Wildcats win divisional title, head to state
The Columbia Falls Swim team won the Western Divisional tournament over the weekend by a wide margin. The Wildcats, with 67 swimmers in the pool, were a force to be reckoned with, scoring 1,425 total points (688 points above the second place team). The team will now try to take that momentum and win a state title in Sidney this weekend.The competition from the eastern division will be tough, but Columbia Falls swimmers are geared up and ready to swim.“I want to first thank everyone who came out to support our kids. They swam so tough and we had some...
Grinnell’s Glacier: A look at the man behind the Glacier National Park landmarks
Grinnell Glacier. Grinnell Lake. Grinnell Point. These are all treasured landmarks in Glacier National Park. But who was George Bird Grinnell? This story takes a look at the man and his historic accomplishments in Glacier and across the West.By ETHAN VANDEN BOSCHHungry Horse NewsGeorge Bird Grinnell – “The Father of Glacier National Park” – was born Sept. 30, 1849, in Brooklyn, New York to George Blake Grinnell and Helen A. LansingGrinnell was the oldest of six siblings. When he was 10, his younger siblings Frank, Mort and Helen were infected with Scarlet Fever, the three later survived, but his unpublished...
Search continues for woman in reservoir
Hungry Horse NewsA search for a woman who may be missing in the Hungry Horse Reservoir is still ongoing.Emily Rea, 33, was last contacted on the afternoon of July 16. It is believed she was paddleboarding in the Hungry Horse Reservoir area, according to a release by the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department.Her paddleboard was found the first day of the search near Flossy Creek, upside down and washed up on shore, Sheriff Brian Heino said Monday. The water search was continuing Monday and expanding its scope, Heino said. Two Bear Air was also flying the area.North Valley Search and Rescue, Forest Service officers, and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office have been actively involved in the search for Rea, but did not find her as of presstime.People who may have seen Rea or had any contact with her since the afternoon of July 16 are asked to email any information to tips@flathead.mt.gov.
Roof fire doesn’t hinder school project
Hungry Horse NewsThe roof fire at the Columbia Falls High School last week did not cause any major damage and won’t delay the replacement project, school Superintendent Cory Dziowgo said last week.He said restoration crews were off the scene about 10 p.m. the night of the fire. He noted firefighters took pains to spray water across the roof rather than down on it to put it out, which reduced the amount of water damage in the school.The roof caught fire at about 7 p.m. July 15. A neighbor saw smoke and flames coming off it and called it in. Fortunately,...
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The Hungry Horse News has been in publication since 1946. It is the only weekly newspaper in Montana to win a Pulitzer Prize and has a reputation for fine photography of the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park. It is housed in a log cabin in Columbia Falls. Visitors with story ideas are always welcome to stop by.
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