Marion, MT Local News and More

Whitefish Skijoring moves to county fairgrounds

Whitefish Skijoring is gearing up for its 20th anniversary celebration, take two, scheduled for Jan. 30–31, 2027 at its new home at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell. The popular winter event brings together horses, riders, and skiers for two days of fast-paced competition. Teams race through a snow-covered course, navigating jumps and obstacles in a unique combination of horsemanship and ski racing. The move to the Flathead County Fairgrounds offers a new setting for the event, with covered grandstand seating overlooking the course, additional parking, food trucks, and a bar conveniently located near the spectator area. Whitefish Skijoring is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that relies on the generosity and dedication of local businesses, sponsors, volunteers, competitors, and supporters to bring this unique winter event to the Flathead Valley each year. The event's roots go back to the first renditions of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, when skijoring took place on Central Avenue in downtown Whitefish. The event later moved to the Mountain Trails Saddle Club on Wisconsin Avenue, where Stumptown Ice Den now stands, until it was discontinued in the 1970s. In 2003, skijoring returned. The original 20th anniversary of the event, per its 2003 revival, was planned for Feb.

Flathead Beacon

Billings Clinic–Logan Health Looks to the Sky for a New Name

Billings Clinic–Logan Health, the state’s largest hospital organization, is rebranding under a simpler name: One Sky Health. While the name nods to Montana’s moniker as Big Sky Country, it is designed to represent the unification of the two health care systems and the states they cover. The...

Kalispell, MT · 1d

NBCMontana

After 84 years, Montana WWII soldier Ingwell Bartleson finally comes home

KALISPELL, Mont. — After more than eight decades away, a Montana soldier who survived the Bataan Death March and died as a Japanese prisoner of war during World War II has finally returned home. On Veterans Day, family members, veterans, and community members gathered in Kalispell to honor U.S....

Kalispell, MT · 15h

NBCMontana

FVCC culinary students selling homemade pies for Thanksgiving

KALISPELL, Mont. — Flathead Valley Community College's Culinary Institute of Montana is taking preorders for Thanksgiving pies made by culinary students. Customers can choose from apple cranberry, pumpkin or pecan pies for $35 each or purchase all three for $95. Proceeds support culinary student education and provide students with...

Kalispell, MT · 2d

Whitefish Pilot

Eureka shooter had clean background check, school district says

The Whitefish School District conducted a sound background check prior to hiring Matthew David Dye, said a statement issued by the district last week. Dye, the accused shooter of Lincoln County Deputy Ryan Terpsma and 46-year-old Merrisa Walker, died at a Missoula County Detention Facility last week. The City of Missoula Police Department is investigating Dye's death. Dye previously worked periodically as a substitute teacher at Muldown Elementary School. "Our district maintains rigorous screening and hiring protocols for all staff and substitutes prior to employment and working in our schools," Superintendent Lisa Bloom and Assistant Superintendent Josh Branstetter said in the statement released the Monday after the Friday, Oct. 30 incident. "These include mandatory state and federal background checks, fingerprinting, and a thorough reference screening process. "Upon reviewing this individual's records, we verified that every requirement was fully satisfied with no cause for concern identified. In addition, our administrative team actively monitors and supports substitute personnel throughout the school day." A secondary statement from the district sent to families and staff on Nov. 7 provided further clarification on the rigor of background checks conducted on all employees including Dye. The district conducts comprehensive background checks on all prospective employees, substitutes,

NBCMontana

publisher · 1.3K followers

Forest Service seeks public input on Skillet Fire salvage project near Olney

KALISPELL — The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public input on a proposed salvage project in the Skillet Fire area near Olney. The proposal would harvest dead and dying trees on up to 1,550 acres within the fire footprint. The Forest Service says the project could help reestablish forested...

Olney, MT · 1d

Hungry Horse News

Winter could see more rain on snow events

The region should see a warmer and drier winter than average, as we’re in a Super El Nino weather pattern, the National Weather Service predicted recently. The El Nino is potentially historic, with a warmer than average Pacific Ocean current near the equator. We could see precipitation of 50 to 75% of normal. Having said that, there are some cases of it being wetter than normal and even cooler than normal, the last cool one being ‘09-’10 and the last wet one being ‘82-’83. But on average, they’re warmer and drier. For example, in past El Ninos Noisy Basin, a Snotel site in the Jewel Basin, has never gotten above the 90th percentile for snow. The snowpack also melts sooner in the spring during an El Nino winter. We could see more rain on snow events, meaning potential flooding this month and next. Last year we saw heavy rain and flooding in December. We could also see days on end of valley inversions with longer and more frequent high pressure systems. There’s also a greater potential for freezing rain events. Having said that, winter is still going to happen, the Weather Service noted, so we should still see cold days

Kalispell, MT · 1d

NBCMontana

Valley fog this morning, mild temperatures through the weekend

Areas of fog and low clouds are developing across western Montana this morning, including around Missoula and Kalispell. Some locations could experience reduced visibility during the morning commute before conditions gradually improve. A powerful Pacific storm system will move south along the West Coast Friday, bringing breezy south to southwest...

Missoula, MT · 8h

Whitefish Pilot

Police Calls: Guests light up despite rules

The police calls section does not reflect the nature or the volume of the calls received by local law enforcement. Oct. 30 The driver of a Nissan that ran out of gas was in the median of Highway 93. Oct. 31 A grey pickup has, reportedly, been parked on Mountain Brook Lane for a few weeks. Someone lost a driver's license, possibly on Colorado Avenue. Juveniles were, reportedly, throwing candy from a vehicle. A wallet was found on Columbia Avenue. The neighbor's guests were reportedly smoking although smoking is not allowed. Two females were fighting on Central Avenue. Nov. 1 Reasons for various traffic stops included excess speed, expired registrations, cell phone usage, head and taillights out, and obstructed plates. Nov. 2 An SUV without plates has been parked on Dakota Avenue for two weeks. A brown and black dog with floppy ears was found on Columbia Avenue. The owner later collected the dog. A female was warned about sleeping in her vehicle in a park.

Flathead Beacon

publisher · 565 followers

Join the Flathead Beacon Team!

The Flathead Beacon is hiring a Sales and Distribution Manager. It’s a position that doesn’t open up very often. The Beacon is a family-owned, independent media company based in downtown Kalispell. It has long been recognized as one of the best in the region, and it will mark its 20th year in 2027. Our flagship online newspaper draws millions of page views annually and has been named Montana’s best online newspaper three years in a row. We also print Flathead Living, an award-winning glossy lifestyle magazine, along with a stable of other publications aimed at families, foodies and travelers.

Kalispell, MT · 2d

Bigfork Eagle

Longtime Lakeside QRU volunteer retires after 45 years

In January of 1981, Mary Granger was among 15 Lakeside community members gathered at the schoolhouse to take part in an American Red Cross Advanced First Aid course. Granger was 31 and an elementary school teacher with no medical background, but she was eager to help her neighbors in need. This was the beginning of the Lakeside Quick Response Unit, an organization formed by a group of Lakeside locals who realized there was an unmet need in their community. Granger, buoyed by the excitement the group carried, joined on something of a lark. She had no idea that the organization would come to define the next four decades of her life, or the impact she would have on emergency medical services in the Flathead Valley. Now, after a 45-year career as a volunteer, witnessing every major milestone of the organization, Granger is retiring from the Lakeside Quick Response Unit. The group is holding a retirement party this weekend to honor the contributions Granger has made to the community. It will take place on Sunday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Lakeside QRU building located at 201 Bills Road. "It was a very scary thing," Granger said of

Lakeside, MT · 1d

NBCMontana

Symposium addresses housing challenges in Whitefish

WHITEFISH, Mont. — The cost of housing in Whitefish is creating challenges for residents. Local groups were invited the public to a housing symposium to hear from local experts about housing market data and resources. The housing challenge in Whitefish extends beyond people trying to buy their first home....

NBCMontana

Local veteran finds community after military service

SOMERS, Mont. — For many veterans, the challenges don’t end when they return stateside. An Army veteran in Somers shared his experience coming home and the importance of finding a supportive community. Gordon Sharbono served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1970, spending his time stationed...

Somers, MT · 21h

Flathead Beacon

For 50 Years, RMO Has Carved a Cultural Niche in the Flathead Valley

In 1976, after a young Don Scharfe was kicked out of the University of Montana for his lack of participation and after he worked for the U.S. Forest Service clearing Idaho’s trails, he showed up in downtown Kalispell with a $7,000 loan from his parents. He sold his truck and put a down payment on the 3,000-square-foot shop at 135 Main Street that had been housing Eagle Shoe Store since the building was erected at the turn of the 20th century.

Kalispell, MT · 1d

Whitefish Pilot

Stella Hobbs has dream race to end cycling series season

Local cyclist Stella Hobbs crushed the Elite Women's Big Sugar Gravel race in Arkansas on Oct. 17, riding alone in the lead for the last 15 miles and finishing almost 2 minutes ahead of her nearest competitor. It was the kind of race many athletes dream of. The Life Time Grand Prix is a multi-discipline race series that attracts riders from around the world. It comprises six races, each with different terrain, equipment and distances. The shortest race is about 40 miles and the longest is around 200. Races are completed with either gravel bikes or mountain bikes. "The multi-disciplinary series is just such a cool way to diversify the training and diversify the racing," she said. "It puts all the athletes in this kind of really cool humble place of always having to rise to the occasion and it being different most of the time." Big Sugar is a gravel race of about 101 miles with 6,400 feet of elevation gain. Not only did Hobbs win the race, she did it in a dominating fashion, pulling away from the field with 15 miles to ride. No one reeled her in. No one came close as she crossed the finish

Whitefish Pilot

Looking Back: Palm Hotel undergoes complete reconstruction

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler 50 Years Ago Nov. 11, 1976 A complete reconstruction is underway in the Palm Hotel on Central Avenue. Virtually an empty shell downstairs at the moment, owner Fraiser Baalim has some definite changes planned. The floor plan on the main floor will house a card room, casino, discotheque, bar, game room with electronic games and hotel lounge. The dancing floor of the discotheque will be most unusual for Whitefish. Made of plexiglass Baalim will be installing various colored lights under the floor which will pulsate with the beat from the electronic music. The seating around the dance floor will be of different levels and will be accented by two fireplaces. Decorating will be done primarily with stained glass plants old brick and antiques from the days when the Palm Hotel used to be the Hori Hotel and Cafe. 40 Years Ago Nov. 12, 1986 Winter blasted its way into the North Valley with sub-zero temperatures and near record snowfall. Record cold temperatures throughout the state preceded over nine inches of snow in the Whitefish area earlier this week. Roads remained open early Tuesday afternoon but forecast calling for strong winds

Whitefish Pilot

Local baseball athletes sign with colleges

A summer of hard work, travel and exposure is paying dividends for four Whitefish High School baseball players as they prepare for their senior season. Four Whitefish Bulldogs and one Lincoln County Lion will take their baseball careers to the next level after signing college commitments this fall, marking another successful chapter for the Kalispell Sluggers summer baseball program. Bulldog seniors Logan Stewart, Reyd Hobart, Finn Ryan, Drew Queen, and Tyce Van Orden from Eureka, have all committed. Stewart, a right-handed pitcher, will join the Umpqua Community College Riverhawks in Oregon. Hobart, a catcher, has committed to Columbia Basin College in Washington. Finn Ryan, known to teammates as "Big Red," will play first base and designated hitter for the Phoenix College Bears in Arizona. Queen, a versatile middle infielder and third baseman, will continue his career at Paradise Valley Community College in Arizona. Van Orden from Eureka has committed to Wenatchee. All five players have one more important season ahead of them as they enter their senior year with the Whitefish Bulldogs and Lincoln County Lions, eager to compete for a Class A-B state championship. The athletes all played with the Kalispell Sluggers over the summer. The Sluggers regularly face