Polson
Polson, MT · Business
Char-Koosta News
Expo opens doors to careers for more than 200 reservation students
POLSON, Mont. — More than 300 people, including more than 200 students from reservation schools, attended the Workforce & Career Expo Sept. 21 at 400 Horses Casino in Polson. Hosted by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, the expo brought more...
Lake County Leader
Local CEO uses her values to empower young Native students
Native Forward Scholars Fund CEO Angelique Albert was recently named on the Forbes' 2026 50 Over 50 list, but Albert explained that she did not receive her education to succeed as an individual; rather, she did it to serve her community and tribal communities on a broader scale. “It’s an honor to be recognized at that level,” Albert said. “More importantly, what it means to me — it means visibility. It means representation.” Albert explained that anytime Native people gain visibility, it’s important because that’s something missing in the world. “Native people are often misrepresented, and it’s important that we come out and show our success,” she said. She said this isn’t just about representation for herself but about the success and impact of Native Forward, which speaks for itself. Native Forward is a nonprofit organization that awards scholarships to tribal citizens pursuing undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Albert has served as CEO for the past nine years and, during her tenure, has tripled the number of students it serves annually, with Native Forward has awarded $400 million in scholarships to more than 20,000 students from 500 tribes across the United States. Albert said the organization recently reached a milestone,
Char-Koosta News
Community Spotlight: The Ronan Mill
RONAN — For Trinity Rosenbaum, opening The Ronan Mill wasn’t a sudden leap — it was a longtime idea that finally found its moment. “It was just something I had always kind of thought about, was having my own coffee shop, and the opportunity kind of fell into my lap,” Rosenbaum said.
NBCMontana
Northwest Montana job fair connects nearly 80 employers with hundreds of job seekers
KALISPELL, Mont. — On Wednesday, Job Service Kalispell hosted the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. For job seekers, the fair put nearly 80 employers in one place offering more than 850 jobs across a wide variety of industries and attracts around 500-600 job seekers.
Bigfork Eagle
Multiple approvals clear path for Lakeside development to move forward
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued final approval for the first phase of the Territory 1889 luxury development in Lakeside, allowing multinational developer Discovery Land Company to begin work on its resort. The department conducted an environmental assessment to consider the impacts of the development’s proposed water, wastewater and stormwater facilities for the first phase of development, which is limited to 79 residential lots, as well as roads and utility infrastructure. The entire project encompasses a proposed 359 homes, private golf courses and a marina. “The Phase 1 facilities represent a small increment to existing resource demands in the Lakeside area, and cumulative impacts across the resource areas analyzed in this EA are expected to be minor when considered alongside past and present actions in the corridor,” officials wrote in the department’s environmental assessment report. Future phases of the development will require additional, independent approval, and approval of the first phase does not commit the department to approval of future phases, according to the review. The Department of Environmental Quality’s certificate of subdivision approval only addresses the adequacy of water supply, sewage disposal and storm drainage systems. Subdivision design, land use, home construction, internal roads, grading and other
Whitefish Pilot
Whitefish solar project powers homes, offsets peak demand
The sun understood the assignment and shone brightly over Monegan Road on Wednesday, Sept. 16 as Flathead Electric Cooperative, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the city of Whitefish and several citizens celebrated the completion of a new solar project. “This is an exciting day for us because it reflects the kind of community driven project that this board wants to support – one shaped by local ideas, strong partnerships and meaningful benefits for our members,” said Stacey Schnebel, Flathead Electric Cooperative board president. The solar array, built on city land near the wastewater treatment plant, is made up of 448 solar panels that each generate about 700 kWh per year. The project is expected to generate enough power for 21 average homes. A battery system on site stores energy for peak demand. People may purchase a panel’s power generation for $700 per panel, which will result in a reduction on their power bill by about $43 per year, per panel. The solar array in Whitefish is the third community solar project Flathead Electric Coop has built. The first was built in 2015 off Whitefish Stage Road and the second, in 2018 in Kalispell. “This project came online earlier
Flathead Beacon
Floor Space: What You Can Buy for About $1,100,000
In Flathead Lake’s Shelter Bay Estates, this four-bedroom home offers shared lake access, a boat ramp, and a community sport court just steps from the door. Inside, barn wood floors, a finished basement, and sweeping lake-and-mountain views set the tone, and a whole-home Generac generator keeps the comfort going year-round. REAL Broker Kalispell.
kitchentablenews.org
New Housing Development Emerges on Columbia Falls Superfund Site
COLUMBIA FALLS — The former Columbia Falls Aluminum Company plant site, within a federal Superfund area, is seeing new development for the first time since its closure in 2009. Developer Mick Ruis is spearheading a 78-acre project that promises over 400 housing units and future commercial spaces. At a press event, Gov. Greg Gianforte and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin praised the initiative, calling it a pivotal step in revitalizing the blighted region.
Char-Koosta News
CSKT to allow off-season stock water deliveries to continue after September 15, 2026
PABLO — 2026 has been a challenging water year for FIIP, irrigators, and stock water users. The stock water mitigation grant program is in place, but very few of the stock water wells have been drilled. In recognition of the difficulty many have had in getting wells drilled, the Tribal Council has once again decided to waive enforcement of the Tribal Water Right for off-season stock water deliveries.
NBCMontana
Conrad Mansion is window into Kalispell’s past
KALISPELL, Mont. — For 131 years, the Conrad Mansion has stood as a window into Kalispell’s past. Built in 1895, the home was a showcase of wealth and modern technology for its time, and much of what’s inside today is still original to the Conrad family. Charles...
Bigfork Eagle
PacifiCorp courts buyers interested in Bigfork dam
The Bigfork Hydroelectric Project is for sale, and PacifiCorp, the electric company that owns the dam, reports it has received multiple proposals from parties interested in taking over the project. Offers were accepted through Sept. 4. "We expect to take some time to consider the proposals, then enter into discussions with one or multiple parties,” PacifiCorp Communications Specialist Drew Marine wrote in an email to the Bigfork Eagle. “The final outcome may not be known until early 2027." PacifiCorp declined to share the number of proposals received or name the interested parties at this stage of the sale process, which remains a private business decision and is not subject to public comment, Marine said in a previous explanation of the process. The proposals being considered would include taking over the current hydroelectric project license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and continuing to operate the dam. These proposals are not related to the decommissioning process. "Our hope remains to find a new owner that will take over the existing FERC license and continue to operate the project as it does today, including maintaining existing public recreation access and opportunities for the community," Marine added. PacifiCorp announced in June that it
Flathead Beacon
Kalispell Councilors Discuss Purchasing Land for Affordable Housing
Mayor Ryan Hunter began Monday’s Kalispell City Council work session with an admission that he had brought the two items on the agenda – affordable housing and short-term rentals – before the council for a “lengthy discussion.”. “Obviously this stems from my interest in addressing the...
Flathead Beacon
Flathead Electric Cuts Ribbon on Newest Community Solar Array, First Paired With Battery Storage
Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) marked the completion of its third community solar project on Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting and open house at the 448-panel array on Monegan Road in Whitefish, near the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The project is notable not just for its size, co-op trustees said, but for the utility-scale battery bolted on alongside it.
NBCMontana
Ronan’s Trail of Bales returns for fall season
MISSOULA, Mont. — Fall is on display in Ronan as businesses and organizations compete for bragging rights in the community’s annual Trail of Bales. The Ronan Chamber of Commerce announced the 2026 Trail of Bales is underway, with more than two dozen decorated hay bales located throughout Ronan and Pablo.
Flathead Beacon
Floor Space: What You Can Buy for About $520,000
Set on nearly half an acre in the Crystal Lakes community, this single-level home offers a private, wooded setting with mountain views from the front porch. Large east-facing windows and a floor-to-ceiling fireplace anchor the living area, while a wraparound deck and sliding glass doors create easy indoor-outdoor flow. Recent updates include granite countertops, new windows and doors, and a generator hookup. Revel Real Estate, Inc.