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| A group of skiers ascend Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Chair 2 above Hellroaring Saloon and Eatery. - File photo by Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon |
Just over two weeks before opening day, snow continues to cover Whitefish Mountain Resort and employees are preparing for what looks like another good upcoming winter.
With a La Niña winter being forecast for the second year in a row, the 2011-2012 season is scheduled to start on Big Mountain on Dec. 3. La Niña, a cold, wet winter storm system, delivered near-record snowfall on the mountain last winter, with about 34 feet, or 400 inches, of total snowfall. That translated to the most visitors ever.
With a La Niña winter being forecast for the second year in a row, the 2011-2012 season is scheduled to start on Big Mountain on Dec. 3. La Niña, a cold, wet winter storm system, delivered near-record snowfall on the mountain last winter, with about 34 feet, or 400 inches, of total snowfall. That translated to the most visitors ever.
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| Kalispell City Manager Jane Howington addresses the media during a press conference at City Hall. - File photo by Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon |
Jane Howington has had to make several tough decisions since taking over as Kalispell’s city manager in 2009. She made another one last week and it appears to be her last in Kalispell.
Howington announced she was resigning after two years to take the city manager position in Newport, R.I. Howington, who is currently on a rolling contract that extends from year to year, will remain in Kalispell through December before starting the Rhode Island job in January.
Howington announced she was resigning after two years to take the city manager position in Newport, R.I. Howington, who is currently on a rolling contract that extends from year to year, will remain in Kalispell through December before starting the Rhode Island job in January.
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| Corner Store: Shiloh Ramsay works at the checkout counter of the renovated Sykes Grocery and Market’s grocery area in Kalispell. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon |
There are regulars and then there’s Ray McMillan.
On a gray Thursday morning, McMillan, 90, sat at a small table at Sykes Grocery and Market and waited for a friend. Unlike most people who swing by the local landmark to pick up a few groceries or grab a bite to eat, McMillan remembers when penny candy was still just that, a penny. He remembers because he has been coming to the century-old establishment, which recently reopened its deli and grocery store, since 1936.
On a gray Thursday morning, McMillan, 90, sat at a small table at Sykes Grocery and Market and waited for a friend. Unlike most people who swing by the local landmark to pick up a few groceries or grab a bite to eat, McMillan remembers when penny candy was still just that, a penny. He remembers because he has been coming to the century-old establishment, which recently reopened its deli and grocery store, since 1936.
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| Big Win: John Muhlfeld, right, is congratulated by his brothers Clint Muhlfeld, center, and Jim Muhlfeld as their father, John Muhlfeld, left, looks on after the announcement of his Whitefish mayoral election victory at the Great Northern Bar and Grill. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon |
In politics, one often hears of a pendulum, which swings left and right but in theory is best for the greatest number of voters when it approaches the center.
Last week, Whitefish’s city council and mayor elections produced a decisive swing to the left, and one of the winning candidates, John Anderson, says the pendulum is now comfortably resting near the middle, where it should be.
“I don’t think the pendulum has swung too far to one side and, frankly, I think it’s been re-centered,” Anderson said. “And I think that’s the direction people want to go.”
Last week, Whitefish’s city council and mayor elections produced a decisive swing to the left, and one of the winning candidates, John Anderson, says the pendulum is now comfortably resting near the middle, where it should be.
“I don’t think the pendulum has swung too far to one side and, frankly, I think it’s been re-centered,” Anderson said. “And I think that’s the direction people want to go.”
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| Whitefish. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon |
After Whitefish voters overwhelmingly repealed a 2010 interlocal agreement with Flathead County last week, the question of what comes next is generating vastly different answers with potential legal implications.
Whitefish City Attorney Mary VanBuskirk says the two sides now revert back to their 2005 interlocal agreement, which gave Whitefish land-use authority over the roughly two-mile planning doughnut surrounding city limits, including Whitefish Lake.
RELATED: County Responds to Planning Criticism
Whitefish City Attorney Mary VanBuskirk says the two sides now revert back to their 2005 interlocal agreement, which gave Whitefish land-use authority over the roughly two-mile planning doughnut surrounding city limits, including Whitefish Lake.
RELATED: County Responds to Planning Criticism
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| Chris Hyatt, left, and Kevin Ries speak during a home dedication at Mitchell Way in Columbia Falls. - Justin Franz/Flathead Beacon |
COLUMBIA FALLS – It didn’t take long for Katie Miller’s kids to run up the stairs and pick out their rooms. Or what color to paint them. And last Friday the kids were running around the newly built townhouse on Mitchell Way.
Miller and her two young children were one of two families about to move into a townhouse, the first of a 16-home development being built by Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley in Columbia Falls. And even if there was still some sawdust in the corners, it already felt familiar.
Miller and her two young children were one of two families about to move into a townhouse, the first of a 16-home development being built by Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley in Columbia Falls. And even if there was still some sawdust in the corners, it already felt familiar.
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| Judge Heidi Ulbricht presides over Kalispell Municipal Court in downtown Kalispell. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon |
Since its inception in 2009, Kalispell’s DUI court has graduated 20 of its 39 participants, and six are still working toward finishing the program. While those stats are important to founder and municipal court Judge Heidi Ulbricht, there is one number that stands out above the rest: zero.
“Of the 20 that have graduated, none have been rearrested for a driving-under-the-influence violation,” Ulbricht said in an interview last week.
“Of the 20 that have graduated, none have been rearrested for a driving-under-the-influence violation,” Ulbricht said in an interview last week.
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| Flathead Electric Cooperative. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon |
After a long delay, Flathead Electric Cooperative is preparing to begin drilling in the Hot Springs area to explore the possibilities of geothermal energy.
In 2009, Rep. Denny Rehberg secured $491,000 for Flathead Electric Cooperative to use in pursuing geothermal exploration. At the time, the cooperative hoped to start drilling on a piece of land near Hot Springs by the following year, but the project was put on hold after the landowner died.
In 2009, Rep. Denny Rehberg secured $491,000 for Flathead Electric Cooperative to use in pursuing geothermal exploration. At the time, the cooperative hoped to start drilling on a piece of land near Hot Springs by the following year, but the project was put on hold after the landowner died.
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MontanaTrace said: "Sometimes it’s team sports that keep kids in school. Growing and learning comes from all corners of the school."
LogicalOne said: "The Mayor constantly aludes to blame her staff, pilots, the airport manager, the councilors of the past and has done a lot of home work…
3Hills said: "Voter beware, indeed. You are who you associate with."
MT Justice said: "Excuse me that should be Corrections Corporation of America."
Firebeam said: "I can’t remember a time when folks we elected to office have been so publicly disingenuous. They sat in front of an entire room of…
HP said: "I’ll buy that corporations are people after Texas executes one"
Bob Beck said: "By all means, let’s help the 1% get it all. They already know that we can learn to eat dirt and like it. Just a…
Gabby Johnson said: "I’m still waiting for Sharron Angle to execute her “second amendment remedy” because the people of Nevada rejected her political philosophy. Of course all she…
Firebeam said: "I can’t remember a time when folks we elected to office have been so publicly disingenuous. They sat in front of an entire room of…
Mark Phillips said: "As opposed to a false idiot? Or would that be bent, skewed or akimbo? Just wondering."