Flathead Valley Feature: Kalispell, Montana News

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Election Results

Complete Election Results from Kalispell and Whitefish

Pete Davis casts his vote in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, Kalispell city election at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon

Kalispell unofficial election results, with all wards reporting:

VOTER TURNOUT: 31 percent

MAYOR
Pam Kennedy (incumbent) – 1,371 (37%)
(Projected Winner) Tammi Fisher – 2,332 (63%)

WARD 3
(Projected Winner) Jim Atkinson (incumbent) – 352 (54%)
Marc Rold – 300 (46%)

WARD 2
Hank Olson (incumbent) – 467 (41%)
(Projected Winner) Jeff Zauner – 671 (59%)

Councilmen Bob Hafferman (WARD 1) and Tim Kluesner (WARD 4) ran unopposed.

RENEW $2.8-MILLION TECHNOLOGY AND BUILDING-RESERVE TAX LEVIES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
(Projected to Pass) yes – 2,789 (57%)
no – 2,086 (43%)

RENEW $4.1-MILLION TECHNOLOGY AND BUILDING-RESERVE TAX LEVIES FOR HIGH SCHOOLS
yes – 3,542 (48%)
(Projected to Fail) no – 3,806 (52%)

RENEW 20-YEAR LEASE FOR BUFFALO HILL GOLF COURSE
(Projected to Pass) yes – 3,173 (87%)
no – 473 (13%)

Whitefish final unofficial election results, with all ballots counted:

VOTER TURNOUT: 42 percent

WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL (top three elected to council)
(Projected Winner) Chris Hyatt – 1,415 (28%)
(Projected Winner) Bill Kahle – 1,344 (26%)
(Projected Winner) Phil Mitchell – 1,057 (21%)
Frank Sweeney (incumbent) – 961 (19%)

Municipal Court Judge Brad Johnson is running unopposed.

In Columbia Falls, there are no contested city council races since newcomer Matt McConville withdrew, though his name remains on the ballot. Columbia Falls now has three candidates for three council positions: Shawn Bates, Michael Shepard and Dave Petersen. Current councilman Don Barnhart is the sole candidate for mayor, and his imminent vacancy on the council must be filled by appointment.
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By Beacon Staff, 11-03-09 | comments (3) | email story | print story

Polson Wraps Up Undefeated Volleyball Season

Pirates Top Seed at Divisionals, Tourney Starts Thursday

Photo by Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon

A week after the football team wrapped up its second consecutive divisional title, the Polson High School volleyball team brought another Northwestern A crown to town.

The Lady Pirates capped off an undefeated 13-0 (8-0) season with a 3-0 shutout of Frenchtown on Halloween. Setter Kayla Duford had 32 assists in the match, giving her 394 for the season. The standout junior averaged over nine assists per game during the season, a conference best by a wide margin.
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By Myers Reece, 11-03-09 | add comment | email story | print story

Lending decline, due mainly to development slowdown, continues throughout West

Glacier Bancorp Announces Net Loss for Third Quarter

In February, Mick Blodnick, CEO and President of Glacier Bancorp, Inc., discusses the condition of the local banking industry in the company's conference room in Kalispell. - File photo by Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon

Owing mainly to a defunct real estate development in northern Idaho under foreclosure and a decision to plow $47 million into a reserve to provision for loan losses, Glacier Bancorp, Inc. reported a $1.5 million-net loss for the third quarter.

The loss marks a significant decrease of $14.316 million, or 112 percent, from the $12.785 million net income reported for the third quarter in 2008. Glacier Bancorp’s earnings for the year were $24.9 million as of Sept. 30, marking a $23.743-million decrease from the same time last year, or 49 percent, according to a release by the company.
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By Dan Testa, 11-03-09 | comments (2) | email story | print story

Vote on November 3

Election Primer: What You Need to Know

File photo by Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
Flathead voters will head to the polls Tuesday in an off-year election likely to draw significantly fewer to the ballot box than last year's presidential race. Check out the Beacon's Web site Tuesday night for up-to-the-minute results.

KALISPELL

In Kalispell, polls will be open in the Expo Building of the Northwest Montana Fairgrounds from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you're not registered but wish to vote, you can register and vote at the old Flathead County courthouse.
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By Dan Testa, 11-02-09 | comments (1) | email story | print story

Fatal House Fire

Fatal Evergreen House Fire Ruled an Accident

Evergreen firefighter James Boyce prepares a fire hose for an overhaul and mop up of a burned trailer house off Shady Lane in Evergreen before the scene is released. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon

Fire officials confirmed on Monday that faulty wiring caused a fatal Evergreen trailer house fire.

Earlier reports suggested arson was to blame, but Evergreen Fire Chief Craig Williams said the Flathead County Fire Investigation Team determined there was no foul play.
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By Molly Priddy, 11-02-09 | add comment | email story | print story

Week of Nov. 2

HIGHS & LOWS

New Jersey Independent candidate Chris Daggett. - from daggettforgovernor.com
We're high on third-party candidates and, once again, low on Michael Hilton in our weekly index of what’s up, down and in between …

HIGH
THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES – The way third-party candidates turned races for New Jersey governor and a congressional district in upstate New York on their heads, some portion of voters are seemingly frustrated with both major political parties.
WILDCATS and WOLFPACK – Columbia Falls and Glacier High School football teams are making extraordinary playoff runs.
FORD MOTOR CO. – The only major U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy court and not need a bailout posted strong third-quarter income and predicts a profitable 2011.
INNKEEPERS – Occupancy rates in Montana hotels, motels and inns were up 2.2 percent in September compared to the same period in 2008.
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By Beacon Staff, 11-02-09 | add comment | email story | print story

Challengers claim Republican takes credit for projects he opposed

Democrats Label Rehberg a Hypocrite, But is it Warranted?

Beacon file photo.
In what is likely to be a recurring theme in Democrats’ attacks on Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg as he fights for reelection next year, his opponents say the five-term Republican consistently and hypocritically takes credit in his home state for benefits and projects funded by legislation he voted against in the House.

Rehberg counters, however, that even when he opposes spending legislation that passes, he has inserted earmarks for Montana needs onto those bills through his seat on the Appropriations Committee.
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By Dan Testa, 11-02-09 | comments (53) | email story | print story

Women’s expo raises funds for Violence Free Crisis Line

A Boost for the Abbie

Photo by Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
Since 1976, the Violence Free Crisis Line has been here to help the valley. Now it needs the valley’s help. And with 100 businesses signed up for booths at the upcoming Women’s Expo, a fundraiser for the crisis line and its affiliated Abbie Shelter, it appears an initial wave of help is on its way.

The Violence Free Crisis Line, which provides services for women and children experiencing violence, has run into many of the same problems facing other nonprofits in today’s hazy economic climate. Private donations are scarce, grants have been cut and answers are hard to come by.
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By Myers Reece, 11-01-09 | add comment | email story | print story
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