The first year they were called “fledgling.” Last year they were referred to as “maturing.” Now, people say the Glacier High School Wolfpack are “contending” – as in contending for the Class AA state football championship.
The rapid of evolution of the Wolfpack football program has come as no surprise to the players or coaches. Even in 2007, coming off a 0-10 season, nobody panicked. A tough first year was expected. Then last fall, Glacier clawed its way to a 2-8 record, far from championship caliber but an improvement nonetheless.
In three years, Wolfpack have become one of Class AA football’s best
Glacier’s Quick Road to the Top
Kasmir Spilis, right, amps up the sidelines during a kickoff drill at Glacier High School football practice. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
[read more]Health care reform shines a light on hospice care
Giving Comfort When There is No Cure
Aaron Jordan, right, watches as case manager and registered nurse Donna Nelson, left, physically assesses hospice patient Cheryl Swan during a home visit. Nelson works with Frontier Home Health and Hospice, which provides hospice care throughout the valley. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead
A couple weeks ago, Aaron Jordan lifted his long-time girlfriend, Cheryl Swan, in his arms and carried her to their second-floor bathroom in their Kalispell home.
Jordan stepped into the bathtub to help her into the water, getting his socks and pant legs wet. It didn’t bother him.
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Jordan stepped into the bathtub to help her into the water, getting his socks and pant legs wet. It didn’t bother him.
Governor blames GOP-led Senate for any problems with appraisal
Schweitzer Rejects NMAR’s Request for Special Session
Senators fill their seats on the Senate floor in Helena. - File photo by Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
A request by the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors calling for a special session of the state Legislature to address “current inadequacies” in the property tax reappraisal carried out in the 2009 regular session was immediately swatted down by Gov. Brian Schweitzer last week.
The letter, written by NMAR President Barb Funk, notes that 11 counties, including Flathead and Lake, will be “disproportionally affected by higher than expected residential property values,” and asks Schweitzer to convene a special session to immediately adopt a “stop gap” measure to solve current reappraisal problems, and establish an interim committee to deal with long-term property tax issues and draw up a bill for the 2011 session.
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The letter, written by NMAR President Barb Funk, notes that 11 counties, including Flathead and Lake, will be “disproportionally affected by higher than expected residential property values,” and asks Schweitzer to convene a special session to immediately adopt a “stop gap” measure to solve current reappraisal problems, and establish an interim committee to deal with long-term property tax issues and draw up a bill for the 2011 session.
BNSF
Political, Agriculture Leaders React to Buffett’s BNSF Purchase
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A Burlington Northern Santa Fe engine pulls cars from the Glacier Park area in this file photo. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon |
HELENA – Montana political and agricultural leaders hope Berkshire Hathaway's planned purchase of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad will lead to lower shipping costs in Montana, but they doubt much will change.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a farmer and rancher, said Tuesday he had spoken to both Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, and Matthew Rose, BNSF's chairman, president and CEO.
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Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a farmer and rancher, said Tuesday he had spoken to both Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, and Matthew Rose, BNSF's chairman, president and CEO.
Eureka shook up after judge’s office is burned, FBI asks questions
‘It’s Put the Community on Edge’
The fire in Justice of the Peace Stormy Langston's office burned her desk at the North Lincoln County Annex in Eureka. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
EUREKA – A late October fire here reduced a judge’s desk to ashes and scorched her robe, engulfing the entire room, melting her computer and spreading into the duct system. A quick response from the local fire department saved the rest of the building, but not before smoke crept to every corner of the 14 offices. The judge, who had previously received threats, believes she was targeted and watches her back now.
In a way, for a small town unaccustomed to major crime, the smoke still lingers.
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In a way, for a small town unaccustomed to major crime, the smoke still lingers.
Kennedy: “I feel proud about the job I’ve done"
Fisher Ready to Get to Work as New Kalispell Mayor
Tammi Fisher, right, talks with Kalispell Sen. Bruce Tutvedt at Scotty's Bar as election returns come in Tuesday. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
Upon learning that she was defeated in her run for a third term as Kalispell’s mayor, Pam Kennedy called it, “a tough year to be an incumbent.”
“Mayors across the United States have been losing this year and it seems as though many have been blamed for the national economy,” Kennedy said.
Local attorney Tammi Fisher, in her first run for public office, defeated Kennedy handily with 63 percent of the vote. Fisher received 2,325 votes to Kennedy’s 1,363, with voter turnout at 31 percent. As of Tuesday night, some absentee ballots still needed to be counted, so official results were unavailable from the Flathead County Election Department, but it was not enough ballots to change the outcome of the mayoral race.
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“Mayors across the United States have been losing this year and it seems as though many have been blamed for the national economy,” Kennedy said.
Local attorney Tammi Fisher, in her first run for public office, defeated Kennedy handily with 63 percent of the vote. Fisher received 2,325 votes to Kennedy’s 1,363, with voter turnout at 31 percent. As of Tuesday night, some absentee ballots still needed to be counted, so official results were unavailable from the Flathead County Election Department, but it was not enough ballots to change the outcome of the mayoral race.
Kahle and Mitchell Also Voted In
Sweeney Loses Whitefish Council Race, Hyatt Wins
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Illustration by Stephen Templeton/Flathead Beacon |
In the weeks leading up to election day, the Whitefish City Council race increasingly turned into a showdown between incumbent Frank Sweeney and the three other candidates, with controversial mailers and gossip on the street helping to intensify that division.
On Tuesday, voters continued that trend, casting ballots for Chris Hyatt, Bill Kahle and Phil Mitchell to fill three vacant council seats over Sweeney. Hyatt received the most votes with 28 percent, followed by Kahle with 26 percent and Mitchell with 21 percent. Sweeney received 19 percent of the vote. Incumbent Nick Palmer dropped out of the race after announcing he would run for re-election.
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On Tuesday, voters continued that trend, casting ballots for Chris Hyatt, Bill Kahle and Phil Mitchell to fill three vacant council seats over Sweeney. Hyatt received the most votes with 28 percent, followed by Kahle with 26 percent and Mitchell with 21 percent. Sweeney received 19 percent of the vote. Incumbent Nick Palmer dropped out of the race after announcing he would run for re-election.
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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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.
