Tag: Flathead

A who’s who of Flathead Valley candidates for the statehouse

Mar. 24—Kalispell Republican Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, like many other Flathead Valley legislators, will face an opponent in this year’s primary election: political hopeful Shaun Pandina. Sprunger, a business owner who was born and raised in Kalispell, is running for a second term in House District 7, an area that encompasses the city’s downtown. “As a […]

Flathead Basin dam operators defend management decisions

Mar. 16—Dam managers in Northwest Montana reiterated in a public presentation Thursday that reservoir operations during drought years require a delicate balance of competing objectives. “There will be tradeoffs,” cautioned Jennifer Carrington, regional director for the Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees the Hungry Horse Dam above Columbia Falls. Power production, flood-risk management, fish and wildlife […]

Flathead County planning board signals intent to recommend Somers subdivision

Mar. 15—For want of more affordable housing the Flathead County Planning Board on Wednesday tabled the proposed Steamboat Landing subdivision, asking the developer to return with traffic mitigation measures so that it could support the project. The proposed subdivision calls for 252 residential units made up of single-family residential lots and condominium lots on 63.79 […]

Brodehl has Democrat challenger for Flathead commission seat

Mar. 13—Flathead County commissioner Republican Randy Brodehl will face challenger Democrat Jim Lockwood in this fall’s election. Brodehl is seeking his second term in the position to represent District 3 in the western part of the county. He previously served as a representative for House District 9 in the state Legislature. Brodehl was a volunteer […]

Flathead County increases collection of school property tax mills

Jan. 27—Flathead County property owners will soon see increased tax bills in their mailboxes. The county has increased the amount of state school property taxes it will collect bringing it in line with the state’s required number of mills for school equalization funding. Commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution that increases the mill levy […]

Flathead Warming Center prepares for frigid temperatures

Jan. 11—With temperatures predicted to drop to 30 below zero in some areas of Northwest Montana in coming days, staff at the Flathead Warming Center are preparing to do whatever they can to get people indoors. Ahead of big freezes, workers focus on education and outreach, said Executive Director Tonya Horn. Many people living on […]

Flathead Valley man allegedly lit home on fire after argument

Jan. 3—A 23-year-old faces a felony arson charge after he allegedly admitted lighting his family’s Whitefish Stage Road trailer home on fire late last month. Authorities are holding Jason Jerald Andreaus Meyer in the county jail with bail set at $150,000 following the Dec. 20 structure fire. He is expected to appear before Judge Dan […]

Conservation easements bring permanent protection for Flathead lands

Dec. 26—Just east of Kalispell sits a 731-acre farm property owned by Myron and Vicky Mast. With hay bales stacked to the sky, a litter of red heeler puppies running around and a farmhouse built in 1978, the Masts call the farm home. Their home, as of this year, is officially conserved in perpetuity through […]