RONAN — To say the current water rights negotiation is an emotionally-charged issue in the Valley may be an understatement. “There’s been a lot of misinformation the past month-and-half,” said water rights compact commission member and irrigator Dan Salomon. “The number one thing we’re trying to do as a commission is protect all existing uses.” According to Salomon, the Flathead Joint Board of Control for the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project is tasked with negotiating a water rights agreement for the irrigation project between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes and the federal government. Once approved by the Flathead Joint Bo...
POLSON — Former Montana Supreme Court Justice Diane Barz is filling in for Justice of the Peace Chuck Wall after his resignation on Aug. 8. In a statement, Wall said, “Judges are - and should be - held to very high standards of conduct, both in their professional and personal affairs. One...
PABLO — Susie Hall taught all her nieces and nephews to golf. Susie, 46, was killed by her husband on Aug. 13, 2006, according to Susie’s daughter, Cynthia Rutherford. Then Susie’s husband hanged himself. Members of Susie’s family gathered to golf in her memory at the Drive for Dom...
MISSION VALLEY — A strong storm system tore through the Valley late last Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, Aug. 15. The high winds caused a power outage, two boats to sink in Flathead Lake, several search and rescue calls and caused the West Garcon fire to double in size within a matter of hour...
With the West Garcon Fire now at 9,110 acres and 45 percent contained, crews continue to fight heavy fuels, mostly timber, and steep terrain to control the blaze. As of press time, the fire had moved north of Windy Gap and a few miles south and was burning in a big timbered basin, according to public informa...
ELMO — A male paraglider was found dead at the bottom of Chief Cliff, a landmark near Elmo, at about 8:30 a.m. Aug. 11. The ALERT helicopter spotted a red and white parachute at the bottom of Chief Cliff and relayed the coordinates to search and rescue. Searchers from the Lake County Search and Resc...
RONAN — Ronan School District No. 30 trustees voted 5-2 against hiring Lake County Superintendent of Schools Gale Decker as Ronan High School’s assistant cross-country coach. In an hour and a half special board meeting Aug. 6, Decker began by reading a lengthy statement regarding his pro...
VALLEY VIEW — The Lake County Sheriff’s office continues investigating the strange circumstances surrounding a cow death discovered the morning of June 27. The cow was found a quarter-mile into the field, and no tire tracks could be located despite the wet conditions. Ranch hand Lonnie M...
RONAN — As any horse trainer will tell you, starting a horse is no small matter. It takes diligence, a wealth of knowledge, a keen eye and the patience of a saint to effectively and safely train a 1,200 pound animal. In less than four hours between Friday and Saturday night, three local traine...
The popularity of “Cadzilla,” the $900,000 ’48 Cadillac owned by ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, made it hard to find ’48 Cadillacs. But Butte resident Gary Gatelli found one in Texas. Gary and his wife Cathy drove the Caddy to the Cruisen by the Bay ...
