http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/ The Flathead Beacon is devoted to delivering thought-provoking news and commentary to the greater Flathead Valley. Printed every week in tabloid form and updated daily at flatheadbeacon.com, the Beacon encourages its readers to participate in discussions about their valley. en webmaster@flatheadbeacon.com Copyright 2008 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:00:00 MDT Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:00:00 MDT 1055671http://www.feedburner.com Lido Vizzutti http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/columbiafalls/~3/328158131/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/places_glacier_national_park/4229/ Sports & OutdoorsColumbia Falls Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:40:00 MDT Whether a local or a Fourth of July vacationer, there is no better time to visit the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park. With most of Going-to-the-Sun Road now open, visitors driving up Logan Pass are leaving plenty of hikes, like the John Lake Loop, lightly populated at the lower elevations. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/places_glacier_national_park/4229/ Mark Riffey http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/columbiafalls/~3/326314343/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/farming_in_columbia_falls/4277/ Columbia Falls Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:59:00 MDT Thursday's weekly Farmers Market in Columbia Falls was a packed house yesterday evening. Everything from earrings and earthenware to pizza and plants was available to shoppers. Lots of folks came out to browse, meet and talk to friends, or just to listen to Brad Lee's dynamite guitar and singing. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/farming_in_columbia_falls/4277/ Mark Riffey http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/columbiafalls/~3/326288381/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/two_eighth_grade_girls/4276/ Columbia Falls Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:14:00 MDT There's a reason so many people are walking around Columbia Falls with a sunburn today. But it's not because they spent too much time at the Pinewood Park pool, or the waterslides. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/two_eighth_grade_girls/4276/ Mark Riffey http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/columbiafalls/~3/325503277/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/celebration_of_life_for_cf_teacher_joe_greene_thursday/4264/ Columbia Falls Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:22:00 MDT On Thursday July 3 at 10 am on the Columbia Falls Junior High football field, a celebration of the life of Columbia Falls Junior High School teacher and coach Joe Greene will be held. The family asks that casual summer clothes be worn to the celebration. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/celebration_of_life_for_cf_teacher_joe_greene_thursday/4264/ Keriann Lynch http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/columbiafalls/~3/324620061/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/oil_prices_to_shut_down_future_road_work/4223/ Front PageFeaturePoliticsBigforkColumbia FallsKalispellWhitefish Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:30:00 MDT Hikes in the costs of oil-based products like asphalt and fuel are stretching Flathead County’s budget thin, forcing county officials to consider funding cuts or decreased services while preparing next year’s budget. The hardest hit departments are the county’s largest and most fuel-dependent: Flathead County Road and Bridge and the Sheriff’s Department. The combined fuel and oil budgets for the two departments has increased from $622,960 in 2005 to $1,031,656 for the proposed fiscal year 2009 budget – a 66 percent jump over three years. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/oil_prices_to_shut_down_future_road_work/4223/ Mark Riffey http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/columbiafalls/~3/323772497/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/columbia_falls_pool_closed_july_5_6/4216/ Columbia Falls Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:56:00 MDT The Columbia Falls pool at Pinewood Park will be closed this weekend, starting the afternoon of July 4th. It will reopen on Monday July 7th. The pool is closed due to the Columbia Falls Swim Team's home invitational meet vs. Montana Federation of Swimmers west side teams. Swimmers and their families from Chinook, Ft. Benton, Shelby, Cut Bank, Hamilton, Plains, Choteau, Conrad, Sunburst and Fairfield are expected to compete, adding to the July 4th crowds at local restaurants, hotels and shops. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/columbia_falls_pool_closed_july_5_6/4216/ Mark Riffey http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/columbiafalls/~3/323811217/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/columbia_falls_swimmers_fourth_in_hamilton/4217/ Columbia Falls Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:41:00 MDT Despite only sending 18 swimmers to Hamilton for a meet hosted in Hamilton by the Bitterroot Swim Team, Columbia Falls swam to a 4th place finish this past weekend in a field of eleven teams. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/columbia_falls_swimmers_fourth_in_hamilton/4217/ Mark Riffey http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/columbiafalls/~3/323742406/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/columbia_falls_teacher_killed/4205/ Columbia Falls Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:05:00 MDT Joe Greene, a well-liked Columbia Falls Junior High School social studies teacher and coach, died Monday due to injuries sustained in a June 29 four-wheeler accident. Greene, 35, sustained head injuries when he crashed his ATV at about 10 p.m. Sunday on Highway 2 East in Columbia Falls. There were no other vehicles involved in the accident and the cause of the crash is still being investigated by the Montana Highway Patrol. Greene was not wearing a helmet. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/columbia_falls_teacher_killed/4205/ Mark Riffey http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/columbiafalls/~3/323013946/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/columbia_falls_swim_team_opens_season_in_plains/4025/ Columbia Falls Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:08:00 MDT The Columbia Falls Swim Team traveled to Plains over the June 22-23 weekend to open their season, hoping to put on a good performance in head coach Mike Nelson's debut meet. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/columbia_falls_swim_team_opens_season_in_plains/4025/ Dan Testa http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/columbiafalls/~3/320816683/ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/diverse_groups_join_to_fight_eco_vandalism/4067/ Front PageBigforkColumbia FallsKalispellWhitefish Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:34:00 MDT While few leads have surfaced since May in the case of a rash of vandalism against developments by a self-proclaimed anti-sprawl group, the crimes have brought together three groups that don’t always see eye to eye. Conservation group Citizens for a Better Flathead, the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors and the Flathead Business and Industry Association have joined together to create a reward fund for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to a conviction in the vandalism case. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/diverse_groups_join_to_fight_eco_vandalism/4067/