Flathead Beacon

A 41-year-old Columbia Falls therapist accused of possessing roughly 3,000 videos of child sexual abuse has pleaded not guilty to 15 felony counts of sexual abuse of children and two felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Scott Thomas McFarlane, a licensed clinical social worker, entered the pleas during an Oct. 1 hearing in Flathead County District Court before Judge Danni Coffman.

Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality announced Thursday it had submitted a proposal to the Flathead National Forest to build a year-round aerial tram up Columbia Mountain near Hungry Horse, reviving a project the agency rejected nearly four years ago. The Forest Service confirmed receipt of the proposal the same day.

Flathead Valley Community College trustees unanimously selected Dr. Deborah Kish Stephan as the school’s next president last week, but at their Monday meeting they postponed approving her contract until an employment attorney can review it. The attorney review was not previously part of the public selection process. It was added at the board’s Monday meeting, according to Julie Brempelis, the college’s assistant director of marketing and communications. It should take no more than 10 business days.

Local Local educators can sign up to take part in a free field trip experience to McClaren Hall for fourth and fifth grade students, who will learn from Brian Skerry — an award-winning photojournalist and film producer who has explored Earth’s oceans for four decades. By Lauren Frick October 1, 2026 The McClaren Hall stage in the Wachholz College Center at the Flathead Community College Center in Kalispell.

I-194, the ballot proposal known as the “Montana Plan,” aims to address a real problem: the massive amount of money influencing politics. But it’s written so broadly that Montana businesses and nonprofits could lose their legal status for simply posting a normal opinion about a local property tax levy vote or ballot measure on Facebook. That’s wrong, and dangerously overbroad.

I’ll be visiting my family soon, and my dad has asked me to bring two things: homegrown garlic and homemade curry powder. The requests stand out, because my dad’s fully developed sweet tooth means he usually asks for cookies and pie. I like to think that some of the simple savory recipes I’ve shared with him, like Curried Sweet Potato and Mango, have made an impression.

Another edition of the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce’s Great Northwest Oktoberfest will kick off Thursday, commencing two weekends of steinholding, chicken dancing, keg hurling, sausage eating and, of course, beer drinking. The action begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1 with Locals Night, where Flathead residents age 21 and over — with a valid ID — will get into the festivities at Depot Park in downtown Whitefish for free.

Courts A federal grand jury in California alleges Ruis and two others misrepresented company qualifications to win small-business scaffolding contracts By Maggie Dresser September 30, 2026 Developer Mick Ruis presents his planned development of Teakettle Heights, located adjacent to the CFAC site in Columbia Falls, at his office on July 17, 2025. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon A Columbia Falls developer pleaded not guilty Sept.

I don’t really train my bird dogs. I’ve been lucky in that my three English setters have all taken quite naturally to hunting. Jade, the third of my line and the dog which will be my hunting partner again this year, started especially early. Jade was backing and pointing birds her first fall, at about 5 months old. Setter No. 2, Doll, managed most of Jade’s training. Doll was 10, and still an experienced, effective hunter, though she was slowing down.

Search and rescue teams on Monday recovered the body of a 24-year-old Washington man who fell 500 feet from a cliff above Leigh Lake in the Cabinet Mountains near Libby, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Dispatch received a report at about 3:51 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, that a hiker had fallen from a cliff above the lake while descending from Snowshoe Peak with a group.