Legals for July, 3 2025

Dennis Schliep, 85

Dennis “Denny” LeRoy Schliep, 85, of St. Ignatius, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 23, 2025, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Ronan, surrounded by love. A graveside service to honor Denny’s life will be held on Monday, July 7, at 10 a.m., with military honors recognizing his service to the nation at St. Ignatius Pleasant View Cemetery, followed by a gathering at the Longhouse.

Phyllis Houle

Phyllis Marie Tougas Houle, age 91, of Polson, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2025, at Providence St. Joseph Hospital.

Lake County takes steps to bring home its garbage

After 25 years of shipping household waste to Missoula, Lake County is bringing home its garbage.

Legals for July, 2 2025

Wisconsin man awaiting extradition after Lake County arrest

The Lake County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant June 25 upon the Polson residence of 71-year-old Kenneth Galewyrick, and arrested him for an outstanding warrant from the State of Wisconsin.

Thirteen homes evacuated in Early Dawn fire

Local firefighters were busy again this weekend, containing the Early Dawn Fire near Big Arm. The blaze started last Friday, June 27, and was ignited by fireworks according to Polson Rural fire chief Will Woodger. He said 13 homes were immediately evacuated.

Legals for June, 26 2025

Diane Cline-Johnson, 68

Diane Ruth Cline-Johnson, age 68, of Polson, died Sunday, June 22, at her home in Turtle Lake surrounded by family. A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 26, and funeral service is at 10 a.m. Friday, June 27, all at The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory in Polson. Burial will take place after the service at Lakeview Cemetery followed by a reception at the First Presbyterian Church.

John Melvin McClure Jr., 87

John Melvin McClure Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather and community member, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 13, 2025. A memorial service is planned at Canvas Church, 255 Summit Ridge Dr., Kalispell on July 11 at 1 p.m.

Port Polson Players celebrate 50th summer season

What sounds like the opening scene of a musical led to Karen and Neal Lewing’s real-life marriage a few months later, and the enduring partnership that’s at the heart of the Port Polson Players – now celebrating 50 seasons of summer theatre.

Ronan man sentenced for Town Pump altercation

A Ronan man, Joseph Channing Entwistle, was committed in District Court in Polson June 25 to the Montana Department of Corrections for five years, with none of that time suspended.

Lake County runners shine at Missoula Marathon

Lake County runners delivered standout performances at the 2025 Missoula Marathon and associated races over the weekend, with top finishes from athletes young and old across multiple events.

Mary Gibbons, 89

Mary Gibbons, age 89, passed away peacefully June 11, 2025, at home in Dayton with her daughter and sister by her side.

Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies

Stories harvested from the Flathead Courier, June 24, 1954

Layton Smith, 14

Layton, our boy born with the biggest blue eyes and the kindest soul, passed away at age 14 in a boating accident on June 18, 2025, in Harrison, Mont. Born in Laguna Hills, Calif., and raised in Bozeman since 2012, Layton embraced more in his 14 years than most do in a lifetime.

Teens rescue Big Arm woman trapped beneath mower

By Monday, Kyle Geyer looked pretty chipper. Especially for a woman who had spent four hours last Friday pinned beneath her riding lawnmower. She’s also exceedingly grateful to the two boys who saved her life, Danny Fehr and Channing Thompson who were visiting from Billings.

Big Beautiful Deficit-Raising Bill plunders our natural resources

Senator Harriet Hageman (R-Wyoming) wrote a column last week asking readers to view the controversial bill that includes selling off federal public lands for housing development. I read through the text of this bill, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee legislative text, and it’s even worse than depicted.

Ronan Seniors: Birthday dinner served Friday

This week's menu includes: birthday dinner, roast beef and salad, Friday, June 27; BBQ chicken, Monday, June 30; and taco bar, Wednesday, July 2.

Flathead Lake’s late summer levels aren't just a local issue

Each summer, as Flathead Lake reaches its scenic peak, calls grow louder to hold the lake level high through August and into September. For lakeshore residents, recreation businesses and visitors, that’s an understandable request. But what’s often missing from the conversation is what that late-summer water is also needed for – and what we lose when we keep it bottled up.