A lot has changed at Beacon HQ in the 17 years since we pumped out our first 24-page paper. New reporters, fresh offices, breaking developments, explosive growth in the Flathead, and the end of our weekly print product. But a lot has stayed the same, too. Shoe leather reporting, up-to-date Glacier Park news, our power couple owners, Maury and Connie, and a deep connection with this valley that we love. Most importantly, we've continued to put out high-quality, community journalism that's supported by our readers and dedicated advertisers.
Taking a dive into the archives, we thought we'd share some snippets from our 2016 profile in the Columbia Journalism Review – "Why a weekly tabloid owned by Maury Povich might have ‘the best newsroom in Montana.'"
Click the link in our bio to read the full story, and to support independent local news.
Thanks for all your love since 2007.
The Beacon Team
#KalispellMT #FlatheadBeacon
✈️ Skydive Glacier Country opens today at Kalispell City Airport — offering tandem jumps Fridays through Sundays through Sept. 30.
📖 Full story: /2026/05/15/skydive-glacier-country-opens-at-kalispell-city-airport/
#Kalispell #FlatheadValley #Montana #Skydiving #SkydiveGlacierCountry #Adventure #FlatheadBeacon
🌲 The Foys to Blacktail Community Forest Project has been awarded $2.9 million in federal Forest Legacy funding — permanently protecting 1,131 acres of front-country timberland and effectively tripling the size of Herron Park.
📖 Full story: /2026/05/15/foys-to-blacktail-conservation-project-awarded-2-9m-in-forest-legacy-funding/
#FoysToBlacktail #Kalispell #HerronPark #FlatheadValley #Montana #Conservation #Trails #FlatheadBeacon
📊 The Flathead Valley is still growing — just not as fast as before.
New U.S. Census Bureau data shows Kalispell added 626 residents in 2025 for a 2% growth rate, leading all of Montana's major cities. Over the past five years, Kalispell has grown 27% — ranking 48th out of nearly 1,900 cities nationwide. The post-pandemic boom is easing, but northwest Montana remains one of the country's top growth destinations.
📖 Full story: /2026/05/14/flathead-county-cities-retain-modest-population-growth-amid-overall-slowdown/
#Kalispell #Whitefish #ColumbiaFalls #FlatheadValley #Montana #Population #CensusBureau #FlatheadBeacon
⚖️ A Flathead County jury has found Jeffrey Scott Serio guilty of deliberate homicide.
After eight days of testimony and six hours of deliberation, jurors convicted Serio for fatally running over 67-year-old Raymond Maurice "Mory" Grigg with his vehicle in an Evergreen cornfield in August 2025. Sentencing is scheduled for June 26. 📋
📖 Full story: /2026/05/14/flathead-county-man-found-guilty-in-hit-and-run-homicide-trial/
#Kalispell #Evergreen #FlatheadCounty #Montana #Courts #LocalNews #FlatheadBeacon
🗳️ Three-term incumbent Linda Reksten — a retired school superintendent who has been rebuked by the state GOP for crossing the aisle — is being challenged by 20-year-old college student Finley Warden, who has the backing of both the local and state Republican parties. Get to know both candidates.
📖 Full story: /2026/05/14/2026-primary-election-incumbent-challenged-for-republican-nomination-in-house-district-13/
#Polson #LakeCounty #HouseDistrict13 #Montana #MontanaPolitics #Elections #FlatheadBeacon
🗳️ With longtime Sen. Mike Cuffe termed out, two four-term state reps — Eureka Police Chief Neil Duram and retired Libby businessman Steve Gunderson — are facing off against Merchant Marine captain Vincent Backen. Property taxes and the future direction of the Montana GOP are front and center. Get to know all three.
📖 Full story: /2026/05/13/2026-primary-election-open-seat-in-lincoln-countys-senate-district-1-draws-three-way-republican-contest/
#Libby #Eureka #LincolnCounty #Montana #MontanaPolitics #Elections #FlatheadBeacon
🏔️ In December 1969, five Montana climbers set out to scale the sheer north face of Mount Cleveland in winter. They were never seen alive again.
Their bodies weren't found for 188 days on Glacier's tallest peak. More than 50 years later, one climber believes they may have actually reached the summit.
📖 Full story: /2026/05/13/missing-on-mount-cleveland/
#GlacierNationalPark #MountCleveland #Montana #MontanaHistory #Climbing #FlatheadBeacon
🗳️ Four-term Rep. Tyson Running Wolf, the Browning-based Minority Whip and Blackfeet Nation advocate, is facing off against social worker and political newcomer Jade-Heather Ackerman. The district covers Glacier County and portions of Flathead, Lake and Pondera counties, including the Blackfeet Nation and part of the CSKT reservation. Get to know both candidates.
📖 Full story: /2026/05/13/2026-primary-election-two-democratic-candidates-vie-for-nomination-in-senate-district-8/
#Montana #MontanaPolitics #SenateDistrict8 #BlackfeetNation #Elections #FlatheadBeacon
⚖️ On day seven of the homicide trial, a forensic toxicologist testified that defendant Jeffrey Scott Serio had opioids THC in his system at the time of the incident. Closing arguments begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Flathead County District Court.
📖 Full story: /2026/05/12/following-alleged-homicide-defendants-toxicology-report-detected-opioids-and-thc/
#Kalispell #Evergreen #FlatheadCounty #Montana #Courts #LocalNews #FlatheadBeacon
🗳️ With longtime Rep. Amy Regier moving on to a Senate race, local butcher Arthur Dunn and businessman Jim Riley are both making their first run for the legislature. Taxes, Montana's historic industries and party unity are front and center. Get to know the candidates.
📖 Full story: /2026/05/12/2026-primary-election-two-candidates-look-for-the-republican-nomination-in-house-district-6/
#Kalispell #HouseDistrict6 #Montana #MontanaPolitics #Elections #FlatheadBeacon
🗳️ Two-term incumbent Rep. Courtenay Sprunger — who has faced attack ads and been passed over by the local and state GOP — is taking on challenger Luke Maxwell.
📖 Full story: /2026/05/12/2026-primary-election-heart-of-kalispell-sees-two-way-primary-between-incumbent-and-challenger-for-house-district-7/
#Kalispell #HouseDistrict7 #Montana #MontanaPolitics #Elections #FlatheadBeacon
