Montana Windstorm Aftermath, Kalispell Mall Transformation & Life-Saving Heroes

A devastating winter windstorm left a lasting mark across Northwest Montana — and now the full impact is coming into focus. In this episode of News Now, reporter Taylor Inman breaks down the massive trail damage stretching from Libby to the Flathead Valley, what it means for outdoor recreation this spring, and the growing wildfire concerns tied to an unusually dry season.

Plus, a first look at the future of Kalispell Center Mall. Developers unveil ambitious plans to transform the aging property into a modern, walkable hub featuring retail, housing, green space, and possibly a new library branch.

We also highlight a powerful health message during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month — why screenings are more critical than ever, especially for people under 50. And in Mineral County, two Montana officers are being recognized for extraordinary bravery after saving two lives in a snowbound vehicle incident. Finally, Kalispell’s Downtown Forward Coalition outlines its vision for improving parking, walkability, and long-term growth in the city’s business district.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 1:24

Hello and welcome to News Now. I'm your host, Taylor Enman. We're going over the week's biggest headlines for Northwest Montana. It was hard to miss the massive windstorm that tore through the region in December, cutting power to thousands of homes from Libby to the Floodhead Valley, closing schools and even overturning a semi-truck. But the impact those unforgiving gusts had on the trail systems that weave through the region's forest remain to be fully realized. Trail organizations are bracing for a major cleanup effort this spring, and while some crews have already headed into the woods to hack away at any debris that's reachable in early spring, most of the damage is still being gauged as the snow melts. Trail organizations plan to dispatch crews earlier than usual and are anticipating placing some planned projects on the back burner to focus on storm cleanup. Some volunteer groups are also considering hiring professional sawyers to handle the more complex blowdowns. Montana Conservation Corps director Bobby Grillo described the wind damage on the west side of the Continental Divide as sporadic and dramatic. The saturated and unfrozen soil created the perfect conditions for trees to topple. The AmeriCorps affiliate deploys crews to support the Flathead National Forest, Kootenie Forest and Glacier National Park, and various local groups with trail maintenance. Gavin Wisdom, the Corps' regional director, said he has been in discussions with partner agencies about what spring and summer projects will look like. Wisdom expects to do a lot of cutting and running, which uses a small crew, sometimes just three Sawyers, to clear down trees from the path, as opposed to using a larger team to further beautify the trail by making it look more natural and less like a logging area. The west side of Glacier National Park saw heavy damage, but not much is known about what the backcountry looks like yet, according to public affairs specialist Autumn C. Fuentes. Around 50 seasonal trail staff are hired each year, and the need for additional staffing or resources is not anticipated. Once staff complete their training in the spring, they will begin clearing local trails in the Lake MacDonald Valley and St. Mary areas. By late May, they'll move into hitching rotation, camping around the park while continuing trail clearing work. Widespread damage is expected in the Flathead National Forest, though assessments are ongoing. Cali Lake Campground was hit especially hard and required immediate cleanup, according to spokesperson Kira Powell. While the low snowpack will make remote areas accessible sooner, it also leaves the forest unusually dry, increasing the risk of wildfires that will be hard to fight if the trail remains uncleared. Severe cuts to the Forest Service workforce by the Trump administration was also a concern for GRILO, who worried that it may inhibit the agency's ability to effectively address the blowdowns. Seasonal workers are hired this year, and Grillo is waiting to see whether the agency reaches out to the Corps for any help on projects related to the windstorm. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation deploys crews into the remote woods at east of Flathead Lake to help maintain Forest Service trails. Executive Director Clifford Kipps said staying nimble is essential to respond when their assistance is needed. Trail organizations urged recreationalists to stay wary of down trees and to report any hazards they see to land management agencies. Local organizations and federal agencies regularly communicate with one another so reports will not go unheard. Daniel Fuller of SHOP Companies presented the redevelopment plans to the Urban Renewal Agency in City Hall on Thursday, explaining that the company will seek tax increment financing funds to help pay for the project. The west side of the property would undergo the most dramatic changes, with plans to demolish the former Herbergers and replace it with standalone buildings along the property's edge to create park space. Shop Companies is considering locating the future Calspell branch of the Flathead County Library on the northwest corner of the property and adding green space around it that would extend along Fifth Avenue West in the parkline trail. Just south of the potential library site, the plan calls for a hotel with two additional buildings to the west that would offer more retail space. One of the buildings could include multifamily housing above it. Shop companies has been in talk with major retailers, including Lulu Lemon, Kendra Scott, Yeti, and Warby Parker, that have expressed interest in opening locations in the future shopping mecca. Fuller noted that these retailers are already established in other Montana cities, including Bozeman in Missoula. Fuller said that he is also in talks with a brewery that could be placed near one of the entrances and provide an outdoor space with firepeds. The concept design depicts a photo of the Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company logo. Park space and paths lined with trees, sculptures, and water features would run between the proposed new buildings. The east side of the mall, which will remain standing, would undergo a complete interior renovation, as well as facade improvements that will provide coverage from precipitation, according to design plans. If an agreement is reached soon, Fuller said that demolition could begin this year, with interior remodel expected to be completed sometime in 2028. Red Lion Hotel is also part of the redevelopment project. The Seattle-based architectural firm Olsen Kundig was behind the concept design, but Fuller hopes to get a local architectural firm on board as well. Fuller said that SHOP plans to ask for$23 million in tax increment financing funds to go toward reconstructing the West Side and revamping the East Side's frontage. The total project cost is estimated at$27 million. It's more important than ever to get screened for colorectal cancer, according to Logan Health gastroentrinologist Dr. Kate Weiser, who said that catching the disease early saves lives. Since March's Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Weiser has been speaking out about the importance of early screenings. Although there has been a decline of colorectal cancer for older people in the United States, she said rates have increased for those under 50. Why that's happening is sort of a hot topic, but physicians believe genetics is a factor. Weiser said they also think it's something we're being exposed to. We've become more sedentary, and at-risk factors associated with that are obesity, rising rates of diabetes, physical inactivity, and eating more processed goods. That, along with our genetic makeup, is leading to earlier cancers, according to Weiser. Colorectal cancer refers to any cancer that can affect the colon or rectum. It usually begins with small clumps of cells called polyps that form inside the colon, which generally aren't cancerous but can turn into colon cancers over time, according to the Mayo Clinic. Catching colorectal cancer early makes a world of difference. Weiser said finding and removing cancerous polyps has a survival rate of 100%. But if the cancer starts to spread outside of the polyp, potentially into the lymph nodes or other nearby organs, there is a precipitous drop in the chance of survival to 15 or 20%. That stark difference is why physicians with the Logan Health Digestive Center have been encouraging people 45 and older to get regular colon screenings. Even if someone is younger than 45, there are certain factors and symptoms that may prompt a screening for colorectal cancer. Weiser said any change in bowel habits could be cause for concern. Barring a change in diet or lifestyle, if someone starts to notice constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, or blood in the stool, it could be a sign that they need to get a colonoscopy. There's also consideration for those who have a family history of polyps, any sort of inflammatory bowel disease, or colon cancer. And occasionally there are cases with no symptoms at all. The gold standard of colorectal care is a colonoscopy, a procedure that sends a scope through the large intestine. A small video camera at the tip of the colon scope sends images to a monitor, allowing health professionals to closely examine the lining of the colon. Tissue samples or biopsies may also be taken and sent to a laboratory for further evaluation, according to the Mayo Clinic. Like many preventative procedures, an annual colonoscopy is typically included in most patients' health insurance coverage. Pfizer said they are in the process of setting up a self-referral system to get a colonoscopy at the center. Currently, a patient needs a referral from their primary care doctor to come in. To learn more about colorectal cancer screenings, visit Logan.org and click on digestive health under the Find Care and Services tab. Governor Greg Gianforte recently honored Corporal Emily Verbinac and Corporal Megan Vineyard of the Montana Department of Transportation's Motor Carrier Services Division with this outstanding service award for their life-saving actions during an incident earlier this year in Mineral County. Gianforte said when Verbinac and Vineyard arrived at the scene and found two unconscious passengers in a snowbound vehicle, they did not hesitate. Their quick thinking, training, and decisive action in extreme winter conditions saved two lives. On January 23rd, Vineyard and Verbinac were on duty at the Haugen Way Station when they were notified of a single vehicle injury crash on Interstate 90 in Mineral County. At the time, a patrol vehicle was unavailable, and the two officers decided to respond using a personal vehicle. When they arrived on the scene with deputies from the Mineral County Sheriff's Office, they found two unresponsive occupants inside a running vehicle lodged in a snowbank, with the driver's foot pressed on the accelerator. As deputies worked to gain access to the vehicle, Vineyard and Verbinac assisted in removing the occupants and immediately began life-saving efforts, including using a defibulator and administering Narcan. Their swift response and use of training helped save both individuals' lives. During a ceremony in Missoula, the governor presented Verbinac and Vineyard each with a letter of recognition and a Montana state flag flown over the state capitol in their honor. The Outstanding Service Award recognizes state employees who go above and beyond in the call of duty for the people of Montana. Kalispel's Downtown Forward Coalition has identified parking and walkability as some of its long-term goals to strengthen the business district. The organization was launched last year by the Kalispel Chamber of Commerce to advocate for downtown businesses and the surrounding neighborhood. It is comprised of six organizations that represent 3,500 businesses in Kalispell. That's according to Chamber of Commerce President Lorraine Clarno, who introduced a panel of speakers from their leadership team at the Kalispell Business Luncheon on March 17th. The panel included Blacktail Ski Area General Manager Jesse Wood, GL Solutions CEO Bill Mosley, Senior Vice President of Glacier Bank Pete Aiky, and Iron Star construction owner Kisa Davison. Parking and the walkability of downtown emerged as the top issues for downtown Forward's infrastructure and design team. Through talking with downtown business owners, Mosley said they've identified some easy wins. They will try expanding parking by looking at 12 major points, including opening up the Valley Bank lot to public parking, moving employee parking off Main Street, and enforcing fines and penalties for being parked on Main Street for too long. Some of these action points will involve the approval of Calspell City Council, he noted. AQ, who heads downtown Forward's Business and Advocacy Committee, agreed that parking was the main concern for downtown businesses. He spoke to many during a business walk, going door to door speaking with stakeholders. The second most important concern for business owners was rising costs, like taxes, rent, or the cost of owning a building downtown. Capitalizing programming and events in Calliswell is another course of action for the coalition. Wood, who chairs their Culture and Activation Committee, said their focus is on increased engagement in the walkability of downtown. Klarno said they also plan to amplify events from downtown businesses. The coalition is also putting together a monthly e-newsletter called Downtown Digest, which will go out the first Thursday of every month starting in April. Davison, who chairs the Communications and Engagement Committee, said it's going to be an important tool for people to keep up with what they're working on. She said they also want to hear from people through a new email, dkf at caliswellchamber.com, on their ideas for downtown and memories from time spent there. Thanks for joining us. News Now is a podcast from the Daily Inner Lake. We're proud to be the largest independent newsroom in Montana and the longest continuously published newspaper in the region. Today's stories were written by Daily Interlake reporter Jack Underhill, the Mineral Independent, and yours truly. You can read the full versions of these stories at dailyinterlake.com. And if you haven't already, subscribe to our YouTube channel to never miss an episode of The Pod. Everybody stay safe and have a great week.