🌱 Who is the new face on Columbia Falls City Council?

Cheers Columbia Falls! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Who is the new face on Columbia Falls City Council?
• How this year’s resort tax will fund Columbia Falls safety and streets
• Could your family qualify for a new Columbia Falls Habitat townhome?

And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Bill M.!

Today's riddle: Why did the cookie go to the Doctor ? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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From our Partner
Today's Columbia Falls Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Columbia Falls Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Columbia Falls.

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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Hazy sunshine, with a high of 89 and low of 48 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Friday: Hazy sunshine and very warm, temps: high: 93, low: 46.
• Saturday: Sunny and toasty conditions, with a high of 94 and low of 46 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

1. Bloomberg chosen to fill open Columbia Falls City Council seat (dailyinterlake.com) — Columbia Falls residents have a new voice on City Council, as longtime local attorney and youth soccer coach Staci Bloomberg was appointed to fill a recently vacated seat. She plans to focus on listening to residents and guiding growth and development thoughtfully, after a competitive selection process that drew a dozen interested applicants.
   

2. Resort tax collection in Columbia Falls slightly less than last year (dailyinterlake.com) — Columbia Falls’ resort tax brought in about $1.549 million this year, slightly less than last year, trimming the total rebate to local property owners. Most of the 3% tax continues to fund police, firefighters, vehicles, and fire equipment, with additional money set aside for infrastructure reserves and future projects as new businesses come online.
   

3. Families move into new Habitat for Humanity townhomes; applications being taken for others (hungryhorsenews.com) — Working families in Columbia Falls are moving into four new Habitat for Humanity townhomes, with six more under construction on Railroad Street and applications open now for one of those units. Built through volunteers, partnerships, and city support, the homes aim to stay affordable for future buyers, and organizers are also seeking more volunteers, applicants, and potential land donations.
   

4. With iPhone alerts, sometimes it's a crash, often it isn't (hungryhorsenews.com) — Local fire crews, including Columbia Falls Fire Chief Karl Weeks, are seeing a surge of false 911 calls triggered by iPhone crash detection, yet they still treat every alert as a real emergency. While many alerts come from dropped phones or jostled river bags, the system has also quickly flagged at least one serious crash between Columbia Falls and Whitefish, underscoring its life-saving potential.
   

5. More crews arrive at Skillet Fire as fire danger expected to escalate (dailyinterlake.com) — Wildfire crews are ramping up efforts on the Skillet Fire west of Olney, but for now Columbia Falls’ air quality is holding at a moderate level while nearby towns see worse smoke. Officials warn that hotter, windier weather could quickly change fire behavior, even as some regional blazes move toward higher containment.
   

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📸 Around Columbia Falls

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Columbia Falls

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday August 20

• Columbia Falls Community Market →
  Columbia Falls Community Market, 165 Veteran Dr, Columbia Falls
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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Other local events

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday August 6

• Trivia Night at Waters Edge Winery and Bistro →
  Waters Edge Winery & Bistro Kalispell, 2593 U.S. Hwy 2 E Ste 8, Kalispell
  7:00 pm

Friday August 7

• Native America Speaks - Many Glacier Campground Evening Program
  Glacier National Park Many Glacier Campground Amphitheater, Many Glacier Valley
  7:30 pm

Monday August 10

• 4-H Dandy Dudes & Dolls Meeting - NO AUGUST MEETING
  Flathead County Extension Services Creston Grange Hall
  7:00 pm

Tuesday August 11

• Risk Mitigation: Reduce Owner Dependency and Financial Risk
  Montana West Economic Development Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at FVCC, 715 Grandview, Kalispell, MT, 59901
  2:30 am

Wednesday August 12

• Annual Budget Meeting 5:30pm
  Fair-Mont-Egan 7-8 Kalispell, MT 59901
• NWMT Fair and Rodeo
  Flathead County Extension Services 1108 S Main St #4, Kalispell, MT 59901
• AI Advantage Workshop Series
  Montana West Economic Development Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, 2 S. Main St., Kalispell, 59901
  2:30 am
• Glacier Distilling Whiskey Tasting →
  West Glacier KOA Resort, 355 Halfmoon Flts Rd, West Glacier
  5:00 pm
• Native America Speaks - St. Mary Evening Program
  Glacier National Park St. Mary Campground Amphitheater, Loop C, St. Mary Valley
  7:30 pm

Thursday August 13

• Birds of Prey Presentation →
  West Glacier KOA Resort, 355 Halfmoon Flts Rd, West Glacier
  7:00 pm
• Northwest Montana PRCA Rodeo →
  Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N Meridian Rd, Kalispell
  7:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I wrote this because of the current fires going on, but can apply to any situation that someone is going through —
  “Let Your Rain Fall Down” is a song born in a moment when something deep inside told me to write it from a phrase I saw — a pull I couldn’t ignore… (Nextdoor Tamarack Lane)

• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Columbia Falls. Apply here.
• Super 1 Foods posted a job opening for Bakery - Cake Decorator in Columbia Falls. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbia Falls here.

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Ok Columbia Falls! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Because he felt CRUMMY ! (Thank you Michelle S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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