Good morning, Kalispell.

Whitefish Community Foundation awarded $477,750 in grants to 52 nonprofits on April 29 to support projects across the Flathead Valley + it gave a $50,000 grant to Miracle League to resurface the only accessible baseball field in the area.

Donors also pledged extra support as the foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary.

A man accused of punching a Kalispell Police officer during his arrest near a city park in 2023 received a deferred three-year sentence from Flathead County District Court after pleading guilty to felony assault while misdemeanor counts were dismissed—he is also ordered to pay $1,357.92 in restitution after serving 111 days.

Two Flathead High School automotive students won gold and bronze at the state SkillsUSA event in Great Falls — Cameron Seals earned first place and now qualifies for a national competition while Cameron Moffit placed third in the Automotive Service Technology category.

The contest featured 367 career and technical education students demonstrating skills in various trades and leadership events set by industry standards.

The Flathead National Forest and local partners completed a $750,000 Blankenship Bridge erosion prevention project to stabilize the damaged bridge—affected by a 1965 flood—and improve habitat for native cutthroat and bull trout.

Crews installed woody debris and planted native willows while following seasonal timing to protect migrating bull trout.

Anglers in the ongoing CSKT Spring Mack Days contest set a new record by catching 46,586 lake trout — most of which were juvenile fish — beating the previous record of 40,362 from 2019.

Fisheries biologist Barry Hansen said the shift shows the suppression program is working and noted that prize payouts have already exceeded the $225,000 budget.

A Kalispell man from Venezuela (33) detained during a routine traffic stop on April 24 was released from a Tacoma detention center on April 30 after protests gathered outside the Whitefish Border Patrol office.

The 69th Montana Legislature ended Wednesday after approving residential property tax relief and a $16.6 billion budget bill to fund state operations for the next two years—lawmakers also finalized key bills on income tax cuts and Medicaid expansion.

The House adjourned at 12:59 p.m. with a 96—4 vote.

An Evening with Dr. Abraham Verghese

7:30-9:00 p.m. — Wachholz College Center — First 500 tickets include a free paperback edition of 'The Covenant of Water' — Engage with a leading voice in healthcare and storytelling.

Mother's Day Flower Frame Craft Event

8 p.m. — Meadows Edge — Cost to be determined — Create a heartfelt flower frame as a special gift for Mom.

Champions of Magic Show

7:30-9 p.m. — Wachholz College Center — Ticketed event — Experience an all-new thrilling magic show from the world-renowned Champions of Magic team.

Shrine Circus

2-4 p.m. — Majestic Valley Arena — Affordable entry — Experience a delightful family-friendly circus with exciting performances under the big top.

The Rancher's Daughter Farmer's Market

5-8 p.m. — The Rancher's Daughter Kalispell — Free entry — Explore a vibrant summer market showcasing local vendors and fresh produce.

Kalispell Professional Bull Riding

7:30-10 p.m. — Majestic Valley Arena — Ticket prices vary — Experience the thrilling action of professional bull riding in Kalispell.

Kalispell PBR Championship

7:30-10 p.m. — Majestic Valley Arena — Ticket prices vary — Experience the thrill of bull riding with the world's toughest riders and elite bucking bulls.