🌱 How shrinking enrollment is reshaping Columbia Falls school budgets

Morning Columbia Falls! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How shrinking enrollment is reshaping Columbia Falls school budgets
• Which Columbia Falls wrestlers broke out at the Mining City Duals?

Also on today's calendar: Kids Wednesday Workshop – Columbia Falls and 2 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Columbia Falls? Post it to Columbia Falls photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Columbia Falls.

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: A brief shower or two, with a high of 45 and low of 35 degrees.
• Wednesday: Strong winds, temps: high: 44, low: 28.
• Thursday: Snow and sleet in the p.m., with a high of 36 and low of 34 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Flathead Co. student enrollment declines again (nbcmontana.com) — Columbia Falls schools are seeing declining enrollment, with 1,431 elementary students and 658 high schoolers as of October, part of a countywide 2% drop. The district still commands a sizable $22.3 million budget for grades through eighth. Local families can compare Columbia Falls’ numbers with Kalispell and Whitefish to understand shifting class sizes and funding.
   

• Flathead 2nd at Mining City Duals (dailyinterlake.com) — Columbia Falls wrestling fans can see how the MatCats stacked up at the Jim Street Mining City Duals, where they went 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the championship bracket. Despite tough losses to Gonzaga Prep and Frenchtown, Blaise Cronk shined at 165 pounds with three pins and a technical fall, while Kolbe Cronk finished a strong 4-1 at 138.
   

📸 Around Columbia Falls

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Columbia Falls

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday December 17

• Kids Wednesday Workshop - Columbia Falls
  Flathead County Library Columbia Falls, 130 6th St W STE C, Columbia Falls
  2:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• Kids Wednesday Workshop – Columbia Falls
  Flathead County Library Columbia Falls , 130 6th St W STE C , Columbia Falls
  2:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Preschool Storytime - Columbia Falls
  Flathead County Library Columbia Falls , 130 6th St W STE C , Columbia Falls
  11:00 am

Friday December 19

• Baby Storytime - Columbia Falls
  Flathead County Library Columbia Falls , 130 6th St W STE C , Columbia Falls
  11:00 am
• Baby Storytime – Columbia Falls
  Flathead County Library Columbia Falls , 130 6th St W STE C , Columbia Falls
  11:00 am

📣 Columbia Falls Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Business Improvement District Board Meeting
  Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Conference Room , 2 South Main Street , Kalispell
  8:30 am
• Conrad Mansion Museum Board of Directors Meetings
  Conrad Mansion Museum , 330 Woodland Ave , Kalispell
  4:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Live music in the Boat Club Bar featuring Will Peterson
  The Lodge at Whitefish Lake , 1380 Wisconsin Ave , Whitefish
  4:00 pm
• Urban Renewal Agency Board Meeting
  City Hall , 201 1st Avenue E , Kalispell
  4:00 pm
• Burger, Beer & Beats
  The Lodge at Whitefish Lake , 1380 Wisconsin Ave , Whitefish
  4:00 pm
• Burger, Beer & Beats in the Boat Club at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake
  The Lodge at Whitefish Lake , 1380 Wisconsin Ave , Whitefish
  4:00 pm
• Hort Report
  Bias Brewing , 412 S Main St , Kalispell
  6:00 pm

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

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

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Hi folks, my friends dog got loose in coram and hasn’t come home yet.
  Her name is Skye, she should have her collar with her name and our number on it. She’s a border collie mix but looks more like a red fox, please… (Nextdoor Columbia Falls)

• Pizza Hut posted a job opening for Team Member in Columbia Falls. Apply here.
• Dollar General posted a job opening for ASST STORE MGR in COLUMBIA FALLS, MT S24789 in Columbia Falls. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbia Falls here.

🗞 Nearby News

Whitefish

• ZeroTaxTags Expands Whitefish Office and Launches Customer Portal as Demand Grows for Montana LLC Vehicle Registration Support (azcentral.com)
• Top Tastes of 2025 (flatheadbeacon.com)
• Legals for December, 15 2025 (dailyinterlake.com)

Evergreen

• Residents worry about increased traffic from Trumble Creek Road subdivision (dailyinterlake.com)

Kalispell

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: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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