🌱 Do you recognize this pickup tied to a Kalispell kidnapping attempt?

Hey there, Kalispell! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Do you recognize this pickup tied to a Kalispell kidnapping attempt?
• How will Kalispell’s new permit rules affect local property owners?
• What led to the five-year sentence in last year’s downtown shooting?

Also on today's calendar: Pinky and The Floyd and 5 more events.

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

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

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Cloudy with a shower or two, with a high of 47 and low of 40 degrees.
• Wednesday: Winds gusting past 40 mph, temps: high: 44, low: 32.
• Thursday: Snow and rain, up to 1", with a high of 40 and low of 35 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Flathead authorities search for vehicle in attempted kidnapping (nbcmontana.com) — Kalispell residents are being asked to help identify a suspect after an attempted kidnapping and robbery at Woody’s Gas Station at Highways 35 and 206 late on Dec. 11. The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office is looking for an early-2000s Dodge Ram pickup and a white man, 40 to 50, balding with a reddish-gray ponytail, and urges anyone with tips to contact Detective Drew Kammerzell.
   

2. Kalispell approves ordinance that clarifies conditional use permit revocation (nbcmontana.com) — Kalispell residents should know that City Council has approved a new ordinance clarifying how conditional use permits can be revoked, effective for permits issued after Jan. 15, 2026. The change lays out a formal notice, 30-day correction window, and hearing process before the city can pull a permit, aligning local rules with other Montana municipalities.
   

3. Man charged in connection with downtown Kalispell shooting gets five-year sentence (dailyinterlake.com) — A Kalispell man has been sentenced to five years with the state Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to criminal endangerment tied to gunfire along South Main Street. Investigators linked a vehicle seen in surveillance footage to a downtown veterans organization and ultimately to the defendant, after several businesses reported bullet damage and more than $1,500 in losses.
   

4. Bozeman basketball teams fall to Butte (bozemandailychronicle.com) — Kalispell hoops fans will see Glacier and Flathead face Bozeman this coming Friday and Saturday, with girls games hosted in Bozeman and boys games on the road. The preview follows Bozeman’s recent losses to Butte and highlights key Hawk scorers heading into their matchups with the Kalispell schools.
   

5. ‘We're basically slitting our own throat': Montana rolls back water-quality standards (hcn.org) — Kalispell’s wastewater permit is among dozens awaiting renewal under Montana’s new, looser water-quality rules, which could affect how much nutrient pollution reaches Flathead Lake. State lawmakers scrapped strict numeric standards in favor of more flexible narrative ones, drawing criticism from environmental groups who fear more algal blooms and long-term risks to rivers, lakes, and drinking water statewide.
   

📸 Around Kalispell

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Kalispell

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 18

• CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT SNOWLINE ACRES
  Snowline Acres, 3315 U.S. 93 S, Kalispell
  5:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• Urban Renewal Agency Board Meeting
  City Hall , 201 1st Avenue E , Kalispell
  4:00 pm
• Hort Report
  Bias Brewing , 412 S Main St , Kalispell
  6:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Whitefish Chamber of Commerce December Gone Fishin'
  Grouse Mountain Lodge , 2 Fairway Dr , Whitefish
  10:00 am
• Pinky and The Floyd
  Wachholz College Center , 795 Grandview Dr , Kalispell
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Brash Rodeo
  Majestic Valley Arena , 3630 US-93 , Kalispell
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Tourism Business Improvement District Meetings
  Discover Kalispell/Chamber of Commerce , 2 South Main Street, 2nd floor board room , Kalispell
  3:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• MSU Extension Office Closed
  Flathead County Extension Services , 1108 S Main St #4 , Kalispell

📣 Kalispell 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

• Hort Report
  Bias Brewing , 412 S Main St , Kalispell
  6:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Whitefish Chamber of Commerce December Gone Fishin'
  Grouse Mountain Lodge , 2 Fairway Dr , Whitefish
  10:00 am

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

• Hello, I ordered a digital frame from Ebay and got a notification that it was delivered on Friday, 12/12 by USPS (at door/porch).
  This was NOT delivered to my address, 1105 Mountain Meadow Rd. I wanted to load pictures on this and present this to my mom for Christmas. If… (Nextdoor Mountain Meadow Rd)
• I have a new tour going to Spokane to see Lion King!!
  One night trip, February 4-5, 2026!! Join us! (Nextdoor Kalispell Woodland)

• Hilton posted a job opening for Housekeeper/Room Attendant (Part Time) - Homewood Suites Kalispell in Kalispell. Apply here.
• Walgreens posted a job opening for Inventory Specialist in Kalispell. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Kalispell here.

Ok Kalispell! 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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