KALISPELL — Flathead Electric Cooperative is reporting power outages on Saturday morning in Northwest Montana.
As of 10 a.m., FEC was reporting approximately 1,500 members were being impacted by eight outages.
The latest power outage information can be found at https://outage.flathead.coop:8181/. “FEC is hopeful to see parts of the Ashley Lake and Kila area start to come back on over the next few hours as crews work to sectionalize portions of that system and energize them as they can,” a statement reads.
The Co-op statement notes the following:
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“Challenges that arise in the electrical power distribution system during extremely cold weather are referred to as “cold loading.” One such challenge is the immediate spike in electrical demand that occurs as portions of the system are energized following an outage (when heaters and other electrical equipment all kick on at the exact same time). This immediate spike can equate to double the typical demand on those parts of the system, which makes it difficult to get those loads to hold. In these cases, our crews must physically sectionalize small portions of the system and re-energize them piece by piece, which prolongs the outage restoration process. These variables also make it difficult for FEC to provide estimated restoration times.”
Members can help during periods of prolonged extreme cold. Reducing or delaying unnecessary electrical usage will ease the strain on the system and speed up the process of restoring power to everyone affected.
Members can also reduce or delay their electrical use related to:
Washing and drying clothes
Using dishwashers
Running multiple ovens at once
Powering multiple water heaters
Charging unneeded battery-powered equipment, such as leaf blowers, electric vehicles, and re-chargeable drills
Turning off unneeded lights
Unplugging unneeded equipment, including Christmas lights and items not in use, such as unwatched TVs
(NOTE: This request is not related to a shortage of power. Our power supply has remained adequate through this cold snap. This precautionary measure reduces strain on the physical electrical distribution system, which helps the Co-op more effectively manage the record loads the area is experiencing due to prolonged extreme cold temperatures.)
FEC crews have been responding to small outages throughout the extreme weather conditions.
MONTANA Brown has been forced to call in pest control after thousands of “disgusting”, unidentified bugs infested her home.
The former Love Island star initially took to social media to ask her followers if any of them knew what the bugs were – and how to get rid of them.
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Montana Brown has pleaded for help after thousands of bugs infested her homeCredit: tiktok/@montanaShe’s had to call in the pros at pest control as she doesn’t know what the bugs are – or how to get rid of themCredit: tiktok/@montanaPeople in the comments were divided as to what the bugs could be, with Montana joking she’ll give £2 million to the person who got their guess correctCredit: tiktok/@montana
“Can someone tell me what these pests are?” Montana wrote over the top of the video.
“I have cleaned all my cupboards and they will not go away!”
“It’s making me sick,” she added in the video caption.
And people in the comments were divided as to what the bugs could actually be.
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“We had an infestation of book lice, could it be these??” one wrote.
“Dust mites?” another mused.
“We had something similar had to have someone out to gas out the kitchen, had to throw away loads of appliances etc because they live and lay thousands of eggs.
“Get an exterminator ASAP – they breed like mad.”
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“Flour mites, you need to throw everything out in your storage cupboards that is not sealed,” a third insisted.
“Then clean everything with hot soapy water.
“They come from if you have a packet open that is not sealed properly like flour, tortilla chips or any grain – the worst.”
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However, in another video, Montana went on to explain that she’s cleaned out the cupboards “probably about 10 to 15 times”, and has cling film over “all the dried goods”.
“So I have got someone from pest control coming tomorrow and they will identify this little bug,” she explained.
Montana also joked the person who got the bug species right would win “£2 million from me”.
“Because a lot of you have come out with some pretty crazy insects that I have never heard of in my entire life,” she laughed.
“And I’m going to be impressed with whoever wins the competition.
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Common garden pests
Common pests in the garden don’t need to be a cause for alarm. If you can identify them, you can work on getting rid of them and preventing them from returning.
Aphids (Greenfly, Blackfly)
Aphids are extremely common and can impact plant growth. They have tiny soft pear-shaped bodies, and are usually green or black. You may spot them clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular – or may find a sticky substance on your plants that gives away aphids have been there sucking at the sap.
Whitefly
These small white-winged insects are related to aphids, at just 1 or 2 mm in length, and look very much like white moths as adults. They can be found on the underside of leaves, preferring younger, fresher leaves. They fly in clusters when you disturb them. Their lifecycle is only three weeks long, which means an infestation can occur very rapidly.
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Slugs
An unmissable, squashy-looking body plus small sensory tentacles on its head. Slugs move along on one muscular foot. They range in scale from surprisingly small to terrifyingly large; limax cinereoniger species can grow comfortably beyond 20 cm in length.
Cabbage Moth Caterpillar
Cabbage moth caterpillars happily make their way into the heart of the vegetables, The caterpillars are distinguished in shades of yellow or browny green with no hair.
Mealy Bug
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Mealybugs are tiny oval-shaped insects that have a white, powdery wax coating. There are several different species, many of which have what looks like legs coming from their sides and back end. In their earliest stage of life, it’s entirely possible to mistake them for fungus and not recognise them as insects at all.
“So, stay tuned!”
“Can’t wait for my £2m hehe!” one person commented on that video.
“You have to throw away all the dried goods sadly, the cling film won’t do it.
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“We literally threw out every single thing out of cupboards and had to rebuy it all.”
“Good luck! I hope they go – they made my life hellll!” another said, adding that they think they’re “book lice” aka plaster beetles.
BOULDER, Colo. — Taylee Chirrick’s driving layup with 1.7 seconds left lifted Montana State to a 71-70 women’s basketball victory on the road over Colorado of the Big 12 on Sunday.
With seconds ticking away and MSU trailing 70-69, Chirrick beat two defenders along the near sideline and broke toward the basket to lay in the go-ahead points. A last-ditch heave by the Buffaloes missed, and the Bobcats improved to 5-1 overall.
“This team showed championship toughness and grittiness in the second half,” MSU coach Tricia Binford stated in a press release. “They fought and clawed their way back against a very good team. I’m very proud of everyone’s effort.”
Colorado’s Desiree Wooten gave her team the lead with nine seconds left with a driving three-point play. But Chirrick and Montana State were able to complete a comeback that saw the Bobcats erase a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter.
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A layup by CU’s Anaelle Dutat had the Bobcats down 61-49 with 9:24 remaining; the Cats closed the game on a 22-9 run.
Chirrick, a sophomore from Roberts, finished with a game-high 21 points. She made 6 of 15 from the floor and went 7 for 7 from the foul line. Addison Harris added 19 points, and Heidi Smith scored eight of her 10 in the fourth quarter to boost the Bobcats’ rally.
Harris and Chirrick led MSU with six rebounds apiece. Chirrick also had three assists and four steals. The Bobcats scored 20 points off 23 Colorado turnovers.
Jade Masogayo led the Buffaloes with 16 points while Wooten had 14. Dutat finished with 10 points and a game-best nine rebounds.
Montana State will next travel to Fargo, N.D., to face North Dakota State on Wednesday as part of the Big Sky/Summit League Challenge. The Bobcats will host North Dakota on Saturday.
Carroll College tight end Carson Ochoa caught five passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns in the Saints’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 loss to Montana Tech Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum.
Carroll College safety Braeden Orlandi breaks up a pass intended for Montana Tech wide-out Levi Torgerson Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over the Saints.
Montana Tech wide-out Levi Torgerson totaled 124 yards receiving, caught two touchdowns, and tossed a 21-yard score to Orediggers QB Jarrett Wilson in Tech’s 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum. Torgerson was selected game offensive MVP.
Montana Tech QB Jarrett Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College. Wilson carried the football 15 times for 94 yards. He also caught a 21-yard touchdown.
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Montana Tech QB Jarrett Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College. Wilson carried the football 15 times for 94 yards. He also caught a 21-yard touchdown.
Email Daniel Shepard at daniel.shepard@406mtsports.com and find him on X/Twitter @IR_DanielS.
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Montana Tech beat Carroll for the 5th-straight time Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, advancing to the NAIA Football Championship Series Quarterfinals.…
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Montana Tech wide-out Levi Torgerson totaled 124 yards receiving, caught two touchdowns, and tossed a 21-yard score to Orediggers QB Jarrett Wilson in Tech’s 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum. Torgerson was selected game offensive MVP.
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Montana Tech QB Jarrett Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College. Wilson carried the football 15 times for 94 yards. He also caught a 21-yard touchdown.
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Montana Tech QB Jarrett Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College. Wilson carried the football 15 times for 94 yards. He also caught a 21-yard touchdown.
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Carroll College safety Braeden Orlandi breaks up a pass intended for Montana Tech wide-out Levi Torgerson Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over the Saints.
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Carroll College kicker Kai Golan recovered an on-side kick in the third quarter of the Saints’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 loss to Montana Tech Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum. Golan’s recovery led to a Saints touchdown that pulled Carroll within three points.
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Montana Tech head football coach Kyle Samson celebrates the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum.
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Carroll College tight end Carson Ochoa caught five passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns in the Saints’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 loss to Montana Tech Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum.