For Some Montanans, Vibrant Show a First Ever View of Northern Lights

Montanans will be looking skyward again tonight, seeing if they can catch Round 2 of what is being called the best Northern Lights show in years. And while clouds may interfere, other corners of the state should have clear skies. 

Yesterday evening, skies over Montana, and at least half the country, lit up in a vibrant display of reds, greens, and blues, as a major geomagnetic storm arrived. It's the result of a major solar flare, the largest eruption on the sun this year, a couple of days ago.

NOAA's Space Weather forecasters say this event could be a G2, which would be just a bit less vibrant than last night. However, on the "K" scale, which measures visibility from the poles, it still ranks a 6 out of 9, which indicates a bright and active display.

Kalispell wants Canadians back

After a rather subdued summer travel season, Kalispell tourism leaders are hoping a new passport program will lure Canadian travelers back in the off-season.

The "Canadian Welcome Pass" is aimed at attracting visitors from British Columbia and Alberta to return to the Flathead by offering a "collection of discounts" for attractions, restaurants, hotel stays, and retailers, available by signing up for a return text and email.

     Visitors can then use their phone to redeem the coupons when they visit Kalispell.

The timing is critical for Kalispell business, which, historically, before the pandemic and political disruption, was a common sight during the holiday season. And there's ground to make up; a comparison of cross-border traffic shows double-digit drops.

Guilty verdict in brutal Gallatin County murder case

A 42-year-old Gallatin County man will learn his fate next month, after being convicted of murdering a Belgrade man while he was camping in Gallatin Canyon last year.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports a jury found Daren Christopher Abby guilty of killing 35-year-old Dustin Kjersam at his campsite not far from Big Sky. Kjersam's murder shocked the community, with initial fears of an animal attack, until a manhunt of several days led to Abby's arrest.

Prosecutors convinced the jury that Abby attacked Kjersam with a screwdriver and an ax before stealing some of his camping gear. He'll be sentenced on December 30th.

Bears haven't gone to bed yet

Montana FWP is warning hunters and others in the outdoors that, even though it's turning colder, grizzly and black bears remain very active now as they hunt for calories before hibernation.

In addition to last week's incident where two hunters were charged by three grizzlies near Seeley Lake, bears have been having run-ins with people in Southwest Montana as well.

In late October, a hunter on Landon Ridge at the south end of the Gravely Range was charged by a bear, although he was able to scare it off by firing a shot. On November 1st, a hunter in the North Fork of Wolf Creek in the Madison Valley was also charged by a bear but was not hurt.

     The Bear Creek Trail, which is off the Helmet Pass Trail, remains closed until next week because biologists are worried a dead horse in the area could attract bears.

RELATED: Hiker Hurt in First Grizzly Attack in Yellowstone in 4 years

Montana small town has a new owner

There's a new sheriff, or mayor, in one Paradise County town, after a local woman steps forward to "pay for Prey."

Realtor.com reports the town, which has a post office, a general store, and a few rental cabins, has sold for $2.25 million. It's been off and on the market in recent years, and most recently was listed a year ago.

     The original family that owned the townsite for decades first sold it for $480,000 in 2018.