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3 days ago
- General
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Whitefish Police officer cited immigration violations as reason for contacting federal authorities during traffic stop
May 30—A Whitefish police officer cited recent immigration violations as a reason for contacting federal immigration authorities during an April 24 traffic stop that ended in the detainment of a Venezuelan man in the U.S. legally. According to the case report, obtained by the Daily Inter Lake, officer Michael Hingiss called the regional dispatch line for U.S. Border Patrol to request "a person check," even though Beker Rengifo del Castillo had already provided identifying documents, including a driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of current insurance. "Immigration violations have been an ongoing issue in Flathead County," Hingiss wrote in his account. "Spokane Dispatch did not provide any details on [Rengifo del Castillo] to officer Hingiss and stated they had an agent responding to officer Hingiss. The intent of the call was to check the individual stopped to see if any federal contacts were needed." Rengifo del Castillo was held in federal custody for about a week following the traffic stop. He was released on April 30 without charge. Andrea Sweeney, an attorney representing Rengifo del Castillo at the time of the incident, said the reason for the detainment was unclear. Rengifo del Castillo reportedly moved to the Flathead Valley from Venezuela in July 2024 under a two-year humanitarian parole program. The Trump administration has made repeated efforts to end the program, but a federal court order blocked the termination of participants' parole status at the time of Rengifo del Castillo's detainment. Local law enforcement agencies lack the authority to enforce federal immigration policies, but area police departments confirmed that they do cooperate with Border Patrol officials in some instances, such as verifying the identity of unknown individuals. In the case report, Hingiss stated that he noticed a car with a broken taillight at about 5:17 p.m. on April 24. The car's registration was not linked to a specific driver's license number. While not illegal, Hingiss suggested that the lack of an operator license number was unusual. The two cars traveled for about two blocks after Hingiss activated his patrol lights, reportedly passing "a safe area to stop on the shoulder" of the road to come to a final stop near the corner of 5th Street and Spokane Avenue. Hingiss stated that Rengifo del Castillo did not roll his window down all the way and "appeared nervous" throughout the traffic stop. A language barrier was also noted several times in the case report. Rengifo del Castillo provided Hingiss with proof of insurance, a car registration issued in October 2024, and a driver's license issued in March 2025. John Skinner, Rengifo del Castillo's parole sponsor, said he believed Rengifo del Castillo purchased the car last year with the expectation of receiving a U.S. driver's license in the coming months. After reviewing the documents, Hingiss made the call to U.S. Border Patrol. An agent from the Whitefish office arrived on the scene as Hingiss was printing a written warning for the broken taillight on Rengifo del Castillo's car. The case report states that the Border Patrol agent aided Hingiss in communicating with Rengifo del Castillo. WHITEFISH POLICE Chief Bridger Kelch declined to answer questions about the case report. The chief has previously said that he did not believe that either explicit or implicit bias played a role in the outcome of the traffic stop and said the department would not be looking into the incident further. The department's bias policy states that "any alleged or observed violations" of bias-based policing are subject to investigation by the department supervisor. City officials have largely supported Kelch's interpretation of the event and spurned allegations of unfair policing practices. "The Whitefish Police Department has no record of being racist at all," said Whitefish City Councilor Steve Qunell. Qunell initially seemed to suggest that Hingiss' decision to involve Border Patrol in the traffic stop may have involved some level of bias. "I've been pulled over before and nobody asks me my immigration status," he stated at a May 5 City Council meeting that involved discussion of the traffic stop. But in a later interview with the Inter Lake, Qunell deemed criticisms of the Whitefish Police Department unfair. While he said that Rengifo del Castillo's detainment was unjust, Qunell argued that the blame for the incident lies with the federal government, not local law enforcement. "I don't know what happened," he said. "We need to be transparent. I think that every law enforcement agency has been put in an untenable situation." Qunell declined to comment on whether he had reviewed the case report or other internal documentation of the traffic stop, such as body camera footage. The Inter Lake also contacted Whitefish City Councilors Rebecca Norton and Giuseppe Caltabiano for comment on the case report. Norton declined to comment. Caltabiano did not respond by deadline, but he expressed support for the Whitefish Police Department in an opinion piece published by the Inter Lake earlier this month. "It is both troubling and unjust that some in our community are quick to vilify our officers without access to all the facts or regard for due process ... Our police department has clearly stated — and I fully support — that it does not engage in biased-based policing," wrote Caltabiano. Officer Hingiss has not been accused of a crime, so he is not subject to due process at this time. Images of the case report are available in the online version of this story. Reporter Hailey Smalley may be reached at 758-4433 or hsmalley@ The first page of the police report filed on the April 24 traffic stop. The second page of the police report filed on the April 24 traffic stop.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Employers at job fair looking to fill open spots
Apr. 18—Waves of students and job seekers walked the rows of the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday featuring over 100 businesses and a chance to connect and explore professional opportunities. Levels of urgency varied when it comes to hiring across industries with some employers expressing extreme hiring concerns and others finding themselves in a better place than in previous years. The event at the Flathead County Fairgrounds was hosted by the Daily Inter Lake, Job Service Kalispell, Flathead Valley Community College, Discover Kalispell Chamber and WorkForce Flathead. "We're hiring a little bit of everything right now," said Nomad GCS project manager Shean Gross, sitting at the Flathead Valley manufacturer's booth at the entrance to the job fair. Last year Nomad added around 100 employees to its local workforce, interim manager Candance Zumalt, said. "We're constantly growing so we're constantly hiring," she said. A list of current openings included quality assurances inspectors, engineering leads, assembly technicians, software engineers and human resource positions. Logan Health is also hiring across the board, according to the hospital's talent acquisition partner Amy Quinn. The hospital is also experiencing more stable employee numbers than in years past. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospital has utilized a travel program that recruits medical staff for weeks at a time. The hospital is eliminating the program as a result of adequate local staffing, Quinn said. "That's why we're hiring right now too, to keep those good numbers up," she said. The hospital is looking to fill vacancies, including imaging specialists, pharmacists, nurses, lab technicians and administrative positions. Nurses are in demand also, Quinn said. The goal is to show that working at Logan can appeal to everyone, Quinn said. She highlighted the hospital's certified nursing assistant program, where people as young as 16 can earn their Montana CNA license. The job fair consisted of a morning session for highschoolers and an afternoon session open to the general public. A pig lung sat on the Logan Health table, a chance for kids and patrons to watch a lung inflate, as well as other goodies including candy and pens. Other booths were also interactive. The company behind Redneck products had a bucket of smoked sausages and the United States Marine Corps recruiting station boasted a pull-up bar for people to try. The Spot, a Kalispell coffee and doughnut shop, had a wall of doughnuts for visitors. While some companies report solid employment numbers, others find it trickier to lock down employees. The nonprofit Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana, which provides social services assistance, reported a need for more employees. "It's been stagnant it seems, the applicant pool," Valerie Camp, a project manager for the agency said. She recounted a slow start to staffing last year as well. Kevin Connors, a career transition specialist with Job Corps, noted that the trade industries are also always in need of more employees. Job Corps, through the U.S. Department of Labor, gives young people an opportunity to train in various career fields including forestry conservation, firefighting and urban forestry. The fields range beyond natural resources, with entrances into manufacturing, carpentry, welding, culinary arts and facilities management. At the job fair on Thursday, Plains High School senior Isaiah Paseman said he wants to pursue a trade after graduation and took the opportunity to speak to employers about the opportunities in the trades. "It's cool to see all of the different job opportunities laid out, but I know I want to go into something more trade based," he said. Spring is the time when many businesses are adding additional staffing to prepare for the busy summer tourist season. "For the most part, we're in a good spot. Right now, we're approaching our busy season, so we're prepping with that in mind," said Amber Stafford, a district manager with Town Pump. Glacier National Park Lodges, a Xanterra company, is 94% staffed as of Thursday for the summer season, according to Victoria Nix, the company's human resource director. Seasonal jobs are posted in October and usually fill up with little issues. Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@ Students from Hot Springs High School play a drone operator simulation with Staff Sgt. Justin Kjos and the U.S. Army National Guard recruiting station at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday, April 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Sean Sandersan, a senior from Libby High School, plays an oversized game of Jenga with Alyssa Smith and Harley May from the clothing retailer Buckle at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday, April 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Wesley Adams, from Hot Springs High School, does chin-ups for a T-shirt with Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Steward at the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday, April 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Somebody Finally Got the Message About the Panama Canal
When Donald Trump announced his intention to "take back" the Panama Canal from China, I had to chuckle. My old friend Linc, who had died in 2005, was having the last laugh after all. As editor of the Daily Inter Lake newspaper in Kalispell, Montana, for 18 years, I got to meet hundreds of people whom I would never have come across otherwise when they came to visit me at my office. One of the most memorable was an octogenarian named Linc France. Linc (short for Lincoln) was an American original. For decades he had run Lincs Automotive in Columbia Falls. His 2005 obituary noted that "He could fix anything. If he didnt have the tool, he could make one." Despite ending his formal education in the 8th grade to help support his family, Linc was knowledgeable about many topics and was also civic minded, having served on the Columbia Falls City Council and volunteered for various charities such as Meals on Wheels. When Linc came to visit me in his blue jeans and flannels with a trucker cap above his piercing eyes, I would sit back in my chair and prepare to be both amused and challenged. Generally, he would be dropping off a hand-written letter to the editor, and he would ask me to give it a once-over. Most of the time, the letter was about the Panama Canal. President Jimmy Carter had signed the canal over to the nation of Panama for the contractual obligation of a single dollar back in 1977, and Panama took full control on Dec. 31, 1999, but by then most Americans werent interested. It certainly wasnt high on my radar, but Linc insisted on educating me and my readers, so he sent a steady barrage of letters warning of the national security risk of surrendering what he called the "eighth wonder of the world." On Feb. 28, 2003, Linc wrote a letter we titled "Canal could be sign of worse to come." It was indeed prophetic: I still wonder how many "taxpaying American citizens" have looked towards the Panama Canal lately. Maybe most everybody is too busy making a living or having too many types of entertainment to even think about Li Ka-shing, who has control of the Pacific-to-Atlantic bypass that was built with American sweat and blood. (Letters quoted are available at I had never heard of Li before Linc started writing his letters, but I used the still-young Internet to research and found that Linc was right to be worried. The Hong Kong oligarch was using his companies such as Hutchison Whampoa and CK Hutchison to obtain ports at both ends of the canal and to gain effective control. A few months after Panama officially took over the canal on Dec. 31, 1999, the Washington Times wrote this: Chinese businessman Li Ka-shing was planning to take over operation of the Panama Canal before the pullout last year of the United States, according to a declassified Pentagon intelligence report. The Army intelligence report contradicts statements by President Clinton and Panamanian government officials that the Atlantic and Pacific port facilities leased in Panama by Mr. Li and his Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. will have no role in Panama Canal operations. And it was well known that Lis global corporate holdings were closely controlled by the Chinese CommunistParty, as most such companies are in China. Evidence that such control continues until this day came to light in the past few months after President Trump declared his intention to reclaim the canal for the United States. In an effort to capitalize on the urgency of the situation, the Li family agreed on March 4 to sell controlling interest in the Panama Canal ports to a global consortium led by BlackRock Inc. for $22.8 billion. Beyond the Panama implications, the deal would have turned over control of 43 ports in total in 23 countries, a huge win for the United States. But within weeks, the deal was put on hold by the Chinese government. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Chinese leader Xi Jinping is angry about [the] plan to sell Panama Canal ports to a U.S.-led group, in part because the company didnt seek Beijings approval in advance." That is tantamount to confirmation that the Trump administration is right in its assessment that Chinas interest in the canal goes well beyond the financial. And for that matter, it also confirms the worst fears of Linc France, the retired auto mechanic from Columbia Falls, Montana, who was paying attention decades before almost anyone else. As he finished up in the letter quoted above: I just cant help [but] read or see the handwriting on the wall. It makes me feel sick at what the Red Chinese have gotten away with in the Panama Canal… As we all know, the Red Chinese have taken over the Panama Canal without even firing a shot. When the U.S.A. pulled out and gave it back to Panama, the Red Chinese just moved in, no questions asked. That is, until Donald Trump moved back into the White House on Jan. 20, 2025. I cant help seeing Linc France coming back to my office at the Inter Lake with a big grin on his face and a red MAGA hat on his head. "Its about time," hed say. "Somebody finally got the message." Frank Miele, the retired editor of the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell, Mont., is a columnist for RealClearPolitics. His book 'The Media Matrix: What If Everything You Know Is Fake' is available from his Amazon author page. Visit him at or follow him on Facebook @HeartlandDiaryUSA and on X/Gettr @HeartlandDiary.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds of Flathead residents join nationwide protests
Apr. 5—Hundreds of Flathead Valley residents marched through downtown Kalispell on Saturday to protest the Trump administration. Four local groups, Flathead Democracy, 50501MT, Indivisible and Flathead Democrats, organized the event to coordinate with more than 1,300 other Hands Off! protests across the U.S. According to Leanette Galaz, an organizer with Flathead Democracy, about 750 individuals had registered for the Kalispell event by Friday afternoon. On Saturday, participants swarmed around the gazebo in Depot Park. Many held cardboard signs urging the federal government to take its "hands off" social services, education and public lands. Others held American flags turned upside down to signal distress. While participants cited various reasons for attending the protest, all expressed frustration and discomfort with actions President Trump has taken during his first few months in office. Eleanore Eberts is a fifth-generation Montanan with a farm on the Flathead River. Several of her elderly relatives rely on Social Security benefits, and Eberts doubts she will be able to make up the financial deficit as the recently imposed tariffs have stalled the sale of her grain crop. "I don't know how I'm going to feed my family," said Eberts. Bigfork resident Heidi Goldsberry said she was protesting on behalf of her daughter, who is married to a military serviceman. She worries about the benefits the family receives through the Department of Veterans Affairs, especially as the couple has already faced challenges accessing services like child care on the military base where they live. Despite the impending uncertainty, Goldsberry said she felt unusually optimistic watching the crowd of protestors pour into Depot Park. "I've never felt so good about it," she said. "It makes me feel like there's a little bit of hope." Spirits remained high as the organizers gave speeches and led songs from the park's gazebo, their voices occasionally drowned out by the horns of passing motorists. While a few drivers made their opposition to the protest known, the event peacefully dispersed around 2 p.m. Galaz said the organizations will continue to host regular events to protest the federal administration and encourage comradery among residents. "It just shows how much people care about their community," Galaz said about the attendance at Saturday's event. "The big challenge ahead of us is channeling this energy into community building." Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@ or 758-4433. Demonstrators gather for a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park after making their way up the length of Main Street in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators walk along Main Street toward Depot Park during a "Hands Off" protest in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators walk along Main Street toward Depot Park during a "Hands Off" protest in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators walk along Main Street toward Depot Park during a "Hands Off" protest in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators gather for a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park after making their way up the length of Main Street in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators gather for a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park after making their way up the length of Main Street in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators gather for a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park after making their way up the length of Main Street in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators gather for a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park after making their way up the length of Main Street in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators make their way up Main Street in Kalispell for a "Hands Off" protest in Depot Park on Saturday, April 5. (Derrick Perkins/Daily Inter Lake) Motorists shout at demonstrators attending a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Derrick Perkins/Daily Inter Lake) Motorists shout at demonstrators attending a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Derrick Perkins/Daily Inter Lake)
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Student leader helps others in the classroom and on the court
Mar. 31—Stillwater Christian School senior Carson Miller is a well-rounded student with a proclivity for math, music and mentoring. "Carson is a kind and compassionate student that seeks excellence in all areas of his life," Stillwater guidance counselor Michelle Fetveit said. Fetveit is one of three people who nominated him for the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award, which he received earlier this month. The Award recognizes the academic achievement and community involvement of high school students who contribute to improving the lives of others. It is sponsored by Logan Health in collaboration with the Daily Inter Lake. "We have other leaders in our school who will fulfill all that is required of them, but Carson takes to heart the purpose of his role as a leader, and he will plan, prepare, and execute his duties with a great attitude and effective skill and commitment," said fellow nominator Micah Hunter who is the choir director and dean of the conservatory at Stillwater. Hunter also pointed to Miller's leadership skills within the school's house system, which is a way of grouping the student body. House leaders spearhead meetings, fun competitions, chapel and retreats "As a house leader, he shows tremendous poise in leading discussions on difficult or personal topics, and he is always humble in his leadership. He has developed a great feel for leading by lifting others up," Hunter wrote in his nomination letter. Miller said he strives to be a servant leader, looking to Jesus as the ultimate example. "A servant leader is somebody who inspires the ones that he's leading but also puts their needs before his own. I try to remember that, but it's extremely difficult," Miller said. MILLER ALSO started a tutoring program at Stillwater about two years ago. He said he had been involved in a tutoring program that was discontinued during the pandemic, but the need for extra academic help remained and sought to establish a new program. Getting the green light from principals, he started contacting teachers to determine interest and recruiting classmates to serve as tutors for the new program called the Cougar Den, named after the school mascot. "He has a great desire to learn and takes great enjoyment in helping others learn as well," said his mother Tami Miller, who also submitted a nomination letter. When Stillwater didn't offer calculus this year, he decided, on his own, to take an Advanced Placement Calculus course, she said. "I do like math, yes, that's my thing," he said. Miller was exposed to advanced math concepts at a young age, starting in preschool. While most preschoolers are learning how to identify numbers and work their way up to addition and subtraction, Miller's older sister, who is now a math teacher, was giving him lessons in multiplication and division. After graduation, he plans to major in either physics or engineering at Biola University. He also plans to minor in music. "I did musicals from fifth through eighth grade," he said, with Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish. His first audition as a child was more at his parents' behest than his interest at the time. "I was like, no, I'm a baseball player, I'm not going to do musicals. But then I auditioned one time, I got in, and I actually ended up really liking it," he said. By the time he reached high school, he didn't hesitate to join band, jazz band, concert choir and chamber choir and will receive Stillwater's Conservatory of Music diploma at graduation. AS AN ATHLETE, his leadership skills extend to the basketball court. Passionate about the sport, he didn't wait to join the basketball team. Toward the end of his freshman year, however, he tore his ACL and underwent surgery. Undeterred by the setback, he worked hard to come back from the injury and succeeded. Then, during his junior year, the varsity team captain's ACL tore again, requiring more surgery. "I took that as a sign from the Lord for me to stop basketball because I was really committed to it. I would play, like, two hours a day, even when there wasn't practice," he said. Crestfallen he couldn't return to the court as a player, Miller didn't pass on his coach's suggestion to lead the fifth- and sixth-grade boys' basketball team. "[As a] player, yeah, you're just focusing on winning," he said. "But the coaching, I'm thinking about winning, but also, since it's fifth and sixth grade, I'm thinking about how to really be more of a teacher." Outside of school, Miller is a camp counselor at Big Sky Bible Camp in Bigfork. He and his siblings were all campers and said it was a natural transition to become a counselor. "You're just kind of thrown into the wolves, sorta, with like 10 elementary school age boys in a cabin for the week," he said with a laugh. He is also a counselor for Camp Promise, which is geared to people with disabilities. Fetveit said Miller is a positive influence in the lives of many campers in her nomination letter. "I just really love sharing the gospel with them and my love of the Lord with them," he said. With experience working with students of different ages through tutoring, counseling and coaching, Miller said his favorite age groups to work with are the fifth and sixth graders. At this age, he said kids have a level of maturity but know how to have fun. In addition to the award, Miller is a National Merit semifinalist, Ben Carson Scholar and has a 4.0 unweighted GPA. "I've grown a lot as a leader, spiritually and mentally," he said. LEARN MORE Winslow Nichols Award nomination criteria: Eligibility: High school students in Flathead, Lake or Lincoln counties. Academics: Students who value their education by exhibiting academic responsibility; preferably have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Character: Students who display integrity, compassion, service and excellence. Citizenship: Students who nurture healthy communities through community service, volunteerism or other contributions to their community and/or school. Leadership: Students who take initiative and are role models for others. Forms are available at Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@
