Heart of the Flathead

17. School Levies: Funding Gaps, Voter Fatigue, and What Works

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526059/fan_mail/new] A community can deeply value its schools and still face constant funding shortfalls—that tension drives this conversation with Jinn Merriman, attorney at McGarvey Law and trustee for Kalispell Public Schools. Jinn breaks down how Montana’s public school funding system works, where the state covers about 80% of costs and local communities must approve levies to fund the remaining gap. We unpack what that means for taxpayers, why these votes are often misunderstood, and how funding decisions actually reach the ballot. The conversation centers on One Brave Pack, a community-led effort to educate voters after the district itself is restricted from advocacy. Jen shares how Kalispell passed its first high school levy in 18 years, what shifted in messaging, and why students and local businesses played a critical role. We also zoom out to the bigger issue: a system that forces repeated elections that don’t keep up with inflation, creating voter fatigue and instability. Along the way, we highlight innovative programs within Kalispell schools that connect students to real-world career pathways. If this helped you understand how school levies work, share it with a neighbor, subscribe for more conversations from the Flathead Valley, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Heart of the Flathead is brought to you by: * Glacier Investment Management [https://www.glacierinvestment.com/] * Whitefish Financial Services [https://whitefishfinancial.com/] Heart of the Flathead, is produced by David Wigginton, in partnership with LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing. Listeners can find the podcast online at HeartoftheFlathead.com [https://heartoftheflathead.com/] and LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing at lbrbm.com [https://www.lbrbm.com/]. The content for Heart of the Flathead podcasts and any show notes and transcripts are copyrighted by David Wigginton. All rights are reserved. Reproduction and rebroadcasting, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission. Contact David Wigginton by clicking the Send Us a Text link at the top of the episode description.  Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. Appearance on the show does not constitute an endorsement of any goods, services, or opinions discussed. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on the content of this show.

16. Keeping the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex Wild

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526059/fan_mail/new] The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex feels endless—1.6 million acres and over 1,700 miles of trails—but the reality is fewer professionals are available to maintain it as visitation continues to rise. In this episode, Cliff Kipp, Executive Director of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, breaks down what modern wilderness stewardship actually looks like when public land demand outpaces capacity. From trail maintenance to education and access, this conversation reveals the unseen work required to keep “The Bob” open, wild, and usable. Cliff shares his path into conservation—from early exposure to working landscapes to AmeriCorps and the Montana Conservation Corps—before landing in the Flathead Valley to build community-driven stewardship. We also get practical: how nonprofits support trail crews, outfitters, and volunteers; why rising use and backcountry waste are growing concerns; and what tools are making wilderness access more attainable, including trip planning resources, trail condition updates, and a gear library. Whether you’re a seasoned backcountry traveler or simply value protected public lands, this episode connects the dots between access, responsibility, and the future of wilderness. Links: * Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation [https://www.bmwf.org/the-bob] * U.S. Forest Service - Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex [https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/flathead/recreation/bob-marshall-wilderness-complex] Heart of the Flathead is brought to you by: * Glacier Investment Management [https://www.glacierinvestment.com/] * Whitefish Financial Services [https://whitefishfinancial.com/] Heart of the Flathead, is produced by David Wigginton, in partnership with LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing. Listeners can find the podcast online at HeartoftheFlathead.com [https://heartoftheflathead.com/] and LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing at lbrbm.com [https://www.lbrbm.com/]. The content for Heart of the Flathead podcasts and any show notes and transcripts are copyrighted by David Wigginton. All rights are reserved. Reproduction and rebroadcasting, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission. Contact David Wigginton by clicking the Send Us a Text link at the top of the episode description.  Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. Appearance on the show does not constitute an endorsement of any goods, services, or opinions discussed. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on the content of this show.

15. How The Glacier Institute Connects People And Place

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526059/fan_mail/new] From penguins to peaks, Anthony Nelson’s path into outdoor leadership is anything but typical. The executive director of the Glacier Institute shares how a Minnesota kid fascinated by zoos became a conservation-minded educator, moved his family to the Flathead Valley, and stepped into the Institute’s top role just weeks before the pandemic reshaped the world. Forced to rethink how outdoor education could work, Nelson and his team adapted quickly—ultimately expanding the Institute’s reach across Glacier National Park and the Flathead National Forest while deepening its mission of connecting people to the natural world. In the conversation, Nelson walks through the Institute’s three campuses—historic Field Camp inside Glacier, the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center for youth, and a new 141-acre property in Columbia Heights being developed as a community nature center. He shares how programs have grown rapidly through expert-led field courses and day programs that turn casual hikers into confident stewards, along with ambitious conservation work along the Bad Rock Wildlife Management Area corridor. From learning the difference between blue camas and death camas to understanding raptor ecology and grizzly safety, this episode highlights how outdoor education strengthens communities—and why the Glacier Institute’s hands-on, fun-first culture (including its legendary Lumberjack Ball fundraiser) keeps people coming back for more. If you care about Glacier, the Flathead Valley, outdoor education, wildlife corridors, and real community impact, this conversation will leave you inspired and ready to plug in. Subscribe, share with a neighbor who loves the park, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Heart of the Flathead is brought to you by: * Glacier Investment Management [https://www.glacierinvestment.com/] * Whitefish Financial Services [https://whitefishfinancial.com/] Heart of the Flathead, is produced by David Wigginton, in partnership with LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing. Listeners can find the podcast online at HeartoftheFlathead.com [https://heartoftheflathead.com/] and LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing at lbrbm.com [https://www.lbrbm.com/]. The content for Heart of the Flathead podcasts and any show notes and transcripts are copyrighted by David Wigginton. All rights are reserved. Reproduction and rebroadcasting, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission. Contact David Wigginton by clicking the Send Us a Text link at the top of the episode description.  Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. Appearance on the show does not constitute an endorsement of any goods, services, or opinions discussed. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on the content of this show.

14. Someday In Montana

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526059/fan_mail/new] After 25 years in Air Force counterintelligence, Neil Wheldon traded global posts and Pentagon briefings for rivers and a steadier pace in Kalispell. Inspired early by a unifying vision of America, he built a career on integrity, clear judgment, and candid counsel. His defining chapter came at the Pentagon, leading the effort to map the Air Force’s future force needs against peer adversaries a decade out. Not being a pilot—once a liability in an aviation-first culture—became his edge. As a special agent, he applied investigative rigor: define assumptions, build process, test, refine, brief. The result reframed what credibility can look like at the highest levels. That professional high point ran parallel to personal strain—five moves in five years, five high schools for his eldest, and a remote tour in Turkey. A shared “someday in Montana” became a plan: his wife and daughters put down roots in the Flathead while he finished his final tour. Today, Neil brings that same discipline to Line 49, a Montana firearms manufacturer born from regulatory headwinds in Alberta and rebuilt around stability, precision, and small-batch excellence. From super short action bolt rifles that run standard AR-15 magazines to modular Henry Supreme conversions, the focus is meticulous QC, indicated chambers, and a signed test sheet in every box—quiet collaboration in a valley rich with makers. Heart of the Flathead is brought to you by: * Glacier Investment Management [https://www.glacierinvestment.com/] * Whitefish Financial Services [https://whitefishfinancial.com/] Heart of the Flathead, is produced by David Wigginton, in partnership with LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing. Listeners can find the podcast online at HeartoftheFlathead.com [https://heartoftheflathead.com/] and LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing at lbrbm.com [https://www.lbrbm.com/]. The content for Heart of the Flathead podcasts and any show notes and transcripts are copyrighted by David Wigginton. All rights are reserved. Reproduction and rebroadcasting, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission. Contact David Wigginton by clicking the Send Us a Text link at the top of the episode description.  Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. Appearance on the show does not constitute an endorsement of any goods, services, or opinions discussed. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on the content of this show.

13. Teaching First Grade With Heart

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526059/fan_mail/new] A first-grade classroom can feel like a small town, and Annie Lillard has learned how to lead with steadiness and care. Raised in Kalispell, Annie now teaches at Cornelius Hedges Elementary—the same school where her mother once taught—bringing a multigenerational perspective to a rapidly growing valley. Her path to the classroom runs through Whitworth University, volunteer work in Haiti, early teaching stops in the Bitterroot and New Jersey, and the adoption of two sons from the same place where she once served. Those experiences shape a philosophy rooted in relationships, routines, and meeting kids exactly where they are. In this conversation, Annie gets candid about what helps classrooms thrive—and what makes the work harder. She breaks down curriculum shifts, the realities of combination classes, and the challenge of supporting advanced learners alongside students navigating absences, IEPs, and real-life stress. We also dig into school funding: how a long-awaited levy finally passed with help from One Brave Pack, what levy dollars actually restore in schools, and why sustainability matters for teachers. Along the way, Annie shares simple ways the community can help—from classroom volunteering to work-based learning programs led by Mike Kelly—and the personal routines that keep her grounded for the long haul. If this story resonated, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more Flathead neighbors find the show. Heart of the Flathead is brought to you by: * Glacier Investment Management [https://www.glacierinvestment.com/] * Whitefish Financial Services [https://whitefishfinancial.com/] Heart of the Flathead, is produced by David Wigginton, in partnership with LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing. Listeners can find the podcast online at HeartoftheFlathead.com [https://heartoftheflathead.com/] and LeftBrainRightBrain Marketing at lbrbm.com [https://www.lbrbm.com/]. The content for Heart of the Flathead podcasts and any show notes and transcripts are copyrighted by David Wigginton. All rights are reserved. Reproduction and rebroadcasting, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission. Contact David Wigginton by clicking the Send Us a Text link at the top of the episode description.  Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. Appearance on the show does not constitute an endorsement of any goods, services, or opinions discussed. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on the content of this show.