Montana Teacher Investigation, Glacier Wrestling Verdict & Bigfork Dam Future

This week, host Taylor Inman covers six major stories shaping Northwest Montana - from a major investigation involving a Hot Springs teacher to the uncertain future of Bigfork's historic hydroelectric dam, a landmark federal jury verdict involving Glacier High School, and a legal battle over one of the Flathead Valley's largest proposed developments.

Authorities are investigating allegations that a teacher in the Hot Springs School District inappropriately touched multiple female students. Investigators say additional students have since come forward, and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office has been brought in to conduct what officials describe as a major case.

A federal jury has ruled that Kalispell Public Schools retaliated against Kirk and Clifford Nance after they reported alleged sexual assault, sexual harassment and hazing involving the Glacier High School wrestling program. Although the jury awarded only nominal damages, attorneys for the plaintiffs say the verdict reinforces protections for families who report misconduct.

PacifiCorp has begun exploring the sale of the historic Bigfork Hydroelectric Project after determining new federal safety requirements make continued operation too costly. If no buyer is found, the company says dam decommissioning could become an option, raising concerns about the future of Bigfork Bay, the Swan River, public recreation areas and the community's long-running Whitewater Festival.

A district court judge has temporarily halted proceedings over a controversial water permit tied to the proposed 1,700-acre Flathead Lake Club development near Lakeside. The ruling gives opponents another opportunity to challenge how the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation handled public objections to the project.

Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana has opened a new RV park in Kalispell to provide additional affordable housing options for seasonal workers, travelers and longer-term residents. The nonprofit says every housing solution helps address the region's growing housing shortage.

And the Glacier Institute is expanding its Columbia Heights campus with a new welcome center that will serve visitors, students and outdoor education programs for years to come. The project marks another major investment in conservation education while creating a central gathering place for the nonprofit's growing programs.

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Transcript

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Hello and welcome to NewsNow. I'm your host, Taylor Edman, going over the biggest headlines this week for Northwest Montana. Authorities are investigating allegations that a male teacher at the Hot Springs School District inappropriately touched a female student. The initial complaint was reported in early May to a school administrative employee, according to Hot Springs Police Chief Eric Larson. The employee forwarded the complaint to a school resource officer who alerted the police chief and Sanders County Attorney's Office. Since then, more female students have come forward with complaints against the same teacher, according to Larson. He did not disclose how many students are involved in the investigation, but said that it is currently less than 10. The district's board of trustees and former superintendent Gerald Schoenard were made aware of the allegations, and the school district's legal consultant, Leva Law Office of Missoula, was contacted, according to the police chief. Larson said Schoenard refused to provide the police with a statement when interviewed. The former superintendent abruptly quit on May 18th. Although he announced his intention to depart the school district in March, he originally planned to stay until June 30th. Schoenard's departure was announced later that day at a special board of trustees meeting. That meeting's agenda included a discussion of placing Schoenard on a leave of absence. Schunard did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Interlake. School district officials acknowledged the ongoing investigation in a social media post on June 1st, stating that the accused teacher is on leave pending the outcome of an investigation. The post stated, quote, the district generally does not comment on ongoing investigations or respond to false statements on social media platforms. Based on the staggering amount of misinformation being put on social media, however, the district will confirm that a complaint was received regarding a teacher in the district, end quote. School district officials did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Interlake. This is the second time in six months a student has filed a complaint against the same teacher, according to Larson. The first investigation, which he said also involved inappropriate touching, was handled by the school district, but no charges were brought forward, and the teacher was allowed to return to work. Larson did not name the teacher. Larson said law enforcement officials are looking into both alleged incidents. Sanders County Sheriff Sean Fielder said the Flathead County Sheriff's Office was tapped for the investigation to avoid any conflict of interest. He described it as a major case. He said that findings will be turned over to the Sanders County Attorney's Office at the conclusion of the investigation. The Sanders County Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A federal jury found that Callispo Public Schools retaliated against Kirk and Clifford Nance after they reported alleged incidents of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and hazing within the Glacier High School wrestling program. After four days of testimony, jurors reached a unanimous verdict on June 18th, finding that the father and son engaged in activity protected by Title IX and suffered adverse actions by the Calisbell public schools because of it. The jury awarded the Nances $1 in nominal damages. The Nancy's attorney, Avery Field of Bliven Law Firm, said the case was not about money. He said, quote, it was about making sure that students are safe and that parents feel safe in making reports of sexual harassment or other misconduct so that the school district can act, end quote. The verdict comes nearly a year and a half after the Nances filed the lawsuit on January 7, 2025. The case stems from alleged incidents of sexual assault and hazing involving the wrestling team during the 2021-2022 school year. Clifford Nance was a homeschooled student competing on the Glacier team when in 2022, a teammate reportedly warned him about hazing, recounting an incident of being sexually assaulted on a traveling team bus. Plaintiffs outlined in their complaint that after reporting these sexual assault allegations to Cowswell Police Department and school officials, the district retaliated by barring Kirk Nance from attending wrestling practices and banning him from school property while impeding his son's opportunities to participate on the team, including preventing him from riding the team bus while decreasing the amount and quality of coaching. The complaint also alleged that school district staff and wrestling team volunteers called the Missoula Police Department to a hotel the team was staying at and made false reports to officers, which resulted in a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge and a citation for Kirk Nance. The district maintains that its actions were in response to Kirk Nance's conduct and in the interest of student and staff safety, not retaliation. Callspell Public School Superintendent Matt Jensen said in an emailed response to the Daily Interlake that, quote, we respect the judicial process and appreciate the jury's service. This case was not about our student athletes' inappropriate behavior or how the administrators held them accountable. Rather, this case was about the decision our administrators made to limit Mr. Nance's access to school property, other people's kids, and our staff, end quote. In April, a federal judge denied Caliswell Public School's request for summary judgment, which is a request to toss a case without trial. The ruling meant that the court saw enough evidence on both sides that a jury should decide the outcome. Jensen said the district has not decided whether to appeal the verdict or if an appeal is, quote, available, appropriate, or advisable. He said that they hope this experience leads to greater clarity and more collaborative responses between parents and staff when difficult situations arise, with their focus remaining squarely on what is best for students. He wrote, quote, While we continue to believe our coaches and administrators acted with our students' best interest in mind, we welcome opportunities to improve how we communicate the procedures and policies available to individuals who feel like they have been treated unfairly. Blivin Law Firm is also representing a former Glacier High School wrestler in a lawsuit filed in January 2025 in Yellowstone County District Court, alleging teammates sexually assaulted him in a Billings hotel room in 2022. A pretrial conference is scheduled for July 8th, according to Field, who expects the trial to be scheduled in 2027. Pacific Corps, the electric power company which has operated the Big Fork Hydroelectric Project since 1954, has begun the process to remove the dam from its generation portfolio. Pacific Corps wrote in an FAQ sheet posted to its website that more rigid federal dam safety criteria for extreme floods would require significant investment that makes the Big Fork project cost prohibitive for their customers, adding that phasing out the project and getting energy from other sources will be more cost effective. Pacific Corps communications specialist Drew Marine emphasized that Pacific Corps is in the very early stages of the process to dispose of the project, which could take up to five years. He said an agreement to sell the dam could be closed in 12 to 16 months if the company finds a qualified buyer. Any major changes will have to be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee, the federal entity which licenses the dam, and Pacific Corps will continue to operate the dam as normal in the meantime. At this stage, Pacific Corps is exploring interest from other power companies that might want to buy the project and continue to operate it as a dam. Marine says this disposition process will begin with a request for interest, looking for potential buyers for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, licensed hydroelectric project and lands. If Pacific Corps is unable to find another energy company interested in taking over operations, it will consider decommissioning the dam and selling the land. Decommissioning would require extensive conversations with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and opportunities for public comment would be provided at that point. If the dam is decommissioned and the land is sold, it is possible that the dam could be removed, according to Marine. The Big Fork Dam is a small hydroelectric dam on the Swan River. While at one time the dam served the Flathead Valley, today Pacific Corps does not have any customers in Montana. Two Big Fork based Pacific Corps employees operate the dam, and Marine said they would be offered other positions within the company. Pacific Corps is headquartered in Oregon. Several Big Fork organizations expressed concerns over the potential loss of the dam, which they fear could bring substantial changes to Big Fork. The Big Fork Whitewater Festival, which has marked the beginning of the summer in Big Fork for more than 50 years, is dependent on the dam. Furthermore, Pacific Corps owns the land around the dam and Swan River, including Slider Park and portions of the Swan River Nature Trail. Pacific Corps has kept those lands accessible to the public, and there are concerns about what would happen to those green spaces when the dam is sold to another entity or decommissioned. Megan Schultz, president of Community Foundation for Better Big Fork, said that there's a potential of losing the Whitewater Festival as well as the Bay, which both feel like, quote, the heart of Big Fork. She said the possibility of those drastic changes would be heartbreaking for many in the community if they came to fruition. Big Fork Bay, the body of water where the Swan River meets the Flathead, is downstream from the dam, and in the event the dam was removed, water levels in the bay would drastically drop, according to Schultz. There are further concerns about how the dam removal would impact the ecology of the Swan River. For more than a hundred years, the dam has acted as a barrier to species in Flathead Lake. Ashley Atkins, one of the Big Fork residents behind the newly formed Big Fork Community Alliance, expressed disappointment over the way Pacific Corps made the announcement. She said the corporation never provided a notice. They quote, quietly uploaded the frequently asked questions to their website. And because Big Fork is a small community, it didn't take long for word to spread. Schultz said, quote, it's really sad to think about what may disappear because of this decommissioning, that we weren't even thinking about being an option, end quote. The Big Fork Hydroelectric Project was constructed more than a century ago in 1900 by Lafayette Tinkle, who along with his employees hand-dug a canal that diverted water from the Swan River to a wooden flume and ditch that carried water more than a mile away to a powerhouse. By 1902, the facility was producing power, bringing electricity to Big Fork just a year after its founding. We'd like to take a moment and thank our sponsor, Vista Ridge Cottages. Whether you're gathering with neighbors in one of their outdoor areas or taking in the breathtaking mountain views, Vista Ridge Cottages is where community and tranquility come together. With homes starting at $339,000, discover the ideal balance of quality, affordability, and Montana Charm. Vista Ridge is nestled right in the heart of Kalisbell, just minutes away from local shops, dining, and outdoor adventure. Contact them today to schedule a private tour. Learn more in this episode's description. A district court judge agreed earlier this month that a state agency likely erroneously dismissed concerns raised by several groups when issuing a water use permit for a forthcoming 1700-acre resort in Lakeside. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation was sued on March 23rd, after it terminated several objections to the permit application raised by two Flathead County nonprofits, a Lakeside resident and a Texas-based real estate company earlier this year. One of the nonprofits, Citizens for a Better Flathead, and Lakeside resident Bruce Young were barred from advancing in the objection process, according to court documents. Lakeside-based North Shore Alliance and the Texas Real Estate Investment Company were allowed to partially move forward on some of their objections. All of the objectors filed suit in Lewis and Clark County District Court, arguing their public participation rights under the Montana Administrative Procedures Act were violated. They asked a court to pause an upcoming hearing on the application until litigation was resolved. Judge Michael McMahon granted the motion on June 12th after he found the matter to be of significant public interest and with public rights at stake. McMahon wrote in his order that there appeared to be several material, factual, and legal deficiencies in the State Department's quote, unilateral decision to forever muzzle petitioners' public comments and objections. He said a stay will allow sufficient time for petitioners to try to remove the muzzle, which the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation allegedly placed on them, end quote. He also ordered all state employees involved with the permit application and decision-making process to appear in an evidentiary hearing by July 27th. These employees are required to explain under oath the basis of their decisions, according to court documents. The judge simultaneously granted a motion filed by Lakeside County Water and Sewer District, an intervener in the lawsuit, to move the case to Flathead County District Court. Lakeside County Water and Sewer District applied for a beneficial water use permit on April 3, 2025, to use two existing wells connected to an aquifer near Flathead Lake for a 1,700-acre subdivision, dubbed Flathead Lake Club or Territory 1889. The application proposed diverting groundwater at 430 gallons per minute up to 249.42 acre feet annually, according to court documents. The nonprofits, neighbors, and Texas real estate firm submitted objection letters last fall after the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation determined that no modifications to the application were needed at the conclusion of the public comment period. The objection letters were sent back for revision in December before the state agency agreed earlier this year to hold a case hearing, according to court documents. Citizens for a Better Flathead and Young were cut from the case hearing completely after the department officials deemed their objections invalid. The nonprofit was barred due to a lack of standing, and Young was denied participation due to inaccurate and incomplete information. One of several objections made by the groups focused on the state agency's use of a 2019 memo to analyze an aquifer near Flathead Lake. Citizens for a Better Flathead argued that the memo is outdated and provides insufficient analysis of how proposed deep aquifer wells could affect existing water users and rights holders. In a separate lawsuit filed in 2024, the Watchdog Group and Water for Future Flathead, another nonprofit based in Flathead County, argued the state agency's use of the memo to permit new wells violates the Montana Water Use Act and Montana Administrative Procedures Act. That case is in the hands of Judge Christopher Abbott in Lewis and Clark County District Court. Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana opened an RV park for seasonal workers, travelers, and though looking to stay longer term. The 10 space lot opened on June 1st and lines the west side of the property that houses the nonprofit's building at 1820 US 93 South in Calisbell. The lot was created to provide the community with more affordable housing options, according to the nonprofit. The group said in a statement that while no single project can solve the housing challenges facing our region, every option helps. Sites cost $50 a night with a two-night minimum. Qualifying households may receive half price rates, according to community outreach coordinator Amanda Fleming. Fleming says the sites will likely see more short-term stays in the summer and more long-term stays in the winter. She said the sites are pet friendly and come fitted with grills and picnic tables. Because there is no on-site dumping station, long-term guests must leave every two weeks to dispose of sewage, although they are allowed to return. Local RV parks may refer overflow guests to the site. The nonprofit moved into the former Elks Lodge in South Calisbell last year, leaving its main street location. Fleming said the property already had an RV lot, allowing the organization to revive it without starting from scratch. It's summertime and the Glacier Institute is very busy. The nonprofit has been offering interpretive hikes and courses in Glacier National Park and the Flathead National Forest since 1983. Last week it broke ground on a welcome center, a new addition to its Columbia Heights campus. The center will be a gathering place for people taking its nature courses and other programs. Eventually, it will also host North Seoul Coffee Roasting, according to Executive Director Anthony Nelson. North Seoul has already created a Glacier Institute blend which helps benefit the institute. With its new expansive property in the Heights, the 141-acre campus was purchased last year and features a Spring Creek, unimpeded river bottom habitat, and is a natural extension of the Bad Rock Wildlife Management Area. Nelson noted that he once viewed 96 deer, six elk, and 32 turkeys in one setting on the property. It hosts youth nature exploration day camps all summer long. The institute also hosts summer youth camps at its Big Creek campus up the North Fork and adult field courses out of its campus in Glacier National Park in Apgar. The Columbia Heights location also recently added 18 units for summer staffing. All told, the institute in summer has 56 employees. It's all accomplished through donors, modest fees for camps and tours, and community support. Nelson said the Lumberjack Ball earlier this month raised $170,000 for the Institute, which is $50,000 over its goal for the event. Thanks for joining us. News Now is a podcast from the Daily Interlake. We're proud to be the largest independent newsroom in Montana and the longest continuously published newspaper in the region. Today's stories were written by Big Fork Eagle Reporter Elsa Erickson, Daily Inner Lake reporters Hannah Shields, Hillary Matheson, and Jack Underhill, and Hungry Horse News editor Chris Peterson. You can read the full versions of these stories at dailyinterlake.com. And if you haven't already, subscribe to our YouTube channel to never miss an episode of The Pod. Everybody stay safe and have a great week.