Grizzly Bear Attack Report, Fatal Kalispell Fire, Rockfall Death on Going-to-the-Sun Road

Five major stories shaping Northwest Montana this week - from a fatal fire at a Kalispell roofing business to a deadly rockfall on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Daily Inter Lake reporter Taylor Inman breaks down the headlines you need to know.

The cause of a fatal fire at a roofing business west of Kalispell remained under investigation this week, after one man died in a multi-alarm blaze that tore through a metal warehouse on Fenn Way. More than 30 firefighters and law enforcement officers from five agencies responded, and the Flathead County Sheriff's Detective Division is working to determine the cause and origin.

A final report on the fatal grizzly bear mauling of 33-year-old Anthony Pollio in Glacier National Park revealed new detail on the May 3 attack near the Mount Brown Lookout Trail. DNA analysis identified the bear as a known, conflict-free resident of the park, and investigators concluded Pollio was the victim of a defensive attack by a surprised grizzly caught off guard in low light.

Dozens of animals were seized from a property in the Eureka area following an investigation into possible neglect, including 40 dogs, two ponies, two chickens, two rabbits, a goat and four cats. All were evaluated by a veterinarian and are being re-homed, with the case now headed to the Lincoln County Attorney's Office for review.

Cherry growers on Flathead Lake are calling this one of the strongest harvests in years, with good weather and a lighter-than-usual supply from Washington driving strong prices. Growers have picked more than 500,000 pounds so far and expect to reach close to two million by the time the season wraps in early August.

Authorities identified the man killed by rockfall on Going-to-the-Sun Road earlier this month as 73-year-old Rex Schowengerdt of Missouri. Schowengerdt was struck while riding as a passenger near the Rimrocks section below Logan Pass and died a week later after being taken off life support; the death was ruled accidental.
Presented by the Daily Inter Lake - Montana's largest independent newsroom. Subscribe so you never miss a week of Northwest Montana news.

Northwest Montana deserves strong news reporting. Your donation helps continue work like this possible. Learn more at dailyinterlake.com/support

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 1:24

Welcome to NewsNow. I'm your host, Taylor Inman. We're going over the week's biggest headlines for Northwest Montana. We'll hear the latest about a fire at a roofing business in Calisbell that caused one death. We'll go for details from the final report released following the investigation of the death of a 33-year-old man from Florida who was pulled by a grizzly bear in Glacier National Park earlier this spring. We'll learn about a possible case of animal neglect out of Lincoln County, where authorities seized dozens of animals. Cherry growers on Flathead Lake let us know about their growing season, which they say is shaping up to be one of the best in years. And we'll go over new details released about a recent death on the going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park, where a Missouri man died after being struck by a rockfall. The cause of a fatal fire at a roofing business west of Callisville remained under investigation on Wednesday. Authorities confirmed that one man died in the multi-alarm fire that tore through the structure on Finnway on Tuesday morning. The victim's name was not released, but Smith Valley Fire Chief Amy Beak said his next akin has been notified and that the property was turned over to the family. The victim's body was recovered from the remains of the New Tech roofing metal warehouse that was deemed a total loss. Beek said no other people were inside the structure when the fire broke out. Fire crews returned Wednesday morning to confirm that there were no hot spots smoldering at the property. The Flathead County Sheriff's Detective Division was working with Smith Valley Fire and the Flathead County Fire Investigation Team to determine the cause and origin of the fire. The blaze was first spotted by landscapers working at the forthcoming Ashley Creek Park just south of the property. Beek said they rushed over to the burning warehouse and attempted to rescue the victim trapped inside. Calisbell Fire Department was dispatched at 9 49 a.m. with Smith Valley Fire called to respond as mutual aid. The blaze was initially reported to be on the 1500 block of 2nd Street West in Calisbell, which prompted confusion until the location was corrected while units were en route, according to a Smith Valley Fire statement. Crews were also informed that a person was potentially inside of the building, prompting two additional medical units to respond. By the time firefighters arrived, the metal warehouse was engulfed in flames. Bystanders reported that at least one victim remained trapped inside the structure, according to information from Smith Valley Fire. A South Calisbell Fire Command unit was first on the scene at 9 52 a.m., followed by crews with Kalispo Fire Department. Smith Valley Fire units arrived at 1020 a.m. as the department was responding to a separate fire incident, according to Beak. Because of the intensity of the blaze, crews doused flames from outside the building and could not immediately enter to search for victims due to the possibility of the building collapsing. The fire was brought under control at about 11.45 a.m. and firefighters remained on the scene for mop-up operations until 5 15 p.m. The structure was considered a total loss, although firefighters were able to protect several vehicles, equipment, and neighboring structures. Beak praised the automatic and mutual aid response. More than 30 firefighters and law enforcement officers responded to the scene. Responding agencies included Kalispel, South Kalispell, Evergreen, Smith Valley, and Whitefish fire departments. A final report on a fatal grizzly bear mauling in Glacier National Park reveals more details on the May 3rd death of Anthony Polio. 33-year-old polio of Davies, Florida was hiking alone on the Mount Brown Lookout Trail at or near dark when he surprised a male grizzly bear, according to a Board of Review report from Glacier National Park officials, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. Based on his last text message, trail condition and distances, he was most likely descending the trail in darkness, according to the final report. Darkness and deadfall on the trail would have prevented the bear and polio from seeing each other until they were very close. Officials don't know if polio was making any noise, and he may have been using his cell phone flashlight. Officials believe his hope was to hike up to the Mount Brown Lookout Trail, one of the steepest and most difficult in the park, to watch the sunset. On May 3rd, the route would have been even more difficult as it was rife with down trees. There was also snow closer to the top, and Polio got a late start on the trail, which is 5.1 miles one way, with over 4,200 feet of elevation gain. The report noted that he started up the trail at approximately 6.30 PM. He was communicating with friends and family via cell phone during his ascent to the lookout. His last known communication was at 8.20 PM, where he indicated that he was still ascending the mountain, according to the report. His stated intention was to watch the sunset from the lookout, then hike back down to his car and find a camping spot in the park. Polio never returned and was reported to the park as an overdue hiker on the afternoon of Monday, May 4th. An intensive search began that included ground and aerial searchers. At 1210 PM on Wednesday, May 6th, a search team discovered Polio's remains 69 feet below the Mount Brown Trail, approximately two and a half miles from the trailhead, according to the report. Investigators don't believe Polio made it to the lookout. The report gave further details on the location and nature of the attack, which officials believe to have been initiated at a point 43 feet down trail from a switchback on the Mount Brown Lookout Trail, approximately 2.3 miles from the gunsight pass trailhead at Lake MacDonald Lodge. There were several down trees across the trail below the switchback, and the easiest way to navigate around them would have been to cut the switchback about 23 feet downhill. Claw marks on a burned tree and a displaced stone suggested that the bear launched its attack from this point. This is also where the discharged canister of bear spray was located, according to the report. While the bear spray was fully discharged, it wasn't clear if it hit the bear. Investigators weighed the can and compared it to a new can to determine if it had been fully emptied. The report continued, quote, Fallen trees and poor light would have probably obscured the bear. As the bear attacked, the victim fell or was thrown downhill. His path was littered with personal effects beginning ten feet below the trail. We believe the bear followed polio downhill, continuing the attack. A large pool of blood marked the limit of his descent 93 feet below the trail. Based on blood marks and the orientation of branches, it appears though Polio managed to climb back up the slope approximately 18 feet, at which point the bear re-engaged and inflicted fatal bites to his head. No autopsy was completed at the request of the family. The bear did not feed on Polio's body or cache it. He suffered severe wounds to his head and face and numerous bites to his torso and arms. By using DNA analysis of hair at the scene, the report also gave insight into the grizzly bear. The report said the laboratory identified with high confidence DNA from these samples as being male grizzly bear 138239. This genome was in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Monitoring Database, having previously been detected in rubbere samples obtained in 2011. The bear appears to be a lifelong resident of the park and does not have a conflict history, capture history, or known history of aggression towards people, according to the report. The report concluded saying that the attack was likely brief and intense and not prolonged. There is no consumption or caching of the victim by the bear and no evidence that polio was fighting back. After the attack, the bear left the area. Polio appears to have been the victim of a defensive bear attack by a surprised grizzly bear, according to the report. Polio's death marks the first fatal grizzly bear mauling in glaciers since 1998, though there have been numerous instances over the years of people being scratched and bitten and severely injured by grizzly bears. Dozen of domestic animals were recently seized by authorities following an investigation of possible animal neglect in the Eureka area. According to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, the office received a call on June 27th from a person reporting possible animal neglect in the Rolling Hills area. Following an investigation, the Sheriff's Office got a search warrant for the property, documented any evidence, and seized any animals on the property. The warrant was served on Friday, July 17th, and county deputies were assisted by officers from the Eureka Police Department and U.S. Border Patrol agents. The seizure included 40 dogs consisting of Pomeranians, Huskies, and mixed breeds. Also seized were two ponies, two chickens, two rabbits, one goat, and four cats. All animals seized were taken into custody of Lincoln County and were evaluated and treated by a veterinarian. The animals were surrendered by July 18th by the owner and are in the process of being rehomed. Shelter officials said in a July 19th social media post that the livestock was relocated to a property where they are receiving excellent care. Also, 13 dogs were transferred to the Tobacco Valley Animal Shelter. The case will be turned over to the Lincoln County Attorney's Office for review regarding charges. Updates will be released as they are available and the investigation is ongoing. County Animal Shelter Manager Tammy Brown told the Western News that the cats are in foster care but still available for adoption. She was also very grateful to the community response, which included donations of food. She said the response has been overwhelming and gratifying, but they are currently looking for people to transport dogs to other shelters or rescues. The Lincoln County Animal Shelter Facebook page shared a slideshow of some of the newest dogs available for adoption or foster care. For more information or to ask about fostering or adopting, call 406-293-5665 or send an email to lcanimal shelter at Libby.org. The shelter's operating hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Cherry grower Brian Campbell couldn't be happier with this year's harvest, and what he describes is probably one of the best markets they've seen for delicious red fruit grown on the shores of Flathead Lake. Campbell told the Lake County leader last week that he wasn't exaggerating. Cherry growers haven't seen a crop go so well in years, with quote, a good market, good fruit, and good weather. The harvest began a week ago and will continue through early August, with pickers collecting Lamberts, Lampins, Skinas, Cootenies, and a few other varieties. So far, they've picked a little over 500,000 pounds, and growers hope to harvest close to 2 million by the time they're done. In addition to raising his own fruit at an orchard on Finley Point, Campbell is also a field consultant for the Monson Fruit Company in Sela, Washington, which sells fruit for the 86 orchards that belong to members of the Flathead Lake Cherry Growers Cooperative. He noted that this year's market is good in part because Washington's growers had an earlier than usual crop, making for sparse supply of cherries in the middle of the summer. He added that Washington's producers often swamp the market, with many cherries ripening at the same time as flathead varieties, making it difficult to sell their crop. Another factor in this year's harvest is the weather, which has been cooperative for a change. A wet spring helped orchards flourish, and the current spate of warm, windy weather has been perfect for the harvest. The only caveat, according to Campbell, was four days of drenching rain at the end of June, which devastated the crop of early season rainier cherries. He estimates that the rainers comprise about 5% of the harvest. Quick showers like the ones that blustered through Polson last week don't tend to do much damage. But prolonged rain, followed by hot weather, causes ripe cherries to split open. Orchard owners also seem to have plenty of pickers this year to ensure that the fruit makes it off the trees in a timely fashion. Most of the crews that work in the Flathead Orchards come from Washington. Campbell noted that escalating fuel prices will impact growers who transport fruit to the receiving center on Findlay Point and then pay to have it trucked to the Monson Warehouse in Sila, about a seven-hour drive. Of course, local growers who sell cherries at roadside stands or offer UPIC options won't feel as much of a fuel pinch. Campbell hopes the weather continues to cooperate for a few more weeks until the harvest ends. After which, he said, quote, we want it to rain all over and put out the fires. At about 1 40 p.m. on July 11th when he was struck on the head. Schoenert was taken to Logan Health Medical Center the same day. Medical staff determined that Schoenert suffered a brain hernia, intercranial hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury, according to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Haino. He said family members ultimately decided to take Schoenert off of life support, and he died on July 16th. The death is ruled accidental by the coroner's office. Bolts have been secured in some areas above the going to the Sun Road to help prevent rock fall, but injuries from falling debris still occur. In 2019, a 14-year-old Utah girl was killed when rocks fell onto the road near the East Side Tunnel. 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 written by Daily Interlake reporter Jack Underhill, Report for America reporter Hannah Shields, Western news editor Scott Schindeldecker, Lake County Leader Reporter Chrissy Neemaier, 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.