We’re bursting with pride over Nicole Heavirland’s accomplishments in the sport of rugby. The Whitefish standout athlete was named one of two travel reserves for the national rugby sevens team that will represent the U.S.A. in the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next month. While she missed the cut for a spot in the final team of 12, she will travel with the team to be used in case someone is injured.

Heavirland has been a star for the Army West Point women’s rugby team for two years and is one of only two native Montanan athletes at the Olympics. Women’s rugby is one of the first competitions to get underway, with two matches on Aug. 6, the first day of competition. If Heavirland gets a chance to compete, we know she’ll represent her country well.

Take a ‘bike’ out of crime

It’s not good news to learn that there’s been an upswing in bike thefts in the Flathead Valley. But there was a happy ending for bicycling enthusiast Mike Potter of Whitefish, whose bike was stolen eight months ago. After riding his $3,000 custom-made fat-tire bike 7,000 miles on a trek around the United States, there’s no doubt Potter was attached to his bike, and having it stolen was devastating.

Thanks to Hans Axelsen, the manager and head mechanic at Wheaton’s Cycle, Potter was reunited with his bike. Axelsen recognized the bike’s specially designed wheel when it was brought in for repair. It goes to show that being observant and following through if something doesn’t seem quite right can go a long way in recovering stolen bikes, or any other stolen goods for that matter.