Daily Inter Lake
HEIDI DESCH
[email protected]
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES
Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms.
With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025.
IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news.
ARTICLES BY HEIDI DESCH
Red Cross volunteer committed to helping community where she grew up
story
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
Whitefish aims to finally bring affordable housing to downtown lot
Whitefish City Council on Monday will consider hiring a consultant to bring long-planned affordable housing to the parcel formerly known as the snow lot.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO
Grand views found on Glacier hike in an area with a haunted past
The hike to Loneman Lookout starts in flat terrain, wandering through the trees between U.S. 2 and the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and Nyack Creek before beginning a steady climb up roughly 3,800 feet, offering views to the valleys below and surrounding mountains.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 2 WEEKS AGO
Whitefish wildfire protection plan up for City Council review
Fourteen areas of concern that are primed for mitigating wildlife risk are at the center of a draft Whitefish Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO
Kalispell resident advocates for more women in the trades after being crowned Mrs. America
Standing on the stage in Las Vegas, wearing a white formal gown accented with feathers on one shoulder, Qadra Evans gripped hands with a fellow competitor.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO
Whitefish mulls updates to community growth plan
Whitefish City Council on Monday will consider updates to its community plan including language that looks to protect the historic character of its downtown amid state requirements allowing buildings up to 60 feet in height in certain zoning districts.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO
Timeless petals: Garden cultivates flowers with longtime connection to Flathead Valley
The garden is the work of the Montana Dahlia Society and volunteers who spent spring days constructing and planting, and summer days tending to the flowers that have risen from cloth garden bags.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO
Whitefish City Council talks funding for roundabout
Whitefish City Council on Tuesday will discuss sponsoring a federal request for the proposed roundabout at Big Mountain Road and East Lakeshore Drive.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO
Final budget up for vote at Whitefish City Council
A final budget that calls for an increase in spending, primarily on capital projects and personnel services, goes before Whitefish City Council on Monday.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO
Pigs on parade: Competitors shine with swine at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo
Marshmallows were by far the favorite snack of the pigs inside the Trade Center at the Flathead County Fairgrounds on Monday.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO
New Flathead Valley Community College Foundation director looks to keep assisting education mission
New Flathead Valley Community College Foundation director looks to keep assisting education mission
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO
Whitefish City Council looks at ways to trim draft budget
More than a half million dollars in cuts are being offered up as a way to reduce the city of Whitefish's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO
Aptly named: Scenic Point in Glacier National Park offers spectacular views
While marking the points between the switchbacks, the view only gets better with each step, showcasing the rising peaks and brilliant blue of Two Medicine Lake in the valley below.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO
Whitefish considers reducing development for some impact fees
Whitefish City Council on Monday is set to vote on a decrease in its impact fees based on a study last year recommending the change.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO