Izaak Walton Hotel

Briefs: Glacier National Park is ending its ticketed entry system this summer; A merger between two major freight-rail companies has drawn concerns from rail-dependent states, including Montana; A historic resort near Glacier National Park is slated to close operations in March.

MTPR reporter Corin Cates-Carney is in Essex. He says the smoke is so thick there that it’s setting off smoke detectors inside some houses.The fire…