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HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 8 months AGO
A group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Wonder Woman jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Wonder Woman strikes a pose before jumping into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A plunger from the Mann Mortgage team emerges from the water after jumping into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
The Whitefish Police Department group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Prince Frey Ethan Mercer and Princess Freya Myah Strauser jump into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A group from North Valley Hospital jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
A group jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
The Kalispell Police Department team jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
The Montana Highway Patrol team jumps into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning during the annual Penguin Plunge at City Beach. The event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
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. | February 4, 2017 3:26 PM
Hundreds of brave volunteers jumped in the icy waters of Whitefish Lake Saturday morning for the annual Penguin Plunge.
The annual event held at City Beach raises money to support Special Olympics Montana athletes so they can train and compete. Saturday’s plunge raised more than $50,000.
ARTICLES BY HEIDI DESCH
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.
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.
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.