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Police continue investigation regarding vandalized house

HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years, 9 months AGO
by HEIDI DESCH
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. | October 14, 2019 11:38 AM

Whitefish Police continue to investigate vandalism to a historic home on Lupfer Avenue that has since been demolished.

Assistant Police Chief Bridger Kelch said the investigation is ongoing regarding damage to the house that was located at the corner of Luper and Second Street.

“We’re following up on any leads or any other information we have, but at this point it’s pretty stale,” Kelch said last week.

Developer Mark Panissidi last month said he had planned to move the building to another location rather than tear it down, but vandalism to the home in the form of cut floor joists made it unsafe to relocate.

Panissidi notified City Council of the issue on Sept. 16 and the home was demolished later that week, though some parts of it were salvaged.

Del Mar Pacific Group, headed up by Panissidi, received approval in June to construct a mixed-use building containing residential and commercial units on the site.

The project drew criticism from neighbors who said the new building wouldn’t fit in with the neighborhood and also those who didn’t want to see the historic home lost.

The house was originally the home of Jemima Duncan and J.A. Samson, who constructed the brick Duncan Samson building in 1910 that is located across Lupfer from the property.

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