A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler

50 Years Ago

April 18, 1974

County Sanitarian Les Espeland and Assistant Al Shoenhuth attended the city council meeting to acquaint the city with various sanitary problems in this area. The Crosswind subdivision and surrounding areas, according to Espeland, would no longer be able to obtain septic tank permits. The present sewage disposal systems were not adequate and there were places where seepage appeared on ground surfaces. Espeland noted that children were playing in those areas and should they contract diseases, they could be readily communicated through the schools, causing an epidemic.

40 Years Ago

April 19, 1984

Skiers took to the slopes one last time as The BIg Mountain shut down its winter operations. The resort’s general manager, Tim Hinderman, said the decision was made after mountain officials decided there would be no good way for the skiers to make it down from the top after this week. The resort had hoped to stay open through Easter Sunday but Hinderman said the base area would be thick in mud by Sunday if weather stays warm and more rain falls. The ski resort was open for 134 days this year.

30 Years Ago

April 14, 1994

The advisory committee for the rebuilding of U.S. Hwy. 93 appeared to be leaning toward a one-way couplet system and construction of the Seventh Street Bridge through Whitefish. Medians also seemed to be the best option for many highway sections, including between Mondana 40 and Baker Street and west of Karrow Avenue. Among the issues still up in the air was whether to make the highway three lanes between the Whitefish RIver and Karrow. A third, southbound lane down Spokane Avenue was also an option the committee had not ruled out.

20 Years Ago

April 15, 2004

An Easter Sunday fire caused by old kitchen wiring quickly engulfed a residential structure at 5725 U.S. 93 South, sending engines from Whitefish and Columbia Falls on a containment mission that turned into a salvage and overhaul mission. Despite the holiday, the Whitefish Fire Department was on the scene with three engines and an ambulance, and a fourth engine from Columbia Falls added manpower and water, as well. The fire was contained in 10 minutes, but the older house, which was insulated with sawdust, was in full force by the time it was reported. The owner was not home at the time of the fire and no one was injured.

10 Years Ago

April 16, 2014

A proposal to designate a section of the Whitefish River as a non-motorized corridor went before the Fish, Wildlife and Parks commission with a strong backing from local residents. At a public hearing in front of local FWP officials, 36 people spoke in favor of the proposed rule with six speaking in opposition. The proposed amendment would restrict river traffic to manual- and electric-powered water-craft from the railroad trestle south of Whitefish Lake to the bridge on JP Road.