Remembering the year that was
It’s the end of another year, marking another chance for the media to overwhelm you with an onslaught of “year in review” digests.
“Hey, remember that one time when that one thing happened? Well, so do we. Now you can read about it, again.”
Turn to page B1 in this week’s Pilot and you’ll find we’re just as guilty as the next newspaper.
Fact is, this time of year, the always reliable Whitefish news machine gets a bit lethargic. Schools are out, government takes a break, phone calls are rarely returned — there’s no time more serene in this office than the days between Christmas and New Years.
So we take this week to reflect on all that has filled the pages of the Pilot in 2014.
The year began with the passing of a trio of Whitefish legends in “Mr. Whitefish” Norm Kurtz, June Munski-Feenan and Bob DePratu. As we remembered their legacies we also celebrated the rising star of slopestyle phenom Maggie Voisin as she earned a spot in the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Winter Carnival was one to remember with the fabulous Viva Las Vegas theme, highlighted by grand marshal “Mr. Las Vegas” Wayne Newton.
A dramatic train derailment in Olney in March punctuated an important and ongoing discussion about the volume of freight trains moving through town and our level of emergency preparedness.
Summer was a whirlwind of development speculation with a remodel of the mall, a pair of new hotels, an apartment complex on 93 South and a subdivision on East Second all up for discussion.
In what is now an annual tradition, the fireworks barge caught fire during the Fourth of July display at City Beach. Can we go for the trifecta in 2015?
The decade long “doughnut” dispute was seemingly resolved in July when the Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of Flathead County. But think again if you believe this story is finally off the Pilot pages. The arduous process of deciding land use in the former doughnut area is only just beginning.
Fall began with the opening of the new Whitefish High School, which should be celebrated as a high point of the year for the entire community.
The news cycle seemed to reach its crescendo in November and December. Whitefish’s Ryan Zinke was elected to the U.S. House, a group rallied for the city to take a stand against hate, a rare earthquake rattled town, the Bulldogs were ruling the gridiron, a world class arts and technology center opened to Whitefish students, and a city ban on gated communities and helicopters drew plenty of scrutiny.
And this is only a sampling — it’s been a big news year.
So yes, I admit, “year in review” stories are overdone, but it is kind of fun to step back and remember where we have been. Especially when nothing else is going on.
Happy New Year Whitefish and please be safe as you ring in 2015.
— Matt Baldwin is editor of the Whitefish Pilot