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A weekly look at past Whitefish Pilot articles, compiled by Daniel McKay.

10 years ago

Aug. 6, 2009

A Whitefish man put up a strange argument against a trio of traffic misdemeanors, telling his judge and jury he had been granted an international driver’s license by President Barack Obama, claiming he spoke American rather than English, and showing his Bible to the courtroom. He was sentenced to pay $480 for the three fines.

20 years ago

Aug. 5, 1999

A small fire west of Whitefish broke out but was quickly controlled. The Swaney Fire, which covered roughly 88 acres in Star Meadows, broke out for the first real fire of the season.

30 years ago

Aug. 2, 1989

A youth group from Christian Life Fellowship got some unexpected company during a rafting trip. After stopping along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River to pick some huckleberries, one of the group members turned around to find a mountain lion five feet behind her. The lion kept watch but never attacked as the group returned to their rafts.

40 years ago

Aug. 9, 1979

State water quality officials were considering legal actions against Burlington Northern Railroad for violations of oil and grease discharge levels into Whitefish River. The railroad had eight violations of excess discharges in the previous year.

50 years ago

Aug. 7, 1969

In an effort to boost the fish population in Whitefish and Upper Whitefish Lake, a group of westslope cutthroat trout was introduced by Montana Fish and Game. This was part of a program introduced a few years prior.