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

10 years ago

March 19, 2009

Coffee lovers were buzzing after Safeway submitted a permit application for a Starbucks sign in its remodeled store, indicating the worldwide chain would be coming to Whitefish. During a 2007 public hearing, a Safeway representative had assured City Council they’d “decided not to have a Starbucks in the store,” however.

20 years ago

March 18, 1999

Just as backcountry hikers today are looking forward to Glacier National Park’s Sperry Chalet reopening after being burnt by the Sprague Fire in 2017, hikers 20 years ago had similar aspirations. The chalet was ready to open after a closure that aimed to fix wastewater and sewer systems at the building.

30 years ago

March 15, 1989

Despite police chief Dave Dolson’s claim of Whitefish being the “drug capital of northwest Montana” a couple months prior, a survey of Whitefish students showed drug use to be on the decline, especially at the junior high level. The percentage of students who reported using drugs in seventh and eighth grades dropped from 81 percent four years prior to 48 percent in 1989.

40 years ago

March 15, 1979

Whitefish’s more charismatic students were gearing up for a brand new speech and debate team in the next school year. Sixteen students had already signed up for the team, which was looking for its first coach at the time.

50 years ago

March 20, 1969

Whitefish was one step closer to having its own recreation center. Flathead Sports, Inc., was pushing for a recreation sports center that included a swimming pool to make its home in Whitefish. Interest for the facility had been slowly growing and federal financing options were being explored for the project.