Looking Back for March 18

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

10 years ago

March 18, 2010

Whitefish and Montana in general were navigating the growing industry of marijuana, implementing temporary moratoriums and interim zoning to study different approaches to the business. In Whitefish, City Council modified its existing moratorium to eliminate home-based caregivers and some councilors worried about the business’s conflicts with federal law.

20 years ago

March 16, 2000

Despite warmer weather, the ski season on Big Mountain was still going strong. With about 31 days left of the season, parking lots were still full and plenty of locals were heading down the mountain, despite a slow January that came in under the resort’s expectations.

30 years ago

March 15, 1990

The schools last week selected Dave Means as Interim Superintendent once current Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt’s contract is up, and Whitefish School District 30 years ago was narrowing its own search for a new chief. The board had narrowed replacements for Ivan Hernandez down to its top semifinalists.

40 years ago

March 20, 1980

Fifty people, coming from Whitefish, Kalispell, Columbia Falls and around the area, were injured when a 10-car Amtrak passenger train derailed just west of East Glacier. No one was killed, and 170 passengers were on board.

50 years ago

March 19, 1970

The Bulldogs boys basketball teams were state champions. The Dogs took gold at the Class A State Tournament in Billings, defeating the Laurel Locomotives 54-44 in the title game. A full dinner at the Whitefish Lake Golf Club was held for the team in celebration.