Looking Back for April 1

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

10 years ago

April 1, 2010

The still-awaited sequel to James Cameron’s Avatar was coming to Glacier, supposedly. Cameron announced the film would start shooting the blockbuster science fiction movie in the Park, and would honor the park’s glaciers. Of course, the press release came out on April Fool’s Day.

20 years ago

March 30, 2000

Whitefish’s rumor mill focused on number 23 – Michael Jordan. Rumors around town claimed Michael Jordan, along with Charles Barkley, were buying property in Iron Horse. The rumors were likely spurred by the fact that Jordan’s former coach, Phil Jackson, owned a home on Flathead Lake.

30 years ago

March 29, 1990

The Valley officially opened its new 911 emergency telephone system throughout the county. The county advised the public to only use the system for absolute emergencies, though in its first days the system had a few prank calls traced to Whitefish High School.

40 years ago

April 3, 1980

Revered Whitefish photographer Marion Lacy died at 70 years old at his home in Prescott, Arizona. Lacy was inducted into the Honorary Society of Photography in the 1970s, and his black and white photos of Glacier National Park and Whitefish can be found all over City Hall and throughout Whitefish.

50 years ago

April 2, 1970

Whitefish Winter Carnival was coming to ABC. The television network was airing films taken by Sona Mora and Ed Glina, contestants on the Dating Game who attended the carnival in Whitefish. The show would be viewed on 193 stations across the country by more than 10 million homes.