Looking Back for March 31
Cailin Brown, 9, gets her ski signed by racer Picabo Street following the downhill race during the Alpine Nationals at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
10 years ago
March 30, 2011
From bowling pins and internally-lit signs on the U.S. 93 strip to “historic” saloon signs downtown, questions about the city’s sign ordinance were back on the political front burner. The city decided to allow for maintenance of nonconforming signs, creating a registry for historical signs, allowing internaly lit signs in some zoning districts and a review of the cost of variance fees for signs.
20 years ago
March 29, 2001
As she was nearing 90-years-old, Ida Hunnewell decided it was time to retire. For decades, she had written a column for the Whitefish PIlot following in the footsteps of her mother who wrote society news before she did about Olney. “I better quit writing the news,” she said. “My hand is sore and stiff and I can’t remember so many things.”
30 years ago
March 28, 1991
Record snow levels along with shortages of snow at other ski resorts had allowed Big Mountain to recover from a dismal ice-box Christmas. The frigid weather over the Christmas season caused a decrease in skier visits to 31,900 compared to 47,350 the year before. Visitation in February and March, however, was approaching the record of the year before.
40 years ago
March 26, 1981
According to a survey, Flathead County residents most wanted to “maintain a pleasant living environment.” The survey revealed that many people also believed the quality of life had deteriorated in the last five years and was likely to continue to do so. The survey was conducted by the Flathead Regional Development Office.
50 years ago
March 25, 1971
Whitefish’s railroaders and tourism industry spokesmen were jubilant over Rail Pax’s announcement that the quasi-government organization would run its Minneapolis to Seattle passenger train from the Twin cities via Glacier Park and Whitefish along the Burlington Northern’s Empire Builder.