Looking Back: Cell phone ordinance goes into effect

10 years ago

Sept. 7, 2011

A city ordinance that prohibited the use of hand-held cell phones while driving was set to go into effect just a couple weeks later. Signs were put up at the city limits and the fee set at $100 was well publicized. Whitefish police chief at the time said the ordinance was about safety and also Missoula, Billings and Butte had recently passed various cell phone laws as well.

20 years ago

Sept. 6, 2001

An Illinois man, Bill Dial, had just been selected over four others to become Whitefish’s new police chief. Dial was a 21-year veteran of the Illinois State Police and he said “being chief of police has always been a goal of mine.” He was set to start in his new position in November.

30 years ago

Sept. 5, 1991

The landscape development planning for the Highway 93 approach to Whitefish had gotten off to a “frustratingly slow start.” The hiccup in planning was due to the lack of available information from the state highway department.

40 years ago

Sept. 3, 1981

The Whitefish High School Lady Bulldog basketball team was being predicted as a top contender that year. The team had several seasoned players — including four returning starters and four returning lettermen from the previous season. In the previous season Whitefish had won their sub-division, took fourth in districts and went on to place fourth at the state tournament.

50 years ago

Sept. 2, 1971

Those wanting to hunt bighorn sheep and grizzly bears needed to purchase their hunting licenses before mid September. There were two unlimited permit hunting districts in the area for bighorn sheep and those hunting grizzly bears were open in all permitted districts; however if a hunter shot a grizzly one year they were not eligible for another license the following year.