Looking Back for June 8

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler.

50 Years Ago

June 8, 1972

Whitefish’s hopes for a community center dimmed when it was learned that the project was bogged down in bureaucratic confusion between federal agencies. A local committee was informed the project had been approved but a Montana EDA coordinator claimed the application had been disapproved by HUD officials.

40 Years Ago

June 10, 1982

After 31 years, first as a coach and teacher then as principal and finally, superintendent, Russ Giesy said goodbye to the Whitefish Schools when he retired this week. Giesy was succeeded by LeRoy Key, an administrator from the Estacada, Oregon school system. Giesy said he made close friendships with many of the staff through the years and saying goodbye to them would be hard.

30 Years Ago

June 11, 1992

A Whitefish developer had plans in the works for a new luxury golf course and year-round recreational community on Whitefish Stage Road. The Montana Valley Club would feature an 18-hole championship golf course, clubhouse lodge, tennis courts, quality dining, swimming pool, equestrian center and hiking and biking trails. The plans also called for approximately 760 housing units.

20 Years Ago

June 6, 2002

The grandstand at Memorial Field was closed to the public due to concerns over the structure detailed in an engineer’s study. The report labeled the grandstand as “a dangerous structure” that had deteriorated over the years. It was built in 1935-36 and the report stated its defects “exist to an extent that life, property and safety of the public, or its occupants are endangered.”

10 Years Ago

June 6, 2012

A proposed mountain bike race in the Tally Lake Ranger District was met with opposition from a local environmental group. Keith Hammer of the Swan View Coalition contended the bike race would promote conflicts and collisions between cyclists and wildlife. The group had previously challenged a 100-mile trail running race in the Swan Mountains in 2010.