Looking Back for June 22

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler.

50 Years Ago

June 22, 1972

A potential community center in Whitefish was dealt a deadly blow when the school board voted to begin proceedings to construct a gymnasium with insurance funds obtained when the old Central School Gym burned down last summer. The funds would have been the matching funds needed to secure federal funding for the construction of a community center.

40 Years Ago

June 24, 1982

A decision by Burlington Northern to shift much of its traffic to its northern line would result in an increase of train and engine personnel for Whitefish, according to Bob Howery, Spokane superintendent. He said there would be no substantial increases in any other department and he would not speculate how many new positions may be created by the rerouting.

30 Years Ago

June 25, 1992

Montana Department of Transportation officials decided the section of Highway 93 through Whitefish was in bad enough shape that it would be resurfaced this summer. “We don't think the road can survive in its present condition,” said Larry Brazda, the MDOT area construction engineer. “It’s in terrible shape. It’s as bad as anything we have around.”

20 Years Ago

June 20, 2002

A retail-residential construction project that excited locals and gained City Council approval was canceled. According to Whitefish developer Tim Hinderman, The Montanan project died when the majority of the owners voted to sell the former Don K and Denning Sheet Metal properties where the project would have been located.

10 Years Ago

June 20, 2012

The Whitefish City Council was considering a boat inspection program with the goal of keeping aquatic invasive species out of Whitefish Lake. The city started taking a closer look at boat inspections after vessels from the BNSF oil cleanup project were found to have fragments of zebra mussels.