Looking Back for March 23

A look back at past Pilot articles compiled by Julie Engler.

50 Years Ago - March 16, 1972

The proposed $1.5 million sewage disposal and treatment plant for the Big Mountain and Ptarmigan Properties was expected to cost city taxpayers nothing. The entire tab was to be paid by Ptarmigan Properties and Winter Sports, Inc. The preliminary engineering report predicted a population in the Whitefish/Big Mountain area to reach 23,950 within the following 25 years.

40 Years Ago - March 18, 1982

Burlington Northern announced it was cutting twelve more jobs in Whitefish. The company cited bad economic times and their effort to consolidate work at large terminals. The changes included one switch engine per day rather than per shift, but jobs would return if the volume of business increases and the larger terminals could not keep up.

30 Years Ago - March 19, 1992

The Whitefish School Board adopted a more lenient policy regarding alcohol and drug use among students in grades 7-12. First-time offenders would be able to choose between attending several Saturday sessions and performing 30 hours of community service.

20 Years Ago - March 21, 2002

Olympic gold medal skier Bill Johnson returned to Whitefish exactly one year after suffering a nearly fatal crash on the Big Mountain. He came back to thank the people who helped him that day and to try to regain some of his memory. Johnson was the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in downhill skiing.

10 Years Ago - March 19, 2012

The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce suggested a public transit system with two trolleys that would run in the summer. They presented the idea to the City Council who believed the transit plan would help reduce parking problems and drinking and driving incidents. Councilor Bill Kahle liked the idea but was concerned about funding.