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Looking Back for Dec. 13

| December 13, 2023 1:00 AM

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler.


50 Years Ago

December 13, 1973

Whitefish High School posted the Honor Roll. Straight-A students included sophomores Marta Lauritsen and Mary Whitney, juniors Cheryl Peterson and Danelle Reisch, and seniors Bonnie Bilant, Jeanne Wagner and Pam Whitney.


40 Years Ago

December 15, 1983

“No way” was the overwhelming consensus of the more than 100 local residents who attended a town meeting to express their opinions on an alternate road to The Big Mountain Ski Area through Haskill Basin. The meeting was called by Mayor Hank Olson and City Manager Don Morrison to give city leaders a better idea how Whitefish residents felt about the proposal. The idea was given a “thumbs down” in an informal poll taken by Olson. When the crowd was asked if anyone was in favor of the proposed route, not a single hand was raised. 


30 Years Ago

December 16, 1993

A California investor planned to build a 150,000-square-foot factory outlet mall on a lot near Highway 93 and Montana 40. Stan Carson, of Del Mar, California, said the mall would house 40 to 50 outlet stores and be anchored by a Ralph Lauren Polo store. Carson said other manufacturers had signed on to the plan but wouldn’t name the companies. “Polo basically told us they wanted to be here. They love it here,” he said. Carson had purchased the option on a 13.8-acre, commercially-zoned piece of land on the east side of Highway 93. Construction on the first 66,5400 square-foot phase of the mall was planned to start before the end of the year.


20 Years Ago

December 11, 2003

The WAVE, the Whitefish Community Aquatic & Health Center, was moving closer to becoming a reality. Despite some minor weather delays, good progress was made on the facility, which was under construction on Baker Avenue. In-kind gifts of services continue to help keep the project on track and on budget. Sam McGough, of Sam’s Tractor Service, Jay Sandelin of Samaris Enterprises Excavating and Pete Costain of Dirty Pete’s Trucking, have donated many hours of time during the excavation phase. Attorney John Phelps had been donating expert legal work for the project. 


10 Years Ago

December 11, 2013

The Idaho Timber plant in Whitefish had been empty since shutting down its operation nearly five years ago. A group of interested residents, city officials and representatives from Idaho Timber gathered to discuss ideas for redevelopment of the shuttered plant off Karrow Avenue near the Whitefish River. The city hosted a visioning session at City Hall. “We hope to get some input from the community and maybe come up with some ideas for future use,” said Whitefish Planning Director David Taylor. Future uses could range from industry to mixed-use or as a resort area.