Looking Back for July 19
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler.
50 Years Ago
July 19, 1973
The City of Whitefish put into immediate effect sprinkling regulations restricting all sprinkling to the hours of 7-10 a.m. and 5-9 p.m. daily. Watering must be done with approved nozzles or sprinklers and no open hoses will be permitted. These restrictions applied to all city water users, inside or out of the city limits including both metered and flat-rate users. According to a report made by Superintendent of Public Works, John Boyd, the level of water in the city reservoir was no longer holding its own, even with all lake pumping stations in operation and was lowering at a rapid rate.
40 Years Ago
July 21, 1983
The Whitefish Whalers and the Whitefish Sirens met for the final time of the soccer season. In keeping with tradition, the Whalers were victorious by a score of 5-1. Lini Hilbun, Mary Moe and Caroline Beck each scored one for the Whalers. Jan Metzmaker put in two. Kathy Colucci put the Sirens on the scoreboard with a long, high shot from a direct free kick. The Whalers wrapped up the first round of tournament play by defeating the AAC Maroons 6-2. The Whalers, who were undefeated that season, would meet the Kalispell Gold Rush in a semi-final match.
30 Years Ago
July 22, 1993
The Whitefish City Council voted against a 1-acre zone change that would have allowed a 76-unit development south of Ptarmigan Village on Big Mountain. Kalispell attorney Dan Johns, who represented Sunray Land Company, spoke in favor of the zone change to suburban residential, saying that even though the 76 acres of land was currently zoned agricultural, it’s in a heavily wooded area on a hillside, making it impossible to farm. Ward McCartney spoke against the zone change, saying that if the developer plans a high-density development of one residence per acre, they would have to clear many trees to meet fire requirements and the clearings would be visible from town.
20 Years Ago
July 17, 2003 Blaise Wingert was the first female officer of the law in Whitefish. With seven years on Montana Highway Patrol along with the fact she was born and raised in the area, Wingert said she knew local roads like the back of her hand. “I don’t come with an attitude that this is a man versus woman job. It shouldn’t matter. You’re an officer. You have a job to do and you do it,” she said. She also brought a double degree in Spanish and criminology/sociology and an associate degree in communication with her to the job.
10 Years Ago
July 17, 2013
Two sizable housing developments proposed for Whitefish were headed to the City-County Planning Board. The Second Street Apartments project returned after being renamed the Second Street Residences. This would be the third time the project sought approval for zone changes and a planned unit development overlay to develop a multi-family/condominium project. Phase three of the Great Northern Heights was requesting a preliminary plat and planned unit development overlay for 21 townhouses on about 6 acres.