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Looking Back for July 26

| July 26, 2023 1:00 AM

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler.

50 Years Ago

July 26, 1973

Slusher’s Bakery, a long-time Whitefish business that was located at 215 Central Avenue, closed its doors for the last time on July 28, 1973. “We can’t keep up with the high costs of labor, flour and other ingredients,” said owner Raymond Slusher. Raymond and Viola Slusher, who came to Whitefish from Stevensville, Montana, 13 years prior, have been in the bakery business for 28 years. “We’re just tired,“ said Viola. The bakery building was purchased by Daniel Conner and Thomas Cobianco who planned to open a men’s clothing store.

40 Years Ago

July 28, 1983

Richard Kirchhoffer, minister of Holy Nativity Church in Whitefish and Columbia Falls, was hiking with Bill Beecham, also of Whitefish, near Elk Mountain when they met a grizzly. Elk Mountain is near the Fielding area, close to Walton on the southern edge of the park. The 63-year-old Kirchhoffer suffered puncture wounds to his right thigh, right bicep and left knee. He was hospitalized for four days at North Valley Hospital before coming home. Twenty-five stitches were needed to close his wounds.

30 Years Ago

July 29, 1993

The second of three scheduled public meetings to solicit information and data about the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed Big Mountain expansion was to be held. Bert Stout, Tally Lake District ranger said this second of a series of three meetings would be in the conference room of the Grouse Mountain Lodge. During the first meeting, Forest Service employees discussed the DEIS with more than 100 people. The meetings were designed to provide information and the presenters of this meeting would be representatives of special interest groups.

20 Years Ago

July 24, 2003

Whitefish Fire Department and outlying fire departments in the area were gearing up to handle the extreme fire threat, while crews continued to battle the 4,000-acre lightning-caused Wedge Canyon Fire in the North Fork of the Flathead River near the Canadian border. The department also responded to a woodland fire near the KOA campground road; the small blaze was contained soon after crews arrived. “There haven’t been any incidents, thank goodness for that,” said Jason Hodgeman, a firefighter/EMT for the Big Mountain crew, who also mentioned the crew was waiting for a call to aid at Wedge Creek north of Polebridge.

10 Years Ago

July 24, 2013

The new North Valley Food Bank facility on Flathead Avenue was taking shape quickly. While the construction went on, a key financial component of the project was achieved when Whitefish philanthropist Michael Goguen made a $500,000 donation to complete the food bank’s $1.5 million fundraising campaign for a new building and endowment fund. The donation added to more than $1 million raised in cash, pledges and in-kind donations spearheaded by the fundraising committee and board of directors.