Looking Back for June 14
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler
50 Years Ago
June 14, 1973
The general offices of the Big Mountain received from the U.S. Government Patent Office patent number 956954, as the official registrant for the use of the words, “The Big Mountain” in posters, advertising and all ski resort services. “It’s certainly an official-looking document,” said ski resort General Manager Ed Schenck. “I hope the time, effort and expense we went to in getting the patent and copyright will eventually justify itself. In 25-plus years, we’ve gone from a very small operation, actually without a place name, to a multi-million dollar establishment.” Prior to the resort’s construction, even the mountain itself had no designated official name.
40 Years Ago
June 14, 1983
Jerry DeSanto, Glacier Park Ranger, was hiking between Kintla Lake and Upper Kintla Lake when he came across a sow grizzly and two cubs. He managed to get about eight feet up a tree before the bear caught him and pulled him down by his leg. DeSanto said he tried to fend her off with his left arm, cussed at her and hit her in the face with his pack. The bear then backed off and disappeared into the woods. He suffered lacerations on his right calf, puncture wounds in his left arm and a broken bone in his left wrist.
30 Years Ago
June 17, 1993
The final results of a comprehensive survey conducted by the Whitefish Community Development Corp has been distributed to the library and other groups. Results will be discussed in a town meeting at the Central School auditorium. In a Pilot survey, 53% of those who responded said Whitefish wasn’t as good of a place to live compared to five years ago. Sixty percent were pessimistic about Whitefish’s future in the coming five years. Still, in the scientific survey, 73% said it was a good or excellent place to live.
20 Years Ago
June 12, 2003
The Whitefish school district trustees can’t agree how language about hair and clothing should be handled. “We’re deadlocked on dreadlocks,” said Whitefish Superintendent Jerry House, summarizing yet another school board meeting that split the board into two camps on specific language addressing the school handbook dress code. The controversy started when sophomore Kirteesha Lanegan was told not to return to Whitefish High School until she removed her dreadlocks.
10 Years Ago
June 12, 2013
A 9,200-square-foot expansion to the southwest side of The Wave building was approved by Whitefish City Council. “We’ve outgrown ourselves,“ said Lin Akey, speaking on behalf of The Wave board. The new addition would include a reorganization of the locker rooms, a larger daycare center, an additional party room and another aerobic room. This was the second expansion for The Wave. Work was completed in 2007 to add 4,700 square feet to the building and expand the weight room and cycling room and add an exercise room.