Looking Back for March 29
Betty Wilhelm of Schellinger Construction was a common sight at the south end of the viaduct as the company began constructing the approaches of the new (at the time) viaduct in March of 1993. (Pilot file)
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler.
50 Years Ago
March 29, 1973
There were more black bear hunters in the woods than bears on the opening weekend of Montana’s black bear season. Fish and game personnel estimated that it would be two to three weeks before most bears stirred from their winter sleep. Residents could hunt on their 1972, $5 black bear licenses through April 30 provided they hadn't taken a black bear since May 1 of the same year.
40 Years Ago
March 31, 1983
Voters would soon either accept or reject the levy for the 1983-84 school year and choose among four candidates for two seats on the School District 44 Board of Trustees. Voters were being asked to approve a $667,750 levy, a $40,000 increase over the previous year. Three challengers, Hall Bennett, Sue Tate and John Garrity plus incumbent Ron Olson were vying for the two seats open on the school board. Connie Heckathorn’s term was also expiring and she decided not to seek another term. She served on the school board for nine years.
30 Years Ago
April 1, 1993
A Whitefish man trying to save a dog from an oncoming train was hit and killed along with the dog. Two men had been rifle target shooting along the BN right of way about 11 miles west of Whitefish in the Lupfer railroad crossing area. One man's dog was with them and had crossed to the other side of the tracks. When the men heard the whistle of an oncoming train, one man noticed the dog was starting to cross back toward them and he rushed up to rescue the dog just as the eastbound train arrived.
20 Years Ago
March 27, 2003
Two Northwest Drug Task Force agents empowered parents and teens with knowledge about drugs, and how they're made and abused. They showed parents nicknames for drugs, how small a meth lab may be and where drug manufacturers were making meth. One officer said that within the past year, the task force had broken up 40 meth labs. “It’s important for you to understand they’re using motels, hotels, rentals and the backs of cars to make meth,” said the officer.
10 Years Ago
March 27, 2013
Whitefish City Councilman Bill Kahle contended the City of Whitefish wasn’t following its own rules when the decision was made to keep the overhead power lines along East Second Street when the roadway was due to be reconstructed the next year. As a partner in developing the O’Brien Bluffs subdivision on the north edge of Whitefish, Kahle said he was required to bury lines not only on the property he owned but along a stretch of O’Brien Avenue leading up to the subdivision. “The cost was significant, but we did the work,” Kahle said.