History - Looking Back for October 25, 2023
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler
50 Years Ago
October 25, 1973
Official documents transferring title on nearly eight acres of land along Highway 93 across from Whitefish Lake Golf Course to the City of Whitefish were received from the United State Department of the Interior, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. The property is adjacent to the U.S. Border Patrol site on the south side of Highway 93 across from the golf course. The advent of leased facilities and the “Legacy of Parks” program sponsored by President Nixon, resulted in the transfer of the land to the city for use as a park facility.
40 Years Ago
October 27, 1983
While a new master plan for expansion was ready for U.S. Forest Service review, operators of the Big Mountain weren’t expecting any tremendous skier growth this year. Although they had predicted that skiers may double in the next five or 10 years, with new lifts and expansion of the base area, a 5% increase is predicted for 1983-84. General Manager Tim Hinderman said that early indications are good, with a 50% increase so far in season pass sales. “We hope to see about a 5% growth rate in skier visits. We would be real happy with that,” he said. Last year, they recorded 250,000 skier visits.
30 Years Ago
October 23, 1993
Candidates for Whitefish City Council positions discussed issues ranging from optional sales taxes to bike paths at a “Meet the Candidates'' forum last Thursday evening. Five candidates vying for three council seats were asked the same questions by moderator and current council member, Jim Welsh. Those running for three four-year positions are incumbents Chet Hope and Andy Feury and challengers Norm Nelson, Craig Scott and Doug Gilbertson. Vic Workman, a candidate running unopposed for Welsh’s two-year term, also participated. Welsh was running unopposed for mayor.
20 Years Ago
October 23, 2003
The city-county planning board unanimously decided that Whitefish developers should be mandated to provide affordable housing in exchange for city incentives to offset their costs. The board’s recommendation for mandatory affordable housing, along with a thorough report on housing issues in Whitefish, now goes to the city council for consideration. “We feel it’s time to act,” said Mike Jopek, chairman of the planning board and a long-time advocate of affordable housing. “It’s about being able to house Whitefish workers. If you earn less than $15 an hour, you can’t afford to purchase a home in Whitefish.”
10 Years Ago
October 23, 2013
A request that would allow a herbal lip balm company to move into the Whitefish Independent High School building appeared to have hit a snag. Hurraw! Lip balm had applied with the city for a conditional use permit to allow for the business to operate in the building as a home occupation. However, owners of the company asked the Whitefish City-County Planning Board if there was any way around a condition of the permit that would require a residence on site.