Looking Back for January 10

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler.

50 Years Ago

January 10, 1974

Whitefish school system students began going to school later in the morning after the schedule was changed by Superintendent Russ Giesy to allow children to arrive at a school in daylight rather than darkness because of daylight saving time. The decision was reached following a car-pedestrian accident in which a first grader was injured while waiting for a school bus on Highway 93 west of Whitefish. Under the new schedule, school started at 9:40 a.m. and was dismissed at 3:44 p.m.

40 Years Ago

January 12, 1984

Flathead County Commissioner Henry Oldenburg invited all interested city officials and residents to meet with the commission. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the viaduct and other secondary road construction, said Whitefish City Manager Don Morrison. The objective of the meeting, at least for Whitefish, was to have the county commissioners officially designate the viaduct as the top priority of state secondary road funds, Morrison said. The city wanted to secure commitments from the commissioners on improving Wisconsin Avenue and The Big Mountain Road.

30 Years Ago

January 13, 1994

On Dec. 26, 1993, the high-speed quad called the “Glacier Chaser” rolled back about 50 feet before operators were able to stop it, according to a report filed by the Big Mountain Ski Resort with the Board of Passenger Safety. Riders were unloaded and the lift was shut down until repairs could be made. Steve Meloy, bureau chief of the Professional and Occupational Licensing Bureau of the Department of Commerce, in Helena, said the lift rolled back when a Lohman gearbox failed. Oil on the bull wheel flange allowed the lift to roll back and the emergency brake to slip. After further investigation, it was found that the emergency brake was out of adjustment, he added. 

20 Years Ago

January 8, 2004

Consequent to the charges of drug trafficking, the civil action for forfeiture of real and personal property owned by a citizen could mean that the Whitefish Police and the Northwest Drug Task Force wouldn't have to worry about funding for a long time. Forfeiture is a slow process, but one that could prove very worthwhile. “Drug forfeitures are relatively rare, usually the property isn’t worth forfeiting,” explained Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan. “But this is an unusually large marijuana distribution charge. Given the scale, this is appropriate.” 

10 Years Ago

January 8, 2014

Standing behind the bar at Bonsai Brewing Project, Graham Hart had a difficult time believing his hard work had finally made his dreams come true.  “It’s surreal,” he said. “It’s all been in the moment literally. I can’t hardly conceive that this has happened.'' The nano-brewery opened with a selection of six beers and a ginger ale on tap. Lil Blond Honey, Initiation ale, Due North IRA, Sheriff John Brown and The Unkindness Stout were designed to be standards for the brewery.