Looking Back: Whitefish’s ‘doughnut’ decision
Rayna Streich and Lini Reading of the Great Northern Express collide while going for the ball during the Whitefish Women's league match, with Stump's Pumps in 1994. After a second half surge by Stumps, Great Northern countered with two goals and came away with a 6-3 win. (Photo by Mark Goldstein)
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler
50 Years Ago
July 25, 1974
Two boats collided near City Beach resulting in four injuries: three sustained by three Great Falls persons and one by a Whitefish resident. Michelle Guon was the driver of one boat containing three other passengers who were all from Great Falls. Donald Sponheim, the owner of the boat, was not injured, but Joyce Sponheim was flown by air ambulance to Great Falls for treatment of severe facial injuries. Kim Fields from Whitefish was the operator of the other boat which contained three passengers and was pulling a water skier.
40 Years Ago
July 26, 1984
It had been 34 days since Whitefish received any measurable moisture and as the dry spell continued fire danger in the area reached a dangerous stage. Local firemen were kept busy with two fires, both resulting from the drought-like conditions. The first was a grass fire along the Big Mountain Road which the Whitefish volunteer fire department responded to around 7 a.m. The fire, caused by a catalytic converter on an automobile, was quickly extinguished. The second fire was caused by a cigarette which burned some grass on Houston Point. Firemen responded shortly after 1 p.m. Neither fire caused much damage.
30 Years Ago
July 21, 1994
The Whitefish City Council was getting its first look at the preliminary budget and not all departments would get everything they were hoping for, according to the council and the city manager. The city of Whitefish operated on a budget of approximately $10 million, $2 million of which was from a general fund. City departments requested more than $2 million from the general fund including a request for more than $960,000 from the Whitefish Police Department, an increase of nearly 15%. The Whitefish Volunteer Fire Department requested a budget of $217,000 and the city administration is expected to cost nearly $200,000 The city parks and recreation department requested a budget of $150,000, the building department requested $136,000, and road and street department materials and supplies were expected to cost $88,500.
20 Years Ago
July 22, 2004
Groundbreaking for a duplex unit for the Whitefish Housing Authority was a victory for Whitefish’s affordable housing effort. The duplex on Colorado Avenue would provide income-eligible housing via a Glacier Bank loan. An anonymous cash donation of $12,000 was used in the program and the first unit was expected to be completed by February. Fall grant proposals were in the works and the Housing Authority was proposing a secret donor challenge to keep up with the mounting demand for affordable housing in Whitefish. “We're just trying to keep up," said director SueAnn Grogan.
10 Years Ago
July 23, 2014
The Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of Flathead County in the long-running Whitefish “doughnut” jurisdiction battle. On a 4-3 vote, the high court affirmed a Flathead District Court decision that determined the 2010 interlocal agreement between the city and the county was not subject to referendum and therefore was legally terminated by the county. With that decision, control of the two mile planning area around Whitefish returned to the county.