Looking Back - Whitefish School Board purchases land in Happy Valley
Lillian's Dancing School student AJ Malletta practices her smile and wave before performing in the "Spring Festival of Talent" at Central School in 1994. (Whitefish Pilot)
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler
50 Years Ago
May 2, 1974
Whitefish voters would express their opinion, yes or no, on a requested special levy totalling $163,266.27 in the junior high P.E. facility. The purpose of the levy was to finance and maintain the educational programs presently in effect. One new program, girls basketball, would be added to the extracurricular program. The levy request amounted to $75,738.75 for the elementary district and $87,827.50 for the high school district.
40 Years Ago
May 3, 1984
More money was being spent by the City of Whitefish, according to treasurer Helen Doyle, than it was taking in. In February, the city received $33,000 in revenue. It spent $71,000. March was no better. The city received $40,000 and spent $65,000. The $42,000 in its general fund to cover its bills for the month was not nearly enough. The salaries for the police department alone for one month were $20,000, Doyle said.
30 Years Ago
April 28, 1994
The nearly 35-acre proposed land purchase near Mallard Loop subdivision was approved by the Whitefish School Board. The board unanimously approved using up to $200,000 to purchase about 35 Acres from Plum Creek Timber Inc., west of Mallard Loop subdivision. The land was part of a 160-acre parcel north of Hodgson Road about one and a half miles east of US Highway 93. The land could be used as a site for a school sometime in the future. “If we wanted a school in our backyard, we would have stayed in town," said Audrey Nelson, a resident of Mallard Loop. She also said most residents of Mallard Loop did not want the traffic from a school flowing through the subdivision and the trash generated by kids.
20 Years Ago
April 29, 2004
Al Serr’s colorful costumes were legendary at downtown Whitefish events such as Stumptown Days and Fiesta Days, but after nearly two deceased, he moved his business out of Whitefish. Serr, owner of the Big Mountain Trading Company pawn shop and second hand store, relocated from his downtown Central Avenue shop to a spot behind Montana Coffee Traders off U.S. 93. “I’m moving ‘cause I can’t afford to be downtown anymore,” Serr said. “I have good vibes about moving, but I'm going to miss the downtown people and mingling the most. I will really miss strolling downtown during the day and I won't be able to dress up anymore,” he said.
10 Years Ago
May 2, 2014
After more than a year of negotiations the Whitefish School District and teachers union settled on a collective bargaining agreement. The three-year contract goes through June 2016 and includes annual pay raises for teachers as well as changes to the retirement program. The deal includes a 1.5% bump to the base salary for teachers. “I hope it shows our intent that if we have the money, we're willing to put it into wages," said trustee Dave Fern.