Looking Back: Blacktail Mountain Ski Area proposed
Recreational canoeists took to the Whitefish River as part of the annual Maad River Canoes demo day in 1995. (Ted Burnham photo)
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler
50 Years Ago
May 8, 1975
City Attorney Leo Fischer swore in reelected Councilmen Art Engelter, Roland Newton and Buster Schreiber at the City Council meeting. Mayor John Thorson appointed Dr. Bruce McIntyre as health officer, Rev. Dennis Hanson to the Housing Authority and Minor Stocking to the City-County planning board. Bill Beller was confirmed as chief of the fire department and Carlyle Crum as city clerk. A tour of all water and sewer facilities by the council was suggested by Alderman Fred Stacey. It was agreed that better understanding of these operations would be beneficial.
40 Years Ago
May 9, 1985
Montana Department of Health and Environmental Services told city Water Director Greg Acton that it may be “quite some time” before a boil advisory would be lifted on the Whitefish water system. The city had hoped to lift the advisory after it flushed the contaminated Whitefish Lake water from its lines and received test results indicating the system was clean. The state, however, told the city it did not want to lift the boil advisory for an indefinite amount of time. The reason for the extension, Acton said, was the states worry about the susceptibility of the reservoir, the city's main water source, of being contaminated by Giardia Lamblia.
30 Years Ago
May 4, 1995
Steve Spencer, a former Big Mountain manager, submitted a proposal to the Flathead National Forest for a four-lift ski area on the north slope of 6,700-foot Blacktail Mountain. Spencer said the ski area would cater to locals seeking affordable skiing during the winter season. “The top of the mountain is exactly the same elevation as Big Mountain,” Spencer said. “There's plenty of snow there. It has lots of things going for it.” The ski area, located on the Swan Lake Ranger District, would have a dozen runs serviced by three chair lifts and a platter lift.
20 Years Ago
May 5, 2005
For the second City Council meeting in a row, a construction bid came in well over the city's estimated cost. The city estimated a total cost of $131,153 to complete the Baker to Rig portion of the city bike trail. The city received three bids on the project, one by Sandon Construction Inc. for $158,760, one by JTL Group Inc. for $264,793, and one from LHC Inc. for $189,550. The council previously approved a bid for a different project by Sandry Conduct Construction for $1,249,110, which was $311,191 over the estimated cost. The council swore this would be the last time they accepted bids over the estimates. “I think there's a target on us a mile wide,” council member Eric Garberg said. “We're getting fleeced, in my opinion. At some point you just have to say no.”
10 Years Ago
May 6, 2015
John Muhlfeld formally announced he's running for a second term as mayor of Whitefish. Muhlfeld submitted his statement of candidacy to the Flathead County Election Department. Glacier Bank branch president Lin Akey served as treasurer of the campaign. Muhlfeld told the Pilot in a recent interview that with a full slate of big projects facing the city, he isn't ready to walk away from his post. “A lot of this stuff is ongoing, and I don't want to step down before it's put to bed,” he said in the interview.