Columbus
Whitefish Pilot
Gianforte reiterates aggressive strategy for dousing wildfires during annual briefing
Gov. Greg Gianforte reiterated his administration’s aggressive approach to fighting wildfires during an annual fire briefing in Helena on Wednesday.Gianforte told the assembled representatives of state and federal agencies that his main goals during the 2024 wildfire season were aggressively attacking all burns and promoting forest management. He also called on residents to take steps to prevent fires. “We can’t stop every wildlife from starting but we can control our actions and our preparedness,” Gianforte said May 8. “As Montanans, we all have a role in preventing wildfires. It’s critical that we stay informed so we can protect our firefighters and...
May storm improves outlook, but drought concerns persist for Montana
This week’s widespread, wet storm has brought a measure of relief to parts of Montana reeling from one of the driest winters on record, but water managers say it’s too early to tell how much of that water will stick around to sustain streams, crops and forests through the hottest months of the year.“I think it’s fair to say that despite the pins and needles we’ve been on after that dry November and December, conditions this May are greatly improved from the last three [Mays],” said Michael Downey, the drought program coordinator with the state’s Department of Natural Resources and...
School levy request approved
Preliminary results from the May 7 election on the Whitefish High School general funds levy are in. The levy has passed with 59.8% of votes in favor. 4,122 ballots were cast, denoting a voter turnout of 39.41%. 2,465 votes were cast for; 1,624 against; 33 ballots did not vote. The permanent levy of $108,337 will fund teacher and staff salaries and meet the needs of a growing student body. The levy’s estimated impact on a home with a tax-assessed value of $600,000 will be $5.88 yearly.
Dark money interests: May 8 letters to the editor
Dark-money interestsMy great-great grandpa took the train from Kentucky to Whitefish in 1914, and we’ve been in Western Montana ever since. Our family is made of schoolteachers, railroaders and lumber workers, and we always loved Montana because of its quiet beauty and its friendly people. But now those neighbors and us can barely afford to live here anymore.I am so tired of Republican multimillionaires moving here from out of state, buying 5 mansions on Flathead and in Big Sky, then getting elected and saying “trust me - I care about lowering your housing prices!” I am talking about Jersey Gianforte...
Yeats family places acreage east of Flathead River under easement
A key parcel of farmland just east of the Flathead River has been placed under a conservation easement with the Flathead Land Trust.“I wanted to protect my land so it wouldn’t be subdivided,” landowner Luci Yeats said last week. “Kind of put my money where my mouth is.”Yeats and her late husband, Dave, planned on placing the land into an easement, as development pressure east of the river mounted. The land is farmland and woods on 76.5 acres. It often hosts an elk herd in the winter months.Four generations of the Loeffler and Rogers families have stewarded the land that...
Looking Back: Eighteen-year-old pilot decides to ‘ride it out’
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler50 Years AgoMay 9, 1974Assistant County Sanitarian Al Schoenhuth made a presentation to the Whitefish City Council about surface sewage flowing into the Whitefish River. Lab reports showed a series of six samplings, taken in the southwest area of Whitefish. These samples showed the fecal coliform bacteria count ranging from 18 per 100 ml. to 5600 per 100 ml. Schoenhuth stressed the health hazard of such surface effluents, which cause cholera, dysentery, typhoid and other epidemic diseases. 40 Years AgoMay 10, 1984The State Highway Department announced plans to resurface Highway 93 for...
Police Calls: Staying limber is not illegal
The police calls section is presented for entertainment purposes and does not reflect the nature or the volume of the calls received by local law enforcement.April 18A man who has been stretching and doing toe touches in a parking lot on Seventh Street for years was asked to do his exercising across the street. The caller said although the man was doing nothing illegal, they were concerned about young girls in the area.An approximately 75-pound dog fell head-first into a pipe hole in the ground and got stuck. The owner of the dog was not home but the dog was...
Student Art: ‘Pretty Peaks in Glacier National Park’ by Mahalia Horton
The art featured above is called “Pretty Peaks in Glacier National Park” and is a graphite drawing by Whitefish High School freshman Mahalia Horton in the WHS Introduction to Art class. The Pilot periodically features art from Whitefish High School students.
Whitefish Community Center a gathering place for all
What was once a senior center is now the Whitefish Community Center and it is buzzing with activities for all ages. Tara Liard, executive director of the center and a self-described “huge advocate for community,” has been on the job for about a month and is excited about offering more programs.The building, located at 121 East Second Street near the river, was a senior center until a couple years ago when it changed its name to the Whitefish Community Center and began offering a wider variety of activities. Laird said the building has evolved into a gathering place.“Right now we...
Smokey Bear stolen from Tally Lake Ranger District
Striking the Tally Lake Ranger District office on Sunday, thieves made off with an American icon. At about 3:30 a.m. April 28, a pickup truck drove up onto the sidewalk outside the Wolfpack Way district office in Kalispell and its occupants stole the two-dimensional visage of Smokey Bear affixed to a fire prevention sign. The facsimile of the beloved bear was relatively new, officials said.“He’s our icon and it’s coming up on his birthday this year … You know, he’s near and dear to our hearts,” said Kira Powell, spokesperson for the Flathead National Forest. Smokey, who was born as the symbol of...
Whitefish squares up podium trips at triangular
Both the Whitefish boys and girls track team took second at the Mike Nicosia Cat/Dog/Viking Triangular on Tuesday, April 30.For the girls, Brooke Zetooney took first in the 100-meter run (12.52), the 400 (57.64), and the shot put (36-4). Also, in the 100-meter run, Rachael Wilmot was second (12.81), and Anna Boysen was third (13.61). In the 200-meter run, Anna Boysen was first (27.97), and Mila Maddock was third (29.44). In the 400-meter run, Wilmot was second (59.69), Hailey Ells was third (1:01.79), Kellie Klepper was fifth and Sierra Gibb was sixth. Olga Abramchuk was third in the 100-meter hurdles (19.87), while Drew...
Whitefish tennis wins big over Columbia Falls
Whitefish picked up the all important Cat-Dog rivalry win, as the boys and girls tennis teams defeated Columbia Falls handily on Tuesday, April 30. The Whitefish boys won 6-1, led by No. 1 singles player Jack Oehlerich, defeating C-Falls’ Jax Ramage 6-1, 6-1. Owen Erickson won his No. 2 singles matchup, while Walt Seigmund won at No. 3, and Logan Hyland won at No. 4. In doubles action, Whitefish faired nearly as well, with the No. 1 team of Dane Hunt and Buren Brust defeating Columbia Falls’ Logan Heupel and Will Pickard 7-6 (4), 6-1. Mason Kelch and Aaron Anderson won their...
Whitefish baseball notches wins over Browning, Troy
Florence-Carlton scored nine runs in the final two innings of its 12-1 victory over Whitefish on Tuesday, April 30. The Bulldogs were held to three hits in the loss.Brady Howke started the game, pitching the first two innings and striking out three, and Florence-Carlton went up 2-0. They would add another run in the third and then had a four-run rally in the fourth and five runs in the fifth. Florence-Carlton finished the game with nine hits.Ryan Conklin went 2-for-3 in the game, with a double and an RBI, while Calvin Eisenbarth also had a hit for the Bulldogs. At Florence-CarltonFLORENCE-CARLTON 12,...
Anita Phyllis Flint, 86
Anita Phyllis Flint, 86, passed on from this life April 17, 2024 at the Edgewood Memory Care facility in Kalispell.Anita was born July 8, 1937 in Missoula. She graduated from Missoula County School in 1955. She was a member of the National Honor Society and participated in a work/study program with a dentist during her senior year. After graduation she continued working as a dental assistant for another seven years until moving to Whitefish in 1963.Anita married Bill Flint on April 8, 1955. She was the mother or two sons: William M. Flint of Snohomish, Washington and Robert F. Flint of Whitefish. She was active in the Jayceens, the North Valley Hospital Guild, and was named one of the Volunteers of the Year by the JCPenney Golden Rule Award Program in 2000. Anita helped for years to rebuild and prepare the city Christmas lights for the next season. Anita worked as a seamstress at Martin’s Laundry and Dry Cleaners and at Tamarack Arts Stained Glass Studio. She was also an accomplished watercolor artist.She is survived by her husband, sons, and brother, Ronald Ramer of Missoula.A celebration of life will be held later this summer for family and friends.
The ecology behind sidewalk murals
Paintbrushes, frog wizards, pollution and Whitefish Lake — if you’re wondering what the missing link is here, a Whitefish High School advanced art student might be able to tell you. For the past few weeks, unpredictable spring weather pending, advanced art students have spread out across downtown Whitefish to revitalize sidewalk murals that were painted above storm drains in 2022. The murals can be found on Railway, First and Second streets.The murals are meant to bring attention to nonpoint source pollution. This type of pollution includes trash, oil, pet waste, fertilizer and natural debris that flows into storm drains and is...
Whitefish community blood drive at The Wave
The American Red Cross will host its spring Whitefish Community Blood Drive on Thursday, May 16 at The Wave, 1250 Baker Ave., from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. The entire donation process takes about an hour. This includes check-in, a brief health review, drawing the blood and snacks afterward. Appointments are highly recommended and walk-in donors are appreciated. A blood donor card or a driver license is required at check-in. To schedule an appointment for May 16, call Merry Lynn at 406-250-0146 or go online to redcrossblood.org and search for blood drives in the 59937 area. It is suggested that people eat a hardy meal and drink plenty of water prior to giving blood. Snacks, water and juices will be provided at the blood drive.Every 27 minutes someone in Montana will need blood. A donation helps accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients and those receiving treatments for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell. Blood cannot be produced or manufactured; it can only come from donors. For further information about the American Red Cross Blood Donation Program and why blood donations are important, go to redcrossblood.org.
The origin of the Sapa-Johnsrud baseball tournament
The Sapa-Johnsrud tournament marks the end of the regular season for Columbia Falls and Whitefish baseball, but many folks don't know the origin of the tournament or what it means to the communities.The tournament honors two young baseball players killed in a tragic car-train collision on Aug. 6, 1984. On the fateful night, 16-year-old Jim Sapa tried to cross the railroad tracks past the gate in Columbia Falls at 12th Avenue West. His car was hit by an Amtrak train. Sapa and Ray Johnsrud, a 16-year-old passenger and Sapa’s best friend, was also killed.The two were headed home after Glacier...
Mountain Climber Commuters call for support
Dear Community Member, I am reaching out to members and businesses of the local communities to provide an update on the expansion of the service Mountain Climber provides. Our valley has grown immensely over the past four years and public transportation is no exception to feeling the effects of this growth. Recently, much time has been spent reevaluating how and where the expansion of transportation services would most benefit the residents of Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls. It is the goal of Mountain Climber to use its limited resources in a pragmatic and efficient manner. To better support the transportation needs of the...
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