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Whitefish Pilot
Douglas and Krack finish strong at nationals
Whitefish High School student Simon Douglas and recent graduate Carson Krack competed at the Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 12-15.The Nike national championship for high school track and field is a USATF-sanctioned event that allows top-talent, qualifying student-athletes to end their season at the national level. Since it is outside the designated school season, athletes typically compete unattached or for clubs. Douglas qualified in the 800 meter in the emerging elite division with a tactfully smart and impressively strong race. This effort earned him second in his heat with a personal record time of 1:54.99 and placed 12th overall.Fresh off of graduation, Carroll College commit Krack qualified in the 110 hurdles in the emerging elite division and in the long jump in the championship division. He won his heat in the 110 hurdles prelims with a PR time of 14.69 seconds, followed by 14:68 in the finals which placed him 4th overall.In the long jump Krack leaped 21’ 4.25” which is short of his season best, but good enough to earn him 22nd place.
Residents sound off on rockslide into lake
Several members of the community commented at the Whitefish City Council meeting last week about a recent rockslide caused by the construction of a home on Whitefish Lake.Construction crews using explosives to blast rock for the foundation of the home last month led to a rockslide of debris into Beaver Bay. Contractors on the project are Whitefish-based High Country Builders. According to the builders, the blasting was done by professionals hired by DLB Inc., of Libby.Whitefish resident Beth Sobba has lived on Beaver Bay for over 20 years. According to Sobba, she and her neighbors have been enduring noise from...
School board approves transportation agreements, new hires
The Whitefish School Board approved several annual agreements, new hires and transfer students at its meetings in May and June.According to enrollment data, from the beginning of the 2023-24 school year to the end, the number of students enrolled at Muldown Elementary and Whitefish Middle School stayed about the same, while Whitefish High School saw a 3.75% drop, although that is relatively normal. The 2022-23 school year saw the same trend with a 4% drop at the high school.However, both district wide and at the high school, the 2023-24 school year started with more students enrolled, so the 2024 end...
Glacier's Sun Road fully open for 2024 season
The full length of Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road officially opened Saturday morning for the 2024 summer season. The road may now be accessed by motorized vehicles over Logan Pass from both the West Glacier and St. Mary entrances. Road crews battled avalanches and deep snow levels above 5,500 ft this year, and facilities staff worked against freezing temperatures to get the water system operational. As of Thursday, staff were busy shoveling walkways and access into the visitor center. Services at Logan Pass include restroom facilities, but potable water is currently not yet available. Visitors should plan to bring their own...
Forever June at the North Valley Food Bank
North Valley Food Bank’s fourth annual Forever June celebration was a summery success Friday. Savannah Lust smiles with a rainbow of fresh in-house food at the NVFB Forever June community BBQ last Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Elizabeth Munsey helps apply fruit and veggie temporary tattoos at the NVFB Forever June celebration. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Kids get excited about fruits and vegetables with temporary tattoos at the NVFB Forever June celebration Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Local artists Radio Ranch bring tunes to NVFB's annual Forever June celebration on Friday.
Karrow Avenue reconstruction underway
Karrow Avenue is closed to through traffic from West Second Street to West Seventh Street due to construction on the Karrow Avenue Reconstruction Project. Traffic is only permitted to use the roadway for trips beginning or ending within the closure. This applies to residents who live on Karrow Avenue, South Karrow Estates, Fox Farm Drive, and Centennial Drive. It also applies to visitors, deliveries, garbage collection, and emergency vehicles.Alternate routes include West Seventh Street, Baker Avenue, West Second Street, Good Avenue, Jennings Avenue and Geddes Avenue. Fairway Drive is a private roadway and through traffic is not permitted.Construction began in...
Student Art: ‘True Morel’ by Deneb Linton
The art featured above is called "True Morel" and is a marker and pen drawing by Whitefish High School senior Deneb Linton in the WHS Art 2: Advanced Art class. The Pilot periodically features art from Whitefish High School students.
Police Calls: Three bears go for bar-b-que
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.May 23The caller needed help getting her vehicle unlocked when she locked her dog in the vehicle along with her keys.Someone reported having a strange symbol left on her car windshield.Fifty gallons of diesel fuel and a satellite phone were reported stolen from a vehicle on Flathead Avenue.It was reported that a female with a cat smoked a joint before sleeping in a park bathroom.May 24The caller found it odd that a male left a...
Looking Back: Boat ramp at Les Mason debate
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler50 Years AgoJune 20, 1974According to Whitney Smith, official weather Observer for the Whitefish Lake weather station, the level of Whitefish Lake hit an all-time high on June 19. Surface elevation of the lake was at 2,998.67 feet above sea level. Translated into vertical rise from the average low water level of 2,992.0 feet, this was approximately an 80-inch rise. Smith reported that the 1974 rise is the most rapid and sustained in the 25 years that records have been kept. Record snowpack in the Whitefish drainage combined with extremely high...
In a Nutshell: Addressing childhood hunger while school is out
School is out and for one in six local children this means they lose access to the nutritious school-provided meals that their families rely on.To address childhood food insecurity during the summer, local food access organizations are teaming up once again to ensure free summer lunches for kids and teens in northern Flathead and Lincoln Counties. This year, Land to Hand (L2H) is spearheading the Summer Meals Program for Columbia Falls, Olney and Trego. The Whitefish School and Kalispell School Districts are leading the program for their respective communities. You can find the closest summer meals site by texting FOOD...
June 19 letters to the editor: River health, marijuana tax and reproductive rights
Protect Smith River from miningThe Smith River is a popular, well-renowned, sought after Montana experience. The Smith River possesses invaluable beauty and environmental significance. It is the only river in Montana that requires a permit to float. This year, 12,452 applicants applied for the lottery permit and only 978 float permits were awarded. There is one put-in point, and the one take-out point is 59 miles downstream. Visitors enjoy a four-day float trip through remote, limestone canyons.The Smith River is now threatened by a mining operation near the headwaters of the main tributary. An Australian mining company plans to extract...
Legals for June, 19 2024
NO. 2761 WHITEFISH FIRE DEPARTMENT The Whitefish Fire Department is accepting proposals to purchase an immediately available Type 1 Fire Engine for the Whitefish Fire Service Area. We will review all reasonable bids with reasonable exceptions clearly noted, and all bids will be given consideration. Bids will be opened on Friday, June 28, 2024, at 3pm. MST in the Whitefish Fire Department Conference room. Bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope to the Whitefish Fire Department, 275 Flathead Ave Whitefish, Montana 59937. Each envelope shall be plainly marked: “Bid - WFSA Type 1 Engine”. Envelopes must also include the bidder’s...
Council reviews budget priorities for parks, streets
The Whitefish City Council had its second meeting to discuss and review the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget last week. No one from the public attended in person or online.Whitefish City Manager Dana Smith’s budget update was followed by information about the resort tax fund and reports from the municipal court, the Whitefish Trail, Parks and Recreation and Public Works.Currently, the FY 2025 total appropriated budget is $50,850,004. Compared to the prior fiscal year, FY 2025 expenditures are set to increase $760,210.Parks and Recreation currently has three capital projects. Parks and Recreation Director Maria Butts said the Armory Park project,...
Sherry Lynn Elaine Martindale, 75
Sherry Lynn Elaine Martindale, 75, died June 4, 2024, in Whitefish.A celebration of Sherry’s life will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 9, at Columbia Mortuary, 1010 Fourth Ave. West, Columbia Falls. To send online condolences, please visit the website www.columbiamortuary.com.
73-lot Whitetail Ridge development approved
The Whitefish City Council last week approved a new 73-lot subdivision on Flathead Avenue.Siderius Construction, LLP., is proposing the Whitetail Ridge subdivision with 59 single-family homes and 14 townhomes on about 34 acres. The property was annexed into the city in April.The subdivision includes a new 30-foot dedicated right-of-way along the entire southern border of the property for an extension of West 18th Street. “West 18th, currently, is a very narrow right-of-way,” said Whitefish Senior Planner Wendy Compton-Ring. “The road itself could be improved because it’s kind of like an alley, but there’s not enough width to make any sort of...
Glacier Twins B defeats Glasgow
The Glacier B Twins had zero losses on the weekend, opening Saturday, June 15, with a 13-6 victory over Glasgow in American Legion action.Treyson Murphy and West Amerman combined to hold Glasgow to one hit, while Glacier scored eight runs in the final two innings for the victory.Collison Lewis was 2-for-4 with two triples and four RBI, while Trenton Derosa drove in two runs, and Reed Boyer had two hits and three RBI.Glacier B then tied with Vauxhall 2-2 to finished up Sautrday. Trenton Derosa pitched seven innings and struck out nine. West Amerman was 2-for 3, while Noah Amerman...
Glacier A team sweeps loggers
The Glacier A Twins swept the Libby Loggers on Monday, June 10, in American Legion doubleheader action by a combined score of 32-4.The Twins’ pitching duo of Matthew Mitts and Dawson Juntunen held Libby to just one hit in the first game, a 16-2 Glacier victory. The Twins had 12 hits as a team, including two from Stevyn Andrahick, Michael Miller and Trenton Derosa.Andrachick, Kellen Kroger, Nolan Amerman and Derosa each had two hits. Matthew Mitts had a double, while Miller, Maddox Muller, and Amerman had triples in the victory.In the second game, Glacier scored five runs in the fifth...
Sabin named Legacy Partners new board chair amid push to expand trail
Longtime Whitefish resident Reid Sabin has been selected as the new board chair at Whitefish Legacy Partners, the nonprofit that oversees development of the Whitefish Trail.Sabin has been involved with the Whitefish Trail since its beginnings in 2010. Conservation and education are his priorities moving forward in his new role as the organization seeks to build more trails on the north end of Whitefish Lake. “My wife and I have been here since ‘95 and we’re passionate recreationists. We chose Whitefish because it’s just a wonderful place, and the Whitefish Trail is the perfect example of conservation and recreation working together,”...
Patricia Murphy, 75
Patricia Nell Murphy, 75 of Whitefish, passed away on June 4, 2024. She was born in Missoula, on Jan. 1, 1949, to parents George and Frances Dodge. She grew up in various small towns around Montana with her sister and brothers. She graduated from the University of Montana Western in Dillon with a bachelor’s degree in education. She settled in Whitefish in 1984 where she raised her daughter Jessica and worked at an accounting firm until her retirement in 2015. In 2003 Pat met and married Ron Murphy.She was a deeply religious person and enjoyed her time spent in worship...
Pin and Cue: Crowd-favorite business celebrates 40 years in Whitefish
The Pin and Cue has been part of the Whitefish community since 1984, rallying spirits and providing a gathering place for all ages. The business offers 16 slick bowling lanes, plus a diner, a bar and casino, and a laundromat. They also cater and rent space for private events.In the 2024 Best of Whitefish competition, the Pin and Cue landed in the top four spots in 11 categories. It won Best Happy Hour and Best Place to Gamble and placed in other varied categories including Best Pizza, Place to Watch Sports, Family Restaurant, Bathroom, Breakfast and Beer Menu.Larry Jensen and...
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The first edition of the Whitefish Pilot rolled off the press Jan. 23, 1904. For more than 100 years, the Pilot has provided Whitefish with local news, sports and features, and has played an integral role in documenting the city's transformation from a railroad town to a bustling resort community.
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