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Whitefish Pilot
Local government review on June primary ballot
On the June primary ballot, Whitefish voters are being asked to decide if they want a government review to examine the city government. The local government review is constitutionally required every 10 years as in Article XI, Section 9 of the 1972 Montana Constitution. Whitefish City Council decided to put the question before voters on whether they’d like a review. Election Day is June 4.This is an opportunity for citizens to review their city's power and form of government and to make recommendations for improvements in their structure of government, according to the city of Whitefish. Cities that choose to participate...
Gears up: ribbon cut on Gear Head Project
After many years, the Gear Head Project is complete. Whitefish High School and Stumptown Art Studio held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday to celebrate that the gears are finally ‘up’ on the permanent art installation located at the high school.“Our mission was to engage students in interdisciplinary learning that communicates the concept of connection to share knowledge,” said Stumptown Art Studio Executive Director Melanie Drown.The project now stands as a permanent “reminder that when we think together and exchange ideas, something more powerful results,” said Whitefish High School Principal Kerry Drown. From thousands of pounds of concrete, to safely engineering a...
Whitefish Theatre Co. closes season with 'Death By Design”
The Whitefish Theatre Company is excited to present the hilarious who-dunnit comedy “Death By Design” by Robert Urbinati as their final show of the 2023-2024 season. Inspired by the brilliant wit of Noël Coward and the intricate plotting of Agatha Christie, this laugh-a-minute comedy opens with a sneak preview night on May 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Performances continue on May 31 and June 1, 6, 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. There is one matinee performance on June 2 at 4 p.m. “Death By Design” is a highly entertaining mystery with a twist you will never...
Glacier National Park plows at Oberlin Bend
Glacier National Park Plow crews are now at Oberlin Bend, after spending a couple of days clearing snow this week on lower sections of the highway so they could get back to heavy equipment that was trapped by avalanches at Rim Rocks.Oberlin Bend is about a half mile below Logan Pass.The week before saw heavy snow, then very warm weather in Glacier. Temperatures then tumbled back down Friday as a cold front swept through the region.The east side crew is between No Stump and the East Tunnel.The east side saw bad weather on Friday, which dropped the public closure down to Rising Sun because of wintry conditions in higher terrain.More secondary roads have opened in the park. The Two Medicine Road is now open for the season, as is the Cut Bank Road, though the campground is closed at Cut Bank.
A flying start for scholarship mentorship program
The Whitefish Education Foundation scholarship mentor pilot program is already making a big impact. To date, WEF Scholarship Mentors estimate they have met with 60 students since the program’s inception in January. They have contributed nearly 200 volunteer hours. “Searching for scholarships can seem overwhelming at first. It was really helpful to have someone to help me get started and better understand each step I needed to take,” said WHS Senior Maddie Young.Under the supervision of the Whitefish High School Counselors, volunteer mentors assist Whitefish High School and Whitefish Independent High School students in navigating the scholarship search and application process.Whether the...
Whitefish qualifies 11 for State A tennis
Mason Kelch and Dane Hunt defeated Whitefish teammates Buren Brust and Jesse Burrough in the Northwest A divisional boys doubles championship match, as both duos earned a spot at the state tournament Wednesday.The two boys teams joined the girls pairings of Ainsley Scott and Maggie Mercer, and Camry Kelch and Zoey Marzo as Whitefish swept the team titles. In singles play the Bulldogs send Jake Oelerich in the boys competition, while Alivia Lusko and Liesl Brust earned a spot in girls singles.“What a difference a year makes,” Whitefish girls tennis coach Pat Dryden said. “Last year we struggled to field a...
Whitefish ‘Schools Rock’ party this week
Whitefish ‘Schools Rock’ party this weekThe Whitefish Education Foundation invites the public to attend the third annual Whitefish Schools Rock party on May 23 at the Moose Lodge in Whitefish. This party is a chance to celebrate the educators, administrators and staff who work hard to create a successful learning environment within the Whitefish School District. It also serves as a fundraiser for the numerous professional development and student extended learning opportunities that would otherwise be outside of the school district's budget. Anyone interested in learning more or donating can go whitefisheducationfoundation.org.The party is from 4:30-7:30 and is free for Whitefish School District staff and their plus ones. It is $10 for community members. There will be hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live music by Todd Cowart.
May 15 letters to the editor
Jim Lockwood is solutions-orientedThe Flathead County Commissioners serve for six years and in the next six years we will be dealing with some big issues: not only housing and homelessness, but traffic and transportation, over-visitation and potential natural disasters such as fires and extreme weather, as well as water safety and the building of our infrastructure. It would be wonderful to have a county commissioner who understands the issues that the cities are facing and would work more cooperatively to get things done. For that reason I encourage you to vote for Jim Lockwood for the Flathead County Commission. Most people know...
Barbara Ree Saunders, 95
Barbara Ree Saunders lost her year and half battle with cancer on May 10th. She passed peacefully at home with lots of love surrounding her.She was born October 3, 1928 the youngest daughter of Grace Jane & Clarence Lenard Skeen in Burbank, CA. Her older siblings were sister Dorothy & brother C Lynn. She married her brother’s best friend, Robert William Saunders, when he returned from Navy, in September 1946. They had a full life together for nearly 70 years. They raised a daughter & 2 sons moving around Southern CA from San Luis Obispo, the LA area, and the...
Steven C. Bryson, 73
Steven C. Bryson, 73, passed away unexpectedly but comfortably in his home the morning of March 30th. Steve was born on August 6th, 1950 to Betty Potter. He grew up in Redfield, South Dakota and most enjoyed the company of his Grandmother, Emma Baltazore. In his youth, Steve forged his path as Eagle Scout, pheasant hunter, and wrestler. After graduating high school, Steve worked at Iowa Beef Packers as a meat cutter before entering the Navy in 1972. As a Naval Corpsman, he served at San Diego Medical Center in the Coronary Care Unit and at China Lake Navel Air...
Legacy Homes program may see changes to fee in lieu option
The Whitefish City Council approved a conditional use permit for a 21-apartment project after adding a condition requiring the developer to build deed restricted units, per the Legacy Homes program, rather than pay a fee in lieu.The developer, JLA Whitefish, LLC., requested a conditional use permit to build 21 apartments on about half an acre on Iowa Avenue. Edgewood Place is along the south of the project and Iowa Avenue is to the west. In order to participate in the Legacy Homes program, 10% of the units, or 2.1 units, need to be deed restricted for affordability or a fee paid...
Looking Back: City councilor said she was ‘spinning her wheels’
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler50 Years AgoMay 16, 1974Cash, liquor and checks were stolen when the Whitefish Golf Club was burglarized. Whitefish police and the resident sheriff’s deputy apprehended two adults and one juvenile soon after the incident occurred. “We had ‘em in jail before the golf club officials knew they had been robbed,” said police chief Joe Eason. Police arrested Don Skinner, Greg Wiebe and the juvenile, and recovered the cash, buried at State Park in a metal box. They also recovered some of the liquor.40 Years AgoMay 17, 1984Helen Tate, the first woman...
Local historian keeps stories alive
Gayle McCarron has served on the five-member Fortine/Trego Cemetery board for the last 16 years. Her dedication to researching family histories has helped the Fortine/Trego Cemetery regain and honor the compelling stories of those buried there.The Fortine/Trego Cemetery is celebrating its 110-year anniversary with a cookout and potluck this Saturday. McCarron said it is traditional for the town to get together in the spring and clean the cemetery. “Families would go up on Arbor Day and have a clean up day,” McCarron said. “Men would usually clean the cemetery. The women would make the lunches and they'd have picnics up there....
Police Calls: Spiteful parker rips off wiper blade
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 26A brand new water heater was reported stolen off a construction site on Labrie Drive.It seemed some items stored in boxes in an attic on Central Avenue had been rummaged through and possibly burgled.The caller didn’t want the man who had stolen things from the location on Highway 93 and loaded them into his car to be charged for theft, but did want him trespassed.A female shoplifter left a location on Highway 93 on...
Student Art: ‘Smith Rock Pumpkin Patch - Oregon’ by Colton Staley
The art featured above is called "Smith Rock Pumpkin Patch - Oregon" and is a wool, needle felting landscape by Whitefish High School senior Colton Staley in the WHS Sculpture class. The Pilot periodically features art from Whitefish High School students.
Council votes to proceed with permit for Riverbend-Miles Trail section
At the Whitefish City Council meeting last week, 16 members of the public spoke in support of completing the Riverbend-Miles portion of the Whitefish River Trail. The council voted unanimously to proceed with the application process for a 124 permit. The section of trail would connect the river trail from the north edge of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge underpass to the BNSF Railway loop trail. Currently, the trail ends and users must climb stairs or cross over U.S. 93 North and go up the hill that is Miles Avenue to rejoin the trail.Julie Tickle, executive director of DREAM Adaptive Recreation, called...
The next generation of Alpine Theatre Project begins
For the last 20 years, co-founders of the Alpine Theatre Project Betsi Morrison and Luke Walrath have seen through 77 productions and brought countless artists to the valley. Since the launch of educational programming in 2008, the nonprofit has offered inclusive educational theater opportunities to children of all ages. Now, in 2024, Morrison and Walrath are passing the torch to the next generation of ATP’s leaders. Tracy McDowell will fill Morrison's role as artistic director and Cyntha Benkelman will take over Luke Walrath’s developmental responsibilities as executive director. McDowell has been a performer with ATP since 2010. She has performance experience from across...
Legals for May, 15 2024
NO. 2756 WHITEFISH CITY COUNCIL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The regular meeting of the Whitefish City Council will be held in person on Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:10 pm at the Whitefish City Council Chambers in City Hall. 1. Whitetail Ridge Holding and Siderius Construction, LLP are requesting a 73-lot subdivision (59 single family homes and 14 townhomes). This is a reduction from the original 77-lots, as four (4) townhomes were eliminated. The applicant is requesting a variance to §12-4-15H of the Subdivision Regulations, to develop a temporary ‘T’ turnaround in lieu of a connection into O’Brien Bluffs subdivision. In order to facilitate the...
Whitefish baseball edges Bigfork
Whitefish fended off a late rally by Bigfork for a 6-5 victory on Wednesday, May 8 in West Division baseball action. Michael Miller went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a double in the victory.Whitefish finished with seven hits as a team and overcame three team errors. The Bulldogs led 3-0 after three innings, but Bigfork tied things up in the top of the fourth. Whitefish responded with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth.Bigfork scored a run in the sixth and seventh but couldn’t overcome the Bulldogs lead. Tait Orme was 2-for-3 as was Ryan Conklin, who drove...
Whitefish tennis wins three out of four against Hamilton, Corvallis
The Whitefish boys tennis team picked up victories against Hamilton and Corvallis, while the girls won their matchup against Hamilton on Saturday, May 11.The Bulldog boys notched a 6-1 win over Hamilton thanks to strong play from their doubles team, sweeping all three matches. Whitefish’s Jack Oehlerich won the No. 2 singles matchup over Micah VanSickle 6-0, 6-1, while Walt Seigmund and Luke Craig were victorious in their singles matchups.The doubles teams showed up. Buren Brust and Jesse Burrough won their No. 1 doubles matchups against Finn Dufresne and Jason Chaplin 6-3, 6-4. Dane Hunt and Aaron Anderson won their...
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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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