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Whitefish Pilot
City Council preview for June 17, 2024
Whitefish City Council meets on Monday, June 17, beginning at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall.Council meetings are also available for participation remotely through Microsoft Teams. The work sessions are also available for remote participation. For more information, visit the city’s website at www.cityofwhitefish.org or call 863-2400.Individuals are encouraged to provide written public comment to the City Clerk, Michelle Howke at mhowke@cityofwhitefish.org or deliver by 4 p.m. on June 17, at City Hall in the Utility Drop Box.Items on the agenda, subject to change:- An ordinance amending zoning regulations regarding stream, lake and wetland buffers and setbacks.-A resolution adopting the update to the Whitefish Sustainable Tourism Management Plan.-Consideration of approving the proposed budget as the fiscal year 2025 preliminary budget.-Consideration to wayward a construction contract for the GRouse Mountain Fields parking lot.-Other matters that may arise between June 12 and June 17.There is a special session at 5:30 p.m., before the regular meeting, for a review with the Montana Department of Transportation and for a discussion of a proposed annexation policy. This meeting is held virtually and is accessed with the same link that is provided for the regular meeting.
Explore Whitefish passes $250,000 mark to support affordable housing
Explore Whitefish has donated more than a quarter million dollars to affordable housing initiatives in the past two years. Its most recent allocation to Housing Whitefish for $35,000 collected in the first quarter of this year includes funds for operations, program development, and rental assistance payments. Total payments over the past two years are $266,682.Local restaurant business members contributed directly through the 1% Community Sustainability Fund (CSF).CSF is Explore Whitefish's 1% voluntary assessment from revenues collected at member restaurants, hotels and transportation companies. 50% of the CSF collected at member restaurants directly supports affordable workforce housing. 125 business members actively...
Muldown Elementary 2024 Kindergarten Circus a delight to see
The Muldown Elementary 2024 Kindergarten Circus put on a fun show last Friday. Ringmasters Wilder Connelly and Shale Menssen bravely introduced 12 acts. First, kindergarten monkeys took to the circus ring. They were followed by tightrope walkers, lions, jugglers, seals, acrobats, clowns, strong people, bear, elephants, the marching band and last but not least, the ballon people. Lions bear their big claws on the stand at the Circus on Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) The tightrope walkers try to stay balanced while they hop and go backwards down the line. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) The seals clap and perform tricks on the pond in the Muldown gym. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) The kindergarten jugglers were a frenzy of balls and flags at the Circus on Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) The strong people bend metal and lift heavy weights at the Circus on Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Clowns go head to head at the Muldown Elementary Circus on Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) The bears buzz around a jar of honey at the Circus. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Be involved with newly-formed Community Development Board
The newly formed Community Development Board was created by the city of Whitefish in conformance with the State and merges the Planning Board with the Board of Adjustment. The board meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Why may this board be of interest to you? This board reviews variances, zoning appeals, land use permits, zoning/subdivision text amendments and long-range planning matters, including the growth policy which is being updated and will be vital for the future of Whitefish. In recent months there have been multiple appeals for variances, zoning, land use,...
North Valley Food Bank's Forever June Community Celebration
The North Valley Food Bank’s fourth annual Forever June Celebration is on Friday, June 14 from 5 - 8 p.m. at the food bank, 251 Flathead Ave, in Whitefish.Forever June is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the generosity of Glacier Bank. In honor of NVFB’s late founder, June Munski-Feenan, the event is in appreciation of the numerous community members throughout northwestern Montana who support North Valley Food Bank’s mission of building food security and strengthening communities. From the food bank’s humble beginnings when June fed her community out of her garage in the late 1970s, to...
Glacier Twins sweep Mariners, topple Loggers
Glacier A Twins swept the Mission Valley A Mariners in Whitefish by identical scores of 6-4 on Thursday, June 6, in American Legion Baseball action. In the first game, Mission Valley trailed 1-0 in the top of the sixth before rallying for four runs. Glacier, however, responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame of the victory.Kellen Kroger pitched the first four innings for the Twins, striking out seven. Michael Miller pitched the final three innings, allowing just one hit.Stevyn Andrachick, Miller, Maddox Muller, and Trenton Derosa each drove in runs for Glacier. The Twins finished with five hits,...
Walburn earns All-American Honors in decathlon
Washington State University senior and Whitefish High School graduate Lee Walburn finished seventh in the nation and captured First-Team All-America honors at the 2024 NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on June 6. Walburn posted a career-best mark of 7,816 points, blowing past his previous high mark of 7,694. Thursday began for Walburn much like Wednesday ended, with a personal-best, this time in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing in 14.89 seconds to win his heat. Strong showings in the discus, 149-5 to finish fourth overall and a season-best mark of 15-5½ in the pole vault (eigth in...
So Far Away
Whitefish Middle School eighth-grader Kate Sullivan wrote a villanelle in Angie Finberg’s English class about her older sister, Annie. The poem is about how going away to college affects those that are left behind.Annie is a Whitefish High School graduate who swam for Whitefish and the University of Puget Sound in Washington. Annie just graduated with her master's in education and is looking for teaching jobs in the Puget Sound area. why do you have to be so far awaydoing things we did all the time aloneknowing you will never come back to stayhoping to see you on your birthdaylooking at...
Plodding old geezer vs dangerous old sleazer
Having lost an election, I know it hurts to lose. I know, too, that there is a good life beyond losing because I’ve been living it for the past twenty years. I know that the people’s will in a democracy can only be determined by a process of elections; American democracy has successfully functioned on that model since George Washington. When the people lose their faith in elections, democracy is finished. There have been as many losers as winners in our legacy of elections extending back over 230 years. By their respect for the will of the people in elections, those who...
Whitefish's proposed budget calls for increase in property taxes
Owing to a decrease in resort tax collections and a need to increase employee wages, Whitefish’s proposed budget calls for an increase in property taxes.The budget calls for a 19.71% increase in property revenue in the city. This equates to an increase of 7.75 mills — 2.75 mills are due to the decrease in property tax relief from the resort tax and 5 mills are to provide funding to increase the city’s wages. If approved, the fiscal year 2025 budget would result in a home with a taxable value of about $600,000 seeing an increase of $62.75 in taxes. With the...
Relocation fund established for displaced mobile home residents
In response to the mass eviction notices issued to residents of a mobile home park in Evergreen, Whitefish Community Foundation has awarded a $45,000 Emergency Response Grant to NeighborWorks Montana to help displaced residents find new housing.Tenants of the Spring Creek Mobile Home Park received eviction notices last month to vacate the property within 180 days. In response, NeighborWorks Montana is working closely with park residents to help them relocate their mobile homes or find new housing. Nearly 30 families are impacted, including over 25 children.“We know from past manufactured home park closures how difficult it is for residents to...
Global Wellness Day at the WAVE
For Global Wellness Day, the WAVE in Whitefish is hosting a free community event celebrating and educating our essential connection to nature on Saturday, June 8.There will be free fitness classes from 8-12pm, a nature themed wellness fair from 9-12pm, prizes, a photo booth, Miss Montana USA and more. Part of the fun is dressing as your favorite nature critter or natural element. The fitness classes will also be based on the elements. Participants of the Wellness Fair include Kim Collier of Collier Concepts Eartha Collective, Elevate Health Coaching & Training, Center for Native Plants, FAST Blackfeet Food Sovereignty, Flathead Chapter of Audubon Society,...
Construction causes rockslide on Whitefish Lakeshore
Construction crews using explosives to blast rock for the foundation of a home last month led to a rockslide of debris into Whitefish Lake in what some have described as an "atrocious violation" of lakeshore protection regulations. The property near the base of Lion Mountain and Beaver Bay on the west side of Whitefish Lake is owned by Charles and Kelly Paquelet of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The contractors are Whitefish-based High Country Builders. According to the builders, the blasting was done by professionals hired by DLB Inc., of Libby. The Whitefish Lake Institute field crew observed the aftermath during routine monitoring on...
CFAC tours next Wednesday
The Columbia Falls Aluminum Company invites people to visit the proposed remediation area on tours from 1-3:30 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. June 12. Buses will be provided to take attendees around the site and project team members from the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co., the Environmental Protection Agency, and the state Department of Environmental Quality will be available to discuss the remediation process and answer questions. Tours will run approximately every 30 minutes and will last about one hour. Attendees are encouraged to dress for potentially inclement weather. There are no restroom facilities at the site and attendees should plan accordingly. Please call 406-207-4484 to reserve your spot or to request special assistance.
Flathead County primary election results
Flathead County primary election results as of 7 a.m., June 5. With 55 of 56 precincts reporting. The results of this election will not technically become official until the state certifies the vote.Whitefish has approved a local government review, while Kalispell has voted against it. PresidentGOPDonald Trump: 19,427DemocratJoe Biden: 7,679US SenateGOPBrad Johnson: 3,683Tim Sheehy: 15,474Charles Walkingchild Sr.: 1,292DemocratJon Tester: 7,760Michael Hummert: 215GreenRobert Barb: 20Michael Downey: 21US HouseGOPMary Todd: 5,642Ryan Zinke: 14,916DemocratMonica Tranel: 7,601LibertarianDennis Hayes: 51Ernie Noble: 12GovernorGOPGreg Gianforte: 14,748Tanner Smith: 5,850DemocratRyan Busse: 5,662Jim Hunt: 1,748Secretary of StateGOPChristi Jacobsen: 17,565DemocratJesse James Mullen: 6,773Attorney GeneralGOPAustin Knudsen: 15,613Logan Olson: 3,472DemocratBen Alke: 6,834State AuditorGOPJames Brown:...
Class of 2024 seizes the day at 110th Whitefish High School commencement
Saturday was a time to live in the moment as 154 graduating seniors gathered with supporters to celebrate not an end, but a beginning to their new lives as Whitefish High School alumni. Graduate Alex Losee gave an empowering speech during the 110th commencement ceremony. “‘Carpe diem’ is often mistranslated,” Losee said. “We not only have the power to seize the day, but also the power to enjoy the moment. We must use both [powers].” Losee is attending University of Colorado Boulder in the fall with plans to major in biological engineering. Graduate Ella Walker also shared strong ambitions during her speech, as...
Volunteer opportunities in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex
The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation (BMWF) is looking for volunteers for a slate of trail maintenance projects within the 1.6-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex this summer.BMWF projects are free of charge and no prior trail work or camping experience is necessary. The foundation provides all meals, group camping gear, tools and an experienced Crew Leader who guides the project. All of their backcountry trips are pack supported, thanks to dedicated volunteer packers and their horses and mules who carry the heavy loads.Volunteers just need their personal camping gear and a willingness to learn new things and work hard. BMWF also...
Police Calls: Lingering mail truck cause for concern
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 13The owner of the vehicle that was parked on a yellow curb but not blocking the roadway on Spokane Avenue was working to have the car moved shortly.Someone felt it was suspicious that a man was parked on the side of the road on Grouse Ridge Drive. The caller didn’t know why he was there.A driver failed to yield to pedestrian traffic on Spokane Avenue.The caller requested law enforcement to check out a neatly...
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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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