Mountain View
Whitefish Pilot
Looking Back: Cost of land leases cause 'battle of the dollar'
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler50 Years AgoJune 6, 1974Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Smith became the new owners of the Sears Catalog Store in Whitefish. The Smiths lived in Whitefish for a year after moving from Bryan, Texas. “We hope we can provide the service people expect from Sears and we'll do our best,” said Smith. “Maybe we'll do even a little better. Taking care of customers is our aim.” The new owners took over from former owners, Bill and Marie Sandstrom. A grand opening was planned with specials, giveaways, prize drawings, coffee and cookies.40 Years...
Third annual Career Fair
Whitefish Middle School held its third annual Career Fair last Thursday. Thirty-two local businesses set up tables and spoke with about 170 eighth graders about careers in their fields. Students were able to ask career questions and receive feedback on their resumes. Jeanne Brist, Simone Craft, Lisa Pollard and Jennifer Krack were the team behind this successful, professional event. Neal Drakage and Lou Antoine from the Kalispell Job Service participated in the third annual Career Day at Whitefish Middle School last week. (Photo by Jeanne Brist) Brian Cole from Nelson's Ace Hardware participated in the third annual Career Day at Whitefish Middle School last week. (Photo by Jeanne Brist)
June 5 Letters to the editor
Streamline the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship ActSeeley Lake has been a recreation destination for decades, attracting everyone from fishermen and canoers to snowmobilers and mountain bikers to backcountry horsemen and nordic skiers. We know the incredible opportunities this beautiful area has to offer, and that is why it is important, now more than ever, to back legislation that takes this all into consideration.The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) was devised almost 20 years ago by a broad group of invested people in the Seeley area, including mountain bikers, conservationists, snowmobilers, timber people, ranchers, packers, and biologists. The BCSA would add almost...
Marlene A. Becker, 83
Marlene A. Becker, 83 of Whitefish, passed away at her home surrounded by family and friends who loved her. She was born on June 15, 1940, in Whitefish to the late, Andrew Joseph Voermans and Dorothy Mary Voigt.Love for her family was the number one priority. After graduating high school she went to work for the Forest Service as a secretary, after she was recommended by one of her high school teachers.Marlene loved living the simple life on our farm. She enjoyed her gardening, flowers, working the cows, raking hay, helping the boys with their 4-H projects, and being a...
William Lewis Frye Jr., 78
William "Bill" Lewis Frye Jr., April 16, 1946-May 28, 2024.Bill went home to be with his heavenly father May 28 surrounded by his family and friends.Bill was born in Spokane, Washington, to William Louis Frye and Marjorie Ellen Frye.He was preceded in death by his brother David Kramer; his father, William Frye; his mother Marjorie Frye; his foster sons, Rex Court and Leo Vish; his brother-in-law, Les Brown, brother-in-law, Fred Stephan and sister-in-law, Sandy Frye. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Frye; his children Darron Frye (Cindi) and Tina Bates (Ken); his grandchildren John Vish, Ben Vish (Jana), Mike Frye (Brianna), Kenny Bates (Sarah), Andrew Bates, Amanda Horn (Eli), Alicia Benson (Micah) and Robby Bates; great-grandchildren, Nathan Bates, Natalia Bates, Kenny Bates, Ezekiel Horn, Tatum Benson and Amelia Horn; his siblings, Donny Frye (Betty), Judi Zabel (Jack), Carole Stephan, Arlene Brown, Janice Dack (Dan) and Jim Frye.Services will be held June 8 at 11 a.m. at the Crescent Grange Hall, 27 Creston Road, Kalispell, MT 59901, followed by a spaghetti lunch.
Glacier Twins split doubleheader in season opener
The Glacier Twins opened the 2024 American Legion Class A season splitting a doubleheader against the Cranbrook Bandits on Sunday, June 2. In the first matchup, Cranbrook won 7-2. The Bandits scored five runs in the top of the fifth and finished the game with nine hits, while Glacier was held to three hits. Kellen Koger, Michael Miller, and Nolan Amerman had hits in the matchup for the Twins. Amerman drove in two runs as well.
Volunteer opportunities in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex
The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is looking for volunteers for a slate of trail maintenance projects within the 1.6-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex this summer.The foundation 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. The foundation...
City's preliminary budget projects increase in expenditures
The Whitefish City Council met last week for the first of two work sessions to discuss the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025. The Council will discuss the budget again June 10 and the final budget will be adopted in August. 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.“The FY 2025 budget presents some challenges as the city works to address lagging wagescompared to the market and a decrease in additional property tax relief from resort tax,” Whitefish City Manager Dana Smith wrote in her...
Jennifer Nelson Golan, 54
Jennifer Nelson Golan, 54 of Columbia Falls, passed away on Feb. 23, 2024, after navigating cancer diagnoses and treatments for over 15 years. She was born June 3, 1969, in Mesa, Arizona, to Laura B. Cherrington (Hovland) and the late Donald J. Nelson.She grew up in Whitefish and graduated from Whitefish High School and Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. She lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area for ten years before returning to the Flathead Valley to live in Columbia Falls for the past 20 years. Professionally, she was a graphic designer and project manager. Jennifer enjoyed cooking, travel, arts and crafts, hiking, relaxing on the river and lakes, and spending time with good friends and her dog, Alta. Her family, especially her boys Noah and Kai, meant the world to her; she was their number one fan, supporting them passionately in all their sports and activities.She is survived by her husband of 22 years, Alon Golan; children, Noah A. and Kai M. Golan; brother, Chris Nelson (Christy); and mother, Laura Cherrington (Donnie).A celebration of Jennifer's life will be held from 6 - 8 p.m. on June 21, at the COOP in Columbia Falls.
Alan Dias retires after 25 years with Whitefish School District
After 25 years of taking care of the buildings and the people in the Whitefish School District, maintenance technician Alan Dias retired Apr. 30. “I made sure everyone around me was taken care of,” Dias said. “As a custodian, that’s actually the definition of the word and I've lived by that. You can ask anybody, that’s my reputation — that I took care of business.”Although Dias calls himself a jack of all trades and a master of none, his attention to detail and realistic appraisal of his skills made him an extraordinary maintenance technician.“I have a boiler's license and I...
Joan Elayne Chapin, 83
Joan Elayne Chapin, 83, was born in Vancouver, B.C. Canada, to Percy and Flo Wintle. In her hurry to come into the world Joan found herself delivered on the front steps of St. Paul’s Hospital. Born nine years after her siblings, Norma and Jerry, Joan became "the tagalong kid." She kept up with her siblings while growing up in their East End neighborhood, and exploring the forests, rivers and ocean that surrounded the family cabin at Roberts Creek. "The Kid" became tall and athletic and excelled at many sports.She also excelled at secretarial studies. As a young professional in the...
Legals for June, 5 2024
NO. 2757 PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST TRANSFER OF LOCATION OF Montana All-Alcoholic Beverages with Catering Endorsement License MAKE IT A DOUBLE, LLC (JOHN COSTA, Owner(s)) has applied to transfer Montana All-Alcoholic Beverages with Catering Endorsement License No. 07-901-2537-002 to be operated at MERCANTILE STEAK & KM BAR, 29 3rd St E, Kalispell, Flathead County. The public may protest this license transfer in accordance with the law. Who can protest this transfer? Protests will be accepted from residents of the county of the proposed location Flathead County, residents of adjoining Montana counties, and residents of adjoining counties in another state if the criteria in...
Shirley M. Nelson, 83
Shirley Marcine Nelson, 83, passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on Oct. 12, 1940, in Portland, Oregon. Most of her life was spent in Montana in Sweetgrass and Whitefish. She owned and operated the Sweetgrass Store as well as the Hair Hut in Whitefish. Her joy in life was her family. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren. She was well loved and a friend to many. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lucia Campanian Nelson and her husband, Dale Morris Nelson. She is survived by her son, John Morris Nelson and daughter-in-law Christine; her grandchildren, John Christopher and Autumn Lynn; and her partner, Terry Hart. Family and friends are invited to celebrate the life of Shirley Nelson at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, at the Lutheran Church in Sunburst, followed by a procession to the Sweetgrass Cemetery and a reception from noon - 2 p.m. at the American Legion in Sweetgrass.Condolences can be made to www.asperfh.com.
Best of Whitefish: Alpine Apothecary celebrates 10 years of being community connector
Owners and pharmacists Becky Stillo and her husband Josh are celebrating the Alpine Apothecary’s 10-year anniversary this month. Located inside Super 1 Foods in Whitefish, the pharmacy has won the Best of Whitefish competition for the last six years in a row.The business was previously called Alpine Ridge. The Stillos purchased the business in 2014 and changed the name to reflect the kind of service they provide.“We wanted to have a name reflective of that history of what pharmacists should and can be,” Stillo said. “Apothecary is an old word for a pharmacist or a shop where they would make...
Hospital Corner: Choose to move for your health
Summer in Whitefish is nothing short of spectacular. Long, sunny days, which embellish the easy access to recreational activities, are among the reasons we live here and why so many love to visit in the summer. We love to get out and play!Everyone from young children to older adults can benefit from being active and playing each day. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, children and teens need 60 minutes of activity daily, while adults should have 150 - 300 minutes of activity per week. Preschool-aged children (ages 3-5) need the most activity of all, but...
Glacier National Park plow crews grapple with deepest snow in more than a decade
It’s feeling like spring in the valley, but at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park road crews are still in the thick of winter snowpack — the deepest seen in more than a decade, according to officials.“There's still a lot of work to do up here,” Glacier National Park Roads Supervisor Brian Paul said as he looked over a buried Logan Pass Visitor Center and plows working their way through deep snowpack just beyond the parking lot exit on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It’s the deepest snow they’ve measured at the pass in the early spring since 2011, he said. Currently, west side...
Safe streets for all taking action with events next week
There will be two opportunities to engage with the city of Whitefish’s Safe Streets for All Action Plan next week: Walk n’ Roll on Tuesday, June 4, and a city open house on Wednesday, June 5. The Safe Streets Plan focuses on improving transportation safety for all roadway users in the Whitefish community, but especially for walking, biking and rolling and is funded by a $160,000 federal grant. “Community input is very important to help us do that,” said Whitefish Engineering and Sustainability Project Manager Karin Hilding.The public is encouraged to participate and share concerns, thoughts and ideas to help guide...
May 29 letters to the editor: Blackfoot Clearwater stewardship
Support Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship ActPublic lands in the Blackfoot Clearwater area surrounding the Seeley Swan area feature diverse ecosystems, vital watersheds, and abundant wildlife. They are loved by outdoor enthusiasts and a major economic contributor to the local area and to Montana. The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) provides a comprehensive plan that will safeguard this landscape for present and future Montanans.The BCSA will increase Wilderness, protect the Blackfoot and Clearwater Rivers, and promote sustainable recreation. The act has been years in the making and combines conservation and community needs. It ensures that future development will benefit local communities, steward...
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