The Whitefish School District is running a levy on May 7 to fund teacher and staff salaries and meet the needs of a growing student body. The operational levy will provide support for increases in staff and salaries.“As our district grows, we need to increase the number of teachers and provide salary increases for staff, in order to uphold the quality education that we provide,” said Dave Means, superintendent of Whitefish Schools, in a press release. “Staffing increases made possible by the levy will help support proper class size ratios and academic offerings, including core classes, career technical education and...

Whitefish Review will host ceramic artist Stephen Braun for a slideshow and conversation about his newly released large-format art book, “Hindsight & Foresight is 20/20,” on Friday, May 3, 2024, at 101 Central in downtown Whitefish.“We’re honored to have published this groundbreaking book by a true artist of our time,” said Whitefish Review founding editor Brian Schott. “Stephen’s art provides a deep commentary on the age we are living in as a society and can be a guidepost for the future as we wrestle with environmental, social, and political issues.”Stephen Braun has been making environmental, social and politically-themed ceramic sculptures...

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler50 Years AgoApril 18, 1974County Sanitarian Les Espeland and Assistant Al Shoenhuth attended the city council meeting to acquaint the city with various sanitary problems in this area. The Crosswind subdivision and surrounding areas, according to Espeland, would no longer be able to obtain septic tank permits. The present sewage disposal systems were not adequate and there were places where seepage appeared on ground surfaces. Espeland noted that children were playing in those areas and should they contract diseases, they could be readily communicated through the schools, causing an epidemic.40 Years...

In honor of Mother’s Day, North Valley Food Bank (NVFB) will launch a postpartum meal and nutrition education program in collaboration with the Postpartum Resource Group this May.The goal of the program is to ensure all mothers and babies in our communities are well-nourished during the critical periods of pregnancy and postpartum.Rachael, our culinary arts manager, initially shared the idea shortly after she started at NVFB:“As a cook and a mom, I wanted to find a way to support new mothers through food. Nutrition is so important for postpartum health, but moms rarely have time or energy to create meals...

The art featured above is called “Chick” and is a watercolor painting by Whitefish High School senior Ella Walker in the WHS Art 3: Advanced Art class. The Pilot periodically features art from Whitefish High School students.

The City of Whitefish along with over 90 seniors from Whitefish High School worked to manually remove stickers from downtown infrastructure last week as part of the WHS Class of 2024 Community Give Back Day. This was a community-wide effort to remove stickers and bring awareness to the widespread vandalism happening downtown.    Ryder Barinowski, Buren Brust and Mason Genovese helped to remove stickers downtown along with nearly 90 other Whitefish high school seniors last week. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)      About 90 Whitefish high school seniors removed stickers from fixtures downtown last week. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)  

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.March 30In what was described as an ongoing issue, a woman on Ashar Avenue ties a husky puppy to the front door and leaves it there for hours. What looked like a fire on the neighbor's porch was a fire in a burn pit and the scene was deemed to be safe.A drunk male was getting aggressive and harassing people on Depot Street. The conductor of the train wanted the male to be removed.A group of...

Four years ago, Glenn Housman invested in 100 acres at the end of Blacktail Heights Road atop a knob above Lakeside.The rocky perch offers views of Flathead Lake, with Blacktail Mountain rising just to the west. To the south, his parcel abuts an expanse of undeveloped mature forest land that stretches for as far as he can see.It's a secluded, quiet spot with ample elbow room, aside from the 15 or so other residences along the private gravel road that climbs up to Housman's home.But the rural setting he and other homeowners along Blacktail Heights enjoy may be shattered if...

Whitefish voters this fall will consider separate bond requests totaling $32.6 million to fund a high school expansion and remodel, and build an on-campus football stadium and track.Whitefish School Board trustees voted unanimously April 9 to put the bond questions on the September ballot.Whitefish voters last October turned down a $33.7 million bond issue that would have funded both the high school expansion and a more robust athletic facility project in one fell swoop. In that scenario, $22.1 million of the bond would have funded the school expansion and $11.6 million would have funded the sports facilities.Due to an increase...

Debo Powers candidate for state representative is making residency an issue in the upcoming primary election. In a Flathead Beacon article she said "it's important for candidates to live in the district they are running." Her opponent does not. According to law he does not have to.In that same article she said that she moved to Polebridge full time in 2011.According to Florida records she voted in Leon County Florida in 2016. She then admitted that she did not register to vote in Montana until she got her first Montana drivers license on April 20, 2017. When questioned about the...

When my friend Debo Powers told me she was going to run for House  District 3, I immediately volunteered to be her treasurer. I did this not only because of our long friendship but because she is the individual I want to  have representing me and my community in the Montana legislature. There is no doubt, Debo Powers has all the skills and dedication to  represent House District, 3. She cut her legislative chops when she was  appointed by Flathead County Commissioners to fill out the remainder of Zack Perry’s legislative term in 2019.  For many years prior to her legislative appointment, Debo immersed  herself in the issues important to those of us who live in HD 3. Her commitment to serving her community has been relentless as  demonstrated by her extensive volunteer experience with numerous  boards and organizations. Preserving Montana values and protecting public lands is her passion as is her commitment to local government control and resolving the housing affordability crisis. Debo Powers is the only candidate who lives in HD3 and is the one I want to represent me in Helena. — Richard Hildner, Whitefish

Eureka brought its bats to its 9-8 victory over Whitefish in West Division action on Friday, April 12. Despite a triple, three RBI and 2-for-2 performance at the plate by Michael Miller, Eureka scored in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead and keep it.Whitefish used two different pitchers - Tait Orme and Talus Piatowski - who struck out a combined eight batters last week. Christian Schwaderer had three hits and two RBI and two doubles. The loss dropped Whitefish down to 1-4 on the season. On Thursday, Whitefish defeated rival Columbia Falls 7-5 in a game that saw Whitefish...

Karin Carmichael Dyer, 60, died March 29, 2024 in Kalispell.A celebration of Karin’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 14, 2024 at Columbia Mortuary, 1010 4th Avenue West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912. To send online condolences, visit www.columbiamortuary.com.

Whitefish won four tennis matchups on Thursday, April 11, giving Northwestern A conference foes Libby and Ronan a thorough beating.The Whitefish girls defeated Libby 6-1 as Alivia Lusko won her No. 1 singles matchup 6-1, while Liesl Brust, Aisnley Grubb and Gretel Vine picked up their singles match as well.Ainsley Scott and Maggie Mercer won their No. 1 doubles matchup over Ellie Andreessen and Allie Thortenson 6-0, 6-2. Camry Kelch and Zoey Marzo also won.The Whitefish girls also defeated Ronan 6-1, with the one win being a match forfeit. Alivia Lusko defeated Ronan’s No. 1, Kate Johnson, 6-0, 6-0 while...

NO. 30269 The MT DNRC-Stillwater State Forest Unit is in the application process of obtaining new opencut gravel permits for an existing gravel pit operated by the MT DNRC. The Whitefish Lake Pit is an active gravel pit, located in Flathead County; Section 32, T32N, R22W. For more information, please contact the Stillwater State Forest Unit Office at (406) 881-2371. April 14, 21, 2024 MNAXLP __________________________ NO. 2753 CITY OF WHITEFISH NOTICE OF PRESENTING TO THE VOTERS  A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE CITY CHARTER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at its regular meeting to be held May 6, 2024, at 7:10 p.m., in the Whitefish City Council...

The Whitefish Theatre Company will host its second annual Adult Prom on Saturday, April 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center. With the theme “A Fairy Tale Evening” this community party is complete with enchanting fairy tale décor, DJ, free photo booth, and food and drinks. No formal dress is necessary but prom attire — old, new and everything in between — is encouraged.This is a 21 plus event with beer and wine available at a cash bar. Tickets are $20 per person and are limited to 250. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office, 1 Central Ave., Whitefish, or by calling 406-862-5371. Box office hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Tickets can also be purchased online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org.

When Korbin Baldwin isn’t in class at the vo-ag center, or on the wrestling mats at Flathead High School, he is likely having a bull session with Whiskey, Tumbleweed, Flat White and Dust Demon.The 17-year-old’s business, Baldwin Bucking Bulls, was born in July 2023, and after months of preparation, 10 bulls arrived in late summer.He’s got a hand in all aspects of the bucking bull business, from contracting and breeding to training and riding. So far, he has eight public events scheduled for this year and in the fall, Baldwin’s ranch will be the setting for a private party with...

Based on a true story of the women who first mapped the stars, the “Silent Sky” runs through this weekend at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Brought to the stage by the Whitefish Theatre Company the thought-provoking show has three more performances on April 18, 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m.  This play is directed by Jake Carr. Starring in this production are Merannda Button as Henrietta Leavitt, Becky Rygg as Margaret Leavitt, Stephanie Miller as Williamina Fleming, Sarah Bell Ghostlight as Annie Cannon, and Michael Oaks as Peter Shaw.  When Henrietta Leavitt begins work at the Harvard Observatory in the...