Yesterdays

60 Years Ago

Nov. 23, 1951

Crews were drilling for oil in Sage Creek near the Flathead River just north into Canada. The oil well was at 2,200 feet and progress was slow. Heavy equipment at the site was hauled up the North Fork from Columbia Falls. Morale at the well was said to be good among the 20 men who worked there.

The Anaconda Copper Mining Co. reiterated that it was interested in building an aluminum plant only in the Flathead - it was not interested in other parts of the state.

Lionel toy train sets were selling for $39.95 at Buttrey's Store in Kalispell.

50 Years Ago

Nov. 24, 1961

Snow blanketed Big Mountain and skiers were flocking to the slopes. There was 34 inches of snow at the summit.

The elk hunting season was good, with 533 elk taken in the South Fork of the Flathead.

Glacier National Park planned to build a new administration building. The project was expected to cost about $400,000.

Krueger Drug was selling cameras with prices ranging from $6.95 to $99.50.

40 Years Ago

Nov. 26, 1971

Glacier National Park was offering an easy snowmobile permit plan for riders. Snowmobilers could go from Apgar to Polebridge and on to Kintla and Bowman Lakes via the Inside North Fork Road. Snowmobilers just had to fill out a card at the entrance station.

A 250-mile-lap snowmobile race was planned on Anaconda Aluminum Co. land in December. Sponsored by the Jaycees, it was the first race of its type in the Flathead.

30 Years Ago

Nov. 19, 1981

Rudy Arvidson landed a 27-pound, 45-inch northern pike in Whitefish Lake. It took 15 minutes to bring the fish to the boat. Leon Syth planned to mount the fish and hang it in his Pines Café Restaurant in Columbia Falls. The fish hangs on the wall today, which is now the Montana Coffee Traders restaurant.

A total of 455 bald eagles were counted in Glacier National Park, feeding on kokanee salmon.

The Flathead County library board was considering closing the Columbia Falls branch library because it didn't like the lease with the city. The board wanted a reduced rate or free space altogether.

20 Years Ago

Nov. 21, 1991

The family of a boy who was attacked by a mountain lion in Glacier National Park sued the National Park Service for $1 million. The family claimed the Park Service should have warned them about lion danger in the Park. The lion attack happened July 23, 1990. Nine-year-old Scott O'Hare was mauled by a young lion as he ran from Lake McDonald to the Apgar picnic area. Park rangers later shot the lion.

Pines Café waitress Jenny Hoerner retired after 44 years in the restaurant business. She was noted for her ability to stack multiple plates of food on her arms.