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Packer Bill Yenne leads a group across the outlet of Gunsight Lake in this photo from August, 1964. (Mel Ruder photo)
70 years ago
May 28, 1948
The Flathead River was at its highest since 1908 and 1914 as it crested at about 19.5 feet, which was over the gauge (flooding is at 14 feet). Kalispell saw the worst flooding, but about 30 families in Columbia Falls were affected by the high waters, especially near the Red Bridge. The Hungry Horse Dam site also saw damage, with about 40,000 board feet of lumber was lost and work on the diversion channel was halted.
60 years ago
May 30, 1958
There was a “bum” bighorn ram hanging out along the Going-to-the-Sun Road near St. Mary Lake that learned to take handouts from motorists. The Going-to-the-Sun Road was open over Logan Pass, one of the earliest openings ever. The entrance fee to the Park was $2 for 15 days or $4 for the season.
50 years ago
May 31, 1968
If you thought this year’s primary was a crowded ballot, in 1968 there 10 men running for governor — six Democrats and four Republicans. Columbia Falls had a record number of eighth graders make it through junior high — 199. The city obtained its first street sweeper — a used one for $750 that it bought from Choteau.
40 years ago
June 1, 1978
Clint Eastwood was starring in the “The Gauntlet” at the Midway Drive-In and Chuck Norris was starring in “Breaker, Breaker” a story of a man, his 18 wheeler and a grudge. Spud Snyder of Martin City returned home from Oregon with three grand champion ribbons for his Pony of America stud Devil’s Siri. Snyder was a well-known horseman and specialized in the short breed of horse.
30 years ago
June 1, 1988
Biologists working on a South Fork of the Flathead grizzly bear study were having success catching bears. In the first four nights their 60 or so snares had been set, they caught four grizzlies. The first four were all caught in the upper reaches of the South Fork, closer to the wilderness. Wayne Kasworm was heading up the study — today he’s working on grizzly bear recovery in the Cabinet-Yaak.
20 years ago
May 28, 1998
Four Boy Scouts, Jim Flint, Seth Sorensen, Chris Wright and Orion Love had all obtained their Eagle Scout badges — a rare feat for a single troop. The boys were from Troop 41 in Columbia Falls. The Wildkat track team won its sixth straight Western A divisional meet under the guidance of coach Wes Knutson.
10 years ago
May 29, 2008
Sen. Max Baucus announced a deal that would eventually protect about 300,000 acres of Plum Creek owned timberlands from development. Most of the land was in a “checkerboard” pattern with Forest Service lands in the Swan Valley. The deal, brokered between the feds, the Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Lands eventually went through and today, most of the Swan Valley has been conserved for future generations.