Yesterdays: It was a snowy December in 1951

70 years ago

Dec. 28, 1951

December was the snowiest ever since they started keeping records 52 years ago. The airport recorded 44 inches of snow and the total for the season to date was 109.3 inches of snow. A local business reported they received a bill in the mail for some supplies from a local hardware store — but 27 years later.

60 years ago

Dec. 29, 1961

Accidental deaths were up in the Flathead, including 13 auto accidents. Of those six people had drowned in the wrecks. There were also four other drownings unrelated to wrecks. There were also four suicides and three people died in a plane wreck near the Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

50 years ago

Dec. 31, 1971

The weather in ’71 favored the cherry, hay and grain crop, as the months of May, June and August were all above normal in precipitation. The grain harvest was termed “good to excellent.”

40 years ago

Dec. 31, 1981

Snow was boosting the local economy, as Big Mountain recorded 4,403 skiers — the most ever at the time. One of the top stories of the year was the reconstruction of Nucleus Avenue in Columbia Falls.

30 years ago

Jan. 2, 1992

Glacier Park released its annual bear statistics. Bear sightings were the fourth highest at the time, with 1,245 black bears sightings and 896 grizzly sightings. One black bear was put down for management reasons and there were 23 temporary closures due to bears.

20 years ago

Dec. 27, 2001

A Columbia Falls city survey of residents indicated more affordable housing was needed. Having said that, 64% of people said that Columbia Falls was a good place to live, which, perhaps, is why housing was needed.

10 years ago

Dec. 28, 2011

Plats for subdivisions from the housing boom were now expiring as the housing market tanked in the Great Recession. One that did survive was the Cedar Pointe Subdivision at the end of South Nucleus Avenue. Today the last homes there are being built, as the market booms again.