Yesterdays: Con steals the Sheriff's coat in jail escape
Snow in the Bad Rock area in January, 1952. Not sure who is in the car, but it has a press sticker in the window, so presumably it was editor Mel Ruder's rig. (Mel Ruder photo)
70 years ago
Jan. 4, 1952
North Forker Len Washburn broke his jaw while trying to get his rig out of the ditch with a come-along. The device let loose and hit him in the face. The story said his dentures were helping keeping the re-set bone in place, but it was painful.
60 years ago
Jan. 5, 1962
The Anaconda Aluminum Co. was considering adding two more 1,100-foot long potlines to its plant. Scuba divers brought up a boat that was sunk in 50 feet of water in Lake McDonald near Sprague Creek. The boat had been stripped and loaded with rocks and purposefully sunk.
50 years ago
Jan. 7, 1972
Snowmobilers were asked to limit their vehicles on the north side of Lion Lake to not damage young larch. The area had been clearcut in 1964 and the young larch, seeded the winter after by airplane, were about 2 to 6 feet tall and fragile.
40 years ago
Jan. 7, 1982
A man escaped from the Hill County Jail and was later nabbed in Whitefish after he was spotted in the Burlington Northern Railyard by police. Adding insult to injury, Kenneth R. Butler stole the Sheriff’s coat and hat as he left the jail — it was 27 below out and he needed a warm coat as he hitched a ride out of town on a freight train.
30 years ago
Jan. 2, 1992
Three mountain lions had been sighted in the North Fork in the past week, but wildlife biologists said that really wasn’t a surprise, as the big cats were at their highest population in 20 years.
20 years ago
Jan. 3. 2002
Things weren’t looking good for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. The plant had shut down but had an option to buy enough power later in the year, but the price hadn’t been determined. In retrospect, it marked the beginning of the end of the plant.
10 years ago
Jan. 4, 2012
The state Department of Revenue was looking to revoke the Blue Moon Nite Club’s liquor license after a man allegedly left the bar drunk and killed someone in an accident. The state claimed the bar was partially responsible. The club never lost its license, however.