Yesterdays: Columbia Falls Lions Club is born
Crossing the Middle Fork at Schafer Meadow in September, 1963 with Ranger Dick Strong on patrol. (Mel Ruder Photo)
Yesterdays
70 years ago
Jan. 16, 1953
The Columbia Falls Lions Club received its charter. The club is still very active in the community today. Nucleus Avenue would soon have a wider look, as Montana States Power Co. moved the electrical and telephone poles and lines to the alleyways, rather than down the street.
60 years ago
Jan. 18, 1962
The President’s budget included about $500,000 in funding for a new bridge across the North Fork of the Flathead River above Big Creek that would tie into Glacier National Park. A new bridge across McDonald Creek had been built in 2022. In addition, the budget called for about $284,000 for a new St. Mary Visitor Center.
50 years ago
Jan. 19, 1972
Glacier National Park was to start a major study of its forest from just south of Lake McDonald along the divide to British Columbia. The idea was to document forest types and habitats, as well as perhaps determine if they would let some naturally occurring wildfires burn.
40 years ago
Jan. 20, 1983
About 230 hourly employees at the Atlantic Richfield Co. aluminum plant were laid off. The poor national economy was given for the reason. A front page featured a picture of a man in a body bag in his house. Philip H. Koch, 25, of Martin City was charged with deliberate homicide of Glen Strayer, 72. Strayer was Koch’s stepfather.
30 years ago
Jan. 21, 1993
A study was underway to track lions, wolves and prey like deer and elk using radio collars to determine the interaction between the species. The study was being spearheaded by Maurice Hornocker.
20 years ago
Jan. 16, 2003
Downtown pigeons were raising the hackles of local businesses. Police stopped a man from shooting them with a b.b. gun, as discharging a weapon in the city limits is illegal. “You can’t even use a slingshot,” Police Chief Dave Perry said.
10 years ago
Jan. 16, 2013
A Missoula skier was swept 800 feet down Elk Mountain in Glacier National Park in an avalanche. The slide sent the man through some small trees and he was buried up to his neck. His helmet broke into pieces and his skis were lost. A friend he was with helped him out, and he survived, though he had several broken ribs, a broken arm and several cuts and bruises to his head.