Yesterdays: 40 years since Whitefish wrestling bus accident
Weather observer for U.S. Weather Bureau Ray Hall working on skis after blizzards left him stuck at Flathead County Airport for three days in January 1954. Luckily he had come prepared to stick around, with food and sleeping bag in tow, but was down to a candy bar by the last day. (Mel Ruder photo)
70 years ago
Jan. 22, 1954
Winter weather brought 20 to 40 degrees below zero temperatures and between two and four feet of new snow. The cold put a lot of Flathead County people out of work, with the unemployment roll jumping to 1,873 as compared to 1,388 only the week before.
60 years ago
Jan. 24, 1964
Creston Fish Hatchery was set to undergo sterilization in the spring following an outbreak of Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis among their cutthroat trout. Of 311,000 cutthroat eggs collected in 1961, under 5,000 of the fish were surviving following the outbreak.
50 years ago
Jan. 25, 1974
Representatives of the Blackfeet Tribe met with federal officials in Denver to propose exchanging 140,000 acres of Lewis and Clark National Forest, controlled by the tribe, for impoundment rights in Glacier National Park.
40 years ago
Jan. 26, 1984
A tanker-truck jackknifed and collided with a bus carrying the Whitefish High School wrestling team down Highway 2, killing the first two rows of bus passengers by impact. Victims Jim Winthrow, Wayde, Jana and Casey Davis, Pam Fredenberg, Tracy Maddux, Stefanie Daily, Kim Dowaliby and Jym Byrd were honored by 4,500 community members in a memorial service at Whitefish High School.
30 years ago
Jan. 20, 1994
An earthquake in southern California caused a half-hour power outage at Columbia Falls Aluminum Company and left 10,000 Montanans without electricity for a short period that week. Fifty-nine plants were recorded by botanists for the first time in Glacier National Park, including bitterroot - the Montana state flower, adder’s tongue - a rare fern, and giant hellborine - an orchid found only around hot springs or mountain springs that don’t freeze.
20 years ago
Jan. 22, 2004
First Citizens Bank President Don Bennett stepped in the ring at Majestic Valley Arena to box Diron “Last Call” West, raising $16,000 for the Boys and Girls Club. Bennett ultimately lost the fight, but won the battle, and West donated half his winnings to the club.
10 years ago
Jan. 22, 2014
Columbia Falls was set to be Xanterra Parks and Recreation’s new regional base of operations, closing on a real estate contract with Pamida. Columbia Falls athlete Carla Nicosia won the triple jump at Washington State University Open indoor track meet with a 34 foot, 8.75 inch jump.