Week of February 18, 2026
Week of February 18, 2026
CTAC - what is it? The Community Transition Advisory Council (CTAC) was established about 20 years ago, when the Golden Sunlight Mine (GSM) was considered at the end of its life. The group, made up of public organizations and vested town individuals, as well as GSM management, was meant to keep the community abreast of the mine’s life and plan on how to transition to a closed mine, without the tax benefits to the town, when the time came. Thankfully, GSM’s lifespan was extended when additional mining veins were discovered, and new...
TRACKS AT MT THESPIAN FESTIVAL: Whitehall Theatrics Jr Division brought its one-act play, TRACKS, to the stage on Friday, February 13th at the University of Montana in Missoula. The performance garnered accolades from the judges, as well as a BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS award for junior Lilly Schober (top right, with Ierlyn Kelley), who played the Lawyer. Sophomore Ierlyn Kelley was nominated and elected as an aggregate board member of the MT Thespian Association and...
If you’ve lived in the area for a while, you’ve most likely heard of Piedmont Wetlands or the “swamp.” Search your memory - do you have a fond story you could share? Residents who have fished, hunted, explored, or simply grown up around the Piedmont wetlands are invited to contribute their experiences, as community stories will help shape the future of this unique landscape! This area could soon become a destination for walking, wildlife viewing, education, and recreation for...
The Jefferson Valley Rural Ambulance District (JVRAD) has two open board positions. Ideally one of the seats would be filled by a resident of the Town of Whitehall, but that is not a requirement because it is difficult to fill board seats, much less with residency requirements. If more applications are received than there are open positions, there will be an election. The board meets quarterly and conducts the business of allocating sustainable funding for ambulance and health services within the Whitehall School District boundary. The board...
Utah Republican Congresswoman Celeste Maloy is irritated. Her most recent attack on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument spurred wide and deep opposition. She pushed back in a video with direct, if misleading, language. Maloy has long criticized this southern Utah national monument that was halved by President Trump during his first term, then restored under President Biden. One million awestruck visitors come here every year and spend money in the two Utah counties surrounding the...
Oral health is more than just a bright smile, it’s an important part of a child’s growth, development and overall well-being. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among kids in the U.S., affecting nearly half of children ages 2-19. About 1 in 10 children ages 2-5 experience untreated decay, a number that climbs to nearly 1 in 5 by ages 6-8. Across the U.S., Montana has the second-highest percentage of its population living in dental deserts (7.8%). In these areas, residents often travel long distances to find access to care,...
Once again, the Whitehall Country Store Board of Directors is pleased to announce the availability of six $5,000 scholarships to be awarded to 2026 graduating Whitehall High School seniors or homeschoolers who will be full-time students enrolled in Fall 2026 classes at an accredited college, university, or trade school. Although the focus of most scholarship programs is academic, the main criteria established by the Board of Directors is a student’s deep desire to further their academic goals...
The Whitehall Garden Club held its first regularly scheduled meeting of 2026 on February 4th at the Whitehall Ambulance Barn, with standing room only among members and guests eager to attend a presentation by Patrick Platenberg of Townsend. Special guests, newly-seated mayor Linda Jung, and members of the town crew in charge of the many trees and shrubs in Whitehall, were among those in attendance. Platenberg, an Arborist and Chairman of the Montana Urban and Community Forestry Association,...
Dessert can be the crowning touch to a delicious meal. Pie is a popular dessert that undoubtedly benefits from versatility. It comes in so many flavors that it's possible to eat a slice of pie each day for a month and never have the same one twice. For those with a predilection for "Cherry Pie," this recipe from Lines+Angles is sure to please. INGREDIENTS: (8 servings) Pie dough: 2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 1 teaspoon table salt 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar...
BEATING THE BEE: Cardwell students (from left) Ember Hunt, Corbyn Wright, Stetson Howser, Taylor Myrstol, and Ava Kravik took on the Jefferson County Spelling Bee in Clancy on February 11th, chaperoned by Cardwell teacher Michael Coombe. Myrstol took home second...
The Whitehall School Board received another budget update during its Feb. 7 meeting. Whitehall Superintendent Bill Dietz briefed the board on the need to begin preparing a budget for next year, citing significant shortcomings. Deficits are approximately $100,000 lower in elementary school funds and $42,000 lower in high school funds than the budget adopted for the current school year. WHS Creative Leader of the Week: KRISTY RUCKDASCHEL. Willingness to help out in the choir has earned senior...
I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful weather as much as I am! It really puts me in the mood to plan summer reading and feeding at the Whitehall Community Library. We generally have the entire summer planned by the end of March to secure special programs and order all our supplies. Speaking of planning, the library will be closed on Monday, March 2, for training. We have three school districts scheduled to visit the Anne Frank exhibit, and our docents will receive the training they need to...
While Montana might not be viewed as an artificial intelligence hotbed, it is considered among the top states in the country with potential to "power the AI revolution." An analysis CNBC published last July based on grid reliability and average market electricity price named Montana as the No. 3 state in the country for its potential to power data centers. Despite that, only a handful of relatively small data centers have been built in the Treasure State, and several operations have come and...
The Whitehall Chamber of Commerce is excited to share a new training opportunity available to you at no cost. The chamber has signed up to offer AI for Small Business, a 90-minute online webinar designed to help small business owners use AI in practical, real-world ways. This Online Webinar will be live on Tuesday, February 24th at 11 AM MST. This session is designed specifically for chamber members and local business owners or staff who want to understand how AI can help them attract...
DID YOU KNOW: One of the key factors in health and longevity is the way you breathe. Most people only breathe at about 20% of their capacity. Dysfunctional breathing is linked to virtually every chronic disease. Pausing and taking a few optimal breaths is the fastest way to access and regulate the nervous system. Attend this eye-opening, interactive workshop and learn how you can improve your physical, mental, and emotional well-being through the power of your breath! You will learn: • How...
Fourth of July fireworks are an American tradition, and this year’s Fourth celebration promises to be even more spectacular with the United States commemorating its 250th anniversary of independence. The Town Pump Charitable Foundation is offering to help communities across Montana that want to celebrate this year with a fireworks show by providing “Light Up the Big Sky” grants to help offset the cost of the fireworks. “This year is a big birthday for our country,” said Bill McGladdery, director of corporate communications for Town...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 You have the cosmic green light to start that major project you’ve been planning or to take a leap in your career, Aries. Trust your intuition -it’s sharper than ever. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Abundance is knocking, Taurus. Your hard work is translating into tangible rewards, and you may receive unexpected good news regarding finances or resources. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Your mind is sparkling, Gemini, making you the most magnetic person in the room. Use this vibrant energy to connect, share ideas and lead discussions....
Dear Editor, What is up with Montana Medicaid?! Some people here in Whitehall are probably somewhat familiar with my personal struggles last year, what with spending several days in the hospital, losing my Medicaid, and, of course, my struggles with the legalities of driving my 'Sunshine.' Long story short, regarding my 'Sunshine' golf cart, when I was pulled over earlier last year, the deputy had told me, before she let me off with a warning, that I didn't need to register her, but I DID need...
GEORGIA, I have a question, Last weekend I (26f) had my friend (27m) watch my place and my cat. I told him he could “help himself to whatever” in the kitchen, which I thought clearly meant snacks and stuff. I get back and realize he opened this $120 bottle of vintage Barolo I was saving for my promotion. He literally drank the whole thing alone while watching Netflix. When I asked him about it, he got all weird and said I “gave him permission” because the wine was in the kitchen. But my question is, who drinks a $100 bottle of wine...
Paul’s letter to the Philippians is called “the letter of joy” because its tone reveals a tenderness in Paul that other writings do not. Again, it clarifies that being imprisoned for preaching Jesus as Lord and Savior makes this a favorite epistle, and thus moves me to write and preach on this theme. Recently, in Butte, my youngest daughter took me treasure hunting in one of their thrift stores, which I endured because of my sheer joy of being with her. I appreciate time better, I think, when I “drift my time a little,” stopping to...
Dear Editor, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen is once again riding bravely into battle against a terrifying threat to our democracy: non-citizens voting. Yes, you read that right. Somewhere out there-possibly hiding behind a grain elevator or lurking near a Flathead Lake fishing dock-an undocumented voter is just waiting to steal your ballot. Or at least that's the story Jacobsen keeps selling. Her latest stunt? Sending postcards across Montana that prominently feature President...
Dear Editor, Montanans value independence, local control, and practical problem-solving. That's why the recent wave of political mailers targeting Ken Walsh deserves a closer look-not just for what they say, but for who is paying for them. Groups such as Americans for Prosperity have every right to participate in public debate. But when national organizations spend heavily in a small rural district, voters should ask whether the goal is to strengthen local communities or to enforce national...
From the patient’s perspective, a surgery under general anesthesia never actually happened. The movie Free Willy was a pro-abolitionist story produced with slave labor. Documentaries all take place in the same shared universe. When the movie is better than the book, most people never even know it's based on a book. You can miss a place and still be glad you left it. The only moment to exist in all of history is right now. It’s interesting that trauma dumping is far more socially acceptable when done through song. You likely don’t know...
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PEEVE WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING HOUSE GUESTS? When they don’t follow house rules. Like no shoes in the house. Pick up after yourself. - LDN When they open bathroomcupboards and drawers. - KB Leaving... I always want more days - AKP They don’t bring food.- MM WHAT’S THE WORST THING TO WATCH SOMEONE ELSE FAIL AT? Instructing you to skydive.- NH Staying sober. - HD Knowing that they’ve given everything they had and it just wasn’t quiet enough. - TO Asking for a date. - TD WHERE IS THE MOST ANNOYING PLACE TO GO?...
Senator Steve Daines received federal agency backing on Thursday, February 12, 2026, for his bill to downgrade three remote Montana landscapes from potential wilderness to regular public forest. Officials from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management told the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining they supported Daines’ S.3527, the Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act. Chris French, associate chief for the Forest Service, told the subcommittee the Trump administration didn’t support creating new wildernesses or...
Governor Greg Gianforte reminded Montana homeowners that they have until March 1 to apply for the 2026 Homestead Reduced Rate on their primary home and long-term rentals, delivering on his commitment to provide permanent and meaningful property tax relief for Montanans. “Recognizing the burden of rising property taxes, we worked with the Legislature to deliver permanent and meaningful property tax relief,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Thanks to our reforms, 80% of Montana homeowners saw lower property taxes last year. While those who claimed a...
Representative Kenneth Walsh (R) of House District 69 spoke to the Whitehall Indivisible group last week. The informal presentation with Q&A covered topics ranging from concerns about Madison County government-owned buildings to the reallocation of marijuana revenue to sales tax, voter rolls, and public school funding. Rep. Walsh explained that two events occurred simultaneously in Virginia City and Nevada City: the first was HB680, which he sponsored. HB 680 amended an existing law to extend the term of leases for government-owned heritage...
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 07:44:12 Traffic Stop: W Legion St 08:05:29 Traffic Stop: W Legion St 08:23:21 Traffic Stop: W Legion St 08:42:57 Traffic Stop: W Legion St 08:56:04 Traffic Stop: W Legion St 10:25:57 Traffic Stop: I-90 WB 11:57:16 Civil: Cold Springs Rd 12:39:47 Civil: E Legion St 12:54:50 Traffic Stop: N Division St 13:10:30 Traffic Stop: W Legion St 13:24:31 Traffic Stop 13:41:16 Traffic Stop: W Legion St 13:56:49 Traffic Stop: W Legion St 14:24:58 Civil Standby: Whitetail Rd 15:04:30...
SECOND PLACE CHAMPS ALL AROUND: (top, clockwise) Cassidy Collins, Joey Beebout, Halle Downey, and Jack Raty all brought home the silver and will head to State competition next week. Also headed to state are Levi Fuller (took 4th), Cale Hoover and Jerrett Miotke (took 6th in their respective brackets), and Quade Skogen and Colt McLean (took 8th in their respective brackets). Photos courtesy COURTNEY...
