Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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COUNCIL STRUGGLES WITH SWIMMING POOL FIX: Pool repairs and costs mount, and no solution is in sight. A frustrated Whitehall Town Council, short of funds and ideas to repair the swimming pool, took no action and made no firm plans at the September 10 council meeting to move ahead with repairs to the community swimming pool. The pool, closed all summer after leaks were discovered when it was filled earlier this summer, has seen fits and starts of work as town officials and community volunteers...
One of the major attractions at the Whitehall Fall Arts and Crafts Festival, and a highlight of the arrival of the toughest train, is the Whitehall Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Murals. Ten Lewis and Clark murals depict actual Expedition activities or moments in the Jefferson Valley; the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce sponsors the murals. The newest mural, in 2001, is on display at the old Tait Garage building at 11 N. Division Street. JEFFERSON VALLEY PRESENTS PERFORMER OF THE WEEK: Richard...
Whitehall school administrators knew they would see a drop in school enrollment; the only question was how big of a drop? The Whitehall Public Schools started the 2001-2002 school year on Monday, August 27, and a lot more kids showed up than expected. Last spring, school ended in Whitehall with an enrollment of 568 students in grades K-12. A number of students here last year have moved away, but instead of dropping, total enrollment has unexpectedly climbed to 582. Not counting the 17 new...
In a move that surprised everyone, angered some, and pleased others, the Jefferson County Commission altered the recommendations of the metal mines advisory committee and awarded half the grant monies - a total of $25,000 - to applicants not recommended for funding by the committee. The Commission, meeting in Boulder on August 15, awarded: $18,000 to the Whitehall Saddle Club for rodeo grounds grandstand improvements; $15,000 to Jefferson Valley Presents for drilling of a water well and improvem...
The Whitehall Chamber of Commerce has scheduled the first-ever – and hopes to make it the first annual – Whitehall Fall Arts and Crafts Festival for Sep. 8-9, 2001. The festival will coincide with the arrival of a special tourist train from Livingston. Montana Rockies Rail Tours is promoting a "Special Livingston Excursion" train from Livingston to Whitehall. The train, featuring luxury rail cars, departs Livingston at 8:30 AM on Saturday and arrives in Whitehall at 11 AM. WHITEHALL ATHLETE OF...
Five new teachers to the Whitehall School system, and one former teacher in a new setting, will greet local students when school starts on August 27, provided the Whitehall School Board approves the six new teacher contracts. Whitehall School Superintendent Bill Dietz said all the school's educational and academic needs will be met with the hirings, but with the fall sports of girls' basketball and football slated to start practice on August 13, the school is still looking for varsity and...
Golden Sunlight Mine laid off another 15 employees effective July 31, 2001, but even though the current workforce is less than a quarter of the 1996 GSM workforce, mine officials continue to search for a new power contract and explore the possibility of expanded mining opportunities in the pit. "These layoffs are not unexpected," said Doug Bailey, general manager at Gold Sunlight. "Everyone knew when we stopped mining the pit this would happen." The reduction in force of 15 jobs brings the numbe...
The economy may improve at the Golden Sunlight Mine. More layoffs will be coming soon, but a new drilling program will seek to identify additional gold reserves. WHITEHALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Bill Murphy. Bill Murphy of Cardwell, a high school history teacher in Harrison, took first place in saddle bronc competition at the Whitehall Frontier Days NRA Rodeo. Billy, who also coaches junior high girls' basketball and assists with boys' basketball in Harrison, recently won the saddle bronc event...
Six Whitehall non-profit organizations or groups have submitted applications for grant funding through the Jefferson County Metal Mines Grant program, and final decisions on grant funds could be made as early as August 2001. WHITEHALL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Members of the WHS Rodeo Club. Nine members of the WHS Rodeo Club competed at the June 21-24 MHSRA state finals in Sidney, and many of them have placed in individual events. Will Glaus, Jill Hanson, Chase Holt, and Cotton Holt all placed;...
After three years of preparation for the "Journey of Discovery," the play finally premiered on June 29, 2001. The history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was presented in this historical presentation, and it mostly focused on interactions between the Corps and Native Americans from St. Louis to the Rocky Mountains. WHITEHALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Brian Carey. Brian Carey won the bareback bronc competition at seven high school rodeos in 2001 and took third place in the state, qualifying him for...
Opening the Whitehall Community Pool this year will cost just over $20,000 in materials and labor. A pool board member said that a 1,700-pound skid steer with backhoe, bucket, and hydraulic jackhammer is needed to break up the concrete around the pool to access the pipes. The goal will be to have the pool open and operational later in July of 2001. JEFFERSON VALLEY PRESENTS PERFORMER OF THE WEEK: David Lemon. Ennis resident David Lemon, a well-known sculptor of western art, portrays...
The Whitehall Community Swimming Pool has a delayed opening due to major leaks in the water-circulating pipes. The pool board figured the pool was losing 12 to 18 inches per day, which amounts to 27,000 gallons of water. That leaves the pool closed indefinitely, and depending on the cost of the repair, it may remain closed for the rest of the 2001 summer. WHITEHALL COACHES OF THE WEEK: Dan Segovia, Mark Allen, and Doug Robbins. The Whitehall White Sox coaches Dan Segovia, Mark Allen, and Doug...
The Whitehall School Board approved the master contract with the Whitehall Teachers Union and accepted the resignations of three teachers in action at the June 6th meeting. The Whitehall Town Council unanimously approved a five-lot commercial subdivision, committed $3,000 to a proposed animal shelter, and debated - but did not act on - a proposed "incompatibility of office" ordinance during action at the June 11 meeting. Jefferson Valley Presents Performer of the Week: HANK KING. Hank King is...
Jefferson IGA store owners Diana and Don Burton are celebrating their first anniversary as store owners with a BBQ party, with donations going to the Whitehall Swimming Pool Committee for Pool Pals. JEFFERSON VALLEY PRESENTS Performer of the Week: BARBARA HAXBY. Barbara Haxby is the secretary of the Jefferson Valley Presents (JVP) board and one of JVP's founding members. She operates her own home-based clerical company, wrote and directed 20 church plays from 1995-1999, and has been a dedicated...
The Whitehall High School Class of 2001 will receive close to $65,000 in college scholarship funds to pursue degrees in post-secondary education institutions. WHS Creative Leader of the Week: BRIAN CAREY. Sophomore Brian Carey earned honors this week for his ride for the WHS Rodeo Club. Brian was nominated by Tom Wheeler, who says, "Brian has found a creative way to stay on the buck' horses as his current #1 ranking has him on top of the M.H.S.A. rodeo standings. Brian has won the bareback...
Jefferson Valley Presents board members Lucy Holmes and Wally Madsen join Bill Seybert of Golden Sunlight Mine and an assembled group of production supporters in breaking ground for the stage set for "Journey of Discovery." The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the production site on Saturday, May, 19, 2001. Julie Kieckbusch, the Whitehall Trojan Girls Basketball coach, steps down. Kieckbusch, a high school all-star player at Sheridan and standout college player at Montana Tech, coached for...
Whitehall School District cuts two from its teaching staff - Sandi Mabbott and Britta Oliverson - due to enrollment drop and a budget shortfall. The two were not renewed without cause due to a budget shortfall of about $75,000 in the elementary school. Both were non-tenured teachers. WHS Creative Leader of the Week: RYAN WEIGHTMAN. Freshman Ryan Weightman has earned honors this week for his excellent work in drama. He was chosen by WHS drama director Larry Brazill, who says he nominated Ryan “Fo...
Incumbent Whitehall School board member Dean Hunt was the leading vote-getter in the May 8 Whitehall School board election. Hunt and first-time candidate Gary Konen were elected to the board. Rodeo fans were treated to some excellent rodeo action and some nice weather at the 42nd annual BY's 4-H Club youth rodeo, held Sunday, May 6, in Whitehall. WHS Creative Leader of the Week: CLINT JOHNSON. WHS choir member Clint Johnson earns honors this week. He was nominated by Sandi Mabbott, who says...
The Montana state Legislature decided to provide a 1.88 percent increase for public schools. Whitehall public schools received an additional $43,000 in funds for the 2001-02 budget. WHS Creative Leader of the Week: JAMES LUCAS. WHS band member James Lucas has earned honors this week. Band Director Skyler Lashley says, "James is a very attentive and productive student. He always attends pep band and is an excellent leader." James, who plays the saxophone, is the son of Charles and Ann Lucas. He...
The Whitehall baseball/softball season will officially open in grand style with an opening ceremony for the Whitehall Recreation Complex Concession/Restroom building. Whitehall experienced some crazy April weather, which almost canceled the annual Whitehall Spring Clean due to cold weather and snow-closed roads. WHS Creative Leader of the Week: DEREK DEAN. Earning honors this week is WHS Student Council member Derek Dean. Student council advisor LeeAnn Gallagher says Derek is a very...
A communications company in Virginia is reportedly proposing to build a radio tower on private land west of Whitehall in the Pipestone area, and Pipestone residents do not like the idea. Their Jefferson County Enhanced 911 Advisory Committee has concluded work on a countywide enhanced 911 plan with compromise language for Whitehall emergency dispatching. But the final implementation of the plan isn't expected for about another year. WHS Creative Leader of the Week: JILL HANSON. Senior Jill Hanso...
An ambitious 2001 paving project would pave east-side streets and chip and seal fresh-paved streets from 2000 to 2001. The cost is estimated at about $150,000. WHS Creative Leader of the Week: JENELLE HANSON. A "great attitude and good work ethic" in choir has earned freshman Jenelle Hanson honors this week. As choir director Sandi Mabbott says, "Jenneel has been willing to do extra things to help the choir, such as accompany us on the flute. She is a great asset to our choir." Jenelle is the...
Four area residents - Dean Hunt, Gary Konen, Don Masinelli, and Doug Salsbury have filed for the two positions on the Whitehall School Board and will face off during a May 8 school board meeting. WHS Creative Leader of the Week: JADE ROBBINS. Earning honors this week is Jade Robbins. Jade plays the WHS concert band and pep band. Director Skyler Lashley says," Jade gives good effort in class. He played at all the events the pep band participated in and is very dependable." He is the son of the...
Special Education Teacher Kevin Moore wrote to 75 major companies, asking them to fund new computer systems to help two of his special-needs students. Walmart and Conoco donated and helped two students learn how to communicate their thoughts and feelings. WHS Creative Leader of the Week: LANCE BRIGGS. Senior Lance Briggs gets honors this week for his work in WHS drama. Drama sponsor Larry Brazill praises Lance "for his willingness to sell out in his character portrayal of Lazar Wolfe in the...
