Ledger Looking Back 25 Years: 8/13/1997

August 13, 1997

Local and state law enforcement officers made four arrests and confiscated nearly 300 marijuana plants during an August 6, 1997, pre-dawn raid on a home about eight miles south of Whitehall that resulted in what officials called one of the biggest drug busts in Jefferson County history. Jefferson County Undersheriff Tim Campbell, a 19-year veteran of the County Sheriff’s office, said the drug operation at 150 Fish Creek Road was “very sophisticated” and the biggest in his memory. Jason Schwartz, 28, and his wife Theresa, 29, both of Whitehall, and Eric Decker, 27, and Mitchell Bakken, 25, both of Bozeman were arrested and charged with three crimes: criminal possession of marijuana with intent to sell, criminal production of marijuana, and possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture.

The Whitehall Town Council received reports about the prison construction, recycling in Jefferson County, the water improvement project, and Whitehall swimming pool operations during the council’s regular monthly meeting on August 11.

The Whitehall Board of Trustees approved the 1997-98 school budget, endorsed a Kids on Character community public forum, approved or considered several school policies, approved the school bus driver list, and generally helped prepare for the start of school.

The Volunteer of the Week was The Kiwanis Club, which created a novel “Paint the Town” project to help an elderly resident in Whitehall by orchestrating a free house painting. The Kiwanis, through its efforts during the Frontier Days community BBQ, raised money to fund the painting project.