Ledger Looking Back 25 Years: 8/26/1998

AUGUST 26, 1998

A settlement was reached mid-trial in Montana District Court on Monday, August 24, and resulted in a change of plea for the youth accused of setting fire to the railroad depot in Whitehall and financial reimbursement to depot owner Steve Warmoth. The agreement apparently negotiated by District Court Judge Frank Davis stipulated that Christopher Lerman, 14, and his parents make a $3,000 restitution to Warmoth for personal property loss and cleanup costs associated with the fire. The agreement also stipulated that Lerman be placed on probation for one year, perform 40 hours of community service, attend school and maintain acceptable grades, comply with other basic stipulations of probation, and continue to attend counseling sessions.

Kathy Ross, an 11-year resident of Whitehall, was the only new classroom teacher in the Whitehall school system in the 1998-99 school year. While there were some administrative changes and some movement of existing teachers to new classrooms, only one new teacher was hired. Ross was hired as the family and consumer science teacher. She has a teaching degree and a child development degree from Montana State University. She and her husband, Terry, have three children - Kyle, Sheldon, and Rhiannon.

Whitehall Reader of the Week was Ryan Masinelli. Ryan, an avid reader of science fiction, said, "Science fiction can go anywhere, that's why I like it." He reads about a book a week – sometimes more. Ryan's favorite authors are Jack McKinney and Michael Crichton. Ryan, 16, a sophomore at Whitehall High School, participates in cross country, basketball, and track.