Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Articles from the August 16, 2017 edition


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  • Head Start continuing in Whitehall

    Aug 16, 2017

    There was recently some good news for the Whitehall Head Start Program. According to Bob Mullen, Jefferson County Commissioner, the Rocky Mountain Development Council Board of Directors and the Head Start Policy Council have voted unanimously to continue the Whitehall Head Start Program for the upcoming school year. Following concerns about filling a teacher position (upon the retirement of Elaine Henningsen) and about enrollment of a sufficient number of students, Mullen reports that “all concerns of the Board and Policy Council have been m...

  • Phillip William Gooch

    Aug 16, 2017

    Phillip William Gooch, better known as Bill, of Whitehall, MT, died on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at St. James Healthcare in Butte, MT at the age of 58. Bill was born on August 19, 1958, to Phil and Beverline Gooch in Sumpter, SC on Shaw Air Force Base. He was the fourth of eight children and attended Clearfield High School in Clearfield, UT. In 1978, he married his high school sweetheart Christine Cottrell, and together they had 3 children, Nichole, Tanner, and Taylor. Bill took a job in...

  • JLDC awards later this month

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Aug 16, 2017

    The Jefferson Local Development Corporation Annual Dinner and Awards will take place Wednesday, August 30 at the Whitehall Community Center. The theme for the 2017 event is Blue Jeans, Boots & Bandanas. The social hour will start at 6 p.m. and dinner is scheduled for 7 p.m. JLDC Manager Micky Zurcher said the evening should be pretty relaxed and a good chance for people to get together. She also stressed the importance of recognizing outstanding supporters throughout the community. One of this year’s recipients will be the Star Theater, who i...

  • Living Our Western Heritage

    Catherine Ellerton, Contributing Writer|Aug 16, 2017

    What makes you think that is an Ameraucana? What color egg does it lay? What type comb does it have? What are you training it to be? I must admit I was drawn to the crowd that was witnessing this questioning period as I began my wandering through the many exhibits and buildings at the Madison County Fair. Judge Vicky Stevenson of Ulm, MT., was teaching a chicken training class to young Clover Bud 4-H Members. She has been involved for over 40 years in 4-H and travels throughout the United...

  • Shakespeare in the Parks August 28

    Staff Report|Aug 16, 2017

    Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will be performing George Bernard Shaw's You Never Can Tell at 206 Yellowstone Road in Whitehall Monday, August 28 at 6 p.m. The New York Times has said of MSIP, "It is live theater – done Montana style. Not in the round but on top of the world." The ten professional actors that will tour with the company were chosen out of a highly competitive pool of about 500 applicants and auditioners in Bozeman, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Montana Shakespeare in the Parks i...

  • Trojan scrimmages Thursday

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Aug 16, 2017

    A little over a week before they open the 2017 season, local fans will get a sneak peak tomorrow of the Whitehall High School football and volleyball teams. The annual Purple and Gold Scrimmages are set for Thursday, August 17 with volleyball action starting at 5 p.m., followed by football at 6 p.m. Trojans Head Coach Dan Lacey said the football scrimmage will start with two drives by the varsity offense, followed by two drives by the varsity defense. He said the varsity offense will then get...

  • July production 2,400 ounces

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Aug 16, 2017

    At last week’s Community Transition Advisory Committee Meeting, Golden Sunlight Mine Manager Dan Banghart reported the production at the mine during July was 2,400 ounces. Banghart added from August 1 to 3 about 1,000 ounces were recovered. Banghart told committee members that the mill performed well, and while underground tonnage exceeded plans, they are still seeing lower grades than budgeted. Banghart reported there were 7,600 tons of third party ore from four suppliers. He said the number would be down to two in August. There are c...

  • Caverns hosting eclipse event

    Staff Report|Aug 16, 2017

    A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, August 21, 2017. This event has been described as the Great American Eclipse. “Total solar eclipses occur once every one to two years but are only visible from less than half a percent of the Earth’s surface”, said Fred Espenak (a retired astrophysicist from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center). On Monday, August 21st at 10:00 a.m. to Noon Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is hosting a special event for people to join and watch this incredible event. At 10:00 a.m. Steven Hamilton; Biology and Earth S...

  • Editorial: Shakespeare in the Parks an asset to community

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Aug 16, 2017

    This week’s issue of the Whitehall Ledger has a front-page article about the upcoming Shakespeare in the Parks performance. The event will take place August 28 in Whitehall, and is a tremendous opportunity for residents of all ages to get out and experience a wonderful performance in a beautiful setting. The value of having events like this in Whitehall is immeasurable. The arts are vital to any community and having a chance to see this quality of a production in Whitehall is a big deal. While the 2017 performance of “You Never Can Tell” by Ge...

  • Column: The Snowman

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Aug 16, 2017

    Earlier this month I was able to make a quick trip to my hometown. I closed the office on a Friday and headed out of town around 8 a.m. While an 800 mile round trip is certainly not fun, it’s important from time to time to take a quick break and get the chance to see family and friends. Because my new kitten really couldn’t be left alone for three days we took her along, and to be fair also brought along Peaches. Little Jerusha found riding in a car a very enjoyable experience. She was happy as can be and also took the time to pester Peaches ju...

  • Chamber members discuss Christmas Stroll

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Aug 16, 2017

    With another Frontier Days under its belt, the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce is already starting to plan for the next big event of 2017. At a Chamber meeting last Thursday, Treasurer Jill Dove discussed preparations being made for the annual Christmas Stroll that is set for December 9. Dove discussed possibly adding a few new events including a quilting show and a ginger bread house contest. She also would like to get more businesses to participate in the Christmas lights contest. Chamber members also discussed next year’s Black Tie Blue Jeans...

  • Jefferson County Sheriff's Report

    Aug 16, 2017

    Monday, Aug. 7 8:09 a.m. - traffic/ reckless, I-90 eastbound, MM 267, Cardwell 8:17 a.m. – abandoned auto, Boulder Cut-Off Road, Cardwell 9:47 a.m. – trespass, 176 Whiskey Gulch Road, Whitehall 12:58 p.m. – family disturbance, 68 Whitetail Road, Whitehall 1:02 p.m. - public safety-fire/smoke, 409 East Legion Avenue, Whitehall 5:26 p.m. - burglary-forcible (non-residence), 411 East Legion Street, Whitehall 5:58 p.m. – child endangerment, I-90 eastbound, MM 271, Cardwell Tuesday, Aug. 8 3:19 a.m. - suspicious/person/vehicle/circumstance, Hwy 2,...

  • FOR YOUR INFORMATION

    Arcylle Shaw, Contributing Writer|Aug 16, 2017

    In the Fall of 1980, our daughter, Kelly, left for college in Nampa, Idaho at Northwest Nazarene College and sent us this. I thought maybe there would be some parent that could use a little encouragement and would be blessed. Hold Fast the Summer It is the beauty of the day and all it contains. The laughter, the work and finally, the sleep. The quiet. Oh, September, do not put your weight upon my mind, For I know that she will be going. This daughter of mine who is now a woman - she must go. Time will lace my thoughts with joyous years, The...

  • Addiction divides Montana families

    Taylor Crews, UM School of Journalism|Aug 16, 2017

    She thought he would make it. He knew a relapse would cost him his four-year-old daughter and again and again he would tell Judy Kelly, "I love her more than anything else in the world." Ultimately, he went back to using meth and lost custody. "I believe that he was telling the truth, but he just couldn't kick it," Kelly said. Judy Kelly has seen firsthand how devastating parental meth use is to children. "It's hard to see these people fall apart and abandon the kids that love them so much,"...

  • Council sets meeting to discuss crime

    Melissa Jenkins, Staff Writer|Aug 16, 2017

    With criminal activity on the rise, local residents voiced concerns at the Whitehall Town Council meeting on Monday night. Town Attorney Ed Guza said he would like to set up a meeting with Jefferson County Sheriff Craig Doolittle to update the current contract and to hammer out issues with the increase in crime around town. One resident that attended the meeting said, “Our little town isn’t our little town anymore, they (criminals) are breaking into homes during the day. It isn’t just at night anymore.” Jefferson County Commissioner Leonard Wor...

  • 2017 Jefferson County Fair dedicated to Dawson, Rennie

    Staff Report|Aug 16, 2017

    The 2017 Jefferson County Fair, A Fair of the Heart, is dedicated to RaeCille Dawson and Dick Rennie, two long-time supporters of the Jefferson County fair and rodeo who passed away this year. RaeCille Dawson served on the Jefferson County fair board for several years. A painter and photographer herself, she judged fine arts for several years. A long-time art teacher at Jefferson High School, she always encouraged her students to enter their projects in the fair. Together with her family, she...

  • Between the Stacks

    Jeannie Ferriss, Whitehall Community Library|Aug 16, 2017

    Fall is rapidly approaching and things are in full swing at the Library. This fall we will be offering Art Camp for children Kindergarten through 5th grade. The classes will run for six weeks beginning September 11 at 4:00 p.m. If you would like to participate or have your child come join the fun, please call to register at 287-3763. There is limited space and we want to make sure there are enough supplies for everyone. The classes will be based around famous art works from history, with the students then creating their own works reflecting...

  • Kids paint colorful murals

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Aug 16, 2017

    Last Friday was a memorable experience for David and Patti Hanley of Whitehall. They not only got to spend time with numerous grandchildren who were staying at their house, there basement exercise room was transformed into eight distinctive murals. Patti came up with the idea and enlisted the help of local artist Bonnie Graham. The two had met while working together at Cardwell School, and planned out a project for Patti's grandchildren. Graham had each of the eight children first draw out...