Looking Back 25 Years

Wednesday,

November 27, 1991

Schools plan special program for National Drugged and Drunk Driving Week. To dramatize the high death rates in teenagers due to alcohol-related accidents, the local DUI Task Force, the Sheriff’s Reserves and student organizations are hosting a “Ghost Out” in early December.

Students chosen at random will be removed from the classroom by the “Grim Reaper” at the rate of one every ten to twelve minutes. That rate coincides with the frequency of DUI fatalities, DUI Task Force member Leonard Wortman said.

The faces of the students will be painted white, and for the rest of the day, they will be “dead.” Other students will use crutches or other health aids throughout the day. Organizers hope that the “Ghost Out” will provide enough of a scare to keep some of those deaths from becoming a reality.

The Whitehall Business Assoc. is gearing up for their annual Christmas Stroll to be held Friday, Dec. 13, from 3 to 8:30 p.m.

The town decorating will be done the first week of December, according to organizer/businessman Bob Bowman. A business decorating contest will take place for the first time.

Adding a new twist to this year’s stroll, businesses have donated items to be given away in Whitehall’s first ever Christmas stocking.

Whitehall’s ASCS office recently announced Les Rispens had taken over as county executive director. Rispens will oversee administration of USDA farm programs over three counties, Jefferson, Madison and Silver Bow.

Exchange students find life in Whitehall an experience they will always remember.

Carlos Cabanilas of Hermosillo, Mexico, lived with host family John and Sue Babcock and children. At first Carlos said he really did not want to take part in the exchange student program, now he says he would like to stay.

Burkhard Heil of Erkelenz, Germany, lived with host family Jim, Catherine and Kevin Ellerton.

His first week in Whitehall, he tried his hand of loading pigs for market, cleaning the trailer, worked with cattle and helped with irrigation. He remarked that “This has been an experience of a life time.”