A look back: Changes at town hall in 2018

There were plenty of changes at Town Hall in 2018.

At a special meeting in January, Council members Barbara Gagnon, Katy James, Jason Good and Montina Rawson, and Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh were sworn into their positions.

The seat of James was later vacated. In summer, the Council voted to move town offices and public works operations to the former ambulance barn located at 207 E. Legion.

2018 was another year that showed the true giving nature of the Whitehall area community.

In late January, the Star Theater hosted a special fundraiser movie premier. The screening of the "Ballad of Lefty Brown" included a meet and greet with star Bill Pullman and Director Jared Moshe. The event raised $12,000 for the Jefferson Valley Museum. Anderson said he and Pullman always knew they wanted to put together an event for the film and talked back and forth a couple months about ideas.

"As we talked, the event just expanded and became the event you see today. We always knew we wanted it to be a fundraiser of some sort, but Bill had the idea of giving the proceeds to the museum. He liked the idea of the film being a nod to the old west and thought it would be good to help those that preserve that history right here in Whitehall," Anderson said.

In June, the community came together in unison at the Erik Todd Benefit at the Whitehall Community Center.

Cara Sacry said the turnout was great at the fundraiser for Todd, who suffered a serious head injury in a March 4 snowboarding accident.

"We, meaning the attendees, donors, and organizers had one goal and that was to help a local family whose world had changed in the blink of an eye. This community has enormous heart and willingness to help its neighbors. Erik's accident and journey to recovery has united us and provided us an opportunity to witness a miracle," Sacry said.

Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh was among the many in in attendance and estimated 400 people attended the event.

The annual February gun show in Whitehall was cancelled in 2018. Event organizer Tom Harrington said the popular annual show would not take place due to insurance related issues. The popular bi-annual event brings in vendors from across Southwest Montana.

Cardwell resident and Whitehall High School Principal Hannah Nieskens was selected by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to serve as a 2018 Dole Caregiver Fellow.

Nieskens is among 27 other active military and veteran caregivers that will join nearly 150 past and present Dole Caregiver Fellows to bring attention to the crisis faced by America's 5.5 million hidden heroes – the spouses, parents, family members, and friends who provide more than $14 billion in voluntary care for wounded, ill, or injured veterans.

Later in the year, Nieskens was selected as the 2018 Montana High School Principal of the year.

Whitehall Superintendent John Sullivan said it is a great honor for not only Nieskens, but also for the school.

"She's done a tremendous job. It's awesome to have the High School Principal of the Year for Montana in our building every day," Sullivan said.

She was also announced as one of three national finalists by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. She is joined by finalists Lucas Clamp of Lexington, S.C., and Paul Kelly of Elk Grove Village, IL.

"I was shocked when I found out I was one of three finalists for the national award," she said

There was also once again great news at Whitehall High School.

Four years ago, the Whitehall High School junior class ranked 99th in the state for ACT composite test scores. The results of testing completed in 2017 show Whitehall has witnessed astonishing growth -- with their scores now ranking sixth out of 197 schools in the state.

"It is excellent to see Whitehall High School is among the best high schools in the state," said Nieskens. "Students and teachers have much to be proud of. We just keep getting better scores every year."

In late May, a total of 25 Whitehall High School seniors will graduate in a ceremony scheduled to take place Sunday, May 27 at 2 p.m. in the Varsity Gym.

The members of the class of 2018 are Wyatt Scott Alexander, Jakob Earl Belgarde, Lexis Rhiannon Bowman, Zoe Lauren Center, Evelin Samantha Dove, Stephanie Marie Ellis, Justin W. Gipson, Alex J. Hanson, Alauna S. Harris, Dawson Riley Hoerauf, Kayden M. Howser, Breelyn Rae Jensen, Samuel J. Kraha, Cameron Kalinokea Learn, Alexys Mercer, Bailey C. Moss, Ryan J. Murphy, Amber Rose Murrish, Christopher W. Osborne, Kyeli Ostler, Will J. Reynolds, Garrison Paul Shaw, Braden Tucker Smith, Beau Allen Wagner and Steven Woody.

The Valedictorian for the Class of 2018 was Ryan Murphy. The Salutatorian for the class was Garrison Shaw.

In the summer, voters approved a ballot measure that will permanently increase tax liability to generate an estimated $29,485 per year for the Jefferson Valley Search and Rescue and the Elkhorn Search and Rescue. In results from the Montana Secretary of States web site, the measure passed by a vote of 2,413 to 1,020.

It was another successful Montana Mule Days event in Whitehall.

According to event organizer Tara Price of the Montana Longears Association, the three-day event in June went well and they had more contestants than last year.

Price said in 2017 there were 124 animals registered to compete and there were 151 registered for the 2018 event at the rodeo grounds, adding they saw new faces for the contestants.

In August, it didn't take long for a large crowd to gather at the 100th Anniversary Celebration at Cardwell School.

Shortly after 10:30 a.m., the school gymnasium was packed with former students, staff, and community members who were taking time to visit and look at various exhibits. Some of the items on display were a replica of the town of Cardwell in 1918 built by current students, a classroom set up on the stage to look like one similar to 1918, and a timeline about the history of the school.

During August, The Jefferson Valley Rural Ambulance District Board voted to accept a Request for Proposal from Partners United for Live Saving Education (PULSE)/Jefferson Valley Emergency Medical Services and Rescue.

PULSE/JVEMSR will now provide ambulance service for the district, which includes the Whitehall School District, excluding the town limits of Whitehall and Silver Bow and Madison Counties. Jefferson County voters approved a measure to create the district in late 2017.

There was also positive news for the Golden Sunlight Mine.

Environmental Superintendent Chuck Buus reported the permit for the Apex project was approved by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. The underground project will extend the life of the mine until 2021.

Buus said he was very pleased with the timeframe of the process and the local support.

A ground-breaking ceremony took place Monday, December 10 for the Richard (Dick) Gustin Memorial Bus Barn that will be located at 1173 HWY 55 in Whitehall. The 3,200 square foot facility will feature a four-bay bus barn that will accommodate offices and a passenger waiting area.

Speaking on behalf of Whitehall Public Transportation, Liberty Place Executive Director Ann Geiger said a calculated effort over the past four years with many hours of work has led a path to this day. She thanked the Montana Department of Transportation, Jefferson Valley Community Foundation, Jefferson County Commission, Golden Sunlight Mine and all the individuals who have played a part in getting to this point.

Geiger said without the work of the late Dick Gustin they would have never been able to pull off building the new facility.