Ledger Looking Back 25 Years: April 22, 1998

APRIL 22, 1998 

Gordon Sampson, originally charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault stemming from separate 1996 and 1997 incidents, pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges in Madison County Court as part of a plea bargain agreement. Sampson had been charged with felony assault and aggravated assault after the two incidents in which he admitted to firing a rifle in front of a Vigilante Electric Co-op meter reader on private land south of Whitehall and firing a rifle in the direction of Whitehall residents on his property. He was required to pay $1,000 in fines, attend 25 hours of anger management, and could not possess a firearm for one year.

An unusual traffic accident damaged four vehicles on Legion Avenue in Whitehall on April 20, and witnesses said everyone involved was fortunate no serious injuries resulted. Mary Reopelle, a paraplegic stemming from a previous automobile accident in the 1980s, was driving her van west on Legion Avenue when she lost control of her vehicle. The van struck two parked cars on the north side of Legion Avenue, struck a parked pickup, and ended up on the sidewalk inches away from a glass storefront. Witnesses said the pickup stopped the van from crashing into Casper Mortgage Services on Legion Avenue. Reopelle was carried out of the back of the van and into the Whitehall Ambulance for the journey to St. James Community Hospital in Butte. Reopelle suffered a cut leg and was treated and released. An infant in a car seat was in the back of the first car struck by the van but was unharmed. In addition to the Whitehall Ambulance, the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department and Whitehall law officers responded to the accident.

About two dozen residents heard 16 county and state legislative candidates speak at a political forum sponsored by the Whitehall Kiwanis Club at the Whitehall Middle School commons. Candidates discussed their experience, priorities, and reasons for running for public office and positions on issues, but there were no disputes or debates among the candidates.

After nine years as a Whitehall bank president and 29 years in banking, Bill Holzer decided to retire. Holzer said the retirement might not be permanent. He planned to take some time off during the summer and make a determination about future plans.

Whitehall Student of the Week was foreign exchange student Sandra Altman. Sandra was from Germany and her host parents in Whitehall were Joe and Gwen Schlemmer. Sandra was selected because of her excellent work in U.S. History. Sandra, a junior, plans to go to college to become a journalist. She enjoys flying gliders, reading, music, and friends.

Whitehall Athletes of the Week were Debra Giono and Brandi Dorvall. The doubles team of Debra and Brandi held on for a big tie-breaker win in tennis action against Bozeman. Debra is the daughter of Topper and Gail Giono. Brandi is the daughter of Duane and Geri Dorvall. Debra and Brandi are seniors who each have plans to attend college after graduation.