Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
RETIRING SORT OF FELLOW: Tom Jenkin, who as WHS guidance counselor helped hundreds of Whitehall students further their education, announced his retirement after 27 years within the Whitehall school system. Jenkin, who briefly taught geography, history, and government classes in Whitehall, helped expand the number of college scholarships and awards for Whitehall graduates. "I've enjoyed the kids," said Jenkin. "You bet - the kids are the best thing about the job." Jenkin said he thought it was time for him to do something different and thought some "new blood" would be good at the school.
JANUARY 6, 1999
The Whitehall Town Council, worried about liability exposure and possible court-imposed fees and damages, voted during a special council meeting on Monday, January 4, 1999, to both approve funding a legal defense for council member Ron Robertson and seek a legal clarification on whether or not the Town is legally obligated to fund Robertson's legal defense.
Robertson, who serves as public works director for Whitehall, was also a town council member; a recent order by Montana AToorney General Joe Mazurek held that serving as a town employee is "not compatible" with service on a town council. The Whitehall Town Council, based in part upon advice from Whitehall Town Attorney Jack Morris, filed a motion before the Montana Supreme Court challenging the opinion and seeking a resolution from the court on whether or not the attorney general's order is legally valid.
The council voted 5-0, with Robertson abstaining and with the strong opposition of Whitehall Mayor Dale Davis, requesting that the Montana Municipal Insurance Authority (MMIA) - the Town of Whitehall's insurer - provide legal defense for Robertson as part of the town's umbrella insurance policy; however, the following day, Morris received a faxed letter from MMIA's legal counsel denying Robertson's defense. The faxed letter cited an exclusion in the insurance policy which denied coverage to non-monetary damages.
The Montana Department of Transportation, buoyed by several highway construction projects in the area, has moved a construction field office into Whitehall, headed by Whitehall resident Ray Sacks.
Brady Cogdill, a Whitehall resident and rodeo clown who was seriously injured in a December 26 rodeo near Big Sky, is out of the hospital and recovering from his injuries at home in Whitehall. Cogdill suffered a broken neck, fractured eye socket, and a broken nose; he is hanging up his hat as a rodeo clown.
Whitehall athlete of the week was WHS junior Bill Battaiola. Bill entered the new year ranked second second among Class B-C wrestlers in Montana; coach Mark Nelson said Bill was a tough competitor who wrestled well against Montana's top wrestlers. Bill is the son of Mike and Patty Battaiola. He is also a standout on the Trojan football and track squads.
Whitehall Student of the Week was junior Jessica Bell for her "exceptional ability in chemistry." Teacher Ken Kinzer says Jessica has a positive attitude in work and effort at 100% effort. Jessica is the daughter of Bruce and Patty Bell.
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