Ledger Looking Back 25 Years: 4/7/1999

APRIL 7, 1999:

A heavy turnout of Cardwell voters showed up at the polls on April 6 and elected two first-time candidates to the school board: Dave Oliverson and Paul Shaw. Oliverson beat incumbent Larry Feight by a 52-46 margin to win a three-year term; Shaw beat Tracie Tocci by an 81-22 margin, also securing a three-year term on the board.

David Gerber, 38, pled guilty on April 5, 1999, to setting fire to the Jefferson Valley Baptist Church but was legally found not guilty because of his mental illness. Gerber was committed to the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs under the care of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Gerber was accused of setting fire to the Jefferson Valley Baptist Church on July 2, 1998. The church interior was nearly destroyed, and the building suffered severe fire, smoke, and water damage.

The Whitehall Elementary School announced that 63 students achieved perfect attendance during the third grading quarter of the 1998-1999 school year.

Whitehall High School juniors Tamra Arp, Carrie Cassidy, Michelle Lofftus, and Doug McCollum, along with their French teacher, Ms. Susie Tilton-Chiovaro, will travel on a 17-day European trip from June 8 to June 25. The trip will include three days in Italy, four in France, and five in England.

Whitehall Student of the Week was freshman Tressa Carey for her positive attitude, knowledge, and efforts in science class. She is the daughter of Chris and Sandy Carey and plans to study either accounting or marine biology in college.

Whitehall Athlete of the Week was senior Jenny Dawson. Jenny was the only Trojan with a win on the WHS tennis team thus far. She is the daughter of Anne Marie and Mike Carey and plans to attend MSU after graduation.

WHS Creative Leader of the Week was sophomore Lance Briggs for his work as principal saxophone chair in the band. Lance is the son of Dean and Wendy Briggs and plans to attend college.