Ledger Looking Back 25 Years: 9/1/1999

SEPTEMBER 1, 1999

The Whitehall legacy of John Jardine was strengthened last week when the Jardine estate gave a $50,000 donation to the Jefferson Valley Museum. Jardine, who lived in Whitehall from 1952 to 1992, operated a successful law practice, served as the town attorney, served briefly as a state legislator, and served on the Whitehall State Bank board of directors for 37 years, many of them as chairman. He perished at age 75 in December of 1997 when the small aircraft he was in collided with another private airplane near Bozeman. Jardine was an avid aviator but was not flying the plane when the accident occurred.

The legal complaint against Ron Robertson for serving as a town council member and a town employee has been dismissed...for now. Joe Adams of Whitehall, who originally filed the complaint against Robertson in December 1998, made the motion to dismiss the complaint on Monday, August 23, and two days later, on August 25, Judge James Purcell granted the motion.

Whitehall Volunteer of the Week was John Jardine. John wins the first-ever posthumous "Volunteer of the Week" award for his generous $50,000 donation to the Jefferson Valley Museum. John, a 40-year resident of Whitehall, perished in 1997. He served as Whitehall Town Attorney, operated a successful law practice, served briefly in the Montana Legislature, and was on the Whitehall State Bank board of directors for many years. John had always been quiet about his donations, contributions, and support for Whitehall residents and organizations, but he helped many people and made the community a better place to live. His legacy was enhanced and made more visible by the largest donation ever made to the museum.

Whitehall Athlete of the Week was Kathy Contway. Kathy has been a dedicated and consistent rodeo participant. During the summer, Kathy competed in the Kiwanis Barrel Racing Series, the Whitehall Saddle Club O-Mok-Sees, Perfect Circle Barrel Racing, county fair rodeos, and the Professional Women's Rodeo held in Whitehall. Kathy competes in barrel racing, goat tying, team roping, team penning, and other events and has always helped younger competitors.

Whitehall Readers of the Week were The Ortman family, owners of Wood River Lodge in Alaska. They earned Reader of the Week honors for donating a fishing trip for the Whitehall library building fund raffle. John and Linda Ortman have lived in and around Whitehall since 1992. John says, "I've always loved books, and I got my education through books." Wood River Lodge offers a premier Alaskan wilderness fishing experience, and the lucky winner from the library raffle will get that once-in-a-lifetime experience. The library has raised $70,000 and still needs $10,000 more to start construction.