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...
Reported error leads to lockdown
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Dec 19, 2018
A system error led to an unexpected lockdown December 12 for K-12 students in Whitehall. Superintendent John Sullivan said once they once they determined the lockout alert was not caused by a real threat, students and teachers were informed a system error was causing the problem. He added this happened within minutes of the alarm sounding. The company that installed the alarm is current troubleshooting to see why the error happened. “We apologize for the momentary distress this caused students and teachers,” Sullivan said....
How to get ambulance district to town vote unclear
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Dec 12, 2018
If the Town of Whitehall were to join the Jefferson Valley Rural Ambulance District the decision would need to be made by registered voters. The process of how to get town voters to decide if they would join the district created in 2017 is however unclear. District Chair Sue Pullman gave a short presentation to the Whitehall Council Monday and said it is important to understand the district is established and functioning and if Whitehall residents wanted to join they would have to talk to their council members. Pullman, Town Clerk/Treasurer Sum...
Ground breaking ceremony takes place for bus barn
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Dec 12, 2018
On a cold and windy Montana morning, shovels broke the ground in what was a monumental day for Whitehall Public Transportation. 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...
Chamber Lights Contest returns
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Dec 5, 2018
The deadline is nearing for the 2018 Whitehall Chamber of Commerce Christmas Lights Contest. Entries for the contest are due to the chamber by Friday, December 7 at 10 a.m. Houses must be fully decorated and lit for judging by December 8. Winners will be announced December 13 on the chamber Facebook page. First prize is $150 in chamber bucks, second place is $100 in chamber bucks, and third place is $50 in chamber bucks. Chamber member Jill Dove said the community is the voting committee and...
An informational meeting about the Southwest Montana Veterans' Home is set to take place Friday, November 30 at the Whitehall Community Center. The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. According to local Veteran Gary Redfern, the meeting will also focus on finding a committee member for a foundation focused on raising money for basic expenses for future residents of the 60-bed facility that will be located south of Butte. The foundation committee will include representatives from six counties....
County Commmission Update
Leonard Wortman, Jefferson County Commissioner|Nov 28, 2018
Hi Folks We didn't have a regular meeting last week. I hope everyone had a very great Thanksgiving. Carole and I were able to go help with the free dinner at the Stageline Pizza on Thanksgiving Day. Event Coordinator, Bruce Binkowski and his wife Christina were also there. Bruce helped promote the event and they had a great turnout. I think they served over 100 people. Bill Pullman also stopped by and spent a lot of time visiting with folks and getting pictures. It was a great way to spend Thank...
Documentary to highlight career of Davis
Nov 20, 2018
Cowboy Strong – The Man Behind the NFR Legacy in Vegas, a special one-hour documentary produced to chronicle the incredible career of Shawn Davis, will air on CBS Sports Network on Sunday, November 25 at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET. The program will re-air on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET. Davis was a three-time PRCA World Champion saddle bronc rider prior to turning his attention to the business of rodeo. That decision changed the fortunes for the sport and Las Vegas. Davis cast the deciding vote to move the National Finals Rodeo f...
Whitehall Schools honor Veterans
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Nov 14, 2018
The Whitehall School District honored those who have served last week at the annual Veteran's Day Program. The program included a 100th year celebration of Armistice Day in 1918 by Whitehall fifth graders. The event also included performances by the combined choirs, a Roll Call, "Marches of the Armed Forces", and a performance of "God Bless America". The program started with a presentation of colors from the cheer squad and a performance of the national anthem by the middle school and high...
Smart wins national contest
Nov 7, 2018
Whitehall resident and photographer Sarah Smart was recently selected as the first place finisher in the Heritage Foundation photo contest. Her photo taken during the Field of Honor Celebration on July 4 in Butte has been published on the cover of the 2019 Heritage Foundation Calendar. Smart was not notified she had won and said she was so surprised when she opened a big envelope with calendar and saw her image. Pictured above is the award-winning photo by Smart....
2018 General Election Results
Staff Report|Nov 7, 2018
Montana voted against two highly publicized ballot initiatives. In unofficial results from the Montana Secretary of State, voters easily defeated I-186 by a count of 229,072 to 161,440. The initiative would have denied approval to any new hard rock mines in the state unless they can provide “clear and convincing” evidence the mine will not require perpetual water treatment. I-185 was also defeated by a vote of 215,278 to 178,578. The initiative would have placed an extra tax of cigarettes to raise money for Medicaid. In Montana House Dis...
2018 General Election Results
Oct 31, 2018
Montana voted against two highly publicized ballot initiatives. In unofficial results from the Montana Secretary of State, voters easily defeated I-186 by a count of 229,072 to 161,440. I-185 was also defeated by a vote of 215,278 to 178,578. In Montana House District 71, incumbent Republican Ray Shaw defeated Democratic challenger Jay Frederick by a vote of 3,653 to 1,815. Libertarian Michael White received 841 votes. In House District 75, Republican Greg Devries defeated Democratic challenger J. Bryher Herak by a vote of 3,332 to 2,474. In...
I-186 opponents discuss initiative
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Oct 31, 2018
STOP I-186 Campaign members have been busy since mid June spreading their message about the proposed Initiative they say will have devastating impacts to both future and current mining operations as well as mining jobs in the Treasure State. STOP I-186 Campaign Director Dave Galt and Montana Mining Association Executive Director Tammy Johnson have both played a large role is discussing the detrimental affects of next week’s ballot initiative. In a recent interview with the Whitehall Ledger, both discussed the importance of keeping the b...
Northwestern Energy Meeting Next Week
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Oct 24, 2018
Earlier this month, a power outage led to the cancellation of morning bus routes in the Whitehall School District. In June, numerous local businesses were affected by a 12 plus hour outage in the Whitehall and Cardwell areas. Local business owners and residents will get a chance to detail the impacts recent outages have caused at a special meeting Monday, October 29 at the Borden’s Conference Room. According to JLDC Co-Manager Tom Harrington, representatives from Northwestern Energy will be on hand at the meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. ...
Campaign signs stolen, vandalized
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Oct 17, 2018
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department has responded to several recent complaints of vandalized campaign signs. "It always seems to be a problem during the campaign season," said Sheriff Craig Doolittle. " I have had several of my signs vandalized and stolen over the years from many different areas." The Whitehall Ledger had several residents contact them about their signs either being stolen or vandalized. Ruth Lott of Cardwell said political signs have been stolen and disfigured, one in...
I-185 would raise tobacco tax to expand Medicaid coverage
Alina Sturgess, Community News Service UM School of Journalism|Oct 10, 2018
Montana smokers could be on the hook for an additional $2 per pack if ballot initiative Initiative 185 passes. The tobacco industry is shelling out big bucks in hopes it won't happen. It's a big reason your mailbox is stuffed this election season with flyers arguing its pros and cons. The initiative's backers see its passage as a "win-win." Higher taxes for tobacco products could discourage their use and perhaps reduce medical problems they cause. The extra money raised would help expand Medicai...
Major Support for Montana's public Universities Riding on 2018 Election Levy Vote
MARTI LIECHTY, Community News Service UM School of Journalism|Oct 10, 2018
While talk of reductions at the University of Montana have grabbed a lot of the attention, the decisions Montanans make at the ballot box this fall may have much broader implications for the state's eight public higher education institutions. Organizations and people around the state of Montana have been working to make sure that voters continue to support the property levy that has been a critical part of higher education support in the state since 1948. The levy is a tax on property values....
Clerk's job emerges as unlikely Supreme Court fight
ANNISA KEITH, Community News Service UM School of Journalism|Oct 10, 2018
Decisions about the U.S. Supreme Court have turned into an intense partisan battle in Washington, but in Montana the only contested race for the high court is for the job of clerk. Three candidates are in the running for the seat. Rex Renk is a Democrat who has worked as the deputy clerk for more than 20 years and now seeks the top job. Bowen Greenwood is a former executive director of the Montana GOP and Roger Roots is an outspoken Libertarian activist. They are battling over a position that...
S.A. Neff Jr. visits Montana with passions of angling, bookbinding
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Oct 3, 2018
In the fall of 2011, S.A. Neff Jr., loaded up his van and made the nearly 2,000-mile trip from western Pennsylvania to Montana. With a self-professed love of exploring rivers, Neff had heard from a friend about fishing on the Boulder River and wanted to try it out for himself. An angler since 9, Neff visited several area ranches to try and get permission to both fish and camp, but he was initially unsuccessful. Finally, he visited the home of Bob and Connie Sims, who owned a ranch on MT Highway...
Whitehall PBS Channel 49 moved
Staff Report|Sep 26, 2018
The local Whitehall PBS TV channel 49 has moved to TV channel 36. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) recently repurposed a block of frequencies in the upper TV band to make room for more wireless communication devices. The present TV band is being "repacked" nationwide and all TV stations will now operate below channel 37. Lee Good of Whitehall Lower Power TV said on Tuesday they hope to complete the channel change in less than a day and with being off-the-air for an extended period of...
Committee to address weeds
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Sep 19, 2018
A new committee of Whitehall residents and business owners will soon be working together to address weed problems within town limits. The Whitehall Town Council voted unanimously last week to begin working on a resolution that would create a "adopt an alley" program. "If we could get the weeds under control it would improve the looks of town considerably," said Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh. Council member Montina Rawson said the weed issue should not just be up to Public Works to take care of....
The Jefferson Valley Rural Ambulance District Board voted late last month 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 Sliver Bow and Madison Counties. Jefferson County voters approved a measure to create the district in late 2017. Board Chair Sue Pullman said they are happy to be moving...
JLDC hosts annual meeting, awards
AUBRIE BOLINE, Contributing Writer|Sep 5, 2018
The Jefferson Local Development Corporation hosted their Annual Meeting on August 29th at the Boulder Fairgrounds. The event was a celebration of the non-profit organization's 20th anniversary. Guests from all over Jefferson County attended from Montana City to Boulder to Whitehall and everywhere in between. The JLDC Annual Meeting is an opportunity for members and the public to come together and celebrate the economic and community development in Jefferson County. Members of the organization al...
Art displayed at town hall
Jack H. Smith, Whitehall Ledger|Sep 5, 2018
There has been some beautiful recent additions to put on display at the new Whitehall Town Hall building. Earlier this summer, art from local residents was placed on the wall at the facility located at 207 E. Legion Ave. Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh said during her first term as Mayor she had art displayed at the old town hall building, and was recently approached by local resident Maxine Samuelson about doing this again. Hensleigh had already been hanging her own personal art on the walls,...
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