First Beacon was in 1960
By Paul Fugleberg
Last week marked the introduction of a new paper in Kalispell, the free circulation Flathead Beacon, owned by Maury Povich and his wife, Connie Chung of Bigfork. Their Beacon, however, isn’t the first in the Flathead with that name.
The first Flathead Beacon, was founded Jan. 7, 1960, and published by Treasure State Publishing Co. of Polson, at that time a subsidiary of Treasure State Industries, Inc.
Unfortunately, the original Flathead Beacon was several years too early. There just wasn’t enough advertising to meet expenses. Coverage was merged with the Flathead Courier in 1961 although the Beacon flag was retained, then the mailing list was merged with the Courier’s early in 1962.
Among the headlines in Vol. 1, No. 1: Joe Nelson re-elected fire chief; new 750 gpm fire truck is purchased; Yellowstone Boys Ranch gets Flathead apples; Plans are shaping up for 6-mile connecting highway; Change in store for [Swan Lake} Post office.
An editorial column was named “Beacon Beams” and the first one introduced staff members — I was managing editor, Dick Burley, advertising manager; Don Yager, Harold Alexander, Jerry Hawkins and Ivan Pollmann, printers and typesetters, and Juanita Bauer, news processing, and Beverly Ledford, bookkeeper. William F. (Bill) Stevens was publisher. Elmer Sprunger’s cartoons started running the second week. Correspondents were Pearl Brabender, Woods Bay; Mrs. G.G. Slethaug, Swan River; Mildred Streeter, Bear Dance; Mrs. Harold Clothier, Salmon Prairie; Margaret Hewitt, Yellow Bay; Carol Weaver, Swan Lake; Flo Nelson, Bigfork reporter, and Arnold Aklestad, sports.
Among the initial advertisers were the State Bank of Somers (3% interest on time certificates), the Lake Cafe, Bigfork Texaco, Bigfork Mercantile, Swan Lake Resort, Bigfork-East Shore Chamber of Commerce, Bigfork Hotel - Standard Service Station, Stephens Jewelry & Gift Shop, and Mrs. Anne Haug, Globe & Republic Insurance.
News stand price was 10 cents a copy; subscriptions were $3 a year in Montana, $4 outside. Want ads were 5 cents a word the first week, 4 cents a word additional weeks; 75 cents minimum.
Wyatt Lytton’s winning art
Wyatt Lytton, fifth grade student at Valley View School, was notified that his entry in the 8- 10-year old division was the winner of that category in the Montana Aeronautics Art Contest for its annual calendar. Wyatt is the son of Lee and Pam Lytton.
On June 18, he and his parents are to board a State 206 airplane at the Polson airport and be flown to Helena. There they will tour the capitol, meet Governor Schweitzer, attend an awards ceremony for the art winner recipients, enjoy a luncheon provided by Montana Aeronautics, and then they’ll fly back to Polson.
And Wyatt’s art work — a drawing of an L-19 Bird Dog from the Viet Nam era — will be placed in the 2008 Montana Aeronautics Calendar. He named his picture “Honored Past.” Wyatt’s dad served in Viet Nam as an air traffic controller.