The Independent-Record from Helena, Montana • Page 5

The Independent Record, Helena, Monfono, Sunday, December 4, 1 966 Bill Weston --His Job Was Keeping Pass Passable Tiy JOHN KUU1.1N When you drive from Helena to or maybe you're going 1he oilier have you wondered who lives in Hie sec-lion house an the oast side of the summit of Mac-Donald Pass'' For 12LA years it was the home of Bill Weston and liis family. "My job was la keep the pass passable," Weston said. He was recently transferred to Deer Lodge where lie will supervise maintenance of U.S. High way 10 and 12 from Avon to th Deer Lodge County hut south nf Ticer Lodge. Bill Weston "It's beautiful and quid up! near the pass," Wesfun's wife, I June, recalled.

"The birds were' so taine iltat we'd feed tliem from our hands. "11 was nice and cool in the; summer and was protected from1 me witm in winter. There were a lot of animals, including deer, elk and hear. We have a photo of Ihree hears near our doorstep." One problem posed by hiqh living was the cducnlion of the Weston's dnnehlev. Wanda.

Per ight years Mrs. Weston drove her to EUislon where she attended elementary school and later caught the bus for high school. "She had perfect attendance for three vears," Mrs. Wcslon said proudly. In addition (o the solitude, the Vr'cslons remember many humorous incidents.

"There was a fellow lowing a trailer with his car," Weslmi re called. "He wondered why his tig coasted downhill when he stopped. I explained that he was eoinR uphill, but lie didn't believe mc at first." "The alliludt- gain is so gradual at first tliat many drivers from back KdkI don't realize (hey are going uphill." Recently Hie Weslons received a box of candy from a nervous woman driver. During a severe snowstorm she was afraid to drive across the pass. One of the maintenance men drove her and her cor to EUiston.

The snow season on the fi.lRS- Breakfasts Lunches Dinners Char-Rock Broiled Steaks OPEN DAILY 7 a.m. to 7 o.m. used Ton THANKSGIVING DAY and Closed Saturdays OPEN 24-HOURS EACH DAY Take Your Family Out for a Wonderful Meal Nothiny mokes a family happier than sitting down to a fine meal at our restaurant. We offer a choice of delicious food amidst a pleasant dining atmosphere. CAFE 900 North Main IVY likes ICE CREAM and she can choose from 40 FLAVORS Ivy Crawford, daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Lee Crawford, is a regular customer DAIRY LAND 356 N. Jackson LONG HAUL A State Highway Department plow scrapes MocDonnld Pass to keep it passable to oil vehicles, including this truck pulling a mobile home. In fact, the worst storm Wes-ion recalled was June 1, 1354, when three feet of wet snow blanketed the pass. "11 was even worse than when working on Hie Virginia 1 1 wa City was Hill," he saui.

Weston worked on maintenance of the bill, between Ennis and Vir-finla City, from 1MR-4A. "The worst problem on the pass is ice," be said. "When it ices up, especially on the curves, you're in trouble and liave to gel nut there right away and sand. He praised five-man crew, based in Elliston. he one supervised.

"They (Ihe crew) would work 24 hours a day to keep the pass open if you'd ask them. We usually don't have to do this, though." This is because shifts are staggered during winter so men can always be working, if necessary. There are three stints: lVIidniglit-8 H.m., 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. -midnight. Precipitation Above Normal In November November was the first month in more lhan a year with above normal precipitation in the Hel ena area according to the Weallier Bureau at Helena air port.

Tolal lor the month was l.UJ inches which is .47 above normal. I Greatest precipitation in any i 24-liour period was .36 inches on I Nov. 6. I Temperatures ton were I with November heing the. fifth i consecutive nionlh with ahovejl normal average temperatures.

The average was 33.8 degrees, 1 1 2.2 degrees more than I Hiflhesl. temperature in the 1 1 month was fi4 degrees on Nov. 2 1 1 and 20. Lowest was 1 degree Idw zero on Nov. 11.

Snowfall tor the month laled 3.5 niches, of which 4.9 inches accumulated on Nov. 6. jj On Nov. and 1 we had arenrnu-! 1 lateri 5 indies on the ground. Helena enjoyed only three.

clear days during the month arid eight were partly cloudy. remainder of the monlh was! cloudy, allowing only 38 per cent possible sunshine. Charles Heidel Honored By Engineers Charles S. Heidel was lion-; ared at the Montana Societv of Engineers' meeting Saturday at Ihe Colonial Club and presented at: Outstanding Service Award Plaque in recognition ol 1 his fifty years ol outstnmlr.is service 10 me ivinniaaa aoeiciy i of ICng inters. Sumner joined the Montana Soeiely of Engineers in Lttlfi and I is a past president and honor-' ary member of the society.

I Heidel, a prominent hydraulic I engineer, was instrumental toil establishing a firm program of! I water resources investigation in I Montana and has been an unof- I ficial ambassador of good will for holh sides of the Montana- I Canadian boundary. I In collaboration with his Ca nadian counterpart, he adjudicated the flow of ihe Mllk-St. Mary liivcrs to assure Ihe United Stales and Canada of their proportionate shares of the available waters. In 1057 Mr. Heidel received the Distinguished Service award from the Department of the Interior, In he was presented the American Society of Civil engineers Distinguished Service award.

Although Heidel from his position at tin State Engineers' office, he is still active in society affairs. Epilepsy beRins in I yo'Jlh. IIP 1 ihe snowy pass, inhospitable in winter, was homo to Bill Weston and his family for 12'A years, (Highway Department Photo) Weslons replacement is Ca -Supervisor I or section man. I way Department since March Fitwimmons of Butte. Tie will Weston lias worked in West- 1931 when he was based in have the same title as Westoniern Montana for the Slate High- Drummond ft Minors Run to Capital TOKYO (AP) Tokyo police say an estimated 100 minors run a way from country homes and head for the Japanese can.

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