Week of January 16, 2025
Week of January 16, 2025
A 67-year-old Thompson Falls woman was killed following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 200 near Perma. The incident occurred just after 4 p.m. last Wednesday, January 8. A Kenworth truck was traveling eastbound on Highway 200 and making a left-hand turn onto Highway 382 toward Camas Prairie when a Ford Focus traveling west on Highway 200 struck the truck head on, according to a report from the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP). MHP reported that the woman, a passenger in the Ford Focus, was taken to Clark Fork Valley Hospital, while the...
The Sanders County Fair Commission held their first meeting of the new year last Wednesday and selected a company to conduct the annual demolition derby, but subsequently the owner backed out, potentially leaving this year's fair without a demo derby. Tim Denson, owner of FOS Promotions and a former Thompson Falls resident, posted on Facebook last Thursday after the Wednesday meeting that he decided not to participate in the county fair's demolition derby. "As much as we have loved putting on...
A group of firefighters from the Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District are in California helping fight wildfires. Chief James Russell along with Zach Vanderwall, Levi Reed and Callahan Larson left Saturday and arrived in California on Monday. Two engine strike teams traveled together. The Plains-Paradise crew is on Montana Strike Team 1, Russell said. "We send resources out of the district to help support the regional and national firefighting effort," Russell stated. "We want to return the help...
Members of the Plains Planning Board met at City Hall Friday in preparation for the public hearing scheduled for Jan. 23 concerning the Lewellyn Street subdivision proposal. During the 40-minute Planning Board meeting, the members discussed what information they have for the subdivision proposal and listened to the three people in the audience - Councilman John Sheridan, Kathy Abarr and Charles Bickenhheuser. Planning Board members present included Corey Booth, the board president, Curt...
The first Plains Town Council meeting of the new year last Monday was completed within 30 minutes, but its members added two people to the Planning Board and gave an update on various items to the four people in attendance. John Dossett, who was added to the council last October, volunteered to be the council's representative on the Plains Planning Board, along with Plains resident Vicki Evans. Both were unanimously approved. It was a full council with Councilmen John Sheridan and Chad Cantrell...
Appearing for an initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, Joseph Edward Hudson entered not guilty pleas to two felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, as well as a misdemeanor count of driving while suspended or revoked, 4th or subsequent offense. A jury trial was set for June 9. On October 12, 2024, Deputy Craig McCarthy initiated a traffic stop and the driver, identified as Hudson, whose driver’s license was suspended. Recrods showed Hudson...
The Forest Service invites the public to provide feedback on the Eddy Creek Road Access Project on the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District. The project proposes to issue a special use permit to a private landowner of a 196-acre inholding to maintain and have unlimited motorized access to their property via Forest Road 7579-1. This project is located approximately 11 miles northwest of Plains, MT, in the Eddy Creek drainage. The private inholding previously belonged to State Mining Company, who was granted a permit to build, use, and...
A Thompson Falls High School class experiment has been recognized by a national organization. Doree Thilmony's Planting Science class has been studying photosynthesis and cellular respiration. The class recently completed experiments which they designed. Thilmony said the module is put on by an organization made up of botanists from the Missouri Botanical Society and educational trainers and curriculum from the BSCS Science Learning Center. The Thompson Falls "Plant Busters" team of Olivia...
Montana Highway Patrol Robert Andrade, 31, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 1st offense, 1 day jail, $675; operating without liability insurance in effect, 1st offense, $275; unlawful possession of open alcoholic beverage container in motor vehicle on highway, $75; careless driving, $75. Jessica Blake, 48, day speeding, $20. Clayton Mathers, 64, seatbelt violation, $20. Kathryn Osiggins, 75, seatbelt violation, $20. Brandon Haley, 29, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Elliott Parker, 31, speeding in a restricted zone, $95....
With the completion of the new multi-purpose building at Thompson Falls High School came a welcome change at the school. The school's weight room moved below the gymnasium into the old shop area. The larger space accommodates additional equipment, and Principal Jodi Morgan said eventually the space will include changing rooms and a bathroom for visiting officials. The new weight room is just over 2,000 square feet, about double the size of the old weight room, Morgan stated. Along with some new...
Ambulance: Plains, 7; Hot Springs, 4; Heron, 2; Noxon, 2; Dixon, 2; T. Falls, 1; Camas Prairie, 1; Missoula, 1. Monday, January 6 Welfare check, Trout Creek. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Civil standby, Trout Creek. Property damage/criminal mischief, Noxon. Business contact, Plains. Theft, Trout Creek. Motor vehicle crash, Plains. Parking problem, Hot Springs. Warrant service, T. Falls. Business contact, Hot Springs. Motor vehicle crash, T. Falls. Business contact, Hot Springs. Tuesday, January 7 Intimidation/harassment, Hot Springs....
The Noxon Red Devils hosted county rivals the Plains Horsemen and Trotters last Friday, with the Trotters taking the 41-24 win over the Lady Devils and the Horsemen falling to the Red Devils 74-53. PLAINS 41, NOXON 24 The girls hit the court first with Plains gaining the first points from drawing a foul. Noxon had a hard time answering back but soon Lady Devil Jasmin Rich would sink back-to-back three pointers to bring the score within three before the second quarter. The Trotters had swift...
Last week was busy for the Thompson Falls basketball teams, and it also had a historic moment. The Blue Hawks played three games last week, and senior Bryson LeCoure scored his 1,000th point of his high school career. LeCoure entered the 1,000-point club last Thursday at Loyola. It was also a historic night for Loyola as coach Scott Anderson carded his 500th win with the Rams. THOMPSON FALLS 71, MISSION 42 The Blue Hawks started the week last Tuesday in Mission. The Hawks scored two baskets...
It might not have been the comeback of the century, but it was one that roused Plains fans for the final game of the night Friday at home. The Plains Trotters were behind nearly the entire game against the Darby Lady Tigers, which had a record of 5-2 before the game. The score was tied for only a few minutes early in the game. The Lady Tigers had a wide lead throughout the conflict, averaging an 11-point lead throughout the second quarter. Darby led 25-18 at halftime. The Trotters started to...
Hot Springs was back on their home court last Saturday, playing host to the Seeley Swan Blackhawks. The night ended in a loss for the boys and the girls, with the Savage Heat boys losing 64-45 and the girls 46-36. After a slow start to scoring in the boys' game, an aggressive Seeley Swan team pulled away in the first quarter as the Savage Heat struggled with turnovers. Hot Springs would finally get on the board with two good free throws from senior Wesley Adams. The Hot Springs defense started...
The Savage Horsemen brought home a champion from one of the toughest wrestling competitions of the season last weekend. John Waterbury won the 157-pound bracket at the Cut Bank Invitational, a two-day intense tournament. The Plains-Hot Springs team finished 13 out of 59 teams, securing 103.5 points. Waterbury’s path to the top of the podium started with three technical falls in a row, 16-1, 18-1, 18-1. In the semifinal round, Waterbury pinned Huntley Project’s Ryder Bingen in the first period. That put him in the championship match with...
The Thompson Falls junior high girls’ basketball team finished last weekend with three wins and Coach Karli Thomas was excited with her teams’ performances. The Hawk A team beat Noxon 33-7 and then won a close matchup against St. Regis 15-13. Marley Robinson led the Thompson Falls scoring against Noxon with 13 points and added eight rebounds, while Audrey Fairbank scored 12 and garnered 13 steals. Fairbank and Robinson each scored four against St. Regis, while Cammie Preston added three and Gabby Taylor one point. Robinson took down eight...
OVER THE HILL GANG W L Mixed Nuts 38.5 29.5 Fun Team 38 30 Leftovers 37.5 30.5 Com’bak Kids 37 31 Roll’n Along 362 36 Jokers Wild 21 47 Team Scr. Game: Fun Team, 881; Scr. Series: Fun Team, 2567; Hcp. Game: Roll’n Along, 1102; Hcp. Series: Roll’n Along, 3203; Mens Inv. Scr. Game: Steve White, 223; Scr. Series: Bernie Groshong, 580; Inv. Hcp. Game: Wally Anderson, 271; Hcp. Series: Wally Anderson, 651; Wms Inv. Scr Game: Debbie Rolleri, 190; Scr Series: Wendy Kelley, 520; Inv. Hcp. Game: Sandy Posey, 248; Hcp. Series: Yvonne Hawkinson,...
It was hats off to the latest musical group at the Paradise Center, but it was hats on for the intermission entertainment. The center's featured event was Saint of Soldiers, a bluegrass group out of Missoula that spent two hours entertaining just over 50 people Friday afternoon. "This is a homegrown band from the St. Ignatius area," said Dave Proctor, a volunteer at the Paradise Center who introduced the group. Though the band has five members, two could not make it. That didn't stop them from...
RICHARD MAGOFFIN, Thompson Falls - “Not really.” DEWEY DUFFEL, Thompson Falls - "Yes.” TY SMITH, Lolo, Montana - “Im 50/50 but lean towards yes.” DANIKA COCKING, Thompson Falls - “Yes." WHITNEY SIVAK, Thompson Falls - "Used to but as I’ve gotten older I find there's more out there than wishing on stars." LIAM PALLISTER , Thompson Falls -...
This last weekend the Rex Theater in Thompson Falls held a special showing of the film Somewhere in Montana that was attended by writer and director Brandon Smith, Smith’s wife and costume director Judy Smith, and camera crew member Harrison Gayton. The movie, shot entirely in Lake County, tells the story of struggling ranch owner John Alexander and his daughter as they try to make ends meet by letting a Hollywood movie production team shoot their movie about early women homesteaders in Montana on his ranch. From the start of the film, John...
Two bighorn rams butt heads to assert dominance of the herd. Photo by Linda...
80 YEARS AGO • JANUARY 17, 1995 WINTER SPORTS Outdoor sports are being enthusiastically enjoyed this year by the grownups as well as the children.The coasting street on the hill designated for that special purpose by the town council is most ideal for coasting and even ‘pa and ma’ take to the sled at times. The street is blocked off to prevent its use by cars and giving the sliders a clear track. Note: Park Street on the west end of town was the designated coasting hill. Downtown the community skating rink is a huge success. Every night...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. ACTH 5. THO 8. ESOP 12. AREAS 14. HUB 15. NAGA 16. HOWLED 18. EDT 19. TUAN 20. SCAMPI 21. IDA 22. ACME 23. TONALITIES 26. BAMBINO 30. ENOLS 31. CHOICER 32. DST 33. DANTE 34. ABBEY 39. MSG 42. TOLEUNE 44. SPIEL 46. EDIBLES 47. PARAMAGNET 49. ELBA 50. ICH 51. TITHES 56. BALI 57. PIA 58. SERAPE 59. ONES 60. RAN 61. SAKES 62. NOSE 63. OLA 64. PEES SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. AAHS 2. CROC 3. TEWA 4. HALM 5. THEIA 6. HUDDLED 7. OBTAINS 8. ENTAIL 9. SAUCES 10. OGAMS 11. PANE 13. SEPTICEMIA 17. DIONE 24. NOR 25. TOTALITIES 26. BCD 27. AHA...
Editor, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need”, is a well known quote by Karl Marx in 1875. This is a basic tenet of Marxism/Communism. This is what HB 819, passed by our legislature in 2023, accomplishes. The bill allocated $175 million out of general fund tax dollars and $50 million out of coal tax funds for financial assistance to lower income home-buyers. Do you ever wonder where the tax money you pay goes? Each county must vote to accept or reject the funding. The Flathead County Commissioners recognized...
The ongoing devastation in California is just that - devastating. It’s unimaginable to think that 10,000 homes burned. Some news quips are focusing solely on the celebrities who have lost their homes, but most of those homes burned aren’t those of famous people. It’s also a good reminder that bad things can happen to anyone. Fires are ravaging through this very populated area. Just because it’s a metropolitan area does not mean it’s not susceptible to natural disasters. It’s been very sad to watch this horrible event play out on...
The 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment, United States Volunteers, is not a well-known outfit in the history of the Civil War, but it fought alongside General Sherman and served as his escort in the march from Atlanta to the Sea. The regiment was raised in Huntsville, Alabama. They were men of the northern Alabama hill country who were loyal to the Union and refused to be drafted into the Confederate forces that controlled the state. It was common for areas of Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi to...
by Thompson Falls Mayor Rusti Leivestad Googling public works: responsible for design, construction, renovation and operation of public infrastructure… and personnel necessary for the government to provide and sustain structures and services essential to the welfare and acceptable quality of life for its citizens. Thinking about this as our Public Works/road crew plowed the snow this morning before many of us had left for work. Most appreciative, as I remember needing to plow a quarter mile in Trout Creek to get to the main road (after...
Our loving wife, mother and grandmother passed away January 8, 2025. What follows is an obituary, of her own writing, that she wished to be published. Suzanne Marie Hilton Garrison was born December 2, 1957, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the second child of Geraldine Julia Poeckes Hilton and John Kenneth Hilton. She was educated in Granger, Utah, now called West Valley, finishing with a college degree in Elementary Education from Carroll College in Helena, Montana. There she met her amazing husband...
Jeffrey Ray Aldrich passed away on January 10, 2025, in a Great Falls hospital as a result of heart failure. A complete obituary will follow in this...
Oscar Eugene Read of Plains passed away on December 31, 2024 from cancer at St Patrick's Hospital in Missoula. Oscar was born September 30, 1955, in Olympia, Washington, to Donald Read and Ada Lucille Skaggs. Oscar was the fifth of seven children and is survived by all six siblings: Merle Ambrosini, Margaret Miller, Bill Read, Mary White, Les Read, and Molly Wiseman. Oscar and his wife Vicky Blaze had two sons. He is survived by son Jason Read and is preceded in death by son Chad Read. Oscar is...
