Week of November 21, 2024
An extreme makeover is planned for Wild Goose Landing Park in Thompson Falls. As part of its ongoing relicensing process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), last week NorthWestern Energy presented plans for renovating the park on the east end of Thompson Falls. The current license for the Thompson Falls dam expires December 31, 2025, Andy Welch, manager of NorthWestern Energy's Hydro License Compliance, told the crowd of about 30 people at the Rex Theater last Thursday. The...
A Thompson Falls man put his name in the hat for the Sanders County demolition derby contract at last Wednesday's monthly fair board meeting at the fairgrounds pavilion. Rick Sanders handed in his proposal to run the "Carnage on the Clark Fork Demolition Derby" for the 2025 and 2026 to each board member and the fair manager. He said he wanted to make sure they all got it. The 60-year-old Sanders sent in a proposal four years ago, but believes it was not even looked at and was "round filed."...
Montana Highway Patrol Thomas Keane, 71, speeding in a restricted zone, $100. Donnie Croft, 61, seatbelt violation, $20. Keith Milligan, 64, speeding in a restricted zone, $55. Leellen McLeod, 52, speeding in a restricted zone, $105. Nina Stepanov, 25, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Russell Green, 55, unlawful possession of marijuana/product/paraphernalia in motor vehicle on highway, $75; seatbelt violation, $20. David Tiet, 43, speeding in a restricted zone, $85. Tia Burbach, 29, speeding in a restricted zone, $65. Daniel Lieske, 41,...
Twenty-two military veterans from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard were on hand at Plains School last Monday for the school's Veterans Day Luncheon. "It's always an honor to be recognized for what we did. I didn't do much, but I did it. Both of my brothers were in, so I thought I should do my part," said Betty Meyer of Paradise, a World War II veteran and at 100 years, the oldest guest at the event. Retired Army Lt. Col. Samantha Bebb said she was honored to be...
Members of the Plains Woman's Club gathered at the Paradise Center on Sunday afternoon to celebrate 100 years with an "Anniversa-Tea." Forty-eight people showed up for the two-hour event, where the ladies had finger foods, games, door prizes, a slide show, history lessons, trivia contests, and tea. Thompson Falls resident Karen Gustavsen, president of the General Federation of Women's Club of Montana, was the main guest speaker for the event. She is a member of the Thompson Falls Woman's Club....
The Thompson Falls City Council met last week to discuss various projects in the city. Mayor Rusti Leivestad, in the ongoing discussion about flashing crosswalk signs, stated in a report of the street and alleys committee that she met with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). MDT told her that in order to add crosswalks, the average daily traffic needs to be about 14,000 vehicles, and the latest speed study in the city showed about 5,000 daily vehicles. The mayor said the Thompson Falls Woman’s Club continues to show interest in...
Ambulance: Plains, 8; T. Falls, 7; Trout Creek, 5; Hot Springs, 5; Paradise, 1; Heron, 1; Dixon, 1. Monday, November 11 General animal call/complaint, Camas Prairie. Animal other, Camas Prairie. Other law violations, Dixon. Assist motorist/citizen, Perma. Civil attempts. Civil attempts. Civil attempts. Abandoned vehicle, Hot Springs. Civil attempts. Civil attempts. Civil attempts. Civil attempts, Noxon. Suspicious activity, Hot Springs. Livestock, Plains. Other law violations, T. Falls. Abandoned vehicle, Noxon. Trespass, Plains. Other law...
Last week I wrote about the miles and miles that the Hot Springs football team has traveled this season. It's definitely a commitment to play 6-man football in Montana. Thanks to assistant coach Anderw Leichtnam for pointing out a key mistake in my map last week. The Savage Heat also traveled to Big Sandy this season. The mileage below is distances from town to town straight from Google Maps. According to Coach Jim Lawson, with stops, etc., the team went about 4,400 miles this season and racked...
When nearly half of your team is seniors, the final game of the season is bittersweet. Hot Springs' six seniors played the final football game of their high school career last weekend as the Savage Heat lost to Box Elder 57-54 in the 6-player semifinal game. "They've been in the playoffs every year, but haven't been to a semifinal game," Hot Springs Coach Jim Lawson said of the 2024 seniors. "They had been working their whole career to get to a game like this. It's not easy getting to where you...
Thompson Falls High School soccer is done for the season, but the work for the players continues with an indoor program in an effort to stay sharp for next season. It's called futsal - indoor soccer modified with five players on a team, but in a smaller venue - and several players are participating in the Clark Fork Soccer Alliance program, said Nick Lawyer, head coach for the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks, which includes Plains players. He's also one of the futsal organizers. The participants meet...
OVER THE HILL GANG W L Leftovers 25 15 Fun Team 24 16 Mixed Nuts 21 19 Com’Bak Kids 18 22 Jokers Wild 18 22 Roll’n Along 14 26 Team Scr. Game: Leftovers, 969; Scr. Series: Leftovers, 2670; Hcp. Game: Leftovers, 1154; Hcp. Series: Leftovers, 3225; Mens Inv. Scr. Game: Steve White, 233; Scr. Series: Steve White, 588; Inv. Hcp. Game: Chuck Manry, 267; Hcp. Series: Hank Smith, 686; Wms Inv. Scr Game: Wendy Kelley, 214; Scr Series: Wendy Kelley, 579; Inv. Hcp. Game: Wendy Kelley, 254; Hcp. Series: Wendy Kelley, 699. INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE W L...
A community fundraiser for a local family became a countywide tribute to a longtime pastor last week. Pastor Charlie Denson of the Assembly of God church in Thompson Falls passed away October 31 after a brief battle with brain cancer. Denson was pastor at the Thompson Falls church for 38 years. The church community originally scheduled the Nov. 12 fundraiser to help with medical expenses. When Denson passed, it became a fundraiser for his family. Bruce Donaldson, who has been a member of the...
Thompson Falls Main Street and the Sanders County Chamber of Commerce are gearing up for the annual community Christmas celebration. The theme of this year’s Christmas on Main Street is Old World Christmas. Several fun and festive events are planned for December 6-7, 2024. “We are truly thankful for all our community volunteers working to create such a wonderful event,” said Kayla Mosher, chairperson of the Thompson Falls Main Street board. For information on any of the activities, contact Thompson Falls Main Street at (406) 827-0487 or...
MARK COLE, Trout Creek - “Being in this beautiful state.” HEATHER HETCHLER, Noxon - “The Holy Spirit and everything he has done for me.” BEARETT EATON, Trout Creek - “Hotwheels!” MARSHA HART, Thompson Falls - “Family and friends.” JESSE RAYMOND, Plains - “God." JOANN MATHERS, Thompson Falls - “God and...
50 YEARS AGO • OCTOBER 17, 1974 FAULTY WIRE IGNITES CAFE FIRE An electrical short is believed to have burned a hole in a propane line and ignited the blaze which destroyed TJ’s Cafe early Friday morning on Main Street. Fire Chief Charles Applegate said Monday a deputy state fire marshal found a piece of romex wire which had been burned in two adjacent to the gas line during an inspection of the basement of the cafe building Monday. Applegate said the fire marshal surmised that the wire had been strung across the gas line and that it had...
Tiny Bees Daycare owner Holly Sanders (which we wrote about earlier this month) is also part of the Falls Chapel Events nonprofit organization. Sanders said the group does community outreach and offers free events for families. They do movies, a Valentine’s dinner, a fall harvest dinner and kids carnival at Falls Chapel. They are even planning a murder mystery dinner on January 3. The events are free for the community, though the group also takes donations. Last Saturday at the Fall Forest Festival at Ainsworth park, the church had a...
The Thompson Falls Woman’s Club pinochle marathon has new leaders after October’s play. Tamra Raiche and Mitzi Hart are now in first place with 12,780 points, while Cathy Mills and Jim Hurst are in second with 12,430 and Juanita Triplett and Cal Pomrenke sit in third with 11,130. For October, Juanita and Cal were first with 6,230. Other October scores include: Patti Coe and Wendy Kelley, 6,160; Tamra and Mitzi, 5,860; Kelley and Ron Beaty, 5,210; Mills and Hurst, 5,130; Jim Krogman and Alan Renard, 5,060; Pat Ingraham and Nancy Gressang,...
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. TWA 4. CAN 7. ACE 10. HIN 11. ONE 12. BOY 13. SPELT 15. MAM 16. DORSA 19. AIRLINE 21. ELUTION 23. DEMIGOD 24. SOCIETY 25. AUDI 26. ESTE 27. ARAMAIC 30. SESSION 34. GAD 35. ABN 36. OPOSSUM 41. BROWNIE 45. ALGA 46. AERO 47. SANDALS 50. SIERRAS 54. STANNIC 55. ENGRAVE 56. CERED 57. ABM 59. AIKEN 60. ESE 61. ROE 62. NEE 63. SSR 64. ANN 65. ODD SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. THERM 2. WILLIAM 3. ANTIGUA 4. COMEDIC 5. ANA 6. NEMESES 7. ABDUCTS 8. COOTIES 9. EYRIE 13. SAD 14. PIE 17. SOT 18. ANY 20. NODI 22. LOSE 27. AGO 28. RAP 29. ADO 31....
Sometimes we run into people who have mental health problems that are difficult for family members or society to deal with. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is one of them. Here are parts of an article from Good Housekeeping magazine on the subject. Perhaps you may know of or have even voted for someone with this disorder. (Disclosure: I once earned money by selling Good Housekeeping magazine subscriptions door-to-door.) source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/relatio...
Donald Trump made history in three ways this month when he defeated Kamala Harris for the presidency. First, some news sources say he might have scored the greatest political comeback in U.S. history: he's only the second man to win the presidency in non-consecutive terms, and the only Republican to do it. The first man to get two non-consecutive victories was Democrat Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, serving first from 1885 to 1889. He then lost to Benjamin Harrison, one of the last Civil War veterans in...
The current Church Street Emergency Water Main Replacement (CSEWMR) encompassing construction from Big Horn Drive to 4th Avenue began the week of November 4th. Residents traveling Church Street in this area are encountering one lane traffic. Fourth Avenue has been closed, so alternately using 5th Avenue or streets below 4th Avenue are the options. The weeks of November 11th and 22nd are projected to continue up to Big Horn Drive. During this time of visible digging, they will also be screening the backfill material and plan to tentatively...
In response to the negative letter concerning the election results, it only adds to the division which exists in this country now. You talked about veterans like that gave you the right to judge Trump. Let's see - my grandpa Henry served in WWI. My uncle Bunell stormed the beaches of Normandy during WWII and miraculously survived. My uncle Maynard was killed in the Korean War. My father Richard (Dick) Thompson was in the Navy in teh South Pacific during WWII. Uncle Jerry served in Korea, brother Bob was in the Air Force and I was a MP in the...
Everett Thomas Hargrove, 69, of Thompson Falls, passed away on November 2, 2024. Everett was born in Bozeman, Montana, on February 2, 1955 to Billy Hargrove and Edith Myrtle Robins. Everett Hargrove served in the U.S. Army before making a career as a welder in manufacturing. Everett Hargrove is survived by his family in Washington, two sons, Daemon and David Hargrove; a stepdaughter, Maria Justice; and former spouse, Nancy Christiansen, whom he remained close with. Services to be announced at a later date in...
Carol Janet (McNamer) Duvey, 87, of Thompson Falls, Montana, died Saturday November 9, 2024, at the Anamosa Care Center after a short, but courageous battle with cancer. A funeral mass was held at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Anamosa, with Father Sean Smith officiating, on November 15, 2024. There will be services at St. William Catholic Church in Thompson Falls, Montana with Father Jeff Benusa at a later date. A full obituary can be found at...