Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Noxon's first home football game came down to the last play on Friday as they beat the Valier Panthers 32-26. With less than a minute left in the game, the Panthers were within 10 yards of the goal line, but the Noxon defense boosted their efforts and forced a turnover on downs to stop the visitors. The Red Devils had the ball for the first drive but were unable to score early in the game. Valier returned their first possession for a touchdown and took a 6-0 lead. When Noxon got the ball a...
The Blue Hawk volleyball team got their first action on their home court last Thursday as they welcomed the Florence Falcons to Thompson Falls. Though the Hawks lost in three sets, Coach Sandra Kazmierczak is excited to see what the team accomplishes this season. The Hawks opened the season the week before at the Choteau tournament. "They did great there," Kazmierczak said. "We took seventh out of 15 teams and they played really good volleyball there." Coach Kazmierczak said that last week they...
The Sanders County Fair activities for 4-H members culminated Sunday morning with the annual livestock auction. After the market animals have been judged and the showmanship skills displayed, 4-H members lead their animals around the arena as businesses, organizations and individuals bid to purchase the animals. There were smiles - and some tears - as the 4-H members worked their animals for the last time while auctioneer Kevin Hill interviewed the youths and then led the bidding. The auction...
Members of the Thompson Falls Woman's Club gathered last week with the Sanders County Commissioners, Thompson Falls Mayor Rusti Leivestad, city council members and representatives from the Thomspon Falls Police Department and Sanders County Sheriff's Office to mark the achievement of the Woman's Club in raising funds for a speed radar sign for the city. Gussie O'Connor of the Woman's Club said that $5,500 has been raised so far, enough to purchase one of the radar signs. She stated that club...
I wasn't expecting to spend all weekend at the fair. My mom and I judge 4-H cooking, baking and cake decorating on Thursday. It's tradition. This was our fourth year, and it's great to see the kids come back each year and be more open and comfortable with their interviews and their cooking skills. And it's become tradition for me to work with my pal Heidi in the beer booth on Friday night. It's a great way to see all sorts of people, make new friends, and help out the Sanders County Fair Foundation, which is a nonprofit that helps the fair...
The Clark Fork Valley Hospital Foundation has been hosting a golf tournament fundraiser in Plains for 17 years, but this year was extra special for the foundation, the tournament and the people involved. The golf tournament was renamed the Barry Fowler Memorial Golf Classic this year in honor of the late Barry Fowler, who died in December 2023. Fowler began working at the hospital in 2002 and along with running the CFVH Foundation, he was a past coach of the Plains golf team. Teams, sponsors...
The Thompson Falls sewer project got some national attention last week. Andy Berke is the Administrator for the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Berke came to Thompson Falls last week from Washington, D.C., to check progress on the city's wastewater project. Berke said the goal of RUS is to help rural America get the infrastructure they need. "These are projects that help communities thrive and grow," Berke said. He added that he was visiting RD-funded...
The Sanders County Fair kicks off this week, but local 4-H members got a head start on the competition with the dog project show and competition on Sunday. Ten youths competed with their canines Sunday evening at the Trout Creek home of dog project leader Bailee Patten. "I have so enjoyed working with your kids," Patten told family and friends gathered for the competition. "They have done a phenomenal job this year." First up for the dog competition was agility. Level 1 participants led their...
I very vividly remember my first day of kindergarten. My mom took me to school, walked me to Mrs. Garrison's class in the dorm building, started to walk away, and I burst into tears. I think the only way she got me to stay was by having my friend Brooke distract me. I still get those same first-day-of-school jitters when I start a new project, go somewhere I've never been or even when I pick up the phone to conduct an interview. It always turns out just fine and I'm happy for new experiences and new acquaintances. As kids go back to school this...
Members of the Noxon Fire Department, with help from firefighters from Thompson Falls and Heron, assembled and installed a new 8-foot by 10-foot climbing wall in the playground at Noxon School on Saturday. The booster club purchased the equipment a couple years ago, and the volunteers stepped up to get it installed, said Jim Byler with the Noxon department. The volunteers were treated to a steak dinner to thank them for their work....
A new report recommends the full replacement of the Noxon bridge. The Sanders County Commissioners hired engineering firm Morrison-Maierle to complete a study on the bridge and provide information on what is needed to rehabilitate the bridge. The study was in process prior to inspectors finding two cracks in the bridge structure in July. The study was completed and presented to the commissioners in August. “We strongly recommend the County consider a full replacement for the Noxon Bridge,” the study states. “The bridge’s deteriorating conditi...
The Hot Springs School District is again asking voters to approve a $183,000 levy, but the school board on Monday approved a budget for the 2024-25 school year. The budget passed unanimously on Monday does not include the levy funds. The school will seek $100,000 in funding from the Impact Aid fund, a federal program which “reimburses school districts for the lost revenue and additional costs associated with the presence of nontaxable Federal property,” according to the program website. If that funding is received, the school would end the com...
There seem to be no shades of gray in the political landscape of the United States. You're either red or blue or right or wrong. There's not much compromise or debating when people have their minds made up so early in races. I am one of those voters who loves absentee ballots. I like to think of myself as pretty well informed, given my profession, but sometimes there are statewide races for which I have no clue who either candidate is. In that situation, I like to Google the people, at the very least, and try to get some idea of what they...
The budget for the City of Thompson Falls will be available this week for public review. At the monthly city council meeting last week, Mayor Rusti Leivestad reported that the budget would be available for public review beginning August 21. The council and public will have the weekend to review the budget before a public hearing is held August 26 at 5:30 p.m. to review before a 6 p.m. meeting to adopt the budget. Council member Katherine Maudrone thanked City Clerk Chelsea Peterson for organizing the budget, which will be available on the...
In April 1981, Montana Governor Ted Schwinden signed a proclamation declaring Trout Creek the Huckleberry Capital of Montana. "The community of Trout Creek deserves the special recognition of this state because of its efforts in community development and its efforts to promote the natural resources and natural splendors of Montana," the governor wrote more than 44 years ago. The small town lived up to its selection once again last weekend for the 44th annual Huckleberry Festival. Trout Creek...
Ryan Busse of Kalispell wants to be the next governor of Montana. Busse and State Auditor candidate John Repke visited the Whitepine Grange last week for a campaign stop. The candidates spoke to a crowd of about 40 people last Thursday, then stayed to talk to community members and answer questions. Busse, a Democrat, stated that Republicans have made Montana "a playground for billionaires." Busse's campaign slogan is "Get your Montana back." He talked about the importance of rural healthcare...
I joke that my parents were super excited when I bought my own house because it meant that I wouldn't move back in with them again. Growing up in little old Sanders County, I couldn't wait to go out and explore the world. I branched out for college, going out of state. Then I moved home. I made stops around the country for college my journalism career. And when I got divorced, the only place I wanted to go was home. Once I got back to Sanders County, I didn't want to leave. In fact, I only leave the county once every other month or so, and...
The Thompson Falls Class of 1994 took advantage of Huckleberry Festival weekend to gather in Trout Creek and celebrate their 30-year class reunion on Saturday....
Last week as I was walking down Main Street in Thompson Falls, distracted by waving at someone driving by, I nearly ran into a doe huddled in some shade just off the sidewalk. It shocked me and I jumped back a bit as the deer just stood there. (As a side note, one thing that's important to know about me is that my brother and his best friend told me that deer were aliens and that's why their eyes glowed. It still influences me to this day.) Finally the deer just stepped aside a bit, but never was bothered by me being there. Later that day, I...
A quick thunderstorm last Wednesday resulted in a handful of wildfires throughout Sanders County. In the Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger District, the Silcox Park Fire just north of Thompson Falls was caused by lightning. The Forest Service reported that the fire creeped into piles of debris, but crews worked quickly to contain the fire at about half an acre. Another fire in the Thompson Falls area was also caused by lightning. Multiple resources, including helicopters, responded to the Wilkes...
The Hot Springs School Board last week set a date for the latest effort to pass a levy in the school district. The board last Wednesday voted to once again ask voters to approve a levy of $183,000 for the general fund. On July 11, a judge approved a petition by a school board member asking for the May 7 election to be voided. Five days later, the school board met and voted to call for a special election in accordance with the order by Judge John Mercer of the 20th Judicial District. Last week, the school board voted to have the new election on...
Republican congressional candidate Tim Sheehy made a visit to Thompson Falls on Monday. The Senate candidate spoke to more than 150 people at the Thompson Falls Senior Center. There was standing room only in the senior center as Rep. Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls introduced Sheehy. "Usually these meet and greets are held at Minnie's and have up to 25 people. We got a good turnout for you," Fielder told Sheehy. Sheehy joked that his last name is also his pronouns. "I've been a 'she-he' for 38...
Last week, we installed a new sign on the front of the Ledger building. We make signs, banners, photo canvases and other items in our print shop, and our work can be seen all over town. However, the front of our own building lacked adequate signage. Someone I know who drives through town several times a week asked me recently where the Ledger was. That got me motivated to create our new sign. It only took me seven years, but now no one can say they didn't know where we are. We also recently branched out in our offerings. In an effort to...
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Razz Construction Inc. will this week begin repairing portions of Main Street in Thompson Falls. This work is part of the project’s warranty period. Crews will improve drainage at the approach of South Jefferson Street and Main Street. Seal and cover (chip seal) repairs will also be made along Main Street. The repairs are anticipated to last approximately one week. All work is dependent on weather conditions and other factors permitting. The Thompson Falls - Urban project was primarily c...
