Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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The City of Thompson Falls requires a license for pets such as dogs, rabbits and chickens. The fact that the city does not have regulations for cats brought one resident to the City Council meeting on Monday to request a change. Resident Sandra Cullen said the city’s cat problem is a health hazard. “I have so many cats in my yard,” she said, “and I’m not the only one complaining.” Cullen suggested the city limit the number of cats per household and that cats need to be licensed. City Council member Lynne Kersten said, “most cities our size do n...
Almost a quarter-ton of chicken (450 pounds, to be exact), will be cooked up and prepared for the community at the annual Chicken Jamboree on Saturday, July 21, at the NorthWestern Energy Power Park in Thompson Falls. The Men’s Prayer Breakfast has put on the community barbecue for almost 30 years, said group member Kim Roberts. The group, which Roberts said includes about 16 regulars, will serve up barbecue chicken, rolls, potato salad and Charlie Denson’s secret-recipe baked beans. The event, which begins at 11 a.m. and will go “until the c...
Not many people get a $16.1 million birthday present. But Harry Behmerwohld turned 88 years old on Thursday, and Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Director Mike Tooley wished Behmerwohld a happy birthday with a big present, dedicating the recently-completed Heron bridge. Behmerwohld was 22 at the dedication ceremony of the first Heron bridge in 1952. Back then he was newly married, and Behmerwohld said having a bridge connecting Heron to the rest of the world meant a lot to the...
In 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday, Delbert Lee Bennett pleaded not guilty to felony assault with a weapon. Court documents allege that on May 29, Bennett confronted a man in the parking lot of Harvest Foods of Thompson Falls. The Sanders County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting a man had just pulled a knife and put it to another man’s throat while in the parking lot. Surveillance video reviewed by SCSO showed Bennett following a man out of the store, then he forced the victim up against his truck and held a knife to...
Cloudy skies and a few raindrops didn't stop teams such as the Cornstars, Cornholios and Dirt Bags from a cornhole showdown for a worthy cause. Project ASCENT, a nonprofit based out of Thompson Falls that offers outdoor educational opportunities for kids, held their first annual Think Outside! cornhole tournament last Saturday. The organization hosted 28 teams in a field on Cherry Creek Road. There were seasoned cornhole players and some who had never thrown a bag until the day of the tournament...
Sanders County encompasses more than 2,700 square miles. This weekend, tourists and locals will scatter to find the best deals on the best treasures during the annual Sanders County Yard Sale-ing event. This year the event includes 68 sales, which Danielle Wood of the Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce says is double the number last year. The Thompson Falls Main Street Committee is in charge of the event, and the chamber helps out as well. The event is sponsored by local businesses, who Wood says are excited about the event. She noted that...
The death of Thompson Falls resident Matt LaFriniere is still under investigation, according to a statement released by Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel this week. "This is a very active investigation and there is a lot going on behind the scenes," Rummel wrote. "All of the i's are being dotted and the t's crossed, which can be very time consuming. Rest assured, no matter how much time this investigation takes, it will be done in a professional, competent manner." In the statement, Sheriff...
A Plains man, Dylan Hicks, as been sentenced to 10 years with the Department of Corrections with five years suspended on an amended charge of sexual assault. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher on Tuesday sentenced Hicks to five years with the Department of Corrections on a second charge criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. Hicks was also fined $500 for the drug charge, and will be required to register as a tier 1 sex offender. Judge Christopher gave credit to Hicks for cooperating with law enforcement and taking responsibility for his act...
Two groups of cyclists made stops in Sanders County over the weekend on cross-country trips. The Journey of Hope team, a group of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity men, arrived in Thompson Falls on Friday after traveling 90 miles from Sandpoint, Idaho. The Journey of Hope group began their journey in Seattle earlier this month, and will end at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 11. The Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce fed the cyclists dinner and breakfast during their overnight stay, and the...
by Annie Wooden A grizzly bear that traveled through Sanders County paved the way for a newly formed group who is looking to help raise awareness and educate the community about a Sanders County wilderness area. Wayne Kasworm is the grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Kasworm shared a story of a grizzly who had traveled through the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness area, down the east side of the Cabinets and across to Thompson River. The bear story peaked the interest of a group of Sanders County...
The number of crashes in Sanders County was down slightly in 2017 (268 versus 271 in 2016), according to the 2017 annual report released by the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP). The number of injury crashes was also down in 2017 (58), while there were three fatal crashes in the county. Sanders County is part of MHP’s District 1, which also includes Missoula, Mineral and Ravalli counties. The number of property damage crashes was 207 last year, up from 188 in 2016. In 2017, there were 22 fatal crashes in District 1. That matched 2016’s number and...
Just in time for summer, the Wayside in Trout Creek has added an outdoor venue for music and other events. Steve Anderson, owner of the Wayside, expanded the business recently. Additional seating in the restaurant can accommodate up to 30 more people, and Anderson said it can also be closed off if people want to hold private parties. Outside, Anderson has added a covered stage, outdoor bar, picnic tables and a fire pit. The new area is contained by a seven-foot-tall fence, making it private. The...
Blue Slide Road is open to all traffic following stabilization work. At the beginning of May, a section of the road was closed after heavy rain and snowmelt caused Cougar Creek to overflow and wash out gravel beneath the pavement. Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) worked to quickly open the road to one lane of traffic. Since then, contractors have been working to stabilize the road, and MDT reported that Saturday morning conditions were safe enough for motorists to travel on both...
On Monday, the Thompson Falls City Council passed a second reading of a proposed noise ordinance. The ordinance has been reviewed by community members and the council. Residents at the meeting on Monday questioned enforcing the ordinance, and what types of noises constitute a disturbance, such as motorcycles going through town. Resident Tobo Leivestad also addressed the council about forming a quiet zone regarding the two railroad crossings in town. The council voted to table the railroad crossing matter and allow Mayor Mark Sheets to contact M...
The Ross family continues to recover from an automobile accident west of Trout Creek last week. Sam Ross of Trout Creek was killed in the accident when he was ejected from the family's Suburban. Ross's wife, JoAnn, said that Sam had taken the children fishing and swimming at the frog pond near Trout Creek all day, and the family was on their way home when the accident occurred. "They were almost home," JoAnn said, noting that the accident occurred within a couple miles of their home west of...
The field in the race to November was narrowed down Tuesday as Sanders County voters went to the polls for the primary election. Three hopefuls ran for Sanders County Sheriff/Coroner, including incumbent Tom Rummel, Darlene Lee and Justin Ryan. Only two move on to the general election. Rummel and Lee received 2,546 and 796 votes, respectively, and will meet again in November. More than 3,000 ballots were cast in Sanders County on Tuesday, with more than 70 percent of voters completing absentee...
The Thompson Falls School Board has chosen four finalists in the search for a new superintendent. Current superintendent Jason Slater announced his resignation earlier this year after accepting a position as the high school principal in Manhattan, Montana. “We are excited of the four finalists we have selected to interview and look forward to learning more about their experiences and how those experiences can help move our District forward,” said Board Chair Sandra Muster. The public is invited to a meet-and-greet with the candidates Wed...
A man convicted of six counts in the burglary of a Heron business has been sentenced to the Montana State Prison after spending almost a year in the Sanders County Jail. Brandon Bricker received a 10-year Montana State Prison sentence with five years suspended. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher also required Bricker to pay restitution for the items stolen and the district court trial. A jury in April found Bricker guilty of all charges, including felony burglary, three counts of misdemeanor theft and two counts of misdemeanor criminal mis...
High water has put a snag in recreation opportunities on the Clark Fork River above the Thompson Falls Dam. NorthWestern Energy was forced to remove steel beams to allow more water to flow through the dam. The reservoir will need to be drawn down several feet for those beams to be replaced once the high water ebbs. With the high flows in the Clark Fork River this spring, NorthWestern Energy was forced to release several removable steel spillway beams at the Thompson Falls Dam. The action is...
Sanders County and the rest of Montana will go to the polls on Tuesday, June 5, for the primary election. Elections staff at the Sanders County Clerk and Recorder’s Office reported that 4,141 ballots were issued and as of Tuesday evening, 1,492 absentee ballots were accepted and ready for processing. An additional 28 were voided and 82 were undeliverable, said Elections Clerk Bobbi Christenson. She noted that the office attempted to contact all of the voters whose ballots were returned undeliverable. With Election Day on Tuesday, Christenson s...
The annual kids fishing day at Triangle Pond near Noxon is set for Saturday, June 2. The event is open to children ages 5 to 16 and is hosted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), with help from the U.S. Forest Service and Avista. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with fishing from 9 a.m. to noon. Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories, and each child registered will be entered in a grand-prize drawing for fishing gear. Kids without fishing gear will be outfitted with a rod/reel combo, and participants with their own fishing gear...
Spring cleaning often means clearing yards and gardens for the upcoming growing season, and dusting off the golf clubs and kayaks for sunny days in Sanders County. If your spring cleaning included cleaning out sheds and closets, it may be time to start organizing and pricing those items. The annual Sanders County Yard Sale-ing event is set for June 22 and 23. The event, presented by the Thompson Falls Main Street Committee and sponsored by local businesses, is an opportunity for residents to hold garage sales and take advantage of cooperative...
Having a tournament winning team in little league baseball is a great feat. Going undefeated and ending up league champs and tournament champs is even greater. The Thompson Falls 12U baseball team did just that over the weekend, winning the league tournament in Plains. The league includes Thompson Falls, St. Regis, Plains and Noxon. Thompson Falls ended regular season play 12-0, earning league champion honors. At the tournament, Thompson Falls defeated Noxon in the first round and St. Regis in...
The Thompson Falls City Council voted 5-1 on Monday to increase water and sewer rates in the city. Beginning June 1, residents will be charged $40 for the first 2,000 gallons of water used per month and $1.50 per 1,000 gallons over the base. Sewer rates similarly increase to $40 for the first 2,000 gallons, and $4.10 per additional 1,000 gallons. Initially, the city had proposed not having any usage included in the base rate. But after a public hearing in which residents expressed their concern, the council voted in the 2,000 base usage. About...
