Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Sanders County has purchased two properties adjacent to the courthouse in Thompson Falls in order to help ease increasing congestion in the county building. The commissioners purchased two properties along Jefferson Street between Main Street and Maiden Lane. One property was a private residence and the other is a commercial property that currently houses businesses including Clark Fork Title and the local probation and parole office. The residential property was purchased for $450,000 and the...
The general deer and elk hunting season kicked off Saturday, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) reported a successful weekend with overall better success than last year in Region 1, which includes Sanders County. FWP operates check stations throughout the region, including at Thompson Falls near the rural fire station. Overall in the region, 10% of hunters reported game, a 3% increase over the 2023 opening weekend. The Thompson Falls check station saw 258 hunters come through opening weekend, up from 216 in 2023. Hunters reported 10...
Democratic congressional candidate Monica Tranel was back in Noxon last week, making a campaign stop to chat with about 30 people at the Noxon Senior Center. "I'm asking you to hire me to represent you," Tranel told the community members as she discussed the Noxon bridge, housing and other topics for over an hour last Tuesday. "I know rural Montana and I understand it." Tranel said that as an attorney, she thinks of herself as an advocate, joking that it was not her lifelong dream to be a...
It's almost over. I haven't heard anyone talk about how they wish they could see more political ads and mailers or listen to and read more about politics. On Tuesday, local, state and national races and issues will be decided. I get chills when I think about what a privilege it is to be in this country and help decide what happens here. Legislative bodies make laws and they are enforced, but we have a choice of who we put in office and what changes are made to the constitution. I love getting my ballot and feel proud when I walk in the...
Thompson Falls was buzzing with activity Saturday as Thompson Falls Main Street and the Sanders County Chamber presented the Fall Forest Festival at Ainsworth Park. The annual Trick or Treat, Move Your Feet run by Thompson Falls Community Trails was also held on the powerhouse loop trail....
The regular season of 6-man football came to an end Friday, with Hot Springs getting a commanding win in front of their home crowd over Noxon. The Savage Heat ended the game 57-6, allowing just one touchdown by the Red Devils in the fourth quarter. It was senior night for Hot Springs, and it took less than two minutes for the Savage Heat to put the first point on the board when Nick McAllister ran in for a touchdown. Noxon struggled to gain yards and was forced to punt on their first...
The Thompson Falls Police Department is warning residents about a potential scam involving someone posing as an election worker. According to Chief Chris Nichols, TFPD received a notification that on Tuesday, October 29, a man was going door to door in the 200 block of North Gallatin Street claiming to be with the election canvasser office. The reporting parting stated the man had a stack of blue secrecy envelopes. TFPD said that the Sanders County Elections office does not have anyone...
The Montana Millionaire tickets went on sale at 5:30 a.m. Friday, and were sold out in less than three hours, the Montana Lottery reported. Town Pump in Thompson Falls reported a line of people waiting to get their tickets before they went on sale, and at 8 a.m. still had a short line inside the store. The three-hour sellout is a new record for the game, the Montana Lottery stated in a press release today. "The demand for Montana Millionaire this year has been absolutely incredible," said...
Construction on the highway probably isn't the highlight of anyone's day. But as FiberTel has been laying fiber optic lines through the county this construction season, travelers have been getting an extra dose of positivity. Samantha Whittington is from Kalispell. She is one of the flaggers that locals have encountered during construction this summer. Whittington, 28, is notable because she makes an effort to smile and wave at every car that drives by. "I always wave at everybody," said Whittington, who started working for Mountain West...
There was hootin' and hollerin' and celebratin' at the Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge last Saturday as the annual Spaghetti Western Fundraiser was held. The event raises funds for the Rex Theater in Thompson Falls. It also served as a birthday party for the local landmark, as the theater turns 85 this year. Several of the more than 130 attendees put on their best western garb for the fundraiser, which features a live and silent auction, 50/50 raffle, and a gourmet spaghetti dinner sponsored by...
The Thompson Falls City Council awarded a contract for the Church Street emergency water project at its monthly meeting last week. The council met on Tuesday as Monday was a holiday, awarding the $338,960 contract to 40/50 Development of Ennis. 40/50 owner Michael Sprout said the company wanted to get started on the project as soon as possible. The company has a crew of 10 employees who will work on the project and is hoping to complete the project within three weeks. “We have a young, energetic crew. We’ll get it done,” Sprout said, addin...
As I was skimming the crowd at the Rex Theater fundraiser on Saturday, I saw several new faces. There were people I didn't know, and people who I had never seen at the Rex fundraiser before. The same was true of the organizers. "Head Wrangler" Rob Viens, who coordinated the event, moved to Thompson Falls in 2022. The primary forces behind the Save the Rex effort who got the community going were the Mundays and the Wilsons, two families who also moved to the area in the last decade. Before you get too excited, let me say that there were plenty o...
Noxon football players had added safety equipment thanks to some team fundraising and generous donations from local businesses. Coach Lucas MacArthur said the team purchased nine Riddell Axiom helmets that include new technology with added safety features. The company came to the school to analyze and measure players' heads for the new helmets. The Axiom helmets are custom fit to reduce impacts for players. MacArthur said Riddell will come each year and refit helmets. The Axiom helmets also incl...
U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke was in Sanders County on Tuesday, making campaign stops as he seeks re-election next month. Rep. Zinke's first stop was in Noxon, where he addressed a crowd of about 50 community members and talked about the need for replacement of the Noxon bridge. Commissioner Tony Cox explained that the state recommended full replacement of the bridge. "The bridge is the jugular of the community of Noxon. We don't want to put a new saddle on an old horse. We want a new horse," C...
A Heron man is taking his concerns for a local river to the state level. Paul Overman has filed a rulemaking petition with the state Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), asking them to restrict watercraft on Bull River. Earlier this year, Overman witnessed five small jet boats go by property he owns on the Bull River. “The jet boast really wreak havoc on our shoreline,” he said in June, adding that he was concerned for both the shoreline and safety of other river users. In the petition filed with the FWC, Overman states that “the opera...
I think absentee voting is one of the best inventions. I really appreciate having the opportunity to review the ballot, review the voter guide and make informed decisions. Some thoughts are worth repeating. Every year, I write about keeping our communities clean around Beautification Days. There's a reminder to shop local and give local around the holidays. And every election cycle, I urge readers to be informed voters. I hate to admit it, but when I was younger and a new voter, I would just vote for names I had heard of for most state races....
Montana 4-H, the youth development program of Montana State University Extension, will celebrate National 4-H Week Oct. 6-12 with events and ceremonies across Montana. This year's campaign, "Beyond Ready," highlights the organization's mission to prepare youth to become engaged, healthy and productive in their future communities. Throughout the week, 4-H communities will celebrate and spread awareness of the organization by hosting receptions and award ceremonies, preparing window displays in lo...
The Plains Alliance Church has decided to help hurricane relief efforts through proceeds from their annual bazaar. The annual bazaar, this year with a fall theme, will be Saturday, November 23, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the church, 505 5th St. Coordinator Roni Mitch said they have a committee of about a dozen people who work on the bazaar. “We decide where the proceeds will go and choose different organizations each year. It depends on what is in our hearts,” Mitch said. In 2023, they provided donations for the Middle East. This year, hurricane rel...
Voters in Hot Springs passed a $183,000 levy last week. Ballots were counted last Wednesday at the Hot Springs school, with 293 voters casting ballots for the levy and 282 against. “We’re very happy within the district and heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone that voted. Our community came together and was able to pass this. We are absolutely elated,” Hot Springs Superintendent Gerald Chouinard said on Monday. The Hot Springs school board was scheduled to certify the election results at Wednesday’s meeting, along with voting on a budget...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking information on two incidents of wildlife being killed and left. FWP reported Monday that an elk was killed and left to waste on private property near Thompson Falls, and a cow moose was shot and left to waste outside of Plains. The elk was found October 4 on private property off Thompson River Road, and game wardens reported that the head was removed and the rest of the elk was left. Anyone with possible information is asked to visit tipmont.mt.gov or call the local game warden at (406)250-9498 to...
The event's biggest attraction of last year, "Barney the Bison," didn't make it, but the Harlow Bison Ranch was represented with a bison hide and skull for the kids at the Sanders County Fairgrounds last Tuesday. "They say you can make a bison do anything the bison wants to do and Barney didn't want to get into the trailer this morning," said Melinda Anakalea, who owns the Thompson Falls ranch with her husband, Adam. Nevertheless, the 115 third grade students from Noxon, Trout Creek, Thompson...
Gusty wind caused a downed power line last Friday, sparking a fire along Wilkes Creek Road in the Prospect Creek area southwest of Thompson Falls. Crews responded and were able to contain the blaze to under 6 acres....
I've written the story about how my brother and his buddy, when I was little, told me that deer were aliens and that's why their eyes glowed. I was scared of deer until I could hunt. Then I became a hunter and took out one of those alien deer each year. I don't know if it's age or hormones or what, but I have found myself feeling guilty with hunting these days. The last elk I killed, I felt really bad. I was happy to help provide for my family, and I love eating elk and deer and cows and pigs and chickens, but I just don't want to do the...
The final step of repairs to the Main Street project in Thompson Falls will occur on Friday. The Department of Transportation and Razz Construction are scheduled to complete final striping operations Friday on Main Street, weather and other factors permitting. This work concludes the warranty repairs of the Thompson Fall-Urban project. Drivers can expect single-lane closures, reduced speeds, potential width restrictions, delays and parking restrictions on Friday. MDT stated in a press r...
